I really wish I had proper snow gear because I really wanted to rent a snowboard and take advantage of some wonderful snow but without snow gear it's impossible. I really wish my brothers and sister were there to go snowboarding with. You guys would have loved it.
One of the days we went on a 14 kilometer sled ride down the Austrian alps. That's a little over 8 and 1/2 miles long. When we got to the top of the Alps the sun was just setting and it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I can't even put into words just how absolutely breathtaking it was on the top of that mountain. Unfortunately, again, because I didn't have proper snow gear I couldn't take my camera. My house mom took a picture but I haven't had a chance to get it from her yet. The first half I had my own sled and it was so much fun. I seriously felt like I was a figure in Mario Cart. Speeding past everyone and jumping through ditches. I was the first to arrive at the half way point. I was flying down that mountain like a champ. I will never ever forget that experience. The second half of the Trip Elin and I had to share a sled. Lets just say we barely fit and we would crash every 50-100 feet or so. It was so funny but it was very painful. I really don't think I have laughed that hard in a very very long time. So fantastic! I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Basically my Austria trip consisted of reading (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), playing board games with the kids, and drinking nice warm tea and snuggling under a blanket. It was wonderful.
The day after the sledding trip is when things started to go bad. I woke up the next day with the worse sore throat I have ever had. So I went back to bed and slept all day. I had 104 degree fever and was absolutely miserable. Because I didn't feel any better the next day and still had a really bad fever we all packed up and went home so that I could go to the hospital. When I got to the hospital they took some blood and I waiting for what seemed like forever for the results. Unfortunately for me, my blood work came back very abnormal and I had a very high white blood cell count. Because of this they wanted to keep me in the hospital to give me antibiotics through an IV. I was a little scared because I have never stayed in the hospital before and It was not at all comfortable because I felt like shit, hardly anybody spoke English, the bed sucked, and all the entertainment I had was German T.V. which I of course did not understand. At that point all I wanted was my mom there with me and to be in an American hospital where I could at least know what the hell was going on. I just wanted to cry. I had to stay in the hospital for two nights and three days with a needle in my arm. Not at all how I wanted to end my vacation.
I was released from the hospital yesterday and I am feeling much better now. I'm not at all 100 percent but everyday I feel better. I happy to be alive and okay. I'm happy to be home in my own bed and getting things back in order. Here are some pictures I had taken while I was there. I really wish I would have taken more but that will not be my last trip to Austria with the family. Enjoy
