Influenza A H1N1

My sweet twelve year old Son has caught the H1N1 flu virus.  This morning our village doctor made a house call.  Apparently, my Son is the last one in his class to catch it. 

This is what swine flu does to you, according to my long-suffering doctor: 

First you get a sore throat. 

Then you get a raging fever that lasts for two days, max three. 

Then this virus leaves you with a cough for 10 days afterwards.

To limit the chance of contagion, you should keep your child home from school for 7 days after the start of the fever.  (Guess some parents "forgot" about that part.)

Give the child pain reliever, lots of liquids, and wait for it to pass.

 

As soon as my ten year old Daughter heard that Son had the Influenza A, she started harping on me about opening up the windows to "let the germs out!"  She walked around the house with her hand over her mouth and nose, to "filter" the germs better, I assume.  She fussed at "all these gross used tissues on the counter!  Ever heard of a trash can?"  And "Cover your mouth when you cough!  I don't want to get sick!"  When she whipped out the alcohol to swab down her chair that Son had just vacated, I drew the line.  She was making me laugh, though, and I kind of hated to put an end to the entertainment.  She looked at me accusingly, as if I was making her "breathe all these germs" on purpose.  I wonder if she will grow up to be a nurse.  God help her future patients.

My husband has been popping vitamins and drinking gatorade like it's going out of style since he found out.  I told him that he should  have been doing these things a week ago, not the day the swine flu makes it's Grand Entrance.

Me?  I've been Mamma Nursemaid.  I'm there for him, I coddle him, then I leave him alone when he rolls his glassy eyes, and tomorrow I'm off to stock the pantry and fridge with comfort foods. 

Unless I get sick first.