Sick Kids 101

I think this might be for real. I think I might really be back to blogging. I know I've said that before, but it feels different this time. Of course, it is still too soon to tell, I may just fake myself out like I have a few times in the past and dwindle again in a week or a month, but it seems fun again and that is a good sign, I think.

Anyway, back to the title of this post. Sick Kids 101. So, it is spring break here in our household and instead of sunning ourselves in some tropical paradise, we are becoming Vitamin D deficient here in dreary Btown complete with high fevers and painful head congestion! Am I happy about this current reality? No. Am I resolved to it? Yes. For this particular minute, anyway.

So. I thought I would share some of my tips for surviving sick kids. I don't have a lot, honestly, but there are a few that in light of yesterday's post (re:laundry) are worth mentioning. Isn't it just like life for you to catch up on your laundry and then end up with sick kids? I mean, is there nothing MORE detrimental to an empty laundry basket than a sick kid or kids? I think not. Right. Back to those tips.

1) The Bed - Remove all bedding except the fitted sheet, one pillow with pillow case, and a blanket. Make sure the rest of the bedding is clean and put it away (far, far away from the sick child) so that you do not have to wash it again...and again...and (possibly) again. If you want to be super vigilant, take the fitted sheet, pillowcase, and blanket off each morning, replace with clean linens and then wash the dirty set. Sometimes I do this, other times I just wait until the sickness has passed to wash them.

2) Couch - Take one twin size fitted sheet and put it over the couch. It actually fits pretty well (at least for my couch). This way you minimize the chance of any "germ"age or potential bodily fluids getting on the couch (I love how I write this as I eat my dinner...mmm). IF there are bodily fluids involved (thank the Lord in this case there is not...knock knock) I also take a thick towel and put it over the pillow (or you could put it between pillow and case) and then place a thick towel on the floor underneath the bodily fluid receptacle (aka trash can). It is much easier to grab the towel(s) and clean them then it is to clean a pillow. Ick. Also, you can use a waterproof pad under the sheet to avoid any leakage. I know, I don't like that word either.

3) Keep a running tab of medication distribution in a central place. I use the dry erase board on my refrigerator. This is especially helpful if I have more than one sick kid and/or am dispensing a lot of medication in the nighttime when I am, shall we say, less than alert.

Maybe you guys have already figured these out, maybe not. I didn't figure the first two out until last year and am so glad I did!

It appears that I may have reached a whole new low on my blog referring to bodily fluids and eating dinner in the same sentence, but hey...this is real life and it's my life...at least for today. What about you guys? Any tips for managing sickness in the household? I'm all ears...or should I say eyes? Okay, that one was a little over the top.

Until next time...