As we get into the summer months here in Kansas, the heat and humidity always makes my CFS go crazy. I have been so bad that I one day I went in to David's room to help him get something out from under his changing table. I laid down to get it and then ended up staying there for 15 or 20 minutes, trying to get enough strength to get up again.

I have pretty much been dead on the couch from 3-8 p.m. every day. The rest of the day I don't get much done because I am so worn out it's hard to function.

I say all that to say even when you are sick or have an illness, there are ways to be frugal and keep things going. Here are a few things we do: (Before I pass out again! LOL)

1- The kids can pick up most of the house with direction. For example, I might ask each of them to pick up five of David's toys and put them in his room. Then I ask them to pick up four cups off the floor. (Somehow the plastic kids cups always end up on our floor.) Later I might ask them to empty all the trash cans and the dishwasher. Let the kids do as much as possible.

2- Keep meals simple. Tonight we ate frozen pizza and veggies we had previously cut. Another night, it was chicken with a bottle of hot and sour sauce dumped over the top served with rice. Another time we ate taco salad made with bagged lettuce, hamburger browned with taco seasoning, sour cream, salsa and olives. We didn't use chips because we were trying to lose weight.

Use paper plates. They are cheap, use them!

Use a piece of tape and mark each person's name on a glass so you can keep the germs separated! (Ok, I know that it's almost impossible to keep everyone from getting sick, but I can dream! LOL) This saves you from getting a new glass every time because you forgot which one was yours.

3- Try to do at least one load of laundry a day. That way you won't get overwhelmed or behind. Forget about doing sheets and other non-critical laundry during this time.

4- Let non-critical things go! Ignore the dust, the dirty windows and other things like that. I know that's really hard to do, but don't worry about those things. If you are laying on the couch where you look right out a dirty window, then ask your kids or hubby clean it but otherwise forget it until later!

5- If you get sick with something like a cold or the flu, keep an empty tissue box nearby and put all the used tissues in it. You can then just throw the whole thing away when you're done. Keep the cough drops, the phone, TV remote and other items in a small basket so that it is all contained and not falling all over the place. You can also take it with you to bed or if you want to move to a different spot.

Those are a few of them. As I think of more I will add them but my brain is shutting down now. Anyway, try to do the least amount possible but still keep things going.

Tawra