Gong Xi Fa Cai!

or Lots of blessings and prosperity to you! Happy Chinese New Year!

Normally I like to cook and have a special CNY meal for the family, but nobody in this house has his or her appetite right now. We have all been so sick. I can't remember ever having been this far under the weather. I had a fever and cough for about a week and a half, and in the midst of it, I lost my voice. I still haven't found it yet. Then all the kids had fevers and coughs and felt miserable for about five days. I took everybody to the doctor, but alas, it's a virus, and we just have to work our way through the misery. Lily has an ear and sinus infection, so she is on an antibiotic for that, but it doesn't touch the main symptoms.

Blah. I can't tell you how many unheavenly hours of cartoons these kids have consumed in the past week. I only have the energy to do about a third of a project at a time before I want to collapse. And Rob finally succombed to it, but he was also the first to get better. He even preached on Sunday with a fever.

So, I think we'll all celebrate Chinese New Year, which in reality last about 14 days, next week. Maybe we'll make some paper lanterns today.

Oh, and Rob and I have only nine more days to go on our fast. Then we'll ease back into the eating world with rice and simple veggies. My brain tells me a bucket of fried chicken would be heavenly, but I know my stomach would go into shock and send everything right back out. I guess the chicken can wait!