so this is why I never became a doctor...

FALSE ALARM EVERYONE! Alek doesn't have the swine flu!

Because I can't diagnose stuff to save my or anyone else's life...
Well, THAT and then there's that whole fear of needles thing.
Anyway...just popping in to say 'FALSE ALARM EVERYBODY!" Alek doesn't have the swine flu...and Shad's clear too. Turns out Alek has strep...which, as odd as it sounds, I was thankful to hear. He's been on antibiotics for 24 hours and headed back to school this morning well on the road to recovery.
Shad's headache continued to get worse after I last posted - and then he ended up losing his lunch (or in this case supper). Turns out? He was going through caffeine withdrawal. My wonderful husband, unbeknownst to me, started drinking caffeinated pop again a few months ago. Since I didn't know, I bought him a different brand of pop (caffeine free) on my most recent shopping trip. He didn't notice the difference and well...went through detox! :)
I have no sympathy. Well, okay. I did while he was urping...but afterwards, nah. He knew what he was getting into when he went back on that stuff.
Of course, our medical adventures weren't over with just these two.
Anya decided to get in on the action last night. She started complaining of an ear ache. Knowing EXACTLY what it was, we drugged her up, sent her to school and then Shad took her in to the doctor this afternoon.
Sure enough. An ear infection.
Sigh.
Problem is...our health insurance changed their prescription policy a few months back and now we have to meet a deductible before they start paying anything. Usually its not that big of a deal. Everybody has those $4 prescriptions anymore. But since she was just on an antibiotic for an ear infection they decided not to give her the amoxicillan this time. The new drug? $104!
Unfortunately we can't do that and eat this week, so I get to call the doctor tomorrow morning to see if there are any other options.
Oh! And on the medical front...the school district sent a note home today saying they will be offering H1N1 shots to all their students next week. If we want one for the kids, we're supposed to sign and return a form.
Something bothers me about that...and I'm not exactly sure what.
Part of it, I'm sure, is that I like being there for my kids when they get a shot. Shots aren't fun. They should be able to have their mom there, if needed...especially Ellie.
The other problem is much more undefinable. I think its that I like being there WITH my kids with they get a shot. I don't like the idea of someone giving my kid a shot without me being there...ya know?!
And then there's the whole - mass, government-endorsed, inoculation thing. I get my kids shots...Shad and I consider it our responsibility as parents. (We are NOT going to have a discussion here about inoculations people!) but I'm not comfortable with the shots are being provided through the schools.
Schools are for education...not for health management.
Anyway...I'm still wading my way through what I'm thinking about all of this, but in the meantime we have to have the forms back in by Friday. I imagine we'll go ahead and get the shots. Its nearly impossible to get four kids rounded up to go to the doctor to get a shot...besides, the shots are free...and THAT's something I'm all for.
Especially when antibiotics cost $104!!!

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virus 2...humans 0

My big guy never gets sick, so when he gets knocked down by something I know he's really ill.

The pigs have moved in...made themselves at home...and are taking us out, one by one.
Alek was first. He got up in the middle of the middle of the night with a fever of 101. I gave him some medicine and settled him down on our bedroom floor, just so I could keep a better eye on him. He slept the rest of the night - although I didn't. My big guy NEVER gets sick, so when he gets knocked by down by something I know he's REALLY ill.
When he got up this morning, the fever was up to 102.
Sigh.
I really probably should have taken him in to Urgent Care this morning, but honestly the fever was pretty well under control at that point and his only other complaint was a sore throat, so I decided since I had a built-in babysitter in Shad, I had better head to the office (yes, on a Sunday) so I could get SOME work done . I figure if I've put in the time, its less sick time I'll have to take this week (once again, I'm thankful for a supervisor who has children...and understands). I brought home all of the stuff I'll need to work at home this week, if necessary, but working at home is NEVER very productive.
By the time I got home, Alek's fever was up to 103. Thankfully, it comes down with medication...although this time it also took a luke-warm shower.
His temp has been hanging out around 99.7 ever since. Let's hope it stays that way.
Meanwhile, Shad started slowing down.
He ran that minor temp last night, but honestly? He runs minor temps All. The. Time. I don't know what it is about the guy, but you can look at him wrong and he'll spike to 101. Crazy stuff.
Anyway...
I figured it was his bi-monthly fever...but what do you know, this afternoon he crashed on the couch with chills, headache and the start of a sore throat.
Great.
So. Should we start taking bets on whose next? So far, no one else has symptoms. I am a bit run down, but I think its just from a restless night. I'm off to head to bed early to try and cut this pig thing off at the pass.

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heeeeere piggy, piggy, piggy

There's nothing official, but Alek was looking a bit peaked tonight.
He was laying around on the couch, eating next to nothing, had red rings around his eyes and was just overall feeling kind of icky.
So far no fever...keeping our fingers crossed.
Shad on the other hand is running a mild fever.
Security may have been breached...we may be under attack...will keep you updated.

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