Thursday, February 21, 2013

How to Blast the "Sick Day Blues"

QUADRUPLETS...



Life can be extremely challenging with multiples (especially 4!), but there are some obvious added benefits. One of them being that they learn how to share EVERYTHING at an early age. And by "share everything", I mean~ pass around every single germ known to mankind. Awww, isn't that sweet?!

NO.

No, it's not.

We try our very best to prevent colds and flu from entering our house (See my previous post: Tips for Staying Healthy During Cold/Flu Season), but sometimes kids are going to get sick no matter what.

Here is how sickness usually attacks the Steece Family:

 
One child begins coughing/sneezing (usually Ben)...

 

 



...then brother #2 gets sick, followed by sister, and finished off with brother #3 feeling puny as well. It is actually easier when they all get sick at one time--- as opposed to drawing it out over 2-3 weeks. (That is THE. WORST.)

 

 

Welcome to the Steece Family Sick Ward, y'all!




It is a completely different story when only ONE child is sick and stays home from school to spend the day with Mama. I try to make it as special as possible~ because one-on-one time is a rarity (especially with multiples) and the kids soak it up, as you can imagine. Precious, precious time spent with one child. I know many of you can relate.


Just  this week, we have been hit hard with the flu (yes, despite all having the flu shot...Grrrrrr) and bilateral ear infections. FUN TIMES!


Here are some ways that I have tried to make our "sick days" special:


1. You get to pick out a treat, any treat you want...

 
Ben picked out his very own mini-sized Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream and that smile reappeared in no time (despite those poor, feverish eyes)!

 

 
 
Andrew was NOT a fan of his painful, antibiotic injection (can you blame him?!), but he instantly turned that frown upside down when offered a tasty treat of his choice...no matter how sugary. Those are the rules... (You had better believe I was cringing inside! Ha)

 

 
And sometimes, the whole crew gets to choose a treat! Like after Andrew's 3rd antibiotic injection! (It has been a LONG week, folks!)




2. A cozy night of snuggling with Mom in the guest room...

When a child is sick (vomiting, wheezing, etc.), I like to keep a close eye on him/her. Our kiddos have slept in their own beds from day one, so they view this "sleepover" as an extremely special treat! It just might involve falling asleep to a DVD or two. It also makes it easier for Mom to roll over and administer a breathing treatment in the middle of the night.



 3. Play time on ipods

 
I'm very strict with the amount of time my kids spend on electronic devices. I only let them use their ipods when we are in waiting rooms or doctors offices, etc. On sick days, anything goes!
 



4. Movies, movies, movies

 
Our family LOOOVES movies! We've been taking the kids to theaters since they were 2 years old. When one of my babies is sick, I usually stop and let him/her pick out a DVD rental.
(Sick little Savi, on our way home after dropping off the boys at school)

 

 
The sick child will get to pick out whichever DVD he wants to watch---without the input of 3 other pesky siblings. That would put a smile on any quadruplet's face!




The sick day blues seem to magically fade away with these various activities, oh- and lets not forget the importance of modern medicine! We like to use Mucinex Cold & Cough to relieve our Cold & Flu symptoms. Within hours, those smiles start reappearing.

Children's Mucinex is the #1 children's brand for relieving congestion* and provides fast acting relief from your child's worst cold symptoms. Try Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold if your child needs relief from stuffy nose and chest congestion. Always use Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold as directed. (*Based on IRI unit share data for the 52 weeks ending November 2012)

Share the love, peeps! Click on this link for a $2 off coupon.

Stay tuned for my 3rd post about Favorite Sick Day Meals. Share yours with me and I'll do the same!

What is your favorite meal when under the weather?
(Answer this question in the comments section below for your chance to win a $100 CVS gift card!)

No duplicate comments.
You may receive 1 total entry by leaving a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.
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You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 2/6/2013 – 3/31/2013.

Be sure to visit the Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

post signature

96 comments:

Janet said...

CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP AND CRACKERS! MUST HAVE!

Julie Glover said...

Most definitely chicken soup of any kind.

Danielle said...

That first pic of the kiddos is BEAUTIFUL!!! Love love love. Favorite food when sick? Sprite! and toast

Krista T. said...

Homemade chicken noodle soup w/ a cup of hot tea.

Anonymous said...

So sorry your little ones are down this week! We employ all of your tips and they do make a difference. My favorite meal when sick is my Sicialian father-in-law's homemade vegetable soup!

jenny winstead said...

Chicken Noodle Soup with Ritz!

Pam said...

Yum Yum, Potatoe and Tomato soup! Hope you are all feeling better soon!

Misty & Cecil Ray Cossey said...

Grilled cheese and tomato soup!

Kambree said...

Please od not think I am crazy - this has nothing to do with yourkiddos being sick. But - can you please share with me the brand of car seat you have pictured here with your Lil Miss sacked out and looking comfy? I have a 4 yr old who is a bit tall for her age and she has outgrown her converitable carseat and we are in need of a larger one. Thanks in advance for any info. BTW - hope all the kiddos are on the mend and feeling much better!

Anonymous said...

I love chicken soup! Great sick day tips!!

Jenny said...

chicken soup...all the way! my little ones love ice cream when they are feeling sick.

Erica Jenkins said...

I usually like a hot bowl of chicken noodle soup and ritz crackers!!

Question-how do you have my email

Sarah said...

Definitey ice cream with chocolate syrup!
also.. grilled cheese. love it!

Kim said...

Favorite meal to have and serve to my little ones when sick is ramen noodles and ginger ale.

Jennifer said...

Usually anything sweet...when it's cold/allergies. Any other kind of sick, I don't like to eat.

Becca said...

My little one is a picky eater so when sick it becomes even worse! So we do lots of pedialyte and crackers!

Randy, Denise, Camden and Dasha Denson said...

Favorite meal when sick for my kiddos, who are both under the weather right now, DS had tonsils and adenoids out, and DD has a nasty cold. They love to have home made chicken and noodles. I make my own noodles, that are almost like dumplings. Neither like Pedialyte, but a little tylenol and a movie are also great medicine! :-)

Erin said...

Chinese!!!

H. Holland said...

Soup and crusty bread and ice cream. If I have tummy troubles nothing much works but the above is a favorite for everything else.

Mrs. Skiz said...

Chicken noodle soup from Wawa and chamomile tea and gatorade. Things that great sick naps are made of!

Wendi and Mark said...

My son's favorite sick meal is gold fish crackers and chicken noodle soup. He loves to slurp the noodles. :)

Wendi and Mark said...

My son's favorite meal is chicken noodle soup and goldfish crackers. He LOVES to slurp noodles. :)

M. Adams said...

I like chicken and wild rice soup.

April said...

My meal of choice is definitely soup. As cliche as it sounds, it's simple, good, and feels good going down a sore throat.
My soup of choice would be a white chicken chili.

Unknown said...

Chicken noodle soup and popsicles!

Mallory said...

Homemade soup, blankets on the couch, and movies.

Jessica said...

Has to be Mrs. Grass noodle soup! That's what my mom always made us and that's what I have to have to feel better. Unfortunately, I had the flu a few weeks ago, and that's what I made my husband make me.

Babyj_99@hotmail.com

Mallory said...

Chicken noodle soup, and Keebler Club Crackers :)

Unknown said...

I guess I'm a little old-fashioned and just want chicken noodle soup... I won't lie, Campbell's Chicken and Stars really is tasty when sick!

Barbara P said...

Chicken noodle soups with crackers alternated with a grilled cheese sandwich if my tummy can handle it.

Becky Milstead said...

It may sound crazy but I always crave Chinese when I'm sick. I love the soothing egg drop soup. If I don't have a sore throat & just a sinus infection, I like some General Tso's chicken as well b/c it's spicy enough that I can actually taste it.

Granny said...

Grilled cheese and tomato soup.......I have 4 grandsons and they love this.

Anonymous said...

Not sure why but I always get them to eat saltines with cream cheese & cucumbers.

TheBrantners said...

Soup, soup and more soup! Anything from classic Chicken Noodle Soup, to WonTon, to Gumbo... yum yum! Wash it down with some ice cold water!

Happy Campers said...

My Hubby makes an amazing chicken noodle soup that ALWAYS makes me feel better :)

Happy Campers said...

My Hubby makes the BEST chicken noodle soup in the world!

JC said...

Chicken noodle soup with bread.

Sarah said...

Have to go with the majority...nothing beats a bowl of chicken noodle soup.

Laura Vassilowitch said...

Favorite sick day meal? Grilled cheese that's been between two plates for 60 seconds (takes away the crunch so it's not so agressive on the throat). YUM!

Katherine said...

Chicken and rice soup and buttered toast.

Summer said...

homemade chicken noodle soup! :)

Amy said...

I love Ramen Noodles when I am sick. I don't eat them any other time, but when I don't feel well they make me feel much better!

Kerry said...

Fish soup!

LittleMountains said...

I like chicken noodle soup and crackers.

Anonymous said...

If I still have an appetite, grilled cheese & Campbell's Tomato Soup. It HAS to be Campbell's.

Mindy

Melissa Jackson said...

chicken noodle soup and good ol' Coca Cola Classic!

Mysharona said...

tuna melt and tomato soup

HilLesha O'Nan said...

I love Hot & Sour Soup.

HilLesha@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Well it's a toss up between cream of wheat and plain old chicken noodle soup.

Elena said...

Chicken noodle soup

elena150980@yahoo.com

Mamushi Love said...

Korean dumpling soup.

Anonymous said...

I like chicken noodle soup and
crackers and Sprite.
Cathy Truman
kbtruman(at)att(dot)net

peg42 said...

Toast with jelly.
Thanks so much.
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

PAIGE said...

I like mac and cheese and orange sherbert.
elysesw@aol.com

BethElderton said...

I like Chicken and Dumplings when I need some comfort
bethelderton59 at gmail dot com

HarleyC said...

Home made chicken soup.

kellyr78 said...

I like Split Pea soup and jello when I am sick
kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom

Stephanie said...

soup and smoothies
tvollowitz at aol dot com

jlafount said...

Chicken soup with fresh rolls

clc408 said...

Home made chicken noodle soup.

Unknown said...

Chicken and rice soup

Princess Golden Hair said...

when I'm sick I get wonton soup. I feel better the next day it's almost like magic

teechbiz at gmail dot com

Barbara Montag said...

Ramen noodles - lots of spices added for congestion.
Thank you.

barbara dot montyj at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Soup, or something cool like a smoothie or an Emergen C ice water :)

llinda29 said...

My fave meal is chicken soup

Gina said...

Homemade chicken soup.

Unknown said...

grilled cheese and tomato soup
Thanks! Janna JOhnson jannajanna@hotmail.com janna@feedyourpig on gfc

Anonymous said...

I like chicken noodle or chicken rice soup and crackers
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com

ky2here said...

Ice cream - that's meal enough for me. something good, please.

smilekisses said...

Mac and cheese
dolniaks at consolidated dot net

esldiane@gmail.com said...

I love tomato soup and hot tea
Diane Baum
esldiane@gmail.com

Derk Thomas said...

Chicken noodle soup - need the liquid

Daniel M said...

our go to meal when sick is chicken noodle soup - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

sparkedcat said...

When I am sick it is soup and milkshakes for me.

Kenny Fensom said...

chicken soup

Kathy P said...

my favorite meal when sick is chicken noodle soup and saltines

Kim (Randominities) said...

My favorite meal when I'm under the weather is cereal.

asketcher2 at hotmail.com

Cassandra M said...

Chicken soup thank you

Charity/CC said...

Chicken,cheese, and bacon soup.

ccboobooy at gmail dot com

brendaelsner said...

Chicken noodle soup

brat52101 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

A warm bath & Hot Chicken Noodle Soup. kari_944(at)yahoo(dot)com

BusyWorkingMama said...

Any type of warm soup.
aleksnearing gmail com

Kathryn C said...

ginger ale
tomato soup & crackers
-------
Kathryn C
kacor7 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com

Ellie Wright said...

Chicken soup and jello.

Carolyn Daley said...

I like chicken soup with toast, but after being sick for a day or two I feel the need to alternate. Aside from chicken soup, I like eating smooth foods like apple sauce, mash potatoes, and pudding.

darkmysticnight(at)hotmail(dot)com

cassandra marquez said...

I make a realllly good chicken soup!
cmarquez482@outlook.com

daveshir2005 said...

A bowl of any kind of soup

daveshir2005@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

loaded baked potato soup.

susan1215 said...

I like chicken noodle soup an jello

s2s2 at comcast dot net

cman said...

Chicken, potatoes and dumplings.

/\Heather/\ said...

I'm usually not hungry when I'm sick, so buttered toast is about all I can handle.

slehan said...

Chicken soup made with love, hot tea and Ritz crackers.
Thanks for the contest.

slehan at juno dot com

maryjaco1 said...

wonton soup and hot tea

Katharina said...

I'll have to go with the classic chicken soup. I always keep the ingredients on hand to make a pot of it, and it makes us all feel better. Katharina angelsandmusic[at]gmail[dot]com

IcyPinkLemonade said...

Chicken noodle soup with the noodles the shape of goldfish.

bettycd said...

of course - chicken noodle soup with crackers or bread to dip in. Applesauce if they were really, really sick and then just watch the fluids. if they weren't up to drinking, they usually would take a popcycle and I learned to freeze all sorts of 'good' fluids

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