<p>We are leaving tomorrow for Parents Weekend with S. Thanks to all your sharing of experiences, we are well-prepared. For that matter, so is S. He has been letting us know what commitments he has over the weekend (volunteer work for a club, homework of course, a late night party, his g.f.) and wanted to be sure we are ok with it up front. He also wanted to make sure we were ok with him not waking up on Sunday morning early just to say goodbye to us. As he put it, 9 am for him is like 4 am for us (rolleyes). From his tone it is apparent that he is looking forward to our visit, and his giving us a head’s up about his commitments is preemptive to any hurt feelings or problems so we can all just enjoy. Pretty sophisticated parent (people) management. </p>
<p>From our end, we rationalize it by saying that we really are coming to visit in order to see him in his (new) element, not to make him stop everything and sit in his room holding hands with us. We think this will be a nice (quick!) taste that will leave everyone happy but wanting more (just like any good entertainer) - a nice segue to Thanksgiving break, which is really just around the corner. Spouse and I are committed to remaining flexible and to remembering that this experience is about him, not us. We’re just voyeurs…</p>
<p>Modadunn, it was a compromise, younger S is in school, so someone needed to be around for him. H had an appt out east and I had the chance to see New England in the fall last year, so it really was his turn. Paying for a 2nd airfare really didn’t make sense. </p>
<p>I am happy that he and D will have a chance to spend time together and I have sensed that she has been missing us, with more frequent and longer phone calls recently. Only a few more weeks until Thanksgiving, right?!</p>
<p>Jolynne, S1 has to do all of the applying but I don’t see anything wrong in helping find places of interest–kind of like the role of a headhunter. He has lined up things on his own too and may take a job that has nothing to do with what I have put out there, but I have thoroughly enjoyed doing the searches and it has helped build his confidence to see so many options. </p>
<p>On the freshman front, I came across several amazing internship possibilities. The one S2 likes the most has a firm application deadline of Oct. 31st. (late applications and/or incomplete applications will not be considered). It happens to be a great fit for S2’s interests and degree (takes freshman, can provide housing, “competitive salary”, etc.), so he is going to apply. If pointing out opportunities is hovering, then so be it.</p>
<p>Ok I am really losing my mind, illness and the girl thing just went out the window…
to health services got antibiotics, ibuprophen, said may or may not have mono, too soon to test. return on monday if still feels sick. She says I have lots of papers so I will work on them while I dont feel as bad as i will if the ?mono progresses. I say lay low, get sleep, eat well, fluids, SO you dont get sicker, do some work but take care of your body first. i hate this illness/flu worry. I hate being so far away etc…</p>
<p>And we knew about the flu thing why cant the government get it straight and have it available for people who want it. (dont want to start anything just frustrated) so you can ignore this potentially political debate!!! UGH</p>
<p>Eek… so sorry DTE. that’s a lot to just “deal” with and your frustration is understandable!</p>
<p>LaxTaxi… Have a great time and if our semi-flop was at all used as an aid into your much much more lowered expectations, all the more power to you. But truly, kudos to your son for being so forthcoming. I really do wish Son had said he had had a ton of work to do (as it really was the weekend before midterms) and encouraged us to make other plans vs our giving him his space but remaining available. So… have a great time and enjoy the warmer weather while you can.</p>
<p>MODADUN, despite the man-no-doctor genes phenom (married to one of those), I do think in some ways your son is thinking like a doctor insofar as a) he has sinitus/nasal congestion and b) the nasal spray-live vaccine isn’t recommended for those who have nasal congestion (eg. it may not work anyway under those conditions) and is not ideal if someone is already immuno-compromised in any way (because it is a live virus, however minute in scope).</p>
<p>Which is not to say ModaSon might not benefit from antibiotic if in fact said sinuses are infected bacterially…So he’s either under the influence of the gene : ) or clever enough to identify the sinus issue isn’t bacterial (eg. no fever, clear nasal discharge). Maybe you can appeal to his natural curiosity with a suggestion to use a neti pot and saline solution (warm water and a packet of salt is fine) as an experiment.
My s. suffers a lot of nasal/sinus congestion, especially in fall (suspect leaf mold allergy), which is a total pain in the butt as he is a brass player. Plain old salt water and a neti pot make a world of difference for him (but also takes sudafed if he has to play.) Just a thought.</p>
<p>Either that or you can slip some sudafed into his surprise cookies ; )</p>
<p>Friend was successfully hooked up to ECMO - the Drs say it is doing what it is supposed to do, which is nice to hear. One thing I haven’t mentioned is that the family has a HS senior. Can you imagine if last year in mid-October, with so many deadlines looming, a member of your family had contracted a life threatening illness? They did a couple of visits earlier this month, but were still exploring the son’s options as a NMSF. Don’t know if he had planned any EA apps (don’t think so) but at least the “real deadlines” aren’t until the end of the year.</p>
<p>Glad your friend is improving, missypie. Hope the others fighting flu are feeling better soon! I have to decide this weekend whether to get my 8 year old innoculated (or nasal mist) thru her elementary school. Stories like missypie’s friend’s & others are scaring me, but then again I worry about the long-term, unknown effects of a vaccine on the first-issue…</p>
<p>Thanks for your perspective, TheAnalyst! I did peek into a few things for the summer re: archeology – they all look fun but cost $$. Son could have had a comp sci summer job w/a huge corp (w/help from a friend of mine) but think that’s a no go, now. Guess we’ll see. Hope your son finds something fun/lucrative!!</p>
<p>Could your student somehow divide up the summer? Work part time, maybe even 2 jobs, and then spend a few weeks on an internship/dig?</p>
<p>Also, if your student is interested in Archeology, check out some Israel programs. A lot of them a very well funded, especially if you are Jewish. I don’t know anything about nonJewish programs but I would not be surprised if some other denominations also offered stipends for study in Israel.</p>
<p>Also look at some of the university programs in Israel–several are very, very good, and at least your son could get some academic credit while working on a dig.</p>
<p>The surprise Pseudo-cookies would probably be better received than telling him to pour salt walter up his nose… but I have one of those neti pots and even have the super refined salt. I lived on that thing the winter before last. Will mention it, but as far as he is concerned there is nothing wrong with him. H pointed out that if he is calling while walking from class or across campus, his nose is going to run since it’s pretty cold. I still don’t buy it, but will just continue to send him purell and stop worrying so much and hope to not have the opportunity to say, told you so.</p>
<p>Missy - glad to hear things are going in the right direction and my heart really goes out to the family. I cannot imagine trying to plan and look forward when life seemingly has come to a standstill.</p>
<p>My sinuses arent great but using the AYR spray really helps. I know I have an infection when I get exhausted, and terrible headache. dont usually have a fever or even tons of drainage.
My list is getting long, I put your friend Missy on it, so hard with the son applying, rough year!!! Ihope the ecmo does the trick,
In my circumstance, i want my kids vaccinated, my mom is hesitant as she is older and feels she may have already been exposed which I get. But I worry about the high risk population. I remember feeling the same way about the chicken pox vaccine, but circumstances at that time warranted me giving it to my kids. I think it’s all individual. I dont want the live virus one though. But now older one cant get it, but kids at my D Hs do have swine flu. So now I’m just one day at a time, slow deep breaths.
BTW she did a varicella titer done great suggestion!!</p>
<p>Just visiting briefly since my last post, and wanted to say how my heart has been left swelling by the folk here, from throwing head back laughter at the S who didnt read the mail all the way through to even get to the bribe sentence from Modadunn, through to the heartache of Missypies friends health and life nightmare. I will have time for more words this weekend. God bless you all for being part of this wonderful frank honest helpful community with so little negative judgement a little corner of this crazy world which seems to make sense.</p>
<p>Total number of students with Influenza-Like-Illness since August 24, 2009: 121
Total number of students with Influenza-Like-Illness during the past 7 days: 66
Total number of students with confirmed H1N1 flu since August 24, 2009: 3</p>
<p>Thanks boysox3!! Appreciate the tips!! Will def check out those avenues! Treetopleaf–son told me a few months into fresh 1st sem that he didn’t really like comp sci prgming. Like the visual languages, not the text-based. sigh. We’ll see where that goes.
He says he’s still going to take comp & higher math classes – just doesn’t want to major.</p>
<p>He’s always loved history, too…so would be cool to do something in that area, I’d imagine (tho the job prospects — not nearly as plentiful as comp sci!!).</p>
<p>HE CALLED ME HE CALLED ME MY MUDDER FINALLY CALLED ME!!! :D:D:D</p>
<p>OK, sorry for shouting. :o We got to chat for several minutes before he had to go. He sounded so upbeat and clear-headed. Told me he’s already leaning toward a specific major. Agreed that the MO there is “homework, sleep, social life – pick any two.” I asked him if he’d do it all over again, knowing the crazy workload; he said yes, absolutely.</p>
<p>Have been away from CC for a few days and haven’t really caught up with this thread, and have to get back to work now. But I’m so sorry to hear of all the sick kiddos (and parents and friends) out there. Prayers, warm wishes, and virtual tortilla soup go out to all.</p>