I Am FREAKING OUT!

Try to calm yourself a little bit. I understand how you are feeling. I have been there. The advice of taking all meds possible to cover minor ailments is very wise. And do not forget the sunscreen. I always pack extra of everything and my husband who is the control freak in this house always tells me that I take too much and some who we always end up using some thing that he considered to be "extra". I have traveled with sick kids before and it is stressful, but if the fever is low and there are no other symptoms then you should be ok. We have traveled with everyone but me having the stomach bug which started 12 hours after we left home so there was no going back. You just have to be prepared and have the things on hand that you would need to take care of any minor ailment. Sunscreen, itch cream, benadryl for allergies and insect stings, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, pepto for kids, allergy meds, tylenol, ibuprophen, thermometer, ... you get my drift. Yes it is a lot but I know from experience that you will feel better if you are completely prepared. Just trust in yourself that you are doing the best that you can and that's all that matters. I promise that there are others who have left to go on vacation with a child that is not 100% well and everything turned out ok. Just be sure that you have access to medical care should you need it where ever you are vacationing. I hope this helps.

First off, take a deep breath!

How old is your little one? And how high is the fever? If she's young (which it sounds like she is) and the fever is relatively low (say, 100 or so), there's really no need to panic. Could she be teething? This can cause both low-grade fever and fussiness eating. But it also shouldn't disrupt your vacation, aside from the extra attention a teething baby can demand!

But, of course, you should be hesitant to leave the country if there's a chance it's something more serious. You should call the pedi tomorrow morning, explain the situation, and ask for advice. You also may want to consider the health care available where you are going--there may be a reliable, american-style clinic nearby, in which case, even if you never need it, it can give you some peace-of-mind to know where it is (personally, I've often gotten better healthcare in other countries than in the states--I travel a lot!)

It is, of course, a stressful situation, and you should do what you can to be sure that your DD is well cared for. But in all likelihood, there is a reasonable explanation that won't necessitate your cancelling your vacation. And if it IS something serious, getting your little one the help she needs is certainly more important than a vacation (trust me--we're foregoing the vacation this year, with great gratitude that we were able to get our daughter the surgery she needed!)

Good luck! You'll be in my prayers!

Hello C.,

first, You'll be fine =) some prayer and preparation go a long way.

remember: some antibiotics make you more sensitive to sunlight and more suceptible to sunburn weeks after you're done taking it.

buy a small bottle of lavender oil it's great for helping the skin heal, great for relaxing you and the kids, great for cuts and scrapes, muscle aches. I carry one in my purse. it's ok to put straight on the skin. (of course, as long as you're not allergic to lavender... yes there is such an allergy, but that's another topic-- lol)

you can use lavender oil as a hand sanitizer instead of the alcohol gels ...I'm not sure if you can take those in the plane.

Take some acidophilus with you (in case antibiotics give her D) in fact you can start her on acidophilus before you leave.

stuffy nose / cough remedy that worked when even cough medicine /w codeine did not work:

on a kleenex tissue: (NOT ON THE SKIN)
4-5 drops peppermint oil
2 drops rosemary oil
1 drop basil oil
(not all the drops on the same spot on the tissue)
clip it to the front of the shirt. if it gets too strong ... put it further away. at night time I put it next to the bed

I have not used regular cough medicine in over a year!

before you leave, get the tel. number and fax of a pharmacy. also get the fax# of the place you'll be there in case your pediatrician needs to fax you a prescription. have your pediatrician put it in your daughter's file. also leave it w/ a friend here in the states in case they need to call your doctor for you.

keep in mind that in other countries they have different medicines. I have a little home remedy that I take w/ me when traveling. take some oregano and salt... you make "a salty oregano" tea and a couple of gulps helps w/ nausea and D. oregano is antispasmodic so all those belly muscles get relaxed and no need to run to the bathroom for a while. a little goes a long way. put 1/2 teaspoon oregano 1/2 teaspoon salt in 1/2 cup hot water and let it sit a few minutes. I give my kids a couple of teaspoons at the time (usually just once).

skip the sugar! sugar depresses the immune system for 4 hrs. give her immune system an extra chance for the next couple of days.

have her wash her hands often (extra for the next couple of days)

did you replace her toothbrush?
I like using natural remedies...when possible..

airborne is good (if you're not allergic to ragweeds) and it's very portable. I like to buy the real one not the generic --better flavor-- my kids don't the night time flavor

take children's tylenol chewable (and motrin too) if you need to you can dissolve it in water... much easier to carry with you in the plane. (I'm assuming you're flying)

take extra wipes. you'll need them to wipe chairs, tables, etc.

btw, did you sanitize all the door nobs, light switches, phones, fridge door handle, car seats, etc? 1/2 water 1/2 alcohol solution does wonders.

too make a long story short... been there, done that... to the point of being paranoiah.

skip milk for a few days... more phlem...can bring sinus infection back fast. yogurt should be OK.

before you go, figure out how to call home from wherever you're going. also have some one call you when you're there in case you can't call out right away. plus it's much cheaper if someone calls you.

in summary: get some
lavender oil
peppermint oil
rosemary oil
basil oil
oregano
salt
acidophilus
chewable children's tylenol & motrin
saline nose drops
decongestant nose drops

all that should fit in a small ziploc bag and you're ready for just about anything that comes your way. most of the oils you can get like in 1/2 oz or even less. I'd get the 1 oz lavender oil because you'll use it more.

have a good time in your trip. Good luck!
~C.~

C.,
Sometimes the best thing you can do is sleep. Pray, relax and look forward to your trip. Don't let the fact that you are going on a trip ruin the trip. I will pray for God's comfort and peace for you.
M.

Be prepared and you will feel better about your trip. See if your pediatrician has a recommendation for a doctor where your are going, or look up and take with you information from on line. We went to a secluded ski resort this past Feb, when my youngest was five months old. Just in case, I printed out the nearest pediatrican and nearest children's hospital. You said you are going out of country. If you are going to a resort, check to see if there is a doctor on site. Take general remedies for possible illnesses with you - tylenol, tummy ache, etc. Ask your pediatrician if he/she can prescribe a decongestant just in case. Make all the preparation you can, and then go have fun! Take along any prescription meds she is still taking in the original bottle.