Yes...we are still alive...!!!

Can't tell you all what a holiday season this has been. Besides being away from home, we have all been terribly sick, and still are. It is going on week three for some of the kids and Jeff. We really thought the flu had come around. A few had it ]cf\ymn/b aQter in about a week. Caleb and Hannah are still very sick. Jeff is coughing quite a bit too. I am thinking pnuemonia maybe. The doctor's office was closed yesterday and today as well, so if we can hold out, we will go tomorrow. I am afraid that we will wind up going to the hospital for x-rays though. We'll see. We just can't seem to shake this thing! So naturally, our holiday was mixed with feelings of dissapointment at not being able to attend church services together, cleaning up messes and trying to have fun with new toys in the midst of it all. Each of the children got a board game, but it is difficult to get in a game for everyone. Fortunately, we did get extreme UNO which we can play together and it is very fun. The big hit was the Play Station 2 from Nana and Granddad. They have had fun with that playing racing car games and Lord of the Rings. The children bank up time on lkoil.iutures. First I want to show some of Hannah's "Cinders" play. It went so well. The acting was very good, not to mention the singing.

Hannah played a ball guest, 'Lady Dosh.' She is in a maroon, sleevless dress on the left, with her hair up, clapping I think. Two pictures on the right of the blog.

The Ugly Sisters were played by boys and they were a hoot. This play ended up with one of the Ugly Sisters marrying the prince, who was quite conceited, and Cinders married "Buttons" who was a very sensitive, loving man. What a happy ending. It was a cute and funny play.
It is now 1 January 2005. I thought I could finish the post I started on the 28th, but it never happened.
We have three sick children still. I took Hannah, Sarhah and Caleb to the doctor on Wednesday. Hannah has glandular fever, which is just a virus. Caleb and Sarah viruses as well. Since then, Hannah is feeling a little bit better. Her whole body hurts and she is slowly doing more each day. Sarha is fine, except for very chapped lips. Caleb still has a fever and is complaining more of an ear ache. Abigail now has a fever too, but is managing. I am thankful that the doctors here are ruluctant to give antibiotics, I think it is much better for the children and it will help them when they are older, but it is very hard on us now. We are going on our 4th week of being ill. I can't remember when I slept through the night last. To make this long story shorter, I will make small posts at a time until we are caught up. Sorry about the delays in the blog and Christmas mailings. I have felt like a walking zombie for so long. Pray that the children get well soon. Thank you!