Flu Central

The germs have been having a party in my house this past week. It all started on Sunday morning when Helaine woke up with a fever and aches. 102.4 on the thermometer is not a good number. I spent Sunday keeping my distance from the infected one. That meant that Philip and I would stay downstairs and occasionally check in on Helaine. I did the nurse thing all day. I brought liquids and Tylenol and extra blankets to ward off the chills.

It was fun just hanging out with Philip. We watched a DVD and had dinner together. But I also had to do those chores that Helaine normally takes care of. I was Mr. Mom.; dishes, laundry, lunch boxes and I also had to get my son ready for bed. Monday came and Helaine was still sick. I had to get Philip breakfast and ready for school while takinig care of Helaine and doing what I needed to do to get ready. I went to work and came home and took care of the household chores and before I knew it, the clock was at 7 pm.

I know that many people do this and more on a regular basis. I don't know how single parents pull it off. I remember being impressed in college with those class mates that worked full time and still managed to take a full course load. I did it for 2 days and I was a wreck.



While all of this is going on, I'm also worried about getting the flu myself. There have been several people at work who also were knocked on their butts by the flu. I don't want to get sick....nobody does. Around the house , I go spraying Lysol and washing my hands all oft the time. Checking out the web site for the Center For Disease Control, and the flu map is brown across most of the country. That indicates widespread flu. (There are also some good tips for prevention and dealing with the flu at their web site.)

By Tuesday, Helaine no longer has a fever and I'm just wondering if this is going to hit me like a brick. Philip seems fine too, that is until Thursday morning when he wakes up with a fever. At least Helaine was feeling better, coughing a lot, but she is improving. Meanwhile, the week is just getting worse. The ice storm on Tuesday made for some very ealry starts on Wednesday and Thursday morning. I was sure that after standing out in the cold rain on Wednesday morning along with the lack of sleep that it was just a matter of time before I developed the flu.

Philip's fever broke on Friday and as I write this Saturday morning, I am still flu free. Did I manage to evade the bug? Perhaps my reaction to the flu shot was more effective than my wife's. Maybe it was all of the Lysol and hand washing. Or couuld it have been the fact that I just kept telling myself that I wouldn't get sick.

My colleague Tony Pann is a big believer in the power of the mind and he told me earlier in the week that I just had to convince myself that I wasn't going to get the flu.

I don't know what exactly has kept me from getting sick, but I'll stay positive and hope for the best. It's a pretty good way to go through any day, flu or not.