Well, I’m happy to announce that we’re feeling better…at least for the most part. I learned a lot while we were ALL sick which I’m going to share with you all (mostly that having food storage is a REAL life saver)! I realized how hard it is to a) have everyone sick and b) have YOU sick as well! So I created a Mom’s Survival Guide to the Flu. It covers both H1N1 and the stomach flu. It has tips for helping you, the mom, get things done, entertain a child if you’re sick, basic information about H1N1 & Stomach Flu, shopping lists of what to have on hand, cleaning tips and lists for sanitizing and disinfecting your home, and some of my favorite soup recipes. As you can tell it is CHALK FULL of great information from what I learned over the past week. Please download it, USE it, and share it with others! It’s hard being a mom, so let’s all help each other out!
Click HERE to download my Mom’s Survival Guide to the Flu.
I would also recommend buying chux pads – what you are laying on when you deliver a baby – they are waterproof and are helpful when dealing with a baby throwing up who doesn't understand doing it in a bowl or going to the toilet. They made it helpful when I had the stomach bug at the same time last week that my baby did (and husband was out of town) so that I could line her crib with them and then when she threw up, I just tossed those and put out new ones. No pulling off sheets/towels/waterproof pads and doing more laundry. You can buy them in the adult incontinence area of any drugstore/pharmacy and they cost about $5 for a pack of 20. Completely worth it in my book.
Great handout, though I could have used a couple of these tips last month! Oh well. I must say it's a lot easier to handle the H1N1 if the mom is not the one with it. When I had it the doctor said I could not be my kids primary caregiver, couldn't touch them, and shouldn't even be in the same room as them so as to lessen the chance of them getting it. So I was basically quarantined in my bedroom. Man, when mom can't even help “supervise” the kids things get a whole lot crazier! Also I recommend using Pursue (an Amway product) to disinfect. You can spray it on toys, door handles, tables, etc. and not have to wipe it after. You can put it in your laundry and my mom says it works better than bleach to disinfect that way. My mom works at a University Preschool and Pursue is the main disinfectant they use.
My husband was out of town for two weeks while the kids & I endured the flu. Luckily, the kids are old enough to be mostly self-sufficient. I would echo what you said about having easy meals on hand & paper plates.
Thanks Crystal. This is such a valuable download. I think I will print it out and if we get sick I can just give the shopping list to those kind people, ie: VT's or family who offer to do something for us when we are not feeling well! Thank you for your help even when you were not feeling well. I am glad you are getting better!
What a great tool! Thank you. I am printing it out now. :~)
I'm glad your back and feeling a little better!!
I use 45ml bleach with 1 litre water for general cleaning and disinfecting all the time, esp. for cleaning in the bathroom and kitchen. I wear gloves when I use them, bleach is very hard on your hands/skin.
This is a cheap but effective cleaner/disinfectant, recommended by food safe courses here. I keep a premade bottle of it (labelled properly) in the cleaning supplies and in the kitchen.
By the way, the anti-virus medicines only work well if you use them in the first two days so either get to the doctor or clinic asap, or get a couple of prescriptions for it and get it filled. Keep them at home and ready. This may be more important if you are in a high danger group, very old, very young. Remember that the regular flu usually kills more people than the H1N1.
I use 45ml bleach with 1 litre water for general cleaning and disinfecting all the time, esp. for cleaning in the bathroom and kitchen. I wear gloves when I use them, bleach is very hard on your hands/skin.
This is a cheap but effective cleaner/disinfectant, recommended by food safe courses here. I keep a premade bottle of it (labelled properly) in the cleaning supplies and in the kitchen.
By the way, the anti-virus medicines only work well if you use them in the first two days so either get to the doctor or clinic asap, or get a couple of prescriptions for it and get it filled. Keep them at home and ready. This may be more important if you are in a high danger group, very old, very young. Remember that the regular flu usually kills more people than the H1N1.