We survived H1N1!

This is Katelin at the beginning of her battle with H1N1.

It was a Thursday when Kirstie's preschool teacher called to say that two children in her class had H1N1. She started with a cough and fever that same evening so we took her to a local clinic and explained the situation to our doctor. He tested her for H1N1 by collecting a mucous sample from deep in her nose. The test came back negative, but we were given medicine for her flu and were told to keep an eye on her because sometimes H1N1 doesn't show up in tests until it gets worse. Three days later Katelin came down with a fever and cough. The fever stayed steady all night and Allen took her to the doctor in the morning. The doctor decided to go ahead and test her for H1N1 even though she wasn't showing all the classic symptoms. Her test came back positive. Allen called me to bring Kirstie in because the doctor wanted to test her again. When I told her where we were going she became frightened and asked, "Is he going to pick my nose again? I don't want anyone to pick my nose." We had to hold her down while she screamed and struggled so the doctor could "pick her nose," and again the test came back negative. Once Kirstie was calmed down we heard her reassuring Katelin about the test saying, "It's okay, Katelin, it only tickles a little." The doctor said that Kirstie's body must have been strong enough to fight off H1N1 even though she did get the flu. But she was a carrier and gave the virus to Katelin who was too weak to fight it on her own.

Katelin was given 5 days of Tamiflu to take which did seem to help a lot. Afterwards, though, she started having an even higher temperature so back to the doctor we went. This time it was a different infection, a different flu. Now after a round a Tamiflu, a round of antibiotics, and 2 weeks of sickness she seems to be herself again. This is a picture of Katelin at the zoo today - all better now!

We give thanks to God and to everyone who prayed for us. Allen and I came away with minor colds and Katelin and Kirstie are finished with medicine and with this bout of sickness. It was truly depressing to have to quarantine ourselves just when Dad, Maggi, Annie, and Ali arrived for a visit, but that is behind us now. They will be moving from the Bells apartment to ours tomorrow!