I've had some faith-promoting things happen in my lifetime. However, the events that have occurred in the past two years involving my daughter with Wilson's Disease have truly been nothing short of a miracle. I wanted to briefly summarize my journey through symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment so far. I will then discuss a book that should be in EVERY doctor's library. I think this is one of the most important entries I will ever write because Wilson's Disease is rare and my daughter's case is even more rare.
My daughter was a healthy normal child until about the age of two when I noticed symptoms such as her lips, hands, and feet turning purple when she sat in her high chair for long periods of time. She slept more than normal. It was not rare for her to have two naps a day, each consisting of at least 3-4 hours. I tried getting the doctors to pay attention but they ignored these symptoms.
When my daughter was 2 1/2 we decided to evaluate her for speech therapy. She showed a regression in speech. I had some experience with this since my older two sons also had to have speech therapy. During her evaluation the therapist suggested I see a neurologist. She noticed that my daughter was having staring spells. I had never heard of that before and it was shocking to hear those words. However, I listened to this "angel" of mine and before long I had an appointment to see a pediatric neurologist.
The pediatric neurologist we ended up seeing is the one doctor who finally made sense to me. I give him credit for saving my daughter's life. He was not a conventional doctor by any means. He believed in more untraditional medicine and some of his ideas were not respected by other doctors in our area. One of the things he did was do a thorough evaluation of my daughter's blood. He checked many things that are not traditionally tested such as copper, ceruloplasmin, and various other enzymes. He ordered an EEG and CAT scan. He also told me to put her on a special diet of milk-free food for a while and see what happens. He also suggested a liquid multi-vitamin that I purchased at a health food store. There is one other thing he told me that goes against everything I was taught in school. He told me that there was evidence to show that vaccines caused neurological damage in some kids. Could this be causing my child's neurological symptoms? We just will never know.... even to this day.
The labwork was shocking to my doctors. My daughter barely had any copper in her blood. Normal values are 90-180 and she had values that ranged from 7 to 9 after repeat testing. Her ceruloplasmin was also low and almost nonexistent. Her liver enzymes were slightly elevated. When we went for her follow-up the doctor told me that there was a chance she could have Wilson's Disease and we needed to rule it out. That was the first time I had ever heard of that. Of course, that night I googled it and found out everything I wanted to know and a lot I did not want to know.
Her first test was the EEG. The results were inconclusive. The neurologist saw "some abnormal discharges" during the test, but nothing shocking. The CAT scan also came back normal. We took my daughter to an optomologist to check her eyes for the Kayser-Fleischer rings (which are basically distinctive rings of copper that accumulate in the eyes of many Wilson's patients but cannot be seen except by an expert). The optomologist did not see anything wrong with my daughter's eyes. She basically failed all of the "screening tests" for Wilson's Disease at this point. However, the neurologist was not convinced that she was okay. He knew something was wrong and he was determined to find out what. That is what I liked about him. He did not give up. The next thing he did was order the ATP7B gene testing to rule out Wilson's for sure. However, there was a laboratory error and it was never done. He tried a second time with another lab and for some reason it just never got done.
Unfortunately, this doctor moved shortly after this vital step in the process. The next thing that happened is very hard for me to even recall. I felt so hopeless during this time. I felt like the only person who could help my daughter had left me abandoned and all alone. However, I was not going to give up that easily. I searched and searched for another pediatric neurologist. I found out that there was only one left in my city and so I tried her next. She seemed very capable the first time I saw her. I liked the fact she was also a mom and that for some reason reassured me. Little did I know that it would not matter in the long-run. I told her about the previous doctor and what he was trying to do. She told me that he was a "quack" and did not understand why he did all those "crazy" tests on all of his patients. I was shocked to hear her say that. I expressed my concerns about ruling out Wilson's. She was not convinced. She said that my daughter was fine and healthy and that I did not need to do any more testing. However, she hesitantly ordered a 24-hour urine copper. Unfortunately, it came back normal and so she was convinced that my daughter did not have Wilson's.
(This is the main reason I wanted to write this post. I want to urge all of you out there who have a child with ANY copper and/or liver issues to rule out Wilson's Disease. Although it is considered a very rare condition, I am here to tell you that MY daughter has it and it's not rare to me! Listen to your gut and don't give up.)
A year later I decided to take my daughter to the Children's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. That is where I was blessed with a Pediatric Neurologist who had previously worked as a Genetic Doctor. I hit the jackpot!! When I told her about my daughter and how I wanted to rule out Wilson's Disease, she only hesitated for a moment and then ordered the very critical test that eventually diagnosed my daughter........ the Wilson's Disease work-up at Mayo Clinic! It consists of the ATP7B genetic test and other specific markers. Her results came back conclusive as diagnostic for WD. Finally, we had a diagnosis!! It took us almost 2 years, but we finally found an answer to why her liver enzymes were elevated and her copper was so low. I was referred to a liver specialist and a GI doctor. The rest of the story will probably not surprise you.
*********************
To be continued......
*********************
Monday, July 13, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
My Son's "Rudy" Moment
I strongly suggest you see the movie "Rudy" if you haven't already. It's a very inspirational movie and is based on a true story. It's about a young boy whose life-long dream is to play football for the Irish or Notre Dame. He's short and not the best player, but his strong will to overcome his weaknesses help him to make his dream come true. Anyways, the reason I call this entry "My Son's Rudy Moment" is because I witnessed something in him that I saw in Rudy and I couldn't be more proud of him.
My oldest has never been great at sports. He's very smart and has always been good at computer games and such, but sports has never been his "thing". We tried baseball a couple years and he sat on the bench and hated every moment of it. When he was out on the field he would just observe the insects on the grass or look at the clouds in the sky. He had trouble paying attention to the game and since the ball rarely got hit his direction, it was boring for him. We gave up after about three years of baseball. It wasn't worth the time and effort on OUR part getting him to practices and even coaching one year.
A few years ago we tried soccer through the local YMCA. Again, we saw the same thing happen. He sat on the bench and rarely got to play. The coach did not even give him a chance. It was sad going to the games and seeing him waiting in anticipation to play. As a matter of fact, I vividly remember telling him to be more outspoken and ask the coach to let him play. It was ridiculous!! However, the coach just ignored him and put him the minimum amount of time required. After that year I decided that perhaps I needed to stop pushing sports on him. However, deep in my heart I knew that boys NEED sports. They need it for many reasons. First, they need it to learn how to work as a team. Secondly, they need it to use up some of that energy. The last reason I feel boys need sports is because it builds character and self-esteem. It's important for a child to learn what it feels like to bust your butt and lose a game as well as winning. That is something that you can not learn any other way.
Well... this year, we decided to try out soccer once more. I love the idea of indoor soccer since I hate the heat and summers in Alabama are unbearable! I took him to his first practice and I noticed that the coach was impressed with his size. He's about a head taller than his teammates. I watched them practice and I could tell that some of the boys had been playing for a long time. In the back of my mind I was dreading it because I just knew that he would probably be sitting on the bench for most of that first game for sure! Their first game was the following day and so that meant they only had one practice under their belt. I watched the kids go out into the field and did not see my son. My first thought was, "I guess they will put him in next quarter." However, I was shocked when my son came out and stood by the goal. The assistant coach began to kick balls at him and did a little "warm-up" with him right before the game started. I have to admit that I was a bit anxious about this. He had NEVER played goalie before and I thought it was a bit cruel to put him in first quarter. He also had a rather large wound on his knee that had not scabbed over yet and so was a bit tender. I bought some really expensive bandages to ensure that he was protected. All I could do was pray that the ball would not make it his way.
The whistle blew and the game started. The other team had some very seasoned players and the ball was near the goal for the majority of that first quarter. Every time they kicked the ball towards the goal my heart would skip a beat. I would hold my breath and sometimes close my eyes. My son blocked each and every one of them! He got aggressive and would reach out and grab the ball and throw it past the halfway mark on the field. I was so impressed and so were the other parents. They cheered and clapped for him. Unfortunately, his bandages on his knee kept falling off and so the other team got a couple points... once while the assistant coach attempted to help him put another band-aid on and then another time while my son was attempting to put it back on his knee after it had fallen off onto the ground. After the second quarter the coach replaced him with his second pick. Unfortunately, the final score ended up being 14-0 and we lost. I told my son that he should be extremely proud to know that he did such a good job and they were only able to get a couple points while he was the goalie.
The next game was just a few days later. The coach had called me and told me that he saw great potential in my son and that he was going to put him as goalie again. He was surprised when I told him that he had not played goalie before and that to be honest he had not much playing time since the previous coach kept him on the bench most of the season. He told me that he had seen great improvement already from the first practice until the first game. I had seen a change in his self-confidence for sure. It was a neat thing to see. We played the same team we had played in the first game and so my expectations were kind of low. I figured if we scored anything that was good for our team. My son did a great job once again for two quarters, and this time we figured out how to bandage his knee properly so that wasn't an issue. When it came time for him to play out in the field I saw him make some moves that totally blew me away. He was actually aggressive and I had NEVER seen that side of him before in ANY sport. He ran the ball, passed it to one of his teammates, and then got right by the goal and when the ball came his way he kicked the ball into the goal! Everyone cheered and one of the parents turned to me and said, "That's what I call goalie's revenge!" He looked over at me and gave me a smile and I smiled back. That moment was totally priceless! When the quarter ended he got "high-fives" and praise from all the team and coaches.
The final score was 2-6 and our team lost. However, it was definitely an improvement from the first game and we showed the other team that we are not going to give in that easily. After the game, the coach explained to us that there was some "unsportsmanlike" conduct displayed by the other team after the game and that just showed that we got to them. I really like this coach and I love the fact that he gives ALL the players a chance to shine. He has an optimistic attitude and it rubs off onto the kids. We need more of that in the world today.
********************************
When you feel like giving up....
DON'T!!!
********************************
My oldest has never been great at sports. He's very smart and has always been good at computer games and such, but sports has never been his "thing". We tried baseball a couple years and he sat on the bench and hated every moment of it. When he was out on the field he would just observe the insects on the grass or look at the clouds in the sky. He had trouble paying attention to the game and since the ball rarely got hit his direction, it was boring for him. We gave up after about three years of baseball. It wasn't worth the time and effort on OUR part getting him to practices and even coaching one year.
A few years ago we tried soccer through the local YMCA. Again, we saw the same thing happen. He sat on the bench and rarely got to play. The coach did not even give him a chance. It was sad going to the games and seeing him waiting in anticipation to play. As a matter of fact, I vividly remember telling him to be more outspoken and ask the coach to let him play. It was ridiculous!! However, the coach just ignored him and put him the minimum amount of time required. After that year I decided that perhaps I needed to stop pushing sports on him. However, deep in my heart I knew that boys NEED sports. They need it for many reasons. First, they need it to learn how to work as a team. Secondly, they need it to use up some of that energy. The last reason I feel boys need sports is because it builds character and self-esteem. It's important for a child to learn what it feels like to bust your butt and lose a game as well as winning. That is something that you can not learn any other way.
Well... this year, we decided to try out soccer once more. I love the idea of indoor soccer since I hate the heat and summers in Alabama are unbearable! I took him to his first practice and I noticed that the coach was impressed with his size. He's about a head taller than his teammates. I watched them practice and I could tell that some of the boys had been playing for a long time. In the back of my mind I was dreading it because I just knew that he would probably be sitting on the bench for most of that first game for sure! Their first game was the following day and so that meant they only had one practice under their belt. I watched the kids go out into the field and did not see my son. My first thought was, "I guess they will put him in next quarter." However, I was shocked when my son came out and stood by the goal. The assistant coach began to kick balls at him and did a little "warm-up" with him right before the game started. I have to admit that I was a bit anxious about this. He had NEVER played goalie before and I thought it was a bit cruel to put him in first quarter. He also had a rather large wound on his knee that had not scabbed over yet and so was a bit tender. I bought some really expensive bandages to ensure that he was protected. All I could do was pray that the ball would not make it his way.
The whistle blew and the game started. The other team had some very seasoned players and the ball was near the goal for the majority of that first quarter. Every time they kicked the ball towards the goal my heart would skip a beat. I would hold my breath and sometimes close my eyes. My son blocked each and every one of them! He got aggressive and would reach out and grab the ball and throw it past the halfway mark on the field. I was so impressed and so were the other parents. They cheered and clapped for him. Unfortunately, his bandages on his knee kept falling off and so the other team got a couple points... once while the assistant coach attempted to help him put another band-aid on and then another time while my son was attempting to put it back on his knee after it had fallen off onto the ground. After the second quarter the coach replaced him with his second pick. Unfortunately, the final score ended up being 14-0 and we lost. I told my son that he should be extremely proud to know that he did such a good job and they were only able to get a couple points while he was the goalie.
The next game was just a few days later. The coach had called me and told me that he saw great potential in my son and that he was going to put him as goalie again. He was surprised when I told him that he had not played goalie before and that to be honest he had not much playing time since the previous coach kept him on the bench most of the season. He told me that he had seen great improvement already from the first practice until the first game. I had seen a change in his self-confidence for sure. It was a neat thing to see. We played the same team we had played in the first game and so my expectations were kind of low. I figured if we scored anything that was good for our team. My son did a great job once again for two quarters, and this time we figured out how to bandage his knee properly so that wasn't an issue. When it came time for him to play out in the field I saw him make some moves that totally blew me away. He was actually aggressive and I had NEVER seen that side of him before in ANY sport. He ran the ball, passed it to one of his teammates, and then got right by the goal and when the ball came his way he kicked the ball into the goal! Everyone cheered and one of the parents turned to me and said, "That's what I call goalie's revenge!" He looked over at me and gave me a smile and I smiled back. That moment was totally priceless! When the quarter ended he got "high-fives" and praise from all the team and coaches.
The final score was 2-6 and our team lost. However, it was definitely an improvement from the first game and we showed the other team that we are not going to give in that easily. After the game, the coach explained to us that there was some "unsportsmanlike" conduct displayed by the other team after the game and that just showed that we got to them. I really like this coach and I love the fact that he gives ALL the players a chance to shine. He has an optimistic attitude and it rubs off onto the kids. We need more of that in the world today.
********************************
When you feel like giving up....
DON'T!!!
********************************
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
A Great Idea to Solve the Public School Crisis
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/judicial/2009-06-22-courtschools_N.htm
I just read the above article posted by the USA Today site. They basically ruled that schools that don't meet the needs of children with special needs will have to pay for the private school that these kids will end up attending. What an idea!!! I happen to live in a state/area where special education is inadequate at most. There are so many people pulling their children out of school and putting them into private. That is the reason the schools don't change. They figure that the parents will just take care of the problem themselves. Those families who are not as fortunate or who don't have the means to go to private school end up staying and their children often don't get the help that they need. They are often put in self-contained classrooms that don't really address the problems but just provide a place for these kids to go. Their goal is to eventually put them into the mainstream classroom, but at what cost?
Do teachers REALLY want children with special needs in their classroom? The answer is NO! They don't have the time, means, or resources to deal with this issue. They have to meet certain deadlines, curriculum, and testing standards. If they have to spend extra time dealing with behavior or other issues that often arise then they don't have the time to properly teach the rest of the kids. I am not a teacher, but I can understand that perfectly. The system is broken!
The answer to this problem would be to make the schools accountable. If a school knew that they would have to pay for private school for these special kids, they would try a little harder and perhaps come up with some different programs for these kids. I think that children with autism are the ones who are hurt the most. The reason is that they are often very smart, but the schools can't see past their behavior or other social issues. There is also such a broad spectrum and the schools want to lump them all into one group or category. I will never forget when they requested my #2 be put into a self-contained classroom in kindergarten. I am SO glad that I didn't listen to them. I stood my ground and fought for my child. Of course, in the end I did what they wanted me to do... I pulled him out and home schooled him and then eventually put him into a private school. It would sure be nice if I received compensation. As a matter of fact, they should pay me what they spend per child per year in public school. That would be fair. I especially think that should have been the case when I home schooled.
All parents regardless of race, income, religion, and social standing want the same thing for their children. They want their children to have a good education and be able to have a better life than they had. This does not stop with children with special needs. These children are going to grow up into adults. They need to be able to be self-sufficient and to be able to make a living. Children with Autism, ADD/ADHD, or PDD have challenges but history shows that early intervention makes all the difference. If we arm teachers, parents, and eventually these children with the proper tools then there is no limits to what can be achieved. I have seen children who could barely talk or even eat, get the proper help and now are in traditional schools and will lead a basically normal life. I wish you all could see the changes in my own son. He now LOVES school. He looks forward to going and learning. He has been given a chance and has proven to the teachers at this new school his TRUE potential.
******************************
We need to pay more attention
to the Attention Deficit that
is truly plaguing the nation's
schools.
******************************
I just read the above article posted by the USA Today site. They basically ruled that schools that don't meet the needs of children with special needs will have to pay for the private school that these kids will end up attending. What an idea!!! I happen to live in a state/area where special education is inadequate at most. There are so many people pulling their children out of school and putting them into private. That is the reason the schools don't change. They figure that the parents will just take care of the problem themselves. Those families who are not as fortunate or who don't have the means to go to private school end up staying and their children often don't get the help that they need. They are often put in self-contained classrooms that don't really address the problems but just provide a place for these kids to go. Their goal is to eventually put them into the mainstream classroom, but at what cost?
Do teachers REALLY want children with special needs in their classroom? The answer is NO! They don't have the time, means, or resources to deal with this issue. They have to meet certain deadlines, curriculum, and testing standards. If they have to spend extra time dealing with behavior or other issues that often arise then they don't have the time to properly teach the rest of the kids. I am not a teacher, but I can understand that perfectly. The system is broken!
The answer to this problem would be to make the schools accountable. If a school knew that they would have to pay for private school for these special kids, they would try a little harder and perhaps come up with some different programs for these kids. I think that children with autism are the ones who are hurt the most. The reason is that they are often very smart, but the schools can't see past their behavior or other social issues. There is also such a broad spectrum and the schools want to lump them all into one group or category. I will never forget when they requested my #2 be put into a self-contained classroom in kindergarten. I am SO glad that I didn't listen to them. I stood my ground and fought for my child. Of course, in the end I did what they wanted me to do... I pulled him out and home schooled him and then eventually put him into a private school. It would sure be nice if I received compensation. As a matter of fact, they should pay me what they spend per child per year in public school. That would be fair. I especially think that should have been the case when I home schooled.
All parents regardless of race, income, religion, and social standing want the same thing for their children. They want their children to have a good education and be able to have a better life than they had. This does not stop with children with special needs. These children are going to grow up into adults. They need to be able to be self-sufficient and to be able to make a living. Children with Autism, ADD/ADHD, or PDD have challenges but history shows that early intervention makes all the difference. If we arm teachers, parents, and eventually these children with the proper tools then there is no limits to what can be achieved. I have seen children who could barely talk or even eat, get the proper help and now are in traditional schools and will lead a basically normal life. I wish you all could see the changes in my own son. He now LOVES school. He looks forward to going and learning. He has been given a chance and has proven to the teachers at this new school his TRUE potential.
******************************
We need to pay more attention
to the Attention Deficit that
is truly plaguing the nation's
schools.
******************************
Zinc Acetate... is it a better alternative?
Recently my daughter's doctor wanted to start chelation therapy for Wilson's Disease. He told me that it was a better alternative to doing a liver biopsy. Of course, when I heard those words I agreed. I left the office still feeling uneasy since my daughter is asymptomatic and they just don't seem to know what to do with her.
I went home and did what I do best.... I googled and researched my heart out. I came across a name of Dr. George J. Brewer. He knows so much about Wilson's Disease that he actually wrote a book! I was able to read some excerpts I found online and it made so much sense! This book is intended for doctors who are GI specialists or liver specialist. He talks about symptoms and things to look out for. He also cautions that Wilson's Disease is often misdiagnosed or not treated properly. He goes over a few different scenarios and how important it is to also test family members of patients with Wilson's.
I went to one of my favorite websites: www.mayoclinic.com (since they are the ones who do the testing for Wilson's Disease) and found some information concerning chelation and different drugs. I also found some information on zinc acetate. According to the information I read, it said that chelation drugs are very dangerous and that if the patient is asymptomatic the doctor will usually begin with zinc. I thought about this and continued my research. I contacted someone from the Wilson's Disease Organization and they confirmed that the chelation drugs are very nasty and have some serious side effects. I knew that since the doctors had told me that to begin with. I still didn't want to make any haste decisions... so I decided to call the nurse and tell her my concerns and ask her if the doctor had considered zinc acetate as a possible treatment? I told her that I was confident that he had, but I would feel better hearing it from her.
I just got a phone call from the nurse and she said that the doctor did some research on the zinc acetate since he didn't know much about it and found that it would probably be the best route to take right now. He felt better about going that route versus chelation. I am once again disillusioned with the whole situation. I thought he would be on top of things, but it seems like I am the one doing the legwork. They are the ones getting paid the big bucks. I thought they would take a special interest in her since she's such an "enigma" .... to put it in their own words.
My husband purchased a book entitled: "Wilson's Disease: A Clinician's Guide to Recognition, Diagnosis, and Management" written by George J. Brewer. Dr. Brewer has seen over 300 patients with Wilson's Disease, including many younger patients with no symptoms. I would love to talk to him, but this is going to be the next best thing. The book should be arriving soon and I am going to read it from cover to cover! The more informed I am, the better I will feel. It is obvious to me that I have been an integral part in my daughter's success so far and I intend to do all I can to ensure that she stays healthy. I am not going to wait until she has liver failure or hepatitis to be proactive. I am not going to let this "disease" get the best of my daughter.... not by a long shot!
**********************************
I am not going to sit back and let
this disease take charge.
**********************************
I went home and did what I do best.... I googled and researched my heart out. I came across a name of Dr. George J. Brewer. He knows so much about Wilson's Disease that he actually wrote a book! I was able to read some excerpts I found online and it made so much sense! This book is intended for doctors who are GI specialists or liver specialist. He talks about symptoms and things to look out for. He also cautions that Wilson's Disease is often misdiagnosed or not treated properly. He goes over a few different scenarios and how important it is to also test family members of patients with Wilson's.
I went to one of my favorite websites: www.mayoclinic.com (since they are the ones who do the testing for Wilson's Disease) and found some information concerning chelation and different drugs. I also found some information on zinc acetate. According to the information I read, it said that chelation drugs are very dangerous and that if the patient is asymptomatic the doctor will usually begin with zinc. I thought about this and continued my research. I contacted someone from the Wilson's Disease Organization and they confirmed that the chelation drugs are very nasty and have some serious side effects. I knew that since the doctors had told me that to begin with. I still didn't want to make any haste decisions... so I decided to call the nurse and tell her my concerns and ask her if the doctor had considered zinc acetate as a possible treatment? I told her that I was confident that he had, but I would feel better hearing it from her.
I just got a phone call from the nurse and she said that the doctor did some research on the zinc acetate since he didn't know much about it and found that it would probably be the best route to take right now. He felt better about going that route versus chelation. I am once again disillusioned with the whole situation. I thought he would be on top of things, but it seems like I am the one doing the legwork. They are the ones getting paid the big bucks. I thought they would take a special interest in her since she's such an "enigma" .... to put it in their own words.
My husband purchased a book entitled: "Wilson's Disease: A Clinician's Guide to Recognition, Diagnosis, and Management" written by George J. Brewer. Dr. Brewer has seen over 300 patients with Wilson's Disease, including many younger patients with no symptoms. I would love to talk to him, but this is going to be the next best thing. The book should be arriving soon and I am going to read it from cover to cover! The more informed I am, the better I will feel. It is obvious to me that I have been an integral part in my daughter's success so far and I intend to do all I can to ensure that she stays healthy. I am not going to wait until she has liver failure or hepatitis to be proactive. I am not going to let this "disease" get the best of my daughter.... not by a long shot!
**********************************
I am not going to sit back and let
this disease take charge.
**********************************
Friday, June 12, 2009
Let's Eat!!
Summer is a time to play, swim, and play, and swim at our house. It is also a time to eat! The kids are "endless pits" and I find myself trying to find ingenious ways of stretching our food so I don't have to go to the store every other day. I also think it's important to keep things at least halfway nutritious. I have already seen my oldest grow into the next pant size in less than a month's time and I know they need all the nutrition they can get!
Some things I try to keep in stock at all times are: milk, bread, eggs, Malt-flavored Ovaltine, frozen strawberries, bananas, peanut butter, fruit spread or jams, ramen noodles, rice, and oatmeal. I thought it would be fun to post some nutritious but delicious snacks that are favorites at our house.... enjoy!!
..............................
Smoothies:
2 cups milk
1 banana
scoop of ice cream, any flavor (optional)
a handful of frozen strawberries
a handful of ice cubes
a teaspoon of vanilla
3-4 Tbps. Malt-flavored Ovaltine
(put all ingredients in a blender until smooth)
*Add more ice if you like it thicker*
*If you don't have bananas, the smoothie will still taste good... just add more chocolate Ovaltine.
*This also tastes good without the Ovaltine.
(Just experiment with the ingredients and see what you like.)
...............................
Ramen Noodles with egg:
I just make the noodles according the package instructions and then add 1-2 eggs scrambled once the water is boiling. It's easier if you scramble the eggs in a bowl and then add slowly to the boiling water stirring in clockwise direction as you drop it in.
*If you want to decrease the sodium, then just add half the packet of seasoning.
...............................
Special K cereals:
They have some really neat flavors now. My kids love the Vanilla Almond flavor. They also enjoy the one with strawberries. It's a quick and nutritious snack that most kids would enjoy.
*This is especially helpful to the moms who are trying to lose weight.
...............................
PB&J Sandwiches:
If you use whole-wheat or White Wheat and use fruit spread and not the "jelly" then you actually have a decent snack for your kids. My kids love for me to cut their sandwiches into shapes. Sometimes I do circles, other times I do hearts.
*If you pack them in aluminum foil instead of sandwich bags, they won't get crushed when packing for picnics.
...............................
Oatmeal:
I make my oatmeal with milk and cinnamon sugar. They love it and will eat it for breakfast AND snacks.
...............................
Fresh fruits and veggies:
You would be surprised what your children will eat when they have it cut up and with a dip. Try it and see. My youngest who is picky will actually eat artichoke dip... imagine that!!
...............................
"On-the-go" Ideas:
I try to have those Fiber One bars or "Breakfast" bars available. They are great for when you are in a hurry and don't have time to cook anything. They also make a great snack and you can carry them in your purse or bag.
...............................
Another great time-saver and money saver is the crock pot. Learn how to use yours. You will be amazed at all the things you can make in one... including dessert!
..............................
I hope everyone is having a great summer and that you are able to feed YOUR "endless pits". Don't forget the sunscreen and more importantly, drink plenty of fluids!
***************
Happy Summer!!!
***************
Some things I try to keep in stock at all times are: milk, bread, eggs, Malt-flavored Ovaltine, frozen strawberries, bananas, peanut butter, fruit spread or jams, ramen noodles, rice, and oatmeal. I thought it would be fun to post some nutritious but delicious snacks that are favorites at our house.... enjoy!!
..............................
Smoothies:
2 cups milk
1 banana
scoop of ice cream, any flavor (optional)
a handful of frozen strawberries
a handful of ice cubes
a teaspoon of vanilla
3-4 Tbps. Malt-flavored Ovaltine
(put all ingredients in a blender until smooth)
*Add more ice if you like it thicker*
*If you don't have bananas, the smoothie will still taste good... just add more chocolate Ovaltine.
*This also tastes good without the Ovaltine.
(Just experiment with the ingredients and see what you like.)
...............................
Ramen Noodles with egg:
I just make the noodles according the package instructions and then add 1-2 eggs scrambled once the water is boiling. It's easier if you scramble the eggs in a bowl and then add slowly to the boiling water stirring in clockwise direction as you drop it in.
*If you want to decrease the sodium, then just add half the packet of seasoning.
...............................
Special K cereals:
They have some really neat flavors now. My kids love the Vanilla Almond flavor. They also enjoy the one with strawberries. It's a quick and nutritious snack that most kids would enjoy.
*This is especially helpful to the moms who are trying to lose weight.
...............................
PB&J Sandwiches:
If you use whole-wheat or White Wheat and use fruit spread and not the "jelly" then you actually have a decent snack for your kids. My kids love for me to cut their sandwiches into shapes. Sometimes I do circles, other times I do hearts.
*If you pack them in aluminum foil instead of sandwich bags, they won't get crushed when packing for picnics.
...............................
Oatmeal:
I make my oatmeal with milk and cinnamon sugar. They love it and will eat it for breakfast AND snacks.
...............................
Fresh fruits and veggies:
You would be surprised what your children will eat when they have it cut up and with a dip. Try it and see. My youngest who is picky will actually eat artichoke dip... imagine that!!
...............................
"On-the-go" Ideas:
I try to have those Fiber One bars or "Breakfast" bars available. They are great for when you are in a hurry and don't have time to cook anything. They also make a great snack and you can carry them in your purse or bag.
...............................
Another great time-saver and money saver is the crock pot. Learn how to use yours. You will be amazed at all the things you can make in one... including dessert!
..............................
I hope everyone is having a great summer and that you are able to feed YOUR "endless pits". Don't forget the sunscreen and more importantly, drink plenty of fluids!
***************
Happy Summer!!!
***************
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Things That Make You Go "Hmmm??"
Since summer started I have had more time to observe kids and parents in unstructured environments. I think it's funny how as time goes on I am becoming more and more like my mom when it comes to safety and such. I still consider myself laid-back when it comes to most things, but experience has taught me that it is unwise to put your children in a potentially harmful situation or to ignore when other kids do.
My friend and I were at Burger King (one of our favorite places to go since they have a nice indoor playground) and we noticed that they were getting ready to start a birthday party. They had cleared a section off and the kids were arriving. There were about 11 kids and their ages ranged from 2-9 years of age. I had my back turned towards the kids when all of a sudden my friend gasped. She said, "Look over there. There is a girl pushing another child on the high chair. I wonder if the parents know?" I glanced over my shoulder and saw what she was talking about... they were giving "rides" on this high chair with wheels and letting go. The parents were looking over at them and smiling. They didn't see anything wrong with it. I suddenly had flashbacks of when my middle two did the exact same thing except using computer chairs and one ended up at the doctor's office needing stitches. I told my friend about my experiences and then contemplated whether we should say anything. However, in that instant we suddenly heard a child crying... it was too late. One of the kids got hurt. Luckily, it was just that a little girl had her toes run over by the high chair. THEN the mom goes over and reprimands the poor little girl who did not know any better.
Earlier this week I went to our neighborhood pool and met up with some friends. We were having a very good time and kids were playing so well. All of a sudden the lifeguards whistled for "adult swim" which means all the kids had to get out of the pool for the next ten minutes. Luckily, we have a splash park and so the kids hang out there until the pool reopens. There is also a Kiddie pool and that remains open as well. I went over to the splash park to keep an eye on my three year-old. Things were going fine until he started to fuss a little about sharing a squirt gun they had. While I was dealing with THAT, I wasn't watching my #2 as carefully while he played with the squirt toy they had at the park. All of a sudden a mom comes up to me very upset and says, "Your son squirted water all over my baby's face and I am furious!" I noticed the approximately 12 month-old little girl on her hip and she seemed okay. Although we WERE at a "Splash Park" (A.K.A. "Let's squirt each other and get wet" Park) and the baby probably should not have been there, I took it seriously and reprimanded my son for doing that since it WAS a baby. I asked him why he did that and he said, "The baby was having fun." I explained that if the baby was crying (which I had no idea if she had because I didn't see it happen) then she probably wasn't having fun. THEN I made him go to the mom and apologize. She THEN proceeded to apologize to ME and said that she had issues with some of the other boys already and other things happened before we got there and so she didn't mean to get so upset with me. Well.... why didn't she just LEAVE then? I mean, why put your baby in harm's way? This is a splash park that is NOT designed for babies. That is why they had a "Kiddie Pool" and it was practically empty at the time. As a matter of fact, there were some harsh sprayers in the park and a place where buckets fill and then they dump water down REALLY hard on the kids. Some people just don't have common sense!
Moral to these stories is ... kids will be kids and we can't expect them to think like we do. If we allow them to be involved in a potentially dangerous situation then you can't blame THEM when something happens. More importantly, we need to make sure WE don't put our kids in a potentially dangerous situation. Unfortunately, some things have to learned the hard way. I have four children and so I've had my fair share of "incidents".... consequently, I have learned from them. There is nothing worse than seeing your child strapped down screaming while the doctor attempts to stitch a wound that happened from a preventable accident. I've rather hear my children cry and pout because I said, "no!" any day!
*******************************
I try to live by Murphy's Law
when it comes to accidents.
*******************************
My friend and I were at Burger King (one of our favorite places to go since they have a nice indoor playground) and we noticed that they were getting ready to start a birthday party. They had cleared a section off and the kids were arriving. There were about 11 kids and their ages ranged from 2-9 years of age. I had my back turned towards the kids when all of a sudden my friend gasped. She said, "Look over there. There is a girl pushing another child on the high chair. I wonder if the parents know?" I glanced over my shoulder and saw what she was talking about... they were giving "rides" on this high chair with wheels and letting go. The parents were looking over at them and smiling. They didn't see anything wrong with it. I suddenly had flashbacks of when my middle two did the exact same thing except using computer chairs and one ended up at the doctor's office needing stitches. I told my friend about my experiences and then contemplated whether we should say anything. However, in that instant we suddenly heard a child crying... it was too late. One of the kids got hurt. Luckily, it was just that a little girl had her toes run over by the high chair. THEN the mom goes over and reprimands the poor little girl who did not know any better.
Earlier this week I went to our neighborhood pool and met up with some friends. We were having a very good time and kids were playing so well. All of a sudden the lifeguards whistled for "adult swim" which means all the kids had to get out of the pool for the next ten minutes. Luckily, we have a splash park and so the kids hang out there until the pool reopens. There is also a Kiddie pool and that remains open as well. I went over to the splash park to keep an eye on my three year-old. Things were going fine until he started to fuss a little about sharing a squirt gun they had. While I was dealing with THAT, I wasn't watching my #2 as carefully while he played with the squirt toy they had at the park. All of a sudden a mom comes up to me very upset and says, "Your son squirted water all over my baby's face and I am furious!" I noticed the approximately 12 month-old little girl on her hip and she seemed okay. Although we WERE at a "Splash Park" (A.K.A. "Let's squirt each other and get wet" Park) and the baby probably should not have been there, I took it seriously and reprimanded my son for doing that since it WAS a baby. I asked him why he did that and he said, "The baby was having fun." I explained that if the baby was crying (which I had no idea if she had because I didn't see it happen) then she probably wasn't having fun. THEN I made him go to the mom and apologize. She THEN proceeded to apologize to ME and said that she had issues with some of the other boys already and other things happened before we got there and so she didn't mean to get so upset with me. Well.... why didn't she just LEAVE then? I mean, why put your baby in harm's way? This is a splash park that is NOT designed for babies. That is why they had a "Kiddie Pool" and it was practically empty at the time. As a matter of fact, there were some harsh sprayers in the park and a place where buckets fill and then they dump water down REALLY hard on the kids. Some people just don't have common sense!
Moral to these stories is ... kids will be kids and we can't expect them to think like we do. If we allow them to be involved in a potentially dangerous situation then you can't blame THEM when something happens. More importantly, we need to make sure WE don't put our kids in a potentially dangerous situation. Unfortunately, some things have to learned the hard way. I have four children and so I've had my fair share of "incidents".... consequently, I have learned from them. There is nothing worse than seeing your child strapped down screaming while the doctor attempts to stitch a wound that happened from a preventable accident. I've rather hear my children cry and pout because I said, "no!" any day!
*******************************
I try to live by Murphy's Law
when it comes to accidents.
*******************************
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Swimming is Truly the Best Medicine!
Our family loves going swimming. We even go during the winter at the indoor pool at the YMCA and it is so much fun. What makes it ideal is that it is great exercise, it helps with appetite, it is very cheap, and it is definitely entertaining. My kids can stay in the pool for hours and that's what we usually do. They often find other kids their age to play with and if there is not anyone around then they play with each other.... imagine that!!
Today I was feeling a little bit lazy and lacking in energy. My plan was to catch up on a little housework and then lounge around. However, the first thing my daughter said when she woke up was, "Can we go swimming today?? Pleeeeeease???" How could I say no? I told the kids we would go under one condition. They would have to clean their rooms while I finished cleaning the downstairs. They ALL ran upstairs and I did not see them again until they finished. My oldest woke up with a bathing suit on and so he didn't even have to change. He was eager to go since we haven't been a few days. He recently had surgery and so he wasn't allowed to get his knee wet. (I will post about that later once we get the pathology report back.)
We went at around noon and didn't leave until 2 o'clock. The sun was blazing hot, but the kids did not mind. I took advantage of "adult swim" this time and did some laps at the indoor pool. It felt good to be able to get some exercise today. I was definitely sore after ten minutes of swimming. I forget how draining swimming can be.... especially when you are not used to it. Swimming laps nonstop is definitely different than swimming around the pool with the kids. I will have to incorporate that into my exercise regime from now on.
Needless to say, when we got home the children were all drained and decided to watch a movie. I just love to see them sit together on the sofa all on top of each other when there is a perfectly comfortable empty love seat available. They truly love each other and it's in the little things like that when it's evident. Of course, summer has just begun, but so far things are going well. They aren't killing each other yet and I am not ready to lock them up either.
****************************
Summer tidbit: Swim lessons
aren't always necessary.
Just get them in the water
and let that positive peer-
pressure be your friend.
***************************
Today I was feeling a little bit lazy and lacking in energy. My plan was to catch up on a little housework and then lounge around. However, the first thing my daughter said when she woke up was, "Can we go swimming today?? Pleeeeeease???" How could I say no? I told the kids we would go under one condition. They would have to clean their rooms while I finished cleaning the downstairs. They ALL ran upstairs and I did not see them again until they finished. My oldest woke up with a bathing suit on and so he didn't even have to change. He was eager to go since we haven't been a few days. He recently had surgery and so he wasn't allowed to get his knee wet. (I will post about that later once we get the pathology report back.)
We went at around noon and didn't leave until 2 o'clock. The sun was blazing hot, but the kids did not mind. I took advantage of "adult swim" this time and did some laps at the indoor pool. It felt good to be able to get some exercise today. I was definitely sore after ten minutes of swimming. I forget how draining swimming can be.... especially when you are not used to it. Swimming laps nonstop is definitely different than swimming around the pool with the kids. I will have to incorporate that into my exercise regime from now on.
Needless to say, when we got home the children were all drained and decided to watch a movie. I just love to see them sit together on the sofa all on top of each other when there is a perfectly comfortable empty love seat available. They truly love each other and it's in the little things like that when it's evident. Of course, summer has just begun, but so far things are going well. They aren't killing each other yet and I am not ready to lock them up either.
****************************
Summer tidbit: Swim lessons
aren't always necessary.
Just get them in the water
and let that positive peer-
pressure be your friend.
***************************
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