Oh how nice it feels to finally be sitting down in front of the computer (after spraying the keyboard and mouse with an ample amount of Lysol, of course)! This post is a day late, but I think I have a good excuse(s).

Where to begin…

My oldest daughter went away to science camp at Lake Arrowhead for four nights with all of the sixth graders at her elementary school. (This is a story for another time, since it was a life-changing experience for an 11 year old who does not like to sleep away from home – let alone four nights with no phone, email or other form of communication.) Well…she survived.

The students returned on a Friday, and by Sunday night she had 103.7 fever and total body aches. I called her school Monday morning to let them know she would not be coming in that day; within an hour, I had received several phone calls notifying me that “so and so” had H1N1 and so did “you know who”…The long and short of it was that about 55 out 84 sixth graders were out ill with high fevers! I took her into the doctor and they were pretty convinced that she had H1N1, as well, since she showed every symptom aside from vomiting.

After going through my list of questions about what this meant for the rest of our family, and what precautions we need to take, a nurse popped her head in and reported that, luckily, a nose swab indicated that my oldest did not in fact have H1N1, but rather a cold virus. I wish we felt so lucky, but she was the sickest she had ever been – no energy, severe body aches, high fevers that needed to be managed by alternating Tylenol and Motrin, coughing, runny runny nose, headaches, and so forth.

We were managing her illness and feeling a little bit better, until I was awakened Wednesday morning at 1:20 a.m. to one of my four year olds reporting an awful headache. Upon touch, I knew she was burning up. Confirmed: 104.8 degree fever (the highest I have witnessed as a mother)! Another one down…same illness management techniques applied, but now I needed to document everything so I would remember who had what temp, at what time and what medicine I administered.

Then, Thursday morning my other four year old woke us up in the middle of the night with an equally burning body, and a fever of 104.7. Are you kidding me? Three down, and three of us trying to stay healthy and maintain some sense of normalcy.

Many of you already know, but when children are sick, the mother’s day is shot. Her schedule is the first to go, and whatever she needed to have done takes the backseat; not to mention the germ phobia that sets in! My kitchen counter displayed every antibacterial concoction made: cans of Lysol, antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, tissues, antibacterial soap. Think it’s funny? You should have seen the other counter: a notepad that looks like a switchboard operator’s notes, listing name of child, day, time, temperature and medicines given, along with an ear thermometer, Motrin, Tylenol, teas, special honey (that’s supposed to be magical)…

Move to Saturday: fevers are consistently high. On Halloween, I might add.

“Guess what kids? Happy Halloween—I’m sorry you don’t get to go trick or treating!”

By this point, we had been in the house for six days trying to get better. It was time to get out. We went for a drive up the coast, which did wonders! The fresh air and beautiful sight of the ocean and beaches was much needed. But just as we arrived home, my husband said, “I’m freezing.” Next thing I knew, he had on his ski cap, flannel jammies and socks. Confirmed: 103 fever! Another one down.

Halloween evening was uneventful. I had cooked quite a bit since I was a “shut in” all week: homemade chicken noodle soup, pumpkin soup and chili with all of the toppings freshly chopped. Too bad no one was that hungry! Saturday, sick; Sunday sick. Sunday night, those fevers that had gone away came back! AGGGGHHH! (Re-enter mother’s fear!)

Monday morning: four family members are now sick and it’s been eight days (excuse me while I go into my bathroom for a moment, lock the door, sit down and CRY—yes, cry, for about 10 minutes!). I had reached my limit.

That ten minutes provide enough rejuvenation, though, to take the twins to the doctor to learn that they had developed a secondary infection; both had ear infections. My husband went off to the doctor and was put on Tamiflu. (Did I mention that husbands are the worst when it comes to managing their own illnesses and containing their own germs? That would make for a good future post as well.)

My husband has been forced to stay in the bedroom with all of his necessary supplies, every window open and, of course, hand sanitizer and Lysol! He should be returning to work tomorrow. My sixth grade daughter is already on the mend and off to school today. The twins will return to school tomorrow. And then…is it true? Will this mother’s schedule return back to normal?

I can only hope, but I’m reminded to “expect the best; prepare for the worst.” This I shall do as my nine year old and I have yet to be sick.