In case anyone noticed, I've been away for a few weeks. After spending Chinese New Year in Shanghai last year, my three year old son had nightmares for weeks due to the insane fireworks. I swore then that I would never ever spend Chinese New Year in China again until both kids were old enough to understand the insanity of the fireworks. So this year, we decided to splurge and take the kids to a luxury villa for 10 days in Koh Samui, Thailand.

From the beginning, things just didn't feel right. The logistics of getting 5 families all with children ranging in age from 5 months to 4 years just seemed like a nightmare. Getting flights organized at the right times -- no one really wanted to do that 1am red eye return flight from Bangkok, was another ordeal in itself. It seemed like everything was a big obstacle and we hadn't even packed for the trip yet.

Then the week before we left, my son had a cold. No fever, just the sniffles and a slight cough. I knew this was going to be disaster since this winter every cold he's gotten has turned into a fever for his baby sister. And I was right. The Tuesday before we left, Natalie came down with a fever. I immediately took her to the doctor who deemed it a virus and all was well. Normally, this would be fine. However, just 3 weeks ago, my little 10 month old had pneumonia. In my gut, I knew this was not going to turn out well. I asked the doctor for antibiotics to take with me, but she reassured me that the doctors in Koh Samui were great -- they even make house calls so you don't have to go to the hospital. Also antibiotics were readily available there and even cheaper than Shanghai. So I made the decision that Nat was ok to go and we needn't take any antibiotics with us. Little did I know that this one tiny decision would lead to one of the most stressful experiences of my life.

About 7 days into our 10 day trip Natalie came down with a 40 degree fever. She had been wheezing all week so I immediately knew it was pneumonia again. I called the doctor to come and give us antibiotics as I was familiar with the regiment she had gone through last time. But the doctor took one listen to her lungs and rushed us into the ambulance and said she had to be nebulized asap. They were rushing us as if Natalie was not going to make the 45 min drive to the hospital. I left alone as my husband stayed in the villa with my son.

In my mind, I kept thinking why can't you just give me some antibiotics and let us go? I don't want to leave my family. I'm in a foreign country where I don't speak the language, and I have no idea what type of hospital I'm going to. Surprisingly the hospital was not bad. They were very professional. Nat was nebulized, x-rays were taken, and lots and lots of blood was drawn. Natalie indeed had pneumonia -- but now in both lungs. They told me we would have to be admitted and the rest is a blur. I felt completely and utterly helpless, things were going on around me and people were saying things that I didn't understand. Natalie looked fine. She was breathing ok, her fever was down, she was actually laughing and playing. She didn't seem listless or short of breath. But the doctors were acting like Natalie wasn't going to make it. I asked if there was a nebulizer we could borrow (like you can at Shanghai United) and take home with us. I could give her Motrin and nebulize her at home and then she'd be more comfortable with her daddy and her brother. But they insisted she go on IV and be admitted. Again, I was forced with the decision of what to do. In my gut, I knew she'd be fine if we went home, but then all the staff looked like I was a crazy person for wanting to take my daughter home. I gave in to the doctors and admitted my daughter and had her fitted out with an IV.

The next day, the doctor came in and checked Natalie and said she was still wheezing. Obviously, one night wasn't going to cure her pneumonia. This was going to take days. The doctor told me we would not be allowed to fly home the next day. That's when I almost "lost the plot." Natalie was happy. She was eating, she was drinking, she seemed fine. Her fever was gone and it was just the wheezing. I knew if I could just get her back to Shanghai all would be ok. I spent the whole day fighting the hospital to let us out and almost at the end had to physically remove Natalie's IV and escape. Finally they let us go. Once we left, Natalie was laughing, jumping and so excited to be out of that prison.

Obviously we made it back to Shanghai in one piece and I'm happy to say Natalie seems to be almost fully recovered. We now have purchased our own nebulizer that we will always carry around with us. And next time we go on any vacation, I will be sure to bring the antibiotics with us.

The moral of this long story is -- parents, always go with your gut. You know your child better than anyone else. And don't feel bad fighting for what you think is right.

Now that we are back home, where the kids are fast asleep in their own rooms, and ayi is here to help with cooking and cleaning, I finally feel like I'm on my luxury vacation. Who knew that once you have kids, the idea of a luxury vacation takes on a whole new meaning. After this experience, I will take the World War III bombing fireworks over any "vacation" ever again.