Too sick for school guidelines?!

The truth is children don't learn well or get much out of school when they are not feeling well. Although it can be difficult to arrange emergency childcare, it is truly in the child's (and their classmates) best interest to keep them home from school when they are sick. The challenge for parents is to decide when it is just a simple case of the sniffles or something more serious.

Parents can use the following symptom-based guidelines to help them decide whether to keep their child home or not:

This useful information is copied from Studio 5!

Fever

• A temperature of 101 or greater in a child older than 6 weeks is considered a fever. Even if there are no other symptoms, a fever is a sign of an infection. The child needs rest in order to heal and may be contagious.

• Children should not return to school until they have been fever-free (without medicine) for 24 hours. Most fevers are caused by viruses and the child should get better on their own within a few days, but if the child has a high fever for more than 3-4 days, they should see a doctor.

• If a newborn baby (less than 6 weeks old) has a temp of 100.4 or higher, they need to be seen by a doctor immediately. Fevers can be a sign of a serious infection in newborns.

• While at home, encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids.

Mild Cough/Runny Nose /Sore Throat

• Ideally, no child would ever go to school sick. However, children get colds so frequently, especially when they are young, that they would miss a significant amount of school if they stayed home for every runny nose and scratchy throat.

• If there's no fever and the child feels fairly well, school is fine. If they have a severe sore throat, it could be strep and the child will need to see a doctor. Kids with strep may return to school 24 hours after antibiotic treatment begins.

Bad Cough/Cold Symptoms

• Children with bad coughs need to stay home and possibly see a doctor, especially if they are having trouble breathing. It could be a severe cold or possibly bronchitis, flu, or pneumonia. But when the cough improves and the child is feeling better, then it's back to school. Don't wait for the cough to disappear entirely-- that could take a week or longer!

Vomiting

• A single episode can happen sometimes just when a child is nervous, etc. However, if they vomit more than once it is likely due to an underlying problem such as viral gastroenteritis, which is very contagious. If the vomit is bloody or has a dark green color, the child should be seen by a doctor.

Diarrhea

• Unless the child has recently finished a course of antibiotics (which can cause a non-infectious diarrhea), diarrhea is a sign that the child may have a virus. These viruses are easily passed from one child to the next. In this situation, children need to stay home, rest, and drink plenty of fluids. If there is blood or mucus in the diarrhea, they should see a doctor.

Rash

• Children with a skin rash should see a doctor, as this could be one of several infectious diseases. One possibility is impetigo, a bacterial skin infection that is very contagious and requires antibiotic treatment.

Lethargy

This is more than just acting tired. If you're having a hard time waking up your child or if the child's behavior is significantly different than usual, consult with your physician.

Info copied from Studio 5 and provided by:
Sarah Petersen, M.D.
Pediatrician
University of Utah Health Care
South Jordan Health Center

A CLEANING list when your kids have been sick

I call myself a mild germ freak. I know it and I am proud of it. I came across this mom's survival guide to SANITIZING & DISINFECTING YOUR HOME AFTER AN ILLNESS. I couldn't help but pass it along. I know, I know, illnesses happen but there are some ways to keep them from lingering and spreading....CLEAN, DISINFECT, AND SANITIZE!

Thanks to everyday food storage for this mom's survival guide information.

Here's a checklist for sanitize your home, toys, etc. when your family has been sick.

Laundry:
Clothes
Bedding
Bathroom Towels
Kitchen Towels

Places to Sanitize & Disinfect:
General-
Doorknobs
Stair Railings
Remotes
Computer Keyboard & Mouse
Children’s Toys
Phone Receiver
Cell Phones
Bedside Tables
Light switches

Bathroom-
Counters
Sink & Faucet
Toilet
Shower/Tub
Floor
Door knobs
Light switches
Cabinet hardware

Kitchen-
Counters
Sink & Faucet
Microwave
Fridge handles
Floor
Door knobs
Light switches
Cabinet hardware

Car- especially if you are carpooling clean these areas!!
Steering Wheel
Gear Shift
Door Handles
Children’s Car Seats

CLEANING TIPS: CLEANING
Important Definitions CHECKLIST:
Wiping a surface with soap and water or a cleaning product may remove dirt, but it
doesn’t kill germs that can cause illness.

Clean - Remove visible debris by washing or scrubbing with soap (detergents) and
water.

Sanitize - Reduce the number of bacteria. Sanitize food-related utensils and surfaces,
including cutting boards.

Disinfect - Destroy even more potentially harmful bacteria and other microbes. The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates sanitizers and disinfectants and
they have a statement to this effect on their labels.

Kitchen and Bathroom Counters:
To clean and disinfect counters, tabletops and high chairs, use Clorox® Clean-
Up® Cleaner with Bleach. For hard, nonporous countertop surfaces, use Clorox®
Disinfecting Wipes for one-step cleaning and disinfecting.

Toys:
Disinfect washable colorfast toys with a solution of 3/4 cup Clorox® Regular-
Bleach per gallon of water. Soak for 5 minutes, rinse and air dry.

Sponges & Dish Rags:
Sanitize sponges and dishcloths daily in the sink using 3/4 cup Clorox® Regular-
Bleach to a gallon of water. Let soak 5 minutes. Rinse and dry.

Drains:
To deodorize drains, flush with water. Pour 1 cup Clorox® Regular-Bleach into the drain, then flush with hot water.

Laundry-Whites:
Use Clorox® Regular-Bleach for white and bleachable items only. Always add the bleach and detergent to the wash water before you add the clothes or use your
washer’s bleach dispenser.

Laundry-Colors:
For colors, there are color-safe bleaches that are available in liquid or powder
forms. Use these products, like Clorox 2® Stain Fighter & Color Booster, to help
remove stains/soils and brighten colors.

Laundry-Towels:
Always launder towels first before using them. Never use fabric softeners, as they
will decrease the towel’s ability to absorb water. Machine wash after use in warm
water with like colors and rotate to extend the life of your towels. Wash white
towels in hot water with 3/4 cups of Clorox® Regular-Bleach per regular load. Or,
try Clorox® UltimateCare® Premium Bleach, the bleach you can pour directly onto
whites.

Check out the complete Mom's survival guide to the flu by clicking here !

When your kids ARE sick-Soup recipes for them!

Here are some yummy soups when your family is sick.
They come from www.everydayfoodstorage.NET

MINESTRONE SOUP
This a fabulous vegetable filled soup that is great when you’re sick!

3 medium carrots (3/4 c. dehydrated carrots)
3 stalks celery (3/4 c. dehydrated celery)
2 medium onions (1/2 c. dehydrated onion)
1 large potato
¼ pound green beans (1 can green beans)
2 medium zucchini
½ pound cabbage
1 medium clove garlic
3 ½ cups beef broth
1 ½ cups water
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon dried basil
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon rosemary
1 bay leaf
1 can (1 pound) garbanzo beans

Pare carrots; chop coarsely. Chop celery coarsely. Chop onions. Pare potato; cut into ¾ inch cubes. Trim zucchini; cut into ½ inch cubes. Coarsely shred cabbage. Mince garlic. Add all ingredients to slow cooker and cook for 6-8 hours. When 1 ½ hours is left. Rinse and drain cannelloni beans, add beans to soup. Replace lid and allow to cook. Remove bay leaf and serve with shredded parmesan (optional).

Chicken Noodle Soup
A classic chicken noodle soup recipe.

2 tsp. chicken bouillon
6 cups chicken soup stock
2 C. chopped carrots (1/2 c. dehydrated carrots)
2 C. chopped celery (1/2 c. dehydrated celery)
3/4 C. chopped onion (1/4 c. dehydrated onion)
2 Cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 C. milk (1 1/2 T. dry milk powder + 1/2 c. water)
2 C. Cooked Chicken
4 C. uncooked noodles
salt/pepper to taste

Boil chicken in water. Pull out and pull chicken in to chunks (I refrigerate first and add this in later..it’s easier to pull when it isn’t hot). Add veggies,cream of chicken soup, milk and noodles to stock. Cook until veggies are tender. Serve with wheat bread.

CHICKEN GINGER STEW:
The ginger, chicken, and garlic feel so good on a soar throat!

2 T. vegetable oil
2 T. garlic finely minced
¼ C. onion, finely minced
1 T. ginger root, peeled and minced
1 to 3 lbs. raw chicken (w/ or w/out bones)
1 T. salt, dash pepper
3 C. water
2 C. zucchini
2 C. spinach leaves (fresh works best)
Heat oil in large saucepan. Sauté garlic, onion and ginger until onion is transparent. Add chicken pieces and stir well, until chicken is partly cooked. Season with salt and pepper, add water. Cover and simmer over medium heat until chicken is tender. Uncover pot and add zucchini. Cook until tender (chicken comes easily off bones). Turn off heat and add spinach leaves. Serve hot.

SPLIT PEA SOUP
I realize most don’t like this soup...but like meatloaf I think it’s just a matter of having a good recipe.

1 pkg (16 oz.) dried green peas
1 ham bone
7 C water
1 medium onion, chopped (1/4 c. dehydrated onion)
2 medium carrots, chopped (1/2 c. dehydrated carrots)
a couple of stocks of celery and leaves
¾ tsp salt
½ tsp thyme
1 bay leaf
1 garlic clove, minced

Rinse peas under cold water in colander, removing any debris or blemished peas. Place peas, pork bone and water in soup pot. Add onion, carrots, salt, thyme, bay leaf and pepper. Reduce
heat and simmer, uncovered, 1 hour 15 minutes or until peas are tender, stirring occasionally. Stir frequently near end of cooking to keep soup from scorching. Remove pork bone. Take off as much meat from the bone as you can.

Check out the complete Mom's survival guide to the flu by clicking here !

Dr. Oz lose 10 pounds FREE bracelet by mail

I watched the Dr. Oz show today on Fox while nursing and was inspired by the lose just 10 pounds challenge. It's a lot like Weight Watchers (which I love and need to start up again). You can check out the details on Dr. Oz's site. I write this post because Dr. Oz and Zappos shoes are offering a 100% FREE blue bracelet to help you remember your lose 10 challenge (or your personal weigh,wt loss journey or maintenance). I wanted one to so I thought others might benefit from knowing about this too. I ordered this 100% FREE bracelet for my hubby and I. (One free per e-mail address).

Go here to get your free bracelet.

I plan on wearing it so I will think before I hit the pantry during the mid afternoon hungers, to not snack and "taste" when cooking dinner, and to not indulging in nightly treats as often. Oh and I hope it will be a good reminder to menu plan the veggie packed meals weekly.

What do you do help yourself not fall of the healthy eating wagon?

Copied from their site:

"DoctorOz.com and Zappos.com are teaming up to give you something tangible to wear as a daily reminder that you're worth it. The bracelet has "Just 10" on it so you can let everyone know that you're taking the steps toward a healthier life. Anyone can wear it, and YOU can have one for FREE!"

"When people ask why you wear it, you can tell them the importance losing "Just 10" pounds has on your health. Register for your bracelet today!"

Trick or treat candy--Mom's stay away!

Are you trying to eat healthy and lose the baby weight then stay away from your kids' Halloween candy and chew some gum instead! Here's the skinny on the Halloween treats from That's Fit.

Thanks, go to how does she blog for the full info!

That’s Fit recently took a walk down the candy aisle to investigate. While they don’t say any particular candy is healthy, there are definitely some choices that are better than others.

Tricks:
5th Avenue (1 full-size bar) — 280 calories, 14g fat
Snickers (1 full-size bar) — 280 calories, 14g fat
Twix Caramel (2 bars) — 280 calories, 14g fat
Baby Ruth (1 full-size bar) — 280 calories, 13g fat
Butterfinger (1 full-size bar) — 270 calories, 11g fat
Milky Way (1 full-size bar) — 260 calories, 10g fat
Mr. Goodbar (1 full-size bar) — 210 calories, 14g fat

Treats:
Trident Gum (1 stick) — 5 calories, 0g fat
Smarties (1 roll) — 25 calories, 0g fat
Tootsie Roll (1 piece) — 50 calories, 1g fat
Pixy Stix (7 straws) — 60 calories, 0g fat
Hershey Kisses (3) — 75 calories, 1.5g fat
Jolly Rancher Gummies (10 pieces) — 120 calories, 0g fat
York Peppermint Patty (1 piece) — 140 calories, 2.5g fat”

I guess I'll be chewing GUM this Halloween!

Guess what? I got 18 packs of FREE Mentos sugar free gum last night at Smith's. They are on sale for a $1.00 You can get free gum too by using: Mentos Gum, any 15 pc bottle $1/1 (11-30-10) SS-10/3

Happy Early Halloween!

Have you ever made fruit leather?

I want to make fruit leather (someday!)
(I doubt I will get to this in 2010 but another year it sounds fun!)

Apricot Leather Ingredients:

• 2 cups blended apricots (or other fruits)
  
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• This makes 2 roll-ups depending on the size of tray
  

Thanks to Make and Takes blog for the how to information and easy looking recipe.
For all the details go to her blog by clicking Here!

Homemade taco seasoning- With out MSG and preservatives!

I like to eat taco salads, tacos, and burritos! I don't like MSG, preservatives, and lots of salt. So, when I found a taco seasoning that you can make from ingredients in your pantry from scratch I was interested. I got it from Around my family table.

It comes across as really spicy, but it's not. If you are nervous just use half. If you can handle the the ones from the store you'll be ok. It's not time consuming either. Feel free to make it quadrupled or 10x it. Store it in an airtight container for several months.

Taco Seasoning from Around my family table
2 tsps dried onion flakes
2 tsps chili powder
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp paprika
3/4 tsp garlic powder
2 tsps cumin
1 1/4 tsps salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
pinch of cayenne pepper (or leave it out)
1 tsp cornstarch

Mix all together. Yield: ~ 4 tbls

To use: Brown 1 lb hamburger meat. Add 2 tbls seasoning and 1/2 cup water to meat. Bring to a simmer and then reduce heat until thickened, stir often.