If you haven't marked your calendar yet, don't forget
Hey friends!
You will never believe it?? But all of my 4 kids are at school today! Woo Hoo! :)
Please know ~ I love my kids DEARLY, but day after day after day of having sick kids home from school has tested my patience, faith and joy. Not to mention, the lice is back. Ugh. Thankfully, I do not have it, but we found nits in 3 (yes, three) members of my family. Yuck!
Thankfully, my husband (who is AMAZING!) stayed home yesterday, and our washer and dryer went non-stop for 13 hours. We have cleaned, disinfected, combed, washed, boiled, shampooed, sprayed, and cleaned more. Not to mention, we have prayed. (I even called my mentor and asked her what specific verses I could pray for this lice infestation ~ I'm not kidding!). What a winter it has been!
I am trying to learn from this experience...so here are my Top 6 Strategies for staying sane in the midst of sick kids.
1. Send for help.
I used to be a very independant, self-sufficient, "I can do it" type girl. Then I had 4 kids, and I realized I am in way over my head. I have learned to ask for help from family & friends, and share with my husband what I need.
If I need to get out of the house after being "cooped up" for 5 days straight, I'll now share that with my husband. Or if my daughter really is craving jello, and our pantry is jello-less, Grandma's & Grandpa's love to make little trips over. Or for the friend that says, "Can I bring you a latte?" ~ the answer is always YES! :) In the midst of sick kids, it helps to send for help when needed.
2. Snuggle
Now that my kids are 7, 8, 9, and 16 ~ they are usually "on the go" more often than not. While our kids are sick, it's a great time to take advantage of their desire to snuggle. :)
3. Sanitize
...however, be sure to sanitize often! Thankfully I've not caught "the bug" that has been on the loose in our home since January. And thank goodness for Lysol and other household cleaners! We have wipes, sprays, cleaners and sanitizer in every room!
4. Sick Bell
Last year I purchased a simple bell at the Dollar Store now known as our "Sick Bell". When the kids are feeling under the weather, I sanitize the bell, and then they get to keep it with them at all times.
Not only do the kids enjoy having the bell close-by, it's helpful for me and John too. This week it was especially helpful when my daughter started throwing up in the night. She rang, and I ran. I love our sick bell!
5. Show movies.
Over the past few weeks, I've had the chance to watch a lot of great movies with my kids. One friend let us borrow the whole Anne of Green Gables series (wonderful! I'd never seen it.), my mentor brought over a bag of movie classics, plus Grandpa Bultema brought over the whole Sugar Creek Gang collection (another new favorite).
Showing good, wholesome, family-friendly movies has helped make all of the time pass by more quickly! :)
6. Surrender
The most important lesson I've learned in this "season of sickness" is to surrender and trust Him completely. God does know what He is doing (even if it doesn't "feel" like it).
I'll admit, the week before the Red Hot retreat, I could/should have been a basket case. My plan was to prepare/plan/pray that whole week ~ and instead we had sick kids and lice. Ugh.
I had to let it all go....trust in Him wholeheartedly ~ being anxious and uptight wasn't going to solve anything, especially in the midst of a crazy detour.
Looking back, what a gift to spend that time before the Retreat with my little girl, snuggling on the couch, writing out Scripture, while we watched movies and rested together.
I'm still working on surrendering in the midst of the "lice situation", but I must admit that my marriage is stronger and my love for my husband is deeper than ever. God doesn't waste ANYTHING, of this I am sure....
My hope is that I won't have to lean on these "Sick Day Strategies" much longer...but I would love to hear from you! What have you learned works best for your family when your kids are under the weather?? Share with us please!!!
Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*!! Have a healthy, joy-filled, flu-free day! :)
P.S For more Works for Me Wednesday ideas, head over and visit Kristen at We Are That Family. Get ready to read a TON of great suggestions! :)
7 comments:
Hi, Cindy! This is Connie from the MTC tapings. I just want to say that I have been so blessed to read your blog. I have learned more about you and what the Lord has done in your life by reading your testimony! God is amazing and now I can see why you 'sparkle'.
When my kids were sick I would make a bed for them on the couch with sheets, their pillows, blankies and favorite stuffed animals...that's so they could be near me while I worked in the kitchen. What they loved the most is when I serve them juice and toast on a special tray, complete with flowers in a vase and a sick bell! (love that idea)
My kids are grown now, but still at home. My 24 year old daughter was very sick this winter with the flu, and she made herself a bed on the couch and asked me to make her toast and tea...so I served it on a tray! She loved it!
God bless you, Cindy, in the midst of all you are dealing with!
i LOVE the sick bell idea!!! thanks for sharing that GREAT tip.
sorry its been such a hard winter with the sickies! i will be praying james 1:2-4 for you, friend.
Hi Cindy! I received my scripture cards from you today in the mail!!! I was so excited to receive real mail from a blog friend and I loved your handwritten note. I have it on my table so I can see it sparkle :) I am going to keep those cards in my purse.
When my kids are not feeling well I set up the couch with sheets and pillows and let them watch movies. I make a big pot of chicken soup with lots of garlic and parsley and give them ginger ale. For coughs we give them Boiron's Homeopathic Chestal Cough Syrup and for colds Hyland's Vitamin C Cold Plus Tablets. We try to avoid sugar as well (minus the ginger ale...LOl).
Thanks again sweet friend.
Oh, bless you! I helped with sick Grans last week and it just about did me in. :o) Sounds like you sure made the best of it though and came up with some great coping mechanisms to boot! Blessings!
i'm just so sorry you've had so much sickness. i've been following this story and hoping for that day they would all be in school. hope it lasts!
I love the idea of the sick bell!
Wow. I stopped over here today and reading this post was so timely for me. We've been hit hard this winter with the sickies. And,this week we are battling a stomach virus for the second time this year! My son Edison turns 6 today and I had to keep him home from school because he was sick.
Great suggestions Cindy!
P.S. - I remember my mom having a sick bell for me and my sisters when we were sick. Super cute.
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