Tired Mama.com

H1N1 and a really big sigh

When my daughter got up for school today and complained about a sore throat I must admit I paid more attention to her then I would have this time last year.

I used to be the type of Mom who figured that if there was no fever, blood or vomiting my kids could go to school.

This morning? This morning I wavered a bit and then I went here and used the provincial flu assessment tool to see if I needed to do anything for her.

I didn't. She's fine but I must admit I'm turning into a bit of an um, lunatic over the smallest cold symptoms in my kids these days.

You see, all this hoopla in the paper over the 'Swine Flu' has made me uneasy. It's also made me more aware of how fast a healthy kid can get really sick.

And?

I. Don't. Like. It.

I was the Mom who, a short month ago, wasn't going to give my kids the H1N1 shot. I figured that we'd been through many flu seasons and never really gotten that sick so, why bother? I'm also not a big fan of putting stuff into my family's bodies for no good reason.

What changed?

Well a child, a healthy child who lived one town over from us and, in many ways, reminded me a lot of my own son died from H1N1.

Died.

Gulp.

I then talked to a friend who is an ER critical care doctor and I asked him his opinion on getting the vaccination for my family.

He told me to get the H1N1 shot.

I asked him what the difference was between this flu and the other flu's that I've been blithely ignoring in the past.

'Leanne,' he said, 'this flu can kill you.'

Oh.

So, right now? As of today, my two younger children and I have had the H1N1 shot and my husband and my older daughter have not.

I plan on taking my older daughter to get the shot soon. This will be difficult as she is completely and irrationally terrified of needles.

Sigh.

Hubby? I've given him my opinion, now I just hope he finds the time to look after it for himself. I may have to badger him a bit about it too.

Double sigh.

What did you decide to do?

H1N1 R Not Us. Yet.

Are you sick? Are your kids sick?

These seem to be the most asked questions around my town lately. And, for the record, we've all been pretty healthy. Thank-you for asking.

But because everyone has been talking about the flu and the H1N1 vaccine, I've been doing some research on the internet to try and figure out what, if anything, I need to do to keep my family healthy.

I've found some interesting stuff. Here's what most sites seem to be recommending.

1. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue out. Cough into your upper sleeve if you don't have a tissue.

Okay, I get this but does anyone actually remember to do this? Me? I was trained to cover my mouth with my hand when I sneeze. It's what I still do. Actually now I usually remember half-way through my sneeze that I'm supposed to be sneezing into my sleeve and so I now, when I remember, quickly move my hand away from my mouth just fast enough to sneeze into my uh, arm.  Great. Yes, as a matter of fact I now do carry lots of anti-bacterial wipes around in my purse. Sigh.

2. Avoid large crowds of people where viruses can spread easily.

Um, can you say three Christmas concerts? Yep, in the next two weeks we have three children's Christmas concerts to attend. Each concert will be held in an overheated crowded auditorium and yes, we'll probably be shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of coughing sick people. Yep, we're doomed.

3. Keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (gel or wipes) handy at work, home and in your car. It needs to be at least 60% alcohol to be effective.

Yes, I went and bought these and they are now somewhere in my purse. As a matter of fact they are lost down in that pit along with my car keys. Please let me know if you find either. Thanks.

4. Keep common surfaces and items clean and disinfected.

Hallelujah! The GOVERNMENT is now telling me to keep my house clean. Kids, are you reading this? Can I now threaten my teens with jail time if they don't clean up after themselves? Please?

5. Get both seasonal and H1N1 flu shots.

Okay, we did this. Points for me, but the story behind it? Well, that's a whole other post.

Sigh.

Seriously though, do you want to know more? This is the place I gathered my information from.

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/ccom/flu/

Stay healthy, my friends....

Oh, and I have small print today too....
I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central and received a Mom Central gift pack to thank me for taking the time to participate.

www.MomCentral.com :)

He's just nice.

Last week I had to take my darling daughter shopping for an outfit to wear to a family wedding.

Since my eldest daughter doesn't like to shop, I knew the trip was going to be difficult - and yes, that's an understatement.

When I came out of the mall after a stressful few hours I was surprised to find that my van had been moved in the parking lot. Yep, it had been moved three spots away.

No, I was not losing my mind.

My van was also clean and full of gas.

The note inside said this was a gift from my secret admirer.

Yep, while I was inside the mall Tired-Papa had driven there, picked up our van, filled it with gas, washed it and returned it to the lot.

Personally? I think it's the sweetest thing ever.

Some ladies that I know? Told me that he must be feeling guilty about something or having an affair.

Ah no, he's not. He was being NICE.

And he is nice - very nice. And that is just one of the many reasons why I love Tired-Papa so much.

Thanks, hon.

Take your Child to Work Day

Today was the day in my home town where you were supposed to take your Grade 9 (Freshman) child to work with you - only if you happen to have one kicking around the house, of course.

This is a provincially run program set up to give the kids a glimpse into different job opportunities and help them see a little of what the 'real' world looks like.

So, Tired Papa took our eldest daughter to work with him today.

She had a good time and seemed to enjoy herself. The only problem she had was everyone kept telling her all day that she looked like uh, me.

Um, people? Although I am not coyote ugly, no fourteen year old wants to be told all day that she looks like her forty-something year old Mom.

Just sayin'. 

And yes, I do find the whole thing funny - in an evil sort of way.

Bwaahaha.