Sickness, BE GONE!

Raise your hand if you or someone in your family have been sick in the past month? I swear every other status on my Facebook page is someone posting they or their child(ren) have tested positive for the flu. 
So far my family has steered clear of a positive flu test. However, that doesn't mean we've been completely well either. The week before Christmas break my 6 year old caught a cold. She went to school only one day that week. She got over it fairly quickly without it turning into an ear infection. Then this past Sunday she started with the sniffles. She continued sniffling until she had a non-stop flow of fluid from that little nose. She hasn't been to school this week. Thankfully she hasn't ran any fever. Today, though, she started poking at her left ear a few times. By afternoon, she had two full-on earaches. I have a doctor appointment for her at 8:45 in the morning, but in the meantime, she is one miserable little girl. 

It seems the other housewives have had their share of sickness as well. Mrs. Sinclair's daughter has a pretty major urinary-tract infection that caused a ride in the ambulance yesterday. Mrs. Hart's daughter has tested positive for the flu. Mrs. Priss had her bout with the flu. It seems Mrs. Montgomery's clan has avoided sickness so far. How on earth is that possible with FOUR kids?! Ha! Quick! Everyone pray for protection for them! =D 
This leads me to the question... Do you and your family get the flu vaccine? If so, has it kept you all from getting the flu? Priss had the vaccine and she got the flu. My husband is the only in our family to get the vaccine. The girls and I don't get one. Did anyone watch Dr. Oz's episode about the flu last week? He gave some suggestions for treating the flu. I thought I'd share them with you, just in case you missed it. 

• If you have tested positive for the flu it is your responsibility to wear a surgical mask around others until you are 24 hours fever free. 
• Drink Elderberry Tea - it can help prevent the flu or work as a natural Tamiflu to shorten the flu symptoms. 
• Alternate Ibuprofen and Acetimenophin every 3-4 hours around the clock. Each one works to reduce different symptoms. 
• Frequently wash hands. 
• Increase your Vitamin D. 

I hope the tips are helpful for you if you or a loved one is sick. I had my husband look at Akins for Elderberry Tea today but they were sold out. If it's on Dr. Oz, people run to the health food stores and buy up whatever he recommends. If you run across some, please let me know where! 

I'm thinking I'll have my daughter wear a surgical mask to the doctor in the morning to get her ears checked - just to protect her from getting the stinkin' flu while she's there! 

~Mrs. Alrbright  Hiding out from the public, like a...