From Cindy's Porch: Sick Day DO's
Warm Hearted Cold Comfort
"For the next time you or someone you love has a cold or the 'flu, here is something special, shared with me by my mother, to make you feel better. There are delicious aromas while your're making it too." - from my snow stomping buddy, Deborah (hugs from Cindy!)
Boil two cups of water. Squeeze juice from half a fresh lemon. Thinly slice two tablespoons of freshly peeled ginger.
Add the lemon juice to the boiling water. Pour into each tea cup. Add the ginger slices and stir vigorously.
Now add two teaspoons of honey to each cup - or more if desired. Stir again and sip slowly through the ginger slices - next to a fireplace if possible, or while wrapped in a quilt somewhere where you can watch the stars.
"It takes a few minutes of fuss, but the results are gratifying. Best wishes for your health and contentment." - Deborah
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 Caution: this is a rather nausious topic, proceed with care...
I hate it when the kids are sick. There is nothing more pitiful than the voice that whispers in the dark, "Mom, I puked." (how come they never say, "Dad, I puked"? Hmmmm) And that queasy feeling that you had been fighting off all day suddenly takes on new meaning. There is not much more you can do than try to make your little one feel comfortable and hope that they will be "the one puke wonder".
Remember: I am not a medical expert. There are plenty of excellent health websites out there. Check them out if you need more information about how to deal with the flu and your family. Call your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
The Universal Laws of the Family Flu
This was originally posted on Cindy's Porch a few years ago. It seemed like the right time to bring it back. My little "entrepreneur" is now a teenager (and she still expects her $2.00! - and I still pay it - huge grin!)
- The family that lives together, flus together.
- The first puke is usually unexpected. Chances are chili, milk, and strawberry ice cream were served at supper.
- Puking which occurs in bed will spread throughout each blanket, both sheets, the pillow, and the teddy bear. The exception to this law is: if the child sleeps on the top bunk, the puke will land all over the ladder and the carpet (and perhaps even onto the child below).
- Yes, it is possible to direct a puking child to the bathroom, clean them up, make up a temporary bed in the family room (using easy to wash towels and a thin blanket), strip the messed up bed, start a load of laundry, and steam clean the carpet at 3:00 in the morning - WITHOUT waking your husband up!
- When the flu has run through everyone else and they are feeling better - it is your turn!
Surviving the Family Flu
- Remember, you are not alone. On that very night you are cleaning up chunks, take solace in the fact that someplace in the world, another mom is doing exactly the same thing as you. Say hello to her. And yes, dads clean up chunks too, say hello to them as well.
- Take care of your child first. If your child needs medical attention, do that right away. If they just need a bath, make sure you watch them the entire time they are in the tub. Get them into some clean clothes and set them up in front of the TV with a kid show and a "puke bucket" (more on the puke bucket later). Now I know why there are still cartoons on TV at 3:00 in the morning!
- Take care of the puke next. Trust me on this one, you do not want to wait until later! Use old towels to wipe up the mess. Run a load of laundry with the soiled sheets, clothes, towels, etc. You do not want to deal with the smell the next day. Yick.
- Take care of the carpets. I have a steam cleaner. This workhorse of a machine has cleaned up more puke off the carpets than I care to admit. Remember to empty the steam cleaner when you are done. This is also something you do not want to deal with the next day (don't ask me how I know this).
- Keep an eye on your little one. This will not be the first puking session, nor the last. Contact your doctor if you have any questions.
The famous "PUKING BUCKET"
Every once in awhile us mothers have one of those great ideas that makes life sooooo much simpler. For whatever reason, my children could never make it to the bathroom when they had to puke. It always ended up on the floor or in the bed. Then I had the brainstorm.
"TWO BUCKS if you hit the toilet or the puking bucket."
So my little one (who is an entrepreneur in the making) isn't feeling too well at bedtime, and brings the puke bucket (an old ice cream pail) up into the bunk bed. Later that night, the inevitable happens. Instead of the pitiful voice that whispered "Mom, I puked", I heard, "Mom, you owe me two bucks" and she brought the evidence with her! Let's just say, I will pay anyone two dollars not to have to haul out the steam cleaner!
More tips on Colds and Flus from our Readers....
Thank-you so much to all our readers. You are the best! - Cindy
Getting Comfy
It's not easy getting comfy when you're not feeling well. If the husband is sick, there is often little you can do to settle them in (huge grin), and when your little ones are under the weather all they want is to curl up with mom (and sneeze on you, and cough on you, and more...). But there are a few things you can do to create a nest to keep everyone warm and cosy...
- When I am sick, I dig out my grandmother's old quilt. Just knowing she hand-made the quilt makes me feel like her strong arms are wrapping around me. - Cathy in Iowa
- When the flu is going around, I pay special attention to the bathroom. There is nothing worse than having to be sick in a yucky bathroom. Pat in MA
- When I am sick with a bad cold I like to snuggle up under a cozy blanket with a cup of hot doctored up tea.. I add some lemon juice and 1 or 2 cough drops and some honey to my tea It's very soothing & comforting.. I also like lots of home made chicken soup.. Stay well & God bless
Donna
- We have a "sick room." Actually it is the guest room. Whoever is sick gets the "honor" of sleeping in the big bed. I usually keep a few extra old towels (for emergencies) and a bunch of magazines, old books, and coloring books in a basket. We also move the old tv in and sign out a bunch of kid movies from the library. They don't often want to watch, but at least it helps out with the boredom. Lynn from Edmonton, Alberta
- We have an old dinner bell that we set up beside the bed. If they need anything, they just ring the bell. My dd is convinced it is the "get better soon fairy bell." Ruth
- Get lots of tissues - the soft ones! Note from Cindy: I set up a special waste paper basket with a plastic bag in it, so all the used tissues are disposed of in one place - and so I don't have to touch them!
- Keep a bucket close to the bed - just in case.
- This is a list of the ingredients on a package of Tub Tea. I plan to make my own version for Christmas gifts, because I'm sure it's wonderful.. Amounts are up to you.
Tub Tea
- Epsom salts, sea salt, desert salt
- oatmeal>br>
- milk granules
- peppermint & eucalyptus leaves
- peppermint & eucalyptus essential oils (I think these are available at drugstores, if nowhere else)
Ellen in Ottawa, Ontario (Note from Cindy: I've never heard of "Tub Tea" - this could be interesting...)
Liquids, lots of liquids
They always say, "Get lots of liquids" when you are sick. How are you supposed to convince a 10 year old who has spent all night "talking to the toilet"? The poor thing is completely worn out and the last thing she wants is more stuff in the tummy. I'll never forget the first time I dealt with one of my children who had the flu. I gave her a glass of milk. Big mistake!! Here's some better ideas from our readers...
- Home-made chicken soup: nothing tastes better when you have a cold - especially with lots of noodles.
- Flat gingerale and lemon sodas.
- My favorite when I am not feeling well is canned mandarin oranges. Tastes great going down - and not so bad if they happen to come up again. - Kelly, Brandon, Manitoba
- I've been stocking up our kitchen - just in case. Lots of gingerale, our favorite teas, medicine, juice, canned chicken noodle soup, and popsicles. In the meantime, we've been added an extra orange, raw peppers, and lots of tomatoes into our diet to boost the vitamin C. Can't hurt.
What to DO?
There is nothing sadder than a bored, sick kid - except perhaps a bored, sick spouse. What's a mom to DO?
- I keep on hand or you could make a sick bag: One can of "Store bought" Chicken noodle soup. The name brand with mostly broth cause you have to add a can of water. Broth gets eaten first. If that is tolerated then the tiny pieces of meat and carrot hiding in there, 1 - 2 liter 7up or Sprite (not diet). Can be stirred until flat. The few calories in there are needed for those who can't eat solid food. (Even at work our diabetics get regular sodajello as there are so many calories they are missing on clear liquid diets they need them.) Saltine crackers. SOFT name brand tissues. Your sore nosed family will love you for this.
Sheila - UP of MI
- Fill a basket with the kid's favorite movies and dvds. Let them choose what they want to watch.
- Let them call a friend or grandma.
- Move the video games into their bedroom.
- Watch old favorite DVD's and watch new ones that you received a Christmas presents and you thought you wouldn't really like it...you never know, it might surprise you. - Stephanie from NC
- Flip through magazines that have been accumulating for months simply because you didn't have the time to look at them
- Start rereading some of those classic books that are just sitting on your bookcase, waiting for you to once again have time to read them
- Finish those once started, long forgotten craft projects you have laying around in every room
- Look through all of your cookbooks, trying to find some inspiration for new meals
- Make your Thanksgiving/Christmas menu
- Balance your checkbook (Note from Cindy: I'd have trouble with this one when the body feels so sore that even the eyeballs hurt! Grin!)
- Write out your Christmas cards from the stash you have left from years past.
- Look through old family photo albums - Stephanie from NC (Note from Cindy: great list - thank-you!!)
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