No sickness over here! Nope!

Okay, well now that two (2!) commenters have observed that both Henry and I get sick "a lot," I'm feeling all defensive about my sinus infection or whatever it is that's currently consuming the inside of my face. Shut up! I am not sick a lot! Where are my tissues!

Actually I thought we were doing remarkably well, considering the multitude of viruses being distributed like party favors amongst his peers. Then, of course, MELISSA decided to come to our house, and cough all over our stuff. "Please stop kissing my son on the lips," I begged her , but she just laughed and told me to lighten up. And then sneezed all over his Bionicle.

Henry's sickness on Thursday and Friday was this low-grade-fever-but-not-much-else virus that seems to be sweeping through town. The kind that leaves them unwell enough to have to stay home but energetic enough to drive you nuts. The virus seemed to afflict Henry in such a way that it dangerously elevated his charm level. He kept gazing at me and saying things like "I'm really enjoying this nice quiet time with you." It was… alarming. I tried to remain calm.

I don't know if Wondertime is out on the stands yet, but we received our copies of the May issue, with Henry adorning its pages, and we heartily approve. Henry took a copy of the magazine to school with him this morning. "I'm famous," he told his teacher, and held out the magazine as proof.

And now I'm off to irrigate my head-holes, or whatever it is I need to do to breathe.

Comments

[All Adither]

That Henry. He is smooth.

[RuthWells]

This is not for everyone, but I have recently discovered that acupuncture really helps my immune system fight off the nasties. I get sick pretty frequently (kidney failure has compromised my immune system), but since starting acupuncture in January I've been sick exactly ONCE. Which is a record.

[kat]

we've been getting hit with every germ that walks past our house.i've decided it's the chinese year of the pestilence, and that we're merely celebrating.i hope you feel well soon.

[Anne]

I subcribe to Wondertime and I received my issue last week. I loved your article; very funny. My kids have the same Star Wars obsession in our home. I tried to get my husband to read the aricle, but he said he needs a break from Star Wars.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Reverie]

I teach preschool children, and this has been an awesome winter for viruses. They've multiplied, mutated and danced around my classrooms. Everyone's been sick...over and over and over... So you're not alone, Alice. By the way, shooting warm salt water into your nasal cavities is a lovely way to drain your sinuses--just a thought :)

[shirky]

yer kid is cute. I remember the first time I read your blog, he was very difficult. I think you called him "the asshole in the other room." It sounds like he grew out of it, good job you.

[Lori]

What are you eating? Sickness is all about the food.....

[Poli]

It's not good at all to be sick so often. Maybe you should try some prevention from time to time. I hope you do better in the future.

[mfk]

HA. I always get defensive when people tell me I get sick a lot... like it is a personal flaw or something... cause I totally want to be sick, right? right?? You would think people could just hand you a tissue and be done with it.

[Jen]

I got the Wondertime magazine! Your story was wonderful. The pictures were great.

Can I have Henry's autograph?

[Tara]

If it makes you feel any better, I get sick a lot too--and always have (according to my mother, and according to a manager I worked for before my son came along). I have no idea why, it's not like I don't eat well or take vitamins or exercise. I think some of us just have shitty immune systems, period.

The acupuncture sounds interesting, I must say. . .

[alice]

I actually don't think I get sick a lot, is my point.

[suburbancorrespondent]

There are just times when kids catch absolutely everything that is going around and then happily share it with the rest of the family. There is not anything you can do about it. And if even one more person says something stupid to me like, "You know, washing hands frequently really cuts down on colds and flu," I'm gonna have my kid cough all over them. And then I am going to tell them to go wash their hands.

[alice]

I love you, sc.

[roni]

we had the weird virus with no other symptoms in our house - everyone but the baby somehow. my neighbors just reassured me "welcome to kindergarten!"

[MadWoman Meg]

Ugh, this is all I ever hear from my mother dearest. "You and the kids are sick all the time". Ya think? Little germ factories kids are, not to mention the allergies we have floating around like a halo around my son's head.

It's a school/playgroup/eating others poo thing I think.

Good luck with conquering it.

[Sandee]

We don't have kids, and we've been sick A LOT this year.

Hey, Internet - shut up!

[Pants]

I've had a lot of those same germs lately...only I lack charming youngsters. It's just me, charming thirty-two-year-old woman who inhabits her parent's basement. I'm sofa king charming it's dangerous...especially before I've hit the neti pot.

[Diana]

I hate those sick days, not sick SICK. But sick enough to stay home. The Princess gets "sick" enough for me to keep her home in the morning, but then by afternoon she's FINE! So, when people drop by I look like the Mom that kept her home for no reason. Nice.

[Anne]

Our pediatrician said the germification of everyone is due to the weather; it never got cold enough for long enough to kill the germs which are now all multiplying and replicating and breeding with each other to create new baby germy families. As for us, we're going to start bathing in Lysol, I think it's the only option left.

[S-Way]

Were the teachers suitably impressed with Henry's magazine debut? BTW, I tried to show Star Wars to Lula (my 4-year-old girl), who is HOME SICK today, and she refused to even check it out! Dang. I hope it's not just a boy thing. I always liked it, myself...

[Gudgrlal]

Yeah, geez, Alice...try some preventative measures. Keeping kids bathed, clothed, fed, housed, occupied, and well – relatively well for at least 11.5 months out of the year, that is – isn't enough anymore. You've got to antibacterialize them into germ-fighting warriors and then when they get sick put them into tiny boy- or girl-sized cubicles and Lysol them down for not defeating said germs. Sheesh...don't you get the Sanitizing For Toddler/School Age Kids Magazine?

By the way, first time post-er here and have to say love, love, love your blog. I check it... every other day (read: once hourly) to see any updates/new posts. My boss is soooo proud of my work ethic right now.

[chowflap]

Is it bad that that "I hope you do better in the future" comment made me laugh out loud, in derision? I mean, washing my hands a lot helps me get sick less often, but I am a grownup with no children. You give up all illusion of control over germs and viruses once you have children. That is the way it is! But I'm sorry you're all sickly. Your article in WT looks awesome, by the way! I excitedly, with faux-casualness, told everyone at the office, "She's a friend of mine. An acquaintance really, but I mean, we've, like, hung out. Her son knows me too." The polite ones appeared impressed.

[april]

Yes, prevention really is key. Everybody knows that if you only eat vegetables at all times, and never leave your house then you will never get sick. Of course, you might have to leave your house to go buy those vegetables, but you could do better in the future by growing them in your own back yard. Actually, I have sealed off my entire house with duck tape, and grow my vegetables under a light in the basement, right next to my own special little blend of AirBorne. I take it just in case some germs get through somehow. I'm thinking of patenting it, but I fear that would require me to leave the house. But, if I could help just one pathetically sick person do better in the future by preventing their illness with my special concoction, then it might be worth it.

[Dee]

I spent all last autumn getting one sinus infection after another, so I sympathize. I live on Nasonex now. I also take an herbal supplement called Grapeseed Extract, which has massive, wonderful antioxidants, like 500 glasses of red wine.

Another good thing is using a sinus washing product like the Neti pot, but I have to lock the bathroom door and seal myself off from everyone because the snorting sounds are frightening. Heck, they scare ME...