SO frustrating!

[Erin80]

My kids get colds, strep, pink eye, etc etc ETC and for some very strange reason, even though I'm right there on the front lines, I avoid it 95% of the time without even trying. My girls have had back to back colds for about a month now, and I'm still fine. However, when a sv hits our house, even with my dire efforts to contain it, I catch it EVERY single freaking time. My 3 1/2 yr old woke up in the night having v*d in her bed back in Sept. My hubby took her downstairs where she v*'d once more, then had d* for a couple days off and on. My 17 month old caught it the morning after my 3 1/2 yr old v'd in the night - she never v'd but had zero appetite for 3 days, and d* for probably 6 days or so. I dealt with it all, but wore gloves often and always washed my hands. I was careful. Then, one week from when my 3 yr old first v'd, I got SUPER n* in the evening and fought the urge to v* for hours - I was actually totally sure it was going to happen, I was literally on the verge. I slept all night that night thankfully, but woke up with d*, no appetite and still queasy though not nearly as queasy as the previous evening (and this was on my birthday too!)......the off feeling lasted 3 days or so.

I don't understand how I avoid everything else, but catch every single sv they get. My oldest daughter (6) was the only one who somehow managed to escape this last sv. I was amazed she didn't get it.

[Syrup]

Well, thankfully you don't get it bad when you DO get it which is TERRIFIC! I really think the vast majority of people get it from the toilet AFTER a sv* has passed. It's not typically from the clean up when it's happened as everyone is SUPER cautious then. My advice would be to go WITH your child when they have to go #2. Help them to SCRUB their hands afterwards and then use paper towels (not material) to dry their hands. I keep a bleach/water spray bottle and for the first week spray down the toilet, flusher, sink and counters every. single. time. If they touch anything between the toilet and the sink I scrub that down too. I also make sure they don't touch their clothes before washing which is kinda awkward, but oh well. So yes, they scrub up with their pants around their ankles. HA! But that's totally extreme. Well, it all is, but whatever.

[Syrup]

Oh, to be clear, I only do this during a sv* and for a solid week following. If we go to a friend's house I take the bleach spray with me; I don't want others getting ill!

[NicManri]

Oh, to be clear, I only do this during a sv* and for a solid week following. If we go to a friend's house I take the bleach spray with me; I don't want others getting ill!

You so nice! I wish other would worry about infecting people! It seems once people are ill they don't care about passing it on

[lizziescarlett]

Oh, to be clear, I only do this during a sv* and for a solid week following. If we go to a friend's house I take the bleach spray with me; I don't want others getting ill!

Syrup, I have read lots of you posts and you are quite simply amazing. Your advice is sensible and rational, do you ever get panicky, you seem too sane?

Erin80, you must have a great immune system not to pick up colds and other bugs from your children but I think the sv works slightly differently, I think people can have genetic immunity to the sv but having a good immune system cannot prevent you
from catching it, only stringent hygiene and genetic immunity can help, a good immune system will help you bounce back quicker afterwards. That's my theory anyway. If you are looking after your kids when they are sick with a sv you are an amazing mother! My mother wouldn't look after me or my sibs if we just had a cold let alone anything else.

[Syrup]

YES! YES! YES! I get panicky! I am most often rational when it's someone ELSE's issue! Just now I went out to eat with my 5 year old and was nervous the entire way home that he was going to announce that he was carsick. My phobia is ENTIRELY wrapped up in my two boys. I don't care about being sick myself, which is where I am different than most here. You're sweet.

[Erin80]

I'm a lot like you Syrup - my phobia is more to do with my girls than myself. If it's me, I figure I'll handle it.....but them getting sick FREAKS me right out! I don't know if that's really because it means I'm ALSO going to get sick, or because it means 2 weeks of crazy insane cleaning and worrying, or because I really feel bad for them.....or maybe a combo of all three.

I am soooooo so so careful when they are sick. Seriously, it is ridiculous. I have really no clue how I catch it. I wear gloves when cleaning anything. I use a bleach/water solution. We use paper towels to dry hands and wash after every bathroom use. They girls use a separate bathroom (and while they are actually getting sick, they are on a complete separate LEVEL of the house (always with my DH) and are not allowed to come up until they have been symptom free for at least 12 hrs and have had a good shower). I don't eat anything with my hands (toast, sandwiches, etc), and keep my hands away from my face. I bleach all door knobs, etc. I do ALL of this, and yet, usually....most of us if not all of us catch it anyway. Even though they are downstairs and no one else is allowed down there while it is all happening, and they shower and wear fresh clothes before they come up, we still all get it. Maybe we are just prone........UGH UGH UGH.

[lizziescarlett]

It seems like you both have maternal emet if that exists? Erin, wear a mask when your kids are sick, that's if it doesn't scare them, you won't inhale any particles, with that and super hygiene surely there is no way you can catch it!

[Erin80]

Maybe the mask is the only thing I missing........however, it's almost always my hubby dealing with them when they are actually v'ing...very rarely has it been me (only once I think).