I was watching our local news and evidently they have results from a study that shows a link between premature babies and autism. This is what was posted on their website:
"There's growing evidence linking pre-term birth with autism.
A new study found one in five toddlers born more than three months early showed signs of the disorder by age two.
Scientists note premature birth may not directly cause the increased risk. Instead, it's possible that whatever causes autism may also force an early delivery."
I did some research on the study and it was done on sick children who were screened for autism. If you look at the statistics I am sure you will find that the majority of children with autism were born normal and healthy... not preterm. The results are a bit misleading. I found that children who are born at least three months early will weigh no more than three pounds. I had a friend whose baby was 26 weeks and he only weighed about 1 1/2 pounds. Believe it or not, he survived! It was truly a miracle. However, most children who are born at least three months early are going to have difficulty at birth and are going to require a lot of medical intervention to survive. I just think there are too many factors involved in that study and it is flawed.
The possible link is an interesting theory. However, I have been saying this and I will continue to say this... when a child is born premature then they are more susceptible to many things. Unfortunately, they don't delay vaccines even in premature babies! They inject them with all sorts of things. I went to the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) website and got the actual schedule for preterm infants. Here is the website: http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;112/1/193
It basically states: "Medically stable PT and LBW infants should receive all routinely recommended childhood vaccines at the same chronologic age as recommended for FT infants. Under most circumstances, gestational age at birth and birth weight should not be limiting factors when deciding whether a PT or LBW infant is to be immunized on schedule. Infants with birth weight less than 2000 g, however, may require modification of the timing of hepatitis B immunoprophylaxis depending on maternal HBsAg status.
Dosing
Vaccine dosages normally given to FT infants should not be reduced or divided when given to PT and LBW infants. Although studies have shown decreased immune responses to some vaccines given to VLBW, ELBW, and very early gestational age (<29 weeks) neonates, most PT infants produce sufficient vaccine-induced immunity to prevent disease when full doses are given. The severity of vaccine-preventable diseases in PT and LBW infants precludes any delay in initiating the administration of these vaccines."
That is so interesting to me... very interesting indeed. I looked it up and 2000 g is equal to 70.5 ounces. That is equal to 4.4 pounds and that would be the cut-off at which they would delay JUST the Hepatitis vaccine. Can you imagine giving a baby THAT small a Hepatitis vaccine, a flu vaccine (which still contains mercury), Rotavirus vaccine, DTap (which is really 3 vaccines in one), Hib, Pneumococcal, AND Polio?!!! Those would be all the vaccines that would be due starting at 6 weeks to 2 months. In my opinion that is not enough time for the baby to gain enough weight and the strength in immunity to withstand all the toxins in vaccines. Also, what about the moms? I wonder how many of them received the Flu Vaccine while pregnant? I would love to find out how many babies who are born less than 4.4 pounds at birth end up with autism in comparison with those who weigh more? That could provide more proof to my theory. However, there are SO many factors involved in studying preterm infants. I know they are trying to figure out why it seems there is an increase in preterm infants. I am not sure what the statistics are, but one of my friends who has had a couple preterm infants told me that her nurse said they have seen an increase of babies born prematurely and ending up in the NICU. There has to be a cause for that, I am sure... but I am not convinced that whatever causes autism is the cause of preterm labor.
In Wikipedia it says, "In Europe and many developed countries the preterm birth rate is generally 5-9%, and in the USA it has even risen to 12-13% in the last decades." They should do a study and find out why our rates are so much higher than Europe. We obviously have great medical care in the United States... hehe...(sarcastic tone).. I found an AWESOME article in The New York Times online and I URGE you to read it!! It is entitled: "A Lesson From Europe on Healthcare" and it is not too long, but it says millions! It was written by David Leonhardt and talks about his experience with hernia surgery in the United States and what happened when he ended up in Greece and had to have medical care. He was able to compare and contrast the experiences he had and the results will shock you!! This is the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/18/business/18leonhardt.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1
My grandparents complain about the medical care they receive here versus the medical care they received in Puerto Rico. Although the wait is longer, the facilities are not as clean, and the people are not as nice sometimes... the amount of testing and the PREVENTIVE medicine they do over there is superior to here. Although Puerto Rico is part of the United States they have a lot of European influence. I think we could learn a thing or two from Europe.
**********************************
I would also like the scientific
community to do a study on the
correlation between the health of
the mother and THAT link to autism
and other neurological/behavioral
disorders.
**********************************
Friday, January 30, 2009
Alas.... It Was Too Good to Be True
Something told me to call the hospital laboratory and confirm that the balance for me, my husband, and my older son were what I was told the other day. Ironically, I've had laryngitis now for about 4 days and for a couple hours I was able to talk. I decided to take advantage of that and call them since it was on my "to do list" and I wanted to make sure it was done. Little did I know I would be opening up a can of worms.
It seems to me that our ONE laboratory test has become about 16 procedures and 3 different accounts PER PERSON! That is why I keep getting different stories when I call. Luckily, I ended up with a lady who seemed to know what she was doing. In stead of looking at just one account, she pulled all of them up on her screen and was able to give me the specific numbers and balance information. Unfortunately, it looks like we still owe thousands and thousands of dollars. We are basically back at square one. Lucky me!!
We requested an itemized bill and should be getting that very soon. Once we look at that and see what our insurance has already paid and what is left then we will have a better picture of what is going on. Also, we will hopefully be able to catch any double billing. I have a strong suspicion that we were double billed.... especially since my husband and oldest son have the same name and birthday. That is a very likely error.
I still haven't lost hope. I know that things will get straightened out and that we will be able to clear all of it up. I am trying to keep in mind that there is no sense in stressing over things we cannot control, but rather doing what I can on my end and leaving the rest up to my Heavenly Father. It's in His hands now.
*****************************
The Serenity Prayer.... keep
that in mind.
****************************
It seems to me that our ONE laboratory test has become about 16 procedures and 3 different accounts PER PERSON! That is why I keep getting different stories when I call. Luckily, I ended up with a lady who seemed to know what she was doing. In stead of looking at just one account, she pulled all of them up on her screen and was able to give me the specific numbers and balance information. Unfortunately, it looks like we still owe thousands and thousands of dollars. We are basically back at square one. Lucky me!!
We requested an itemized bill and should be getting that very soon. Once we look at that and see what our insurance has already paid and what is left then we will have a better picture of what is going on. Also, we will hopefully be able to catch any double billing. I have a strong suspicion that we were double billed.... especially since my husband and oldest son have the same name and birthday. That is a very likely error.
I still haven't lost hope. I know that things will get straightened out and that we will be able to clear all of it up. I am trying to keep in mind that there is no sense in stressing over things we cannot control, but rather doing what I can on my end and leaving the rest up to my Heavenly Father. It's in His hands now.
*****************************
The Serenity Prayer.... keep
that in mind.
****************************
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Laryngitis... An Unexpected Blessing
Today started just like any ordinary day. I woke up and helped the kids get ready for school. I even made pancakes for breakfast (their favorite). Things went rather smoothly and I was excited to get the things on my "to do list" done in the four hours I had while my #4 was in school. Well... little did I know that I was going to lose the one thing I needed the most to get things done. By 10:00am my voice was completely gone!
I cleaned my house and ran a few errands, including cashing a check at the bank. That is a very funny story. I tubed the teller an envelope with the check and driver's license inside. I wrote a note on the outside of the envelope that read, "I have laryngitis so I can't talk. I just want to cash this check. Thank you." However, it backfired on me when the teller just turned the envelope over (without reading it) and proceeded to take out the check and my driver's license. I tried to motion to him in the car, but he never looked up. He then asked me, "How would you like that? Any particular way?" I shook my head no. He then tubed back my money and license in ANOTHER envelope. It wasn't until I was about to drive away that he noticed the note on the envelope and started to laugh. He apologized and then said, "I had that a few years ago and it's awful." I just nodded in agreement and smiled.
You don't realize how much you need your voice until you lose it. I went to pick up my son at preschool and the kids were in the process of playing with a huge tub full of shaving cream. I wanted to tell the teacher so badly how my son has managed to empty out TWO cans of shaving cream and make a HUGE mess in the past couple weeks at home. I then noticed that one of the BOYS was wearing pink high heels and a glittery yellow cape. He had shaving cream all over his arms and hands. It was the funniest sight. I wanted to say, "I can only imagine if his mom came through that door right now." I will have to remember to say something about that tomorrow.
When I got home I realized that I wouldn't be able to do our usual game of flashcards, and I started to think of things we could do that wouldn't involve talking. In the end, we were able to spend a nice relaxing afternoon watching our favorite shows on t.v. while I listened to him speaking. Today I had a "light bulb" moment. I realized that sometimes I just need to listen. I listened to my son as he answered Dora's questions. It was a neat thing to see. He actually understood what was going on and was interacting with the t.v. I had not noticed that in the past. When Go Diego Go came on afterwards, it was the same thing. He was able to answer ALL the questions at the end about the animal they discussed in the show. It was very reassuring.
One of my sweet friends offered to pick up my kids today and so I actually was able to take a short nap while my #4 took his. That was such a treat! Usually I don't take naps in the afternoon because I am worried about oversleeping and being late to pick up my children so I don't end up falling asleep. I was awakened by the doorbell ringing numerous times. My #2 loves ringing the doorbell. I opened the door and was greeted by three smiling faces. My oldest gave me a bear hug and asked me if I was feeling okay. I whispered in his ear that I had laryngitis and so I couldn't talk. He was so worried about me. My #2 asked me if it hurt. I told him that it didn't except when I coughed or talked. He kept asking me specific questions about why it hurts and exactly what causes laryngitis, etc... (Could we possibly have a future doctor?) Once his curiosity was satisfied, he told me that he had homework and quickly went to work. That was a first!
It was such a nice afternoon. There were times when I was tempted to yell or raise my voice, but I quickly realized that I couldn't. Instead I whispered in their ear and that's all it took. In a weird way, my laryngitis was an unexpected blessing today. I received unexpected help from a dear friend, my children were sweeter to me since they knew I wasn't feeling well, and even my husband pampered me a little more today. Lastly, I learned that sometimes a whisper can be more effective than raising your voice. That in itself made it all worth it!
*******************************
Take time to see and appreciate
the blessings in your life. If
you can, record them. In time
you will have volumes!
*******************************
I cleaned my house and ran a few errands, including cashing a check at the bank. That is a very funny story. I tubed the teller an envelope with the check and driver's license inside. I wrote a note on the outside of the envelope that read, "I have laryngitis so I can't talk. I just want to cash this check. Thank you." However, it backfired on me when the teller just turned the envelope over (without reading it) and proceeded to take out the check and my driver's license. I tried to motion to him in the car, but he never looked up. He then asked me, "How would you like that? Any particular way?" I shook my head no. He then tubed back my money and license in ANOTHER envelope. It wasn't until I was about to drive away that he noticed the note on the envelope and started to laugh. He apologized and then said, "I had that a few years ago and it's awful." I just nodded in agreement and smiled.
You don't realize how much you need your voice until you lose it. I went to pick up my son at preschool and the kids were in the process of playing with a huge tub full of shaving cream. I wanted to tell the teacher so badly how my son has managed to empty out TWO cans of shaving cream and make a HUGE mess in the past couple weeks at home. I then noticed that one of the BOYS was wearing pink high heels and a glittery yellow cape. He had shaving cream all over his arms and hands. It was the funniest sight. I wanted to say, "I can only imagine if his mom came through that door right now." I will have to remember to say something about that tomorrow.
When I got home I realized that I wouldn't be able to do our usual game of flashcards, and I started to think of things we could do that wouldn't involve talking. In the end, we were able to spend a nice relaxing afternoon watching our favorite shows on t.v. while I listened to him speaking. Today I had a "light bulb" moment. I realized that sometimes I just need to listen. I listened to my son as he answered Dora's questions. It was a neat thing to see. He actually understood what was going on and was interacting with the t.v. I had not noticed that in the past. When Go Diego Go came on afterwards, it was the same thing. He was able to answer ALL the questions at the end about the animal they discussed in the show. It was very reassuring.
One of my sweet friends offered to pick up my kids today and so I actually was able to take a short nap while my #4 took his. That was such a treat! Usually I don't take naps in the afternoon because I am worried about oversleeping and being late to pick up my children so I don't end up falling asleep. I was awakened by the doorbell ringing numerous times. My #2 loves ringing the doorbell. I opened the door and was greeted by three smiling faces. My oldest gave me a bear hug and asked me if I was feeling okay. I whispered in his ear that I had laryngitis and so I couldn't talk. He was so worried about me. My #2 asked me if it hurt. I told him that it didn't except when I coughed or talked. He kept asking me specific questions about why it hurts and exactly what causes laryngitis, etc... (Could we possibly have a future doctor?) Once his curiosity was satisfied, he told me that he had homework and quickly went to work. That was a first!
It was such a nice afternoon. There were times when I was tempted to yell or raise my voice, but I quickly realized that I couldn't. Instead I whispered in their ear and that's all it took. In a weird way, my laryngitis was an unexpected blessing today. I received unexpected help from a dear friend, my children were sweeter to me since they knew I wasn't feeling well, and even my husband pampered me a little more today. Lastly, I learned that sometimes a whisper can be more effective than raising your voice. That in itself made it all worth it!
*******************************
Take time to see and appreciate
the blessings in your life. If
you can, record them. In time
you will have volumes!
*******************************
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Insurance Dilemma Continues
My heart goes out to anyone who has had to battle any medical insurance company. I never dreamed that I would be faced with that battle. It's unreal the lengths that these people will go to in order to not have to pay. The irony of it all is that the testing we had done that they don't want to cover had the potential of saving them millions in the long-run.
We FINALLY got myself, my husband, and my daughter's testing covered. We're almost done with my oldest as well. However, there are still two more that they refuse to pay on the basis that they deem the testing, "not medically necessary" or "does not meet criteria for coverage".... it's crazy! All of us (except for my daughter) went and had the blood work drawn on the same day and had the same test done on the blood. For some reason they just want to pick and choose who and what part of the testing will be covered. It doesn't make sense.
I have spent so many hours on the phone on hold and talking to people that my ears are ringing. I have talked to my insurance company and the hospital. I have received many versions of their story and it's never the same. Of course, the latest "story" is that my hospital has not given my insurance company enough information and then the hospital is saying that they are denying it in spite of the information. The last time I spoke with them I was told that they cannot call one another to straighten this out. That was the last straw for me! MY last words to the hospital were, "if that's the case, you leave me no other choice." I hung up and called my dear husband who (as many of you know) is a lawyer. :)
I know that with a lawyer's letterhead it will be taken more seriously. So far I have been very sweet and patient on the phone. Perhaps now they will realize that we mean business. We are going to make our demands known and if they don't do what they are supposed to do then they will be in essence not fulfilling their end of the contract. We pay on time, never late... and we haven't needed much coverage since we are all very healthy. Now that it's time for the insurance to do their part, they have the obligation to do so. It's not our fault if things are messed up with the paperwork. That is THEIR job to straighten out, not mine.
Four out of six isn't bad, huh? I am proud of myself for not giving up. I want all of you to know that there is hope with insurance companies. The main thing to remember is to call them as soon as you realize there is a problem. NEVER assume that the hospital, doctor's office, or ESPECIALLY the insurance company will take care of things. It's up to you. I know that's unfair, but it's true. Sometimes it's just a clerical error and that can be resolved fairly easily. Make sure to keep all your "Claim Reports" and especially your bills. I will let you all know when I am six for six! Hopefully that will happen very soon. Wish me luck!!
******************************
Insurance companies know that
all you can get them for is
"breach of contract" when they
refuse to pay. Most people
do not have a lawyer to help
them. That's just wrong!!
*****************************
We FINALLY got myself, my husband, and my daughter's testing covered. We're almost done with my oldest as well. However, there are still two more that they refuse to pay on the basis that they deem the testing, "not medically necessary" or "does not meet criteria for coverage".... it's crazy! All of us (except for my daughter) went and had the blood work drawn on the same day and had the same test done on the blood. For some reason they just want to pick and choose who and what part of the testing will be covered. It doesn't make sense.
I have spent so many hours on the phone on hold and talking to people that my ears are ringing. I have talked to my insurance company and the hospital. I have received many versions of their story and it's never the same. Of course, the latest "story" is that my hospital has not given my insurance company enough information and then the hospital is saying that they are denying it in spite of the information. The last time I spoke with them I was told that they cannot call one another to straighten this out. That was the last straw for me! MY last words to the hospital were, "if that's the case, you leave me no other choice." I hung up and called my dear husband who (as many of you know) is a lawyer. :)
I know that with a lawyer's letterhead it will be taken more seriously. So far I have been very sweet and patient on the phone. Perhaps now they will realize that we mean business. We are going to make our demands known and if they don't do what they are supposed to do then they will be in essence not fulfilling their end of the contract. We pay on time, never late... and we haven't needed much coverage since we are all very healthy. Now that it's time for the insurance to do their part, they have the obligation to do so. It's not our fault if things are messed up with the paperwork. That is THEIR job to straighten out, not mine.
Four out of six isn't bad, huh? I am proud of myself for not giving up. I want all of you to know that there is hope with insurance companies. The main thing to remember is to call them as soon as you realize there is a problem. NEVER assume that the hospital, doctor's office, or ESPECIALLY the insurance company will take care of things. It's up to you. I know that's unfair, but it's true. Sometimes it's just a clerical error and that can be resolved fairly easily. Make sure to keep all your "Claim Reports" and especially your bills. I will let you all know when I am six for six! Hopefully that will happen very soon. Wish me luck!!
******************************
Insurance companies know that
all you can get them for is
"breach of contract" when they
refuse to pay. Most people
do not have a lawyer to help
them. That's just wrong!!
*****************************
Saturday, January 24, 2009
The Minnesota Tragedy
I woke up this morning to hear about the tragic death of a baby in Minnesota. They stressed the fact that the child was not vaccinated and urged everyone to vaccinate against H. influenza type B. As a matter of fact, they used this as an example of what can happen if you don't vaccinate for ANY of the childhood illnesses. I decided to go online and check out the facts to find out exactly what happened. This is what I found:
On WebMD Health News dated Jan. 23, 2009 is says, "..."The situation in Minnesota might be isolated, or it might be the beginning of a trend in other places," Schuchat said at a news conference. "We are working hard to determine which of these stories is the right one."
One of the five Minnesota Hib meningitis cases was in a 5-month-old child too young to have finished its first series of Hib shots. Another case was in a child who got all the shots but who turned out to have an immune deficiency.
The other three cases -- including the death -- were in infants whose parents refused to vaccinate them. Parents of two children objected to vaccines; the parents of the third child were waiting to vaccinate until the child was 5 years old."
In twincities.com it said, "Five children were diagnosed with HiB in Minnesota in 2008, the most since 1992, the state Health Department said. One child died. Officials blamed a national shortage of the vaccine that led some national advisory groups to recommend skipping a fourth and final booster shot so supplies would last longer."
How tragic!!! I can't imagine being the parent of that baby that died. It's horrible!! However, if you read all the facts of the five cases of Hib, one of the children was "too young to have finished its first series of Hib shots" and another was a child who had "an immune deficiency". The OTHER three cases, including the death, were infants who did not vaccinate.... if you read other articles you will learn that it was partly because there is a vaccine shortage! Google it and you will see for yourself.
So my question is this: why are they making such a big deal about the fact that the child was not vaccinated in the news? Why did I not hear a single word about the VACCINE SHORTAGE?! Good questions. I believe that they should be focusing more on the efficacy of vaccines and why so many vaccinated children are still getting the diseases. I read and hear in the news about how they are thinking of doing more "booster shots" because they are seeing some vaccines fail. As a matter of fact, they are considering doing boosters shots by around middle school age. Can you imagine the cost.. in all respects?!! Even if there was a 100% vaccine rate among all the vaccines given, there would still be a percentage of failure rate.... for whatever reason. It seems as though either the bugs are changing or the vaccines are not working. It would be interesting to find out if they have done any research on that.
I believe the media is misleading the public into thinking that the increase in incidents is because more parents are not vaccinating their children. I hear people saying that Measles is starting to make a comeback because more and more parents are not vaccinating. Although I totally understand about "herd immunity" and all that... as a microbiologist I also know how organism will mutate over time and how resistant they can become to antibiotics, etc... They are more complex than people realize. The HIV virus that causes AIDS, for example, is a good example of how these organisms do whatever necessary to survive. Now... I have no scientific data to back up my claims, but I believe that by injecting these organisms into our system, we are definitely making changes in our immunity that probably go contrary to what our bodies were designed to do. For example, when we contract childhood illnesses such as measles and chicken pox... and even the mumps, we are acquiring valuable antibodies and memory cells that will live in our systems for our lifetime. Both my mother and father had the mumps, chicken pox, and possibly the measles. They told me that most of their friends did too. NONE of them died. I remember as a child getting the chicken pox. It was sort of a "rite of passage" and although I got a REALLY bad case of it, it was more of a nuisance and inconvenience than anything else. Why are they saying NOW that the chicken pox kills and the vaccine saves lives? Maybe in a SMALL portion of the population (immunocompromised individuals)that is true. Why not just make it voluntary then... instead of mandating it?
The big thing I understand is that if a child is not vaccinated, he is actually more at risk from a recently vaccinated child. The reason is because there are some vaccines that are shed off of healthy kids and therefore they are contagious. I have to argue with those who feel differently. There are some who feel threatened by individuals who are not vaccinated. It's as if those people are a "ticking time bomb" or something. That is just not true.
I think each individual case needs to be treated as such. It's not a one-size-fits all approach. With my own children I have followed different paths. I know the risks involved in the choices I make. I weigh my options and try to figure out which one is right for that particular child. I am not going to say it's been easy. However, I feel better knowing the facts and I feel I am making a more informed decision.
I wish the media would give all the facts instead of trying to sensationalize the stories. I am so glad that I am more skeptical these days. I know there is a lot of money involved with drugs and vaccines. You will never see an anti-vaccine ad on t.v. because they have too much money vested in them. (I bet you never thought about that... did you?)
****************************
Skepticism is not judgmental.
It's figuring out the options
with the data you are given.
****************************
On WebMD Health News dated Jan. 23, 2009 is says, "..."The situation in Minnesota might be isolated, or it might be the beginning of a trend in other places," Schuchat said at a news conference. "We are working hard to determine which of these stories is the right one."
One of the five Minnesota Hib meningitis cases was in a 5-month-old child too young to have finished its first series of Hib shots. Another case was in a child who got all the shots but who turned out to have an immune deficiency.
The other three cases -- including the death -- were in infants whose parents refused to vaccinate them. Parents of two children objected to vaccines; the parents of the third child were waiting to vaccinate until the child was 5 years old."
In twincities.com it said, "Five children were diagnosed with HiB in Minnesota in 2008, the most since 1992, the state Health Department said. One child died. Officials blamed a national shortage of the vaccine that led some national advisory groups to recommend skipping a fourth and final booster shot so supplies would last longer."
How tragic!!! I can't imagine being the parent of that baby that died. It's horrible!! However, if you read all the facts of the five cases of Hib, one of the children was "too young to have finished its first series of Hib shots" and another was a child who had "an immune deficiency". The OTHER three cases, including the death, were infants who did not vaccinate.... if you read other articles you will learn that it was partly because there is a vaccine shortage! Google it and you will see for yourself.
So my question is this: why are they making such a big deal about the fact that the child was not vaccinated in the news? Why did I not hear a single word about the VACCINE SHORTAGE?! Good questions. I believe that they should be focusing more on the efficacy of vaccines and why so many vaccinated children are still getting the diseases. I read and hear in the news about how they are thinking of doing more "booster shots" because they are seeing some vaccines fail. As a matter of fact, they are considering doing boosters shots by around middle school age. Can you imagine the cost.. in all respects?!! Even if there was a 100% vaccine rate among all the vaccines given, there would still be a percentage of failure rate.... for whatever reason. It seems as though either the bugs are changing or the vaccines are not working. It would be interesting to find out if they have done any research on that.
I believe the media is misleading the public into thinking that the increase in incidents is because more parents are not vaccinating their children. I hear people saying that Measles is starting to make a comeback because more and more parents are not vaccinating. Although I totally understand about "herd immunity" and all that... as a microbiologist I also know how organism will mutate over time and how resistant they can become to antibiotics, etc... They are more complex than people realize. The HIV virus that causes AIDS, for example, is a good example of how these organisms do whatever necessary to survive. Now... I have no scientific data to back up my claims, but I believe that by injecting these organisms into our system, we are definitely making changes in our immunity that probably go contrary to what our bodies were designed to do. For example, when we contract childhood illnesses such as measles and chicken pox... and even the mumps, we are acquiring valuable antibodies and memory cells that will live in our systems for our lifetime. Both my mother and father had the mumps, chicken pox, and possibly the measles. They told me that most of their friends did too. NONE of them died. I remember as a child getting the chicken pox. It was sort of a "rite of passage" and although I got a REALLY bad case of it, it was more of a nuisance and inconvenience than anything else. Why are they saying NOW that the chicken pox kills and the vaccine saves lives? Maybe in a SMALL portion of the population (immunocompromised individuals)that is true. Why not just make it voluntary then... instead of mandating it?
The big thing I understand is that if a child is not vaccinated, he is actually more at risk from a recently vaccinated child. The reason is because there are some vaccines that are shed off of healthy kids and therefore they are contagious. I have to argue with those who feel differently. There are some who feel threatened by individuals who are not vaccinated. It's as if those people are a "ticking time bomb" or something. That is just not true.
I think each individual case needs to be treated as such. It's not a one-size-fits all approach. With my own children I have followed different paths. I know the risks involved in the choices I make. I weigh my options and try to figure out which one is right for that particular child. I am not going to say it's been easy. However, I feel better knowing the facts and I feel I am making a more informed decision.
I wish the media would give all the facts instead of trying to sensationalize the stories. I am so glad that I am more skeptical these days. I know there is a lot of money involved with drugs and vaccines. You will never see an anti-vaccine ad on t.v. because they have too much money vested in them. (I bet you never thought about that... did you?)
****************************
Skepticism is not judgmental.
It's figuring out the options
with the data you are given.
****************************
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
A Tribute to Our Four- Legged Friend
I will never forget the day I first met the dog we named Cookie. She was just a puppy and the sweetest thing I had ever seen. She was missing half the hair on her head due to the mange, but I could tell she would eventually be a beautiful dog. She was left abandoned along with another puppy at our friend's doorstep. When I received the call about them I felt the urgency to save one of them. I immediately knew which dog I wanted, but I let the kids decide. They finally chose Cookie.
When I saw the mange my first thought was that I prayed it was treatable and not contagious. We immediately took her to the vet and he told me that it WAS treatable and that it was the Demodectic mange. (Unfortunately, I didn't do any online research on this.) I just took the vet's word that we would be able to treat it and that was that. I decided that we were going to use all of our resources available to treat her and to take care of her. The first thing we did was treat the mange with a dip. We were also advised to spay her since this was a genetic condition. (That should have been a "red flag"... but I REALLY wanted this to work out.)
We continued with the treatments and dips. It seemed for a while that perhaps we were going to get the mange under control. We had some really good months where her hair started to grow in. I even took her to PetSmart and groomed her. She looked so beautiful. Her hair was an ivory white with patches of tan over her eyes. The vet thought she might be a Saint Bernard/Great Dane mix, but she was a mutt.... a blend of MANY breeds and there was no way of knowing. I taught her to walk on the leash and eventually she became my jogging buddy. I also taught her to sit and give me her paw. She loved doing that. It was in her nature to please and that was a good trait. She never snapped at any of us or showed any signs of aggression. The only behavior we had issues with was her chewing on things and her jumping on people in the beginning. As far as I know, those were all normal things for a puppy.
She continued to grow, but did not get as big as I thought she would be. She was approximately 50 pounds at 12 months. Her size did not bother me at all. However, the dips became very expensive and her mange was not going away. The thing that was hard for me was seeing her suffer. She would scratch her patch areas so much that they would bleed. I gave her Benedryl and that seemed to help somewhat. However, they would make her groggy and I literally had to carry her home a couple times when I tried to walk her. She was pathetic. When it got cold and I saw her outside with hardly any hair and scratching herself until she bled again... that was when I started wondering if we did all we could do for her. However, I did not want to give up just yet. I called the vet's office and told them that the dips were not working and if there was ANYTHING else they could offer. They said there was one other thing... it was a drug. I would need to give it to her orally once a day for 3 weeks. If I did not see any improvement then there was nothing else we could do. I didn't even want to think about that.
We started her drug therapy right away. I made sure not to miss a single dose. It was funny 'cause at first she didn't know what I was going to do so she would run wagging her tail towards me, but soon she learned what I was going to do and so I had to come up with a way to trick her into opening her mouth. I used her vice in my favor... I gave her a stuffed animal to bite onto and at that moment I would squirt the medicine into her mouth. I must say... I was quite proud of myself. I kept telling her, "this is for you own good... if you only knew girl."
I was so excited because after about a week I noticed her hair starting to grow back on her head. This was definitely an improvement. We spent a lot of time with her and I think I gave her extra attention because in the back of my mind I just knew that this was going to be short-lived just like the dips. Well... after 2 weeks I noticed her patches of hair missing and the crust forming on top of her head all over again. "I guess this is it... we've done all we can do."
I pondered on what we could have done differently. It would have been easier to take her to the pound after the initial diagnosis. However, being the animal lover that I am, I would not have been able to live with myself. I knew that the longer we kept her, the harder it was going to be. She had become a member of our family and we all loved her. However, being her caregiver and jogging buddy I was the one that cried the most. The night before I made the most difficult decision, I asked my husband to go on a walk with me. We talked about Cookie and how much she was suffering. He made me realize that there was going to be colder nights ahead and although we would obviously bring her inside (like we did the previous winter), at least at the Human Shelter she would be taken care of and she would not have to be outside another cold night. He reminded me that he had visited the shelter on numerous occasions and that it was a nice facility and he felt good about leaving her there. He was optimistic that somehow things would turn out for the best.
The next day I woke up and followed my normal routine. I warned the kids that Cookie might not be home when they returned. I gave them the opportunity to say good-bye the night before. After dropping off the kids at school, I returned and saw cookie at the back door. She always waited there for me to open the door and let her in. That was our normal routine. I opened the door and she came inside where it was nice and warm. I sat down at the sofa and she cuddled with me. That's when I started to cry. I would not stop crying for many hours later. Every time I looked into her beautiful brown eyes I could not help but remember the little puppy I saw many months before. She was bigger now, but she still had the same spirit. She loved for me to rub her tummy and that reminded me of my dog I had growing up. I guess I felt like perhaps in a way, her spirit was living inside of Cookie. I know that sounds strange, but I have experienced stranger things. She seemed a bit more mellow this day. Could she have known? I am sure she sensed my sorrow and anxiety.
I called my husband and told him that today was definitely going to be the day. He was available at noon to help me. I got her dog food and things together. I did not want to leave her there empty-handed. I loaded her into the car and picked up my husband. I let him drive while I had cookie literally hugging me with her head on my lap. I just pet her all the way to the Humane Society. I was going to miss her so much. She had given us a lot of joy and love in the short time we had her. When we arrived I gave the leash to my husband and he took her in. I chose to stay in the car. I knew that if I walked in with him I would start to cry. I didn't want the people to think that we were "one of those families" who wanted to dump their pet at the Humane Society.
When my husband came back without Cookie my heart just sank. It was done. She was no longer with us. I felt so sad for myself. Of course, I proceeded to ask my husband a hundred questions about what happened. He simply replied, "She was excited to be there. When she saw the other dogs she wanted to go over and play. She didn't resist when I handed her over. She will be okay." It was selfish of me to keep her knowing that we couldn't help her. It was selfish of me to think that she was better off with us just because we loved her. It took some time, but I finally realized that at that moment... what I had done was probably the most unselfish thing.
My memories of Cookie will always be fond ones. I don't regret my decision to rescue Cookie. We had her for almost a year and in that time we did not give up on her. Our kids learned responsibility and what it takes to care for a pet. My oldest was responsible for feeding her and making sure she had water. He did an excellent job. I rarely had to remind him. My youngest learned how to treat a dog without teasing and pulling the tail. He learned how to command respect from Cookie. It was neat seeing that transformation in my family. Of course, my daughter loved Cookie. She often went outside and played with her by running and chasing her. My #2 loved petting Cookie. I would often find him outside sitting on the grass petting her. She had a way of calming him. It was a neat thing to see.
All in all, it was a positive experience for me and the entire family. When we first found her, the mange was pretty bad. I know that she has a better chance of being adopted now than when we first found her. If there is something that can be done for her, I am sure that the Humane Society will do it. If not, I feel confident that we did all we could do. I will continue to pray for her recovery. In the event that she doesn't, I know that someday we shall meet again. One thing is for sure, she will always hold a special place in my heart.
**********************************************
"I talk to him when I'm lonesome like,
and I'm sure he understands.
When he looks at me so attentively,
and gently licks my hands;
Then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes,
but I never say naught thereat,
For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes,
but never a friend like that!"
- W. Dayton Wedgefarth
**********************************************
When I saw the mange my first thought was that I prayed it was treatable and not contagious. We immediately took her to the vet and he told me that it WAS treatable and that it was the Demodectic mange. (Unfortunately, I didn't do any online research on this.) I just took the vet's word that we would be able to treat it and that was that. I decided that we were going to use all of our resources available to treat her and to take care of her. The first thing we did was treat the mange with a dip. We were also advised to spay her since this was a genetic condition. (That should have been a "red flag"... but I REALLY wanted this to work out.)
We continued with the treatments and dips. It seemed for a while that perhaps we were going to get the mange under control. We had some really good months where her hair started to grow in. I even took her to PetSmart and groomed her. She looked so beautiful. Her hair was an ivory white with patches of tan over her eyes. The vet thought she might be a Saint Bernard/Great Dane mix, but she was a mutt.... a blend of MANY breeds and there was no way of knowing. I taught her to walk on the leash and eventually she became my jogging buddy. I also taught her to sit and give me her paw. She loved doing that. It was in her nature to please and that was a good trait. She never snapped at any of us or showed any signs of aggression. The only behavior we had issues with was her chewing on things and her jumping on people in the beginning. As far as I know, those were all normal things for a puppy.
She continued to grow, but did not get as big as I thought she would be. She was approximately 50 pounds at 12 months. Her size did not bother me at all. However, the dips became very expensive and her mange was not going away. The thing that was hard for me was seeing her suffer. She would scratch her patch areas so much that they would bleed. I gave her Benedryl and that seemed to help somewhat. However, they would make her groggy and I literally had to carry her home a couple times when I tried to walk her. She was pathetic. When it got cold and I saw her outside with hardly any hair and scratching herself until she bled again... that was when I started wondering if we did all we could do for her. However, I did not want to give up just yet. I called the vet's office and told them that the dips were not working and if there was ANYTHING else they could offer. They said there was one other thing... it was a drug. I would need to give it to her orally once a day for 3 weeks. If I did not see any improvement then there was nothing else we could do. I didn't even want to think about that.
We started her drug therapy right away. I made sure not to miss a single dose. It was funny 'cause at first she didn't know what I was going to do so she would run wagging her tail towards me, but soon she learned what I was going to do and so I had to come up with a way to trick her into opening her mouth. I used her vice in my favor... I gave her a stuffed animal to bite onto and at that moment I would squirt the medicine into her mouth. I must say... I was quite proud of myself. I kept telling her, "this is for you own good... if you only knew girl."
I was so excited because after about a week I noticed her hair starting to grow back on her head. This was definitely an improvement. We spent a lot of time with her and I think I gave her extra attention because in the back of my mind I just knew that this was going to be short-lived just like the dips. Well... after 2 weeks I noticed her patches of hair missing and the crust forming on top of her head all over again. "I guess this is it... we've done all we can do."
I pondered on what we could have done differently. It would have been easier to take her to the pound after the initial diagnosis. However, being the animal lover that I am, I would not have been able to live with myself. I knew that the longer we kept her, the harder it was going to be. She had become a member of our family and we all loved her. However, being her caregiver and jogging buddy I was the one that cried the most. The night before I made the most difficult decision, I asked my husband to go on a walk with me. We talked about Cookie and how much she was suffering. He made me realize that there was going to be colder nights ahead and although we would obviously bring her inside (like we did the previous winter), at least at the Human Shelter she would be taken care of and she would not have to be outside another cold night. He reminded me that he had visited the shelter on numerous occasions and that it was a nice facility and he felt good about leaving her there. He was optimistic that somehow things would turn out for the best.
The next day I woke up and followed my normal routine. I warned the kids that Cookie might not be home when they returned. I gave them the opportunity to say good-bye the night before. After dropping off the kids at school, I returned and saw cookie at the back door. She always waited there for me to open the door and let her in. That was our normal routine. I opened the door and she came inside where it was nice and warm. I sat down at the sofa and she cuddled with me. That's when I started to cry. I would not stop crying for many hours later. Every time I looked into her beautiful brown eyes I could not help but remember the little puppy I saw many months before. She was bigger now, but she still had the same spirit. She loved for me to rub her tummy and that reminded me of my dog I had growing up. I guess I felt like perhaps in a way, her spirit was living inside of Cookie. I know that sounds strange, but I have experienced stranger things. She seemed a bit more mellow this day. Could she have known? I am sure she sensed my sorrow and anxiety.
I called my husband and told him that today was definitely going to be the day. He was available at noon to help me. I got her dog food and things together. I did not want to leave her there empty-handed. I loaded her into the car and picked up my husband. I let him drive while I had cookie literally hugging me with her head on my lap. I just pet her all the way to the Humane Society. I was going to miss her so much. She had given us a lot of joy and love in the short time we had her. When we arrived I gave the leash to my husband and he took her in. I chose to stay in the car. I knew that if I walked in with him I would start to cry. I didn't want the people to think that we were "one of those families" who wanted to dump their pet at the Humane Society.
When my husband came back without Cookie my heart just sank. It was done. She was no longer with us. I felt so sad for myself. Of course, I proceeded to ask my husband a hundred questions about what happened. He simply replied, "She was excited to be there. When she saw the other dogs she wanted to go over and play. She didn't resist when I handed her over. She will be okay." It was selfish of me to keep her knowing that we couldn't help her. It was selfish of me to think that she was better off with us just because we loved her. It took some time, but I finally realized that at that moment... what I had done was probably the most unselfish thing.
My memories of Cookie will always be fond ones. I don't regret my decision to rescue Cookie. We had her for almost a year and in that time we did not give up on her. Our kids learned responsibility and what it takes to care for a pet. My oldest was responsible for feeding her and making sure she had water. He did an excellent job. I rarely had to remind him. My youngest learned how to treat a dog without teasing and pulling the tail. He learned how to command respect from Cookie. It was neat seeing that transformation in my family. Of course, my daughter loved Cookie. She often went outside and played with her by running and chasing her. My #2 loved petting Cookie. I would often find him outside sitting on the grass petting her. She had a way of calming him. It was a neat thing to see.
All in all, it was a positive experience for me and the entire family. When we first found her, the mange was pretty bad. I know that she has a better chance of being adopted now than when we first found her. If there is something that can be done for her, I am sure that the Humane Society will do it. If not, I feel confident that we did all we could do. I will continue to pray for her recovery. In the event that she doesn't, I know that someday we shall meet again. One thing is for sure, she will always hold a special place in my heart.
**********************************************
"I talk to him when I'm lonesome like,
and I'm sure he understands.
When he looks at me so attentively,
and gently licks my hands;
Then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes,
but I never say naught thereat,
For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes,
but never a friend like that!"
- W. Dayton Wedgefarth
**********************************************
Monday, January 19, 2009
Home School Q & A
There are many who are considering homeschooling their children but are too afraid of what to expect. They might feel inadequate or think they would not be able to do it. I would love to dispel some of those concerns and give you some information that might help you in making that decision. Of course, I am not the "expert" in homeschooling. You should check requirements in your state. Each state has different laws and the following information is for Alabama. However, I would like to share with you some of MY concerns I had and what I learned from my experience in homeschooling my own children.
Question: How do I get started?
Answer: It's easy to get started. First, you need a cover or "umbrella" school. You can go online and find one or just get some suggestions from other homeschoolers in your area. (That's what I did.) Each one offers different things. I wanted a "hands-off" approach and so I picked one that had that philosophy. You follow their instructions and basically "enroll" in their school. They usually charge a minimal fee and require things like attendance to be submitted once or twice a year.
Question: What curriculum do I use?
Answer: There are countless numbers of books out there. You don't have to follow a set curriculum. I decided on ABEKA with my oldest because that's what they used at his private school, and I thought it would be an easier transition for him. However, I know of many parents who mix their books and use online resources. As a matter of fact, with my #2, I used online resources more than anything because I could better plan and tailor his work. They even have online schools that you can use. If you feel that's the route you need to take, just make sure you check out the accreditation and the curriculum they use. In the end, it's all up to the child and how they learn. You know your child better than any teacher does.
Question: How much time will this take? Will I still have time for myself?
Answer: This is a valid question. On average, it takes half the time to home school a child the same information it takes an entire day or even two days in a public school setting. You have to remember that they are getting one-on-one instruction and then they are required to do independent work. I found that doing daily checklists with my oldest worked the best and when he was done, he had the option of doing the next day's work or having free time. You will have to figure out creative ways of having time for yourself. Depending on the age of the child, you may not have the luxury of leaving him/her alone while you run errands. Things will definitely change and that is something to consider.
Question: Will my child get enough social interaction? (this is my favorite one)
Answer: At school, they aren't allowed to talk to other kids during instruction, during music class, during computers, sometimes even during lunch (a.k.a. "silent lunch")... so in reality they don't have enough social interaction during normal school. They get the social interaction when you let them play with other kids in the neighborhood, join them in sports or other extracurricular activities, church, or scouts, for example. Parents are the best teachers of manners and other social skills. When you home school you will find that those social interaction opportunities come and a little research on homeschooling playgroups won't hurt either.
Question: Is this something I will have to do forever?
Answer: No. You can do this for a year or two... it's all up to you. I chose to do it for a year with each of my sons. I could have done it longer, but I chose not to. I had different reasons with each of them, but the point is that they transitioned just fine into public school and private school settings.
Question: Do I need to protect myself in case of legal action?
Answer: YES! I recommend the HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association). They charge a minimal fee and they will represent you if there is a problem. This is their website: www.hslda.org They keep up with laws in various states and you will receive their newsletter once you join with valuable information. Home schooling is becoming more and more popular so the chances of someone turning you in for child delinquency, for example, are very rare.... but it can happen. It's my "Murphy's Law" insurance. It doesn't hurt.
Question: Can I home school a child with special needs?
Answer: Yes, you can!! My oldest had ADHD and I was able to meet his needs. In a way it was a blessing to home school him when I did. All the teachers wanted me to medicate him and he was having adverse reactions including paranoia. My #2 has autism and I was able to home school him with no problem. We actually bonded during the year I homeschooled and I felt it was the best thing I could have done for him. If I would not have found the school he attends now I would still be homeschooling him to this day. You see.. as his mother you know how your child learns and you can better adapt the curriculum and material to his needs.
Question: How can I know how he is doing in comparison to his peers?
Answer: It really shouldn't matter, but unfortunately we live in a society that makes that a priority. What I did was request my son take the standardized testing that was offered at the school we were zoned for. By law they have to let you take the test. When the results came in they mailed them to me. It was actually easier to do than I thought. Plus, I have that testing in my records in case I ever need the results for anything. Another thing I did was take him to a Sylvan Learning Center. I have to admit that it was pricey. However, they tested him and I was reassured when he tested above grade level.
Question: Any tips that helped while home schooling?
Answer: Stay organized and keep good records. If you decide to put your child back into regular school, you need to have records and sample work to show the school. When my child applied for Magnet School the principal requested actual written work that he had done. It was nice to be able to hand over folders of testing and written work to prove that I wasn't making up his grades. Another tip I would like to share with you is that you should try and find a good support network. I had wonderful friends who homeschooled and they were there for me with support, answers, and guidance. It was nice getting together once in a while and letting our children play. I think it's important to find a group you can do that with. Lastly, don't underestimate YOUR potential and how much YOU know. If you need any help, online resources are wonderful. Also, the local library offers a lot of programs. Look into that as well. Oh... and I forgot that you can always cover church doctrine into your studies. We incorporated scripture study into our curriculum.
I hope this information is useful to anyone considering homeschooling their children. I think it's the hardest thing to decide, but the rewards are too numerous to measure. I think that it's important to understand that in order to do a good job, things will have to change. There are many things to consider and there will be a lot of trial and error when you begin. Just don't give up. It will take a couple months before you get into an established routine. Once you do, you will be amazed at how easy it truly is. Good luck!!!
****************************
Teaching your children is one
of the most rewarding things.
Seeing their eyes light up
when they finally get it....
that's truly priceless.
****************************
Question: How do I get started?
Answer: It's easy to get started. First, you need a cover or "umbrella" school. You can go online and find one or just get some suggestions from other homeschoolers in your area. (That's what I did.) Each one offers different things. I wanted a "hands-off" approach and so I picked one that had that philosophy. You follow their instructions and basically "enroll" in their school. They usually charge a minimal fee and require things like attendance to be submitted once or twice a year.
Question: What curriculum do I use?
Answer: There are countless numbers of books out there. You don't have to follow a set curriculum. I decided on ABEKA with my oldest because that's what they used at his private school, and I thought it would be an easier transition for him. However, I know of many parents who mix their books and use online resources. As a matter of fact, with my #2, I used online resources more than anything because I could better plan and tailor his work. They even have online schools that you can use. If you feel that's the route you need to take, just make sure you check out the accreditation and the curriculum they use. In the end, it's all up to the child and how they learn. You know your child better than any teacher does.
Question: How much time will this take? Will I still have time for myself?
Answer: This is a valid question. On average, it takes half the time to home school a child the same information it takes an entire day or even two days in a public school setting. You have to remember that they are getting one-on-one instruction and then they are required to do independent work. I found that doing daily checklists with my oldest worked the best and when he was done, he had the option of doing the next day's work or having free time. You will have to figure out creative ways of having time for yourself. Depending on the age of the child, you may not have the luxury of leaving him/her alone while you run errands. Things will definitely change and that is something to consider.
Question: Will my child get enough social interaction? (this is my favorite one)
Answer: At school, they aren't allowed to talk to other kids during instruction, during music class, during computers, sometimes even during lunch (a.k.a. "silent lunch")... so in reality they don't have enough social interaction during normal school. They get the social interaction when you let them play with other kids in the neighborhood, join them in sports or other extracurricular activities, church, or scouts, for example. Parents are the best teachers of manners and other social skills. When you home school you will find that those social interaction opportunities come and a little research on homeschooling playgroups won't hurt either.
Question: Is this something I will have to do forever?
Answer: No. You can do this for a year or two... it's all up to you. I chose to do it for a year with each of my sons. I could have done it longer, but I chose not to. I had different reasons with each of them, but the point is that they transitioned just fine into public school and private school settings.
Question: Do I need to protect myself in case of legal action?
Answer: YES! I recommend the HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association). They charge a minimal fee and they will represent you if there is a problem. This is their website: www.hslda.org They keep up with laws in various states and you will receive their newsletter once you join with valuable information. Home schooling is becoming more and more popular so the chances of someone turning you in for child delinquency, for example, are very rare.... but it can happen. It's my "Murphy's Law" insurance. It doesn't hurt.
Question: Can I home school a child with special needs?
Answer: Yes, you can!! My oldest had ADHD and I was able to meet his needs. In a way it was a blessing to home school him when I did. All the teachers wanted me to medicate him and he was having adverse reactions including paranoia. My #2 has autism and I was able to home school him with no problem. We actually bonded during the year I homeschooled and I felt it was the best thing I could have done for him. If I would not have found the school he attends now I would still be homeschooling him to this day. You see.. as his mother you know how your child learns and you can better adapt the curriculum and material to his needs.
Question: How can I know how he is doing in comparison to his peers?
Answer: It really shouldn't matter, but unfortunately we live in a society that makes that a priority. What I did was request my son take the standardized testing that was offered at the school we were zoned for. By law they have to let you take the test. When the results came in they mailed them to me. It was actually easier to do than I thought. Plus, I have that testing in my records in case I ever need the results for anything. Another thing I did was take him to a Sylvan Learning Center. I have to admit that it was pricey. However, they tested him and I was reassured when he tested above grade level.
Question: Any tips that helped while home schooling?
Answer: Stay organized and keep good records. If you decide to put your child back into regular school, you need to have records and sample work to show the school. When my child applied for Magnet School the principal requested actual written work that he had done. It was nice to be able to hand over folders of testing and written work to prove that I wasn't making up his grades. Another tip I would like to share with you is that you should try and find a good support network. I had wonderful friends who homeschooled and they were there for me with support, answers, and guidance. It was nice getting together once in a while and letting our children play. I think it's important to find a group you can do that with. Lastly, don't underestimate YOUR potential and how much YOU know. If you need any help, online resources are wonderful. Also, the local library offers a lot of programs. Look into that as well. Oh... and I forgot that you can always cover church doctrine into your studies. We incorporated scripture study into our curriculum.
I hope this information is useful to anyone considering homeschooling their children. I think it's the hardest thing to decide, but the rewards are too numerous to measure. I think that it's important to understand that in order to do a good job, things will have to change. There are many things to consider and there will be a lot of trial and error when you begin. Just don't give up. It will take a couple months before you get into an established routine. Once you do, you will be amazed at how easy it truly is. Good luck!!!
****************************
Teaching your children is one
of the most rewarding things.
Seeing their eyes light up
when they finally get it....
that's truly priceless.
****************************
Why Evaluate for Speech?
My youngest just turned three years old and I have recently noticed that his speech is not progressing like it should. I can tell that he is slowly lagging behind his peers. I don't think he has any hearing or vision problems. Luckily, I know what to do. I called the Public School System and was able to get an evaluation scheduled free of charge. It took a few phone calls, but I was able to find the right person. Make sure that you do that or else you will find yourself being directed to a private Speech Therapist who will charge you approximately $65 to come and evaluate your child.
When your child is evaluated for speech they don't just test the articulation and language. They also test fine and gross motor skills. They test for comprehension. Also, they are an unbiased opinion about where your child is at this point. All those things are very critical when you have other things taking place that you might not be aware of. For me, it was very difficult to gage my son's progress because he was so far advanced compared to my other children. As a matter of fact, my new pediatrician did not seem worried at all. However, he told me that it might help relieve my fears if I had him evaluated. Personally, I think that it's better to get him help early than to wait and see. Plus, right now I am able to get him services free of charge. That is definitely the deciding factor for me. I don't want to lose that window of opportunity.
Why evaluate for speech, you might ask? Well, there are many reasons why you should. First, the earlier you intervene the better chances of a good outcome. You might end up with a child that does not require services by the time they get to kindergarten. Secondly, when you evaluate for speech you have the resources of a professional who can offer their input and advice. Thirdly, this is a service that you pay for with your tax dollars. Why not take advantage of it if you feel you need it? It makes no sense not to. Fourth reason, you might find out your child has other things that require immediate attention such as hearing loss, autism, or other learning disabilities. Lastly, why not? There is no reason why you shouldn't take advantage of this valuable resource that you already have paid for. Programs like this are designed for people like you and me. They aren't just for low-income families. That is a BIG misconception. Also, you get some very qualified individuals who are dedicated to helping kids. I've had nothing but good experiences with these people.
I will definitely update you all on my son's evaluation and progress. I am hopeful that whatever the outcome, it will be for the best. If he requires speech therapy, then I will feel great that I listened to my gut. If he doesn't require it, then that would be WONDERFUL!!!! I would be so excited!!! However, I am definitely not holding my breath at the moment.
**************************
Waiting to exhale.........
**************************
When your child is evaluated for speech they don't just test the articulation and language. They also test fine and gross motor skills. They test for comprehension. Also, they are an unbiased opinion about where your child is at this point. All those things are very critical when you have other things taking place that you might not be aware of. For me, it was very difficult to gage my son's progress because he was so far advanced compared to my other children. As a matter of fact, my new pediatrician did not seem worried at all. However, he told me that it might help relieve my fears if I had him evaluated. Personally, I think that it's better to get him help early than to wait and see. Plus, right now I am able to get him services free of charge. That is definitely the deciding factor for me. I don't want to lose that window of opportunity.
Why evaluate for speech, you might ask? Well, there are many reasons why you should. First, the earlier you intervene the better chances of a good outcome. You might end up with a child that does not require services by the time they get to kindergarten. Secondly, when you evaluate for speech you have the resources of a professional who can offer their input and advice. Thirdly, this is a service that you pay for with your tax dollars. Why not take advantage of it if you feel you need it? It makes no sense not to. Fourth reason, you might find out your child has other things that require immediate attention such as hearing loss, autism, or other learning disabilities. Lastly, why not? There is no reason why you shouldn't take advantage of this valuable resource that you already have paid for. Programs like this are designed for people like you and me. They aren't just for low-income families. That is a BIG misconception. Also, you get some very qualified individuals who are dedicated to helping kids. I've had nothing but good experiences with these people.
I will definitely update you all on my son's evaluation and progress. I am hopeful that whatever the outcome, it will be for the best. If he requires speech therapy, then I will feel great that I listened to my gut. If he doesn't require it, then that would be WONDERFUL!!!! I would be so excited!!! However, I am definitely not holding my breath at the moment.
**************************
Waiting to exhale.........
**************************
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Should He Stay or Should He Go???
I don't want to brag, but after everything we've been through with my oldest... I think I am entitled to a little good news. Right? For those of you who don't know the story, here is a little recap: To say that my oldest is a smart kid is probably an understatement. He recently turned twelve years old and he is in the 7th grade because we homeschooled and were able to complete two years of academics in one year. Because of his ADHD and Gifted IQ, the regular school setting was difficult for him. He would get bored and get into trouble for reading books during instruction. Even though we put him in Quest (which is a special enrichment program for gifted kids) it was not enough. Also, he was a bit "nerdy" and so he got picked on. He kind of kept to himself and only had a couple close friends.
Now... with that in mind, we opted to put him in a private school this year even though the tuition is outrageous. The peace of mind and knowing that he would be challenged was worth it to me. This year has truly been the best year for him. He has matured and learned a lot of lessons. He's made a lot of friend. He has learned to be more organized and has excelled in his academics. The school he goes to is a special school for kids with ADHD, High Functioning Autism, who are gifted, or have a combination. As many of you already know, kids who are in the top spectrum of intelligence have a handicap in school just as the kids in the lower spectrum. They are a challenge for teachers and they often do not get what they need. This school is awesome because they test the kids and put them in the appropriate level classrooms no matter what age they are. It is an amazing thing to see.
In December I received a packet requesting forms and payment for holding positions for next year before it was open to the public. I panicked because I just did not know what I was going to do yet. I have two children going there and the combined tuition is equal to a house payment. Plus, I wanted to try out the new middle school that was going to open next Fall. I had a lot of things to consider, including homeschooling him. I decided to wait until the Parent/Teacher Conference that was scheduled in a couple weeks to see. When I spoke to the teacher I asked her frankly about my child. I was excited to hear that he was doing extremely well socially and they were using him as a peer tutor and helper. She also said that there was another child who was having difficulties making friends and so they formed a boy lunch group for him and he specifically requested my son to be in the group. She said that he was really enjoying that.
After we spoke for a while about his progress, I explained to her my dilemma and asked her as his teacher what her feelings were on it. She confirmed my concerns. She told me that he needed to be challenged and that a regular middle school would not offer him what he needed. She suggested we put him in a magnet school. However, we did that last year and we weren't going down THAT road again!! She explained that the school would be able to test him and let him skip any sections that he had mastered in various subjects. That would help challenge him a little bit more and then he would be prepared for Magnet High School the following year. That gave me a lot to think about. I did not realize that they could do that. I also spoke with the Asst. Director of the school and she felt the same way and even reassured me that she had many students go on to Magnet High School and that they did very well.
It was a very overwhelming thing for me. I sat down with my husband and we discussed it in depth. We had options at this point. The big question was: could we afford it next year?? We decided that if we budgeted and cut back on a few things, we would be able to handle it for one more year. The next step was to speak to my son. That was important to me. I needed to know how he felt about it. I tried not to influence him in any way. I just asked him bluntly, "What do you think about your school? Do you want to go back next year? Would you like to be homeschooled?" His response was quick. He said he wanted to return next year. That was enough for me.
Sometimes we make sacrifices for our children that we would never dream of doing. It is always difficult knowing if you did the right thing. School is a very stressful thing for parents. It is especially hard when you have special needs to consider. I am fortunate to have the choice because I know there are many who don't. I feel like homeschooling is definitely always my safety net. If things don't work out, then I know that I can do it and that my child will be okay. There are many people out there who frown against it, but I am here to say that you should not knock it til you try it. The hardest thing about homeschooling, for me, was probably staying organized and making sure that I offered enough extracurricular activities so that he didn't feel lonely. The rest was a piece of cake.
I am so glad that so far all of our children seem to be happy where they are. They are all excelling in school and look forward to learning each day. Even my baby who goes to preschool loves going. There is no better feeling in the world to know that your babies are in good hands and that all your sacrifices and hard work were not in vain.
**********************
Is it time to exhale?
**********************
Now... with that in mind, we opted to put him in a private school this year even though the tuition is outrageous. The peace of mind and knowing that he would be challenged was worth it to me. This year has truly been the best year for him. He has matured and learned a lot of lessons. He's made a lot of friend. He has learned to be more organized and has excelled in his academics. The school he goes to is a special school for kids with ADHD, High Functioning Autism, who are gifted, or have a combination. As many of you already know, kids who are in the top spectrum of intelligence have a handicap in school just as the kids in the lower spectrum. They are a challenge for teachers and they often do not get what they need. This school is awesome because they test the kids and put them in the appropriate level classrooms no matter what age they are. It is an amazing thing to see.
In December I received a packet requesting forms and payment for holding positions for next year before it was open to the public. I panicked because I just did not know what I was going to do yet. I have two children going there and the combined tuition is equal to a house payment. Plus, I wanted to try out the new middle school that was going to open next Fall. I had a lot of things to consider, including homeschooling him. I decided to wait until the Parent/Teacher Conference that was scheduled in a couple weeks to see. When I spoke to the teacher I asked her frankly about my child. I was excited to hear that he was doing extremely well socially and they were using him as a peer tutor and helper. She also said that there was another child who was having difficulties making friends and so they formed a boy lunch group for him and he specifically requested my son to be in the group. She said that he was really enjoying that.
After we spoke for a while about his progress, I explained to her my dilemma and asked her as his teacher what her feelings were on it. She confirmed my concerns. She told me that he needed to be challenged and that a regular middle school would not offer him what he needed. She suggested we put him in a magnet school. However, we did that last year and we weren't going down THAT road again!! She explained that the school would be able to test him and let him skip any sections that he had mastered in various subjects. That would help challenge him a little bit more and then he would be prepared for Magnet High School the following year. That gave me a lot to think about. I did not realize that they could do that. I also spoke with the Asst. Director of the school and she felt the same way and even reassured me that she had many students go on to Magnet High School and that they did very well.
It was a very overwhelming thing for me. I sat down with my husband and we discussed it in depth. We had options at this point. The big question was: could we afford it next year?? We decided that if we budgeted and cut back on a few things, we would be able to handle it for one more year. The next step was to speak to my son. That was important to me. I needed to know how he felt about it. I tried not to influence him in any way. I just asked him bluntly, "What do you think about your school? Do you want to go back next year? Would you like to be homeschooled?" His response was quick. He said he wanted to return next year. That was enough for me.
Sometimes we make sacrifices for our children that we would never dream of doing. It is always difficult knowing if you did the right thing. School is a very stressful thing for parents. It is especially hard when you have special needs to consider. I am fortunate to have the choice because I know there are many who don't. I feel like homeschooling is definitely always my safety net. If things don't work out, then I know that I can do it and that my child will be okay. There are many people out there who frown against it, but I am here to say that you should not knock it til you try it. The hardest thing about homeschooling, for me, was probably staying organized and making sure that I offered enough extracurricular activities so that he didn't feel lonely. The rest was a piece of cake.
I am so glad that so far all of our children seem to be happy where they are. They are all excelling in school and look forward to learning each day. Even my baby who goes to preschool loves going. There is no better feeling in the world to know that your babies are in good hands and that all your sacrifices and hard work were not in vain.
**********************
Is it time to exhale?
**********************
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wilson's Disease and the Biopsy Dilemma
I took my daughter to see her specialists at Children's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. It was a nice road trip and a chance for us to have a "girl's day" together. I tried to make the best of the experience and I hope I succeeded. We had a couple hours to do whatever we wanted before the appointment and so we ate at a Waffle House and then visited the gift shop at the hospital. They had a lot of cute things. I bought her a Hello Kitty ring with lip gloss inside of it. She loved that!
We signed in early, but it still was a long wait for us. We waited for about an hour. I thought it was a bit ridiculous! When the doctors finally came to the room, they still seemed baffled about everything. They explained that everyone they talked to and consulted with did not know exactly what course of treatment, if any, we should take. Since the liver enzymes were elevated last time, they were concerned. They basically said that at this point it was a matter of WHEN and not IF she was going to need a liver biopsy. To make things worse, they told me that when you do a biopsy on a child they have to keep her overnight for observation because of the risks including bleeding. I didn't like the news. It seemed a bit risky, especially when she seemed so healthy. They further explained that if her liver enzymes continued to rise then they needed to find out if there was copper accumulating in her liver before she showed signs of jaundice and other liver damage symptoms. At this point, we were going to do her bloodwork and if her liver enzymes did not change then we would continue to see them every six months and recheck her urine and liver enzymes.
I have to admit that I felt a bit lonely after hearing the news. I am not sure if I can explain it in words, but I will try. Before, I could sense a bit of urgency in trying to find information and figuring out what to do with Sarah from the doctors. This time it was different. It was as if they had forgotten about her, we showed up, and then they quickly reviewed the chart, and gave me the same "story" that they gave me before. The exception was that this time they threw me a "curve ball" with the biopsy suggestion.
After we met with the two doctors (which was approximately five minutes each ... possibly less)we went to the lab and got her blood work drawn. I have to tell you about the lidocaine cream (you can request the prescription from your pediatrician and get it at your local pharmacy). It's a miracle cream for us. Before I found it, my daughter would be so anxious about getting her blood drawn that I would have to hold her on my lap and press down on her legs to keep her still. It was an ordeal. NOW... we go and she's happy and tells everyone that it's only going to hurt a little bit. Today she actually told me that it didn't hurt at all. I was glad. It's very easy to apply. You put a thin layer over the crease of her arm (where they will draw the blood) and then cover it completely with an occlusive dressing to keep from evaporating before taking affect. It takes approximately 15-20 minutes, so you need to time it accordingly.
On the drive home, my daughter fell asleep and so I was left alone in my thoughts. Of course, all I could think about was her laboratory results. They would determine whether she would need a biopsy or not. It was torture not knowing. All of a sudden my cellphone rang and it was the doctor's office. The nurse said that the results had come in and that she had some good news. Her liver enzymes had improved!! I was excited and overjoyed! It was better than Christmas. I thanked them for calling and the rest of the ride was wonderful.
Keeping my sweet daughter healthy is my utmost goal. I will go to the ends of the world in search of treatment and answers. Luckily, whatever we are doing is working, and it seems my answers have been just a prayer away.
********************************
Although doing nothing seems the
easy thing to do... having no
answers is definitely harder.
********************************
We signed in early, but it still was a long wait for us. We waited for about an hour. I thought it was a bit ridiculous! When the doctors finally came to the room, they still seemed baffled about everything. They explained that everyone they talked to and consulted with did not know exactly what course of treatment, if any, we should take. Since the liver enzymes were elevated last time, they were concerned. They basically said that at this point it was a matter of WHEN and not IF she was going to need a liver biopsy. To make things worse, they told me that when you do a biopsy on a child they have to keep her overnight for observation because of the risks including bleeding. I didn't like the news. It seemed a bit risky, especially when she seemed so healthy. They further explained that if her liver enzymes continued to rise then they needed to find out if there was copper accumulating in her liver before she showed signs of jaundice and other liver damage symptoms. At this point, we were going to do her bloodwork and if her liver enzymes did not change then we would continue to see them every six months and recheck her urine and liver enzymes.
I have to admit that I felt a bit lonely after hearing the news. I am not sure if I can explain it in words, but I will try. Before, I could sense a bit of urgency in trying to find information and figuring out what to do with Sarah from the doctors. This time it was different. It was as if they had forgotten about her, we showed up, and then they quickly reviewed the chart, and gave me the same "story" that they gave me before. The exception was that this time they threw me a "curve ball" with the biopsy suggestion.
After we met with the two doctors (which was approximately five minutes each ... possibly less)we went to the lab and got her blood work drawn. I have to tell you about the lidocaine cream (you can request the prescription from your pediatrician and get it at your local pharmacy). It's a miracle cream for us. Before I found it, my daughter would be so anxious about getting her blood drawn that I would have to hold her on my lap and press down on her legs to keep her still. It was an ordeal. NOW... we go and she's happy and tells everyone that it's only going to hurt a little bit. Today she actually told me that it didn't hurt at all. I was glad. It's very easy to apply. You put a thin layer over the crease of her arm (where they will draw the blood) and then cover it completely with an occlusive dressing to keep from evaporating before taking affect. It takes approximately 15-20 minutes, so you need to time it accordingly.
On the drive home, my daughter fell asleep and so I was left alone in my thoughts. Of course, all I could think about was her laboratory results. They would determine whether she would need a biopsy or not. It was torture not knowing. All of a sudden my cellphone rang and it was the doctor's office. The nurse said that the results had come in and that she had some good news. Her liver enzymes had improved!! I was excited and overjoyed! It was better than Christmas. I thanked them for calling and the rest of the ride was wonderful.
Keeping my sweet daughter healthy is my utmost goal. I will go to the ends of the world in search of treatment and answers. Luckily, whatever we are doing is working, and it seems my answers have been just a prayer away.
********************************
Although doing nothing seems the
easy thing to do... having no
answers is definitely harder.
********************************
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
My New Favorite Doctor
As you all know, I have been struggling for quite some time with my current pediatrician. He seems to be in a power struggle with me and I just don't trust him anymore. It's sad because I have been using him for 12 years now and it's a shame. I've stuck with him all this time because of a feeling of loyalty... I know... it's crazy, but true. I have decided that it's time to move on and join another group. They are more in tune with my feelings and we seem to be on the same wavelength when it comes to our philosophies concerning medicine. For example, they wait until babies are two months before beginning vaccination. Also, they are TOTALLY supportive of a "safer schedule" and that means a lot to me.
I have to give you all the details of my first visit with my new doctor... my new friend. I scheduled an appointment for my baby's 3 year old check-up for today. My appointment was at 8:30am and so my wait was very minimal. I didn't look at my watch, but I would estimate that I waited approximately 10 minutes. That gave me enough time to fill out all the paperwork and give them my baby's records. The first person I talked to after the receptionist was a nurse and she was very sweet. She gave me a cup and said, "Try to get him to pee in the cup, but if he doesn't that's okay." I went into the bathroom and he refused to "pee" in the cup. I came out and shook my head. She smiled and took the empty cup. Then they took his blood from the finger and he did great! He didn't even cry. After that, they weighed him and then directed us to the examination room. The nurse measured his length and then began a battery of questions that really impressed me! She asked me behavior questions, milestone questions, about his eating habits, and other things that I wasn't accustomed to. It was very thorough. She left and we waited for approximately three minutes before the doctor came in the room. He was a young-looking doctor with a pleasant face and smile. He had a calm demeanor and it rubbed off on Charles because he immediately calmed down. Normally my baby would freak out when the previous doctor tried to check his heart or ears and he didn't react that way at all with this doctor. It was amazing!
This doctor is a Christian and very open about his beliefs. He quoted a few bible verses within the first five minutes of our visit. He mentioned how according to the charts, my baby could possibly grow to about 6 feet 4 inches tall, but ultimately it's up to God how tall Charles was going to be. He also let me know that he was perfectly normal and that I should not get caught up on what others feel is "normal" because each child develops at a different rate. However, it wouldn't hurt to get him evaluated for speech if I had any concerns. He reassured me about his eating habits. His growth was off the curve at greater than 95th percentile and his weight was a little above middle range at 80th percentile. He went over his blood work and that was nice. It all looked perfect!
Of course, you all are wondering what about the vaccines? Well... I wanted to save the best for last. He asked me if my baby was up to date on his shots. I told him that we were following a different schedule. He looked at the shots that he had received and acted like he was pleased. He said that the only shots he was due for was the polio booster and the MMR and Varicella. I told him I only wanted to do the booster and he smiled and said, "good... Yeah, the preschools and schools push for that...You want to wait a while before giving the MMR and Varicella, right?" I nodded in agreement. He smiled again and said, "Will the school be okay with that? Or will they give you problems?" I told him, "Oh...they're okay with that." He replied, "That's great!" I asked him about the blue slip and if I could get an updated one and he said, "sure...no problem." (This made me sad because that's when I realized that my current pediatrician was being really rude with me. He was denying me a basic thing in order to force me to do what he wanted. Very evil!!)
He then wrote some notes on a slip of paper and handed it to me. On it was written, "Next appt. at 4 yrs." That meant that he wasn't expecting me to come in earlier to get shots and that wasn't even an issue for him. I was so excited I immediately called my dear friend who recommended them to me to tell her all about my experience. If you are reading this.... you know who you are.... THANK YOU... a million thanks!!!
It's not a coincidence that things happened the way they did. I could say to myself that it would have been better to have discovered this group earlier and who knows? However, I know that things happened for a reason. I now appreciate this doctor so much more. I am also armed with more knowledge and conviction about my beliefs. I am definitely a different person today than I was just a couple years ago. I truly believe that this is definitely the start of a beautiful friendship.
**************************************
"Louis, I think this is the beginning
of a beautiful friendship"-Casa Blanca
**************************************
I have to give you all the details of my first visit with my new doctor... my new friend. I scheduled an appointment for my baby's 3 year old check-up for today. My appointment was at 8:30am and so my wait was very minimal. I didn't look at my watch, but I would estimate that I waited approximately 10 minutes. That gave me enough time to fill out all the paperwork and give them my baby's records. The first person I talked to after the receptionist was a nurse and she was very sweet. She gave me a cup and said, "Try to get him to pee in the cup, but if he doesn't that's okay." I went into the bathroom and he refused to "pee" in the cup. I came out and shook my head. She smiled and took the empty cup. Then they took his blood from the finger and he did great! He didn't even cry. After that, they weighed him and then directed us to the examination room. The nurse measured his length and then began a battery of questions that really impressed me! She asked me behavior questions, milestone questions, about his eating habits, and other things that I wasn't accustomed to. It was very thorough. She left and we waited for approximately three minutes before the doctor came in the room. He was a young-looking doctor with a pleasant face and smile. He had a calm demeanor and it rubbed off on Charles because he immediately calmed down. Normally my baby would freak out when the previous doctor tried to check his heart or ears and he didn't react that way at all with this doctor. It was amazing!
This doctor is a Christian and very open about his beliefs. He quoted a few bible verses within the first five minutes of our visit. He mentioned how according to the charts, my baby could possibly grow to about 6 feet 4 inches tall, but ultimately it's up to God how tall Charles was going to be. He also let me know that he was perfectly normal and that I should not get caught up on what others feel is "normal" because each child develops at a different rate. However, it wouldn't hurt to get him evaluated for speech if I had any concerns. He reassured me about his eating habits. His growth was off the curve at greater than 95th percentile and his weight was a little above middle range at 80th percentile. He went over his blood work and that was nice. It all looked perfect!
Of course, you all are wondering what about the vaccines? Well... I wanted to save the best for last. He asked me if my baby was up to date on his shots. I told him that we were following a different schedule. He looked at the shots that he had received and acted like he was pleased. He said that the only shots he was due for was the polio booster and the MMR and Varicella. I told him I only wanted to do the booster and he smiled and said, "good... Yeah, the preschools and schools push for that...You want to wait a while before giving the MMR and Varicella, right?" I nodded in agreement. He smiled again and said, "Will the school be okay with that? Or will they give you problems?" I told him, "Oh...they're okay with that." He replied, "That's great!" I asked him about the blue slip and if I could get an updated one and he said, "sure...no problem." (This made me sad because that's when I realized that my current pediatrician was being really rude with me. He was denying me a basic thing in order to force me to do what he wanted. Very evil!!)
He then wrote some notes on a slip of paper and handed it to me. On it was written, "Next appt. at 4 yrs." That meant that he wasn't expecting me to come in earlier to get shots and that wasn't even an issue for him. I was so excited I immediately called my dear friend who recommended them to me to tell her all about my experience. If you are reading this.... you know who you are.... THANK YOU... a million thanks!!!
It's not a coincidence that things happened the way they did. I could say to myself that it would have been better to have discovered this group earlier and who knows? However, I know that things happened for a reason. I now appreciate this doctor so much more. I am also armed with more knowledge and conviction about my beliefs. I am definitely a different person today than I was just a couple years ago. I truly believe that this is definitely the start of a beautiful friendship.
**************************************
"Louis, I think this is the beginning
of a beautiful friendship"-Casa Blanca
**************************************
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Most Frazzled Mom Contest
There is actually a contest I heard about the other day that is entitled: "Most Frazzled Mom Contest" and I am considering entering it. You need to submit a 500 word essay explaining why you feel you are the most frazzled mom in our area. The winner gets a prize valued at $500.00. The prize includes one night stay at a local luxury hotel. Not bad for writing 500 words, huh?
Last year I would have had a better chance of winning. This was my life last year: all four of my children attended a different school. My oldest attended a school that was all the way across town. My daughter attended a preschool that was approximately halfway across town. To make matters worse, the timing could not be any worse. My oldest had to be at school by 8:30am. My daughter needed to be at school at 9:00am. My #2 had to be at school by 8:00am. My baby went to school at 8:30am and could not be dropped off any earlier. Picking them up was even worse. My daughter had to be picked up no later than 12:00 noon. My baby had to be picked up by 12:30pm. My #2 had to be picked up by 3:00pm. My oldest had to be picked up at 3:30pm. I finally found a friend to carpool with by the middle of the school year for my oldest. That was a blessing. However, I had to pick up all my kids and be home in time for him to be dropped off at the house. I felt like a taxi driver the entire year. It was crazy!
If you think THAT was bad... I didn't even mention how my daughter had to be at ballet by 3:45pm on Tuesdays and my boys had gym at the same time. That meant that I had to pack their clothes and they had to change in the van once we got there. Thank goodness for tinted windows!! Of course, Wednesdays was Scouts and so they needed to be done with homework and projects in time to be at the meeting. Let's see.... oh, and then I had to deal with bullying issues with my son who was in middle school and a principal that didn't cooperate. Oh... and then my daughter was sick but no doctor could tell me why and didn't seem to want to find out. (That was enough to make ME sick.)
I think you get the picture. Wow... thinking about all I went through last year makes me appreciate 2008 so much more! I guess I should count my blessings and realize that any stress I am under is just part of being a mom. When you have four children it's absolutely normal to feel a little frazzled. If not, then you aren't taking your job very seriously. Feeling a little stress just means that you care. It just comes with the territory.
Well... if any of you reading this live in the Central Alabama Region this is the site with the official rules: http://centralalabama.momslikeme.com/members/journalactions.aspx?g=503205&m=3231342&si=Comments&pi=1
I hope none of you reading this feel like the most frazzled mom.... however, you know what they say, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!" It's worth a try, right? If anything, I think it would be very therapeutic to write down some of your thoughts. I know that this blog does that for me. It has helped me so much in ways you will never know.
**********
Good luck!
**********
Last year I would have had a better chance of winning. This was my life last year: all four of my children attended a different school. My oldest attended a school that was all the way across town. My daughter attended a preschool that was approximately halfway across town. To make matters worse, the timing could not be any worse. My oldest had to be at school by 8:30am. My daughter needed to be at school at 9:00am. My #2 had to be at school by 8:00am. My baby went to school at 8:30am and could not be dropped off any earlier. Picking them up was even worse. My daughter had to be picked up no later than 12:00 noon. My baby had to be picked up by 12:30pm. My #2 had to be picked up by 3:00pm. My oldest had to be picked up at 3:30pm. I finally found a friend to carpool with by the middle of the school year for my oldest. That was a blessing. However, I had to pick up all my kids and be home in time for him to be dropped off at the house. I felt like a taxi driver the entire year. It was crazy!
If you think THAT was bad... I didn't even mention how my daughter had to be at ballet by 3:45pm on Tuesdays and my boys had gym at the same time. That meant that I had to pack their clothes and they had to change in the van once we got there. Thank goodness for tinted windows!! Of course, Wednesdays was Scouts and so they needed to be done with homework and projects in time to be at the meeting. Let's see.... oh, and then I had to deal with bullying issues with my son who was in middle school and a principal that didn't cooperate. Oh... and then my daughter was sick but no doctor could tell me why and didn't seem to want to find out. (That was enough to make ME sick.)
I think you get the picture. Wow... thinking about all I went through last year makes me appreciate 2008 so much more! I guess I should count my blessings and realize that any stress I am under is just part of being a mom. When you have four children it's absolutely normal to feel a little frazzled. If not, then you aren't taking your job very seriously. Feeling a little stress just means that you care. It just comes with the territory.
Well... if any of you reading this live in the Central Alabama Region this is the site with the official rules: http://centralalabama.momslikeme.com/members/journalactions.aspx?g=503205&m=3231342&si=Comments&pi=1
I hope none of you reading this feel like the most frazzled mom.... however, you know what they say, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!" It's worth a try, right? If anything, I think it would be very therapeutic to write down some of your thoughts. I know that this blog does that for me. It has helped me so much in ways you will never know.
**********
Good luck!
**********
Friday, January 9, 2009
Wind Beneath My Wings
One thing that I want people to know is that there is definitely strength in numbers. I believe that when you have a group of parents who say the same thing and get together, their voices become amplified and they can be heard. I also believe that doctors who have children with special needs have a vested interest in prevention and treatment and therefore are better equipped to handle those type of patients and their parents.
Going to support groups is a good thing. Reading books is a great thing. Researching and finding all you can about a topic is a spectacular thing. I have experienced so many "chance encounters" with information and people while doing my research I can't even begin to explain it. It has given me hope and the knowledge to understand things I never understood before. Sometimes I am amazed at how I stumble across things and then I have the faith to follow it and I see results. Only through the spirit of God can this be achieved.
When I went to my last support group in Auburn I heard many things. Some things I sort of dismissed as "whacky" or "too weird for my blood"... however, there were other things that really made sense. I want to share some of those things with you. One of the things Lauren (the keynote speaker) spoke about was the "leaky gut syndrome". I had heard that term used before but had never quite understood what it meant. She explained it very simply. She said that "the digestive system is cosidered by many to house the root system of our health. There needs to be a balance of good and bad flora in the digestive system. When something happens to disrupt this balance and the bad flora takes over then yeast (especially candida albicans) can grow roots right through the intestinal wall making it permeable or leaky. Candida releases 79 toxins into the body. These toxins can leak out of the intestines and enter the bloodstream. This condition is called leaky gut syndrome." She recommended the use of Nystatin to treat chronic yeast overgrowth. Evidently, the yeast does not become resistant to it and it's safe to use for extended periods of time even in children. Nystatin is not absorbed into the bloodstream. Your pediatrician can consult with a Dr. Truss about the course of treatment."
She said that when she started the Nystatin with her own children and herself she saw an abrupt end to the vicious cycle of recurrent ear infections, ended complaints of rectal itching, brought about a resolution of chronic runny nose and cough, reduced symptoms of interstitial cystitis within two weeks, controlled toe walking in her children, greatly reduced "brain fog" and depression, ended 20 years of tremors she had in her hands, and greatly reduced auditory sensitivity. I found that to be AMAZING!! I wonder how many other families would benefit from this course of treatment?
She recommended a good book entitled: Help for the Hyperactive Child (written by Dr. William Crook). It talks about food allergies and sensitivities and how they play a role in a child's behavior. By figuring out what foods your child is allergic or sensitive to, you can eliminate a lot of bad behaviors such as hyperactivity, restlessness, etc... It is truly amazing how much food plays a role in a child's behavior. Even a "normal" child might be sensitive to certain foods and you might not realize it. I am definitely going to find this book and read it. It sounds fascinating and it seems to be filled with good practical information.
She gave two websites: www.bodyecology.com and www.bedrockcommunity.org
They both have information on the body ecology diet. I am not sure if I am going to try it yet, but it sounds very interesting. I would be curious to see if it worked for my family. From what I see it can't hurt. However, I will definitely need to make sure that the copper content is not too high for my daughter with Wilson's Disease. At first glance, it looks like it might actually be okay.
Lauren also discussed discipline. She gave a very good quote: "What is the first rule for disciplining children? You must have more discipline than the child." I thought that was good. I am definitely quilty of reprimanding my children while in anger. That's not good. Showing your child loss of control is not showing a good example. Your children look at your every move. They learn how to treat others from you. They also learn respect from you. The way you treat your spouse is very important. If your child sees you being disrespectful towards your spouse then how do you expect them to show YOU respect? She went over some alternatives to things we might say. For example, instead of saying, "Are you ready for bed?"... say, "It is time for bed." Another one: "Do you want some lunch?"... say instead, "It is lunch time. We are having chicken, green beans, and carrots." Be in control of the conversation with your child. Do not allow the child to draw you into the conflict.
As you can see, the information was wonderful. I thought it was rather comprehensive and I learned a lot of things. The best part of the whole experience was the contacts I made. I also found about the pediatric group in Montgomery that I am going to check out. I am hopeful that they are who I need to change to. I am sure that they will be more helpful than my current pediatrician. It's a shame that I didn't find out about them sooner. Who knows?
**************************************
I am not going to pout about what might
have been, but rather rejoice in the
hope of the future.
**************************************
Going to support groups is a good thing. Reading books is a great thing. Researching and finding all you can about a topic is a spectacular thing. I have experienced so many "chance encounters" with information and people while doing my research I can't even begin to explain it. It has given me hope and the knowledge to understand things I never understood before. Sometimes I am amazed at how I stumble across things and then I have the faith to follow it and I see results. Only through the spirit of God can this be achieved.
When I went to my last support group in Auburn I heard many things. Some things I sort of dismissed as "whacky" or "too weird for my blood"... however, there were other things that really made sense. I want to share some of those things with you. One of the things Lauren (the keynote speaker) spoke about was the "leaky gut syndrome". I had heard that term used before but had never quite understood what it meant. She explained it very simply. She said that "the digestive system is cosidered by many to house the root system of our health. There needs to be a balance of good and bad flora in the digestive system. When something happens to disrupt this balance and the bad flora takes over then yeast (especially candida albicans) can grow roots right through the intestinal wall making it permeable or leaky. Candida releases 79 toxins into the body. These toxins can leak out of the intestines and enter the bloodstream. This condition is called leaky gut syndrome." She recommended the use of Nystatin to treat chronic yeast overgrowth. Evidently, the yeast does not become resistant to it and it's safe to use for extended periods of time even in children. Nystatin is not absorbed into the bloodstream. Your pediatrician can consult with a Dr. Truss about the course of treatment."
She said that when she started the Nystatin with her own children and herself she saw an abrupt end to the vicious cycle of recurrent ear infections, ended complaints of rectal itching, brought about a resolution of chronic runny nose and cough, reduced symptoms of interstitial cystitis within two weeks, controlled toe walking in her children, greatly reduced "brain fog" and depression, ended 20 years of tremors she had in her hands, and greatly reduced auditory sensitivity. I found that to be AMAZING!! I wonder how many other families would benefit from this course of treatment?
She recommended a good book entitled: Help for the Hyperactive Child (written by Dr. William Crook). It talks about food allergies and sensitivities and how they play a role in a child's behavior. By figuring out what foods your child is allergic or sensitive to, you can eliminate a lot of bad behaviors such as hyperactivity, restlessness, etc... It is truly amazing how much food plays a role in a child's behavior. Even a "normal" child might be sensitive to certain foods and you might not realize it. I am definitely going to find this book and read it. It sounds fascinating and it seems to be filled with good practical information.
She gave two websites: www.bodyecology.com and www.bedrockcommunity.org
They both have information on the body ecology diet. I am not sure if I am going to try it yet, but it sounds very interesting. I would be curious to see if it worked for my family. From what I see it can't hurt. However, I will definitely need to make sure that the copper content is not too high for my daughter with Wilson's Disease. At first glance, it looks like it might actually be okay.
Lauren also discussed discipline. She gave a very good quote: "What is the first rule for disciplining children? You must have more discipline than the child." I thought that was good. I am definitely quilty of reprimanding my children while in anger. That's not good. Showing your child loss of control is not showing a good example. Your children look at your every move. They learn how to treat others from you. They also learn respect from you. The way you treat your spouse is very important. If your child sees you being disrespectful towards your spouse then how do you expect them to show YOU respect? She went over some alternatives to things we might say. For example, instead of saying, "Are you ready for bed?"... say, "It is time for bed." Another one: "Do you want some lunch?"... say instead, "It is lunch time. We are having chicken, green beans, and carrots." Be in control of the conversation with your child. Do not allow the child to draw you into the conflict.
As you can see, the information was wonderful. I thought it was rather comprehensive and I learned a lot of things. The best part of the whole experience was the contacts I made. I also found about the pediatric group in Montgomery that I am going to check out. I am hopeful that they are who I need to change to. I am sure that they will be more helpful than my current pediatrician. It's a shame that I didn't find out about them sooner. Who knows?
**************************************
I am not going to pout about what might
have been, but rather rejoice in the
hope of the future.
**************************************
Thursday, January 8, 2009
I'm So Excited... and I Just Can't Hide It!!!
Tonight I had the privilege of going to an Autism Support Group Meeting in Auburn, Alabama. It's been my experience that there are no coincidences in life. Sometimes our Heavenly Father has a way of placing people and experiences in our lives for a reason. I have to share what happened tonight with all of you.
The Keynote speaker was a lady by the name of Lauren Hixon. She is a remarkable lady who has taken it upon herself to find out all she can about autism and ways to help your child through diet and early intervention. She is a Speech Pathologist and a mom of three boys. She is convinced that there is a direct link between autism and the health of the mom. That is something I have not looked into, to be honest. However, one thing she mentioned as she was talking was about how hard it was for her to find a doctor in the Montgomery area. (For those of you who don't already know... I live in the Montgomery area.) She then casually mentioned that she finally found a doctor that understood her child's needs and all that she believed concerning diet AND VACCINES!!! I was floored! There was actually a doctor in MY area that might be able to help me. I continued to listen to her and in the back of my mind all I could think was, "I gotta go up to her afterwards and find out which doctor she uses!" She also mentioned another doctor (who was present at the meeting) who has a clinic in Birmingham and has helped numerous people in the Auburn area. EUREKA!!!
I have to thank my dear friend Barb who called me up yesterday and told me about this meeting. I truly believe she is one of those "angels" who have come into my life to help me through all of this. She found out about it through her hairdresser who JUST found out her four-year old has autism. I talked to her and she said she had known for at least two years, but her family and friends thought she was nuts. I welcomed her to "the club" and told her my story. It was nice to be in a room of parents who know exactly how you feel. It's wonderful!!
After Lauren finished talking, I dashed over to her and told her my dilemma. I then asked her which doctor she was seeing. Well.... (drum roll please)... she is actually seeing the same group that I am about to see with my baby boy! She told me that the doctor I have the appointment with is actually one of the better ones because he is the one that recommended a certain book (with a "crazy diet") and his entire family follows that diet. In other words, he is definitely open to alternative medicine and has a respect for the mothers of children with autism. I am sooooo excited that I had to share this news with all of you before I went to bed. I will write about some of the specific information I heard tonight at a later time. It was definitely brain overload for me because it was a ton of information in such a short period of time.
The best news about tonight is that I have found two wonderful contacts for possible doctors, and I can now rest assured that next week when I take my baby to one of them I can be open about the whole vaccine thing and not feel badly about it. I can't wait to hear what he has to say. It feels good when you are validated. I know that there are many parents out there who feel the same way I do. All I want is for a doctor to believe me when I say that something happened to my daughter and we treated her and she got better. I don't want the same thing to happen to my son... help me so that doesn't happen!
**********************************
Good things come to those who wait.
**********************************
The Keynote speaker was a lady by the name of Lauren Hixon. She is a remarkable lady who has taken it upon herself to find out all she can about autism and ways to help your child through diet and early intervention. She is a Speech Pathologist and a mom of three boys. She is convinced that there is a direct link between autism and the health of the mom. That is something I have not looked into, to be honest. However, one thing she mentioned as she was talking was about how hard it was for her to find a doctor in the Montgomery area. (For those of you who don't already know... I live in the Montgomery area.) She then casually mentioned that she finally found a doctor that understood her child's needs and all that she believed concerning diet AND VACCINES!!! I was floored! There was actually a doctor in MY area that might be able to help me. I continued to listen to her and in the back of my mind all I could think was, "I gotta go up to her afterwards and find out which doctor she uses!" She also mentioned another doctor (who was present at the meeting) who has a clinic in Birmingham and has helped numerous people in the Auburn area. EUREKA!!!
I have to thank my dear friend Barb who called me up yesterday and told me about this meeting. I truly believe she is one of those "angels" who have come into my life to help me through all of this. She found out about it through her hairdresser who JUST found out her four-year old has autism. I talked to her and she said she had known for at least two years, but her family and friends thought she was nuts. I welcomed her to "the club" and told her my story. It was nice to be in a room of parents who know exactly how you feel. It's wonderful!!
After Lauren finished talking, I dashed over to her and told her my dilemma. I then asked her which doctor she was seeing. Well.... (drum roll please)... she is actually seeing the same group that I am about to see with my baby boy! She told me that the doctor I have the appointment with is actually one of the better ones because he is the one that recommended a certain book (with a "crazy diet") and his entire family follows that diet. In other words, he is definitely open to alternative medicine and has a respect for the mothers of children with autism. I am sooooo excited that I had to share this news with all of you before I went to bed. I will write about some of the specific information I heard tonight at a later time. It was definitely brain overload for me because it was a ton of information in such a short period of time.
The best news about tonight is that I have found two wonderful contacts for possible doctors, and I can now rest assured that next week when I take my baby to one of them I can be open about the whole vaccine thing and not feel badly about it. I can't wait to hear what he has to say. It feels good when you are validated. I know that there are many parents out there who feel the same way I do. All I want is for a doctor to believe me when I say that something happened to my daughter and we treated her and she got better. I don't want the same thing to happen to my son... help me so that doesn't happen!
**********************************
Good things come to those who wait.
**********************************
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Still Searching
I am still searching for a new pediatrician. I heard about a group who was hopeful. One of my friends told me about them and about an incident that made me look into things further. She recently had a baby and was surprised when the doctor told her that they did not give the baby ANY vaccines. He didn't recommend it until 2 months. THEN he said that he also never gave HIS children the flu vaccine and so he didn't recommend that either. I was shocked!!! This is MY kind of doc!
Well...I have some bad news. I called and he is not taking any new patients unless they are newborn. I was definitely disappointed. However, I am looking into another doctor in the same group... So... I am hoping that at least I can get my foot in the door. We shall see. I am not sure how it works, but I figure that if I make an appointment and the primary doctor is not available, I can probably make an appointment with any of the other doctors in the group? Right? Am I sneaky? You betcha!!!
Once I can get my baby into another group, then eventually I can try and add the other kids if I end up liking them. In reality, when you go to a group you don't usually end up seeing the same doctor at every visit. In my current group there are four doctors and you can end up with any of them, especially if it's an emergency situation. That is why it's critical to know ALL the doctors in a group and not just one. Out of the four doctors I only like one and he evidently doesn't like me very much. So... that's where we're at right now.
It's sad that in a city as large as ours I cannot find a decent doctor. I am not alone in my thinking. I am thankful for Children's Hospital for my daughter because otherwise we would be in serious trouble. NO ONE in the entire city knows anything about Wilson's Disease or how to treat it! Believe me, I called! I also looked into Doctor of Osteopathic medicine, but there are none of those around the area either. For those of you who don't know what that is here is some good information on it: http://www.osteopathic.org/index.cfm?PageID=ado_whatis
These are ways they are different from regular MD's:
D.O.s bring something extra to medicine:
* Osteopathic medical schools emphasize training students to be primary care physicians.
* D.O.s practice a "whole person" approach to medicine. Instead of just treating specific symptoms or illnesses, they regard your body as an integrated whole.
* Osteopathic physicians focus on preventive health care.
* D.O.s receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system-your body's interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones that make up two-thirds of your body mass. This training provides osteopathic physicians with a better understanding of the ways that an illness or injury in one part of your body can affect another.
* Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is incorporated into the training and practice of osteopathic physicians. With OMT, osteopathic physicians use their hands to diagnose illness and injury and to encourage your body's natural tendency toward good health. By combining all other available medical options with OMT, D.O.s offer their patients the most comprehensive care available in medicine today.
I love the "preventive" medicine approach. I also like the way they treat the WHOLE body and not just the symptoms. That is a big deal to me. For example, I went to my general practitioner and told her I was tired and was worried I had anemia or something was wrong with my thyroid. But a D.O. would ask me, "Have you been under a lot of stress?" or "Have you been getting enough sleep lately?" That is the big difference! I wish there was one in the area because they know all about how toxins and environment plays a role in many of illnesses and conditions in kids today.
For now, I will keep searching. I know that there is doctor out there who feels like I do. I am positive that he/she exists. I also have faith that we won't have to go through this alone. There are many options for me right now. I don't have to be bullied by my current pediatrician. I know that my #4 came at a time when I was at my peak of my enlightenment. In the old days, I would have buckled. However, I am armed and ready to face whatever may come. Even if it comes in the form of a white lab coat.
**************************************
"Resistance is futile" - Seven of Nine
**************************************
Well...I have some bad news. I called and he is not taking any new patients unless they are newborn. I was definitely disappointed. However, I am looking into another doctor in the same group... So... I am hoping that at least I can get my foot in the door. We shall see. I am not sure how it works, but I figure that if I make an appointment and the primary doctor is not available, I can probably make an appointment with any of the other doctors in the group? Right? Am I sneaky? You betcha!!!
Once I can get my baby into another group, then eventually I can try and add the other kids if I end up liking them. In reality, when you go to a group you don't usually end up seeing the same doctor at every visit. In my current group there are four doctors and you can end up with any of them, especially if it's an emergency situation. That is why it's critical to know ALL the doctors in a group and not just one. Out of the four doctors I only like one and he evidently doesn't like me very much. So... that's where we're at right now.
It's sad that in a city as large as ours I cannot find a decent doctor. I am not alone in my thinking. I am thankful for Children's Hospital for my daughter because otherwise we would be in serious trouble. NO ONE in the entire city knows anything about Wilson's Disease or how to treat it! Believe me, I called! I also looked into Doctor of Osteopathic medicine, but there are none of those around the area either. For those of you who don't know what that is here is some good information on it: http://www.osteopathic.org/index.cfm?PageID=ado_whatis
These are ways they are different from regular MD's:
D.O.s bring something extra to medicine:
* Osteopathic medical schools emphasize training students to be primary care physicians.
* D.O.s practice a "whole person" approach to medicine. Instead of just treating specific symptoms or illnesses, they regard your body as an integrated whole.
* Osteopathic physicians focus on preventive health care.
* D.O.s receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system-your body's interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones that make up two-thirds of your body mass. This training provides osteopathic physicians with a better understanding of the ways that an illness or injury in one part of your body can affect another.
* Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is incorporated into the training and practice of osteopathic physicians. With OMT, osteopathic physicians use their hands to diagnose illness and injury and to encourage your body's natural tendency toward good health. By combining all other available medical options with OMT, D.O.s offer their patients the most comprehensive care available in medicine today.
I love the "preventive" medicine approach. I also like the way they treat the WHOLE body and not just the symptoms. That is a big deal to me. For example, I went to my general practitioner and told her I was tired and was worried I had anemia or something was wrong with my thyroid. But a D.O. would ask me, "Have you been under a lot of stress?" or "Have you been getting enough sleep lately?" That is the big difference! I wish there was one in the area because they know all about how toxins and environment plays a role in many of illnesses and conditions in kids today.
For now, I will keep searching. I know that there is doctor out there who feels like I do. I am positive that he/she exists. I also have faith that we won't have to go through this alone. There are many options for me right now. I don't have to be bullied by my current pediatrician. I know that my #4 came at a time when I was at my peak of my enlightenment. In the old days, I would have buckled. However, I am armed and ready to face whatever may come. Even if it comes in the form of a white lab coat.
**************************************
"Resistance is futile" - Seven of Nine
**************************************
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Sick Momma
I got sick. Yes... even moms sometimes get ill. It's not the end of the world, but it can sure seem that way at the time. I don't know how single parents do it. My heart goes out to those that have to do it alone.
It all started with a sinus infection that led me to the doctor's office. He prescribed a "Sulfa" drug and about 6 days later I ended up with a rash that literally started from the top of my head down to the soles of my feet. It was the itchiest and hottest rash and welts I have ever experienced. It felt like my skin was on fire! I was so scared. I called the doctor and he told me that's a possible side-effect and it sounded like I had an allergic reaction to the drug. He told me that it would be a good idea to go to the office and get my blood pressure checked and possibly get my white count checked too since those were other possible side-effects. (not to mention the liver problems, clotting problems, etc...) Now... my question to you all is, why didn't they tell me? The doctor did not seemed surprised or even concerned about it all. He told me that now I knew not to take it in the future and kind of laughed about the whole thing.
So... the reason I am posting this is to let you all know that if you haven't taken Sulfa drugs.. ever... then be on the look-out for possible side-effects. They won't kill you, but it sure will feel that way. It took me about two days to recuperate from the reaction. If I were a single parent and had to miss work I would have been very upset! Of course, the drug DID work. I got better after two days of being on the drug. Some might argue that perhaps I might have gotten better on my own? I will never know. However, I don't mess with sinus infections.
Case and point: Let me tell you about the time I got sick when I was pregnant with my daughter. I was about six months along and my husband and I were celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. We planned a trip to Hawaii and had everything set... our tickets, accommodations, and babysitter. Well...I got sick about a week before we had to go. I was so mad!! I went to the doctor and he said I had a sinus infection. He put me on antibiotics and warned me that if I wasn't better by the time we had to leave I probably should not go. He said that the worst thing you can do is go on a plane with a sinus infection. Well.... I was stubborn and didn't listen to him. I felt "okay" and so we continued with our plans. To make a loooong story short it took longer for me to get better and the infection ended up damaging my olfactory nerves (the sense of smell nerves) and so I was unable to smell or taste for about a year! To this day, I haven't recovered 100% and there are some smells that I can't smell. Learn from me... don't mess with sinus infections. They CAN be very serious!!
The kids were so worried about me these past couple days. I have to admit that it felt good to know they cared about me so much. Of course, on Friday my #2 came up to me and said, "Mom...are you going to feed us?" I looked at the clock and it was about 10:30am and had not fed my kids. I just assumed they had fixed their own food. I reassured him that I would. I got out of bed long enough to fix a couple meals (hoping that would get them through the day until dad got home) and then told my oldest that I was sick and he was in charge. I appreciate him so much. I know that I can count on him. He seldom lets me down. He looked at my face and said, "what's wrong with you, mom?" I told him, "I am sick and need to rest. Can you handle things?" He looked worried and then his worried look turned into excitement as he said, "Of course, mom... you go rest." That was all it took. I went back to bed until Dad got home. He knew how sick I was so it was a short day at work, and he was home early. Thank heavens!!
I am sure many of you have experienced being a sick mom. It's a totally different thing when you have little ones to tend to. Somehow you find the strength you need to do it. I am just thankful that it doesn't happen often and that when it does, I have my sweet husband to support me. I think it's a good thing for families. It helps them to realize how much you do for them. They have a greater appreciation for you. Also, it gives them the opportunity to serve YOU for a change. Believe it or not, they need that and enjoy it.
************************************
Take the time today to kneel down in
prayer and thank your Heavenly Father
for your health.
************************************
It all started with a sinus infection that led me to the doctor's office. He prescribed a "Sulfa" drug and about 6 days later I ended up with a rash that literally started from the top of my head down to the soles of my feet. It was the itchiest and hottest rash and welts I have ever experienced. It felt like my skin was on fire! I was so scared. I called the doctor and he told me that's a possible side-effect and it sounded like I had an allergic reaction to the drug. He told me that it would be a good idea to go to the office and get my blood pressure checked and possibly get my white count checked too since those were other possible side-effects. (not to mention the liver problems, clotting problems, etc...) Now... my question to you all is, why didn't they tell me? The doctor did not seemed surprised or even concerned about it all. He told me that now I knew not to take it in the future and kind of laughed about the whole thing.
So... the reason I am posting this is to let you all know that if you haven't taken Sulfa drugs.. ever... then be on the look-out for possible side-effects. They won't kill you, but it sure will feel that way. It took me about two days to recuperate from the reaction. If I were a single parent and had to miss work I would have been very upset! Of course, the drug DID work. I got better after two days of being on the drug. Some might argue that perhaps I might have gotten better on my own? I will never know. However, I don't mess with sinus infections.
Case and point: Let me tell you about the time I got sick when I was pregnant with my daughter. I was about six months along and my husband and I were celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. We planned a trip to Hawaii and had everything set... our tickets, accommodations, and babysitter. Well...I got sick about a week before we had to go. I was so mad!! I went to the doctor and he said I had a sinus infection. He put me on antibiotics and warned me that if I wasn't better by the time we had to leave I probably should not go. He said that the worst thing you can do is go on a plane with a sinus infection. Well.... I was stubborn and didn't listen to him. I felt "okay" and so we continued with our plans. To make a loooong story short it took longer for me to get better and the infection ended up damaging my olfactory nerves (the sense of smell nerves) and so I was unable to smell or taste for about a year! To this day, I haven't recovered 100% and there are some smells that I can't smell. Learn from me... don't mess with sinus infections. They CAN be very serious!!
The kids were so worried about me these past couple days. I have to admit that it felt good to know they cared about me so much. Of course, on Friday my #2 came up to me and said, "Mom...are you going to feed us?" I looked at the clock and it was about 10:30am and had not fed my kids. I just assumed they had fixed their own food. I reassured him that I would. I got out of bed long enough to fix a couple meals (hoping that would get them through the day until dad got home) and then told my oldest that I was sick and he was in charge. I appreciate him so much. I know that I can count on him. He seldom lets me down. He looked at my face and said, "what's wrong with you, mom?" I told him, "I am sick and need to rest. Can you handle things?" He looked worried and then his worried look turned into excitement as he said, "Of course, mom... you go rest." That was all it took. I went back to bed until Dad got home. He knew how sick I was so it was a short day at work, and he was home early. Thank heavens!!
I am sure many of you have experienced being a sick mom. It's a totally different thing when you have little ones to tend to. Somehow you find the strength you need to do it. I am just thankful that it doesn't happen often and that when it does, I have my sweet husband to support me. I think it's a good thing for families. It helps them to realize how much you do for them. They have a greater appreciation for you. Also, it gives them the opportunity to serve YOU for a change. Believe it or not, they need that and enjoy it.
************************************
Take the time today to kneel down in
prayer and thank your Heavenly Father
for your health.
************************************
Friday, January 2, 2009
Healthy Recipes for 2009
Since one of my goals is to have a healthier lifestyle for 2009 I thought I would begin by posting some of my favorite "healthy" recipes. These are kid-friendly recipes that my family has enjoyed over the years.
Appetizers:
Crab Muffins
Ingredients:
1 pkg-6 English Muffins
1 jar old English Cheese spread
2 Tbsp Mayo
1 Stick of butter or oleo
1 Can (undrained) crab
lemon
salt
Tabasco
Method:
-Cut each muffin half into 4 pieces
-Mix soft butter, cheese, and mayo with crab and juice of 1/2 lemon and 1/2 tsp. salt (add Tabasco to taste)
-Spread on muffins
-Freeze 30 mins.
-Bake frozen at 400 degrees for 25-30 min.
*Note: can be kept in freezer up to 6 months!!
...............................................
Surullitos De Maiz (Corn "Torpedoes")
Ingredients:
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
Method:
-Boil water and add cornmeal until it is thick and sticks together in a ball
-Remove from heat and add cheese
-Form into 2-inch long cigars
-Fry at 375 degrees
*We like to dip them into a special sauce. This is the recipe for the dipping sauce:
1 cup mayo
1/4 cup Ketchup
1 tsp of Tabasco sauce (or more if you like it more spicy)
...............................................
Main Dishes:
Bowtie Pasta Chicken Caesar Salad
Ingredients:
1 Box Bowtie Pasta
1 head or 1 bag of Romaine lettuce (wash and tear)
2- 4oz. Shredded Parmesan Cheese
Neman's Own Creamy Ceasar Dressing
Cooked/Chopped Chicken breast seasoned with Tony Cheshire's Creole Seasoning
Method:
-Cook pasta al dente and drain
- Add remaining ingredients and toss
*You can make the chicken ahead of time and toss right before you eat.
.....................................................
Beef Taco Bake
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 can (10 3/4 oz) Condensed Tomato Soup
1 cup Thick and Chunky Salsa
1/2 cup milk
6 flour tortillas or 8 corn tortillas (6 to 8"), cut into 1" pieces
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Method:
-In skillet over medium-high heat, cook beef until browned, stirring to separate meat. Pour off fat.
-Add soup, salsa, milk, tortillas and half the cheese. Spoon into 2-qt. shallow baking dish. Cover.
-Bake at 400 degrees 30 mins. or until hot. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
............................................
Taco Soup
Ingredients:
3-4 Chicken Breast
1 lg. onion (chopped)
2 cans (16 oz) Mexican Style Chili Beans (undrained)
1 can (16 oz) corn (undrained)
1 can (16 oz) chopped tomatoes (undrained)
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups water
1 (4 1/2 oz) chopped green chiles
1 (1 1/4 oz) taco seasoning mix
1 (1 oz) Ranch-style dressing mix
low fat sour cream (optional)
Method:
-Boil chicken and shred
-Add remaining ingredients
*Optional toppings: tortilla chips, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, avocado
..........................................
Side Dishes:
Corn Bread Salad
Ingredients:
4 cups cold corn bread
1 can English peas (drained)
1 can Mexican corn
1 Medium onion, chopped
1 Bell pepper, chopped
4 Hard boiled eggs
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup mayo
Method:
-Combine ingredients and chill before serving
...........................................
Desserts:
Cookies and Cream Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 cup milk
1 cup fat free or low fat chocolate frozen yogurt
Method:
-Blend ingredients in a blender until smooth
-Crumble in 2 reduced fat or regular sandwich cookies and blend
-Serve and enjoy
........................................................
Apple Pie in a Glass
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup milk
3 tbs. frozen apple juice concentrate
1/2 cup fat free or low fat vanilla frozen yogurt
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
Method:
-Blend all ingredients until smooth in a blender.
-Serve and enjoy!
.......................................................
Mock Cheesecake
Ingredients:
1 pkg fat-free Graham crackers (crush into crumbs)
2 pkgs. fat-free, sugar free cheesecake flavored pudding
"I Can't Believe it's Not Butter" spray
Container of cool whip
Method:
-Line bottom of casserole dish or pie dish with cracker crumbs and spray with the "butter" spray until it can be pressed down with fingers to make the crust
-Make the pudding according to box directions for pie filling and pour on top of crust
-top with cool whip and chill in fridge for a minimum of 30 mins.
-cut into squares or wedges and serve and enjoy!
..........................................................
Strawberry-Banana Smoothie
Ingredients:
2 cups milk
1 banana
4-6 frozen strawberries
ice
Malt Ovaltene (optional)
Method:
-Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. I usually start with about a cup of ice and add as necessary until desired consistency is achieved.
-Pour into cups and enjoy.
...................................................
All of these recipes can be made healthier by using fat-free milk, deleting the salt, and using less cheese than called for. I have learned little tricks over the years of ways to reduce calories without compromising taste. I recently bought the book "Deceptively Delicious" and I will let you all know which recipes work for our family. I am excited to try out the different ideas in the book since I have such a picky toddler.
I hope you all enjoy these recipes and that you are encouraged to start off the new year with a healthier appetite!
******************************************
Healthy eating habits begin in the home.
******************************************
Appetizers:
Crab Muffins
Ingredients:
1 pkg-6 English Muffins
1 jar old English Cheese spread
2 Tbsp Mayo
1 Stick of butter or oleo
1 Can (undrained) crab
lemon
salt
Tabasco
Method:
-Cut each muffin half into 4 pieces
-Mix soft butter, cheese, and mayo with crab and juice of 1/2 lemon and 1/2 tsp. salt (add Tabasco to taste)
-Spread on muffins
-Freeze 30 mins.
-Bake frozen at 400 degrees for 25-30 min.
*Note: can be kept in freezer up to 6 months!!
...............................................
Surullitos De Maiz (Corn "Torpedoes")
Ingredients:
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
Method:
-Boil water and add cornmeal until it is thick and sticks together in a ball
-Remove from heat and add cheese
-Form into 2-inch long cigars
-Fry at 375 degrees
*We like to dip them into a special sauce. This is the recipe for the dipping sauce:
1 cup mayo
1/4 cup Ketchup
1 tsp of Tabasco sauce (or more if you like it more spicy)
...............................................
Main Dishes:
Bowtie Pasta Chicken Caesar Salad
Ingredients:
1 Box Bowtie Pasta
1 head or 1 bag of Romaine lettuce (wash and tear)
2- 4oz. Shredded Parmesan Cheese
Neman's Own Creamy Ceasar Dressing
Cooked/Chopped Chicken breast seasoned with Tony Cheshire's Creole Seasoning
Method:
-Cook pasta al dente and drain
- Add remaining ingredients and toss
*You can make the chicken ahead of time and toss right before you eat.
.....................................................
Beef Taco Bake
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 can (10 3/4 oz) Condensed Tomato Soup
1 cup Thick and Chunky Salsa
1/2 cup milk
6 flour tortillas or 8 corn tortillas (6 to 8"), cut into 1" pieces
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Method:
-In skillet over medium-high heat, cook beef until browned, stirring to separate meat. Pour off fat.
-Add soup, salsa, milk, tortillas and half the cheese. Spoon into 2-qt. shallow baking dish. Cover.
-Bake at 400 degrees 30 mins. or until hot. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
............................................
Taco Soup
Ingredients:
3-4 Chicken Breast
1 lg. onion (chopped)
2 cans (16 oz) Mexican Style Chili Beans (undrained)
1 can (16 oz) corn (undrained)
1 can (16 oz) chopped tomatoes (undrained)
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups water
1 (4 1/2 oz) chopped green chiles
1 (1 1/4 oz) taco seasoning mix
1 (1 oz) Ranch-style dressing mix
low fat sour cream (optional)
Method:
-Boil chicken and shred
-Add remaining ingredients
*Optional toppings: tortilla chips, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, avocado
..........................................
Side Dishes:
Corn Bread Salad
Ingredients:
4 cups cold corn bread
1 can English peas (drained)
1 can Mexican corn
1 Medium onion, chopped
1 Bell pepper, chopped
4 Hard boiled eggs
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup mayo
Method:
-Combine ingredients and chill before serving
...........................................
Desserts:
Cookies and Cream Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 cup milk
1 cup fat free or low fat chocolate frozen yogurt
Method:
-Blend ingredients in a blender until smooth
-Crumble in 2 reduced fat or regular sandwich cookies and blend
-Serve and enjoy
........................................................
Apple Pie in a Glass
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup milk
3 tbs. frozen apple juice concentrate
1/2 cup fat free or low fat vanilla frozen yogurt
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
Method:
-Blend all ingredients until smooth in a blender.
-Serve and enjoy!
.......................................................
Mock Cheesecake
Ingredients:
1 pkg fat-free Graham crackers (crush into crumbs)
2 pkgs. fat-free, sugar free cheesecake flavored pudding
"I Can't Believe it's Not Butter" spray
Container of cool whip
Method:
-Line bottom of casserole dish or pie dish with cracker crumbs and spray with the "butter" spray until it can be pressed down with fingers to make the crust
-Make the pudding according to box directions for pie filling and pour on top of crust
-top with cool whip and chill in fridge for a minimum of 30 mins.
-cut into squares or wedges and serve and enjoy!
..........................................................
Strawberry-Banana Smoothie
Ingredients:
2 cups milk
1 banana
4-6 frozen strawberries
ice
Malt Ovaltene (optional)
Method:
-Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. I usually start with about a cup of ice and add as necessary until desired consistency is achieved.
-Pour into cups and enjoy.
...................................................
All of these recipes can be made healthier by using fat-free milk, deleting the salt, and using less cheese than called for. I have learned little tricks over the years of ways to reduce calories without compromising taste. I recently bought the book "Deceptively Delicious" and I will let you all know which recipes work for our family. I am excited to try out the different ideas in the book since I have such a picky toddler.
I hope you all enjoy these recipes and that you are encouraged to start off the new year with a healthier appetite!
******************************************
Healthy eating habits begin in the home.
******************************************
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