First Day, New School Year, Big Adventure

The children went to play at a friend's house and Steve brought them over to the Manila Centre after he finished working at school. The children stayed overnight with me and one of the teenagers from our mission looked after them for the day while I sat in meetings. About an hour before we were due to finish the rain started - fairly typical, considering it is rainy season.  Then I got a text saying it was flooding around school and I thought I should probably get going.  I quickly gathered up the children (quickly being  a relative term) and left - forgetting I had offered a lift to two others heading out to our subdivision!
Steve rang me to say he had lost power at the house with a lightning strike and I should stop and feed the kids at a mall.  So we stopped at Marikina - only to remember Naomi had not found her shoes before we left so I had to carry her round piggy-back!  We left about 6:45 so I was already a little concerned that we were past the childrens' bed times and it was first day back at school tomorrow.  I decided not to go the straight forward route as it was backed up and we headed to Ortigas.  It was fine until we got to the bridge over the Pasig.  Then we stopped and in the next three hours we inched forward until we stopped completely just after Ever mall.  About 9 Josh curled up on the front seat and went to sleep.  We had to improvise with a box we emptied of toys as a portaloo.  Eventually I watched as the G Liner bus drivers had a conversation in front of me which indicated it would be better if we all turned round as the water was up to the guy's knees further down the road.  By this time Steve and I had dialogued a few times about what to do (thank goodness for mobile phones!) and we found out the couple I had forgotten had caught a taxi but had to abandon it and wade home.  This seemed to confirm the futility of sitting in the traffic till who knew when.  Plus, by now other cars were counterflowing down the other road and blocking the road out.  At 10 Steve and I decided I would turn round and drive back to the Manila Centre and stay there again.  I ended up on the same road 3 times trying to find a way back while avoiding the queues which were building up on every road heading out towards our area.
At 11 we arrived back at the Centre.  All 3 were asleep but woke up as we got into the bedroom and began squabbling over which bed they wanted to sleep in!  I was just ready to fall into bed.
We didn't wake till 6 this morning.  (The managers' children leave on the school van at 5:30 to get to school in time!)  I started rushing the children to get dressed and breakfasted so we could leave as soon as possible.  We left about 6:40, went the back way and got to school about 7:30.  Steve had Rose and Joshua's uniforms ready so we changed them and off they went to class.  Amazingly unfazed I would have to say.
I, on the other hand, was wiped out!  I dropped Naomi off as per my arrangement for last day of meetings.  Rang my director to explain what had happened and why I would not be there today, went home and slept solidly for 2 hours!
Then I got some work done at school, ready to start teaching tomorrow!!!!!  I am excited but not sure what to expect and whether I still have "it"!