I’m home for the day today as Anne is under the weather. Brian is in the midst of a two-week intense modular course (a semester’s worth of work in 2 weeks) so we’ve been patching together baby-sitting (my Mum, my BIL, the 15 year old in the building…) for Anne. She has done really well despite the lack of continuity or routine. Then we had a very busy weekend where we weren’t home for three days straight. My Auntie and her brood all came out for the week. We’ve had so much fun with them. My cousin and her husband came along with their beautiful daughter (7 years old). Anne has fallen in love with Hannah and they were thick as thieves this weekend. Even this morning, through her haze of sickness, she was wondering where “Bananah” was. We had a lot of laughs, a good visit and generally got reconnected. As the years have begun to go by a bit more quickly, I’ve become more committed to my extended family, wanting to really know them and their stories, build friendships and generally love each other. There are so few people in my life that knew me as a child; being with them gives me a great sense of continuity and rightness. Plus they’re just good people.
All of the busyness and what-not evidently wore poor Anne down. My mum and dad were on “Anne-duty” yesterday and unfortunately, she spiked a very high fever. She was lethargic. To illustrate just how bad she must have been feeling: they took her to the playground and she said “No” and refused to budge out of her stroller. For this kid to turn down an opportunity to “play”, she’s feeling poorly indeed. By the time we were all back home, her fever was almost at 104. Her skin felt like it was on fire.
After everyone left, I went into her room. She woke up and said “Mumma, chair” so we curled up for our nightly ritual even though it was late. She was burning up and I gave her some more Tylenol. Later in the night, around 3 in the morning, she woke up and started to cry. I went into her and she was still very very hot – down to 102.9 but still much higher than I am comfortable with. We curled up in the chair again and Annie said “Mumma, pray”. I all but smacked my forehead – DUH! 
So I did. We prayed over her and her fever. Then I held her until she fell asleep and finally put her down. A couple of hours later, when I woke up, I came into her room and she was bright-eyed and awake, totally back to normal! I could hardly believe it. We had another miracle! There wasn’t any explanation but that God touched her body and healed that fever that had such a strong hold.
She’s not quite herself 100% this morning. By 11:30, she was standing by her crib, rubbing her eyes and saying “Mumma, I so tied” (“I’m so tired”). She’s sound asleep now after a good lunch. I might go for a lay-down myself as I’m fairly weary as well.
I’m so thankful for our Healer. I’m so thankful for answered prayers. I am thankful that God has the heart of a parent. Even something seemingly small like a high fever for my girl doesn’t escape His care.
