Typhoon Usagi

There are lots of similarities in preparing for a typhoon as a hurricane or snowstorm.  You've got your news rhetoric..."this is the biggest storm in 34 years", craziness at the grocery store, excitement for missing school.  This was our second storm in a month, but this one was stronger and originally was coming straight for Hong Kong. Listening to different predictions, we decided that we could make it to church on the island and back before the rains started, and we were right. The rest of the day (Sunday) was a normal lazy Sunday...our day of rest.  Although it was extra nice since it had been a three-day weekend...Mid-Autumn Festival was Friday.  Andy decided he needed to walk to the grocery store, so he took our adventuresome kids (Josh, Grace and Abby) and they were back in about 45 minutes. Not bad until you consider that it takes 2 minutes to walk there, and he had three things on his list!

Funny thing, thinking back, it really wasn't until last Wednesday until I had heard about the storm. I don't know if it is because it was fast developing, or because I don't listen or read local news, but someone mentioned it briefly, and then I started paying attention. As I was sitting in church, I was so grateful that we lived in a house and not a high rise.  I think fear started to sink in for the friends I knew who did, and I wondered how I would be feeling if we did live, say, on the 52nd floor!

The rains began in the late afternoon, but the winds started to pick up when it began to get dark.  The kids all went to bed in the same room, and luckily that room was facing the right way and not getting pounded by the rain and wind.  Our room, on the other hand, was shaking, and I kept thinking that our windows would surely give out soon.  It was the loudest storm I had ever heard, and I was just waiting for one of my dear little cherubs to come visit.  I finally fell asleep around 11:30pm...and then woke up again at 2:45 because Abby was scared...even though the wind was gone:)

While it was still raining this morning, the storm could have been much worse...it veered north of HK about 90 miles.  But, it was still a Typhoon 8, so the kids and Andy didn't have to get up for school...woohoo! We had a lazy morning...Andy worked in his office and had a call, but we enjoyed another day of rest.  Then they changed the Typhoon 8 to Typhoon 3 before 10am, so Andy had to report to work (the rule is if it is below a Typhoon 8 by 12pm, you must go to work).  By the afternoon, you would not have suspected there had been a storm.  We lost a pot and a tree, but other than that it had stopped raining and the clean up had commenced.

I appreciate so many friends and family who reached out to let us know you were praying. This storm was much more devastating for the people just north of us, as lots of people lost their lives.  We do not take it for granted that we were protected and safe from winds so strong that they were flipping cars!!  It made me realize that even when my friends and family are going through some really hard "storms" in their lives on the other side of the world, it is still important to reach out and let them know that I care and am still praying for them.  For me, this has been a little discouraging being so far away and not in a position to help.  But like a good friend once shared with me, "praying is not the least you can do, it's the most you can do." Point made:)


 





 Tangrams and homework

 The winds picked up significantly before dark

Josh, Abby and Emma in their fort

Sarah appreciating some extra "daddy time"

Ups, Downs, and Turn-arounds

This last week has been a bit of a roller coaster.  Last weekend Andy and I were finally able to go out on a date.  We went to an Indian/Thai/Malaysian restaurant that had been recommended by good friends.  It was wonderful!!!!  I was afraid that we were not going to get a seat because we went without a reservation (a definite no-no), and we were running late(yes, I know your surprised).  The restaurant was located on a strip called Knutsford Terrace, where there a several places to eat outside.  We walked up and down to check things out before making a decision.  When we finally decided on Spice, there was no one there! We had a quiet dinner with no one around, no one hovering, no one asking for our table...things we have gotten used to in Hong Kong. The food was wonderful and the price was reasonable.  All in all, a very good night!

This week started out pretty well.  We were still firming up our plans to celebrate Emma's birthday, we had sunshine, and Andy wasn't traveling.  Then Wednesday night hit.  I had run out to the grocery store and got back just in time to tuck the kids in bed.  Abby had been complaining of her stomach hurting, and when she got into bed, she got sick...luckily in a bagged trash can.  That poor child got sick every 30-45 minutes for the next four to five hours.  There's not much to her, so I was a little concerned she was going to get dehydrated.  But in between her getting sick, she kept drinking water.  Then, at around 1am, Josh started the same pattern.  After I got him settled the first time, Sarah started crying.  When I went in to see if she was ok, she had gotten sick in her bed.  I finally called for Andy's help, since he hadn't been feeling well and had gone to bed.  Unfortunately, I can only comfort, clean and caress so many kids at one time.  So I gave him Sarah, who was actually pretty pleasant, while I cleaned her bed, checked on Josh and Abby, and then comforted Grace through her first bout.  Yes, four out of five children were vomiting in a span of two hours...my nightmare.  In fact, it started reminding me of my sister's wedding...for those of you who know that story:) Finally, around 4am, everyone was settled, asleep, and it had been about an hour since the last person got sick.  I hadn't even bothered to lie down yet, knowing it would be harder to get up.  So I was going to bed, when I realized Andy wasn't there...he was in the bathroom...getting sick...UGH!!!!

The next morning, only Josh and Abby got sick again after breakfast.  Everyone slept some more.  Emma woke up wondering what had happened...she had slept through it all and went to school.  I took a short morning nap, woke up and went to tennis, then came back feeling queasy.  Probably not the smartest thing I had ever done, but needed to get out of the house!!! By the afternoon, everyone was feeling much better...  just in time for poor Emma to get home from school and get sick after dinner.  At that point, I was just praying that she would get through this fast before her birthday. Luckily, she only got sick a couple times and was asleep in good time, and sleeping through the night.  The next day was recovery day.  While we were vomit-free, I thought it would be a good idea for everyone to get their strength back.  Sickness like that always makes me thankful for our good health.  It's something you can take for granted, until you don't have it and it takes your family down.  I am also so thankful, and amazed, that I never got sick and was able to care for my family.

Finally, on Saturday and Sunday we were able to celebrate Emma's 10th birthday!!!  On Saturday we had a few families from our church to celebrate, eat some Mexican food, play in the pool, and just hang out.  Then on Sunday we went to church, went out to lunch, visited two stores to find ingredients for Emma's birthday dinner, and opened presents. We ended the weekend with a great game of Rummikub...and Emma won.  It was so important to me that we celebrate Emma's birthday well this year...if not for her, then for me.  Last year, she was in the midst of a challenging transition to a new school, a new house, a new church, new friends...all in a new country...and I was still in the States.  I am so thankful to the Lord for healing us all and giving Emma a great birthday!

 

Opening presents

Bathtime fun

                                                              Emma's favorite...cheesecake

                                                                     Sarah's silly face