I have been debating a blog for quite some time but the thought was shifted to action a few months ago. We were on a backpacking trip in northern Wisconsin enjoying ourselves, becoming more courageous with nature and seeing what we were made of. Walking in the fresh footprints of bears.18 month old on our backrainand MOSQUITOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Why do they exist again?

Some would say that sounds like a plot for disaster, for us one hell of an adventure.

What happened to me on that backpacking trip and what was to follow has forever changed me.  I was bit by a tick. We spend a lot of time in the woods and know to do nightly tick checks but this one got through and this particular one was carrying a disease. We got back from the trip on Friday the 18th and on Monday the 28th I woke up with a horrible backache. The pain then moved to my neck then came the nausea, no appetite, no energy, my head feeling like a cloud. This brought me to the clinic on Wednesday. Their conclusion, I was dehydrated and presented with a tick borne illness. 3 bags of fluid later and a subscription for antibiotics I left the clinic which was probably my biggest mistake. I went home to rest and try to choke down the antibiotics with some food. That was not possible. Thursday morning I was in the ER. Long story short after an ambulance ride, 4 1/2 days, 3 nights in hospital I survived the week of hell 👏 6 days of unknown infection turned SEPTIC, back, neck and headache unlike anything else. Neck pain felt like all the migraines I ever had hit all at once in one spot. 102.9 fever, acute renal and liver failure, 3 weeks of antibiotics, 12 blood draws, 10 bags of fluid, chest x-ray, kidney ultrasound, catheter, 2 1/2 days with no food, unable to keep water down and not having the strength to fight a fly let alone walk …..(tmi) but period on top of all that……..that was my hell and the worst feeling was laying there thinking for the first time I might not actually make it out of here. I might not see Phoenix turn 2, I might not get to say good bye to him, I may never see all the wonders of the world. All from the tick probably the size of a pepper flake. How can something that small take everything away from me.  There was never a positive test to anything while in the hospital but all the specialists and doctors believe it was Anaplasmosis. The test checks for antibodies which could take weeks to months to detect. I lost over ten pounds and lots of muscle mass. It took me over a month to fully recover.  Through all this mess something wonderful came, I now look at the world a bit differently. I don’t know if I’m going to have tomorrow nor do i depend on that idea anymore. I spend every minute of this beautiful life to the fullest. Life really is all about just doing it. Let go of the life society has shaped, reevaluate yourself and how happy you really are. If something needs to be changed then leave your comfort zone. We get one chance at this and you weren’t born to just pay bills and die.  Get out there and explore. If you have little ones it’s even more important you get out and show them the world. We need to provide them with that experience and I want everyone to be comfortable and confident with doing so. We are working on getting out of our comfort zone everyday. Exploring a new area, starting a blog, trying something new whether it be food, activity or exercise. This is why we want to share our experiences with the world as we discover it. Provide our knowledge of camping, backpacking and traveling with a toddler.

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

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