Don't want to get dehydrated on my way to Cancun

Dehydration sucks! Anyone why has been through it knows what I am taking about. I am not talking about the oh I am thirsty. I think I need a little water. I am talking about the it doesn't matter how much water I take in its not enough.

The weather here has been a pain in the ass. We went from comfortably 70's and 80's, excessively rainy, to high 90's and 100's. (I say 100 because my little yard thermometer and the car temperature readout both said over 100.) I made sure to bring lots of water to work with me. I didn't drink coffee Tuesday morning. I didn't eat heavy foods. I did my best to dress light and keep my body from being dragged down. I went to work as soon as my son was out the door for school so I could be out of there before it got to hot. But it didn't seem to matter. I did good for a while. I did 50% of my work in 1.5 hours. I made sure to drink my water and try to keep my self hydrated. But I was already losing the battle. My muscles were beginning to ache more than they should have. I was exceptionally tired. For as much water as I was drinking I couldn't go to the bathroom, even though it felt like I needed to go and badly. I had to push myself to keep going. I kept going to my car and turning on the air and sitting there for a few minutes. The woman who works there said I was white as a ghost with bright red cheeks (a sign of dehydration) Once I made sure every horse was fed and they all had water and there was hay in every paddock, I went home. But by that point, 3 hours in, I was sick.
These are the signs and symptoms according to the Mayo Clinic

• Extreme thirst
• Extreme fussiness or sleepiness in infants and children; irritability and confusion in adults
• Very dry mouth, skin and mucous membranes
• Lack of sweating
• Little or no urination — any urine that is produced will be dark yellow or amber
• Sunken eyes
• Shriveled and dry skin that lacks elasticity and doesn't "bounce back" when pinched into a fold
• In infants, sunken fontanels — the soft spots on the top of a baby's head
• Low blood pressure
• Rapid heartbeat
• Rapid breathing
• No tears when crying
• Fever
• In the most serious cases, delirium or unconsciousness

Highlighted in red of course are my symptoms. I got home and I felt like I was going to die. Like a million horses ran me over. I found out I needed salt!! Interesting huh?! So I had a few tortilla chips because that's all my mouth and stomach could handle and drank some more water. It took me two days to feel better.

I GAINED 7 POUNDS IN WATER WEIGHT!!!!!

All that water I drank had to go somewhere and since I wasn't going to the bathroom it decided to just hang around in my system. and when I got on the scale it had added 7 pounds. I am not thrilled. As of weigh in this morning I have lost 5 of it.  But I'll be honest if you read my mid week mini blog you would know I had a panic attack and I did not deal with it well. 

I got demoted at work. How do you get demoted from scooping horse poop? well now I clean aisles and the office. Little do they know that they got the suckiest housekeeper on the face of the planet. But now that school is out at least I will get some help. My daughter does a great job at cleaning out a fridge and together we do an alright job at windows. We just have to see how it goes. When I started there as a volunteer. I said wow this place needs to be cleaned, it looks like hell. Someone needs to spend some time and organize this place. I wont lie. my feelings were hurt. I felt like a failure. I wanted to work with the horses. I wanted to pick the stalls and do the heavy work and prove myself. But I am not a teenager. I am not fast. I am old and over weight. I cant do half the things they can and I am not as comfortable as they as with the horses. I can still ride and I can still do trails. But now I get more "mom responsibilities." Go figure. I went there to get away from being "mom." But I guess you cant escape who you are. :) I am coming to terms with it.
Last but not least.Tomorrow I call the neurologist. I have been putting it off mostly because I am scared. I am not sure I want to know what he has to say.I am tired of being poked and prodded. I am tired of labels and pills. But if I can find the right meds and eliminate everything else and I can figure things out then maybe in the end it will be worth it. (thanks mom!)

Cancun updates.... We are now at 213 miles. That puts us in Nikomis IL. 1 hour south of Decatur.  Dana is still our leader with 69.86 miles. Mom is in second with 36.25 and Mic is third with 32. How awesome!!!! I will admit I have been an A1 slacker, but this week I plan to pick up the pace, considering I no longer have "set" hours I have the option. 



Well lets take a minute to say a little prayer. 
Dear God, Thank you for today!!  Thank you for my friends and family who are there for me during this confusing time. It is so nice to have people who love me. Thank you for opening my eyes to possibilities that I wouldn't have seen before. Sometimes we are blinded by our own desires. God please help me to be patient with my children as school ends on Monday. Please give me the Wisdom to know the limits of my own body and mind, to know when to push and to know when to stop. Give me the Strength to make it through the day. God please be with those who are struggling. Those who have lost so much. Please help them to get back on their feet. God please be with those who are afraid, please guide them in the right direction. In your name we pray. Amen