"You Know The Drill"

Most years we are pretty healthy overall -- and when Flu season hits it's PEAK in our area, we have a "routine".

First, we switch over to CLOROX brand cleaning products -- all of these products kill the FLU virus, as well as many other "nasties" that are common this time of year.

We bleach sheets and pillow cases, toothbrushes, bathroom counters, and more. I even wipe the door casings and doors and doorknobs with a bleach solution .... just to be safe.

We strip the beds and wash the bedding on HOT HOT HOT with Clorox of course .... and we spray the beds and pillows liberally with Lysol spray (which kills the flu virus and plenty of other nasties too !). We also use Lysol spray on everything that cannot be wiped with bleach -- like phones and remote controls for the TV and videogame system pieces .... and school books.

For the in-between stuff, and in-between times, I love these Clorox wipes -- my favorite is the greenish container ones which do not have a heavy after-scent. You WIPE AND TOSS which keeps germs from getting circulated through hampers and such. (Sick Season is the only time I use this disposible wipes to clean - they are pretty pricey.).

We try to go for a car ride or out for a snack one evening for several hours -- preferably when the weather is COLD --- we strip the sheets and blankets from every bed, spray the beds and pillows with Lysol first, then wash all of the bedding on HOT with plenty of Clorox --- then we open all of the windows in the house so that the COLD air (the colder the better !) can come in and help "disinfect" everything -- and we hang the sheets and blankets outside while wet. They usually dry despite the cold temperatures; the most improtant part is that all of the cold air helps kill any hidden germs, and also helps to keep new germs at bay. Then we come home and pop the linens in the dryer if they are not dry -- and we remake the beds. There is nothing that smells "cleaner" than line-dried bedding, especially in the cold crisp air of winter !!

We were just getting this process started on Sunday afternoon (the flu is at it's peak, plus the Os obvoiusly were ill when they arrived too, however our symptoms are not the same as the Os so this is obviously somethign else entirely) .... but, I fear we were too late. WE'RE SICK !! On Sunday night (around 10pm) we had 2 children with headaches, sore throats, and high fevers of 103 - 103.5. And as of lunchtime today, we now have 4 children with headaches, sorethroats, and high fevers, one of whom is also complaining about her ears hurting a lot. We have had some coughing and sneezing mixed in too (more so at night), but mostly it seems the fever is the worst of this "bug".

So -- DadToCherubs offered to help me disinfect everything tonight -- he said "what can I do ?". And I said (with a giggle) -- "You know the drill" as I handed him a can of Lysol and some Clorox bleach wipes. To the germs floating and hiding in our house we say C-H-A-R-G-E .... AND B-E Y-E G-O-N-E.

So, we are sick -- some of us are sick now, and probably some of us are yet to get "it". Hopefully we can get through it without too much difficulty ... and maybe without DadToCherubs and I getting it too ????? (DadToCherubs and I almost always seem to SHARE illnesses, meaning we get them at the same time. This is NOT what I think " 'til death do us part" meant though during our marriage vows. HA !!)

(2/26) TUESDAY'S UPDATE: Cherub 5, DadToCherubs, and I have not gotten this illness yet. Cherub 3, Cherub 4, and Cherub 6 seem to be well again. And Cherub 1 and Cherub 2 are still ill -- high fevers, headaches, sore throats, and now Cherub 2 is throwing up. Please pray for GOOD HEALTH to return soon !!

(2/27) WEDNESDAY'S UPDATE: Cherub 1 is slowly on the mend, but is still feeling cruddy. Cherub 2 is fever free today but still feels lousy. Cherub 3 is fine. Cherub 4 is fine. Cherub 5 is still untouched by this bug. And poor poor Cherub 6 .... he got up this morning saying "I have a hurting neck and I'm cold" .... a sore throat and a fever. Poor little guy - it seems his turn has come. And DadToCherubs and I are yet unaffected by this bug --- we are praying it will miss us entirely.

(2/29) FRIDAY UPDATE: Cherub 1 and Cherub 2 are mending, but not quite better yet. Cherub 3 remains untouched. Cherub 4 is completely better except that he is tired from the ordeal. Cherub 5 began with a nasty cough yesterday, and this morning has a 103 fever. And Cherub 6 is still plagued with a fever and sore throat, congestion and a nasty cough. And now .... DadToCherubs is fine, but I think I am getting it now .... OHHH NOOOO.