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Sick Kit

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Happy Martin Luther King Jr Day y’all!

I am here today to share something that I thought would be helpful to 99.99% of you (and a good note of reminder to myself!).  Right now we are in the midst of flu season.  Raise your hand if you have a head cold, a chest cold, the flu or some sort of mucus issue….or know or have heard of someone who is in the middle of it.  Now everybody put your hands down.  That’s my point.

Everyone has been getting sick.

I mentioned that I was ill in this old post and it lasted roughly six weeks.  I think it was the sickest I have ever been.  It was hard.  I hate to talk about being sick while sick…it feels wrong for some reason…but afterwards I will complain till kingdom come.  During that time Jeremy still had to work, Will still had to go to preschool, Weston still needed constant watching, the laundry, the groceries, the cleaning, everything still continued on.  It’s called life and none of us get a break.  I didn’t rest like I probably should have…in fact, the opposite happened.  We partied hard at Weston’s birthday, hosted an ‘aggressive’ dinner of 24, hosted Thanksgiving and celebrated Jeremy’s birthday.

During the six weeks, I had a lot of friends text and ask if there was anything they could do…and as much as a wonderful thing that was…because honestly, it really really was nice to get the offers, well wishes and the notes of encouragement….it was an even bigger surprise when on two separate occasions, dear friends dropped off get-well care packages.

I am trying this year to do more of that…taking initiative in loving others.  Loving well.  Loving radically.  So this is just a little reminder of things that I can pack in a get-well care kit.  Lesson learned from the dear ole pals.

Here are some suggestions of things to pack in any get-well sick kit:

  • Kleenex – because mucus happens.
  • Local honey – great during a cold and great when it’s over
  • Tea bags – my favorite are the caffeine free flavored echinacea herbal teas
  • Lemons – nature’s phlegm reducer
  • Saline spray – soothe the nasal cavities
  • Cough drops – Ricola dual action were my jam
  • Juice – bottled or homemade…it’s a nice break from tea and water
  • Socks – it’s crazy but amazing how a comfy pair of socks can soothe your soul (and soles!)
  • Drugs – Tylenol, Advil Cold & Sinus, Mucinex D…ask for symptoms and get your pharmacists advice
  • BRAT diet items – Bananas, single serve rice, applesauce cups, and a loaf of bread are all flu approved
  • Chapstick – chapped
  • Mug – get that hot toddy a new cup and feel like a new person

And because I can’t help but window shop, here are some of my favorite mugs right now…

clockwise from top left – 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9

There are a million combinations of fun items for a sick kit – general get well items, or a theme like cup of tea or homemade everything or even comfort in a box.  Whatever you choose, I know one thing…the person who gets it will be feeling immediately a little bit better.

What would you put in a care kit for a sick friend or family member?  I’d love to hear all the suggestions…

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  1. Thanks for this post, Katie. I’m in the mood for a little cutsie-boutique shopping today. . . and this is the perfect inspiration (plus, it won’t break the bank to make a few.) I think I’ll make up a sick kit or two and have them on hand for the next time a friend is under the weather.

  2. Hey Katie, Love your blog – and this question is totally unrelated to your post, but can you recommend your DSLR camera? We’re expecting our first baby, and I need a camera upgrade! I remember you saying you have a Canon, but when I clicked on the “Our Stuff” tab for some reason the links for your recommended products aren’t clicky for me. Thanks for your help! 🙂

  3. I think it would be really nice to make a family dinner, not really for the sick person to eat, but to give them a break from making dinner, or maybe the husband and kids have been without a home cooked meal. I’d try to make something like lasagna or chili, something that couldn’t be eaten more than once, bring a salad and a batch of cookies too. I think that could really be a nice surprise for a sick friend and her family.

  5. Homemade (or not) chicken noodle soup. When I make it, I leave the egg noodles out, otherwise they get mushy while in the fridge (yuck). I just add instructions to add the noodles while heating the soup and eat when the noodles are done.

  7. Oh that’s the worst. I’m no mom and I can’t imagine how hard it has to be to remain functioning when you’re feeling so bad. I complain a lot and become pretty worthless when I’m not feeling well- like a man.

    I remember when I was at a friends house I was sick. My throat was in the most pain I’d ever experienced. Not sure if yours is stomach or lungs or both but this might help. She had … garlic juice. Not sure how she got it but if you or someone you know has a juicer you could juice garlic. It was gross but I gargled with it and I was literally pain free afterwards and felt soooo much better. Hope that helps!

  10. This is a great round-up of items. I always forget what I need, especially the BRAT items. Oh and love the HAPPY mug. Super cute!

  11. A couple of magazines – mindlessly flipping through pretty pages; and some chocolate, just in case!

  12. Such a good idea! Just before my wedding I got really sick, and my sister brought over a get well basket for me. Hers contained some nice canned soup, day/nyquil, cough drops, Kleenex, and some fun magazines. It was so nice to not have to get out to get the necessities, and the basket and magazines made it feel like a special gift. I think next time I’m at the dollar spot I’ll stock up on some basics, so that I can be ready to give a get well basket. Thanks for the reminder!

  14. Love this! Can you also do a post for when the boys are sick and what you do/use? Nathan my 3 1/2 year old is always sick (thanks preschool!) Now my 8 month old Matthew is starting to get it. I would love some tips/advice to help them feel better.

  16. Well it just so happens that I have a lot more experience in that department now 🙂 I still want to test out some essential oils first and an amber teething necklace but after that I will definitely do a post!
    xo – kb

  19. Here is my camera bag stuff! I do recommend Canon’s (although that might be biased because I don’t own a Nikon!)…but yeah…there are some great reviews online for anyone camera shopping that compare classes of cameras based on price tag 🙂
    xo – kb

  22. Lemons! Ginger candy! Ginger anything! Motion sickness bracelets or PSI bands! Ginger ale or lemonade! Vitamin B6! Hair rubber bands! Crackers! Face wash! Any general baby stuff to keep the mom’s mind off the sick and on the end result 🙂
    xo – kb

  23. My mom always says garlic and salt water – gargle it and it really does help! I can’t believe I forgot that 🙂
    xo – kb

  24. My nurse practitioner mom asks that I remind you not to take antibiotics (photographed above) for the cold or flu. Those are both viral infections which can’t be helped by a drug meant to fight bacterial infections, and overuse leads to drug-resistant bacteria.

    I do love the idea of being more intentional about loving our friends and family, though, so kudos on the reminder.

  25. Definitely always consult with your doctor first! That photo is obviously just a snapshot from when I was sick…and I don’t recommend anyone to try to get a z-pack for a get-well kit 🙂
    xo –

  26. What a nice idea Katie.
    I have was unwell in October and then again since December. I just couldn’t shake it.
    Then just after Christmas my Fiancé sadly had a death in the family.

    My amazing mum sent us a HUGE care package of all our favourite stuff from home (New Zealand) that we can’t get in London.

    Apart from a couple of magazines, it was all junk food. Including mini pavlovas (like meringues) wrapped in bubble wrap so they wouldn’t crumble! Even if I didn’t eat the stuff while I was ill, just knowing my favourite foods that I hadn’t tasted in years were sitting there waiting to be devoured made me feel miles better.

    My mum spent $84 to ship that box across the globe so we wouldn’t feel so far from home.

    It really is about the thoughtful little things. And mums are awesome.

    X

  27. A small bottle of blackberry brandy! 🙂 Had a garage sale one year and it was cold and rainy and I had a nasty cold. The neighbor came over with a little bottle and had a few shots with me and left the bottle. Felt so good on my throat and warmed me right up. A pre-made meal to pop in the oven or homemade chicken soup would be nice too.

  29. My kits also include Cuties, Vicks vapor rub, Odwalla Mo’Beta Drink and Lysterine to gargle with. I just realized that looks very commercial. I guess I’m a brand wh*&#. 😉

  31. Just a note to urge everyone to get their flu shot, there has been two third trimester mom-to-be’s die in our area . if you suspect that you have the flu they are urging preggo’s to tell your doc right away so you can get the help you may need. don’t mean to be negative, just safe We all think we can just motor through but for some reason this flu, this year, has been hard on younger adults.

  32. I love to include magazines that are fun and don’t require too much concentration to read, like People, Elle, etc. DVDs are great, too, if someone is spending a lot of time on the couch or in bed.

    Love the idea of taking initiative in loving others. Going to try to do more of that this year, too.

  33. I love your ideas for the kit, the only addition I would suggest is some moisturizing anti-bacterial soap or some new lotion for all that hand-washing and the inevitable dry hands!

  34. What a sweet idea. I guess it’s not too late for me to make a care package for my mom and dad who are both still a little puny.

    Coming off of a nagging cold that lasted pretty much all of December, I would also suggest a few things like
    – ginger ale and Saltines… yeah, they’re more of an upset-stomach kind of thing but in an odd way they’re comforting and sometimes it’s hard to work up the energy for heavier foods when you’re really congested.
    – hand sanitizer and a tube of disenfecting wipes so your home doesn’t turn into a complete germ den.
    – Finally, for someone like you who still has a whole house of people to care for, something like a frozen lasagna or casserole is probably appreciated — I can’t imagine feeling like poo and having to chase kiddos and put the effort into making dinner every night, too!

    Hope your house is on the mend!!

  41. Elderberry (lozenges, syrup, tablets, tea) helps A LOT at first signs of sickness. Dr. Oz recommended elderberry on his show and I rarely try things like that but it really did work. I found tablets and lozenges and tablets at my Rite Aid.

  42. 1)Ginger tea and honey-helps when coughing.
    2)Boogie Wipes-not just for kids!!! Great saline wipes for your nose…
    3) airborne and ziacam…take at the start of any cold!

  43. Ugh! We have been sick around here too!! This stuff just seems to linger on forever!
    I find the netti pot to be extremely helpful as well as honey and tea. I also love the berry Ricola cough drops.
    I bought an amber necklace for my 19 month old a few months ago for teething…. I think it helps. Maybe. It’s so hard to say since she cant quite tell me. In any event, she wears it 24 hours a day since I figure it can’t hurt (plus its kinda cute!).
    Anyhow, hope you feel better!

  44. I tend to have sinus trouble too – I like to put Vicks Vapor Rub on the soles of my feet and then put on some comfy socks just before bed. Really helps to clear your head!

  46. Vicks VapoRub for the chest and feet (include with those comfy socks!)

    Some of those vaporific shower melt tablets – I think they have to be homemmade now.

    Lanolin (yes, the nipple cream) is great for keeping your nose area chappy free (or treating afterward) when you’re in the midst of mucus management.

    Emergen-C (for regular people) or Vitamin C crystals (for pregnant or nursing mothers)

    Elderberry Syrup

  47. The amber teething necklaces have SAVED my life! Make sure the beads are lighter because that means they have more Baltic amber in them. We are also getting into essential oils and I put lavender in Matthew’s humidifier every night. We do DoTerra since they are the most natural.

  48. WOW! That pic of you looks like the bottom half of teenage Will’s face! I thought it was him at first. Definitely some great ideas!

  50. Thanks for the advice! I am still a newbie in researching all of that stuff and it seems OVERWHELMING at times. Weston has cut most of his beginner teeth but I know those incisors are coming soon and I am dreading it. I’ll have to order that necklace STAT!
    xo – kb

  52. Cold eez ( the zinc helps shorten colds).
    Vitamin D ( most people are deficient-it’s an easy blood test to find out)
    Vitamin C chewies/gummies/drops
    CoQ10 gummies ( every cell in your body needs CoQ10. Dr Weil’s top recommended thingy)

    and I’ll second the rest-soup, tissues, food for the family, etc.

  55. Matthew has his first two bottom teeth and the amber necklace helped when those come in. I think his amber necklace also is helping with his ear infection.

    Also when you make the plunge for essential oil’s I HIGHLY recommend getting this book. http://www.ebay.com/itm/doTERRA-Essential-Oil-Usage-Reference-Guide-A-Z-English-NATURAL-SOLUTIONS-/111260693219?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19e7a772e3.
    It has saved my life and so simple and easy. It tells you which oil/combo’s to use for just about everything. Oils didn’t make sense to me until I got this!

  56. Do you have any recommendations for a care package for a new mom? I have a friend who just had a baby out of state. Thanks!

  57. I think anything that makes the mom feel human or things for the baby are helpful. I know that I ate like a crazy person while nursing but some folks don’t…so I imagine a meal or gift cards for a meal is always nice 🙂
    xo – kb

  58. Definitely a Neti pot! Also, activated charcoal for the flu (if taken early enough you can prevent it from getting worse), Old Indian Wild Cherry Bark Syrup (knocks a cough out immediately and safe for all ages!), Elderberry cough syrup (safe for all ages), Apple Cider Vinegar (gargle at first sign of sore throat), Chamomile tea, garlic, Fermented Cod Liver Oil (taken throughout winter and kiddos don’t get sick!), garlic oil ear drops (kiddos have never taken antibiotics and this does wonders for the couple times they seemed to have the start of an ear infection).

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