A Friend Loves at all times...

Wow, I am amazed and blessed today by the way my friends took care of me last night and what a night it was. Crazy doesn't really even begin to describe it... some of us met before our Solus meeting for sushi and fellowship. For those of you who might not know I am allergic to shellfish. I haven't eaten it except for twice once unknowingly and the first time when I ended up in the ER with a reaction eerily similar to the one experienced Sunday night. For those who are weak of stomach you might want to stop reading here. I believe that some of my food came in contact with some shellfish or maybe some even ended up in my food. I am pretty sure that I have not ever thrown up in public or at least not this public. We had finished eating and were leaving the restaurant to go to G's house... I was the first to leave and when I sat in my car I thought I feel kinda weird. I pulled around the building to leave the parking lot and threw up on myself (that part I am SURE was a first since childhood) then I stopped my car and got out as everyone else pulled around the building. Jess pulled up beside me an immediately asked if I had thrown up... late she told me it was on my clothes and I had a deer caught in headlights look. I then proceeded to throw up outside of the restaurant for a few minutes (5 maybe 10). As my friends stood around and tried to help as best they could. Tiff gave me a towel and Jess got me water. I took a benadryl and then threw up some more. I think at least some of the benadryl stayed in my system though I am not sure how. After standing outside for a few minutes and the sweet lady from the restaurant brought me warm water... Tiff asked if I wanted to go to the hospital and I said that I would do whatever they thought I should. Not really in a mindset to make decisions so Hannah drove my car over to the ER where I proceeded to throw up for a while longer. I remember hearing Hannah and Tiff pray for me as I was getting sick and feeling like things would be okay. I wasn't scared as I have been in the past when I have had reactions I just thought I would be okay once I stopped throwing up. Tiff used my phone to call Ryan & Lisa and Lisa came up to the hospital. After the lady at the front desk checked me in (and I proceeded to throw up in a cup and a bag) she gave me some pill under my tongue to stop me from throwing up and I think I only threw up once after that. I remember my face was very hot and Lisa said my face was pretty puffy when she got there. So everyone ended up sitting in the ER waiting on me for about 2 1/2 hours. Once I stopped throwing up I just wanted to go home. Since my throat didn't swell (Thank you God)the wait wasn't too bad, everyone watched a little more CNN than they really wanted to. The Dr's initial assessment was that I had food poisoning at that point we had been in the ER for 2 hours and I wasn't throwing up anymore so I just wanted to go home. When the nurse came in Lisa & I questioned her and let her know that we didn't think it was food poisoning, especially since my reaction was so quick and others had eaten off my plate and no one else was sick. Either way I left the hospital took another Benadryl and went to sleep (Hannah & Steven took me home.)

I am VERY Thankful for many things about Sunday Night
1. If I ever doubted that my friends love me that was surely put away on Sunday. Any friend who would stick by me while I am gagging and making such sounds is good in my book.
2. Tiffany pulling up my hair, Hannah rubbing my back, Jess getting me water and taking my yucky clothes away, Lisa filling out my paperwork and going back with me. The poor boys watching and hanging in there while this was all happening and doing whatever was asked of them in the process. (I am pretty sure they also held the bags with my yucky clothes and Tiff's towel.)
3. Friends to help me laugh during the situation to take the edge off of it.
4. Hannah driving me to the ER and then home.
5. Lisa for asking questions of the nurse when I felt like the Dr. had made up his mind before he talked to me and wasn't willing to listening to me.
6. All of my friends for checking on me the next morning.
7. My boss for letting me go home the next day when I realized I was more tired than I thought and should probably be sleeping.
8. And I am very thankful for friends who love at all times.
9. I am most thankful for the means of grace that was extended to me. My reaction could have been much worse but God protected me. I could have been driving down the highway but it started before I could leave the parking lot. I could have been alone and if I had been I know God would have taken care of me one way or another but God used my friends.