Can I Really Get Ready to Be Seen In a Pool?

I can't believe it's just a little over a month until I will have to don the annual caftan swimsuit and be seen almost naked! Why, you ask? Because where we are moving has a lovely community pool and the kids are already clamouring to go swimming everyday! I think I must get serious about Weight Loss if I am to actual undertake this mission!

I've really not be serious in years about this and I don't really feel like going back to meetings and other previously tried ways to lose weight. I like to do things on my own first. That is why I like www.PlanetFatLoss. They have very straightforward articles about losing weight and getting fitter. They have easy sections with different diet plans (not one size fits all) and exercise plans to choose from. You can join the community and get daily RSS feeds and other information emailed to you. It seems to fit in well with my daily computer use, so I'll get a lot of commitment reminding! I need to do something, so this will be the first day!

UPDATE on Contest to Win a Free Growing Up Green Book!

Update: Well, I still have a book to give away, People! No one has commented, so I don't have a winner today - April 22, 2008. So here's the deal - first person to leave a thoughtful comment about this post will win this book! Be sure to leave or send me your email so I can get your mailing information!

I recently received a copy of the book by Deirdre Imus, Growing Up Green! Volume Two: Baby and Child Care. Deirdre offers numerous ways that parents of young children can "go green" and raise happy, healthy children. She covers everything from greening up during your pregnancy, to healthy eating for babies and kids, to managing your adolescents. I liked the section on Green Pediatrics, which covers all kinds of health issues and how to work with your doctor to manage your child's health. It includes discussions on vaccines, allergies, weight management and more.

Overall, I found it very thought provoking and interesting. It offers lots of practical ideas for going greener with your family. It also provides ideas for how you can advocate for a greener environment in your child's school and other situations.

Now to the good stuff - because I got it as a freebie to review - you can benefit! Just post a comment here and/or link to my post and I'll put you in a drawing to receive this new book absolutely free! I will award the winner and post it here on April 22nd (I have to travel to Alabama, so I'll award it when I get back!) It's only been read once, by me! I think anyone with kids will enjoy it!

Remember me?

Yes, it's been a while, hasn't it? Thank you for hanging in there and reading the blog, over and over, while I am recovering from the worst case of asthma I've had in years.

I have now officially been sick since March 8th. My allergy doctor is befuddled. I've been coughing and coughing, and taking every prescription he can think of that might help me. This started the day before I left to visit Alabama (so I can't blame those people) and has only gotten worse over time.

I like to tell Tim that it's due to global warming, and it probably is. The trees and flowers started earlier this year with pollen, it got hotter faster, therefore helping the fungus and mold to proliferate as well.

I'm on Claritin AND the dreaded Singulair for allergies, taking a mega-strong antibiotic (again), plus all my regular meds for asthma and the daily "rescue" meds. And prednisone - my third course of it.

Sorry to go on and on, but this is just one reason I've not been on blogging regularly. I promise to be better.

Thank you!

Naked Hair?

I've written here before about the benefits of using natural shampoo and skincare products. I believe that many of the chemicals used in common hair care products are really bad for you and for the environment. There has been a lot in the news about phthalates and how bad they are for everyone, especially kids. When I stopped using "regular" shampoo earlier this year, my head breakouts and irritated skin disappeared. So I'm an advocate. I now only use natural products on my children too.

I had the chance to try out a new haircare line called naked naturals. I was very happy with the results, using the Awapuhi & Lavender scened shampoo and conditioner for Color-Treated hair. I, again, had no reactions when I used the shampoo and conditioner. My hair smelled clean and fresh for two days ( I am ready to shampoo again right now). I can definitely recommend this as a product to try if you're looking for a great all-natural shampoo. An extra benefit is that it will make your hair 7 times stronger with regular usage. I think I'm going to try some of the other scents too, since I like Aloe Vera & Chamomile. The products are now available everywhere so take a look and get naked hair!

Flu Vaccine Recommended for All Children

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices said all children should get the flu vaccine as soon as possible, acknowledging that many doctors have already ordered their vaccine for the 2008-2009 season and may not be able to give the shots until 2009-2010. The flu season generally starts in the fall and continues through spring. Currently, only children under five and those with chronic health issues are advised to get the flu vaccine.

My children have always had those health issues that qualified them to get the dreaded shot annually. They both have asthma. But since they said recently that this year's vaccine didn't work very well, we are on high alert, since the flu is spreading here in Florida. I am one of those people who do believe that vaccines help more than they might hurt. So many terrible illnesses are completely prevented by keeping up with the childhood vaccines. I will continue to take the whole family for the annual flu shot, after all we like the free lollipops!

Child-Related Recalls - Stroller, Hairstyling Iron

I am featuring the below recalls because they are items that I consider child-related recalled items. The first recall is for some models of Stokke Xplory® Strollers, being recalled because wheels have fallen off, causing child injuries. The second is Farouk Systems WEE CHI Ceramic Hairstyling Irons, as parents may have children and teens who would be using these hairstylers. They are being recalled due to potential burn and fire hazard caused by a problem with the on/off button. The details and photos for these and other recalls of the week can be found at the Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

Stokke/Xplory® Baby Strollers

A bolt that attaches each front wheel to the stroller can loosen, causing one of the front wheels to fall off, posing a fall hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 14 reports of one of the front wheels falling off, including one incident where a child received a scratch when she toppled out of the stroller. In addition, there were 244 reports outside of the United States of one of the front wheels falling off.

Only Xplory® baby strollers with serial numbers between 1 and 28,097 and with grey handles are included in the recall. The serial number is located under the foot plate. Strollers with white handles are not included in this recall.

Manufactured in: The recalled front wheels were manufactured in China and the strollers were made in Norway.

Sold through: Stokke distributors, Web site and juvenile product retailers nationwide from September 2003 through December 2006 for about $770.

Consumers should stop using the recalled strollers immediately and contact Stokke to arrange for a free replacement of the front wheels. Stokke will contact all known purchasers by e-mail or regular mail. Stokke notified its retailers and posted a recall notice on its Web site in May 2007.
Note: Some consumers have already received a repair to their stroller or are in the process of receiving replacement wheels. These consumers do not need to contact Stokke again.
Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Stokke toll-free at (877) 978-6553 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at StokkeUSA.

Farouk Systems/WEE CHI Ceramic Hairstyling Irons

The iron’s “on/off” switch was installed incorrectly. When the iron is plugged in and switch is in the “off” position, the iron remains “on,” which could pose fire and burn hazards. No injuries reported.

The recalled hairstyling iron is black and measures 9.5 inches long. “CHI” is printed on the iron in red lettering. Date code 0306 or 0507 is embossed on the inside of the paddle.

Sold by: Professional beauty supply distributors and beauty salons nationwide from April 2006 through September 2007 for about $160.

Manufactured in: South Korea

Consumers should stop using the product immediately and contact the firm to return the product for a full refund or replacement iron. Farouk Systems is directly notifying all distributors and retailers.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Farouk Systems Inc. at (800) 237-9175 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.Farouk.com.

I Don't Like the Ham Because It's Purple....

I wouldn't eat purple ham...would you? Well check out the comments my daughter's classmates wrote in an informal survey she did of friends about her school's cafeteria food offerings.

Here's what they said (spelled the way they wrote them):

I like: chocolate milk, carrots, broccoli, and steak (I've never seen them serve this yet!) - Maggi

I like: hotdogs & pizza. I don't like the strawberries...they are mushy. - Annie

I like the turkey, mash pothoes and papa jones pizza. I don't like everything else, except chiken nuggets - Nicole

I like cheese sticks and pizza - Papa Jhons and chicken nuggets. I don't like ham because it is purple, and I don't like anything else - Allie.

At least one kid mentioned the veggies....I have to chime in and say I've never eaten worse food in any cafeteria anywhere - I feel for them. It's all frozen and usually poorly prepared. Veggies and fruits are mushy/frozen and meats have too much salt or too little seasoning. I think she plans a full on assault by having all the kids write to the principal.

Canned Formula Possibly Harmful to Infants

Cnn.com is reporting that an environmental group says that the lining in the cans of infant formula contain the potentially harmful chemical bisphenol-A, or BPA. The problem is that the FDA hasn't put out any guidelines regarding the use of BPA in food products or other baby items, like baby bottles, although it admits to reviewing continuing research about the use of these chemicals in children's products.

The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit research organization focused on public health and the environment. It has previously raised alarms about these chemicals in baby bottles and sippy cups for the same reasons. The group says, based on its analysis of existing research on BPA, even a very small amount of the compound may cause a host of problems, from brain and behavioral disorders to cancer, a claim the formula makers and federal regulators adamantly deny.

BPA is a fairly ubiquitous chemical used in polycarbonate plastic products, including baby bottles and metal can coatings. It protects the food inside from the can. It's legal. According to the FDA and the infant formula industry, which adheres to federal packaging guidelines, it is safe.

In the article, formula maker Nestle USA says all U.S. formula companies use cans from suppliers who use bisphenol-A. "The FDA has found these materials to be safe, and to pose no risk whatsoever to consumers. We stand by our products in these type of cans as being safe," the company says.

The National Toxicology Program's Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction convened an expert panel to determine if BPA is a hazard to humans, including more sensitive developing babies. The panel concluded, based on animal studies, that there's "some risk" exposure to BPA causes neural and behavioral effects in children. But there's a clear lack of scientific consensus on the definition of "some risk." Also at issue is the lack of research on humans.

"There's a lot of data out there, a lot of science that is looking at the effect of BPA in animals, but we don't have any data unfortunately in humans, so it makes it a little bit hard to know what's worrisome and what's not, " says Dr. Ari Brown, a member of the Academy of Pediatrics and author of the book "Baby 411."

Some pediatricians are being conservative about products with these chemicals. One pediatrician tells CNN that parents should err on the side of caution, urging them to reduce or eliminate usage of questionable products. Why take a chance when you can easily change to other materials to feed your child. I have recently ditched all plastic sippy cups from our home, as well as the soft vinyl toys that are known to have BPA, as well as potential lead paint. It's too late for my 8 and 5 year old regarding formula, but it's something moms with infants should know about and consider.

There are choices, including powdered formula or liquid formula not packaged in cans, and BPA-free baby bottles. Another BPA-free choice for mothers who can do it is exclusive breastfeeding -- the gold standard of infant nutrition.

Another Reason to Make Sure Your Kids Wash Their Hands....

Apparently, researchers continue to confirm what Moms and most doctors have been saying for a long time - that hand washing is the number one defense against most viruses and influenza. This is truly the worst season for illnesses in our family. Right now we've got two down and one more coming down with the Fall upper respiratory infections that seem to strike us about every 4 to 6 months. The two kids are on medicines and seem better, but my husband is looking bad and says he's feeling it coming on. Hand washing, hand washing! I tell them all the time, but they don't do it enough.

Maybe if they learn to sing the The Happy Little Working Song from Enchanted - The Movie, they'll be motivated to be much cleaner ;) Don't you parents just LOVE this Movie! Enjoy!

I'm Sending My Gynocologist a Present!

It's been a while since I've updated anyone who is interested in my post-op hysterectomy progress. I had my laproscopic supracervical hysterectomy in mid June of this year. Things have never been better. I kept waiting for the monthly restarting of "trouble" that the forums warned me about, recurring pain, or some other "trouble"...and there's been....nothing! No trouble at all! No pain, no flows, nothing at all! I could not be happier! I truly plan on a sending some sort of gift to the doctor this year to thank them all. I was really worried about doing surgery and had lived for years with nightmarish bleeding and pain. I had anemia and little energy - well things are happy! Please feel free to email me if you need my doctor's name or information.

When the cat is away, the mice will guest post

Stacey wanted me to post for her today. She's miserable and isn't in the mood for it. She had to stop her medications over the weekend, so she's a walking mass of aches and pains. She wasn't allowed to eat today, and she had to take some pretty potent laxative because the docs like clean pipes for their expensive instruments.

So, I'll be doing the single-dad thing tomorrow - getting the kids up, dressed, fed, and off to school while still getting myself off to work. I'm spoiled, I don't have to do that stuff on normal days. Still better than getting a 'scope crammed up my butt, ya know?

(Man, I'm going to be in soooo much trouble for giving out too. much. info.)

Other things better than getting a 'scope crammed up my butt:

1. Pretty much everything non-lethal and non-forcible-assault.

Yes, I'm a walking case of colon cancer just waiting to happen.

Anyway, it's a routine thing, but good thoughts are always appreciated. Stacey loves comments, so I'd like to see everyone reading this leave her some special thoughts. Feel free to relate them to butts and things that aren't supposed to be in them. Here, I'll go first:

"Honey, hope everything comes out ok tomorrow."

The Dreaded Colonoscopy This Week

On Wednesday I will have my very first colonoscopy. This isn't like the first time I voted, or drank beer, or drove a car, but it's definitely a first. Everyone tells me that it will be fine, you don't know what is happening, blah, blah blah. That sounds all well and good until you are only a few days prior to the dreaded colonoscopy for yourself! It really is creating more worry for me than my hysterectomy surgery did for some reason. Maybe its the great unknown...because I had had surgery before. Does this make sense?

Anyway my diet Tuesday will consist of water, broth, Popsicles and apple juice...maybe some ginger ale. Yum-oh! So count on my posting having a little bid of edge - hunger will do that to me. Yes, half glass full people, I know I'll lose some weight!

Sensitive Teeth Are A Pain in the ....

I had my six month dental cleaning last week. It's not the most fun I can have in a day, but at least I do it. Unlike my husband (hint, hint). I'm not saying he doesn't brush - he just hasn't bothered to go the dentist in long, long time. I got a good report - no major troubles - just still have a very sensitive tooth that's been festering for a few years. It never seems to get better, just slightly worse each few years.

I've tried sensitive toothpaste before and haven't had much long-term success, or even short-term success having help the pain. I even stopped the little bit of tooth whitening I'd tried because it made the sensitivity much worse.

I recently got a chance to try a new product called Biotene Sensitive Toothpaste. It really made a difference in reducing tooth sensitivity right away. It has an effective ingredient in it, called Potassium Nitrate, along with Biotene’s patented Enzyme LP3 Complex™ to inhibit harmful bacteria growth found in oral infections and gingivitis. This makes it a one-of-a kind toothpaste which builds increasing protection against sensitivity while the it promotes healing of bleeding gums and irritation caused by a dry mouth. All I can say is that it is working for me when very little else did.

Now I don't have a dry mouth, but I saw a real difference immediately and intend to keep it in my medicine cabinet. It's nice to find something to resolve the tooth sensitivity, not just mask it. Maybe I'll be able to whiten my teeth again too! I wish I had had this in the past to help me, but now I'm just glad to have it.

New Tests Reveal Children's Chemical Exposure

I was immediately intrigued to read today's article at CNN.com about new testing called Body Burden testing that reveals a person's industrial chemical exposure. The subjects of this article were young boys, one of whom was only 18 months old. He tested for certain chemicals at seven times the amount his parents did and had flame-retardant chemicals in his system at two to three times the level that caused thyroid dysfunction during animal testing.

The worry is that this exposure could lead to increased ailments and diseases during these kids' lifetimes, perhaps even sooner than others in the same family. I remember breaking out in hives for a week after I put new carpeting in my house a few years ago. I thought I was allergic, now I find it might have been the fire-retardant.

I will be looking into how we can get this done. In today's chemical-laden world, the children are exposed to so much more than even a few years ago.

FDA Advisers Say Stop Using Cough and Cold Medicines for Children

FDA advisers recommend stopping all use of cough and cold medicines for children under 6. They said they simply don't work. This comes on the heels of recalling cold medicines for children under 2. The FDA is expected to make their own ruling based on this evidence soon.

Reading some of the comments surrounding this story, this all is causing a huge uproar. Lots of people said they have been using these kinds of drugs on their kids for years with no repercussions. I, myself, don't use them on my kids, because when I tried, they were just too sensitive to the ingredients, as I am I. Perhaps this is where some of this comes into play. Sudafed makes my kids bounce off the walls, even at a reduced dosage - it does the same to me as an adult, so I don't take it. I will never be a Methamphetamine abuser for the same reason - as you may know that's what the druggies make Meth out of - Sudafed). And of course, I don't do drugs anyway ;)

Cough medicines, like Robitussin, don't seem to do the trick either for children or adults in our family, yet they were recommended for years. And guaifenesin actually gives me worse asthma, rather than helping a cough. I simply don't give it to the children.

Another member of the extended family has been known to give some kind of cold medicine to the kids to knock them out - I certainly abhor such practices, and have made my opinion know to those parties. If I ever caught them doing it, they would get reported. This is the stuff that the FDA has to contend with. Your comments all? Let us know what you think.

Flu Pandemic Planners Overlook Children

Planners are overlooking children as they plan for a possible, if not probable, flu pandemic. Children, as we parents know, are prime flu and cold carriers and it is surmised that they will be the prime targets for a bird flu pandemic. I am a chronic worrier about such things and do believe in planning ahead. Of course, I belong to a family of the other type of people, who are typically saying "whatever will be, will be". So the planning is up to me. So, all the tips for planning for disaster apply here - keep supplies on hand: food and drink for sick people, like soups, gatorade, crackers, children's tylenol and advil, prepackaged cold packs, etc. You can buy adult size masks and put them in your disaster pack. Just think about what you'd need if anyone gets the flu and keep enough for your family on hand.

If this does happen, grocery stores will have runs and items will be hard to find, there will be quarantines and general panic. So next trip to the store, get a few items and put them away, you'll use it anyway, why not be the planner that we don't seem to have in our government.

A Better Way to Get Kids to Eat Veggies? I hope.

This seems like a good move and a natural one for Disney to promote. They are rolling out a new line of Disney branded fruits and veggies. They are introducing them this week, including Disney Garden Foodles, which will be combinations of fruits, vegetables and other sides like dips, raisins, crackers or cheese in a Mickey Mouse-shaped tray, and Disney Garden Fresh Veggies & Sauce, which will be cut vegetables with a pouch of specially formulated sauce which can be microwaved.

We are having a terrible time getting our veggie-challenged children to eat fruits and veggies, so maybe we can reintroduce them with some of these. They were certainly fed tons of them as babies and toddlers, but their father is a non-veggie eater, so we have a double-challenge on our hands. Maybe I can feed them to him too ;)

Children's Cough and Cold Medicines Recalled

Major cough and cold medicines for children have been voluntarily recalled from the store shelves. Recent studies have been saying for a while now that children under two years old should never be given cough or cold medicines, even those formulated for children, due to adverse reactions.

I know my kids were given these when they were little and it scares me to think what might have happened if I had accidentally given too much. They were sick little buggers! Actually, they still are, but now they are bigger.

Affected brands are:

Johnson & Johnson Pediacare Infant Drops and Tylenol Concentrated Infants Drops, Wyeth's Dimetapp Decongestant Infant Drops, Novartis' Triaminic Infant & Toddler Thin Strips and Prestige Brands Holdings' Little Colds Decongestant Plus Cough.

Lost A Filling? Just Drink Heavily 'Til Monday.....

"Lost a filling, hmmm, my advice.....drink heavily 'til Monday, " was the advice given to me in my long ago past as a student at University of Florida. This advice was dispensed by several UF dental students someone told me to call. So I took their advice, until Monday, when I could see a real dentist, along with a hangover. I managed to numb the pain somewhat, but, rum does not cure all ills, Captain Jack Sparrow....

I wish I'd had temporary dental repair materials available, instead of liquor (maybe both at the time). Dentemp OS is a one step temporary filling material that you can use to fix lose or lost fillings or even to temporarily cement a loose crown. One great thing is that it is ready to use, so you can get pain relief immediately, instead of living in a Captain Morgan-induced haze for 48 hours. And it was developed by a real dentist (not a pack of dental students - lol)...And you can eat within 30 minutes of using it, so you do have to forgo that big dinner date when this happens to you. I'd recommend getting some and keeping it on-hand in your medicine cabinet.

If I'd had Dentemp OS, maybe I wouldn't have had to live in pain through an embarrassing weekend of inebriation!

Is There A Way to Stop Childhood Obesity?

Is there a way to stop or prevent childhood obesity? It's very discouraging to read about how our children are barraged with advertisements for junk food. They have limited opportunities for playing outside and for physical education.

As a society, we are seeing what is happening to us all. I can't help but believe that television was the start of our downfall and that it has caused health to spiral downward ever since its growing appeal in the 1950s. People stopped playing outside as much and even in my lifetime, children's abilities to just get out and play have dropped 500%. I used to be able to ride my bike, away from home, for hours and hours every day. My children now never leave my sight.

Am I being too overprotective, given the sensational headlines about kidnapping and sexual offenders? Have any of you read the novel, Little Children, and seen how the author Tom Perrotta works this in to great effect in the story of "typical" suburban family life? The characters, like most of us, are horrified when a convicted child molester moves back into their neighborhood. This affects the day-to-day lives of the people in the fictional town in a big way. Just the thought of it affects how we let the children play here every day.

I'm not sure what the answers are, but we need to make some hard choices to ensure the health of our children and grandchildren.