Swine Flu: Some Parents Just Overreact!

So when a reporter asks for your impressions of the swine flu 'epidemic', you probably shouldn't imply that the media is exploiting the story to the detriment of the American public. Okay, so I wasn't that eloquent, which is probably why they edited down my comments. Rob was much more articulate than me. Click on the link below to see what I'm talking about:

http://www.wpbf.com/video/19346192/

Let me set the record straight: we did NOT take Levi to the urgent care facility because we thought he had swine flu. We went because he got sick while we were vacationing, and we wanted to ask a doctor about it before we boarded a plane to go home. We were primarily concerned with taking him on a flight if he had an ear infection (ouch!), and secondarily concerned that we could expose him to other infections/viruses (read: swine flu). Thank you, Joe Biden, for planting this fear in my head (Oops! That's not what he meant to say!). Seriously, Mr. Biden only said what everyone with flights scheduled this weekend was already thinking.

Our pediatrician's office recommended that we take Levi to urgent care for a look-see, so off we went. The great news is that Levi's ears aren't infected, but the bad news is that he's most likely still going to have a rough ride tomorrow. On the way out we were approached by a very nice reporter who asked if we had a couple of minutes to talk about what we 'think about what's happening across the country with swine flu'. Suddenly, all the other outfits I'd considered that morning flashed through my mind, but it was too late - he wasn't taking 'no' for an answer.

Two final thoughts: 1) When you are going to an urgent care facility because you're concerned for you child's health, you may not think you have time to brush your hair, but you do. You really do. 2) My child usually wears shoes, but we were in sunny Florida...and we were in a hurry (did I mention that this is why I didn't care more for my appearance?). Ugh! So many of this morning's choices I'd like to revisit!

Lynda

Couch Potato

Levi loves to watch TV. Not that we allow it, you understand, but he's fascinated by the screen and tries to watch when we put him on the couch. Sometimes we just turn the TV off, and he turns back to play with us. Other times, though, we're watching something we don't want to miss, and in those cases, we turn the Boppy pillow so that he can't see the screen. Or so we thought...Rob caught Levi the other day craning his neck to see the screen behind him.

As much as we watch TV, I guess we shouldn't expect anything different!

Lynda

Generation Gap

As most of you know, Rob and I are a few years apart in age. We've never felt the difference to be significant or challenging, though from time to time it does yield some good comedy, as it did the other day as we made plans for Levi's room.

We've had to be creative with our new, smaller home here in Colorado, and we're converting what used to be a small office 'nook' into Levi's nursery. We laughed the other day as we imagined Levi growing up in this space. A toddler or young child would be more than comfortable, but it seemed ridiculous imagining a pre-teen or teenager in the same room. Rob quickly seized on a solution. "You know, when he's older, we could turn the attic into a bedroom. You know, kind of like..." Simultaneously, Rob said "Greg Brady" and I said "Mike Seaver".

Gosh, he's old.

Lynda