Hello? Anyone there?

It's been a crazy week here at work!  This is the first I've had to get on the blog.

How is everyone doing?  It's hard already to keep up with the new year resolutions and the new plan.  I've been very, very naughty this week with ice cream and potato chips!  And I'm feeling it!  I think I've been on the tread mill twice, I think...if I can't even remember that's not good either.

The cold and flu season is here right now!  Everyone in your family should be drinking lots of water,   Clear liquids, like chicken broth (or beef broth, tea, etc) just try and stay hydrated.  (soda just makes you thirstier) Stock up on tissues, or TP for the dripping nose, and cold medicine for adults and kids so you're ready when it hits.  Because you don't want to have fevers, etc and have to go out with or without kids to get your supplies.  Hand sanitizer is also a good thing to have out and about for after a coughing fit or sneezing attack!  Be sure you have disinfecting wipes or lysol  spray for the surfaces and door knobs. Put the school phone numbers, doctor numbers, emergency medical numbers, etc by the phone so if you have a critical something you have the information with out having to run all over the place trying to find the urgent care number because your kid has a fever of 105.

With kids in school sometimes it is hard to make a decision to keep them home or have them go.  You, as the mom are the best judge of that.  If your child is too ill to go you can make arrangements for him/her to have school work at home by talking to the teacher and letting the school know that you are concerned about your child and if they know that they are usually more tolerant of absences. Some questions you may ask yourself in assessing the illness are: Would I want my well child sitting in class with one as sick a mine is right now?  Schools usually take kids who are sick but have no fever or communicable illness.  After your child has been out for so many days the school may require a doctors note for re-entry to their classroom (depending on the illness).  Teaching you children good "illness skills" such as the covering of the mouth and nose when coughing, sneezing, etc is also a very good idea.  Teach them also how to use hand sanitizer and how to wash their hands properly with running water and soap.  You may want to give them a small bottle of hand sanitizer for them to keep in their pocket or desk while at school.

It's tempting to leave the snuggly soft sheets on the bed when someone is ill.  However, the bed linens including sheets, pillow cases, blankets, pj's, should be washed regularly to keep the germs to a minimum in the bedroom.  Don't leave them lay at the washing machine, treat them as the germy and infected items they are!  Try to not kiss on the lips with any family member who is ill or if you are ill.  Germs are spread the quickist that way.  Kiss on the hand, it's kind of fun as something different.

ok, well, I've gone on and on...time to get back to it here...
I love you.
mom