Flu news

I've learned quite a lot about this "common" illness in the last few days that may help you.

The most important right now is that this strain is causing a nationwide epidemic and was NOT included in the flu vaccine. So even if you got your flu shot this year, you can get it. (They choose what to include many months before so there is always the chance they'll guess wrong. But it's still worth getting them b/c most years they're right.) Obviously, this means staying away from anyone who is "coming down with something" and lots of handwashing when out in public.

Second, if you do get it, there IS something you can do about it. In the last few years, anti-viral medications have become widely available. They ease symptoms and shorten the duration of the illness. But they have to be started within 48 hrs of the first symptoms. So if you suspect flu, call your dr. The sooner you start the meds, the more effective they are. (If you are pregnant or nursing, they still don't know if it's safe for the baby. So you just have to tough it out. At least the baby will get the immunity you develop by fighting it.)

Last, symptoms. Flu symptoms can include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, dry cough, sore throat, runny nose, and congestion. Stomachaches are also possible, but more often in children. You may not get all of the symptoms, so don't wait for them. If you have two or three, get treated.

OH! And you are contagious until ALL of your symptoms are gone. The worst is over in a few days, but the cough can hang on for a week or two!

Flu

So, it may be a little longer before I get back to blogging. I seem to have the flu. But b/c I can't take the antivirals while nursing, I'm not going to bother getting tested. Just ibuprofen for the headache, muscle aches, and fever, and a decongestant if I really need it. Can't do much for the chills, but as long as this doesn't last long, I can tough it out. And I'm going to send John out for some face masks. No one else needs to get this.

I promise I'm still alive

It amazes me that people are still checking my blog. It's been two weeks with nothing new, and even longer since I've talked about the boys. Give me a few more days to get through my weekend at work. (Yes, I'm already back at work. It's exhausting, but I was sorely missed. They'd much rather have a tired me than no me.) After the weekend we'll be getting a little vacation (from Ethan). So with only one child I'll get little time to catch up on blogging, housework, some reading, SLEEP....

Sci-Fi

I'm a huge fan of science fiction. I'm particularly partial to the older stuff (Heinlein, Asimov, etc.), but there are a some great contemporary authors putting out novels and short stories. Lately, I've been enjoying reading and listening to short-stories. It's the route most sf authors take to become known and to try out new ideas. It's also allowing me to sample types of sf that I wouldn't usually choose.

So here is where I find these stories.

I really like Orson Scott Card's web magazine InterGalactic Medicine Show. (This one does cost a little, but for the month of Feb, one story from each of the first four issues is available for free. Just click on each issue to find it.) Besides featuring some newer authors, Card writes a new story in the Enderverse for each issue.

For listening, I highly recommend Escape Pod. A free podcast, they have a new story every week. And really good intro/exit music.

(If you clicked on that last link, I should probably admit to you that this classically trained alto listens to alternative rock and heavy metal most of the time. You should hear me sing along to guitar solos! And my older son yells if I try to change the radio station away from this type of "mewskit". He likes even harder stuff than I do! So, Daikaiju is pretty mellow for us, but it's fun and kind of energizing.)