Did you think I'd left blogging behind forever? At some point, I think Thursday, we began sinking into the abyss. I'd enjoyed rock-like sleep for the 2 weeks Ross was gone, but hardly slept at all that night. It never occurred to me that I had fever. By Saturday morning, the snow was coming down in sheets and I couldn't get out from under mine. I had started an antibiotic (knowing exactly which infection was re-visiting me). Everything is over the counter here. Everything. It was at that point that I began to see God's Hand in the timing of all this. My good friend Vicki had sent me a big ol' box of hand-me-downs for the girls, which, this time, included Polly Pocket in all her glory...vans that play hip-hop, accessories, male Polly Pockets, the works. If I could just get it from my van. I stayed in pajamas, put on my duck shoes from the 9th grade, shivered under my coat, and trudged down. I got the box upstairs with much effort, snipped it open, and said, "Have fun. I am in bed if the house catches fire." For the next 8 hours, my three little girls developed Polly's World in the den. Benaiah happily watched them. I slept with an occasional meal for Benaiah in between. They had no lunch. At 5pm Annika made everyone sandwiches, fruit, chips and cookies. Knowing I was sick, our school caretaker said he'd go get Ross. I debated. Could I really NOT be there to get my firstborn off the airplane? Everyone dressed and we stumbled out into the snow to the van. It was absolutely wonderful to get our two-some back. We are so much better as a seven-some.

Mary Erin came off the plane with a severe sinus infection. I kept repeating my mantra, "Just get everyone home. Just get everyone home." My sweet husband, jet lagged and snowed under with work, took such good care of us all day Sunday. Mary Erin and I both were starting our comeback on Monday, then Esther complained of a sore throat. By Monday night, she had fever that was giving her nightmares. I couldn't wait to see the sun come up and get her to the doctor. The doctor explained, blah blah blah (lots of Turkish medical terms here), then, "You call it Scarlet Fever, I believe." Did she just say Scarlet Fever? The room spun a little. I wanted to say, "Is that the disease that left Mary Ingalls blind?" but I refrained. But oh, how I thank the good scientist who cared not for himself, but for humanity as a whole, and produced penicillin. One shot and she was good to go.

Today has been blissfully boring. I had a boiled egg. I read my Bible. I washed the linens of my child with Scarlet Fever. I thanked God for His good timing and for medicine. And we are back from the abyss...