What I do for sick kids

All of my kids have been sick over the past 2 weeks. Hazel brought home this cold with a horrible cough. We found out when we took Delilah to the doctor that it was RSV :( luckily everyone now seems to be getting over it with no problems. Anyways I thought I would share my tips on sick kids since that has been what I have been focusing on lately.
I hate that they have taken all of the childrens cold medicine off the shelves. I feel so helpless when my kids have a cold. But I did discover something that helps. Childrens Ibuprofen.

It helps with inflammation and pain so if your child has a cough it can help lessen the coughing because it helps with any inflammation in their throat and it helps with the sore throat that is probably there from all the coughing. Also it helps the stuffy nose because it stops the inflammation in the sinuses. And of course helps with a fever if they have that (it is the only thing that will help Hazel's fevers). Also it lasts longer than other medicines so you are not constantly having to give them more. I am super careful with medicine so I usually just give it to them at night so they can sleep and during the day only if they really need it. I am not a doctor so you might want to talk to your doctor about it and make sure you read the directions on the bottle. Some people can be allergic to it and babies under 6 months should not take it.
I also always put a humidifier in their room at night (and during naps if they still take them) when they are sick.

We have this one and the cow one like it. My kids love them.
It doesn't usually seem to help right away but I think it helps loosen all the mucus so it is easier to get out later.
When they are having a hard time breathing because of the mucus I some times sit with them in the bathroom with the shower on really hot. The steam seems to help. I have also heard you can take them outside if its cold and the cold air can help (I have never really tried it and don't know if or how it works).
Also lots of fluid of course.

I did just hear recently that if they do have a fever you shouldn't give them medicine to get rid of it. The fever is doing a job and you should let it do that job. That is something you might want to research on your own.

How to get the smell of puke out of your carpet

I am a little bit late on blogging this week because Hazel has been sick. There is nothing I hate more than sick kids (ok I might hate myself being sick a little more). I would like to know why kids feel the need to wander around when they feel like they are going to throw up. Well that is what Hazel did and she got the carpet in her room pretty good. The whole upstairs smelled like it and I tried everything to get it out, I scrubbed it, I opened the window, I used Fabreeze, I used my steam cleaner and it still totally reeked like barf! I was complaining to my sister about it and she said she had that problem with her couch from her son being sick and she used baking soda on it. She said to put baking soda on it and leave it for a couple hours then vacuum it up. I tried it and it worked. The room doesn't smell completely barf free but it is a TON better. The smell could just be in my head now or there might be another spot I haven't found yet, like I said she likes to wander. Thank you Carlye!
I would also like to add if your kids are sick please please please keep them home. I am so tired of seeing kids obviously sick (I mean green stuff running out of their nose or a totally hacking cough) at school or church or other places. They will be more comfortable at home and you won't be spreading it. Thanks :)