Caroline has been home from school all of last week and Friday of the week before because Mikey's counts were really low and I was afraid she would get H1N1 from school and bring it home to Mikey. During that time all 3 little ones had croup. Bennett still has a runny nose but nothing bad.
Mikey's counts are back up but he still has a nasty cough. He's scheduled for more chemo today but I'm not sure if the doctor will do it when he's sick. We'll see.
Caroline still has a cough also.
I was planning to send her back to school at least for this week and see where Mikey's counts are after that.
I have never kept Caroline home before because of Mikey's counts but this flu is really scaring me.
I'd probably wait to send her back. I don't know. It is such a hard situation.
Is the flu going strong in your area? It hasn't really hit here yet so that would influence my decision. But if your area is really facing it, I'd likely keep her home.
That said, obviously Jake is going to school so if it is in your area, I guess you'll be exposed that way.
If it was Ethan, I would send him. As a matter of fact, I just did. He has a bad cold, no temp but snotty, but this is the third time he's been sick in the last 5 weeks and he needs to go.
Now, I'm not sure how you should proceed given the Mikey situation. Are you worried her immune system is down so she might catch something else? Or are you concerned that she's contagious to the other kids? If it's option 1, I'd rather be safe than sorry. If it's option 2, send her.
(She's in kindergarten now right? Are you able to pick up her school work and do it with her so she doesn't get behind?)
Hope they are all better soon. This has been a rough season so far.
The flu is really widespread here. A couple of the high schools in the area (not Jake's) closed because they had like 900 kids out. Obviously not all of them had the flu but it's pretty bad here.
Caroline is in ECK which is basically pre-k for kids who are special ed and are not ready to go to kindergarten yet.
Her social worker says she really needs to go to school for HER well being and I know I just can't keep her home through the whole flu season because then she'd miss all year.
Alyssa, I was thinking more that she might be contagious to other kids.
I wish there was some sort of rational information on this damn flu. I feel like the news/talk is so inflammatory - it's causing panic.
Honestly, as far as in relation to Mikey I just don't know. It would be a very hard decision. But as far as she is concerned and being contagious - I would probably send her. I talked to Gavin's school before (he has been out twice this year with croup and he just started in September) about when to send him. They said they have lots of kids there who have coughs but as long as he has been fever free for 24 hours without meds and is symptom free for the most part then he could come. If I kept him out until his cough was entirely gone he would miss SO much school. He has been to the doc, has been on steroids for the croup and has been fever free since Friday so I feel okay sending him.
I would probably go ahead and send her. Now, if you were keeping Jake home as well I might keep her home. But he is obviously out and about and exposed to it as well. Of course then there is the fact that kids his age are a bit better about wiping noses, washing hands, etc.
I would send her. I dont know where you are with vaccinations (if you want them or not) - but if you do, isnt it possible to get your other kids up high on the priority list as a precaution to help Mikey?
I assume that Mikey is a priority person for the vaccine.
I would start by getting him that.
As I said in hot topics, there are 7 months left in the flu season and you'd have to keep her out of school for the rest of the year to be on the safe side.
I know this isn't popular opinion and I'm not sure what your thoughts are but it seems to me that the benefits outweigh the risks.
The vaccine starts to protect in a week and a half.
just thought i'd update. i sent caroline to school yesterday since mikey's counts are up right now.
while we were at the oncologist yesterday i asked about the h1n1 vaccine. the nurse said they had 3 doses left so mikey got his vaccine yesterday. as for the other kids .... i am sure i will get them the shot too when i can.
