Karma and Joking About the Swine Flu

If you follow me on Twitter you know that well, I have been as of late making jokes about the United States' current obsession, the Swine Flu

I know, I know. It's not supposed to be called the Swine Flu any more, but I can't remember the other name so you're just going to have to deal...OK?

Anyway, Friday morning I re-tweeted a totally inappropriate, but you can't help but laugh tweet about the Swine Flu. The minute I hit enter, my phone rang.

"This is the nurse at your child's school. Little B is complaining that his whole body hurts, and he has a temperature of 101.8."

Oh awesome. I've totally jinxed my entire family have given them the Swine Flu.

Immediately I called the pediatrician and got my son an appointment after I picked him up from school where the school nurse chased us down the hall just to let us know to let her know with what disease my son had infected the school. As we walked down the hallway to the doctor's office I noticed a note on the door that told us if the patient has a cough and a fever notify the person you check in with. So as I'm paying my co-pay, I tell the secretary my son has a cough and a fever.

The next thing you know he looks like this:


Poor thing. He felt terrible and now everybody was staring at him.

So we saw the doctor, and I found her really humorous with her, "I am obligated to tell you..." that she seemed to start every sentence with.

"I am obligated to tell you about the swine flu."
"I am obligated to tell you that if your child tests positive for Flu Type A, an indicator for the swine flu, his results will be sent to the health department."
"I am obligated to tell you that your son needs to wear his mask until you get into the car."

So after a few more "I am obligated to tell you's" and a swab up the nose test, we got home and anxiously waited for the call containing the test results.

Now here is where I'm obligated to tell you that my son was feeling just a little bit worried and paranoid.

"What's the swine flu??"
"I haven't been around any pigs!"
"Am I going to die?"

And about the time the "Am I going to die" question popped up the phone rang.

Little B did NOT have the swine flu!

Applause, applause, applause.

Hearing the good news, poor Little B fell fast asleep, pleased that he wasn't going to be growing a pig nose and a curly cue tail.

The next morning the second lab test came in. He had strep, just strep. Phew. I never thought I'd be so grateful for my child to have strep.

Can you imagine the hysteria that would have followed if it had been the Swine Flu? I mean the school nurse chased me down the hallway. Chased. And she's a medical professional who is supposed to be, well, the voice of reason. I can't imagine the drama that would have occurred if my kid were the Swine Flu kid that shut the school down. The first true case in Oklahoma!

And it would all be because of my totally inappropriate but still funny tweet on Twitter.

Oh Lord.

Karma.

She sure loves to make me nervous.