Sad news for our neighbor

[Barry]

I was just told by my landlord than our next door neighbor just lost one of their children to swine flu.
I think that is 3 or 4 deaths in town now.

Not much for flu vaccines myself because of possible side effects but we will be getting the vaccine for this one as soon as it is aviabible. Which is tomorrow for our youngest.

Barry

[Robert]

Barry- sorry to hear that. I saw on my computer a report about a high rate of fatalities among children to the swine flu. I never used to get flu shots either until my heart problems and diabetes made me more susceptible. I hope your lil ones will be fine.

Robert

[Jotham]

that is sad to hear Barry, you take care of your family!

we have two schools shut down due to (regular?) flue outbreak. it's a crazy season.

[Me Again]

We just found out today that our good friend is suspected of having the swine flu (the Urgent Care doctor told her), and it so happened that our 10-year-old, Caleb, spent the weekend at her house. He came home today sick with swine flu symptoms. He's not real bad, and we are keeping him hydrated and away from the other kids as much as possible.

Gargle with salt water (not table salt). Nasal irrigation.

We are also hearing that if you are old enough to remember when Jimmy Carter was inaugurated (the timing of the last swine flu outbreak), then most likely you're immune to it already.

Also, there are some pretty bad viruses going around that can be just as fatal as the swine flu, and it would seem that the majority of illnesses are being blamed on the swine flu whether it is or not. I don't know. I'm still not getting the vaccine, nor subjecting my kids to it. We have done our homework, and will act accordingly.

For the record, even with the deaths so far, the regular flu takes far more than the swine. Dehydration is the chief culprit - our society still fails to hydrate itself, in spite of having bottled water, and sports drinks. The killers are coffee, soda and "energy drinks." Literally, if you only drink those and not water or Gatorade (or its competitors), they'll kill you if you get sick. Staying hydrated and getting plenty of sleep are two of the best things you can do to fight any virus...

[Jotham]

Ed, total agreement with your tips on keeping hydrated (and good rest)...and the modern diet's common 'drinks' of choice for millions.

one guy at work has been slowly killing himself drinking nearly a six pack a day of diet cola. every year he goes in for kindney stone removal. every year the doc tells him to stop drinking the pop. it's crazy the choices some of us make.

i've replaced my morning cup of organic coffee with 1/2 a pac of one of the healty-to-go flavors (http://www.vitacost.com/Healthy-To-Go?csrc=PPCADWLT-healthy_to_go&mtp=scWbyfyZY|pcrid|3822230621)(i get mine at my local Costco, i like the acai-berry, and also the greens to go : ) in a cup of warm water and loving the energy boost.

[Amie]

I'm so sorry about your neighbor Barry! How sad for them and scary for you!

Amie