Momma said there’d be weeks like this. Oh wait, was that supposed to be days like this? Either way, I would have preferred a more thorough definition of “this.” I felt woefully unprepared.
The week started innocently enough. Snow day (the first one)! Fun for the kids, not so fun fo the mom who has now taken off of work and is dreading each passing hour since dad didn’t take off work and instead headed to Manhattan while the snow fell at one to two inches per hour. In the end, he commuted for nearly five hours to put in one hour on the job. At least he made it home in one piece. We’re thankful for the little things.
Tuesday came with a delayed opening. A good choice since the roads were rather treacherous. I got the kids off to school and headed off to catch up on missed work. While plugging away at 203 emails, I was interrupted by the ringing phone. It was my son, who’s been struggling with some health issues. Off to school I went to retrieve him. After a couple of stressful hours, he was admitted to Stony Brook University hospital.
Generally, I am not a germ-o-phobe. I have a healthy respect for the microscopic little bugs that share our space. We need many of them and they need us. If you can maintain a good balance, it’s a pretty bearable relationship. However, this does not hold true for hospitals.
Entering a hospital is like going into the lion’s den. Except it’s the germ’s den and there’s way more of them in one place then you’d ever find lions grouped together. And also they’re invisible and there’s no warning growl.
I hate touching things in a hospital. I hate putting my things on their surfaces. I worry about what touched it before I got there. So having to spend the night in the “sleeping chair” was not easy. The only way I could hope to spend any time asleep was through sheer exhaustion and will; I willed myself to ignore whatever cooties were probably thriving on that blanket that had covered many, many bodies before mine.
I wouldn’t actually let my purse or bag touch the floor, which required some maneuvering before bedtime. I briefly contemplated using my purse as a pillow, but eventually decided against it. I did, however, draw the line when my son tried to walk barefoot to the bathroom. Just writing that sentence gave me the eebie-jeebies. I washed my hands as often as possible (and probably more then necessary) and would’ve washed my son’s feet when he was sleeping -just because he contemplated walking barefoot- but he’s too light a sleeper.
We were lucky enough to be in-patient for only one night. My son seems to be okay and they sent us home with no restrictions, a host of paperwork, and lots of new germs. Don’t get me wrong, I know that the hospital does an amazing job cleaning up and I’m sure that everywhere we go, we pick up unfamiliar microbes. It’s just that hospitals have so many more to choose from. And my craziness gives them an ominous tone, like the nasty looking snot-blobs in the Mucinex commercials.
When we came home, my first priority (after a long-overdue shower) was to boost our immune systems. I wanted to be sure our bodies were prepared to fight off any unfriendly invaders. A great overall choice is echinacea. Brew a strong cup of tea to support any immune system under attack. Echinacea is only effective for two weeks though, so take a break after 14 days of supplementation.
Vitamin C is another one of my favorites. Since it’s water soluble, I don’t worry about taking too much. Whatever my body doesn’t need, it will expel. High dosages can, however, cause an upset stomach, so monitor your intake and cap the daily amount if you start to experience discomfort.
Speaking of stomach discomfort, lots of new research suggests that many of our modern illnesses can be linked to an unhealthy gut. I’m sure you’ve heard of probiotics and/or acidophilus. They are live bacteria that are essential for good digestion and overall systemic health. You can take them in pill form, but I always recommend getting your nutrients through diet, whenever possible.
You can find probiotics in foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi and other fermented items. You can also find them, in abundance, in kombucha. Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage that has been popular in Asian cultures for thousands of years. Recently, it’s gained popularity in the U.S. and can be found in some supermarkets and specialty shops.
Kombucha has been attributed with a host of health benefits that include immune boosting, digestive support, increased energy and detoxification. And it tastes pretty good, too. Unfortunately, it’s fairly expensive. It’s worth the money, but it’s also a pretty simple task to make your own. We plan to give it a try at our house, using this video tutorial.
Are you a kombucha fan? Have you ever brewed your own? I’d love to hear your tips and hints at laurie@riverheadlocal.com.
Laurie Nigro, a mother of two, is passionate about natural living. Laurie resides in downtown Riverhead and is co-founder of the River and Roots Community Garden on West Main Street. Contact her by email to laurie@riverheadlocal.com.
