Nauseous Noelle

My FB Status February 22, 2012 3:00 pm
It wouldn't be a true-blue-Peru adventure unless one of us got food poisoning and spent 9 pm-3 am throwing up anything and everything they've ever eaten...and then some...and then spent the next 12 hours sleeping it off. Good thing I have awesome, understanding roommates whom I love dearly! In the meantime, I'm swearing off rice and potatoes.


So although it's not a pleasent story, I must document quite possibly the most unenjoyable part of my trip thus far.

On Tuesday night I was exhausted. We were eating our dinner of nachos at about 7:30 pm and I kept falling asleep at the dinner table. We were also trying to figure out our flight/travel/tour plans for our last  week here in the most cost effective way possible, so I was trying extra hard to stay awake. 

At around 9, we moved our discussion into our living/dining/bedroom so that we could use a whiteboard and I could lay down in our bed.

And that's when my tummy went into revolt. I remember telling Brittany I was going to throw up, so she got me a bag and I think I fell asleep after that. From that point on, I went on to throw up three more times through out the night. I'd feel it coming up, force myself to wake up...and almost always make it to a throw up bag.... almost :) 

Oh how I just wanted to be in a warm home with my mom taking care of me. Instead, I was in a giant, freezing cold room made of concrete and had a SAINT of a roommate talking care of me. Seriously, Brittany is amazing. She'd take my bag of throw-up, pour it's contents down the toilet and bring me a clean bag.

Finally, by the third time I had thrown up, I had nothing left in my stomach (we had eaten A TON that day) and that's when the dry heaves started (at least I think that's what it's called when your body tries to throw up, but you have nothing left in your stomach) ohhhh that was not fun.

At 3 am I had had enough and I was feeling way bad for my roommates that I had woken up at least 10 times in the past 5 hours. My energy was shot but I managed to ask if anyone had any medicine. Saint like roommate number two, Abigail, got up and out of bed AT 3 AM to find me some PeptoBismal.

It was the chewable kind (which I can hardly stand) but I was desperate. So I took some and went back to bed and slept until 3 pm the next day :)

I slept and slept and slept and slept and woke up periodically to Jhonny or Feliciana's voices.

When I finally got up and out of bed, it was move out time. Luckily, most of my things were already packed and ready to go. So I loaded up my suitcases/duffle/backpack and headed outside to wait for the bus in the rain. It was the longest I had stood up all day and it was not enjoyable.

We got to our vacation home for the week and made us some dinner of.... you guessed it.. rice and potatoes.

We skyped with Liz and Aleksi's awesome mom and then it was time for bed. I was OUT. Woke up this morning, took my first shower in wayyy too long and sacked back out on the bed.

I thought I was done with my tummy troubles...but apparently I wasn't. It started back up this morning and has ceased to ...cease

Sorry this post is poorly worded and and don't super interesting, I'm drifting in and out of consciousness as we speak, so if this doesn't make sense.. you know why.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Miracles: Just Call Me Daniel

I believe in miracles hands down. First I must record one that I forgot to do so earlier. Remember how sick I was last Friday? Like hit by a truck, never want to leave my bed ever again, sick? Well the next day was a big day for us. It was our first day in Cajamarca and our first day at the Aldea. Being sick while doing so would have been a disaster. Well I woke up the next morning feeling as good as I possibly could and had a great day sick free! Miracle.

Now this next miracle gets me every time I think about it (which is oft).

Remember how when we go running each morning, at least 30 dogs a day come chasing us down, baring their teeth, barking visciously and trying to bite us, making me want to cry? If you don’t, that story  can be found under the Saftey First post. 

Ok so yesterday morning we get up and did the same routine we do every morning.
Alarm goes off. Apartment prayer is said. Clothes are put on. Ponytails up. Money hidden in secret spots. Out the door and on our run down the same hill at the same time passing the same dogs.

Get this: NOT ONE SINGLE DOG barked at us. NOT ONE SINGLE DOG chased us. NOT ONE SINGLE DOG bared it’s teeth at us. NOT ONE SINGLE DOG even got up from their guard post to even question our presence. 

Coincidence? I think not. Miracle? Yes! I felt like Daniel in the lion's den as we ran by those dogs who didn’t even seem to know that we were there! It was one of the coolest things I’d ever experienced. Thanks for the prayers! They’re working!

Sickness Strikes

So as we were contemplating the fact that we had spent one whole week in Peru, we were so amazed that none of us had gotten even the slightest bit sick yet! They told us that within 2 or 3 days our systems would freak out and get us down, but we were all feeling strong… until we said that.

We’ve had a contest going on to see who could go the longest with out getting sick. I must regretfully inform you that I was the first to go.

Last night as we were story swapping I began to notice that my throat was really sore and my nose was stuffed up. I woke up the next morning feeling like I had been hit by a truck, but decided to try and shake it off. We went on our usual morning run down into Banos and that was quite the mistake. I was ready to collapse/throw up/ cough up a lung/have my head explode/shiver to death/die… you name it, I was feeling it. But, not wanting to be the weak link, I kept trying to shake it off and suggested that instead of taking the bus up the very incredibly steep hill home, we should climb up it. What were you thinking Elia?!? 

One foot in front of the other. Just keep moving. You’re almost there.

 And finally, we did make it back to El Bichito. I staggered up the stairs and made it half way onto my bed before I collapsed and slept for who knows how long. I woke up to find that the kids were here and lunch was almost ready. Not wanting to miss a day with the kids (especially since it’s Friday and I won’t get to see them til MONDAY!!!) I decided that I was feeling well enough to go down and play with them. Mistake number three. It was soooo good to see them and have them tease me and hug me and beg me to read to them, but the chaos and moving around did me in. I ate my lunch of rice, arvejas and a deep fried egg and then headed back up to bed. 

How could I not want to spend the day with these kids??

They even do my hair for me!

 I’m feeling pretty good now, except for the fact that I have zippo energy.  Abbi and Brit are in Banos getting some groceries and I miss them already! I haven’t done hardly anything productive today, although I did make my bed and I uploaded a lot of new posts and pictures to facebook. Enjoy!