As readers of this blog know, I was really concerned about getting the Swine Flu vaccine for Jonathan. Last week I found out our pediatrics department had it and something told me to take Jonathan over. Two squirts up the nose and he was vaccinated.
Friday I started coughing. Friday night I was achy and coughing. Saturday I was convinced I was on death's door. Sunday I began questioning where I was and who these men were in my house -- one of them (almost) 32 and quite cute, the other a 3-year old as of Saturday, from what the cute (almost) 32 year old told me.
I dreaded even thinking I might have it. You know "It". The Swine Flu. I definitely did not want to mention I might have it because I knew what the reaction of family members would be: "You're a hypochondriac!" That and "You didn't get the vaccine and even if you did, you can't get the flu from the vaccine. And you can't catch it from Jonathan."
According to the CDC, they were right. According to the Mayo Clinic, they were also wrong.
From the Mayo Clinic, about the nasal spray vaccine. . . "Contains weakened live viruses that won't give you the flu but that can, in rare cases, be transmitted to others"
Here, also, is a list of symptoms of the Swine Flu, from the Flu.gov website:
*body aches; fever; coughing and or sore throat; chills, fatigue.
I have all of those and yes, these are also symptoms for the regular flu, but I think it is odd my son had the live vaccine shot into his nose on Tuesday and by Friday I came down with symptoms very similar to this Piggy Flu. I don't find it comforting at all that the information sheet on this vaccine reminds me that most people will be fine if they have H1N1, but "some will die." Ah, crap. Give a sick woman a break, huh?
As if things couldn't get worse, Jonathan started with a fever Friday night and coughing Sunday morning. His symptoms seem mild and are probably the reaction from the vaccine. I'm keeping on top of the children's Motrin and Tylenol to keep his fever in check and come this morning we will try to decide which one of us, or if both of us, should go to the doctors.
Because of all this, and because I'm having trouble remembering if I took Tylenol already or if I'm even awake or actually dreaming, I've had to forgo telling all of you about my son's birthday; the awesome deal I got on a new camera; the fact Jonathan told me Saturday night that he loved me and that this is the first time it was said, unprompted; and of checking up on most of your blogs.
Fear not, like Nicole said, you can catch Swine Flu through the Internet, so reading this blog does not leave you open to disease. However, you might can catch it through the phone because Brother, who says what a hypochondriac I am, insisted last week that he had the Swine Flu and called me each and every day to whine about it. Don't worry, I won't quarentine you like he did his readers. You are allowed to leave. Just wash your hands, wear a face mask, and don't cough toward anyone you love (only toward those who drive you crazy).
Until I can get a full post together about Jonathan's birthday here is one photo from the day. He insisted on wearing the Superman costume I bought him and was very excited when he opened his Green Lantern figure, which he has been asking for for months now.
