Previously on 'Our Little Relapses'
I woke up later that night and spent about thirty straight minutes vomiting. A fine layer of sweat is covering my body and I feel like I was just ran over by a bus. This is not good. A nurse walked in with a thermometer in her hand and ran it across my forehead. "104.2, we need to get your temperature down. Let me get some cold rags. We should probably also take some blood." she told me and ran out of the room.
She came back in with a cold compress and draped it on my forehead, then took away my blanket and removed my nightie. So now I'm pretty much naked and freezing. She dabbed down my body with a cold damp rag. "You are burning up. I think that your infection has gotten worse. I'm going to take some blood and get it checked. Hopefully the infection hasn't hit the blood stream." she told me as she left the rag over my chest and ran out of the room.
A few minutes later she took blood and by that time it was time to reposition me. At this point I am in way too much pain, and way too tired to be embarrassed as she changed me. As soon as I was repositioned I lost consciousness again.
POV Aria
When morning time came Ezra and his mother came by, but I was too out of it to really notice. "Aria, Aria." Ezra tried to wake me up.
I groaned at him. I feel like I could throw up again but there isn't anything left in my system to throwup. "What?" I groaned as I finally opened my eyes after about ten minutes of Ezra trying to wake me up so that I can speak with his mother.
Ezra didn't even look in the direction of his mother, his face was all seriousness. "Aria the sepsis has come back, an ambulance is coming to take you to the hospital." he informed me.
His mother who has been standing in the corner came a little closer to me, "Don't worry about anything Aria, I'll make sure that you get the best treatment there it. Don't worry about anything, you're going to be just fine." she reassured me. She was speaking more to Ezra then to me because my brain is barely processing any of this. I'm not awake enough for that.
They rushed me to the hospital in ICU and got me on oxygen as soon as possible. They started me dialysis. I drifted in and out of consciousness, but I could hear the seriousness in their voices. They think since they found it almost right away they can get it taken care of fairly quickly, but apparently my organs are already starting to be affected.
At one point when things had slowed down a little bit I looked at Ezra, "How's Hanna?" I asked knowing that whenever something like this happens she usually can't stop throwing up. The bad part of it now is it's because she's sick, not because she wants to throw up.
He was a little startled to hear my voice, so he jumped a little bit, but then he took my hand and kissed it. "She's okay. She's gotten sick, but not too sick. Caleb is with her right now so she should be okay. How are you doing?" he asked me.
I sighed, "I feel like I was run over by a train. How about you?" I asked in reply. He looks tired, I can't say that I blame him.
He sighed, "I'm just tired. I've been so concerned about you. They say that you should be okay though. They're estimating that the infection should be out of your bloodstream by tomorrow evening, then you should be able to go back to the care center next week. There isn't any guarantees though." he replied giving me an update on both of our conditions.
"What did they say about the bed sores?" I asked, I'm pretty sure that it's the latter end of the two hours because my sores are hurting extremely bad right now.
"They are going to continue on the treatment as prescribed for them. You are on a heavy amount of antibiotics and you are in the new bed, so we're hoping that they will start to heal." he informed me with a sigh. These damn bed sore are delaying my recovery more then I would like it to.
The next week went by painfully slow, but they were able to take care of the infection. The bed sores haven't completely gone away, but they've gotten a whole lot better to which all of us are thankful for. I got to go back to the care facility this morning, and I am happy to be back in my room with Hanna. It got way too boring in that hospital room, especially what Ezra had to go back to work. Sure Spencer, Emily, and Toby came by every chance they got during the day to sit with me, but that was only an hour maybe two at a time- max.
Hanna's eyes lit up when she saw me, "I've missed you so much! It was so lonely in here without you! You can only watch so many episodes of NCIS before you start missing your roommate like crazy." she squealed as they pushed my bed into it's place in out room.
I smiled at her, "I missed you too. It got lonely in that hospital room all by myself." I replied as I made myself comfortable in my bed as they left me be so that Hanna and I can catch up.
Not much happened that we didn't already know about in the past week for us to talk about, but we made up things to say until we both fell asleep not too long after.
When I got up Ezra was sitting in the chair beside me with his laptop in his lap and he was typing away. "What are you writing?" I asked with curiosity. He seems to be in a pretty deep concentration so he's obviously in to what ever he is writing.
He jumped as he looked at me since I took him out of his 'zone'. "I have been writing a book about us. Starting from the day that we met in the bar. So far I've gotten to Atticus being born. I'm having trouble finding the words to describe how amazing his birth was and and how much I love him." he informed me glancing at the framed photo of the kids on the bedside table as he spoke about our wonderful son.
I smiled, "That will be quite the book. We've had a crazy ride so far. People will be glued from the first page, it'll be a best seller." I decided as I thought back on our relationship the last four years. From the day that we met and ended making out in the bathroom, the first day of school when I found out he was my teacher, from the day he proposed, to when we had Atticus I have loved him everyday and we have had more obstacles in four years then most people have had in a lifetime.
He laughed in relief to my response, I think he was afraid that I wouldn't approve of him writing about our life. "Well I'm glad that you think so, I was thinking along the same lines. I've thought about our life up until now and I decided that our story is one that needs to be heard. All of the trials that we have been though, all of the drama, health concerns, and getting a beautiful baby boy along the way. It's a story that needs to be told." he said with passion for what he was saying. He is invested in this in so many way.
"Well is there anything that I could do to help? I've got nothing but time at this point. I would love to have a project to tackle that I actually have a little bit of control over." I requested more then offered. I know that my so called project is recovering from well, everything, but it seems that I really don't have any control over that and it's driving me insane.
Ezra smiled, "I was hoping that you would offer that. I would like to have everything from your point of view as well, then when we are both done we can collaborate them together so that there can be both sides of everything." he said with enthusiasm about our project together.
I rubbed his hand, "It's been a long time since we've done anything like this together." I commented. Before the baby was born we used to do projects like this together all of the time, at least one a week. After baby was born things changed, that's when the depression kicked in and I really didn't want to do anything of the sort.
He kissed the hand I rubbed him with, "It has been, I'm excited. I think that this is going to be our best work yet. I can feel it." he told me. His smile is filling his face and he can't seen to stop kissing my hand- not that I want him to.
Even though him kissing my hand is making me feel more turned on then I have in months, I smile and try to clear my head. "So how long have you been working on this?" I asked knowing that if he's already gotten to when we had Atticus that he's been working on this for a little while now. There was so much that has happened in that time period.
Ezra kissed my hand again, "I started it the day that you and Hanna woke up when you were in the hospital." he replied, his face turning from lovey-dovey to seriousness, "When you woke up I knew that I needed to write our story down." he went on with tears in his eyes.
Before he left for the evening he made sure that my laptop was on the table next to me so that when I wake up in the morning I can start working on it. My mind is spinning with everything that I would like to say and how I would like to say it. There is so much that needs to be told.
When I was woken up at ten the next morning to be repositioned I got my computer and went into writing every detail that I could possibly remember from the day that we met, the only things stopping is being repositioned and the uncontrollable factor of me falling asleep every so often.
A few day go by like this, and now that I have a goal, a purpose for my life other then my recovery. I feel so much better because of this. Why didn't Ezra ask me to help him with this sooner? We just got our lunch and Spencer and Toby are here eating with us today. "Wow Aria, I haven't seen you so determined on something in a long time. It's good to see that determination again." Spencer commented noting the computer on the table next to me.
I smiled at her, "I feel better. I've finally got something that I can control to work toward. I feel like I have a purpose again." I explained. I'm loving reliving everything from the beginning of our relationship when everything was new and dangerous. It brings back some hard memories, but I am realizing that these are things that I need to face and there isn't going to be a better time to face them.
Both Spencer and Toby looked so excited for my progress, "That is great Aria. You seem to be feeling so much better. How are the sores?" Toby asked.
I ran my fingers over one of the bandages with a smile, "They're doing better, almost gone. I still have to be repositioned a lot so that they can continue to get better and so that they won't come back." I replied as I ran my fingers over one of the bandages on the back of my head.
Spencer threw away the wrapper from the wrap that she had for lunch and rubbed Hanna's leg as she sat back down. "So Hanna, have you found a project to work on? Having a project seems to be really helping Aria." she asked wanting Hanna to have the same improvement that I've been having since I've starting working on the book.
Hanna shrugged, "Nothing really. I've watched every episode of NCIS, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, all of the Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant shows and Boy Meet's World. I think that's a record to do in a little over three weeks." she answered with a sigh.
Spencer got a determined look on her face, "Well we need to find you a project. What is something that you think that you would like to do?" she asked. You can tell that Spencer is already thinking of a million things in her mind that Hanna would enjoy doing.
Hanna shrugged, "I don't know, what do you think about the What Not to Wear series? I was so sad when that show ended." she suggested. Okay, not necessarily a project but, I guess that's a start... She really needs to stop watching so much TV.
Spencer rolled her eyes at Hanna, "I am not talking about watching TV. Something that you can use your brain for, something that you enjoy doing... You should do hair and makeup tutorials on YouTube! That would be a perfect project for you!" she decided looking excited.
Hanna raised her eyebrows at Spencer, "Spencer is your eyesight okay? What makes you think that I look good enough for hair and makeup videos? My skin is a sick pasty color since I haven't been out side in who knows how long, my eyes are puffy and red, and I just look sick all over." she stressed, feeling self conscious of how she looks.
Spencer's smile got even bigger, "And that's what's going to make them great. Sure you look sick right now, that's because you are sick. That just means that you'll be able to show everyone makeup tricks on how to deal with pasty skin, puffy eyes, and hide the sickly appearance. I never watched any of the videos, but there was that girl with cancer that did makeup videos and they were really popular. People love people with histories." she encouraged trying to get Hanna to feel better about herself.
"I think that would be a great project for you, and I would love to help you with it. I know once I get to some of the more recent stuff in my project that I'm going to need some of your help remembering everything. We can help each other." I offered knowing that doing the YouTube videos would be good for Hanna.
Hanna sat and thought about it for a few minutes. "Okay, I'll see how it goes. It's not like I have to keep on doing them if I don't like it. So Spencer, are you going to go get all of my hair and makeup things for me and a good mirror and camera?" she asked. I guess that since it was Spencer's idea that she has to help with it too. I think that's fair.
She laughed at Hanna. "I don't have another class for another hour I think I can mange that. I'll be back in a few minutes." she said as she picked up her purse, gave Toby and peck on his lips, then quickly walked out the door.
I looked at Toby, him and Mike have become pretty close over the course of these past few months, so maybe I'll be able to get out of him how Mike is really doing. I know that around me Mike is great, but I'm not around him all that often and he could just be putting on an act for my benefit. "How's Mike been doing?" I asked him, hungry for information.
He shrugged, "He's doing as well as to be expected. He's been sleeping a lot and still get's headaches, but they've been getting better. I took him to his doctors appointment last week and his doctor is happy with the progress that he's been making." he informed me. It seems like he is telling me the truth, so I'm happy with his answer.
"Good. Sometimes I feel like he lies to me and Ezra about how he's doing because of how much we have going on, but that just makes me even more stressed out. I know that I'm still pretty sick but I want him to be able to tell me anything. I'm supposed to be taking care of him and it makes me feel like a bad sister when he feels like he can't be truthful with me." I informed him about my stress and worries for Mike.
Toby nodded his head in understanding. "He does that because he loves you, Ar. He worries about you too, trust me. He's a great kid. He's ready for you to be able to come home though, he misses getting to see you everyday." he told me looking proud for my little brother and his best friend.
Hanna smiled, "He is. You know the other week when you and Ezra needed to talk to each other so he came and sat with me for a few minutes? All he did was talk about how concerned he was about you. He is so sweet." Hanna added to how great my baby brother is.
We talked for a few more minutes before Spencer came back with a box that was bigger then she was with her. "Alright Hanna, here is everything that you could possibly need, then if you need anything more- although I'm not sure how you would, we can go to the store and get you whatever you need." Spencer said as she set the box down on the floor next to Hanna's bed.
Hanna raised her eyebrows, "Well how am I supposed to do a makeup video if I can reach the makeup?" she asked in a totally fake bitchy tone. She twirled a strand of hair around in her fingers and gave a serious look.
We all laughed at her. "Okay I'll put everything on you're little moving table thing right here, but then we really have to go, and you two really need your naps. You can both work on your projects when you wake up." she said as she started piling the beauty products onto the table. There really wasn't enough room so she put the rest on the chair next to the bed.
When she was done, I'll be honest I could barely keep my eyes open, so when they left I fell right back to sleep and barely woke up when it was time to change and reposition me, and I was straight back asleep after they were done.
A/N Here is another chapter! Please leave me a review and tell me what you think!
Thank you for reading- another update should come soon!
Love you guys! XOXO ~ TotalCowGirl