Grammie Camp Weekend

I recently stayed the weekend with my two young grandsons while their tired parents had some "couple time" away in the mountains.  The was the first overnight stay for me with both boys.  Since the 5 year old has loved our summer "Grammie Camp" days, I decided to call this "Grammie Camp Weekend", both to create excitement and to let "B" know there was going to be a plan that we would follow, rather than a free-for-all while Mom & Dad were away!  When I told him that I was making a list of things to do for our Grammie Camp Weekend, he told me he wanted to make a list too.  My answer was that we would have "B" Camp some time when he could make the list of activities, but for Grammie Camp, I would make the list.  And he was satisfied with that answer!

 I planned easy meals of their favorite foods, with some little special "extras".  I created a loose schedule for morning, E's naptime, afternoon, and evening and we kept it pretty well. This is what we did.

FRIDAY 

1:30pm arrive

E's naptime until 4pm

Oobleck (cornstarch & water & food coloring) with B 

craft -  fill 2 sensory bottles, one dry and one wet 

Painting

 

Poetry Tea Party -  milk, lemon bar cookie cups, banana chocolate chip muffins, blueberries, Kettle Corn & Shel Silverstein!

Outside - bubbles

Grampa arrives

6pm Dinner:  Spinach-cheese Ravioli,  homemade broccoli tots 

Wrestle with Grampa!

 

TV time to quiet down!  - Bluey

8pm Bedtime

 

SATURDAY

7:15 am  Rise & Shine

Breakfast: scrambled eggs, sausage links, banana chocolate chip mini muffins, blueberries

9am   Grampa arrived and we headed out to Pullen Park in Raleigh for the morning, to ride the train and carousel, and have fun on the playground! 

 

12pm  Head back home;  leftover Ravioli for lunch!

 Naptime for E,  Quiet Time for B and Grammie! (Quiet time for B includes workbooks, puzzles, books)  

Mario Time!  B plays video games with his Dad on the weekends, and since Grammie doesn't play video games and doesn't really care to learn, B was happy to go solo.  

 4pm E wakes up - plays with toys in Grammie's toy bag until Grampa arrives.

 Cookies & Popsicles! Play outside

 

Grampa arrives - T-ball and races in the backyard

 6pm Dinner  Hot dogs, broccoli tots, cheese

play Go Fish

Bath time

TV time - Bluey 

8pm Bedtime

 

 SUNDAY

 7:30am  Up and at 'em

Breakfast : Greek yogurt & strawberries, banana chocolate chip muffins

 Outside play -  oobleck again! 

snack

Craft: PomPom pictures

Story time - books

12pm Lunch:  pizza, lemon cookie cups

Nap time for E,  Mario time for B

Alphabet cards; color sorting; sticker fun

 

4:30pm Mom & Dad come home!!

 

Mom to the Rescue!

My kids may be all grown up and living out in the wild on their own, but sometimes they still need mom.  Thank goodness! 

My 26-yr-old called me the other day to tell me that he was dying with the flu.  Well, not exactly dying, but he felt the worst he has in years and years.  So dying.  Fever. Cough. Chills. Nausea. The flu.

And like most young guys living in a townhouse with 2 other twenty-something  guys, they had very little in the way of medicine or wellness supplies.  So I pulled stuff out of my cabinet and fridge, made a trip to the store, and packed up a Rescue Bag to bring to my boy.

When I am sick, I use pharmaceuticals sparingly, and also food, essential oils, homeopathic remedies, and other homemade remedies that I have read about and had good experience with.  Here is what I brought in addition to a few basic meds.  

• Oscillococcinum -  this homeopathic remedy from Boiron can be found in drug stores and online;  it treats flu symptoms and it WORKS!
• Fresh-squeezed lemon juice mixed with honey and ginger :  ginger eases nausea; lemon juice loosens mucous and is boosts the immune system; honey soothes the throat, reduces coughs, and boosts the immune system
•  Healthy homemade "Gatorade" Electrolyte drink  -  electrolytes are essential minerals in your body, like salt, potassium, magnesium, phosphorous; they are key for maintaining your nervous system and muscle function and help your body to stay hydrated, and are lost when throwing up and sweating profusely;   Gatorade drinks are full of not-so-good ingredients, but homemade electrolyte drinks are simple and much healthier!  Mix coconut water with some juice (I used organic pineapple and lemon juice), honey, and salt.
• Iodine-Saline nasal spray -  purchase or add 1/4 tsp povidone iodine to 3oz (88ml) bottle of saline nasal spray - keeps mucous in nasal passages flowing and iodine stops viruses from replicating
•  homemade chicken soup with lots of garlic, ginger, onions, carrots  - boosts immune system, reduces inflammation of mucous membranes,
  
•  elderberry drops or syrup  - helps reduce length and severity of flu symptoms
• "Thieves" or similar essential oil  - diffusing helps boost immunity, relieves inflammation and loosens mucous in nose and chest
•  Melatonin - antiviral - reduces severity of symptoms
• Vitamins C, D3 w/ K,  zinc, quercetin, NAC  - boosts immune system, reduces length and severity of symptoms