My Family is Recovering from Our 2nd Serious Flu/Stomach Bug This Year (#spon)

By the beginning of March this year, our family had come down with our second serious flu/stomach bug this year.  It seems to make its way around school from student to student.  Then at home, it makes its way around to each member of that student's family.  For some reason, I always seem to be the last one out of the 5 of us to get sick each time, which means I am the last one to recover.  No matter how diligently I wash my hands, it always seems to get me in the end.  I still have not decided yet which is more difficult . . . taking care of more than one sick child while I am well or taking care of more than one well child while I am sick.

Luckily, if I am immobilized by the flu, my husband can usually take a day off from work to take care of the house and the children.  However, if I have a bad cold and am feeling rundown, I am on my own until my husband gets home from work.  The children still need to get to and from the school bus stop safely, still need to be helped with their homework, still need to get picked up from their after school activities, and still need to go to their taekwondo classes.  Also, I am self-employed, so I do not have paid sick days and there is no one to fill in for me if I cannot finish all my work.  That is when I rely on over-the-counter medications to help relieve some of my symptoms, such as body aches, headaches, fever, a runny nose, and a sore throat.

I have relied on Vicks DayQuil Cold & Flu LiquiCaps many times to get me through the day.  It relieves multiple symptoms and keeps me from having to take a separate medicine for a decongestant, a fever reducer, and a pain reliever.  The first time I took the LiquiCaps, I was worried that I would have trouble swallowing them because of their size.  I was pleasantly surprised to find how easy they were to swallow after all.

Almost everyone I know swears by Vicks NyQuil Cold & Flu for getting a good night's rest while suffering from symptoms that cause discomfort throughout the night.  I have never been able to take it in liquid form because I have a strong distaste for alcohol.  I have the same problem with mouthwashes.  I usually am so exhausted after trying to keep up with my regular schedule while I'm sick that I have no problems sleeping.  If I ever needed to take NyQuil, I would need the LiquiCaps.

How is your family faring during this year's cold and flu season?

To learn more about the full line of Vick's cold and flu products or to find facts and tips about the flu, visit www.vicks.com. Remember, before trying any new medication, make sure to check with your doctor and to follow the proper recommended course of treatment.


I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Vicks DayQuil & NyQuil. I received product samples and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Review: Braun ThermoScan Thermometer & Vicks GermFree Humidifier

For the past 6 to 8 weeks, our family of five has been taking turns having cold and flu symptoms. Luckily, I was the only one who seemed to really have a sick-in-bed full out flu. We did have a couple of instances of high fevers with the twins though.

I can't say how thankful I was to have the Braun ThermoScan ear thermometer handy. Even though I like our non-invasive Exergen TemporalScanner, this Braun takes a temperature in about 1/3 of the time. It literally takes just 3 seconds to get an accurate body temperature reading.

Even though the child who was sick would be a little cranky, they never minded having their temperature taken. The ear piece is shaped so it would be difficult to insert the thermometer in too far. To take a temperature, simply turn the unit on, push the power button again to clear the last reading off the screen, insert the thermometer in the ear, and then push the button conveniently located on the back of the thermometer. In about 2 to 3 seconds the thermometer beeps and you have your reading. It really is quick and painless.

There are two features about the Braun ThermoScan that really impressed me. The first is that the tip is pre-warmed so that reading is quicker and more accurate. The second is that this thermometer comes with a hard cover that fits over the full length of the unit. This cover also has a place to store the disposable lens filters, which is extremely convenient. I love that there is no need for a separate carrying pouch.

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In addition to fevers, we have had a huge problem with stuffy noses for both twins and a little cough and congestion for our daughter. They would both wake up crying during the night from these symptoms. We would have to use saline drops in their noses to try to give them some relief from their discomfort.

When we began using the Vicks V3900 Pediatric GermFree Cool Mist Humidifier, it was like night and day. Both twins woke up a fewer number of times during the night and, when they did wake up, they were not crying, distressed, and rubbing their noses. Our daughter also rarely woke up coughing. The only protest the twins had was the soft hum emitted by the humidifier, but they became accustomed to it after just one night.

Our children's bedroom is rather large, but having this humidifier on the lowest setting was enough to keep the air from being too dry and to fill the entire room with scent of the Vicks Vaporizing Pads. Running this humidifier has also helped prevent nose bleeds that result from over-dryness. On the lowest setting, this unit is very quiet compared to other humidifiers.

There were several things that really impressed my husband and myself about this humidifier . . .

1) It was extremely easy to set up and only weighs 7lbs.

2) It barely uses any water, unlike warm mist humidifiers. The 1-gallon capacity is more than sufficient.

3) Also unlike warm mist humidifiers, the room did not smell musty like a swamp.

4) This unit has a UV light and a boiling action. This eliminates the worry of mold, bacteria, and fungi that could live in other humidifiers, which is a concern of ours because some members of the family are allergic to mold.

Both these products made such a difference for our children's cold symptoms. In turn, this helped with the problem of my husband and I being continuously sleep-deprived.

The Braun ThermoScan Ear Thermometer retails for $49.99 and the V3900 Vicks GermFree Humidifier retails for $79.95. I have only been using these two products for a few weeks, so I cannot attest to their longevity. It is my opinion that, if they will last for several years, then both products are worth the investment. You can find both these products at Walmart, Walgreens, Amazon.com, and major drug stores nationwide.

Thank you to Braun for sending us an ear thermometer and Vicks for sending us a humidifier to use for this review.