Thursday, April 07, 2011

Sick Bay

Well . . . this has certainly been a week. A long one, as evidenced by the lack of posting.

One of the joys of having a large family is watching the merry carousel of germs that makes its way around to each and every member. Sometimes the carousel moves quickly (hello, stomach viruses!), and other times it just creaks its way around.

While the slow creaking is easier on the clean-up factor, it also means that you feel like you have sick people lying around for three years by the time everyone has finally been infected.

This time around has been the slow, creaking kind of trip. There have been high fevers, horrible soupy coughs, and general malaise.

I was certain that the children had picked up something that could actually by treated by an antibiotic, but nope. Just a weird virus that sounds like rattling death, but cannot be treated by anything other than lots of Motrin, Vicks vapor rub, cool washcloths, and a teaspoon of honey for the coughing.

(Around here, the combo of honey and vapor rub really does knock out the coughs, except for the little babies who can't have honey yet. They only get the vapor rub.)

I guess we're on the upswing. Or maybe we're just going around for another ride -- I really can't tell yet. But we'll make it.

Besides, it is spring right? We're not just in some kind of weird holding pattern for winter? Promise me I'll be able to open the windows soon and clear out some of the funk.

4 comments:

  1. Uh oh! Does this mean you and Francie will miss our trip? We were so looking forward to spending the weekend with you both. Let me know if there is anything I can do.

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  2. Hope everyone is on the mend soon!

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  3. Oy, sick kiddies are so pathetic :(

    I hope you didn't get it, being pregnant and all.

    One thing I've discovered whenever my kids get a runny nose or cough is to give them Benedryl. Since you can't give kids cough syrup until they are what, like 6 now?, we have found the Benedryl dries everything up and helps them sleep. But, if a natural remedy of vapor rub and honey does the trick, that's even better!

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  4. okay, we appear to have a great deal in common...To Kill a Mockingbird and Charlotte's Web topping the list. You should check my blog, its possible we may be the same person. www.practicingmammal.blogspot.com

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