one part of our trip: sweat bands, ice baths & the ER

I know, it's a crazy title. Let me start off by saying D.R. & I had the most wonderful 2 weeks together traveling through 3 states and seeing both sets of family. We began our trip in Nashville- one of my all-time favorite cities. My family went to Nashville most every summer when I was in elem-middle school. We love the music-influence of the city, the beautiful country-side, the quaint shops and the amazing local dining. I remember drinking my first strawberry-limeade slush at SONIC (we didn't have sonic in FL growing up) and then going to a Chick-fil-a parking lot where Jars of Clay was playing free for the locals. Awesome stuff.
Ok back to my story. This post is only going to tell one snippet of our travel experience- the rest being oh so much more cheery.

We had a great 3 days in Nashville, visiting college friends, hearing great music at awesome venues, eating artsy-fartsy food (me=love, D.R.="where's the meat?" :)), walking and walking some more in downtown Franklin & Nashville, Going to the Opryland Hotel and looking at lights! Fab. Well our last full day of the trip, I woke up with a sore throat which is always how I know a fever is coming. But I ate some breakfast, drank some O.J. and I started feeling better. We met one of our college friends & beloved bridesmaid of mine, Laura Durchsprung, for lunch at Puckett's in downtown Franklin. Great lunch- Caesar salad, fried chicken and veggies. I still felt at 90%. Well I hadn't run in 3 days and mentally I was clawing at the chalkboard if you know what I mean. I had to get outside and pound the pavement someway somehow. Laura recommended a nearby park. I had packed running clothes so I was ready. D.R. graciously read in the car while I ran my 3+ miles around the park. It was 61 degrees but I bundled up b/c of the slight "ick" feeling I still had. Sports bra, long sleeve tee, pull-over, leggings, nike shorts, head sweat band and mittens. I was toasty. I usually shed layers when I run in the cold but I decided that it was good for me to stay bundled and just bear the pouring sweat in all my crevices. I finished, I rang out my sweat band (cause my head sweats more than the rest of me). I felt great. Yes, calories burned and people prayed for!! I walked back to the car, we drove back to downtown Franklin where I wanted to get a to-go order of churros from SOL (a food-network seen restaurant with great Mexican dessert) With churros in tow, we headed back to our hotel in downtown Nashville. I began to get a little chilled due to the sweat in my cotton attire (note to self: invest in wickless running shirt)and by the time I got back to the DoubleTree I had blue lips and was violently shaking. D.R. kinda chuckling at me which is what he does at first when he is nervous or concerned. I immediately got into the hot shower and let the water try to warm me up. It didn't. I couldn't stop shaking/convulsing. D.R. got in, held me and I still didn't stop. I sat down in the tub and let the water warm cover me from the spout. Still not working. I couldn't even breathe evenly. I got out- ran to the bed and got bundled in the covers (which is what D.R. suggested). He ran out to CVS to buy a thermometer. Eventually I calmed down and the shivering subsided. I still felt terrible- cold/hot spells and achy all over. D.R. returned and took my temp- 104. He wanted a more "accurate reading" so he took it anally. (oh to be married to a health-care professional) temp=104. He looked at me in fear and said, "you need to get in the shower and be iced." "what?!!? no!!! I can't, D.R., I'm freezing!!?!" He said he knew but he was afraid I had over heated my organs by bundling up so much during my run and they could be "cooking". Ok- not cool. I reluctantly got out of bed and heading into the bathroom. I can't explain the pain of having ice-cold water poured on you, ice-cold dipped towels wrapped under your arms & in-between your legs for 10 minutes. I was crying the whole time meanwhile believing that my husband was only doing this because he was concerned for my health. He took my temp rectally after 4 minutes- still 104. He continued the torture. Took my temp again- 104. This really scared him. "We're going to the ER." 10 minutes later I'm being wheeled out of the hotel on a stretcher. A little embarrassing. My first time in an ambulance. The young paramedic looks just as nervous as I am. We get to the hospital, they take my temp which is down to 100 by this point and take my blood pressure. They decide to take a blood sample to see if my white count is elevated- something about D.R. thought my liver could be affected from the internal heat. (I think I got that right) 2 hours later- turns out I just have a virus and shouldn't have run if I wasn't feeling 100% well. duh, Danelle! I feel immediately humbled. D.R. is completely embarrassed and ashamed for the ice-bath thing but I reassure him that he was only doing what he thought was necessary. I told him that I'm glad he's willing to hurt me to help me. :) That night marked the very loving, tender tone for the rest of our trip. God used it greatly in both our hearts. For me, I realized that exercise is definitely an idol that I depend on too much for how I feel and act. It was so hard to not exercise for a full week after that. Mental hell. But I learned to respect my husband more and love my idols less. I still love to get out there and run but I don't feel guilty if I skip 2 days now. I'm so thankful for that lesson that God so brutally taught me. He gets our attention and persistently draws us back to Himself and for that I am so grateful. I guess He just wanted me to "chill out"- literally. :)