Ringing in the New Year with a SNEEZE!

I felt a tickle in my throat starting on January 1st. I decided to gargle using warm water and salt but that didn't help much. I knew the tickle was going to turn into something really bad as I started to cough and felt congested. Sneezing and coughing kept me up through the night on days two and three. You'd think Nyquil (or as I call it horse tranquilizer) would knock me out, but nope! On day three, Baby L started coughing and sneezing too. His one sneeze made a huge snot bubble which he grabbed (EW!) before I ran up to him and wiped it away. Later, the cold was passed to hubby. The 'Man Cold' was probably the brunt of our week as he refused to move from the couch nor use any of my home remedies.

On day four, I felt like I got hit by a bus. I woke up at 2am and couldn't go back to sleep. My head and sinuses were HURTING! I rearranged my pillows so I could sleep upright, but nope, face still hurt and in between I would have cough attacks too. I was fortunate that Baby L slept well while I was suffering. He did cough in the night but it wasn't enough to wake him up completely. By 4am, I got up and took 2 Tylenol sinus and cold tablets. I finally passed out and slept in until 9am. That is when Olive woke me up.  If it's past 7am, Olive will jump on the bed and whine to ensure I'm not dead. To my luck, Baby L slept 12 hours that night so I got to rest a bit. Once we started our day, I felt a bit better. I made homemade chicken soup (carrot, onion, garlic, ginger, celery, chicken thighs with bone-in and broth brought to a boil and simmered for 1 hour) and kitchardi (rice and mung beans steamed together). I also added turmeric to the kitchardi to up mine and Baby L's immune system. Hubby doesn't eat either. He's prefers Lipton Chicken Noodle soup.

For some reason, Baby L refused to nap on day four. I was a mess by the afternoon! My headache and sinus pain came back and I had the shivers. I was wearing two layers of clothes, socks, a toque and didn’t want to be out from under the blanket. By 2pm I texted hubby asking him to come home ASAP. I wanted to nap just for an hour or so and today was the day Baby L completely refused to go down. I had taken Dayquil tablets and syrups in the morning but I don't think it worked. After messaging my husband, I took 2 Tylenols and decided to lay down. Baby L finally looked a bit sleepy too, so I placed him in his crib and I went back to the couch. That whole hour he whined. I managed to keep my eyes closed and waited until the drugs kicked in. Baby L's whining changed to play cooing as he managed to reach into this laundry basket. He kept himself entertained in his crib with a towel and pajama bottoms. Eventually, his play cooing turned into screaming. I took him out of his crib but couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. I gave him toys to play with but he would just scream. He kept bouncing up and down and clenching. I was thinking gas? Then I thought maybe hunger because he didn't eat much for lunch. I took him downstairs to his high-chair but as I was placing him in I thought to check his diaper. Yup he had pooed. But because of my cold, my nose was plugged and I couldn't smell it. I took him back up to change and as I approached his diaper velcro he started to scream! He lifted his legs up and scratched and cried. I ripped off his diaper and saw hives and red rash all along his inner thighs and bum. I was mortified. What was happening?? I wiped him quickly and rinsed him under the sink with cool running water. He SCREAMED even more!! I was soo scared and felt just awful. I wiped him with a dry towel and layered him with a rash cream. This had happened last week too but I thought it was something he ate...possibly spicy food. Last week, I placed him in a bath filled with oat flour three days in a row. His rash cleared up right away. This rash was even worse and he didn't eat anything spicy today. I was starting to think that it maybe its his new diaper. After a little research I found out that switching diaper brands may affect a baby. Each brand uses different fragrances and chemicals. I wasn't sure if it was the diaper but after a week of sticking to our regular brand and then retrying the new brand again, I was reassured. Poor guy! It's like his bum was on FIRE!! I am not switching up brands again!

Anyways, hubby was supposed to be home by 4pm, but he didn't walk in until after 5. This is after the scream fest. Baby L was nicely snacking on his favorite foods while I sat and watched him in awe because he was happy and smiling again. Hubby walked in with McDonalds coffee, large fries and a McChicken. He saved himself from a beating for sure LOL. But I was happy that Baby L was happy, my drugs had kicked in and I was no longer in pain. That evening Baby L took a two hour nap while I finally relaxed. Hubby was not feeling well at all! I gave Baby L Tylenol before bed and he slept well through the night. Well, I also took Tylenol so I didn't hear anything but Hubby barely slept (he took Nyquil) and said he heard Baby cough and whine a bit but managed to stay asleep.

To help Baby L breathe I used a cool-mist humidifier with Vicks Vapor Pads and I also added a few drops of Tea Tree Oil onto the pads. I found a children’s Vicks Vapour Rub but I was hesitant to use it. I later found out that there was a baby one available as well but I didn’t see it. I was hesitant because the children's one said to use for kids over 2 years of age. I added the Vicks Vapour Rub in the shower when giving Baby L steams but that was it. I decided to use the Breathe Easy Wellness Balm by Rocky Mountain Soap Co. I had received it as a sample and all of the ingredients are natural. I felt much more comfortable using that on his skin rather than Vicks. When I apply it on Baby L he immediately calms down and enjoys the massages. I find his nose gets cleared up quickly too. I apply balm on his upper lip, temples, chest and back. The balm includes essential oils such as; eucalyptus, rosemary, majorana, cedarwood, tea tree and peppermint.

Today, I feel much better, and I made Hubby and Baby L French toast for breakfast. Baby L is napping much better today too. Poor Hubby is going through his shivering and face hurting phase – but at least it’ll be over soon.

Here are few things that helped me:

• Salt water gargles

• Chicken soup

• Kitchardi with turmeric

• Breathe Easy from Rocky Mountain

• Hot water with ginger, honey and lemon - ALL DAY LONG

• Throat lozenges

Baby L Remedies:

• Humidifier with Vicks Vapor Pads with a few drops of Tea Tree Oil

• Kitchardi

• Breathe Easy rubbed on temples, upper lip, chest and back

• Warm water through-out the day

• Nose Frida for the boogers