mommy's little piggy

my son is sick.

sweet M has been hacking/coughing/choking since thursday. his nose has actually blown mucous bubbles after a fierce sneeze. he has been crying alot. and napping a lot. and snuggling his mama a lot. he has been feverish.

i brough him to the doctor on friday and because he had a cough and the doctor office/city/world is scared of the swine flu, they asked me to put a mask on M. yes, a mask that covers most of his face. on a toddler. toddlers do not like this at all.

now, i did not think he has the swine flu. or any flu. i have convinced myself he has allergies but deep down i know it is a virus he will need to ride out. but.....with the 'beware the swine flu' notices plastered around the medical center and cautious masked patients waiting for the elevators, i begin to let down my guard (common sense).

could it be? no. maybe? no. even though there was a cluster of cases at harvard dental (where is that anyway)? no. even though we were on an airplane (to and from DC. almost 2 weeks ago)? no.even though he licked the back of a restaurant chair before i coudl stop him? no.

so i focus on not mentioning swine flu or H1n1 or flu or anything near flu.

then the doctor comes out and what do i say to M?

"come on little piggy." yes, i called my son piggy for the first time ever.

then in an effort to make it seem as though i call him that always i proceed to say "piggy" no less than 6 times during the 10 minute appointment:

"do not lick the wall piggy/get off the floor piggy/who's mommy's little piggy."