The Mom's Book of Worries

Last night as we traveled home both our little darlings were snotting and miserable. I always hate to see my babies sick! And I know they have to be miserable when they get the body aches.

Some common sense mixed with medical fact...

The old standby of chicken noodle soup is the way to go for most stuffy heads. The warmth and steam will help loosen it up! For adults add in extra pepper! (Works for me!)

For sore throats go soft, but avoid just giving them ice cream. Scrambled Eggs, soups, oatmeal. For a cough that won't stop, try Honey! Swirl into hot tea at night to help them drift off to sleep.

Honey Stick From Aunt Kelly

The adage about starving a fever is a big no no! In fact our bodies need more calories when we have a fever, not less! Slip in extra calories wherever you can. Mash up bananas in peanut butter, powdered milk in the mac n cheese, even try fruit smoothies instead of plain ice cream.

Saltines are great for upset tummies of any age, and yogurt is usually fine. Popsicles are your best tool and can be homemade with real fruit juices.

Sugar should be avoided during sickness and recovery. It actually causes inflammation and can make you feel worse. So avoid fast food favs after an illness and try to get them eating grains, veggies and lean proteins.

Do your kids love mushrooms? They are natural viral attackers and can shorted the life of some flu viruses. (Read this article for more than ever wanted to know.)

Want something other than food tips? Steamy showers, warm washcloths for the face, vapor rubs (Try rubbing on the soles of the feet and applying socks to lessen coughing at night!) Saline irrigation, and aromatherapy steam sessions like adding Eucalyptus (which is known to open up bronchial tubes, ease congestion, and make breathing easier) or fresh ground ginger to a sink full of steamy hot water and leaning over with a towel draped around your head to capture the steam.

Go at their pace when your kids are sick. Try to let them have what their bodies are craving but limit sugar and replace with healthy calories. Let them play for little bursts and try to keep them at rest whenever possible. They'll appreciate the tender loving care. (Maybe when they're older) ;)

What makes a house a home? For me it's having my family with me and being surrounded by the things I love most. Which if you know me, means lots of pictures and trees!

For the kids it was about the same definition, but each might have left his or her sister or brother with Granny! Benjamin wanted to bring Granny with him. ;)

He was very adamant about including Granny until he figured out he was getting a new toy chest from Grammy Bonnie to go in his new room. Once he discovered he was bringing his car bed and toys along, he was much more excited about the "new walls and new room".

Abbie has never been a complainer. She was content with her "mu-vees" and blankie. She cuddled up to Dad and shadowed her big brother from the first night. I think she loves her new toy for her 'new room' but we probably would never know if she didn't.

Our tiny furball has be de-fuzzed and de-pestified. She is looking abit more like a drowned rat unfortunately, but you can't go rutting around in a dead thing and not expect a bath and some serious disinfecting! I mean Gross!

Of course Baby Doll and Kitty had to be here with the kids or they wouldn't be home either. And without a garage and space for the big boy toys, I doubt Daddy would feel at home anywhere. ;)

So in our case our new house is already our home. We still need to get a few piece of essential furniture, but it's home just the same.