Comments for FatJ

Comment on sunday 11/8: on the docket for today by Jen I

Jen I — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:23:19 +0000

And was picture taking REALLY that bad?? Come on now, Pat and Ryan…

Comment on big pile of junk by Weezie

Weezie — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:49:52 +0000

Olivia and Ethan play their own version of “junk pile” and it’s usually going to the beach or being on a boat or an island. I try to enjoy it because they really want for me to enjoy playing this with them. I, however, feel unsettled when all the cushions are off the couch and chairs and kitchen utensils are in the backpacks. I am getting pretty good at just going with it because how proud are we that these kids pretend stuff like this:)!

Comment on big pile of junk by Grandpa B.

Grandpa B. — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:21:47 +0000

What a kid!

Comment on bullet-point Wednesday! by Grandpa B.

Grandpa B. — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:26:43 +0000

I really feel for you regarding this bakery move. As you know, and Ry’s learning, good bakery is one of life’s little pleasures. Another option for the wardrobe might be either end (or both ends) of a splitting maul. Toodaloo!

Comment on tft: trying to avoid germs by Jen I

Jen I — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:37:05 +0000

Jen here… Yes, it is I who is in disagreement with the hubby. He wants to keep Sophia out of her pre-preschool since he thinks there is a higher risk of her getting H1N1 there than anywhere else (he disagrees that places like Target, etc. pose the same risk as a school-like setting). The other reason is because I am home and there is really no reason for her to be there if she doesn’t need to be (such as daycare, if I worked). Just for some background, he has lived thru the death of his dad and watched his mom recover from stage 3 ovarian cancer. He seems to be more “paranoid” because of his experiences having to do with loss.
My take is this… I do think H1N1 could be serious for some kids and I am not taking it lightly. I don’t think Sophia or Emily would have complications if they got it because they don’t have any pre-existing conditions that I know of. That I know of. SO I appreciate that I have no idea how she would react to such a flu. My reasons for wanting to keep Sophia in school are:
* school has strict policies for cleanliness and maintaining good personal hygiene (lots of washing hands and teachers send kids home if they even seem feverish or sicker than a cold).
* this is a private preschool where most of the parents have flexibility with their work schedules or they don’t work. Therefore they don’t usually bring their kids if they’re under the weather.
* I do feel that it is just as likely to get H1N1 in other places like Target (where people pick up prescriptions) or places like church, gym daycare centers and ECFE classes (where people don’t like to miss and maybe bring kids even if they’re not feeling great).
* Sophia has a routine that includes school and transitioning to this new school was not totally easy for her. Missing so much (possibly months) will force her to start over again. Plus, she loves it and so do I.
* I completely accept that she will get sick… possibly everyday with back-to-back illness.
* Pediatrician agrees with me that the illness is inundated in the community, not just at places like “school.” Plus she would most likely not get the vaccine until January at our clinic.
* There have been no other H1N1 cases since 4 wks ago.

Comment on tft: trying to avoid germs by Nicole

Nicole — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:55:12 +0000

I have a 4.5-year-old, a 2.75-year-old, and a 6-month-old. My oldest is in preschool 4-days-a-week, and will continue to go throughout the cold/flu season. I have thought twice about going to places like the library and the children’s museum, but can’t justify denying my kids those experiences in the hopes that they don’t get sick. Like Michelle, I am actually more fearful of what they will pick up at the doctor’s office or the grocery store! We will continue to practice good handwashing, coughing into our elbows, not sharing cups or utensils, etc. and hope that preschool does the same (which I know they do.) Sickness is inevitable, and we will do our best to stay on top of it and manage the symptoms appropriately.

Comment on bullet-point Wednesday! by Nicole

Nicole — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:49:08 +0000

I have heard similar stories about the springs – I am so glad no one was hurt!

And I love the part about the bakery treat . . . I do the same thing. And yet, my husband never learns.

Comment on tft: trying to avoid germs by beanski

beanski — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:54:28 +0000

I agree with the other two. Where do you draw the line? I’m CERTAIN that we all got the flu at McDonald’s on our way to Christmas last year. Are we going to skip Christmas just because we might catch something along the way? Never allow anyone into our house because they might be carrying something? No.

My kids go to a home daycare and have had their fair share of colds, etc. but nothing serious. I know they have built up immunities at a young age. They have been on antibiotics ONCE and Renee’s was for a leg infection (pretty obviously diagnosed) and Cam for an ear infection when he was a VERY small baby that I think was a crap diagnosis from a doctor that we’ll never see again.

I have a SIL that is at home with her kids all day every day and they have H1N1, MILLIONS of ear infections, sinus infections, etc. so I don’t know, I don’t really think pre-school or daycare is the only place they are going to come in contact with it.

You can live indoors with the blinds drawn all winter, never doing anything and still catch it at the grocery store. I mean, what are they gonna eat for supper? Order it online? It isn’t realisitic.

Comment on tft: trying to avoid germs by kim

kim — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:31:40 +0000

I think Max may have had H1N1 a couple weeks ago. He had a high fever for about a week, a cough, and wanted to sleep all the time. I felt horrible for him – but honestly, it wasn’t THAT bad. And I feel better now that he may have a natural immunity to it instead of having had a vaccine.

I agree with Michelle that it’s probably worse to bring your kid to the doctor’s office than bring them to school, and there’s a good chance that they’re going to pick it up from Target, the grocery store, etc, anyway… which is where I’m pretty sure Max picked it up from. He goes to ECFE one day a week, but got sick almost a week later, so I am doubting that is where he got it from. It’s kind of a question of how far do you take it… Max’s grandma (Anne’s mom) watches Max one day a week, and she also goes to work with school-age children once a week… so should I be keeping him away from her too? We could take it really far, but I guess I just figure that you can’t keep your kids in a bubble. And as much as being sick sucks, it’s good for them to build up some immunities. Keep them home all the time until kindergarten, and they’re going to get sick in kindergarten, is what I think. I also sort of believe that the overuse of anti-bacterial products and all of that is just going to lead to stronger and stronger viruses, but maybe that’s just me being crazy. :)

As for my daughter, she is five weeks old and while I am relieved that we don’t have to put her in daycare this winter, I’m well aware that Max could bring stuff home to her when he goes to preschool. And we bring her out all the time.

Overall I think there is a lot of over-hype about the flu this year. You could read this (I didn’t watch the video):

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/11/03/What-We-Have-Learned-About-the-Great-Swine-Flu-Pandemic.aspx

It’s not necessarily something I agree with (and I didn’t do any fact-checking of the article), but it’s interesting to see a different perspective anyway. To me it seems like the risks of H1N1 seriously harming a pregnant woman could be compared to the odds of death from a blood clot, or the cord being wrapped around the baby’s neck, or any number of other things you can’t control. Pregnant women everywhere don’t eat lunch meat, but the odds of getting listeria are about the same as those of getting hit by lightning. Your kids are probably MANY times more likely to be hurt every single time you put them in a car than they are to be seriously hurt by this virus. It’s all in what you want to focus on.

So I guess if it was me, I’d send her to preschool, practice good hygiene, listen to the advice of my pediatrician and hope for the best. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Comment on tft: trying to avoid germs by Michelle Sauer

Michelle Sauer — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:24:23 +0000

As a mom of three (4, 2 1/2 and 1 1/2), 2 of which are in preschool 2 times and 3 times a week, I am actually not that worried. In fact, I was more worried about bringing Annika to the doctor this morning where the illness is just swarming. However, there haven’t been any reported cases at school yet. Am I worried about getting H1N1? Not really, I’m just worried about illness in general and the logistics in a home with 3 kids and 2 adults. How hard that will be once it does hit us here.

My clinic will not be getting that vaccine and I refuse to let the possibility of the flu keep us from being normal. It’s not fair for my kids to miss out on school (which they love) because I’m being paranoid about it. We can teach them to keep themselves safe, but hey, they are kids and chance are, they will probably get the bug from the shopping cart at Target before they get it at school. Just my thoughts, rambling ones at that. Great topic though!