Around the Web…

These links are worth a click:

• Why do babies love Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” music video? — TIME.com
• Tyra Banks does a talk-show segment on tots who swear — Jezebel
• The flu shot is now available; should you get it? — Just the Facts, Baby
• An Islamic teen who fled her family to convert to Christianity is ordered to return home — CNN
• Eight playdate dos and don’ts — lilSugar

Comments

Ok where do I start with the flu shot? I have four children ranging from 17 – 5. The oldest has asthma. I try to get her the regular flu shot every year however this year was hard because our health care providers ran out. So this past weekend was not only homecoming which our two oldest she’s 17 he’s 14 each had “dates”. But also a soccer game for the 14 year old and a huge swim meet for the 17 year old. She was complaining of a sore throat that Saturday morning but hey its fall and damn cold here in this state (Wisconsin). Considering she had a sore throat she placed 5 out of 36 girls so I “ignored” her “my throat hurts speech”. On Sunday morning she was totally wiped out. By Sunday afternoon she was running a fever of 104.6. With loads of meds in her I could only get the fever down to 103.6. She had every symptom of H1N1. But also the good ole regular flu. We took her into urgent care. They put a mask on her right away. She at first just was going to see a nurse. The nurse went to speak to the doctor and when he (the nurse) came back said she has the “flu” get plenty of rest and drink lots of liquids. But then the doctor came in and tells him that he was wrong. Since she has asthma with having to attacks today and a high fever at home they have to do the “swine test”. He also asked if she received her flu shot. I told him now she just turned 17 Saturday and her apt is not till Monday. He scolded me for waiting till her birthday and said she should have been here in September. Anyway this poor child had a long, long swab go up into her nose and down her throat. When the doctor and nurse did this test they had to wear a mask that gets suctioned on their faces. It took them each about 10 minutes to put them on. It was very funny to watch this. The paper work that I had to fill out, 3 sheets that get sent out to the state of Wisconsin and for the CDC was wild in itself. We were told it would take up to 3 days to get this test back. Since this was Sunday night we should hear from them on Wednesday night. The doctor called us by Tuesday evening with a positive result. And said that just because it’s positive we should speak with her physician and ask him when the H1N1 comes out should she still get the shot. I asked why? He said the jury is still out on whether or not they are immune after you have had it. This child is so sick even while taking the prescriptions Tamiflu and codeine. My poor husband is sleeping on the couch and our very sick daughter is sleeping with me. She has slept in my bed since Sunday night. It’s funny how at times she wants to do things on her own even if I know she is going to fail. But when she is sick she finds comfort in my arms. But inside its only matter of time before each and every one of us fall to this horrible “flu”. My husband and I are joking that we will have sickness in our house till about Thanksgiving. Argh! Funny thing about this entire thing she is the one who is my germ aphob. She won’t even push a grocery cart because of germs. She always carries her hand sanitizer around. So much for that theory.
The next question is will I get the other kids vaccinated. No! they have been exposed. I will not let their fevers get to 103. I was told that I don’t even need to bring them in because they don’t have preexisting conditions and they will not give them Tamiflu because they don’t have the preexisting condition. Seeing that my daughter is on Tamiflu and is super ill. I can’t imagine how sick the others could end up. SO I am going to take them in and beg, plead for the Tamiflu. She is much better this morning. If she did not have the Tamiflu I was told that the flu symptoms would have lasted another 3 days. This was long enough! Good luck to all out there. This truly sucks!

- mary on October 15th, 2009

Mary,
I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter and I’m praying for the best! Will you and your family be getting the H1N1 vaccine?
I’m a mother of a 3 year old and I still can’t decide what the right thing to do is.

- jess on October 15th, 2009

My daughter had the flu 3 weeks ago. She woke up on Monday morning with a 103.5 fever and it didn’t go down past 102 until it broke on Saturday. 5 1/2 days. She took Motrin and Tylenol for the fever and Robitussin for the cough. The dr didn’t give her any Tamiflu. So far, we have been lucky that no one else has gotten sick. I was told they didn’t need to do the test to see which strain of flu it was because the H1N1 is the only strain going around right now.

- Lynn on October 15th, 2009

Jess
I am torn. Seeing how sick my daughter got with this I am not sure. I think since they have been exposed to the H1N1 I don’t think the shot will help. If the doctor says that it would lessen the severity of the symptoms than yes I will have them get the shot. But if they think it won’t make a difference than no I will not have them get the shot. I have an appointment to speak with him tomorrow. So for now we are just practicing hand washing and sanitizing and using a lot of Lysol spray. Although we always wash our hands and I have always had hand sanitizer in every room. The Lysol is new and our poor daughter who has asthma has coughing attacks after I spray the house. I want to keep this ‘flu’ at bay if there is such a thing.
Good luck! My advice is listen to your heart. Tell your doctor that you would be more comfortable with her either having the shot or not. DON’T let someone dictate your fears or put off your fears. Be comfortable in your decision. It’s your child. Not theirs. Hopefully they will be accommodating.

- mary on October 15th, 2009

My 11 year old had the flu shot earlier (about 4 weeks ago), but last week started to get a really high fever, sore throat, etc. I took him in and he was diagnosed with the flu on Friday. I was told to keep giving him Tylenol and cough medicine and he would be “good as new” by Monday. Doctor said his flu would be a lot worse if he had not have received the flu vaccine. That was not the case. By Tuesday night, he still had high fevers, cough had gotten much worse, vomitting, had trouble breathing, etc. I called doctor and he said to bring him into the office Wednesday a.m. I took him in and he tested positive for pneumonia. They sent us home with an inhaler, antibiotic and cough medicine and told me to followup with them in 2 weeks. 2 weeks seems like such a long time when my child has had a fever of up to 102 for 8 days so far and won’t eat anything.

- Lisa on October 15th, 2009

I was told when I got mine that the flu shot was not effective in those who already have either strain. I’m sort of terrified that I’ll catch H1N1 from someone (I’m in college at the moment, and to miss class is a death wish) I would recommend getting shots for your children if they don’t already have either strain. I’ve been getting the one for the regular strain of influenza for the past 14 years, and have not had the flu since preschool. (before I started gettng the flu shot)

- Sylvia on October 16th, 2009