Swine Flu Blues

Swine flu is really getting me down. Normally, I'm not the type of person who worries much about this sort of thing. Sure, I might take the usual precautions (I'm not a complete dipshit) but aside from feeling bad for those impacted by the illness, I wouldn't typically lose much, if any, sleep over it. This time though, things are a bit different.

First and foremost, I have kids. That changes the game dramatically. It's funny how we rarely give a crap about ourselves ("Swine flu? Pshaw. I'll just wear a mask during my trip to Cancun!) but as soon as children enter the picture, we find ourselves wondering if they make Hazmat suits for babies and toddlers. Kids' immune systems don't fully mature until they are at least three to four years old. This means they are particularly susceptible to whatever creeping crud is roaming around out there in the ether.

Secondly, unless you've been living under a rock for the past few months (or I don't know you at all), you may have heard that my family has been under constant viral and bacterial attack since early January. I can vaguely recall my other friends going through something similar during their first year with two children but until you experience it for yourself, you really have no idea how hellish it can be. Taking care of a sick kid can be challenging...taking care of two sick kids is VERY challenging...but taking care of two sick kids while you are also sick is mind-bogglingly wretched (yes, mind-bogglingly is a word...just looked it up). Bottom line, not only are my kids super susceptible to getting sick, but K and I (and my parents) are too.

Which brings me back to the point of this post. I'm feeling particularly vulnerable to swine flu. At the moment, I feel like we might as well have a giant sign on our house saying "Welcome to San Jose Swine Flu!" It certainly doesn't help that a high school just a mile or so up the road has shut down for a week (reopening May 6) due to a student testing positive for the illness.

On Tuesday I had to go grocery shopping. I was maybe 10 minutes into the trip when I realized I'd completely forgotten to wipe down the shopping cart handle. Luckily I had a little pack of disinfectant wipes in my purse. I quickly whipped one out and ran it along the cart. Then I sprayed some CleanWell on my hands for good measure. From the moment I'd left the car to the moment I remembered to wipe down the shopping cart, I'd touched numerous items of food, the shopping cart handle, my face, and Z more times than I could count. Who knew what germy hands had been here before mine? And what about when I went to pay at the checkout stand? Who else had touched the credit card keypad and digital pen? And the gal bagging my groceries...was she ok? Or the guy handing me my receipt? Had they perhaps been in contact with someone who wasn't? By the time I got to my car, I felt close to tears....

...which is why I turned on the radio...only to hear the NPR announcer quote the CDC director who'd just released a statment saying "swine flu deaths are anticipated in the U.S." Ummm...what?! I mean, dude, isn't your job as rep for the CDC to CALM PEOPLE DOWN!? Because telling me to anticipate death as a result of the swine flu just isn't cutting it in my book.

Meanwhile, M is still going to daycare. Granted, it's a very small home daycare with no more than four other children. And L is very good about making sure the kids keep their hands clean and sending the sick ones home. But when I stop to think about all the people each kid's mom and dad come into contact with during the work day...and then wonder if they are being as vigilant as I'm trying to be when it comes to hand washing, disinfecting, etc...I find myself thinking maybe I should consider pulling M out until things blows over. Then I start pondering M's upcoming birthday party and other parties we'd been invited to. Are those still a good idea? When the CDC says to "limit interaction with large groups," could they mean birthday parties too? Ugh.

Maybe I'm overreacting (I see you nodding over there...stop that!). I suspect K thinks I am. He rolled his eyes at me yesterday when I insisted he wash his hands mere seconds after he walked in the door from work. But my gut tells me I shouldn't fuck around with this thing. I know first hand how vulnerable my little family unit is to all sorts of God-awful crap. And I'm not about to take any chances.

PS if you really want to scare the crapola out of yourself, be sure to pick up a copy of Steven King's The Stand.

PPS Happy Birthday K!!!! Sorry for the downer post on your b-day....