Right, I'm really NOT panicking but could do with advice about 3 poorly kids...

[LupusinaLlamasuit]

I've tried NHSDirect online, and the phone 'but they're exceptionally busy and only dealing with urgent cases'.

Quite rightly.

But after a weekend of snot, coughing, huge tonsils, quite a lot of vomiting from one of them, I really need to decide what to do tomorrow.

None of them are listless and poorly, though a bit more tired than normal. No high temps, though haven't really been checking properly (no-one felt hot)

My dilemma is this: I think they've all just got some low level bug that they will fight off sooner or later. But they all go to school/nursery and I don't want them to be pariahs when I take em in coughing tomorrow.

And I have to if they're not really unwell - they've spent plenty of time at nursery with snot candles before now. And DH and I both have EXTREMELY important (once a year type) meetings tomorrow.

Obv I would keep them off if they really were miserable and listless and hot etc.

But other mothers will shun us won't they? And will nursery/school just send em home again because they'll be panicking?

I can't be the only one in this situation this evening, can I?

they are totally likely to be sent home and with the vomiting will nursery even take them

is there anyway you can arrange someone else to help - any inlaws/friends etc

is your meeting the smae time as your DH's?

Can you arrange for someone to look after them at home?

TBH, I get peeved when parents drop their obviously ill DCs off at nursery/school, regardless of this swine flu thing. The chances are they will pass it on to other children, which is not fair on them or their parents.

And yes, I am feeling somewhat bitter after nearly a month of nursery-borne viruses while pregnant. NOT fun.

I agree entirely about obviously ill children. Vomiting was all done by Sunday morning so will have been 48 hours when he (the older one) returns to school.

But his symptoms are mild (slight sore throat and cough perhaps related to vomiting)

The other two (at nursery) have a cough and snot mostly. One of them might be asthmatic anyhow (not formally diagnosed) so coughs all the time anyway; the other is mostly completely well, just now lots of snot.

They were a bit more unwell on Friday/Saturday but really, it is minor now...

WE might be able to juggle but TBH, I have seen children far snottier than mine at school/nursery.

Huge tonsils with vomiting usually means Tonsilitis and a dose of good old Amoxycillin needed. You could perhaps send them to school, get your meeting out the way and make an evening apt at the docs? (I know thats WRONG thing to do, but needs must?) But be prepared for school to call you and get you back anyway!

We have had every bug known to humankind from three lots of nursery. I don't like it either but there is a grey area when children are not ill, nor completely free of symptoms either. If we all waited till they weren't coughing, we'd never go back to work.

Normal snottiness is just the end of a cold then... no need to keep of school IMO.

Ah. I am rambling and unclear.

DS3: cough and snot

DS2: huge tonsils and slight cough (but prob asthmatic).

DS1: vomting on Sat night, now sore throat but poss from vomiting

DS1 and DS3 sound fine to go off and do their thing tomorrow

DS2 - unsure. Are the tonsils just huge or all pussy?

Hmmmm, I would till send off to school/nursery, but then i am that kind of mum... As long as no high temps i would risk it.

If they're eating well, sleeping well, and are perky and happy in the morning then in your shoes I would wing it - hope for the best and send them off, on the basis that they're over the worse. If all slightly snotty kids were kept off school/nursery the places would be empty.

See how the night goes. Re-assess in the morning.

From what you've described, I'd certainly send them tomorrow. But then I am a mean mum

Thank you for your sane advice. I knew that really. I will take proper temps in the morning, see how the night goes for all of them, see if they're happy and playful and eat breakfast etc and play by ear.

On the tonsils, I just posted on this separately because I only just noticed them as huge red marbles! Not looking pussy/yellow at all just mahoosive. If they stay massive i will take him in. TBH DS2 has had mystery 'malaise' for ages (all winter) and investigated for all kinds of stuff, partly because of alarming pea-like glands on his neck permanently). He has had a night cough for ages and so he is on a trial of steroid inhaler at present.

Now I have heard that this can cause a sore throat or ulcers etc so will go back to GP when the flu business calms down to discuss with them anyway. I suppose the GPs would have checked his tonsils each time we went in about the cough...