Flu Happens, Despite Mom's Best Efforts

I made five visits to the doctor last week. It’s a new record for me but not one that I’d care to repeat. My two kids caught the flu (most likely the H1N1, according to their doctors), my mother had bronchitis and I had to have my eye checked.

After the fifth medical visit Friday, and then a hunt for Tamiflu at two pharmacies, I was wiped out. Luckily, my boss told me to rest. But it’s still not easy being a mom, sometimes. This all happened despite my best efforts to protect my family. When it comes to enforcing hand washing in my house, I’m a drill sergeant: You do not want to mess with me. My kids have reluctantly had the regular flu shot—and so have I— but we are all ineligible for the H1N1 shot at the pediatrician because we’re not in in high risk groups who need to get the shot first.

Still, there were some bright spots amid the sickness. While my mother was seeing the doctor, my 10-year-old son (who hadn't yet gotten sick) and I explored the hospital campus and its woods. He made up his own games, catching leaves as they fell from the trees and marveling at the beautiful tie-dyed designs of their flip sides. He found helicopter seeds, and we watched them float like moths from the open air top of the parking deck down two flights to the lake. It was the longest "helicopter" seed flight I've ever seen! Too soon, my mother emerged from her appointment.

And this week looks promising. One son has returned to school and the other appears to be on the mend at home. Tamiflu is a wonderful thing, but as the doctor said, it’s no substitute for rest. Even on Tamiflu, which is supposed to lessen the severity of the flu, both of my kids had fever for several days and were weak. Now the question is, how does my teenage son make up all the work he’s missed? So far, the teachers are working with him on extending deadlines, but I still had to throw a fit to get him in bed at 11 p.m. as he was bent on finishing his homework.

If you haven’t had the flu shot yet, go for it. It’s takes time to get the kids over to the pediatrician after school, but it’s worth it. Here are 10 reasons why you should get vaccinated from The Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition. You can also find the closest flu clinic right here on WRAL.com.

Now, anyone has any advice on how to convince a stubborn husband he needs to get a flu shot?