Yesterday I felt like crap.

I was aching all over, I alternated between the chills and sweats, and I could barely walk in a straight line.

(I had even failed to publish yesterday’s post on Jane Eyre. It was sitting there ready to go, and all I had to do was click on the “Published” checkbox, and I completely missed it. But fear not — it’s published now!)

As much as I wanted to stay in bed the entire day, last night was the evening of our scheduled date night — our first since the arrival of the baby — and there was no way in hell I was going to miss it.

We had a fantastic meal where I was able to gorge on foods I have been banned/restricted from since the pregnancy — shellfish and beer — and we watched The Social Network, which was appropriate since the campus scenes from the movie had been shot at the school where we had met. (It sure brought back tons of memories, and I was especially thrilled when I saw the building and my window from my freshmen dorm.)

I still wasn’t feeling myself when we returned home, and that’s when it occurred to me that I should take my temperature.

101.4…

I wasn’t coughing/sneezing, nor did I have a sore throat or runny nose. Then I remembered reading about mastitis.

My breasts always hurt whenever they fill with milk, so I hadn’t paid much attention to the additional pain in my right breast. But when I examined it, I found that it was red, hot to the touch, and there was a giant painful lump on one side.

J ordered me to bed and took the night shift. I was able to sleep a glorious six hours, and since I have been taking Tylenol regularly my fever has gone down. However, I am still feeling pretty crappy and my right breast grows more and more painful.

I have a doctor’s appointment later today and he will most likely prescribe some antibiotics to help fight the infection.

Meanwhile, I need to continue to pump regularly and get lots of rest (which is not easy to do with an infant). Luckily, I have the support of wonderful family members: J, who is taking a day off from work today to help watch the baby and to drive me to the doctor, and my mother who will be coming by tomorrow to help with the baby while I continue to get rest.

Here’s to a speedy recovery.