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10 Bright Stars
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| Posted: July 31 2007 at 6:14pm | IP Logged
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Hi all,
I wasn't quite sure where to post this, but since it is not specific, I thought this might be the best place. Here is the dilemna. We are a family of 9 with one on the way. (7 children, 1 in utero, and Mom and Dad) This year, we have had the stomach flu about 5 times, and each time it has been very intense and lasts for 2 weeks or more. I was so sick from it yesterday, that I had to go to the hospital to receive I.V. fluids since I am 40 weeks pregnant and I started going into labor from extreme dehydration. The labor stopped once I received two bags of fluid, and I am back home again, still pregnant, and wondering what we are "doing wrong" around here. (On an aside, my spouse was so sick, he could not even get up to take me to the hospital! I had to have my Mom take me, and thought I would be delivering my first baby without Daddy there.)
Anyway, with so many children, and twins that are 1.5 years old, AND a pregnancy that has been plagued by morning sickness the WHOLE TIME, I admit that we don't get out much. If the kids go anywhere, we do it with a few here and there, or the grandparents will take them swimming or shopping etc. But, it seems whenever we get around ANY other children, we pick up whatever they may have had the past year or so.  It has gotten to the point that I just don't want to go out at all anymore, I dread the Christmas holidays because I just see barf bags instead of sugar plums, and I am just generally discouraged by what seems to be our weakened immune systems. Do you all think that it IS because we are sort of a "bubble" family and never go out? We eat healthy foods. The kids have fresh fruit and veggies every day. The kids play outside and exercise. I know that Dad and I are run down due to having so many to care for, so I assume that is part of our problem, but has anyone else encountered this, or is it just par for the course with a large family?
Also, we all got the flu shot earlier this year for the first time, and I will NEVER do that again as we have had the flu more times this year than in the past few years combined!!!! So, any tips on getting healthy? Is this normal? Yesterday was just quite a scare since the baby was in distress with a heart rate over 190 and my heart rate was elevated and they even had trouble finding a vein to give me the fluids in etc. (Even though I had been trying to drink and was eating ice etc.) I don't want to dread contact with others, and see germs everywhere, but that is what it is coming to since the past few illnesses have just been so terrible for us.
So, any thoughts????? This tired old Mom needs some advice!!! 
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Kim married to Bob (22y)
Mom of 11 blessings:
Bobby 19, David 17, Noah 14,
Mary 12, Gracie 10,
Isabelle and Sophia 8,
Gabrielle 6,
William Anthony 4, Joseph 3 and Luisa Marie - born in M
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chicken lady
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| Posted: July 31 2007 at 6:51pm | IP Logged
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For a couple of years I could have written your post. Then the past 2 years, it seems it has lessened. I don't know the answer, it seems to have its seasons. I am more concious of hand washing now, I don't have a baby touching everything, but in general I cannot say I did anything different.
Your comment about the holidays made me smile, for years I would say to dh, "its not x-mas till someone is throwing up"  Last year was the first x-mas eve mass I have been to in 10 years! No kidding!
I hope someone else has more help for you, I will pray for your safe birth and an end to the vomits!
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nicole-amdg
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| Posted: July 31 2007 at 7:47pm | IP Logged
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I have to admit that I do believe that our episodes as a "bubble" family--those times of the year when we keep more to ourselves--contribute to bouts of sickness that travel through everyone. We had one bout that was a stomach bug, although most were colds of varying severity. It doesn't help that get-together times are also flu seasons. We don't get flu shots either, and I have not seen any reason, in our family at least, to indicate them.
Consequently, I try to "expose" the kids in the less contagious seasons, and keep them safely (though not strictly) quarantined  during the beginning of fall, the middle of winter, and the beginning of spring, when we seem hardest hit.
I thought you might like a laugh and a prayer. And you have my prayers!
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Nicole
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wifemommy
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| Posted: July 31 2007 at 7:58pm | IP Logged
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Airing out your house may help right now. I don't know if you are using ac or not but I think that the fresh air helps in the winter I will often open windows slightly just to circulate some fresh air and let the germs out Annie
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: July 31 2007 at 8:55pm | IP Logged
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We rarely get sick. At the first sign of illness, I start dosing everyone up on Vitamin C and Echinacea. That usually does the trick. We don't do any flu vaccines or anything like that. We don't get out a whole lot, but do participate in a co-op during the school year.
My favorite reason I like to give is that my kids have great immunity because I am a terrible housekeeper. I say that with a chuckle. However, I have noticed that people who have immaculate houses and use lots of disinfectants, hand sanitizers and such, seem to battle constantly with viruses. So, moral of the story, stop mopping and scrubbing (well not completely!). A little dirt is good for what ails you!
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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missionfamily
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| Posted: July 31 2007 at 10:00pm | IP Logged
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There is a great immunity vitamin called Sea Buddies Immune defense. It has helped tremendously around here. There is a new oral vaccine for roto virus...haven't had time to research it yet, but if we don't have to vomit three times a year, I'll be hard pressed to refuse it.
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Colleen
dh Greg
mom to Quinn,Gabriel, Brendan,Evan, Kolbe, and sweet St. Bryce
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Mrs.K
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| Posted: July 31 2007 at 10:26pm | IP Logged
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Adequate sleep is very important for immune system functioning. It's always a good idea to aim for the proper number of hours sleep for each child's age. But at the first sign of any illness try to get even more sleep to help fend off the bugs.
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asplendidtime
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| Posted: Aug 01 2007 at 9:05am | IP Logged
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Do you have tropical plants in your home Kim? They act as an air filter and purify the air in your home. Also my mother always tells me that my Grandmother used to air out the house by opening the doors and windows for 10 minutes each day in the winter. Now considering that lots of people use air conditioning, and windows and doors are sealed so well, indoor air quality could be rather poor.
We do vitamins, this winter I plan to make Sauerkraut (acidophilus) and Yogurt. Hopefully this will help some. 'Hope you all feel better soon.
P.S. Did you know that you can make yogurt in your Crockpot?
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Rebecca~Mama to
Noah 17,
Katie 16,
Mary 14,
Tim 13,
Jonah 12,
Josh 10,
Zoe 9,
Will 7,
Peter 6,
Laura-Mae 4,
Emily-Joy 2,
Genevieve & Gabriella 1
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folklaur
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| Posted: Aug 01 2007 at 10:56am | IP Logged
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7smallones wrote:
P.S. Did you know that you can make yogurt in your Crockpot? |
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You aren't going to just leave us hanging, are you?
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stefoodie
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| Posted: Aug 01 2007 at 11:03am | IP Logged
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cactus mouse wrote:
7smallones wrote:
P.S. Did you know that you can make yogurt in your Crockpot? |
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You aren't going to just leave us hanging, are you? |
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Yes, Rebecca, I'm waiting here too
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stef
mom to five
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CKwasniewski
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| Posted: Aug 01 2007 at 11:59am | IP Logged
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Kim,
The best thing you can do for your health and your family is to stop eating sugar!  And white flour is pretty much just as bad. Avoid processed foods!
Nobody wants to hear it, but its true. It knocks down your immune system and does various other things to your body which are very bad over the long term, like blood sugar, etc.
When my immune system started falling apart like you describe, it turned out to be a systemic candida overgrowth... I did not have any "obvious" symptoms like thrush.... Maybe look into that? I have gotten 1 cold and 1 flu since going on the anti-candida diet (8 mos ago), before, I was sick constantly.
Aside from that though, acidophilus is very good, high quality vitamins, preferably liquid, are helpful. Echinacea, golden seal and garlic are natural herbs with no side effects like antibiotics (don't take these if you are pg, but good for kids.)
You should also make sure there are no allergens or molds in the house.
HTH,
CK
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10 Bright Stars
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| Posted: Aug 01 2007 at 2:33pm | IP Logged
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Hi all,
Thanks so much for the advice and cute prayers etc. I saw many areas that could be improved from all of your posts. Specifically, one stood out to me. We do tend to keep our house closed all the time. We are very much the type of people to want "California weather" inside all the time. So, in summer, we keep the a/c so low that we sleep with blankets (!!), and in winter we run a wood stove etc. We open up a little in between, but not that much once I thought about it. So, maybe we are just recycling bad air.
We do live on a dirt road and the filters are always filling up quickly, so I think again, air quality, and no, we don't have any plants. (We used to have a ton before we had kids.)
ALso, I do tend to use heavy cleaners in the kitchen and bath such as Tilex and bleach etc. If it doesn't seem like you are killing germs with an atomic bomb, then I don't think things are clean. So, maybe I am being heavy handed in that area and need to let there be normal germs about so we are not "bubble people".
Anyway, all very interesting. I feel MUCH better today, and hope baby is doing well. Husband is still recovering a bit, and we are trying to just rest. I did notice that all of you all on this list tend to take a lot more vitamins than we do. I give the kids Flintstones when I remember to, and I take pre-natals, but aside from that, we don't take any extra supplements/herbs etc., so I will have to look into that. My husband doesn't take anything, and he is constantly sick, I think mostly from stress since the poor guy is working two jobs, but I should be giving him vitamin C and perhaps extra supplements since he catches whatever the kids have and gets very sick each time.
We do tend to eat more sugar than we should too, so maybe that is an avenue to pursue. Who can live without ice cream though? 
But, I really appreciate all the tips and prayers! Please continue to pray for a safe delivery, I assume this week sometime. I have felt a little heavier today and feel as if maybe the baby has dropped more with a bit of cramping etc., so it could be anytime now since I am due this week!!!
__________________
Kim married to Bob (22y)
Mom of 11 blessings:
Bobby 19, David 17, Noah 14,
Mary 12, Gracie 10,
Isabelle and Sophia 8,
Gabrielle 6,
William Anthony 4, Joseph 3 and Luisa Marie - born in M
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LLMom
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| Posted: Aug 01 2007 at 8:43pm | IP Logged
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Our family of 9 rarely gets sick and dh works at a public school. I think the biggest thing that helps is eating yogurt on a daily basis. No scientific studies; just my mom intuition. I also make sure they get out in the sun and exercise, sleep a lot, eat fruits/veggies. Dose up on vit. C and echinechia the sign of the first sniffle. My kids get sick so rarely that they don't know to throw up in the toilet. It makes for a mess but its nice none of them have done it too much in their lifetimes.
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Lisa
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Topic: Building up the family's immune system
