And then people started getting sick. One of my very good friends (and mother of two) got it. Both of my brothers got it. We scaled back our regular schedule of play-dates so that I wasn't exposing the girls to SO many venues frequented by the germy multitudes. We became the absolute queens of hand sanitation. And then... I said on Facebook that I was once again thinking about that damn H1N1 vaccine. This provoked a quick and intelligent discussion amongst my friends that don't know each other, including mothers and doctors. Wow! Such conviction on both sides of the argument! I was still unsure. Then someone posted a lengthy and thoughtful commentary that helped me make up my mind.

She said that the vaccine has been tested - as much as any flu vaccine is tested - but that most of the articles written about it that one will find on the internet were written before the two rounds of testing. Bottom line: It's effective. 

This particular vaccine has become a handy platform for those who are opposed to all vaccines because of the mercury and aluminum (an argument that I personally can understand and support, yet I think the benefits outweigh the risks at this juncture), but it isn't any worse than the others in that respect. Bottom line: It's as safe or unsafe as any other vaccine.

This morning our family foursome drove to the Mt. Hood Community College and waited in line outside for almost two hours to get the girls vaccinated. As is the case everywhere, the vaccine is in short supply and the solitary option we had to get it immediately was to go to the one and only flu clinic being held by the county health department. We didn't tell the girls what we were doing and they were in great spirits... until we were about to walk into the vaccination room. Belly said, "Doctor's office!" and she and the Bug both started to panic. Dude and I assured them that they weren't going to get any shots but then we walked into the vaccination room and there was table after table of doctors giving people shots. And so the screaming commenced. I told the girls that the lady was going to go psshhht in their noses with a funny thing that wouldn't hurt and that was it - no shots. They clearly did not believe me and we had to hold them down to get the nasal mist up their little shnozes. The screaming only stopped once the stickers were firmly pressed onto the backs of their hands. And then they were all, "Oh. That was it? That was nothin'. Thanks, doc. Cool sticker. Later." I think we were all somewhat drained from the experience.

Of course, they're still not vaccinated. The second nasal misting needs to occur in about 3 weeks and THEN it will be effective. It's my understanding that OHSU will have it by then and we won't be playing the county health department game again (thank goodness). And I don't know if Dude and I are going to get it. I suppose we would have today if it was available to us, but it was only for "high priority" people and we didn't make the cut (the girls did because they are under the age of five). Regardless, I'm happy that we did it so that I can finally stop deliberating the pros and cons in my head. I never understood that seemingly easy decisions like this could be so all encompassing and require such mental fortitude. In other words, being a mom can be haaaaaaard. I need a popsicle.