There are a few benefits of having an actual job away from home. Vacation days, holidays, and sick days. Right now I just want to have a sick day. I want to mope on the couch in my pj’s while watching some sappy chick flick. I want to crawl into bed and take a long, peaceful nap. I want to veg out with no worries. All of which are NOT happening. Out of nowhere Shenzie came down with a cold. While I was lucky enough to fight off the last two colds and a stomach virus that plagued our house, my luck has run out. How is it that Shenzie is up and running around, laughing and playing while I feel like death. Horrible sleep added to sinus pressure makes for a VERY grumpy, tired Mama. Add to that one sick child and one crazy child and you’ve got yourself the beginnings of Mama Meltdown. Calgon take me awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
After reading tons of positive reviews about how awesome the Neti Pot is I decided to give it a try. After our very unsuccessful trip to the park (two toddler meltdowns because we had to get off the swings) we hit up Whole Foods. After talking with the Holistic Chick I decided to give the old Neti a try. Now, the thought of salt water running in and out of my nose really grosses me out. And tasting the salt, beyond ick. I was pleasantly (only a little pleasant though) surprised to find that if you do it right you don’t taste the salt at all. Get the wrong angle though, and boy howdy…the icky salt water fills your mouth. Blech! So I followed the directions and low and behold it actually works! While my sinus headache is not completely gone it has decreased and I do feel much clearer in my nose. I will continue to flush, flush, flush, away all of the icky from my head today and hopefully be feeling better for tomorrow and the madness it will surely bring.


For Shenzie we are doing the humidifier combined with a new product I found. PediaCare Gentle Vapors. Super simple, you plug it into the wall and stick a vapor unit into it. Per the box ‘Non-medicated aromatic vapors provide soothing comfort when your child feels under the weather’. It contains eucalyptus, camphor, lavender and chamomile. It smells great and I noticed myself clearing up just from being in there for a bit. I think I may have to get another for our room. It is very inexpensive ($8.00) and comes with 5 vapor packs (refills available). And although this totally sounds like a paid post I really just thought the product was great and wanted to pass along the info. =)



November 18th, 2008 at 6:46 am
I am right there with you. I am out of sick days this year because I used them all to take care of sick kids while Jon was traveling. I’ve had to suck it up and work anyway, but MAN at least the kids are out of the house. This weekend with crazies and feeling like crap, I was ready to call for reinforcements.
I imagined the neti pot much worse than it was! And I’ll definitely be checking out the pediacare vapors!
November 18th, 2008 at 9:18 am
We did the pediacare vapors when they were young, but since I needed to keep the door closed, it was SO strong in there!! Soprt of worried me a bit?
Your day that you have described today is what I have felt like the last 7 weeks! My normally up at 6:30 and everyone dressed by 7:30 self is still usually in her PJ’s @ 9:30!! All for a good cause though right?
Benedryl is my friend right now, if only…some….nyquil….
November 18th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
I love post like these that share products that other moms have found to be really helpful. I done several posts like this myself, one even about the neti pot. I had a horrible day yesterday, I’m glad today is a new day because it’s so much better. Hope you feel better soon.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
As a parent you often hear “I can do it by myself”–if they only could! The New neti pot for children is Nasopure. I found it 4 years ago while visiting my mother in Columbia, MO. Dr. Hana is a Pediatrician who has been teaching nasal rinsing for 2 year olds and up for 20 years. I love her. I have talked on the phone with her several times on her 800 number she is so down to earth and an old hippie from The Farm. Please check out her website and learn more. My son has asthma and allergies. I have keep him healthy for 3 years without an attack with Nasopure. Check out the website and call Dr. Hana with questions. It will change your life and your kids will be healthier. I am a believer!
November 20th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
[…] reading Lesley’s post on plug-in Vicks, I bought some and we are trying them for the first time tonight. The kids […]