I would say yes - but only when you are ready. You won't want to do it as soon as you go on leave - but maybe 3-6 months after when you are settled you might feel up to it. The extra cash is always handy.

At my work we had the same thing happen with our Marketing Manager. We had an "acting" person for three months and then she worked from home on a fairly relaxed arrangement for 9 months until she came back.