Surviving Flu Season
Winter has always been tricky for families. It's the time you attempt to hide your kids from the germs that start circulating, usually to no avail. Especially for our family! We move around so often that we tend to be up against brand new bugs every winter.This year the nasty flu bug found our family and came in for the kill. It went through all of us once and then came back around for the second time.One by one all three kids have gone down.I feel terrible for them. Especially as Liam comes down in the middle of the night burning up, trying not to throw up. The momma in me wants to fix it. I want to make him feel better so he doesn't have to be sick anymore. I hate seeing that look in his eyes.Two weeks into flu season and I find my hubby and I sitting there exhausted. We've been up all house of the night, gone through bottles of Tylenol, washed their sheets dozens of times, and made countless bowls of Top Ramen.
Stock Each Room With Supplies
There's nothing worse than waking up to a feverish child in the middle of the night and not being able to find the fever medicine... You try looking everywhere for it, but you have an emotional kid who just wants you to hold him.Save yourself the trouble and make sure each bedroom is stocked with Tylenol, water, and a thermometer. Then you'll have everything you need at your fingertips. Whether it's 3 am or 2 in the afternoon, you're ready and prepared.
Keep Essential Oils/Cleaning Supplies On Hand
When your kids are sick, they're probably coughing over every surface in your home. If you're really lucky they'll even cough on your face like mine do. Somehow. Every time.Cleaning materials are a must! Head over to the store at the first sign of a sick bug and grab all the cleaning supplies you may need. Then you'll have them afterward when your kiddos are feeling better. Flu season is much longer than any of us would like so keep that house as germ-free as possible.
Stick To A Simple Schedule
As a parent, schedules have become a big part of your life. They tell you where you're supposed to be and what you need to do every day. When your kids get sick you may be tempted to keep remnants of your schedule. The problem is it only leads to more stress. Let your kids sleep as much as possible and put everything on hold until they start to feel better.
Figure Out Who's On Call
Everything is harder at night and it's typically the exact moment your sick kids need you the most. Talk to your partner before you go to sleep and figure out who's going to be on call for the night. Who's the one who will get up and give them medicine or will it be both of you? No more fighting over who got up last!
Set Timers
Nothing fries your brain more than a mom who hasn't slept in who knows how long. You probably won't be catching up while your kids are sick so don't plan on remembering anything for a while. Instead of trying to remember when you're supposed to give your kids their antibiotics or fever medicine, set a timer. It will make things much easier for you.
Let Go And Embrace Technology
Embrace the chaos of your sick days and let your kids have access to tv, video games, and just about anything else that will keep them in their bed all day. They need to rest and if that means they watch Disney Channel all day for a few days... will it really matter? No. Give in and don't stress over the tech time.
Coffee
This one really just needs one word. Coffee. Stock up on the coffee. Whether it's brewed coffee, cold brew like me, or you beg your friends to bring you coffee... find a way and have plenty on hand. If you don't drink coffee, may God be with you! I have had more coffee than I thought possible over the last few weeks and you know what... It's okay! I'll go back to my normally obsessive amount when they feel better.
I don't think any of us would be able to sit down at the end of a sick day and say wow that was a good day, however, we can get through it. We can take those sick days one at a time and help our babies get better so we can get back to our normal chaos and crazy.