Weddings, Hotels, and Hospitals

Here's my story. It's sad but true...

Last weekend we went to a big fancy-smanshi wedding in Dallas. Toby and I left OK and headed to Big D on Saturday morning stopping in Muenster, TX, to buy some summer sausage and cheese along with a bottle of wine. Muenster is always fun. We hit the West End a little after lunch and found our hotel, the Dallas Victory.  Since it was not check-in time, we did some walking around the shops and had a salad at an outside table - such a nice day.  We made our way to some breweries and checked out the beer. One place had a little art show, too. When we left that place, Toby said, "Sorry, that beer was not very good." I added that the art was not good either. Ha!

Long about 3 PM, Jes and Lindz texted that they were coming into Dallas. We met them back at the hotel since it was now past check-in time.  At the hotel, they tried to give us a King room. Can't you just see all four of us sleeping in one bed. They were very nice and switched us to two queens, but the room was not ready yet and we would have to wait. They gave us two complimentary drinks. While waiting in the bar the cousins and relatives started pouring in for the wedding. Some were heading to the wedding already in order to do lots of photos.  I do love my cousins and had a great time seeing them. We eventually made it to our room where we proceeded to be silly with the pillows in the hotel room. Two queens:
We had to take turns getting dressed for the wedding, because the shower was part of the main room - separated only by a curtain. It was not really a bad thing, but a bit uncomfortable. I did think it was an odd design. I had some other problemas with the hotel, but won't rant here.

We eventually made it to the wedding ceremony on SMU campus. The chapel was picture perfect. Here is the Bride and her family. Here is my family After the ceremony we were taken by van to the Petroleum Club in some skyscraper in the Downtown area where we partied until after midnight. It was all super nice. We ate supper about 10 PM. Is that a Yankee thang? 'Cause these cousins live in NY and I just wondered.

Sunday morning we met up with the cousins for coffee. There were some overpowering perfumes in the room and I began to feel a bit nauseous. Toby and I snacked on the sausage and cheese we had bought in Muenster. Then we headed home. By this time, I was of no use. I put back my seat and closed my eyes hoping my headache would go away and queasy stomach would settle. It was pouring down rain. Driving on the freeway from Dallas to Denton in the pouring rain was no bueno. Toby, who was feeling fine, stopped for barbecue! Really? I ordered, but could not eat. I was ever so glad to see home Sunday afternoon. My stomach was still not right.

Monday morning I knew something was wrong. Either I had food poisoning (sausage and cheese) or a stomach virus. I called in sick. By Monday afternoon, I was in pain. I went to the doctor. He said I probably had a stomach virus and it was upsetting my gallbladder. If the pain continued, we should look into it. And he gave me something to "settle things."

Tuesday morning was not good. I was feeling so bad, that I texted the school secretary to say I was not coming in again. She did not reply, but I did not care. The principal called to see if I was coming in. "No. I'm sick." I think he might have been irritated with my text, which he said the secretary did not get. I still did not care.

By 9 AM, I called Toby and said the pain was bad. He said he would come and get me. In the meantime, I tried to call the doctor, but was put through to an answering machine. I left the message, "I am in pain, call me back." I never did get a call back. We went to the doctor's office, but it turns out they were shorthanded and had no one to see me. They sent us on to the emergency room. It was the best decision we made all day. Once there, they did a CAT scan and said that my appendix was inflamed and needed to come out. They hooked me up to an IV and gave me something for the pain.

At this point things seemed to slow down. No one seemed to be in a hurry or too worried, but kept saying that they would probably do the surgery that day... or not.  With the pain meds, I was much better, but not great. I kept thinking that it was a good thing this was not an emergency. Actually, I guess it all went pretty fast. At about 11 AM they told me the appendix needed to come out, and by 4 PM it was all over. I don't remember anything after 3 PM when Toby kissed me in the holding room until I got to my room an hour or so later.  I felt so much better. It turned out that what should have been pretty simple surgery got a little more complicated when the surgeon discovered that my appendix had ruptured. It also meant that they kept me an extra day in the hospital to fill me full of antibiotics.

The hospital took great care of me. But it was good to get  home yesterday. I ran a bit of fever the first night home, but I seem to be on the mend.  What a crazy time!