germ-a-palooza

Anyone interested in coming over to play?

All three kids (Amanda, AJ and Anna Grace) are being treated for Swine Flu and for Strep. I have a counter covered in meds, 12 different bottles at last count, which included Tami-flu (which is in short supply here and we ended up going to 3 drugstores), antibiotics, Tylenol, Motrin, Cough Suppresant, and nasal decongestants.

Somehow, by the grace of God, Kai has been spared, although he has his own collection of meds he's taking. I picked him up directly from school yesterday and delivered him safely to the germ free haven of Po-Po's house. (Thank you Mom for again being my angel. I know how hard it is for you to drop everything to take care of a little one, and you do it without hesitation. I love you!) I am praying to God that he shows no symptoms later. The doctor discussed with me that if he does get it, he will immediately be hospitalized because of his severe apnea.

At first, I thought, "this isn't too bad." But oh my word,

I. WAS. SO. WRONG!

My babies are so very sick. I've never experienced a child with such a wicked, horrible cough, especially AJ's. Poor baby turns beat red and can't stop coughing. I'm talking for hours on end. Cough suppressant does absolutely nothing. His lowest fever has been 102.2 and it's spiked to over 104 last night. I had him in bed because I was afraid of it spiking and my not realizing it. He coughed all night long.

At one point, in the middle of the night, he shattered my heart when he looked at me with his sweet glassy eyes and said, "Mama, I'm sorry I wake you up."

Anna Grace is not too far behind. Her temperature has dropped into the 101's and her cough, although bad, is not quite to the extent of AJ's. They are both wearing their masks and are in separate rooms laying down watching TV right now. She is a trooper. That little girl's resilience will get her so very far in life. I'm so proud of her and love her so much!

Lastly, my big girl, Amanda. Amanda, the first one to get sick seems to be a bit better. Although she's obviously not completely 100% there yet, she now has only run a low-grade fever and her cough has subsided a bit. Fortunately, she has everything a teenager needs, and it's all in her room, so she comes out of there only to go to the bathroom. She's barely eaten in 3 days but I'm making sure she keeps fluids in, as the other 2 little ones are.

As for me, although tired, I have physically felt better than I have in the last two weeks. I continue to be on my own antibiotics for Strep. But no signs of the flu.

Please, please continue to lift our family up to our loving Father, praying specifically for the following:

1) Complete and quick healing for the kids at home that are so sick.

2) For Kai to continue to be exempt from all of this and for complete recovery from his Strep that he is on antibiotics for.

3) For neither Scott nor I to get this terrible flu. We would both without a doubt be out of commission with fevers so high. My babies need me to care for them and Daddy is our sole provider.

Thank you my dear friends and prayer warriors. May God bless you abundantly for your prayers.

We continue to praise Him in the storm.