How do you know if you need to change your asthma medicine?
I recently visited Asthma Doc, for my own checkup actually-I'm usually there with the kids.
I hadn't been in for a while for a checkup. Asthma Doc was checking on how often I use my inhaler every week (I don't use it very much )He also did the Exhaled Nitric Oxide (ENO) test on me. It was pretty simple, just breathing into a little machine that measure the amount of Nitric Oxide in my body. Asthma Doc said Nitric oxide is made when there's swelling or inflammation.
My number was great, you should be between 5-25 and I was right in that range. So Asthma Doc cut down my daily medication. That's one of those things that you need to watch. Sometimes you may need to take more controller or maintenance medication every day, if your symptoms seem to be worse. (If you are using your inhaler more than twice a week, if you are wheezing and coughing-especially at night)
Sometimes you can cut down on your medicine if you don't have any of those symptoms. I was able to cut down my medications this time.
You can also get stuck in a rut with what medication you take, so make sure you are having regular checkups and watching your symptoms. You may need to take more, or cut back on what you are taking.
Just one more thing to watch when you have asthma.
It's a good idea to have regular checkups with your doctor.
Infant and Toddler Warning Regarding Benzocaine.
A recent warning from the FDA indicates infants and toddlers under 2 years old are particularly vulnerable to developing Methemoglobinemia if exposed to Benzocaine.
Methemoglobinemia is a rare disorder of the blood that limits the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. It can occur as an acquired disease and as an inherited disease. The inherited version of the disease can have mild consequence for some up to severe and life threatening consequences for others, depending on the type. Families with the inherited version are generally well versed in the prognosis of their type of Methemoglobinemia.
The acquired version of the disease is generally less dramatic and easily managed once the triggering agent is identified and avoided. It is, however, very frightening and stressful when it develops and warrants an immediate trip to the doctor. On rare occasion this type has also been life threatening.
Benzocaine is a known trigger for this disease and the FDA has issued a warning regarding use for children under age 2. They are significantly more susceptible and vulnerable to a more severe reaction. The soothing agents for teething and other mouth sores like canker sores and viral ulcers typically contain Benzocaine. This warning is particularly important for parents of toddlers and their dentists. Some typical agents containing Benzocaine are: Anbesol, Hurricaine, Orajel, Baby Orajel, Orabase, and store brands. Many of the dentist’s topical anesthetics contain Benzocaine.
Also common sense reminds us, topical anesthetics have not been available until very recent human history. Infants get through their teething issues with good nurturing, good food, and friendly things to chew on.
Next Blog: Babies don't come with cavities.
Alternative to peanut butter?
I was at Asthma Doc's office last week for Son #2 to get his Xolair injection (monthly shot to help control his severe asthma) and I was reading the latest addition of Coping with Allergies and Asthma and they had an add in the magazine for Sunbutter.
Apparently it's made with roasted sunflower seeds and it's supposed to be an alternative to peanut butter.
Has anyone tried it yet? None of my kids are allergic to peanut butter, but one of my kids is allergic to tree nuts. Everyone thinks if you are allergic to tree nuts, you are allergic to peanuts too. But peanuts are actually a legume (or from the "bean" family) and tree nuts are from -well, trees! (think almonds, walnuts, etc)
Let me know if any of you have tried the Sunbutter and if it seemed a good substitute for peanut butter. Althougth my kids aren't allergic to peanuts, we are careful if someone else around us is.
Happy eating!
What's on my nightstand?
I have never participated in "What's on Your Nightstand?" before, but I have listed the books I was reading on my blog before. But, my dear friend, Jesse
To participate in this party we're supposed to share about why we chose our books and when we sneak in reading. I currently read in little snippets for the most part when I can snag a few moments during the day. So, here's what I'm reading.
I got a new MacBook and need to learn the nuances between this and my old PC. Nuff said.
Single income household. Want to learn as much as I can about ways to get out of debt and save some major fundage. I really liked this book. It's a great base that made me realize I really need to dig deeper into the world of investing. Nuff said.
I homeschool my 10 year old son and we are currently reading this classic together. We're really enjoying it - only have a few chapters left to go. We went to the library tonight and rented the DVD of it that stars Pierce Brosnan to watch as soon as we finish it because we're enjoying it so much. I opted not to get the video version starring Jackie Chan. Although I like him, the reviews I read said that it barely held to the book. Nuff said.
I like Amish fiction. I figured I'd also like Amish reality. I do. Nuff said.
My husband and I dream of owning acreage with chickens, cows and goats one day - off grid and all. Since we don't live like that at this point, we put out a big garden and I make the most of this time as a learning experience for when we get to live the total dream. Since we've moved to this house with a yard I've learned to can, make our soap and stuff like that. These types of books really help. This seems to be a really good primer in the basics. Nuff said.
This book is similar to the last one, but tends to be more detailed with how to build different sorts of shelter, solar panels, ponds and things like that. It would be good if you're going to do that stuff yourself instead of hire a professional.
Alright, so that's what's on my nightstand at the moment.
Happy Tuesday, y'all!
Pam
Ha! Caught! Exhaled Nitric oxide detectors
Asthma Doctor has this great little machine that he tested Son #2 on at this month's Xolair appointment. (Xolair is his monthly shot that controls his severe asthma. It's $1000 per injection, but cheaper than a hospital visit!)
Anyway, Asthma Doc was asking Son #2 if he was taking his asthma medication. There was a little hesitation, then son answered yes. But there is one sure way to find out!
The Exhaled Nitric oxide detector. It takes about 5 seconds to do, he just exhaled into a little machine and tried to keep his breath steady. It measures Nitric oxide in his breath. Asthma Doc said Nitric Oxide is what the body makes when there is inflammation (common with asthma) so it's a good test to see how they are doing.
The average range is 5-25, Son #2 was at 40. Which means either he is not taking his daily medication, or it's not working as it should. We're monitoring him now to make sure he takes it every morning (nag, nag, nag)
And we'll see again next month what his number is. It's a cool little machine and amazing that it can detect inflammation in the lungs. What will they think of next? If you haven't tried it yet, ask your doctor about it.
You may be surprised to find out you perfect chilren are not taking their medication like they are supposed to. Son #2, you are busted!
Anyway, Asthma Doc was asking Son #2 if he was taking his asthma medication. There was a little hesitation, then son answered yes. But there is one sure way to find out!
The Exhaled Nitric oxide detector. It takes about 5 seconds to do, he just exhaled into a little machine and tried to keep his breath steady. It measures Nitric oxide in his breath. Asthma Doc said Nitric Oxide is what the body makes when there is inflammation (common with asthma) so it's a good test to see how they are doing.
The average range is 5-25, Son #2 was at 40. Which means either he is not taking his daily medication, or it's not working as it should. We're monitoring him now to make sure he takes it every morning (nag, nag, nag)
And we'll see again next month what his number is. It's a cool little machine and amazing that it can detect inflammation in the lungs. What will they think of next? If you haven't tried it yet, ask your doctor about it.
You may be surprised to find out you perfect chilren are not taking their medication like they are supposed to. Son #2, you are busted!
Setting Your Child’s Cavity Risk Early
Few people realize that cavities are the result of a contagious disease. As infants, when we are teething those precious little baby teeth, we are also being exposed to the kinds of bacteria that cause cavities. These bacteria typically come from our closest caretakers, like moms, dads, nannies and siblings. Typically via slobbery kisses, shared spoons, and other close encounters. It is inevitable so don’t panic about it. However, there are numerous ways to insure this contagion will not destroy your child’s teeth.
First, reduce the amount of bad bacteria being transferred to the child. Parents with clean healthy mouths and no recent cavities will have fewer of the cavity causing bacteria in their saliva. Learn how to truly clean your teeth when brushing and flossing. Also, if you are a gum chewer or mint popper, find Xylitol gum and mints on the internet and health food stores. There are numerous studies showing dramatic reduction of the cavity causing bacteria in the mouths of those who put Xylitol (a natural sweetener) in their mouths several times daily.
Secondly, don’t feed those bacteria and promote their growth. These bacteria thrive on sugars and simple carbohydrates (cooked starch). It has been shown that frequent (frequency is the issue here!) exposure to simple carbohydrates promotes the preferred growth of the cavity causing bacteria (mutans streptococcus, sobrinus streptococcus, etc.). If we promote these bacteria early, they establish in high numbers and will continue to be in high numbers in the saliva and on teeth for a lifetime. Juice is an especially common mistake in sippy cups and bottles. Let’s not do that to our children. When your children are ready to give up milk and formula in the bottle, move to water. Do not, I repeat, do not start them on juice or any other sweetened beverage when they move away from milk, unless your pediatrician has specifically written a prescription for your child to have juice because of some metabolic reason. Ask your pediatrician and they will confirm this. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not support the use of juice as a snack or hydration beverage until age 4. Even at age 4 there is a word of caution and recommendation for continued use of water.
Thirdly, clean your child’s teeth effectively each day. It has been shown that the more the plaque (a biofilm of over 600 different bacteria) builds on the teeth, the more it promotes the acid loving bacteria that cause cavities. By simply disrupting this biofilm each day and forcing it to rebuild will prevent it from maturing to the level that it harbors and promotes the growth of the acid loving bacteria that make cavities. As the plaque matures and stagnates, it supports acid loving bacteria which begin to flourish and dominate the plaque. As acid loving bacteria numbers grow, they begin to control the plaque growth and with a higher balance in the saliva, they cause a more rapid maturing of the plaque into a destructive acid loving plaque which dissolves holes in the calcium rich enamel of your teeth. Once established, this balance can be extremely hard to change and may remain for a lifetime. Don’t let it start.
Give your kids a healthy start. Help them become water drinkers as a habit and you will create a lifetime of better health for them. Clean the gum line and between teeth daily to promote a healthier bacterial balance in your mouth’s dental biofilm. If you like gum or mints, discover Xylitol.
Has anyone used a yurt at the beach?
keepitsurreal, Creative commonsWe're traveling to visit family and I've been looking at some options online that my family suggested. Has anyone stayed in a yurt at the beach?
I found a photo of this one online at Oregon Coast yurt rentals. When I first looked up pictures of yurts online, I found one that looked like The First Little Piggy's house (you know-the one made out of sticks that the Big Bad Wolf blows down!)
My first thought was that the sticks would be a problem with allergies. Allergies, allergies, why is always allergies?!
The yurts look interesting, but some of them have canvas roofs and a hatch that you can open to let fresh air inside. (which also means pollen and allergens inside.) And they all look like they are in the woods. Hubby takes the kids camping every summer, but I worry every time he does. Our family and allergies do not mix.
I'm always so careful when it comes to housing, I almost feel like Melman from the cartoon Madagascar. "Nature, it's everywhere!"
Don't get me wrong, I love the beach. In fact my kids know that after they make their millions, they have to buy a beach house in Kauai for their amazing mom. (and a nice little convertible to go with it) I can happily putter in the sand for days.
But I also need a place to clean up and shut out the allergens so I can sleep at night.
Any ideas from anyone? Anyone every stayed in a yurt before? Or even heard of a yurt before?
Let me know if anyone has any ideas-
So, what causes an asthma attack?
It's not a simple answer, different things can cause an asthma attack for different people. And it can change over time, but here's what caused an asthma attack for me on Friday night.
Weird, huh? Yogurt?! I know that one of my triggers is cold temperatures, so I've always been careful. I haven't had a Gogurt in years, and I don't know why it affected me so much. But as soon as I had eaten the Gogurt, the 'hard' cough started and I could just feel my chest tightening up. Then came the mucus in the lungs. Fun stuff!
I used my inhaler, but still was having a hard time breathing, I had to prop myself up on the couch to sleep that night. Of course that was after my heart rate had finally slowed back down.
What else can cause asthma attacks? Any 'irritant' like perfume, cleaning supplies, scented candles, bad air quality.
Also allergens-animals, flowers, trees, grass, pollen, mold, dust, cockroaches, even food (I am allergic to seafood, Son #2 is allergic to tree nuts)
Respiratory infections are another cause or "trigger" of asthma attacks. Even exercise can trigger an attack. So can strong emotions. Son #2 has a great belly laugh, but once he starts, the cough always follows.
It helps to write down what you ate or were around at the time of the asthma attack. Sometimes you may never know. I had an asthma attack at a national retail store while I was shopping for a baby gift. I still have no idea what caused it.
Make sure you have an inhaher handy too, because asthma can be unpredictable.
It may take a little detective work, but keep a little notebook nearby to record what you ate or were around, because each person in your family can have different triggers.
The best thing is to avoid what causes your asthma attacks, I will never eat another Gogurt again. I eat plain yogurt all the time, and may cough a little, but nothing like Friday night. I don't know if the Gogurt was thicker or somehow colder, or what caused the problem. Everyone else in the family can eat them and not have a problem.
It just goes to show that everyone is different and every asthma cause or "trigger" can be different too. Know what yours (or your kid's ) are and avoid them. And we'll all live Happily Ever After!
How I Save $30 On A Baking Stone
I have been gone from blogging for quite some time due to computer issues. Well, I have a new computer now. The only little glitch I still have is the fact that my new Mac book doesn't have an actual port for my sim card for my camera. So, pictures will still be a bit of an issue for a bit but I should at least be able to blog. :0)
Today I want to share a recent find with you. We eat homemade pizza on a pretty regular basis here at our house. Getting that lovely crust where you can pick up a gooey slice and eat it without the infamous slide-off due to LCD (Limp Crust Disorder) has been a bit of a challenge, though. I started baking our pizza in my cast iron skillets and griddle which helped, but still didn't give me the results I was looking for. I needed a pizza stone.
Today I want to share a recent find with you. We eat homemade pizza on a pretty regular basis here at our house. Getting that lovely crust where you can pick up a gooey slice and eat it without the infamous slide-off due to LCD (Limp Crust Disorder) has been a bit of a challenge, though. I started baking our pizza in my cast iron skillets and griddle which helped, but still didn't give me the results I was looking for. I needed a pizza stone.
I looked into the stones that a certain Pampered home sales company sells. A 15" round pizza stone would cost me $34. Although it would be an investment that would serve me well for many years, I felt that was a little salty. So, here's what I did.
I went to my local big box hardware store and checked out the 16" square floor tiles. The gentleman working there told me that he wasn't for sure about the heat rating of those floor tiles. The stones from the company above are heat rated to withstand higher temperatures. Floor tiles are able to withstand heat because it is so common to run heating underneath the floor these days, but that only gets up to 100 degrees or so. It was a risk. But, at just under $4 it was a risk I was willing to take. I figured the worst thing that could happen is that the tile would bust in half in my oven if it couldn't withstand the temperature, so I did a test run before baking with food on it. It did beautifully at 350 degrees, so I felt confident enough to use it with food next time.
I have used my new baking stone quite a bit since I did that first dry run several weeks ago and am happy to report that I have used it in an oven up to 425 degrees. My pizza crusts are perfect! It baked a lovely chicken and broccoli braid. And I made biscuits on it the other night. Not only could I bake more biscuits at once than on my cookie sheets (I bake a big batch and freeze for future use), but they were the most perfectly baked biscuits I have ever made. The top crusts were able to get nice and golden without the bottoms getting too brown.
I am so pleased with my new baking stone! I only wish I had gotten it sooner. So, if you are in the market for a baking stone, considering saving yourself about $30 and buy a floor tile from your local hardware store. You'll be glad you did! :o)
Have a great Monday!
Pam
I went to my local big box hardware store and checked out the 16" square floor tiles. The gentleman working there told me that he wasn't for sure about the heat rating of those floor tiles. The stones from the company above are heat rated to withstand higher temperatures. Floor tiles are able to withstand heat because it is so common to run heating underneath the floor these days, but that only gets up to 100 degrees or so. It was a risk. But, at just under $4 it was a risk I was willing to take. I figured the worst thing that could happen is that the tile would bust in half in my oven if it couldn't withstand the temperature, so I did a test run before baking with food on it. It did beautifully at 350 degrees, so I felt confident enough to use it with food next time.
I have used my new baking stone quite a bit since I did that first dry run several weeks ago and am happy to report that I have used it in an oven up to 425 degrees. My pizza crusts are perfect! It baked a lovely chicken and broccoli braid. And I made biscuits on it the other night. Not only could I bake more biscuits at once than on my cookie sheets (I bake a big batch and freeze for future use), but they were the most perfectly baked biscuits I have ever made. The top crusts were able to get nice and golden without the bottoms getting too brown.
I am so pleased with my new baking stone! I only wish I had gotten it sooner. So, if you are in the market for a baking stone, considering saving yourself about $30 and buy a floor tile from your local hardware store. You'll be glad you did! :o)
Have a great Monday!
Pam
Summer camp for kids with asthma
Kitty came home with a flier from school about summer camp, but I thought not a chance! Neither of her brothers (who also have asthma) have gone to the school district sponsored summer camp, and neither will Kitty.
Sorry, but it is just WAY too far away from medical help if she had an asthma attack that they couldn't treat. And I don't think I would feel comfortable with a elementary school student needing to treat her own asthma at a summer camp.
Sure, they have trained personnel, but they also take care of diabetes, seizure disorders and general first aid. They don't specialize in asthma, and I wouldn't trust them to treat any of my kids.
However, I did find one in our state, it's called Camp Wyatt and it's sponosored by the American Lung Association. Now they know what they are doing when it comes to asthma! Not to mention Asthma Doc provides care for the campers. I would trust him wherever he was.
This camp is specifically designed for kids with asthma, they can do all of the regular things (canoeing, swimming, rock climbing, etc) plus they teach the kids about asthma management. And monitor their peak flow twice a day. It's a bit expensive, but there are "camperships" available for the kids. Here's a link to the camp for our state http://www.campwyatt.com/ I noticed on Google that there were links to asthma camps for other states. Check it out-what's more fun that being out in nature and eating smores? Kitty's a little shy, if I can just convince her to go......they also want Son #2 to go and be a camp counselor. And I could volunteer as well. Hhmmm this is sounding better all the time!
Give Your Teeth a Rest
I get a chuckle when children come into the office the week after Halloween or Easter. They have eaten a bunch of candy in the last week and are worried that it made some cavities. The reality is cavities take months or more commonly years to form. When the complex biofilm of bacteria develops in the nooks around your teeth it creates acids as a byproduct of sugar metabolism. These acids dissolve calcium out of tooth enamel. As the disease progresses the enamel first develops a white mark as the calcium is dissolved out. The enamel is softening and beginning to look like white chalk.
Next the microscopic voids where calcium has dissolved begin to collect stain and the mark on the tooth darkens brown or black. Eventually the softening of enamel reaches the point that pieces of enamel begin to chip out and leave a hole, the cavity. Depending on your habits, this process can take months or years or never become a cavity at all.
Each time we put simple carbohydrate (sugar or cooked starch) in our mouth the dental biofilm will function at a high metabolic rate for about 40 minutes. During this time the high acid production is attacking all teeth. Calcium is being dissolved out of our teeth in large quantities. Don't despair! Saliva has the ability to capture and hold that calcium in super saturation.
After the 40 minutes of high acid output, the biofilm bacteria hibernate and wait for their next sugar meal. Now the saliva can neutralize the remaining acid. When the mouth is neutral, the calcium balance favors calcium uptake and so the enamel recaptures the calcium that was lost during the acid attack.
If we eat 3 meals and a snack each day our teeth are under attack for about 5 hours each day and they here 19 hours to REST and RECOVER the calcium they lost. A good balance with good rest time.
Grazers, however, especially children, have acids attacking their teeth all day with little or no recovery time. If a child eats 3 meals and also has a sippy cup of juice to sip (hourly) between meals, her teeth will be under attack all day. No recovery period for the teeth to regain lost calcium. If the child goes to sleep sipping something, it will pool in the mouth and feed the bacteria all night. The acids are attacking all day and all night! This is why I have seen teeth with no detectable cavity on exam or x-ray develop a cavity so large and deep it requires a root canal treatment and crown within 6 months.
Give your teeth a rest! Eat 3 meals and a snack and give your teeth a chance to rest and recuperate between meals. If you like sweet beverages have them with meals where the sugar and acids get buffered by the other food. For snacks use protein (nuts, seeds, cheese) and complex raw carbohydrate (carrots, celery, cauliflower, broccoli, jicama), perhaps with a nut or cheese spread. Calories with robust nutritional support and no simple carbohydrates to threaten teeth. Between meal beverage? Water. Only water. That is what the human body needs.
Next: 1) Setting your cavity rate early. 2) Changing your cavity rate.
Red noses and allergies
The Cupid from the new Disney Tangled movie is how I feel lately. (He's the little guy in the front) I have a big red nose from blowing and wiping it from allergies, and sleepy eyes because the sniffling and sneezing sometimes keep me awake. Of course I am taller (a bit) and I do have all my teeth.
Many of you may be suffering from allergies, I know I am. In fact, we have gone through A LOT of tissues lately. I just opened my last box, I need to remember to put that on the grocery store list.
There is one thing that I have found that helps, it's not that exciting of a tip, but any little bit helps, right?!
I have found that when you are wiping a runny nose all of the time or just blowing it over and over, and it gets really sore and really red. So, I have found Puffs brand tissues with lotion. Ah, what a difference.
Like I say, it's not an earth shattering discovery, but sometimes it's as exciting as it gets. And every little bit helps during allergy season.
So, if your nose is starting to look like Cupid from the Disney Tangled movie, head to the store and buy Puffs brand tissues with lotion. It really seems to make a difference.
Happy sniffling and sneezing.
Dear Liliana,
It is so hard for me to believe that tomorrow you are going to be 19 months old. Over a year and a half , how did that time go by so fast I swear it happened in only an instant. I can still feel the excitment of holding you in my arms for those first moments, kissing your head,whispering how much i love you in your ears, comforting your first cries, and feeding you for the first time.All of these memories are still so raw and yet here you are a toddler a 19 month old beautiful little girl with your mommy's hair and your daddy's eyes.
More so lately I have been reminded that you are Not a baby anymore, but a Toddler. It is still hard for me to grasp. I often just stop and watch you in amazement of how much you have learned in these past few months and how very smart you are. I am so proud of you, words can not express the amount of pride that my heart is filled with for you. Watching you problem solve, and play is like watching the ocean waves hit the shore, it is one of those things that just draws you in, and doesn't allow you to look away. It is like a warm spring breeze, after a hard winter, you just want to soak it up and enjoy every last minuet. That is how i feel when I watch you do anything Lily. Especially knowing what I now know, how quickly time seems to fly by.
Your father and I have been teaching you your ABC's and how to count to ten. I must say you have the counting down, you jumble the numbers up sometimes but you speak them so well, and are so proud of yourself. You are such the little artist coloring and writting on anything that we allow. You can find a pen or writting instrument in an instant, sometimes I think you are hiding them in your diaper or pull them out of thin air. The other day Daddy and I caught you coloring on the wall with crayon, secretly i was proud.
You have started to form your own sentences, and speak more and more clearly everyday. You repeat EVERYTHING that you hear and i mean everything. Just today as I was making you lunch you put in your very own dvd baby wordsworth and hit play, you repeated EVERY word that they introduced during the show. I was amazed I never knew you could say table, chair or window. You are amazing and as much as it seems to fill my mama heart with sadness for how quickly our days go by, I feel so blessed to be able to watch you grow and explore new things EVERYDAY.
I love you with all of my heart and soul, and I am honored to be your Mama. I look forward to many more daily discoveries with you.
Love,
Mama
It is so hard for me to believe that tomorrow you are going to be 19 months old. Over a year and a half , how did that time go by so fast I swear it happened in only an instant. I can still feel the excitment of holding you in my arms for those first moments, kissing your head,whispering how much i love you in your ears, comforting your first cries, and feeding you for the first time.All of these memories are still so raw and yet here you are a toddler a 19 month old beautiful little girl with your mommy's hair and your daddy's eyes.
More so lately I have been reminded that you are Not a baby anymore, but a Toddler. It is still hard for me to grasp. I often just stop and watch you in amazement of how much you have learned in these past few months and how very smart you are. I am so proud of you, words can not express the amount of pride that my heart is filled with for you. Watching you problem solve, and play is like watching the ocean waves hit the shore, it is one of those things that just draws you in, and doesn't allow you to look away. It is like a warm spring breeze, after a hard winter, you just want to soak it up and enjoy every last minuet. That is how i feel when I watch you do anything Lily. Especially knowing what I now know, how quickly time seems to fly by.
Your father and I have been teaching you your ABC's and how to count to ten. I must say you have the counting down, you jumble the numbers up sometimes but you speak them so well, and are so proud of yourself. You are such the little artist coloring and writting on anything that we allow. You can find a pen or writting instrument in an instant, sometimes I think you are hiding them in your diaper or pull them out of thin air. The other day Daddy and I caught you coloring on the wall with crayon, secretly i was proud.
You have started to form your own sentences, and speak more and more clearly everyday. You repeat EVERYTHING that you hear and i mean everything. Just today as I was making you lunch you put in your very own dvd baby wordsworth and hit play, you repeated EVERY word that they introduced during the show. I was amazed I never knew you could say table, chair or window. You are amazing and as much as it seems to fill my mama heart with sadness for how quickly our days go by, I feel so blessed to be able to watch you grow and explore new things EVERYDAY.
I love you with all of my heart and soul, and I am honored to be your Mama. I look forward to many more daily discoveries with you.
Love,
Mama
Tip #8 Shower before bed
It sounds really simple, but if you have allergies, it helps to shower before bed. Asthma Doc told me this one day, and I don't know why it seemed like such an amazing idea. You would think I could have figured it out by myself. It hadn't dawned on me though.
If you are out and about during the day, you accumulate a lot of pollen on your clothing, hair, face, etc. You may wash your face every night before bed, and change into pajamas, but that still leaves pollen in your hair.
When you go to bed at night with pollen in your hair, you roll back and forth on the pillow all night long, spreading it all over and breathing it in. It can cause coughing and wheezing, watering eyes, stuffy noses and the usual miserable things associated with allergies and asthma.I was reminded of this last night when I went to bed. I had gone on a bike ride with Kitty and Hubby, and it was still very chilly but at least the sun was shining.
I started coughing a little while after our bike ride, then continued to do so ALL night long. I didn't sleep well because of it. So why is it I make sure the kids shower every night before bed, but I don't bother to do it for myself? Kind of like how moms take care of everyone else except for themselves.....
I was even talking to a friend about it last week. She has a daughter with asthma who coughs all night long. I suggested her daughter shower before bed, to see if it makes a difference.
I just talked to her today and she said it has dramatically decreased her daughter's coughing. I know it works for all 3 of my kids too.
So, now that things are blooming and pollen is flowing freely, think about showering before bed. It may help reduce your suffering and help you sleep better at night.
Happy dreams!
5 things that made me smile this week
This week has been a very Very, im sorry have I mentioned VERY tough week for all three of us... Our week started off with a horrible let down and test of my patience on Monday, a Sick little girl on Tuesday, a stressed out Daddy on Wednesday, and a completly overwhelmed mama on Thursday.... Well needless to say we decided to end this week Early. We took off of work on Friday and declared it Family Friday. It was a BLAST not a worry all day long, just smiles, laughter, and a nice long day at the zoo.
Even though I could not wait to get this week over, here are 5 things that made me smile this week:
1. This photo we thrifted titled the Good Old Days... ours is painted with acrylic it appears, is slightly darker, and has a nice wooden frame. We hung it near the T.v above our book case. I find myself starring at it everynight, It always brings a smile to my face.
2. Sundays weather forcast.... though there is a chance of a early morning thunderstorm the high is suppose to be 78 degrees Ahhhh yes FINALLY that has plastered a smile on my face for sure.
3. Our roomate Charley ( notice I did not call him our "cat ", i know better he rules our house) We have a very love irritate relationship but he always knows when i need a little cheering up and he is right there to give it
.4. Seeing Liliana's smile. Her big smile can melt anyone's worries away in just an instant.
5. The two loves' of my life, I love to watch them interact with one another.
Even though I could not wait to get this week over, here are 5 things that made me smile this week:
Busted
Our hall way wall.
It made me smile only because I knew this would happen. I think I have been secretly waiting for this to happen just so I really really believe I have a toddler. Thank goodness Crayola makes there toddler crayons washable.
But if i do say, I think she did a marvelous job on her drawing.
Hawaii and asthma
Now that I am almost done with my new college degree (to add to my Interior Design degree), I would love to go to Hawaii to reward myself for all of my hard work!
I deserve a do-over you know. Hubby and I went there several years ago (luckily a family member has a time share.) But it was anything but relaxing. Son #2 was sick when we left-when isn't he sick? He has regular respiratory infections and ends up on steroids and antibiotics multiple times throughout the year.
So, I didn't think this episode was any different. However, the night before we left, he said he chest felt different this time. A sharp pain. Hhhmm. Our flight left at 4:00 the next morning. So I told him I would call him from our layover in LA.
When we arrived, I called him but he still didn't sound good, so I called Asthma Doc to have Wonderful Neighbor take him in to get checked. We had to board our flight, but I was sure it would just be another infection, more steroids and more antibiotics.
When we landed in Hawaii we found out that he had a partially collapsed lung. Now what?! Asthma Doc said it was lucky we brought him in when we did because he gave him a shot of Decadron (a powerful steroid) that would probably keep him out of the hospital. But that if they had to admit him, they would. We could just stay and enjoy Hawaii.
Yeah, I'll relax alright. With a kid that sick?! Great, now I have guilt. It's no wonder Hubby and I never travel, we've only left the kids a few times, and asthma is why!
Son #2 was struggled all weekend, then took a turn for the worst. So, I called Asthma Doc's nurse at home, and they actually tracked him down at church. What a guy! He met Son #2 and Wonderful Neighbor at his office, then they went for a chest x-ray at the hospital.
They didn't end up admitted him, and he turned the corner and started to improve. We checked into leaving then and flying home, but Asthma Doc said he would be fine.
Son #2 needed to rest and relax and let his body heal. Hellllooo video games! He ended up being fine, but needless to say, we didn't enjoy the trip. We spent a lot of time on the phone, and also sent a lot of text messages to get updates on his peak flow numbers and how he was feeling.
I would love to go back to Hawaii, I do need a do-over. What are the odds of having him get sick again? And having another partially collapsed lung? Do we dare plan try another trip?
I'm looking out the window at a very dreary rainy day, Hawaii sounds great about now. There's always that whole budget thing. Maybe next year. Until then, I'll just change my screen saver to a picture of Hawaii, aaaahhhh. I feel better already.
Sports/Energy Drinks - Are We Addicting Our Kids to Them?
We all want more energy and more alertness on the playing field, whether it is sports, debate, cards, or just joking around. It is not surprising the distinction between sports drinks and energy drinks is blurring. The concerns for our youth with growing bodies and developing physiologic systems are multiple. The sugars in these drinks are addicting enough and challenging to the insulin endocrine system. The energy drinks, however, are fundamentally different due to many additives in them.
The most obvious concern is caffeine. Energy drinks typically contain 10 mg (to 16 mg) per ounce. This totals 240mg (to 390 mg) for a 24 oz. drink. Note: The amount of caffeine necessary to create measurable physiologic changes in a full size adult is about 50mg. Also note: Cardiac arrest (heart failure) has been anecdotally associated with drinking large energy drinks. Although the direct causal relationships has not been proven (obviously difficult research to do if someone’s life is at risk), the implications are obvious. For some young children with sensitive myocardium (heart muscle) the potential threat is clear and catastrophic.
Are we addicting our children's physiologic developing systems to caffeine? The amount of caffeine for full size adults to develop an addiction is about 100 mg per day. In a recent study of 228 families with young children, 75% of the children consumed caffeine. For those children who consumed caffeine, the average daily consumption for 5 to 7 year olds was 52 mg and for 8 to 12 year olds it was 109 mg. Yikes. An additional note about caffeine for youth. Caffeine consumption in youth age 5 to 12 has been correlated with decreased average sleep. Sleep studies have linked inadequate sleep with ADHD type behavior.
Guarana, an additional ingredient in energy drinks contains both caffeine and guaranine, a stimulant that acts very much like caffeine in our bodies. The amount of guaranine (nor Guarana) is not listed in these drinks. Guaranine has documented cardiac side affects like caffeine and the medical literature recommends patients under cardiac care consult their physician before taking any Guarana supplements. I have not seen a potency comparison between caffeine and guaranine, but the cardiac affect of the 2 is additive. Should we be allowing our growing athletes to consume these addictive substances?
Taurine, another ingredient, an amino-acid, is more difficult to pinpoint. The literature contains a broad list (with some warnings) of the possible effects and mechanisms of this stimulant. Though we know it stimulates changes in physiologic function within cells, the specific results are ambiguous in the research literature. It is added to these beverages because of its stimulant value. It is concerning to me when I realize children with developing physiologic systems are consuming supplemental amounts of taurine. All of these ingredients (Caffeine, Guarana, Taurine) came to us from ancient cultures in which the shaman discovered the mood altering capabilities of these herbal plants.
Once again I come to some basic tenets of sports (and energy) drinks.
Water - the basic ingredient of these drinks - is usable and vital to our bodies. Next time try plain water, it is nature’s best.
Sugar (fructose, sucrose) - We don't need more if we eat regular meals. Most of us are damaged by the excess empty calories. Children getting extra calories from beverages become picky eaters because they are not really hungry at meal time. And they become overweight despite their activity level.
Electrolytes - If we eat real food at our meals, we don't need more electrolytes.
Energy stimulants (Caffeine, guaranine, taurine) we don't need. A college student might appreciate it if studying late and some of us need a “wake up” in the morning. However, our youth, including the college student and young athlete, don't need artificial stimulants (energy?) for physical activity.
Next blog: Give Your Teeth a Rest.
Dr. Scott Thompson - Pediatric Dentistry
Tonight we took you to the mall for a quick trip; you waived to the Easter Bunny and Mommy and Daddy got fitted for wedding bands, and than we left. Once we got you back in the car and buckled up, we noticed Bunny was missing. ( oh jeez just writting this im tearing up). I took off back into the mall rushing around asking everyone if they had seen a little well loved pink bunny blanket. I retraced our steps over and over again, and filled out countless missing item reports. Disappointed and heart broken for you I fought back tears as I walked back to the car checking each garbage can that I pasted. I could not believe how upset I was over a tiny lost bunny.
Being your Mother has changed so much inside of me. It has made me a much stronger women. Yet instilled this warm soft spot, that lets my heart break at just the thought of you hurt, sad, or disappointed. I wish that i could shield and protect you from all those things. But i know no matter how hard I try I can not.
With that being said, I am happy and relieved to say YOU had bunny with you the whole time. As I walked out of the mall and back into the parking. Head hung down low. I looked up and there you were smiling and waving at me bunny in hand, just where she belonged snuggled in your embrace.
You teach me so much everyday about life. And today I learned that my heart though very strong, can break in a instant for you. Also, that i really need to keep a better eye on bunny when i let you bring her places. I love you so much Liliana, you are my world my everything and i promise to protect you from as much hurt and disappointment as humanly possible
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| Lily's Well Loved Pink Bunny |
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| Grandma bought Lily Bun when she was 3 months old.. It was love and friendship at first sight |
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| Bunny is such a big part of our family |
Mama
The sound of coughing in the morning
Ah, morning again. And I wake up to the sound of coughing-deep coughing.
Oh wait. It's spring and I'm supposed to wake up to the sound of birds chirping, not one of my kids coughing, right? Such is my life.
I'm usually slow to wake up, but I was instantly awake this morning. I could tell it was Son #2 coughing, it's funny how you can tell how it sounds when each one of your kids coughs-especially when they have asthma. Just like when they're babies, you can tell which baby is yours in a crowded room just by the sound of their cry.
So I have to start planning. First I thought I'll send him to school, and see if Wonderful Neighbor can be on stand by with the nebulizer. He just doesn't seem to get any relief from using his inhaler.
Then I had second thoughts. Hubby is already at work an hour away, and I am about to leave for a professional development conference an hour's drive away. So I don't feel comfortable sending him to the high school. I'll let him sleep a little, then check him before I leave. I think it's one of those illnesses where you just have to let nature take it's course.
This is just My Life as an Asthma Mom. Asthma always hits at the worst time, and each one of the kids is a little different as to how they respond.
So, we're stocked up with the nebulizer and Xopenex. And if his peak flow is too low, I'll have to just skip my conference and stay home. He's pretty good to let me know if he can just muddle through, or if he's worried it's getting worse. I always have a bottle of Prednisone at home for each one of the kids.
That's option number one when he gets sick and his number on his peak flow drops drastically. Son #2 has severe asthma and has been hospitalized 8 times, with 2 of those, he came close to losing his life. So we keep a close eye on him.
So, off I go to check on him. Either I will head to my conference, or I'll be staying home to watch him.
I love my life! And I have this thing about liking my kids to breathe. I'm so picky......
Oh wait. It's spring and I'm supposed to wake up to the sound of birds chirping, not one of my kids coughing, right? Such is my life.
I'm usually slow to wake up, but I was instantly awake this morning. I could tell it was Son #2 coughing, it's funny how you can tell how it sounds when each one of your kids coughs-especially when they have asthma. Just like when they're babies, you can tell which baby is yours in a crowded room just by the sound of their cry.
So I have to start planning. First I thought I'll send him to school, and see if Wonderful Neighbor can be on stand by with the nebulizer. He just doesn't seem to get any relief from using his inhaler.
Then I had second thoughts. Hubby is already at work an hour away, and I am about to leave for a professional development conference an hour's drive away. So I don't feel comfortable sending him to the high school. I'll let him sleep a little, then check him before I leave. I think it's one of those illnesses where you just have to let nature take it's course.
This is just My Life as an Asthma Mom. Asthma always hits at the worst time, and each one of the kids is a little different as to how they respond.
So, we're stocked up with the nebulizer and Xopenex. And if his peak flow is too low, I'll have to just skip my conference and stay home. He's pretty good to let me know if he can just muddle through, or if he's worried it's getting worse. I always have a bottle of Prednisone at home for each one of the kids.
That's option number one when he gets sick and his number on his peak flow drops drastically. Son #2 has severe asthma and has been hospitalized 8 times, with 2 of those, he came close to losing his life. So we keep a close eye on him.
So, off I go to check on him. Either I will head to my conference, or I'll be staying home to watch him.
I love my life! And I have this thing about liking my kids to breathe. I'm so picky......
From mowing lawns to shoveling snow
From mowing the lawn Saturday to shoveling snow Sunday! Welcome to spring in Utah. And boy are we miserable! Hubby was mowing the lawn on Saturday, and my daffodils were all in bloom. Along with some sneaky little dandelions that are starting to sprout. (Of course I zapped them with my weedkiller-die! die!)Now that everything is blooming, we are all sneezing. I think we have gone through a whole box of tissue in about a week. Wonderful neighbor came over and mentioned how bad her allergies are (she has asthma too.) I even heard one of the local dj's on the radio complaining about allergies.
So, here we go again. I am lucky enough to just need allergy medicine in the spring and summer, but the kids take it year round because their allergies are so bad. Kitty sneezes non stop, even after 3 years of allergy shots. Even with the snow storm, we were still sneezing all day yesterday, how is that possible?!
The snow has blanketed everything, yet that doesn't stop us from having allergies. And believe it or not, today (Monday) I am looking out my window, and almost all of the snow has melted from my lawn.
So, more allergies. For people who don't have allergies, they have no idea what it's like. They may whine because they have a cold for a week. Think of a cold that never goes away, it gets better and worse, but never goes away. And everywhere we go, I have to carry packs of tissues. They're in the house, my car, my purse, the kid's back packs.
It's miserable and never ending. But, we're alive and breathing, so that's all that matters. And I would like to keep it that way.
Sports Drinks - How to Dissolve Your Teeth
This is about those wonderful fruity flavors. In order to create the flavors in today’s beverages, those tangy and/or fruity flavors, the makers use fruit juice as their base or they add organic acids that come from organic juices. Reading the label you will usually find citric, ascorbic, or malic acid; often several. Also, there is commonly a fruit juice concentrate which will have high amounts of organic acids.
"Organic "systems are designed to maintain stability. In other words, if nature establishes a fruit with a certain acid level, there is also a "buffering" system that holds that acid level constant. This reserve system is huge so that living systems can resist significant insults from the outside world and still survive. For example: Comparing a glass of Coca Cola (inorganic) with apple juice (organic), the apple juice will require 8 times as much base (antacid) to upset the balance and neutralize the apple juice compared to the Coke. It is this lasting power that makes it possible for sports drink acids to do so much damage to teeth.
The other crucial ingredient is how we use these drinks ... sipping. Sports literature expounds the value of maintaining hydration during physical activity. This has translated into sipping patterns to maintain hydration during sports. Large bottles (lots of calories) are at game side for frequent gulps during game breaks. The athlete is bathing her teeth in acid attack. This frequently translates into a sipping style of hydration every day for many of us, especially our youth. Athletes in sports that allow a hydration pack on their back are bathing their teeth continuously with enamel dissolving acids.
The most alarming example I witnessed was a patient of mine. For 13 years this bright and personable boy had been a cavity free patient in my practice. He is quiet, studious and has a real creative talent with computers. He developed a habit of coming home from school, doing his homework and then his computer graphics and programming. He was bathing (sipping) his teeth in organic acids (sports drinks and other beverages) all afternoon and evening several days a week. In the short period between 2 regular cheek-ups his teeth deteriorated so severely he needed several crowns. And it was not cavities nearly so much as he just dissolved the enamel off of his teeth.
My simple rules of thumb.
Hydration - nature designed us to use water.
Electrolytes-we get plenty of them if we eat “real food.”
Calories. We get enough in our meals so be careful about snacking. Our bodies store plenty of glycogen to get us through long periods of exercise and exertion.
Next week: Sports Drinks becoming energy drinks with dangerous implications.
Pulling kids out of school
Pulling kids out of school
So I know this sounds drastic, but we actually did this for Son #2. He had been down about 100 points on his peak flow, and just couldn't seem to rebound. He had struggled for about 3 months, all during the winter and into spring.
Usually, he can do a burst of steroids and he'll start to come back up. Sometimes he needs a Decadron injection (more steroids.) That usually does the trick, however nothing seemed to be working. Even increasing his Advair to the maximum dose did nothing.
So, there we were in Asthma Doc's office (again.) Asthma Doc was smoothing out his bangs, which he always does while he is thinking. I could see him flipping back and forth on Son #2's chart and then listening to his lungs. Then more smoothing of the bangs. Finally he said "We need to pull him out of school."
I said, "Wait. What?" Asthma Doc was concerned that Son #2 wasn't able to let his body fully heal after every respiratory infection. He needed to be pulled out of school, let his body rest and recover, and avoid being around the other sick students.
My first thought was "If you think I'm going to home school him, you're crazy!" However, our school district has a system set up just for this. If they need to miss a month of school or less, the district will arrange for a tutor from your school to visit your home. They will bring all assignments from all 8 teachers, help with homework, then take the completed homework back to the school. If it is longer than a month, a district tutor would be set up.
There are students needing this for a variety of reasons, they can be in car accidents, being treated for cancer, recovering from surgery, etc.
So, Son #2 was home for a month! I work part time, so I needed to adjust my schedule. Then Wonderful Neighbor helped out too. I had to be there during all tutoring sessions and also help with homework. It was a slow process, but he finally started to turn the corner. Asthma Doc was right, he needed to rest and let his body heal. And it helped not being around a germ infested junior high.
So, it is a drastic step, but sometimes kids with severe asthma need it. I felt more at peace, not having to run to the school for breathing treatments (inhaler just doesn't cut it for Son #2.) And I didn't feel like I was on edge all the time, checking his breathing.
Something to think about-it really seemed to work after we had tried everything else. And I had some great bonding time with my son, it doesn't get much better than that!
So I know this sounds drastic, but we actually did this for Son #2. He had been down about 100 points on his peak flow, and just couldn't seem to rebound. He had struggled for about 3 months, all during the winter and into spring.
Usually, he can do a burst of steroids and he'll start to come back up. Sometimes he needs a Decadron injection (more steroids.) That usually does the trick, however nothing seemed to be working. Even increasing his Advair to the maximum dose did nothing.
So, there we were in Asthma Doc's office (again.) Asthma Doc was smoothing out his bangs, which he always does while he is thinking. I could see him flipping back and forth on Son #2's chart and then listening to his lungs. Then more smoothing of the bangs. Finally he said "We need to pull him out of school."
I said, "Wait. What?" Asthma Doc was concerned that Son #2 wasn't able to let his body fully heal after every respiratory infection. He needed to be pulled out of school, let his body rest and recover, and avoid being around the other sick students.
My first thought was "If you think I'm going to home school him, you're crazy!" However, our school district has a system set up just for this. If they need to miss a month of school or less, the district will arrange for a tutor from your school to visit your home. They will bring all assignments from all 8 teachers, help with homework, then take the completed homework back to the school. If it is longer than a month, a district tutor would be set up.
There are students needing this for a variety of reasons, they can be in car accidents, being treated for cancer, recovering from surgery, etc.
So, Son #2 was home for a month! I work part time, so I needed to adjust my schedule. Then Wonderful Neighbor helped out too. I had to be there during all tutoring sessions and also help with homework. It was a slow process, but he finally started to turn the corner. Asthma Doc was right, he needed to rest and let his body heal. And it helped not being around a germ infested junior high.
So, it is a drastic step, but sometimes kids with severe asthma need it. I felt more at peace, not having to run to the school for breathing treatments (inhaler just doesn't cut it for Son #2.) And I didn't feel like I was on edge all the time, checking his breathing.
Something to think about-it really seemed to work after we had tried everything else. And I had some great bonding time with my son, it doesn't get much better than that!
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