Coughs and sneezes spread diseases

Never was a truer word said this year. I can't believe the amount of sickness that's around at the moment. My family doesn't usually succumb to everything that's doing the rounds, so this comes as a shock to all of us. Right now I have three children who have collectively suffered varying degrees of coughs, sneezes, fevers, aches and pains over the past ten days. Added to which, I have caught it all from them and have been coughing and aching and feeling unwell for the past four days. Altogether, they have spent 8 days at home, which would have been 10 but for there being two days that school was closed. It's not over yet though - DS will be home again tomorrow since he was sent home from school with a fever today. DD2 is making a good recovery and is already back in full school mode, albeit with a persistent cough. DD1 I'm still not sure about. It's wearing, but none of us seriously ill, and for that I am grateful.

Today I found out that it's possible to have swine flu without having a fever and without even knowing you have it - it affects people in different ways so for all I know, we've all got it. Or not. Who knows? The school nurse's office was full of sick children when I went to pick up DS and the doctors' offices are busy with suspected swine flu patients so I'm not running off for a diagnosis unless the situation becomes dire. I called about seasonal flu and swine flu vaccinations today and there are none to be had. Healthy kids aren't a priority and there's a shortage of vaccines. It doesn't bother me. If they have H1N1 and it isn't affecting them badly it'll help with their immunities. Let's hope.