My nearly wasted week only got worse.

I got up at 4 this morning to head for the hospital, looking forward to taking part in my much-loved avocation of being a doula. Steph called and said she was loading the car to go in, and so I pulled on my clothes, a bit of makeup, and headed across town.

To make a long, agonizing story short, I made it only as far as the emergency room entrance, where I was overtaken by either a violent case of a GI virus, or perhaps a case of food poisoning, though no one else in my house was sick today. I came very close to passing out in the restroom and had to be carried out by nurses and then rescued by two of my kids. They brought me home to bed and I missed the entire labor and delivery, never even getting as far as Steph's room.

As God would have it, Steph did fine without me and delivered little Elizabeth Noelle before noon. :-)

God graciously allowed The Papa to come home today so he's making me tea and comforting my weak body and bruised spirit. It's good to have him home. Many years ago when he was away on a quite lengthy trip, I cross-stitched a picture of a home at dusk, with these words running around the edges:

I hear your footsteps in the hall...you are home again and safe...




All the burdens of the day are lightened...and all the night noises are music to my ears...

Tonight, burdens are lightened.