Kung Flu Fighting
Scott Benner
So, what did you do this weekend?
Last Thursday evening Arden said, "I don't feel good" and just like that, we embarked on our second battle with the flu since Arden was diagnosed back in 2006. Two out of eight, that's... not bad, right?!
The timing of her illness (End of week, holiday) allowed Kelly to be the Super Mom that she is, while I got to take a more traditional Dad role - run to pharmacy, clean up, bring blankets and sleep in another room so Kelly and Arden could do their 'sick day lady communing'. I was happy to see Kel get this time with Arden but sad for it to come like this - they were both amazing and incredibly tough over the last few days. Being tired, sick and feverish sucks on a normal day but when you add type I diabetes and a holiday, well, it sucks a lot more. Moms always surprise me with their willingness to lay face-to-face with their kids when they are contagious. #MommyLove
Arden's BGs were more than manageable for the first twenty-four hours, actually they were fantastic - probably because she wasn't eating much. Since Saturday, they have progressively gone back to the normal level of challenging that we've come to expect.
All of this of course reopens the discussion about getting a flu shot - something we don't normally do. No one else in the house has the flu right now or had the flu this past winter, and even though Arden contracted the less aggressive strain (B), it is still difficult not to second-guess our decision. We are not an anti-innoculation family, but we do try to limit unnecessary medications. Actually, some years, the strain contained in the 'flu shot' never materializes in the population, but there is no denying that right now, it is tough not to wonder if we made the right choice.
Arden is doing much better today and may make it back to school as early as tomorrow, she is already begging to play in her softball game tonight. We opted to use Tamiflu to shorten the life of her flu. The Tamiflu doesn't effect BGs and was strongly recommended by the pediatrician because Arden has type I. In all, it was a weird and wacky Easter weekend as Arden fought with this second wave of the flu season, prepared Easter eggs with a fever, and used up most of her adrenaline on Sunday morning trying to outrace Cole to the eggs hidden around our house. I'm not sure if we'll get a flu shot next year but this entire experience has led me to rename Easter to 'Fluster' - (Kelly nominated 'Fleaster' - but was outvoted last evening by our governing board).
Be well, wash your hands and let's hope that this all goes away as soon as possible.