Warn the Guests?

Just let hubs stay in bed and concentrate on getting well. Honestly, the guests are more of a danger to him than he is to them.

Bronchitis and pneumonia are not contagious in general. I'd say that if this child is really sick they need to not attend any parties because they'll be coughing and hacking and generally won't enjoy themselves. If they are just wheezing and sickly then they might still enjoy the festivities.

Good call on sending out an e-mail. FWIW, if I were on your guest list I'd appreciate the head's up but would still go to the party/send my kids. I bet that most of the guests will still come.

If my son caught that we'd be spending 5 weeks at children's hospital. Again. Assuming he lived... The REST of that cost : It's an average of a $350,000 bill... 5 weeks of lost work, 5 weeks of lost school = hiring about $1000 worth of tutoring.

((ETA: our schedule is insane, too. Just think about cancel everything to go spend a month in the hospital versus ONE DAY. Yeah. Again. Warn people. Then it's on them. But warn them no matter which venue.))

My son's an athlete. You wouldn't know to look at him how devastating pulmonary infections are for him. So don't just warn one person that you already know MAY be at risk. Warn everyone.

Over the past several years in and out of Children's Hosp... I have come to learn how devastating even the common cold is, (much less bronchitis, pneumonia, pleural effusions, uncontrollable bronchial spasms, etc.) not only to my own son... But to thousands and thousands of children.

I cannot tell you how many HUNDREDS of families I've met at the hospital who can trace their visit to so&so who came to school sick, family parties with no warning, play date with a sick sibling & no warning, etc. 9:10s out of 10 I know EXACTLY who got my son sick. There are too many times when it's unavoidable, to not get infuriated at the avoidable times

And dont fall for the "everyone gets sick" lazy excuse not to spend 5 seconds on a phone. It's like driving drunk. Drunk driving causes accidents. There are far too many accidents already to justify driving drunk just because there are already accidents.

In addition to kids with pulmonary problems there are also:

- Infant & elderly deaths
- children/adults on immuno suppressing drugs (transplants, usually)
- children & adults in chemo/radiation (no immune system)
- et certera

Most of your guests may not have sick grandparents, sick kids, newborns, et cetera. So most will probably show up. But the ones who don't? Are the ones that need that warning, and need it badly.

Warning cn be embarrassing.

Warning saves lives.

I'd just keep your husband separate from the group even though, if this is bacterial, he's on antibiotics. The lysol is not a good idea - overuse of these products is what creates a whole generation of "super-bugs" that are so resistant. Germs don't live long on hard surfaces anyway, so anything your husband touched yesterday is fine today.

If they ask where your husband is, tell them he's staying away even though the doctor says he's not contagious. He just doesn't feel up to snuff, that's all. But once these people and their kids are out in public, they're exposed to germs all the time anyway. The pregnant woman is in much more danger of contracting something from all the kids there as well as the cashier at the grocery store and so on.

But by all means feel free to take the party outside because that's good for the kids!

I think emailing everyone was a good first step. I bet most will still come if your husband is staying out of the way. You say he has been on meds for 48 hours by the party, so he is no longer contagious.

I just want to say though...my kids birthdays were in March, April, and June. All 3 had a combined birthday party in July. You do the party when you have time. Our spring and fall schedules are INSANE, so we had to do it then - no one complained.

I also have a friend with a son who has an August birthday - he always wants a pumpkin patch party - so we celebrate in October.

So another month, weekend, time is doable...I think you're making it harder than it has to be.

How long has he been on antibiotic? I wouldn't think he would be contagious since he has been on meds for over 24 hours by the time of the party. Correct? I would also think he would be feeling better by the party tomorrow. You should call the doctor.

Edit. I would definitely go. Although I think it was a nice curtesy to email everyone I do not think it is necessary since your husband will be on antibiotics for 48+ hours. Have fun!

i'd have the party. i have to think most people are like me and understand that the world is a germy place. beyond sensible precautions (your dh stays isolated and with zero contact with any of the party stuff, lysol, and forewarning so that those with compromised systems can decline), anyone can encounter anyone else anywhere who has a contagious illness.
you'll lose some guests. it's a pity. but it'll be all right, mama.
yes, warn them, but don't apologize all over the place. just tell them you're dh is ill but on antibiotics (so he's not contagious anyway), and will not be present or participate in any way, and carry on. no need to blow it out of proportion.
khairete
S.

AV:

Is he contagious? Is he still running a fever? What does the doctor say?

Personally? If this were MY husband and MY House? I would change the location of the party so my husband could rest. Or I would postpone it so he could be there too.

Either way? I would let my guests know that my husband is sick - what he has. We've talked to the doctor, he's no longer contagious - but we wanted you to know... and yes - I would sanitize everything - door knobs, ANY knob, faucet, etc. I would also wash the pillows, boil his tooth brush or just get him a new one....anything to prevent the spread of the germs!

Sorry he's sick!
Happy birthday to your daughter!!

I bet most will still show up. I wouldn't even have moved to another venue. As long as your hubby isn't touching or hovering over the food or food prep area, is on antibiotics and stays away from the guests, I don't see a problem.

Like I always say, nothing is easy anymore and timing is everything! Don't stress yourself out. This is just a birthday party, probably one of many. In the large scheme of life, this is a non-issue. Just trying to help you keep things in perspective!

Enjoy your party and wish your daughter a happy birthday from all the mom's here!

As long as he stayed in the room, or a separate part of the house. I'd come.

I would warn them AND lysol the heck out of the house. I know if I went to a house where someone had bronchitis and pnuemonia and I wasn't told, I'd be upset. You are exposing people to these illnesses and they should know about it ahead of time and be able to make a choice as to attend or not. Its the right thing to do.

GIven he's an adult who can be sure to keep away and he'll have been on meds for over 2 days, I'd warn people but have the party anyway. I'd go if I was an invitee in that situation.

Have the party later. Yes, in another month. Your child will be disappointed but we are not here to protect our kids from all disappointments. There will be plenty of other birthdays.

The alternative would be to move this party to a park with bathroom facilities, if you can do that at the last moment. You already plan to keep kids outside as much as possible but I would not want my kid coming inside to use the bathroom in the same house as someone as sick as your husband.

Yes, warn your guests! Of course you didn't know this would happen. But you wouldn't want your daughter to party, unawares, at a house where there is illness. I would definitely warn those at the greatest risk, but I would warn everyone else, too.

Those you call might be fine with it. But if you have to cancel the party, your daughter will need to understand that a good friend wants her guests to be safe and stay healthy. And tell her that when Daddy gets well, you'll have a late celebration - or an unbirthday party - and in the fall. (And then start planning.)

I have gotten bronchitis almost every year since I was a young child (sometimes more than once a year and even in the summer). I have managed to skip a few years as an adult but recently had it again. The doctor told me this time that with most adults with bronchitis (and aren't smokers) it is viral rather than bacterial (meaning antibotics don't help and viral = contagious). Due to my history and severity, they did give me antibotics and it helped. With your husband possibly having a touch of pnemonia, I am sure that is why he'd be on antibotics.

You don't say how lonw he's been on the meds. I think that makes a difference (for instance, if he just started them yesterday or today, I would make him stay in the bedroom and possibly let people know whereas if he's been on them all week I would just clean really good and try to limit his time out of the bedroom sicne he's on the mend).

Once he has been on antibiotics for 48 hours he is no longer contagious - you can ask the doctore

Good for you for sending an e-mail! Most people will still likely attend, but some may need the option to not be exposed.

We had the opposite situation at my son's birthday party. One of our guests brought their ill child and both of my kids and I got terribly ill. It's not so bad for me, but my kids both have an auto-immune disease which really leaves them vulnerable to sickness and complications. Germs are everywhere, yes, but people in my family's situation have it MUCH harder than people with normal immune systems, so we like to be able to opt out of direct exposure. I wish all people were as thoughtful as you are!

I hope your party is well attended and FUN; and that your husband recovers quickly! :)

Lysol everything including all the door knobs and faucets and have hubby wear a mask if he ventures out of the bedroom.

If he's been on antibiotics for 24 hours before the party, he probably isn't contagious (if it's bacterial pneumonia/bronchitis).

Just to be safe, call your pediatrician or the doctor treating him, and ask that person, since they are the health professionals. :)

My husband would wear a mask.

I would just call the doctor and ask if he's still contagious. If not, don't say anything, spray disinfectant and no big deal. If he is, then move it to another location. Good luck!