Please be careful with your kids' health this winter. It's been a miserable week in our family.

On Wednesday, A was feeling a bit tired. Starting at midnight, he had a fever and croup. It was 103 by morning. He was in to see the dr. by 8 am. Flu symptoms. Did a rapid flu test (negative) and a chest x-ray (negative). His lungs were not pushing air as well as she thought they should. Wound up with steroids for 2 days for the croup. He's now fine but has a lovely lingering cough. Missed 2 days of school.

Not to be outdone, B came home from school on Thursday. Fever went up
all afternoon. He had a rough night. Hard time breathing (his asthma was flaring up). Saw the dr. at 9. Fly symptoms. Took a rapid flu test
(negative) and a strep test (negative). Also, did a H1N1 test but it will take a week to get it back. Started Tamiflu and zithromax (lungs were starting to get crackly). Poor kid was so sick on Friday. Today, fever is gone and he's feeling fine.

Not to be outdone, S was at rock climbing all afternoon on Saturday. Had a rough time on some of the routes. Came home, took a nap. He's running 10 on average but up to 103 for spikes. I've been up most of the night with him. He's starting to wheeze. We'll be at the doctors in the morning.

My teenager is so disgusted with all of us, he's went out with friends on Halloween to a haunted house and pizza.

DH and I are now run-down and not feeling great.

It's only October. It's going to be a long winter.... Invest in Purell! LOL!

Here are a few questions for us this week.

1. Does your school have a flu policy?

2. How was your Halloween activities?

3. Have you made Thanksgiving plans? Are you hosting?

4. What's on your desk?

5. How often do you paint the outside of your home?

Have a healthy week.

Sharon
12 year old b/b/b + 16 year old son

Sharon,
It sounds like were both having the same fun-filled type of week! Yesterday, I was diagnosed with pneumonia and today dh is bringing ds to the ped because his cough is worse and his fever is back, although low grade (around 100-ish).


1. Does your school have a flu policy? Yes. If a child has had flu-like symptoms, they cannot return to school until the have been fever free for 24 hours.

2. How was your Halloween activities? I'm not sure. I was in bed sick. Dh took the kids trick-or-treating, oldest dd and her friends handed out candy. Then they all went to our anual neighborhood party, minus me I did watch "Night of the Living Dead" while laying in bed, though. LOL!

3. Have you made Thanksgiving plans? Are you hosting? My parents house this year.

4. What's on your desk? Gatorade, a box of kleenex, empty printer cartridges, my camera and my class schedule for January. Oh, and a few dust bunnies.

5. How often do you paint the outside of your home? Our home is about 11yo. We have brick in the front and the rest is vinyl siding. Dh painted the trim this summer for the first time. The doors will be painted this spring.

Not much else to report here. I can't wait until life gets back to "normal". You should see my laundry room!

"Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears."-- Gillian Anderson

It has been terrible at our house already too. I don't typically have sick kids,so this is all new to me! I think Ian's surgery is what started his roller coaster. He came out of that and is doing well, he is going to PT 3 days a week and is walking on his own now.He has had pnemonia twice and double ear infections. He has missed 1/2 of the first quarter.
I got broncitis,I think I just got worn down with work and taking care of him. I am feeling alot better.
Amber has been getting bad headaches again,I think I am going to take her back to the headache clinic at Childrens Hospital and see if they can change her meds.
Emma started w a fever on Sat night and a bad cough, she is home w me today. She is bouncing between 99 and 102.
So far Olivia is well.Keeping my fingers crossed that she stays well..she is a terrible sickey.
A bit of good news for my business, looks like they are going to extend the first time home buyers credit and there is something new for buyers that want to move up from their current home. If you are thinking about moving and currently own your home and want more details let me know.

Oliva and Emma are playing basketball and both love it, tho Em missed the first game yesterday.


1. Does your school have a flu policy? If they get a positive result on a test they want them out for 7 days. If they are sent home from school they are out for 2 days.

2. How was your Halloween activities? We had a good time,last week I took Liv and Amber to a haunted cave with some friends..it was a blast! It is a real cave and it took is almost 2 hrs to get through. Friday night Rick and I took all but Emma to a old school house( rated #2 in the country) it was awesome..I jumped and screamed my way though. I love that they will go to this stuff now..Emma sees no point in it. She HATES scary things! Sat night we went to a little town down the road, that was fun. Lots of homemade treats and treats for the parents too! Jello shots and beer and refills on wine glasses.

3. Have you made Thanksgiving plans? Are you hosting? havent even thought about it yet.

4. What's on your desk? Which one?? My real estate desk is pretty clean at my office cause I never go there.
My desk at home..alot of over due bills that I just don't want to look at anymore.
My desk at my other job..lots of papers.

5. How often do you paint the outside of your home?Never..it is all brick and vinyl. I do need to do a door though.

I hope everyone stays well!

Becky
Realtor in Ohio and Indiana
Emma,Amber,Ian 8/18/99
Olivia 9/29/00

Just got a call from the dr. "B" had a H1N1 test on Friday. Although his rapid flu test was negative, his H1N1 was positive. Good thing we started Tamiflu and antibiotics for him. Off to take "S" in to the doctor in a few minutes. His fever has broke so we're on the road to recovery, I think.


1. Does your school have a flu policy? Yes, kids with flu symptoms have to stay home. You must report flu symptoms to the office. They can return after being 24 hours fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medicines. They do a fever check when they return.

2. How was your Halloween activities? We were all sick or recovering. So it was a quiet night, except for my teenager who went out with friends.

3. Have you made Thanksgiving plans? Are you hosting? As always, I'm hosting. It will be a smaller group this year, maybe just 11 people.

4. What's on your desk? Miscellaneous paperwork.

5. How often do you paint the outside of your home? Never. When we remodeled 5 years ago, we had the stucco tinted. We'll never have to paint.

Sharon
12 year old b/b/b + 16 year old son

1. Does your school have a flu policy? If a kid has the flu, out for 7 days. Must be fever free for two full days before returning to school. If 20% of the class has the flu, that whole class is out for 7 days. I have one kid who has been home since last Tuesday because of that class policy.

2. How was your Halloween activities? No Halloween here.

3. Have you made Thanksgiving plans? Are you hosting? We will have some fellow Americans over for dinner.

4. What's on your desk? The phone and a web cam.

5. How often do you paint the outside of your home? Not necessary.

Catherine

"

I forgot to mention that we must fill in a health questionnaire each morning- temperature, presence of cough, sore throat, etc. The kids have to wear masks to school. They have to wash hands a lot too.

"

1. Does your school have a flu policy? Both the grade school and high school ask that the child be fever free without meds before returning to school. It has been tough as many parents send their children to school due to lack of childcare.
I wish the schools would spend more time reminding the children to wash their hands.

2. How was your Halloween activities? Our neighborhood party ws great! I love seeing all the little ones dressed up. My son feels too old to T or T so he had friends over to watch the Notre Dame game. My girls were invited to a friends birthday party (at a Northwestern game- they T or T-ed at the tailgates!)

3. Have you made Thanksgiving plans? Are you hosting? I hope to host this year. It is really hard for my mom to let go but my sisters and I are trying to get her to let us do it now and then.

4. What's on your desk? A diet pepsi, mouse, scanner and pile a vaious papers.

5. How often do you paint the outside of your home? One of the nice things about a Prairie stylke house is REALY big overhangs. We painted our trim after 30 years (we bought the house from my in laws so we know the timeframe) but still have not had to paint the stucco.


Judie and Victor
lucky parents to
Frankie 3/95
Maggie 7/96
Rose 7/96
Elizabeth 7/96

Hi there! It's been a really long time since I've posted. My kiddos are in first grade now and the dust has finally settled.

We have also had the flu at our house - one right after the other. I was home with sick kids for a total of 7 days. The doctor's office told us it was definitely H1N1 so hopefully we are immune to it! We'll see!

1. Does your school have a flu policy? Yes, fever free for 24 hours prior to returning.

2. How was your Halloween activities? Great. Our kiddos turned 7 on the 29th so we did a combined birthday/Halloween party. Our kids were over the moon!

3. Have you made Thanksgiving plans? Are you hosting? Yes and yes. Easy, tho.

4. What's on your desk? A mess. 1) I am in charge of the Scholastic Book Fair at school - so that paperwork is sitting here. 2) My new Blackberry - which has been kind of fun but not sure I really need all of the high-tech 'stuff'. 3) A credit card b/c I am considering an on-line diet - just read about it and find it intriguing/interesting. 4) soccer photos 5) bills 6) calendar

5. How often do you paint the outside of your home? It's been 5 years and it really needs it.

Stacy
Proud mother of
Ethan, Maizie, and Hunter
10/29/02

Oops! Probably belong in the section for younger kiddos! Still fun to answer the questions! Thanks!

Stacy
Proud mother of
Ethan, Maizie, and Hunter
10/29/02

Dear Mother Load,

You are always welcome on this forum! We have an open door policy and don't question the ages of the kids. As long as you don't ask anything about diaper brands, potty training, nighttime feedings, or other "baby related" items, you're fine! LOL! We don't have anything against any of those things, we're just too far removed (and can't remember through the sleep-deprivation fog) to offer any awesome advice.

Welcome aboard!

Sharon
12 year old b/b/b + 16 year old son

That's very nice! It's been a long time - I just was browsing today and wondered what all of the other triplet parents were up to! I remember seeing your Monday questions from the last time I was in - but didn't take the time (maybe didn't have the time) to answer. Thanks again. I am going to see if I can check in once and a while!

Stacy
Proud mother of
Ethan, Maizie, and Hunter
10/29/02

Sharon sounds like your house is not a fun place to be. I got my flu shot again this year so I hope it works its magic and keeps me healthy.

1. We do have a flu policy. It has been constantly enforced for about a month now.

2. Halloween was okay. My son and his girlfriend came over and carved their pumpkins and left them for me to put out on our front steps. They made quite a hit.

3. We are hosting Thanksgiving again this year. It is so easy I like to host this holiday.

4. My desk right now is my dining room table. My Christmas cards are stacked on it. I am in the process of writing them.

5. We have maintenance free siding and trim.

mom to:
Ryan 32 The Lawyer
Jason 30 The Chief Meteorologist
Chris 30 The College Student
Tim 30 The college grad

I love hearing their versions of their childhood memories!!

Hi all

Yikes - Sharon - sounds like you have had quite a time. Hope everyone is feeling better and it dis/does not get too serious. We have had lots of it here but our family has been fortunate to stay healthy.


1. Does your school have a flu policy?
Just fever stay home. Some of the other schools around here gave the shot but we are so short - it is not an option

2. How was your Halloween activities?
Good - friends came to visit, went t or t and then had a bunch of epople back to the house. My guys were a little bummed as we kept trick or treating short b/c the weather was bad (rain, wind) and we were having people over. They also had to keep the volume a little low as our friends who were visiting have a 7mth old and 3 yo who were sleeping. this is when I wish they had younger sibs and were used to such things!

3. Have you made Thanksgiving plans? Are you hosting?
Going to in-laws in PA

4. What's on your desk?
a glass and papers I need to sort today

5. How often do you paint the outside of your home?
Built it 5 yrs ago - only one coat of paint originally so second coat 2 yrs later. Still ok. Cedar shakes on some of it will need a coat next year

Hope everyone is having a good and healthy week 9 i have not read responses yet!)

Suzanne
BBB 4/00

1. Does your school have a flu policy? IDK

2. How was your Halloween activities? took 9 kiddos trick-or-treating while DH watched soccer and baseball on tv

3. Have you made Thanksgiving plans? Are you hosting? Hosting a few families at our house this year. It's my favorite holiday!

4. What's on your desk? glasses, paperwork, teacher's editions, and a sleeping mask (seriously!)

5. How often do you paint the outside of your home? as infrequently as possible--needs it about every 10 yrs

Sharon, hope your family is feeling better soon.

Tracey
Michael, Soccer Dude (13)
Francesca, Classical Guitarist (12)
Matthew, Slide Tackle Soccer Dude (10)
Alexis, Cheer Chick (10)
Gabrielle, Sassy Gymnast (10)

Host mom to exchange students:
Johannes, Germany (18)
Torunn, Norway (21)