It's the Flu

Flu season has arrived.  I feel like it's early this year.  All three kids are down with it, and so am I!  It didn't take any time for it to catch on from one kid to the next.  Slowly, Nella is getting better (she was the first) and now we're waiting on the rest of us.  Caleb had clinic today, and the poor kid still had to go, despite being ill.  We wouldn't send him to school, but we'll send him to the hospital, full of kids with compromised immune systems.  It feels a little strange.  The major difference, among many others, is that when going to clinic with a fever, Caleb wears a mask, and then is put into an isolation room for the duration of the visit.  Isolation, not oscillation.  A mispelled text between us made us laugh about an oscillation room.  I feel dizzy already.

Different from other families, when we get the flu we quickly know what it is, because the hospital tests Caleb.  The upside for us is knowing quickly what the problem is.  The downside is the hospital visit and the nasal swab--a 6 inch stick shoved up his nose and down into his sinus cavity.  It does the trick but feels terrible.  He'll get good care as a result, and by extention we know how to best look after our girls, but it's not a nice procedure.  It was a rough morning for him.  Chemo made him throw up, his port had trouble bleeding back and they couldn't just let it wait until next week, and a nasal swab.  He's understandably worn out, and not just from the flu. 

So, we'll wait it out.  We'll get a call from the hospital with any medication recommendations, and otherwise do what any other family does when the kids are sick: sleep, read books, watch movies.  And do lots of laundry and run many showers. 

Here's to pedialyte and tea!  And lets hope it's not too contagious.