just not feeling right

Saturday, October 7, 2023
We had a busy weekend ahead! Danielle had a dress rehearsal Friday night with the Portland Wind Symphony ahead of their concert on Sunday afternoon. Danielle plays clarinet in the ensemble and is also the Associate Conductor. On Saturday, she was heading to beautiful Hood River for an overnight girls' weekend trip, returning Sunday morning for her performance. 

I woke on Saturday morning feeling sluggish. Something didn't feel right and I said to Danielle "yikes, I'm going to need a minute to get out of bed. I don't feel right." To me, it felt like the two times previous that I had COVID. The last time I had it was at the end of August. Danielle asked if she needed to cancel any of her plans, but I said I would be fine and just needed a minute. My body felt achy and I felt weak. Thinking it was just a cold, I got out of bed and got ready for a "Boys Day" with Eamon and Noah. 

As the day went on, I felt worse. I had chills and a fever and started vomiting in the afternoon. I kept Danielle updated on how I was feeling, but didn't want to bother her during her time away. I laid on the couch as the boys played around me with their normal higher-than-average energy levels. Worried I might pass out, I changed the passcode on my iPhone to match Eamon's passcode on his iPad. I called him over and showed him how to make phone calls using my phone. We practiced calling Danielle, Nana, and a few of my siblings. I felt better knowing that he would be able to call Danielle if something were to happen to me. 

When we called Danielle, she said she would come home, realizing that my situation was getting worse. I tried to change her mind, but she was already in the car and heading home. Once home, I was able to go lay in bed while she watched the boys. 

Sunday, October 8
​I don't remember much more from Saturday or even Sunday. There are text messages I sent to a friend saying that I was struggling to breath on Sunday and that I was feeling worse. Danielle's concert was that afternoon and her Mom came by to pick up the boys and take them to her house so that I could rest. I unfortunately missed the concert on Sunday, and the dinner that followed at my mother-in-law's house with Danielle and the boys. Eventually, I stopped vomiting sometime on Sunday and when Danielle and the boys returned, was even able to keep down some chicken broth and a popsicle. 

During the night on Sunday, I woke up to hear what sounded like popcorn popping in my chest as I was breathing. I woke Danielle and we called the 24-hour nurse hotline. The nurse's guided questions asked if I was still vomiting (no) and if I could keep down any liquids (yup, I had broth and a popsicle). She recommended we go to Urgent Care in the morning. 

We went back to sleep with the plan that Danielle would drive the boys to school/daycare in the morning and then return to take me to Urgent Care. In the next few hours, things progressed quickly. We didn't know it then, but we were racing against time.