7/23 - Chengdu to Guilin

12:15AM-  I'm in the bathroom and it's not looking good!  I've had the worst pain in my gut and just want it to go away.  Megan is sleeping soundly which is great, she's been bouncing back steadily. Kyle & Natalee are in the other room also sleeping soundly.  (Kyle asked the hotel to fix his AC and they brought him a portable unit so he's really comfy tonight.).  The pain has subsided only because I've now gotten sick.  Back to bed to sleep this off.  We have to fly out to Guilin early and I don't want to be sick.

2:30 am - back to the bathroom!  My body hurts all over!

3:15 am - I've never thrown up so much in my entire life!  I totally get how Megan was feeling so terrible, I am too.

5:00 am - Kyle comes in expecting me to be packed and ready to go.  I'm not.  I'm in the bathroom.  He has to get Megan up and ready, finish tossing my things in a bag, help me get somewhat ready and haul all our luggage down to the lobby by 6am.  He flys into "superman" mode and gets it done.  (However, later on we realize that in the haste we left Natalee's new Great Wall China hat in the hotel.  😞 )

Our guide passes out box breakfast to everyone on the bus and we head to the airport.  It is taking every ounce of my strength just to sit on the bus upright.  At the airport I manage to put on a smiling face for the security camera at the security check in.  Once I'm through I sit and wait for the rest of my family.  We slowly make our way to our gate and of course it's at the end of the concourse.  One of our new friends kindly flags down a golf cart and asks them to take me down there.  What a huge help!!  I'm hoping I'm done being sick as I can't stand the thought of throwing up with anyone else around or on the plane.

On the plane I'm burning up and Kyle fan's me pretty much the entire flight.  Of course, just before take off I get sick again.  I sleep the entire plane ride.  The girls are very helpful for Kyle!  In the airport at Guilin, our friend finds a wheelchair which proves to be invaluable as I feel horrible!  Just get me to the hotel so I can sleep!  Being sick in a foreign country is the worst, but it's better now when we have new friends and group support than at the end of our trip when we're alone.  Thank you friends for your help, support and concern!!

Kyle and the girls haul everything up to our rooms.  Kyle gets us settled in and me into bed.  Meanwhile, Natalee says she's feeling "off" and doesn't want to go to lunch.  What, no!  If you know Natalee, she enjoys food so we know she's not feeling well.  So, Kyle gets her settled into the other room where she can sleep.  Kyle & Megan go with the group to lunch.  I guess the scenery around Guilin is incredible!

Off & on all afternoon Kyle runs back and forth between my room and Natalee's and manages to keep Megan going too.  Megan hangs out with some friends, hoping to go swimming but there is a thunderstorm going on.  As they wait it out, they find an indoor pool and her friends Dad takes them, which costs 50 yuan.  Eventually the thunder ends and they move to the outdoor pool.  Megan had a great time with new friends and swimming.  Kyle is most likely spent from all the running and care he's given us.

Natalee ends up sleeping all day, about 16 hours.  I sleep off & on and try to drink some Gatorade & tea.  My fever eventually breaks and I start to feel a little better.  Kyle orders some pizza from the hotel restaurant for himself and Megan eats her hamburger with her friend. She said it didn't taste too good though and ended up not eating it.  Ground beef is one thing the Chinese don't really know how to cook.

At one point today Kyle wasn't sure Nat & I were going to make it on our river cruise tomorrow.  He talked to our guide who said we could cancel one room in Yangshuo and keep one in Guilin.  Praying that doesn't happen and that we're better!