Jensen Update (Oct15, 2009)

(Wow – I was just going to make one comment on the article about celiacs, and ended up writing an entire update about our week!) 

Interesting article. Hopefully we won’t have a tendency towards other auto-immune disorders (like Diabetes or in my case, Alopecia Areata!) Gives hope for possible cures for Celiac and other conditions someday, so that is good! I had wondered if I should hold off giving Jenna gluten but too late now! Although she didn’t have any in her milk from me and she was late in starting solids and so she didn’t have any gluten for about ten months. So hopefully that will help. Speaking of Jenna. One week ago she suddenly quit nursing cold turkey! Weird!

Mom – didn’t you say that happened with you too with one of the kids? Jenna finally got a tooth and is getting another one and bit me when I was nursing her. I told her “no, no, that hurts.” Well apparently she didn’t like that because she has refused to nurse ever since. So I have been pumping bottles for her (which she takes just fine now) but I don’t know how long I will be able to keep that up for. I wasn’t ready to wean her yet and wanted to at least keep nursing through this yucky flu season! 

But my whole family has the flu anyway. (And no none of us had either flu shot). Chris mentioned being against the H1N1 flu shot in his letter and I have felt uncomfortable with it too – it just seems like they were throwing it together too quickly without sufficient testing. But I often do get the regular flu shot if I happen to be in the doctor’s office with my kids and they offer it to me. Hadn’t this year though. I brought Jenna in for her well-check last week and they were out of the flu shot. The pediatrician said 99% of the people who had come in with flu symptoms so far had the H1N1, so that is most likely what we have. He said it was going to get really bad the next week (which is when we all ended up getting sick).

Rick said he had about ten kids absent from his Seminary classes. Rick came home sick last Friday morning and was sick for a few days. He had to miss our Branch dinner that night and so I had to take all of the kids without him. He also missed church along with half of the kids who had gotten it by then. Then me and the rest of the kids got it (except for Jared). Monday was hard because I was sick and still had to take care of all my sick kids. But at least I didn’t have to get up and get everyone ready and off for school since everyone was staying home! Monday night I felt even worse and asked Rick if he could take sick leave the next day and stay home to take care of the kids Tuesday. He said he could stay home for the morning since he had prep hours. He was a huge help. He had bought a bunch of medicine and checked out some movies the night before. He also bought one of those thermometers that you just scan across the forehead. He is constantly going around taking everyone’s temperature. He made a big crock-pot filled with vegetable soup and took care of all of the kids and house clean up. I was very grateful for all of his help. He was going to take my class that night too but I decided to go ahead and do it (it was the midterm). 

Wednesday I felt a lot better but still not back to normal. It was Janelle’s birthday and she opened her presents from us (much needed school clothes) in the morning. We will wait on the friend party until next week when everyone is better. She really wanted to go to school and I sent her (maybe I shouldn’t have). She had the “mystery box” and treats and all the fun stuff they do on your birthday and didn’t want to miss it. She seemed fine but was worse again this morning and stayed home. Rick and I were already obligated for a job last night interpreting the play in Cedar City. We went with another couple and enjoyed visiting on the ride to and from. Jaiden and Janelle stayed home from school today (third day this week). Janika and Jase missed Monday and Tuesday. I called Rick to see if he could take Josh and Janelle to the Instacare (just to make sure…) I keep hearing all of these scary stories about secondary infections and flu turning into Pneumonia etc. etc. So he did, but said it was a waste of time and money. Figures. (Josh’s temperature had gotten clear up to 106 degrees at one point Tuesday night – if the thermometer was accurate. Rick kept checking him throughout the night). Anyway the doctor basically said yes probably H1N1 but they don’t test for it there and it doesn’t matter anyway – just the usual – lots of fluids and rest. But he did say that it looked like Josh was getting an ear infection and prescribed an antibiotic just in case. 

Janika and I have tickets for Aida at Tuachan tonight. So even though we are a still bit under the weather, it is our last chance to go see it and will be nice to get out. There is no school tomorrow or Monday. We have so much to catch up on with our very messy house and piles of laundry and neglected yard and various projects of things which need to be fixed. Hopefully there will be some fun in there too. Saturday is our temple day.

Jase got asked if he wanted to do this little paper route after school Wednesday or Thursdays. He wanted to do it. I thought it was a good idea and signed him up and everything. They earn five cents per paper delivered. Then Jase told me “Yeah, it comes to about $2.75 a week.” I am thinking, “That’s it?? That is so not worth it!” Well, too late now… as long as it is something he can do himself and not something I will end up getting roped into, then I am okay with it. 

Well, hopefully things will return to normal here soon and we can enjoy our long weekend. Hope you all stay well!!

Love,

Wendy

From Mom:

Wendy (etc.),

So sorry to hear that you have all been sick! At our weekly Area Adviser conference call this morning, one of our leaders downtown said his entire family had been sick for a week and how hard it had been. I got my regular flu shot when I was at the doctor's on Oct. 2. I thought maybe I'd skip the H1N1 also--like you say, too rushed.

 Yes, Shane was our kid that quit nursing cold turkey. It was hard!

We enjoyed lunch with Derek downtown today. I had a lousy night's sleep, so can't think too straight today. I think we can wing-it at tonight's more informal training meeting. I'm glad it's not next Thursday's big 2 stake one! Beautiful weather--getting up to 74 this weekend! Chris is up the mountain. Well, we have to leave again in 45 min., so we'd better get organized.

love, Mom