The Sick Kit

We were in Charleston for the New Year when Mr. Polly came down with a cold, which then hit Finn when we got home, and then Annie last week, and finally landed on me this week.  I am recovering, but not without a few icky nights of congestion. 

It struck me that after 17.5 years of motherhood, I should have grasped this idea sooner: I need a sick kit! I have had a sick book for years, which has been invaluable. But I need a little arsenal of things that will make life easier when sickness hits us. Here's what my sick kit should include:

*Zicam

*Zinc pills

*Emergen-C. I love drinking the powdered vitamin C stuff with hot water, kind of like a weird tea, when I don't feel well. 

*Puffs Plus Lotion tissues. We never keep tissues on hand; I'm going to do it now, in the sick kit.

*The humidifier. As soon as someone starts feeling sick, I'll run the humidifier in their bedroom at night and in the room where they spend most of their time during the day.  The humidifier helped me so much last night--I can't believe I didn't think to use it sooner! 

*The little steam oil diffuser that I like to use with a few drops of essential oil.

*Sore throat lozenges--I like Ricola. 

*Lemons for hot lemon water, which often cures what ails me. 

*The NetiPot!!! And distilled water.

*My stepmom would remind me to add Vicks VapoRub.  She is a devotee of it!

And a few pre-existing household items would round out this kit:

*A hot water bottle and a heating pad--so comforting when you're pitiful in bed.

*A simmer pot in the kitchen: the crockpot filled with water plus sliced oranges, whole cloves, cinnamon, fresh rosemary. I made one this morning and although I don't think it's *doing* anything, it sure does help me feel happier. 

*Pot of water on the stove, simmering, to add humidity to our very dry indoor air.  It was 22% last night, but I've gotten it up to 37% with the simmer pot and humidifier.  

*Squishy socks, a cozy blanket, comfortable clothes, and a hot shower anytime to break up the congestion. 

*Good books or a knitting project, or--if you're really in bad shape--an easy movie!

What else would you add to a Sick Kit?