Merry belated Christmas and Happy belated New Year to everyone. I would have posted something at the appropriate time, but our family got Viral Influenza for Christmas and I am just getting over it (today is my first day back to work since the day after Christmas).

We were most concerned about our 10-month old son, who sustained a fever, vomiting, and serious coughing for five days. The first doctor we saw misdiagnosed him with ear infections and bronchitis. When the prescribed antibiotic had no effect, a return visit and a blood test identified our illness as the Influenza virus. Influenza can be very serious for young children because it can develop into pneumonia fairly easily. And because it is a viral and not a bacterial infection, it is not easily treated. Fortunately he has been slowly, but surely recovering. His cough has improved, has only had a mild fever at night, and is not longer vomiting.

The other children in addition to the typical symptoms, also developed indigestion and mysterious, itchy hives all over their bodies that had to be treated with Benadryl—and not just for a day or two, but for more than a week.

As you can imagine it has been a miserable couple of weeks.

But we’re on the upswing and have been blessed in spite of our challenges.

When I went to the local store to buy more Benadryl, I was surprised by the sign posted there (I snapped the picture with my phone):

I have generally been dismissive of the Patriot Act fear-mongers, but the sign above really did make me think again about some of their warnings. Who knew that the Patriot Act had a clause restricting the sale of common over-the-counter medications? I suppose that it is to fight the production of illegal methanphetamines. That makes sense, but it was still weird to me that the restriction fell under the authority of the Patriot Act. (See my previous thoughts on the Patriot Act .)

Incidentally, if any of you have been in physical contact with any of our family during the last couple of weeks and start to feel sick, see a doctor immediately and tell her or him that you have been exposed to the Influenza virus. Ask them for Anti-viral medications. Also take Vitamin C, Zinc, and home-made Chicken Soup (not from a can or package) to help shorten the sickness period.

Welcome to 2008!