The swine flu has come to our house. Because I’ve been writing about it for my office, I know that you’re supposed to call it H1N1, but swine is easier to say. Less scary, too. H1N1 sounds a little too Space Odyssey-ish to me.

Boy has a mild fever, coughing, congestion and his asthma is aggravated. No sign of it in Girl yet. I’m wondering if Bob already had it two weeks ago (when he wouldn’t go to the doctor, even when I cast the evilest evil eye I could muster). As for me, I’ve decided I’m just not going to get it. Period. End of story.

Honestly, I’ve been scared shitless that Boy would get swine flu because, in my research for work, I kept reading that asthmatics are high risk. High risk for what, I didn’t exactly know.

So the trip to the pediatrician today was pretty much for my benefit as well. She didn’t even test him for the flu — she knows it when she sees it. It’s rampant in Fort Bend County, the doctor said. And most of the kids have a mild case, like Boy. She expected him to go back to school on Monday. As for Girl, we’re going to cheerleading practice in a few hours — no need to isolate her, the doctor said. If she comes down with a fever over the next few days, we’re to call the doctor for a second bottle of Tamiflu — which is getting hard to come by in liquid form.

So now we bide our time and see what the weekend brings. I’m really hoping that the little ache in my back is just the worry flowing out, and not a sign of swine.