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.
****************************
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