Cold and Flu, hit the road Jack! And don't come back!

This, unfortunately, is the season of colds, viruses, asthma flare ups, and just plain ole sick for mostly everyone and worst for our little ones. Even when you think you've done all that you can to protect your babies and yourself from the horrible bug of sickness someone in your household brings home the one sneeze or cough that releases the germ into your fortress of what you thought was solitude from the dreaded cold; inevitable for those of us with little ones. They leave home to go to school, day care, play dates, grandmas or wherever feeling great and free from infection ( Coming to America reference I literally just laughed out loud, told you all I was corny) and they return with germs that invade your territory. It almost makes you want to snatch their clothes off at the door throw them in the tub and then disinfect everything that could have possibly been contaminated. 

For two years one of our boys was in the hospital for at least a week in December around his birthday because of his asthma issues. It would start as a cough, then chest congestion. Next thing we know he's admitted and possibly had pneumonia! Talking about a stressful time, OMG! We did eventually find that the carpet in the home we were living in at the time was the cause of his asthma flare ups; finding the cause and removing it is the best thing you can do for your little one who suffers from asthma. This year our youngest baby now has RSV and the coughing and congestion is the worst for his little body. Sometimes no matter what we try to do to avoid our children or ourselves from getting sick it will happen. We can, however, try our best to arm our immune systems with as much armor as possible to try to defend itself against this sickly season because who wants to be sick or admitted to a hospital on Christmas? Not one soul!

Be sure to wash your hands, a lot! Our hands touch so many things that are possibly contaminated with sickly germs so we pick up a lot with out even recognizing it. Washing your hands after using the rest room, after you come in from being out, after you wipe or blow you nose and really just periodically throughout the day when you think about it could help decrease transmission tremendously. Stock up on some good moisturizing lotion because with the winter season and all this hand washing your skin is bound to get dry. And by the way keep your hands out of your face as much as possible including your eyes, nose and mouth, use a Kleenex and then of course wash those hands afterward. Children love playing in the bathroom sink, I mean washing their hands, so have a bottle of Purell near to keep their little hands clear of germs becuase those lil grabbers are the worst culprits.

Drink plenty of water and take your vitamins. Maybe add a vitamin C tablet to your Arsenal to equip your immune system with as many soldiers as possible. Now a days they have the vitamin C powders you can add to a bottled water which is great way to add the vitamin while on the go especially if you don't want to add one more pill to your pill popping regimen. 

And now we come to diet and exercise, make sure you are putting the right things into your body for it to feed off of and stay as active as you can during this time to keep the oxygen and blood flowing through your system. Now I am truly not one to talk about diet and exercise so I won't stay here for long but know that having a healthy diet and getting enough exercise is crucial to your health, period. 

Last but surely not least, if you or your child does get sick, stay or keep them home! Do not send Lil Johnny to school sick because his germs will spread like wild flowers and before you know it the other kids are dropping like flies! Do not go into the office with your box of Kleenex and your cold syrup on deck! No, stay home, take your meds and get some much needed rest to help your body recover. You run the risk of spreading your sickness to everyone who enters into your personal space where ever you travel and that is not fair at all. Do yourself and everyone else a huge favor and stay home until you are better, please. 

Winter is officially here, I mean Christmas is in like 3 days! Can you believe it?! I know I can't, my Lord! It's not too late to get yourself right. Do all that you know to do, get your flu shot, follow the tips above and let's keep our households healthy and sickness free this cold season! 

What are some other tips you use to keep your household cold free this time of year please share?

Merry Christmas folks!!

Crowns Galore