Sick House

We are a couple of sickos now.


It has been a couple of years since we have come down with colds, but they are making up for it with this version we now have.


Mine was really slow coming on, and it is now in it's second week of hanging on - it just won't shake.


My husband started getting it this past weekend - it hit him much faster than it did me.


My son doesn't even want to come through the front door any more.


We just reassured him that it was too late for that kind of thinking since we are most contagious before we even come down with the symptoms.


I am just happy to see we had some frozen turkey soup still in the freezer.


Hopefully it is the medicine we need to feel better.


I am certainly willing to give it a try - it will go down real nicely on the throat and the steam will help the sinuses.


Hoping it will all be over with soon - just in time to welcome in Spring!

Dreadful Kidneystones

They have hit my husband again - those ugly kidney stones.

The first time was 11 months ago, and he passed it in a day.

This time it took two day to pass.

 And they were very painful ones at that.

85% of the time, the stones pass by themselves, and that was the case both of these times.

Avoiding them in the first place seems the obvious plan of action, but since there are no real "causes" of them, that is a hard order to fill.

 
But it has been found that the lack of fluid intake plays a very important part.

It is recommended to drink between 2-3 quarts of water a day to keep the kidneys working.

The fluid doesn't allow the stones to build up in size and become impassable.

It is said that most of the stones are composed of calcium-oxalate.

The oxalate compounds bond with calcium in the kidneys causing these stones to form when it mixes with the urine.

This usually happens when there is too little calcium in the bloodstream for the oxalates to bond to while they are in the gastrointestinal tract.

It seems such a delicate balance of all the chemicals in the body, and everyone's body each has it's own way of handling them.

So, we will be increasing the fluids - making sure to get what we need to keep everything working correctly for our innards.

 
 

Cutting Boards

 
  I have several different cutting boards - each one has a specific job.
My favorite are the two bamboo boards - one small and one large.
Only veggies and fruits are allowed on them though - the cheeses and meats are off limits for these boards. When cutting bread, I flip over one of these boards and use that side specifically for this job.
These boards are simple to clean and only require a mineral oil rub about once a month to keep them looking great even with all their slice marks.
I have a couple of thin flexible plastic mats that I use for meat and fish - I like to keep them separate too.
Those mats are sturdy enough to survive very sharp knives and extra scrubbing when getting washed.
After a few months, they get replaced - they are pretty worn by then and are fairly cheap at the market. I have a thicker plastic one that I keep for cheese.
My reason for all these boards - contamination.
By keeping everything separate, the bacteria in the meat doesn't transfer to the fresh veggies, fruit, or cheese that may not get cooked. 
It keeps us from getting sick, and it keeps our food tasting it's best.

 
 

Movement is the Key

Arthritis often creeps up slowly - an occasional twinge here and there. First in the extremities - fingers and toes, then all the rest of the joints soon join in. Some days are easier than others - the flare ups come when they want - no warning given. Medication is available - using it only when it is really bad is the option that I prefer. Years ago, exercise was not what doctors preferred to order - it hurt too much. But it has been proven over the past few years, that movement for arthritis is the key. Even if it hurts - which it does. "Use it or loose it" has always been my motto - and it applies here too. 
 
 

Watch Those Fats

I am pretty sure I had a gallbladder attack a couple of weeks ago. Indigestion has always plagued me, but a couple of weeks before I had it, the heartburn was quite severe. I awoke one morning with an extremely sharp pain under my right rib. Every breath in brought on a round of pain. Moving was no joy either. I thought I pulled a muscle, but it didn't really feel like that. Ibuprofen usually helps with muscles and nothing was touching it. After reading online, it sounded like gallstones to me. From what I read, it can be controlled by diet - especially watching the intake of fats. I will give it a try for a bit before I head to my doctor. So far so good on the diet - the pain has subsided - hopefully for good!  
 

Moist Heat for the Bones

The best relief I have found for aching joints and bones is moist heat. It seeps into the muscles, right down to the bones, providing comfort and warmth to those sore joints. And the best thing that offers this relief is a simple homemade bag that gets heated up in the microwave. I make a bag out of fleece - any size you want. Fill it about 3/4 of the way with white rice and completely stitch the whole thing closed to keep the rice in. Heat it up in the microwave and you have an instant heat pack. It will conform to any shape comfortably. And the most amazing thing about this rice bag - no matter how many times it gets warmed up, it never looses it moistness. I'm not sure how it does that, but it works everytime.
It's inexpensive and it works - what more can one ask for!  
 

Humidifier for Dry Air

Winter air - it is so dry.

Especially in the areas that have to keep the heat on constantly.

Most of the cold and flu sicknesses are caught during this time of year.

And one thing that doesn't help with keeping them at bay is the dry indoor air.

Our bodies are wondrous machines, but they need our help sometimes to keep fighting and working correctly.

Many winter sicknesses are breathed in through our mouth and nose, and the mucous membranes that line these cavities work hard to move those germs out fast.

But the dry air causes these membranes to shrink which makes it pretty hard for them to perform their job.

Using a humidifier to add moisture to the air can help.

And anything that helps to ward off sickness is worth a try.

This is the second year that we have used a warm moist humidifier.

And even with it on high, I can only get the humidity to about 32 in the house.

The recommended indoor humidity is be between 40-50 for the most comfortable and healthy level.

Without the humidifier, the level is 19, which is very dry indeed!

Strep Throat Arriving Early

It is early in the season for this, but strep throat has entered our home.

This is the second time in all these years that we have had it in the family.

As soon as my son felt it, he knew exactly what it was.

There is no other sore throat like it, is his description.

But we also learned that mononucleosis has many of the same symptoms.

That really got us all nervous as it is very contagious.

Luckily the blood test was negative for the mono, but positive for the strep, which we already knew.

A round of antibiotics will take care of it for him, and so far he is the only one who has it.

Keeping the hands away from the face and frequent washing of them is always important.

It's the first line of defense and the most important!