Sew'n Wild Oaks Retreat Day 3

 Hello Everyone,

I haven't been good about posting pictures from the retreat, so I'm going to get caught up over the next few days and explain my reason for being very quiet online.  The rain stopped Monday night and Tuesday was a gorgeous day here at Snowflake Lodge in Arnold, CA.  My sister Gail took all of the pictures in this post....this one is my absolute favorite!

Some of the girls took a stroll around the lake.

The storm clouds were still ominous, but it didn't rain.

In the morning session, we had a 'hair raising' experience.  We complimented Diana on her cute hairstyle and before we knew it, she ripped off her hairpiece and sent us into hysterics! You can see her holding her hairpiece up in the air. This group of girls were really entertaining!

Chef Zach is a gem and came out of the kitchen during breakfast to a round of applause.

The room was full of activity, laughter and yes, a bit of quilting was going on.

It was warm enough to have appetizers and dinner outside on the deck.

My only rule at the retreat is that you have to sit next to someone you don't know during meals.  

That rule lasts about a nanosecond because it didn't take long for everyone to get to know each other, and new friendship blossomed.

Now, about my silence over the past few days.

About a week prior to the retreat, I got two bug bites on my legs.  It was as though I crossed my legs at my ankles, and something bit me on both sides right above my ankles. Think of a Rorschach Test with a mirror image on both legs. I really didn't think too much about it until the Saturday night prior to the retreat when the bites were looking pretty angry.

I did okay on Sunday, but Monday was a different story.  Luckily for me, there were three nurses attending the retreat.  By Tuesday morning they insisted I go to the emergency room, as the swelling, the bites, and the bruising was quite extensive........and I was in pain!  I couldn't stand to have anything touch my legs.  I couldn't have a sheet or blanket over me at night. 

After our 'hair raising' class, I left to get to the nearest Kaiser emergency room, which was two hours away, and my sister Gail stepped in for me.  I knew I was leaving the girls in competent hands.

To make a long story short, it pays to be elderly with an obvious issue when the ER is absolutely filled to the brim, and they whisked me right in to see the doctor.  I donated 10 vials of blood and had x-rays to make sure the infection had not spread to the bone.  I would post a picture of my legs, but it was pretty awful.  I honestly thought I had a flesh-eating disease.....and so did Mr. Joe.

Loaded with two different anti-biotics, I left the ER feeling that everything was going to be fine and under control.  Wrong!  I returned to the retreat and was there in body but not mind, on Wednesday and Thursday.  My spirit was elsewhere as I just didn't feel good, all the while trying to be stoic.  

By the weekend, I could tell the antibiotics just weren't working.  The infection was getting worse by the day, so I went to Urgent Care in Dublin, CA on Tuesday then ended up in the Emergency Room in Walnut Creek by Tuesday night when I was admitted to the hospital where I spent a very sleepless night donating more blood and was constantly awakened by the blood pressure monitor and doctors and nurses all night long.  At 5am I was moved to a private room upstairs.  

I had three physicians and one dermatologist hovering in and out of my room.  The dermatologist took one look at me and said she thought the bites were venomous, and that's why the antibiotics weren't working.   Change of course in my treatment and all antibiotics were stopped, new medication issued, and soon I felt so much better!  The dermatologist took five biopsies and sent some of them off to UC Davis, and the rest of the biopsies stayed in-house. I will get the results on Tuesday when I have a follow up appointment.  

I was released Wednesday afternoon and was able to return home.  At this writing, I have to say I feel so much better!  I'm not up to full speed just yet, but I will be soon.  I actually quilted yesterday and being able to do that was amazingly wonderful for my soul.

Many thanks to the nurses at the retreat who made me leave the retreat and seek treatment.  Many thanks to Gail for stepping in and taking over.  Many thanks to the caring and compassionate quilters at the retreat who were so concerned about my health.  Many thanks to the staff and doctors at the hospital who made my stay as pleasant as it could possibly be and figured out the mystery of these bites.

Do I know what bit me?  No.  Will I ever know what bit me? Probably not. Do I care that I will have some pretty amazing scares on my legs? No.  At least I still have legs.  All I care about is that I'm feeling better and able to get back to a modified schedule. Naps are a good thing!

Soon,

Lynn