Did u have enough food before you went to bed??
What level are you playing??
What speed are you playing at??
Did you have fishing yet??
You may want to put the game on Pause or 1/2 speed if you are going to be away from the PC for any extended period of time .... i.e. sleeping, working, running about the countryside with friends.......
Odds are they probably starved to death.... but not knowing what tech levels you have.... cant be sure...