Sickies (with edit)

We made it through the winter sickness season relatively unscathed.  

And let's face it, that's a miracle considering that the flu was rather prevalent in our region this year, I heard MANY stories about the stomach virus and strep throat making the rounds and hey, the winter overall was very BLAH in terms of weather and inducing a lethargic feeling.

I've been feeling pretty lucky about it.  While we were all exposed to the flu at a New Years Eve party...Mike was the only one who got the flu and because we were forewarned about the exposure, we caught so early that the Tamiflu did its job perfectly and he was only sick for 3 or 4 days (only 2 of those days were really bad).  We had some minor illness here and there but nothing major.

WELL-- I guess we were overdue because in the past month, I was somehow exposed to shingles because I got them (2nd time-I had them in high school) and now Liam has strep throat.  I am already on the mend, thankfully but my mom has shingles as well and because she is older, she is not getting over them quite as easily as I am.  I feel bad for her!

Back to Liam--Not having much experience with strep infections, the high fever and overall appearance of Liam had me very worried but thankfully as of this afternoon, the fever has broken, he ate some dinner and went to bed seeming content rather than feverish and uncomfortable.  I find it so hard when one of the kids feels sick and I have to balance caring for the sick one with also making sure the two who are well don't feel bored or left out.  Not that I am complaining at all- I just wish I had a better method for caring for each child's needs.  Luckily, everyone was patient today :)

I can't help but connect the strep thing to last Friday's trip to the mall, during which I allowed the kids to play on the indoor playground.  They haven't been there in a looong time--- I avoided taking the kids to the mall COMPLETELY all winter because every year we seem to get sick thanks to the sheer concentration of grossness in that particular space.  We didn't even go see SANTA at the mall (but they did get to see Santa elsewhere).  Needless to say, I won't be taking them to the mall again EVER--they can pick out bathing suits and flip flops and whatever online, right?

I was sort of thankful that today was rainy and stormy because Michael and Chloe were accepting of the fact that we were stuck indoors (save for a quick trip to the library).  They were so good although there was way too much TV, computer and iPod time today--some days, I need to use these resources to keep everyone happy.  They also read books and colored, so it wasn't all screen time.

I am hopeful that tomorrow finds us all in good health and that the skies clear so we can enjoy some outdoor time.  Thankfully, we are coming off a weekend that was spent almost entirely outside and was capped off by a fun Fathers' Day celebration at our house.  If not for the busy weekend, yesterday and today would have been much more glum but I think we were all okay with a couple of restful days.

Hopefully tomorrow will allow us to return to mostly typical schedule :)



*Edit: Mike now has pink eye in both eyes...