I’m struggling, people! I’m on Week 2 of defending myself from the cold that attacked Jaisa and Ella, and I’m this close to letting my guard down. Trying to stay healthy can be exhausting! I’ve been popping everything that Mother Nature has to offer, from vitamin C to echinacea, vitamin D and lots of OJ. But more important than anything, I know I need my sleep…something that was not had last night on account of my youngest, Jaisa, crying in the night. Normally she’s a superb sleeper, but naturally, the one night when my defenses have been compromised to dangerously low levels, THE ONE NIGHT I REALLY NEEDED A GOOD SLEEP, Jaisa had other plans.
So today, I’m upping my game. I got some exercise in and I’m gulping down obscene amounts of water to help flush out the bad mojo. I used to be a rockstar water drinker—getting my required eight, 8-ounce glasses a day without pulling a muscle. Now it seems I can’t find the time. Sounds ridiculous, I know. How much time can it take to guzzle water? But somehow I found a way to make it difficult, and I flat out forget to drink. (Maybe I should write myself a Post-It.)
It reminds me of my morning coffee ritual that’s gone awry. I love coffee. There’s nothing better than starting my day with a nice hot cup of joe. But in my hurried state of getting both of the girls their breakfast in the morning (because once they’re seated at that table, food better not be far behind), I make a pot, pour a cup, and by noon I see that sad little cup of caffeinated goodness sitting on the counter cold, with only a few sips taken. I think I need a lesson in time management. But that’s another topic, another day…if I have time.
Today I have to kick this cold to the curb for good because it’s already inched its way into my system and left me with a scratchy throat. I know the full-blown effects won’t be far behind. There’s never a good time to get a cold, but this week REALLY is no good for me. It’s Homecoming Week at Matt’s school and he’s the teacher in charge. Every year, this week brings a little stress to my life as I put on my single-parent hat. Thank goodness I don’t have to wear this hat a lot. Those of you who do, I applaud you. Thankfully, come Sunday I get my husband back and hopefully a little R&R.
Here’s my plan of attack…
Sleep: If that means missing Glee tonight (gulp), then so be it. (Thank goodness for DVRs.) Studies show that if you get less than seven hours of sleep a night, you’re three times more likely to catch the common cold, since sleep deprivation has been shown to impair immune function. And if you sleep poorly, you’re five times more susceptible to one as well. Sandman, it’s time to help a mother out.
Hand Washing: It’s something I harp at Matt about regularly. When he gets home from work “Did you wash your hands?” Before he fixes the girls a snack, “Did you wash your hands?” And believe it or not, after he uses the bathroom, “Did you wash your hands?”
To make things easier for everyone, I now house a canister of sanitizing wipes near our kitchen sink as a reminder to keep it clean, at the very least, before we eat—no excuses.
Healthy Eating: I’ve been upping my intake of fruits and vegetables…again something I’ve been lacking lately. There’s nothing like fresh, natural sources of essential vitamins and minerals to ramp up the immune system.
Family Time: Carrying my healthier habits over to my family helps us all stay healthy and stops the vicious sickness cycle. So if it means I have to keep asking…
“Did you wash your hands?”
“Did you wash your hands?”
“Did you wash your hands?”
…That’s exactly what I’m going to do.
What’s your secret to keeping your superpowers intact?
Showing posts with label cold. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cold. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Holding On For Dear Health
You’ve heard how Jaisa’s cold killed Mom’s run, right?
Well, we moms all know how the rest of the story goes…
One kid gets sick. Then another falls victim. Dad’s hanging by a thread. Mom? She’s the one wiping noses all day and getting globs of snot blown in her face, not to mention goopy saliva coughed into her eyes. She’s also the one who’s been popping the extra vitamins since Day 1, scrubbing down the surfaces with antibacterial wipes, and doing the best she can to get enough sleep so she too doesn’t become a helpless prey to the Monster Virus that could rip the entire family to shreds.
Let’s face it folks, if Mom goes down, the entire family is screwed. But let’s get realistic too….when Mom goes down, dishes still need to get washed, laundry still needs to get done, meals still need to get made, and butts still need to get wiped. (This is not a slam on my husband because he DOES step up to the plate whenever he's called to duty.) But sick or not, Mom’s NEVER done. Which is why I apply my protective force field as soon as that first sneeze is sprayed… metaphorically speaking. (I'll talk more about my personal "tricks of the trade" in the days ahead.) Supermom does not go down without a fight!
I do have to give my kids a pat on the back. Sickness in our house usually starts earlier. One step inside daycare usually did the trick. But now that both girls are a little older, their immune systems are building up more defenses to all the crud out there. Thank goodness! Fall is my favorite time of year… until we get slapped in the face with reminders that cold and flu season is on its way.
In the beginning…
I remember all too well that one of the most difficult things I endured during both of my girls’ first years – aside from getting them to nurse, learning how to perfect the swaddle, soothing their evening crying spells and weaning the 2 am feedings – was trying to keep Ella and Jaisa healthy.
Like it or not, during Year One kids get exposed to pretty much everything (especially in daycare), which may be a blessing, as long as they don’t actually come down with everything. After Ella’s first year, she seemed to get sick a lot less often. I’m hoping the same will hold true for Jaisa. One thing I did when Ella got a little older was try some natural remedies to help alleviate symptoms, with my pediatrician’s approval of course. Mother Nature has some wicked immune-supportive tricks up her sleeve!
The bee’s knees for coughs
If you haven’t yet thanked your neighborhood bees, it’s time to sing their praises. It’s not just for tea, moms, honey helps relieve a cough too! With the ban on all cough and cold medicines for children under 6, this alternative has proven to be a safe natural remedy and our ticket to sleep-filled nights during times of sickness. Honey has amazing anti-bacterial properties and is a rich source of antioxidants that are beneficial for healing. When Ella can’t sleep without a hearty coughing spell, I give her a half teaspoon of honey to help coat and soothe the throat and quiet the cough. Ahhh…silence is bliss, especially at 3 am. [Moms, remember, never give honey to children under age 1 for fear of infant botulism.]
Last season with Jaisa was a little different. I couldn’t try honey yet and she wasn’t old enough for herbal formulas either (as advised by her pediatrician). So I relied heavily on a cool mist humidifier, a wedge to incline her mattress a bit, some chest rub to loosen up congestion (there are some good homeopathic options out there), and the aspirator to suck the gunk. She loved it. And if you believe that, you obviously have never tried it on your child. Consider yourself warned. Still, I consider it a necessary evil.
Kids bugging you? Bug them back!
I take a probiotic supplement on a daily basis for healthy digestion, but I first discovered the power of these good bacteria for children when Ella had a bout of diarrhea. After reading about the “wonder bugs” and their ability to improve digestion even in infants, I mixed a kid-friendly probiotic blend in with Ella’s yogurt or applesauce and sure enough, it eased her diarrhea.
A little common sense
Common sense applies to kids just as much as it applies to adults. I remind Ella to wash her hands after using the bathroom and before eating, and to cough and sneeze into her sleeve, not her hand. I have a pretty good idea of where that hand goes throughout the day and as few germs that can get from there to her mouth (or to me), the better. I also try to keep the girls away from each other as much as possible when one of them is sick. It’s not like I quarantine them or anything. Basically it means, “Ella, don’t let Jaisa put her hands in your mouth… and Ella, stay out of hers, for crying out loud!”
Laughter is the best medicine
Don’t forget a little TLC and a tickle goes a long way. Hugs can be just what the doctor ordered. By maintaining a positive, fun-loving environment for your child, a sniffle or two won’t stand in the way of laughter and a smile.
Stay tuned because I’ll talk more about how I try to stay healthy this time of year in an upcoming post.
Got a natural remedy that works for your child? I’d love to hear about it.
Well, we moms all know how the rest of the story goes…
One kid gets sick. Then another falls victim. Dad’s hanging by a thread. Mom? She’s the one wiping noses all day and getting globs of snot blown in her face, not to mention goopy saliva coughed into her eyes. She’s also the one who’s been popping the extra vitamins since Day 1, scrubbing down the surfaces with antibacterial wipes, and doing the best she can to get enough sleep so she too doesn’t become a helpless prey to the Monster Virus that could rip the entire family to shreds.
Let’s face it folks, if Mom goes down, the entire family is screwed. But let’s get realistic too….when Mom goes down, dishes still need to get washed, laundry still needs to get done, meals still need to get made, and butts still need to get wiped. (This is not a slam on my husband because he DOES step up to the plate whenever he's called to duty.) But sick or not, Mom’s NEVER done. Which is why I apply my protective force field as soon as that first sneeze is sprayed… metaphorically speaking. (I'll talk more about my personal "tricks of the trade" in the days ahead.) Supermom does not go down without a fight!
I do have to give my kids a pat on the back. Sickness in our house usually starts earlier. One step inside daycare usually did the trick. But now that both girls are a little older, their immune systems are building up more defenses to all the crud out there. Thank goodness! Fall is my favorite time of year… until we get slapped in the face with reminders that cold and flu season is on its way.
In the beginning…
I remember all too well that one of the most difficult things I endured during both of my girls’ first years – aside from getting them to nurse, learning how to perfect the swaddle, soothing their evening crying spells and weaning the 2 am feedings – was trying to keep Ella and Jaisa healthy.
Like it or not, during Year One kids get exposed to pretty much everything (especially in daycare), which may be a blessing, as long as they don’t actually come down with everything. After Ella’s first year, she seemed to get sick a lot less often. I’m hoping the same will hold true for Jaisa. One thing I did when Ella got a little older was try some natural remedies to help alleviate symptoms, with my pediatrician’s approval of course. Mother Nature has some wicked immune-supportive tricks up her sleeve!
The bee’s knees for coughs
If you haven’t yet thanked your neighborhood bees, it’s time to sing their praises. It’s not just for tea, moms, honey helps relieve a cough too! With the ban on all cough and cold medicines for children under 6, this alternative has proven to be a safe natural remedy and our ticket to sleep-filled nights during times of sickness. Honey has amazing anti-bacterial properties and is a rich source of antioxidants that are beneficial for healing. When Ella can’t sleep without a hearty coughing spell, I give her a half teaspoon of honey to help coat and soothe the throat and quiet the cough. Ahhh…silence is bliss, especially at 3 am. [Moms, remember, never give honey to children under age 1 for fear of infant botulism.]
Last season with Jaisa was a little different. I couldn’t try honey yet and she wasn’t old enough for herbal formulas either (as advised by her pediatrician). So I relied heavily on a cool mist humidifier, a wedge to incline her mattress a bit, some chest rub to loosen up congestion (there are some good homeopathic options out there), and the aspirator to suck the gunk. She loved it. And if you believe that, you obviously have never tried it on your child. Consider yourself warned. Still, I consider it a necessary evil.
Kids bugging you? Bug them back!
I take a probiotic supplement on a daily basis for healthy digestion, but I first discovered the power of these good bacteria for children when Ella had a bout of diarrhea. After reading about the “wonder bugs” and their ability to improve digestion even in infants, I mixed a kid-friendly probiotic blend in with Ella’s yogurt or applesauce and sure enough, it eased her diarrhea.
A little common sense
Common sense applies to kids just as much as it applies to adults. I remind Ella to wash her hands after using the bathroom and before eating, and to cough and sneeze into her sleeve, not her hand. I have a pretty good idea of where that hand goes throughout the day and as few germs that can get from there to her mouth (or to me), the better. I also try to keep the girls away from each other as much as possible when one of them is sick. It’s not like I quarantine them or anything. Basically it means, “Ella, don’t let Jaisa put her hands in your mouth… and Ella, stay out of hers, for crying out loud!”
Laughter is the best medicine
Don’t forget a little TLC and a tickle goes a long way. Hugs can be just what the doctor ordered. By maintaining a positive, fun-loving environment for your child, a sniffle or two won’t stand in the way of laughter and a smile.
Stay tuned because I’ll talk more about how I try to stay healthy this time of year in an upcoming post.
Got a natural remedy that works for your child? I’d love to hear about it.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
'Twas the Night Before Race Day
'Twas the night before Race Day and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, except our “little mouse”
That mouse was Jaisa crying upon each hour
I quickly realized sleep was out of my power.
At 3 am I was still awake, having not yet slept a wink
Forget about running a race—I wouldn’t be able to think!
Now it wasn’t my back in pain
So much as the throbbing on my brain.
And then the clock struck four…
My alarm would go off in an hour more
Finally, I passed out from sheer exhaustion
At that point I might as well have forgotten.
There I was on Race Day
Dead as a door nail you might say
With just one hour of sleep in me
This race nearly brought me to my knees.
Each mile was a mighty struggle
When all I wanted to do was snuggle
Beneath the sheets and start all over
Thank goodness more races come in October.
Sadly, my time I did not beat
One minute more I pounded the street
But I FINISHED and made it alive and well
And have this dreadful story to tell.
What was bothering Jaisa so?
At the time I did not know
Later it proved to be a cold
How dare that virus be so bold!
To drag me down in such a way
Alas, I will have the final say…
On this, my next big Race Day!
Not a creature was stirring, except our “little mouse”
That mouse was Jaisa crying upon each hour
I quickly realized sleep was out of my power.
At 3 am I was still awake, having not yet slept a wink
Forget about running a race—I wouldn’t be able to think!
Now it wasn’t my back in pain
So much as the throbbing on my brain.
And then the clock struck four…
My alarm would go off in an hour more
Finally, I passed out from sheer exhaustion
At that point I might as well have forgotten.
There I was on Race Day
Dead as a door nail you might say
With just one hour of sleep in me
This race nearly brought me to my knees.
Each mile was a mighty struggle
When all I wanted to do was snuggle
Beneath the sheets and start all over
Thank goodness more races come in October.
Sadly, my time I did not beat
One minute more I pounded the street
But I FINISHED and made it alive and well
And have this dreadful story to tell.
What was bothering Jaisa so?
At the time I did not know
Later it proved to be a cold
How dare that virus be so bold!
To drag me down in such a way
Alas, I will have the final say…
On this, my next big Race Day!
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