The pantry isn't done. I should be working on it right now. I should be. But I'm not. I feel like I've been hit by a bus - and why? I don't think it's all about the pantry, really....
Seventeen months later - patterns have become apparent... One such pattern involves demolition/reconstruction and illness. Every time we remove, scrape, grind, chip, or otherwise repair house parts that were existing at the time of Katrina -- at least half of us have some sort of infection within 24 hours. These usually consist of upper respiratory infections - but sometimes intestinal disturbances have been noted... Or, worse: sometimes both.
This morning Emily, Yvonne, and I woke up with aches and pains, runny noses, congested coughs, and upset tummies. The boys all went to church without us so I could try to get the girls comfortable.
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2 comments:
Were you guys wearing masks? Or whatever they're called, that keep dust, etc. out?
We used masks for the heartiest and dustiest of jobs - but I must admit they were dinky masks that clogged in minutes. There was a time when we were in earnest search of those good aerator masks but there were none to be found at the time in our area (for obvious reasons, huh?)
We sectioned off working rooms or areas with hanging plastic partitions and shut down the HVAC and changed filters as much as possible.
But in all honestly we were NOT as diligent about such precautions after a while as we could have been. We just plain got lax about it since we were living in the middle of the mess for so long. Now my disaster supply kit will include a large supply of good quality dust masks.
I have to say the best thing that ever happened to us as far as these weird upper respiratory infections disappearing was the replacement of BOTH of the HVAC units. The downstairs unit got replaced fairly early on but it wasn't until this year that the upstairs unit got torn out. We all seem to breathe a little easier now.
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