Halfway down the Danube

Happy New Year!

Thanks for all the good wishes, to everyone. Sorry to chime in so late but I spent the last two days at the hospital with the kids. It came very suddenly -- in the night to the new year they suddenly deteriorated and in the morning, I brought them to what we call "the children's ambulance", sort of a not-quite-ER for kids. I had hoped for some miracle drug - you know, the really chemical stuff they won't give you without supervision of a doctor or something. Instead, I found myself struggling to hold back tears as the pediatrician tried to put IV drips into my babies. When your child screams in pain at the top of his lungs, it's hard not to cry, even though you know that it's better for them if you don't.

But I digress.

We got out today, after two days of drips (long story about why it's not nice to have two kids in hospital, both with IV's, and only one adult to care for them, will follow later, maybe). I'm at the end of my strength - the kids had bad nights, again, but they are much better and I'm hoping for some rest tonight. All in all, I had ten hours of sleep in the last three days. I look very, very bad.

So this is all you guys get today, I toddle off to bed and I'll see you all later!