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Krista was having a real hard time keeping anything down last night. She didn't have a fever, and there was no blood in what was coming out, so I knew that there was no need to call UCLA about her problem. She was clearly dehydrated and, though water didn't sit well, ice chips were doing OK. I thought that with the ice chips she might pull through.

After I put her to bed, I started getting her medicines ready for the next day as usual. but then I noticed that she hadn't taken any of her dinner or bedtime medicines. Then I remembered that she was having increased blood pressure earlier in the day and that she was going to wait until dinner to take her blood pressure medicine to take care of it. But it never happened, and by the time I recognized it, her blood pressure was way to high -- and she wouldn't be able to keep down a pill! Plus, she was severely dehydrated and needed fluids.

So we packed up and got out of the house around 1:30 am, and headed off to our local emergency room. Fortunately, it was a slow night for them, and we got right in. I've never had that happen before! They hooked her up with saline right away while they spent the next few hours running blood tests, and due to a hidden fever, they ran a test for influenza which turned up negative and more blood cultures too. In the end, they really didn't come up with anything conclusive, so they admitted her to 6 Central for the night for observation and to continue giving her fluids. She was feeling better with the extra hydration so they let her go home in the afternoon...shortest stay ever.

By that time, the newly stoked Jesusita fire in the mountains behind Santa Barbara was spewing smoke all over the city. It's been really windy, dry, and hot -- all of which make fires much more likely. Terry McElwee is Division Chief of the Montecito Fire Department. His wife, Mia, was scheduled to bring us a meal tonight. I was expecting that might not happen with the fire going on, but she came through -- with Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup for Cinco de Mayo. Thank you Mia, and may God give Terry insight and help all those firefighters get the fire out quickly and safely!

But now, this is what the LORD says—
He who created you, O Jacob,
He who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
(Isaiah 43:1-2)