How We Cure the Sickies Around Here

It's that time of the year, isn't it? Playdates get canceled more frequently, snot covers everything, nobody sleeps because there's always someone coughing or who can't breathe. It's cold/flu season.

I'll touch briefly on the flu. I'm a firm believer in the flu shot. Now, that does not mean our house is flu free by any means. We ALWAYS get something. But, when we do it's usually a brief stint of barfing from each boy and then it's over. The one year we didn't get the flu shot is was DAYS of cycling through each of us, all of us barfing and on the toilet for 12-24 hours each. Horrific. I still get an upset stomach just thinking about it. So, while not the "crunchiest" momma thing to say ever, get your flu shot.

Now, onto that pesky cold. The one that's currently making a little stop at our pad. We have 5 sure fire ways of getting rid of a cold in our house.

1. JUICING:

Or making smoothies. We do a combo of fruits and veggies, greek yogurt, almond milk, chia seeds. When we juice it's always with something high in vitamin C. And PLENTY of greens. Zuchinni, celery, carrots, spinach, kale, apples, lemon, oranges, etc... anything goes. At least one juice/smoothie per day around here when people are sick.

2. TYLENOL:

Every 4 hours on the freaking dot. I'm not kidding. We all can't make it through the day (or night) without drugging the children.

3. VICK'S VAPORUB:

Here's the trick to Vick's. Put it on their feet (the bottoms) and cover those tootsies up with socks. It seriously helps them breathe. We only do this at nighttime and it makes a HUGE difference.

4. HUMIDIFIER:

Why, yes we do have that cute little guy! And, he works. We use him all night, every night when the kiddos can't breathe.

5. REST

I'll nap with the kids more just to keep them sleeping, we'll put them to be earlier, let them sleep in our room, put on movies and let them veg out. Hell, I've even been known to buy them milkshakes and let them eat them in the car just to keep them happy and still. Anything to get us through the day when everyone is cranky and tired and doesn't feel well.

What do you do to help your kids over their colds? Any new tricks out there?