Ice Princess's Parent Talk

Beach House

2012-01-26T21:34:00.000-05:00

Posted by Gaylord Campbell

My parents own a beach house that they rent out pretty much throughout the whole year. There are usually a few weeks of down time during the fall when nobody is renting it out. We try to go down for a few days during this time. My mom was beginning to get worried about the house not being used and someone breaking in while it was empty. I told her she should just have a security system installed. She thought it was a good idea, but she did not know which companies were available in that area. I told her just to google “long beach adt” to find out what was available. She was able to find prices and packages that were available. Some of the systems not only had an alarm for break ins, but also for floods. It sounded like it would be perfect for the beach house. My mom called and they said they can send someone out next week to install the system. It looks like we have an excuse to go to the beach for a few days.

Organize and Declutter Your House and Life

2012-01-16T10:25:00.003-05:00

For my birthday, the boys father bought me an Amazon Kindle Fire. It's really cool! Amazon offers a whole bunch of books for free too. One of the books I downloaded was Absolutely Organize Your Family by Debbie Lillard. One of my resolutions this year is to declutter. We've lived here for almost nine years, so it's time. With all the talk of the world ending, which of course it's not, 2012 seems like a good year to start fresh. Compared to some people, I don't have a lot of things accumulated, but I like things clean, fresh and organized. I feel like the walls are closing in on me when there is too much clutter. I do have a bunch of junk drawers that need cleaning out. With junk mail and all the papers that get sent home from school, it's really easy to accumulate extra clutter. Not to mention all of the boys' toys. They are 4 and 7 now with no plans for a third, so I guess it's time to pack up some of the toddler toys that are still laying around. The boys rooms are a total mess, especially the 4 year olds. He's not compliant at keeping his toys picked up yet. He just dumps things out and then wonders why he can't find things. Legos are all over both boys' rooms. Legos are a great creative toy, but they are a pain to pick up. I have bags of Legos hidden away because I'm so tired of picking them up every night.
The book I downloaded is also supposed to have information on organizing kid's rooms and helping them learn to organize. I haven't gotten to that part yet, but I can't wait! I hope it works!
One tip I read is if you don't use something, throw it away. People hold on to things because of emotional attachment or thinking maybe someday they will use it. Another tip is to keep like things together. When like things are together, you can see exactly what you have and what you need and don't need.
The part I'm on now talks about organizing your families schedules. We lead a pretty relaxing, low key life, so that's not a big issue yet. I don't believe in having such busy, stressful lives that you are always running from one place to another. You get tired and cranky, and the kids get tired and cranky. Few people realize that relaxation is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. All you have to do is say NO. lol. I do have a calendar that I write appointments and activities in though.
BTW, you don't need a Kindle to read Kindle books. You can download the Amazon Kindle Cloud Reader app for the Chrome web browser and read the books using that. The Amazon Kindle Cloud Reader app and the Chrome web browser are both free too.

More Home Organization Tips

Custom Frames The Frame Place Review

2012-01-13T12:39:00.001-05:00

For a few Christmas gifts, I put together jigsaw puzzles geared toward the interests of the recipient and framed them. A Harley Davidson jigsaw puzzle for my brother, fit a poster puzzle frame I bought in Walmart perfectly. The other two jigsaw puzzles were odd sizes though. One was an apple farm scene jigsaw puzzle for my mother. The other was a Lena Liu Angel of Love scene for my sister. I went with a honey/oak frame for the farm jigsaw puzzle and a gold frame for the angel jigsaw puzzle. Both came out beautiful!
I searched the internet for inexpensive custom picture frames. The site I ended up ordering from was The Frame Place. Periodically, they offer $4.99 shipping. That's a great deal! I hate paying shipping. Shipping picture frames is expensive too. I ordered two frames and without the shipping deal, I would have had to pay $16. Total for both frames was $45, including shipping. That is very reasonable. Custom picture frames can be very expensive. The Frame Place offers a huge selection of frames. The descriptions and images are pretty accurate. Frames are sold in standard sizes or custom sizes.
Periodically, The Frame Place also offers discounts. For Martin Luther King Jr. Day, they are offering 20% off with promo code 20MLK.
The frames I ordered were a complete frame. They included the frame, acrylic for the glass and a cardboard backing. They were very good quality. The custom frames were well shipped in a cardboard box with brown paper and a large piece of cardboard between the frames. They arrived UPS.
The only drawback is I couldn't find a site that offered cashback for ordering from The Frame Place. I prefer ordering from sites where I can get additional cashback from sites like ebates.com or Mr. Rebates.com. At least prices are reasonable at The Frame Place, so no cashback isn't a big deal.
If you are looking for cheap, inexpensive custom picture frames, I highly recommend The Frame Place.

Jigsaw Puzzles

Murder Criminals Psychological Thriller Stories

2012-01-07T21:11:00.000-05:00

Back before I had kids I loved watching movies and television shows that involved murder, crimes, and psychological thrillers. I loved the action and suspense. Once in a while, I'd find a good movie with a great twist.
In the paper there is a weekly article called The Justice Story. Those stories always fascinated me, as did reading any article or book involving detectives and mysteries.
I remember reading about a guy, Andrew Cunanan, who was wanted for going on a killing spree across the US. Then it was all over the headlines that fashion designer Gianni Versace had been killed. It turned out he was killed by Cunanan. That was a very interesting story.
I read a lot of the articles about the OJ Simpson murder trial. I watched a little bit of the trial, but mainly read about it. He had the best california criminal lawyers and it paid off. He was acquitted, even though it's pretty likely that he was guilty.
When I was about 16 years old, there was a big murder in my hometown of Little Falls, NY. A local jeweler, Greg Jouben, was murdered in his shop. I was at the doctor's office not too far away when it happened. His murderer turned out to be a serial killer name Gary Evans. He had an abusive childhood and grew up to rob antique shops along with killing five people. He was even in jail and befriended the Son of Sam killer, David Berkowitz, which is another fascinating crime tale. After Evans was arraigned in Little Falls, he kicked the window out of the window he was riding in and jumped off a bridge into the Hudson River. When his body was found, he had a handcuff key in his sinus cavity and a razor blade taped to his ankle. His story was plastered all over the local papers. It's amazing they even caught him. It was really big news for a small town.
The Los Angeles Times website even has a special section devoted to crime stories. It's really awful reading them. There's tons of stories too. Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers must be pretty busy.
Those stories are all fascinating, but really scary. All these criminals were once innocent little babies who were born to someone. It makes you wonder what goes wrong to drive them to grow up and have such a disrespect for the law and to commit such awful crimes. Abusive childhoods and bad parents are a big part of it, but some people grow up to lead productive, honest lives despite having bad childhoods, or not the greatest parents. The opposite is also true. Kids with great childhoods end up committing awful crimes.
Since having kids, psychological thrillers are a thing of the past. Now I prefer comedies, romance and cartoons. It's funny how things change when kids come along.

NoMoreRack Reviews Deals

2012-01-06T21:22:00.000-05:00

I hate shopping, but I love finding deals. I do the majority of my shopping online. It makes it easier to shop around to find the best price on an item. I also like to click through to a site using ebates.com or mrrebates.com. You just sign up at either site and use their link to click through to the website you want to order from. The rebate site will then give you a certain percentage of cash back. The percentage of cash back varies depending on the store the order was placed at. When your account reaches $10, ebates.com will send you a check. When your account reaches $10 at mrrebates.com, you can request a check. I have received checks from both sites. I go with the site giving the most cash back for the store I'm ordering from. It really does save a lot.
There are so many websites out there offering deals on all sorts of things. It's just amazing. Today I went looking for a deal for subscribing to US magazine since my subscription ran out. The majority of websites were charging anywhere from $56 to $70 for a one year subscription. I finally found Discountpress.com offering a one year US magazine subscription for $26.95. Great deal!
There's a website called NoMoreRack that offers daily deals on all sorts of items. The deals only last one day, but each item is discounted 80 - 95% off the regular retail price. Items include manufacturer closeouts, overrun and overstock items, and cancelled orders. Shipping is a flat rate $2.00 fee per product.
If interested, nomorerack reviews can be found at http://www.mommyrantings.com/2011/12/nomorerack-review.html. You can't beat a great deal!

Kasey Kahne Breastfeeding Comments

2011-12-29T17:41:00.000-05:00

Just read these articles at USAToday and NY Daily News about Nascar driver Kasey Kahne's breastfeeding comments. Apparently, he was out shopping at a supermarket where a mother was breastfeeding. Several of his tweets, which were deleted, included:

"Just walking through the supermarket. See a mom breast feeding little kids. Took second look because I was obviously seeing things. I wasn't!"

"One boob put away one boob hanging!! #nasty"

"I don't feel like shopping anymore or eating."

One Twitter user @KnittingRad tweeted to him: "I hope someday you have a kid and someone tells your wife that feeding your child looks nasty."
He replied: "And your a dumb b*tch."

His apology: "My comments were not directed at the mother's right to breastfeed. They were just a reaction to the location of that choice, and the fashion in which it was executed on that occasion. I respect the mother's right to feed her child whenever and wherever she pleases."

What a jerk!

More Nascar

Reading my blogs

2011-12-27T15:46:00.002-05:00

Content by Mitch Osborne

I thought that reading was my biggest passion until I got San Bernadino internet providers at home. Now I know that there are so many amazing blogs out there that I don’t have time to read books anymore. I mean seriously, who reads books? I love being up to date on everything happening in the world and if you ask me the best way to do that is to get on one of my news blogs and find out what’s going on. There’s something empowering about knowing what the media’s been saying about any particular issue although I won’t lie to you, I do spend a fair amount of time reading the celebrity gossip columns, too. I think it’s fun to be knowledgeable and it’s made me far more able to carry on conversations with people I meet at parties and whatnot. I just can’t imagine how people got informed before the internet – how did anyone have any idea what was going on, you know? That’s the real question I think I need answered.

Ipad 2 Cases Smartphone Accessories

2011-12-26T10:45:00.000-05:00

The big hit at my house for Christmas was Star Wars Legos. My seven year old is obsessed with them, so of course my four year old is also obsessed since he wants everything his big brother has. My seven year old received Mace Windus starfighter, General Grievous' starfighter and Boba Fetts Slave 1. They are really complicated sets, but he does a great job putting them together. Although the main reason he wants legos are because he likes to collect the minifigures.
From reading friends' Facebook status updates, tablets and ipads were a pretty popular gift item this year. I just recently bought myself a Samsung Stratosphere smartphone. It was free from Best Buy during their Black Friday sale. I've always bought new cell phones from Verizon, but it is much cheaper to get them from a third party retailer. You just call a number to activate the phone and if their is a problem with the activation, you just call Verizon and they will activate it without a problem. If I had bought my Samsung Stratosphere smartphone from Verizon, I would have had to pay $150. Free is much better! Accessories are also cheaper when bought from a third party retailer.
I received a car charger for my new phone for Christmas. I should look into getting a case to protect my Samsung Stratosphere smartphone. I've already dropped it a few times. Luckily, there was no damage. There are also cases available for tablets and the ipad. Ipad 2 cases even come in leather. The ipad is pretty expensive, so I would definitely have to invest in an ipad 2 case, if I ever bought an ipad. Maybe by next Christmas the price will come down a little bit.

Tri-State Window and Siding New Jersey

2011-12-09T21:21:00.000-05:00

Nine years ago, I decided it was time to move out of my parent's house. I was 27 and had saved enough money for a good sized down payment on a house. I wanted to buy a house or buy land and build a house. I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking for, but I figured I would know it when I found it. I scoured all the home for sale advertisements. A few houses here and there were interesting, but nothing solid. There was one listing for 38 acres of land with electric, water and basement included. It was really cheap, about $25,000. I sent off an email, but never received a response. A few weeks later, I saw the ad again and gave them a call. The place needed a lot of work. There was a falling down trailer and trailer sized basement. A few large dirt piles. There was no yard, just a big weed patch. It had lots of potential though. One good thing was no close neighbors. It was a lot of land, which was all woods, at a cheap price, so I bought it. Turns out the company I bought it from, buys land, logs it off and then resells the land cheap.
My significant other worked for a contractor, so I hired him to build a house. We had gone to modular home dealers, but they weren't any cheaper than a stick built home. They didn't seem to be any better quality either. We came up with our own floor plan based on a few different floor plans we had gotten from the modular home dealers. It was an open floor plan with a cathedral ceiling and loft overlooking the dining, living room areas. Ash floors throughout and a post and beam design, so the ceiling is all wood beams.
The outside is red pine wood that is stained. It looked really nice when it was new. A couple of years ago, my significant other, re-stained the siding. The dormer areas are a problem though. A few boards are starting to rot. Based on that and the requirement to restain the siding every few years, I kind of wish I had gone with a vinyl siding. There is a simulated vinyl wood siding that is nice. It looks nice and there is less up keep than a real wood siding.
Someday, I will probably replace the wood siding with a simulated wood siding. I'm in upstate New York, so I will have to check around for companies and pricing. If you are in New Jersey, you might want to check out Tri-State Window and Siding. They offer siding new jersey. They offer free estimates and even build sunrooms. I have an area on the side of the house where I would like to build a sunroom. I may have to give them a call sometime, since they will also come to New York.

Christmas Home Upholstery Cleaning Steam Team

2011-12-07T10:09:00.001-05:00

I've been spending the past few days working on my Christmas shopping. Hopefully I will have it all done except for a few minor things this week. I'm trying to order just about everything online. I can't take my youngest shopping with me. He wants everything, climbs out of the cart, grabs what he wants and throws it in the cart. When he's not looking I take it out, but I think he's wising up to me.
The big thing I want for Christmas is a juicer, so I can start making my own vegetable juices. I use the blender or my smoothie maker for fruits, but I need something tougher for vegetables.
Last year the big things I received were a vacuum sealer and a dehydrator. I use the vacuum sealer a lot in the fall to preserve vegetables from my garden. I use the dehydrator to dry herbs from my garden. The boys like dried fruit too.
A few years ago, the big gift I received was a Hoover steam cleaner. With two boys, I use that A LOT. We took the carpet out of my youngest son's room, but my oldest son's bedroom still has a carpet. I use the steam cleaner to clean that. I love the steam cleaner for cleaning the living room furniture. It really cleans the furniture very well. The couch just gets so grimy. There are still a few stains on the couch I can't get out though. Someday, when the boys are much older, I may have to call in a professional to see what they can do.
I'm in upstate New York, but if you are in the Austin, Texas area, you can call The Steam Team, http://www.thesteamteam.com/. One of the services they offer is home upholstery cleaning austin.
That is a very handy service, if you have tough to get out stains on your furniture.

Plus Size Maternity Shopping Sales Rebates

2011-12-02T12:09:00.000-05:00

With Christmas almost upon us, a lot of websites are offering sales. Some are also offering free shipping. I picked up seven bottles of wine at wine.com with a penny shipping and handling charge. That was a great deal! Shipping charges on wine can get pretty expensive. The wine arrived yesterday, so it was fast shipping too.
Usually I do some shopping at Old Navy's website, but I don't have anything to order from there this year. I didn't see anything that interested me in their Black Friday sale either.
Aeropostale has women's clothes I really like that seem reasonably priced. Unfortunately, it's not really the time of year to shop for myself.
If you are pregnant, you might be interested in OneStopPlus.com. They currently have a sale on plus size maternity clothes. It looks like the majority of prices are already marked down. In addition to those marked down prices, they are offering 25% off your entire order and a free express shipping upgrade. You just have to enter the promo code OSPCYBER11 in the promotion code box at checkout.
When I order online, I also check Ebates.com and MrRebates.com to see if the store site I'm ordering from is listed. Those two sites will give you cash back for shopping. All you do is, sign up and go to the list of stores. Find the store you are placing an order at, and click the link. You will automatically be taken to the store site. You place your order, and the rebate site will give you a certain percentage of cash back on your order. When you reach $10, they will send you a check. It's so easy, and it really helps save money, especially this time of year. Every little penny helps.

Collection Harassment

2011-11-29T18:03:00.000-05:00

One thing I learned at a young age that I hope to pass on to the boys is that it is important to save money and have good credit. My grandmother always told me that. Working at a bank also helped with learning that. I bought my first brand new vehicle when I was in my early twenties and built a house in my late twenties thanks to my saving and good credit rating. It's much tougher to save when you have kids, but every little penny helps.
Now that times are tough, I'm glad I've been able to save a little bit. I'm not much of an investor though. I tend to stick with cd's as they offer more interest than a savings account and help your money grow since they are not risky. I did recently discover cd's at a credit union offer way higher interest rates than banks.
I have a couple of credit cards, but pay them off each month. It's very easy to get into credit card debt though. With Christmas and birthdays all hitting at once this time of year, I am very tempted to let payments slide, but interest rates are so high, I hate to do it. My mortgage is my only debt, and I would really like to keep it that way.
Some people get so far in debt that collector's will start banging on your door looking for the money you owe. Collection harassment can be pretty scary. If that happens to you, there is a website called creditlaw.com that might be able to help you. They are a group of consumer attorneys and offer free case reviews. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act protects consumers from collectors who try to collect money through unfair practices. Creditlaw.com will help you understand your rights, assist those eligible for compensation and help stop collectors from harassing you.

Plus Size Dresses

2011-11-28T12:09:00.001-05:00

With Thansgiving over, we are now on the way to Christmas. The boys are really excited! I still have a ton of shopping to do. I bought a few things during the Black Friday sale. I'm hoping to knock off a lot of things on the list this week during the Cyber Monday sales. In case you aren't familiar with Cyber Monday, it is the equivalent to Black Friday sales only the sales are at online stores. You can usually pick up some really good deals.
On Black Friday, Best Buy had the Samsung Stratosphere smartphone on sale for $0 with a 2 year contract. My current plan expired the day before, so I jumped on that deal. It was the phone I had been thinking about upgrading to, but was $149 on the Verizon website. The Samsung Stratosphere is the only smartphone with a physical keyboard, which is what attracted me to it. I'm not sure I would like a virtual keyboard.
Clothes are a good bet for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales too. A web site called Jessica London offers plus size clothing, including plus size dresses. Their Cyber Monday sale will take 30% off your entire order and also includes free shipping off orders of $50 or more. Free shipping is the best! I hate paying for shipping. I know it saves me time to shop online and is less of a hassle, but I just hate spending the extra money. I don't mind paying a couple of dollars for shipping, but I tend to not shop at sites which charge more than that.
Jessica London is also currently offering $50 off all coats, 60% off boots and up to $90 off leather.
Jessica London has a holiday sweepstakes going on where you could win a $500 shopping spree. That would certainly come in handy this time of year.

18 Inch Doll Comforters

2011-11-25T17:01:00.001-05:00

Last year for Christmas my youngest son really liked Sesame Street. For Christmas I bought him an 18 inch doll version of Cookie Monster and an 18 inch doll version of Oscar the Grouch. They were really cool. He loved them. The toy store also had 18 inch doll versions of Bert and Ernie that were really cute. Unfortunately, my son grew out of Sesame Street before I could buy them. He moved onto Toy Story and is now interested in SpongeBob Squarepants.
His crib was a convertible crib. A year or two ago, I took off the baseboard and converted the crib into a toddler bed. He's now almost four, and it's a little small for him. A lot of times I will go in to check on him and find him laying on the floor.
I finally made the move to put him in a full size bed. The crib converts into a full size bed, but I don't have the adapter kit. The store I bought the crib at is now out of business. His father is a carpenter, so he made the bed frame out of logs. It came out very nice. I bought a Slumber 10" pillow top mattress in a box from Walmart. For coming in a box, it's a nice, reasonably priced mattress. The sheets are Spongebob, of course. I was planning on getting a generic comforter because kids tend to move on to a new theme pretty quickly. When we were shopping a couple of weeks ago, my son saw a Spongebob comforter and put it in the cart. I was having a hard time finding a comforter I liked, so I bought the Spongebob comforter, in case I didn't find a generic comforter I liked. I ended up putting the Spongebob comforter on his bed. He really likes it, at least for the moment. It does look nice. I hope he doesn't grow out of it too quickly though.
I bought a Spider Man comforter for my oldest son when he moved to a full size bed. He only liked Spider Man for a few months afterwards. Now he's a huge Star Wars fan.
I guess when they are older I will be able to buy them comforters without a character theme.

Baby Carrier Reviews

2011-11-23T10:36:00.000-05:00

While doing some cleaning out of the baby stuff I have stored away, I came across the boys old baby carrier wrap. It was a spur of the moment purchase I made at Walmart. Usually I do a lot of research reading reviews before I buy anything. I hate it when you buy something and it breaks down shortly after buying it. I lucked out though in that I never had a problem with the baby carrier I purchased. Going down the stairs, I would always make sure to hold on to the baby carrier just in case it broke. Sometimes it felt like it might break, but it never did. If I had it to do over again, I would definitely research the best baby carriers. Safety is a pretty important factor when buying something you will be carrying your baby around in hands free. When it comes to the safety of your baby, you can never be too careful.
I didn't use the baby carrier too much with my oldest son. However, I used it A LOT with my youngest son. He just loved to be held. He was such a sweet, lovable baby. Before I figured out that he was very sensitive to some of the food I was eating, he cried a lot. Carrying him in the baby carrier seemed to really soothe him. He also had a tendency to cry when I was trying to do stuff, like get meals ready. Putting him in the baby carrier worked like a charm. He stopped crying and I could get food ready. I would also put him in the baby carrier when I was doing work on the computer. I did that sometimes with my oldest too. I highly recommend baby carriers.

Clutter Legos Junk Removal

2011-11-22T14:55:00.000-05:00

Now that the boys are seven and almost four, I'm thinking about starting to sell some of their baby stuff. I've been holding off even though I have no plans for a third, but you never know. With Christmas coming, I'm starting to feel overrun with clutter. I hate clutter. Even though it's hard to achieve, I like things clean, simple and organized.
For some unknown reason, I tend to save things because someday it might be useful. Then of course, I never use it. I have a storage area full of old clothes I might wear someday. I have a better use for the storage area now, so I'm slowly weeding through the old clothes. I have a bag all set to take to Goodwill. I believe there is a tax credit for clothing donations, so that is an incentive to take them.
The boys have tons of toys. I'm definitely going to have to start going through them to make room for this years new Christmas toys. The majority are still in pretty good shape, so I will probably try to sell them on ebay. It's also a good time of year to donate toys.
I have bags and bags of Legos hidden in a storage area. The boys love Legos, but they refuse to pick them up. Picking up tons of Legos laying on the floor every night is really time consuming. According to a book my old boss read, Legos are a hot item that people buy and trade, especially the clear Legos. Selling them to collector's is probably what I will do with the boys' collection. Last year when the refrigerator repair man was here, he said he got tired of picking up his kids Legos, so he sucked them all up in a vacuum. If your kids have a ton of Legos that you are always picking up and you live in Texas, you could always call Houston Junk removal to come get them. They remove all sorts of things including refrigerators, appliances, mattresses, carpets, tires, furniture, tv's, computers and rubbish. I'm sure they would also take Legos.

Deluxe Disney Hotels Orlando Florida

2011-11-21T12:05:00.001-05:00

My seven year old talks about Florida once in a while. He has no idea what it is or where it is. He has kids in his class at school that have gone there and so he wants to go. Someday we will, as long as it's not hurricane season. Winter would probably be a good time to go.
About seven and a half years ago, I went to Georgia for my cousin's wedding. It was the beginning of June and very hot. I'd never survive living there in the summer. It's just too hot to stay outside for very long. All we did was go from one air conditioned building to another. There were also way too many buildings and people. I don't think I want to go back to Georgia, but wouldn't mind checking out Florida. A place in Florida near the ocean would be nice.
Florida would be a great vacation though. There is so much to do. I'm sure the boys would have a great time at Disney World. I would love to stay in one of those deluxe disney hotels with a great view. One of those deluxe disney hotels is called The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin. It looks really nice. If you go around Christmas time you might be able to book a stay when Santa Claus is there. They also have a room with a view and family packages. If you are a member of AAA, you also get a discount. They have a beautiful jogging trail that runs along a lake. It gives an up close view of Epcot and nearby Disney resorts. They offer free transportation to and from the Disney theme parks and attractions. Georgia was a pretty congested place to drive in, so I can imagine how crazy the traffic is in tourist areas of Florida. Free transportation from the deluxe disney hotels is a great offering.
Besides Disney World, Orlando offers a lot of other things to do including: a train museum, Cypress Gardens, a zoo, an audobon bird center, Sea World, Universal Studios, shopping and golfing.

Sweepstakes Blue Sky Scrubs Uniforms

2011-11-18T16:13:00.000-05:00

When I was younger, I loved entering sweepstakes. I guess it was the hope of winning. I never played the lottery though because you have to buy the ticket. Sweepstakes are free to enter. There's a website called iwon.com. Every day they gave away $10,000. Every day I would go to the site to read the news and would automatically be entered in the day's drawing. It was a great site. They had news, games and a discussion forum. It was also a search engine. Unfortunately, they changed the site and now it just supports games. At least that's what I thought, until I clicked the Iwon Classic link in the upper left of the site. Click it and the Iwon.com I used to love loads. They still have yearly, monthly, weekly and daily sweepstakes. You have to actually enter, so entry is not as easy as it used to be, but it is free to enter. They are legitimate and actually do give away money and prizes.
One day I came home from work and had a message from iwon.com on my answering machine saying I had won. I was kind of skeptical, but went through the process of claiming the prize. I had to get a document notarized and sure enough, I received a $10,000 check. It was very cool! I won shortly after I built my house, so the extra money came in very handy.
I'm thinking about entering sweepstakes' again. One sweepstakes I came across is on the home page of http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/. Every day they are giving away three prizes. There will be a grand prize drawing for a $1,000 gift certificate to Blue Sky Scrubs. You can enter daily for a chance to win. Blue Sky Scrubs sells medical clothes such as medical scrubs and nursing uniforms. If you run a doctor's office or work in the medical field, a $1,000 shopping spree would be very useful.
If you don't enter, you don't win. If you enter, you just might win.

Read Books Online

2011-11-18T10:38:00.001-05:00

My seven year old started the process of learning to read last year when he was in kindergarten. In first grade he has learned so much more. He can actually sit down with a simple book and read all of the words. He does a great job at sounding out the words he's not familiar with. No more leaving out Christmas lists with a reader in the house. lol.
I'm trying to encourage him to read by giving him ten minutes to read at bedtime before lights out. I've also read to him every night since he was a baby. I love reading. It is my favorite hobby.
Ever since the Amazon Kindle came out, I've thought about getting one. I haven't made the jump yet, but someday I will. I think I'm just waiting for the technology to get better. It's also possible to read Amazon Kindle books on cell phones. A few weeks ago I discovered an app in Google Chrome that I can install to allow me to read Amazon Kindle books. It's called the Kindle Cloud Reader. I was very excited! Some of the Amazon Kindle books are free. I did find a couple of useful free ones that I'm making my way through. Classic books, such as Jane Eyre, are also free. The Amazon Kindle version of many books are less expensive than the actual book. Some books are only .99 cents. It's great if you find a book you would like to read, but aren't sure how good it will be.
I also discovered there are many other sites that offer free books. Google has it's own selection of free books. A website called The Reading Room offers online books you can buy along with free previews of books. That's a cool site too because it is also a social networking site. You can connect with other readers and join bookclubs.
I'm starting to really love to read books online. Being able to read books online saves bookshelf space from having to store the actual books. It also saves money as the digital version is often less expensive. Being able to read books online also allows for portability as you can take your Amazon Kindle or laptop with you and read where ever you go. It's much easier if you are reading a really large book. You also have your whole collection of books with you at all times.
Reading is the best gift a person could give themselves. It opens up a whole world of learning and knowledge that stays with you forever.

Star Wars Party Novelty Hats

2011-11-17T12:14:00.000-05:00

My oldest just turned seven. We had a small, Star Wars Lego themed birthday party with three of his friends. It was a fun two hour party. They seemed more interested in running around the house yelling than in the activities I had planned. Next year, we'll have an hour and a half party instead. There was one boy we'll have to really think about inviting back. He was very destructive, said no I don't want to when told something. He needs some serious discipline.
Anyways, we decorated wooden craft boxes with Star Wars stickers, made light sabers out of glitter & fuzzy sticks, had a Darth Vader pinata and played a put the sticker on the spaceship game. The pinata and spaceship game both went over well.
I ordered Star Wars Lego cups, napkins and plates. We ate pizza, wookie cookies, bossk brownies, cheese, crackers & pepperoni, chips/pretzels & dip, veggies & dip. Then we opened gifts and ate cake. I ordered a yellow, buttercream frosting, Star Wars cake from Walmart. It was really good! It was $20 for a 1/4 sheet. It had Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker action figures with light up light sabers on top.
Before leaving, I gave them each a goodie bag filled with a Star Wars cup, ninja figure, stickers, crazy straw, activity pages, crayons, Star Wars pencil, 2" glow stick pendant necklace, play dough and Star Wars ring.
I ordered everything online from Party Express, except for the wooden craft boxes, which I ordered from S&S Worldwide. Online stores that sell novelty items are really great if you are having a party. The majority of items come in bulk and are really cheap. Most sites offer free shipping if you order a certain amount, except for U.S. Toys, which offers free shipping with no minimum.
There are tons of novelty items available, including novelty hats, holiday themed items and party themed items. I bought my son one of those Stars Wars novelty hats that say clone troopers. I forgot to give it to him though, so I'm saving it for Christmas. Novelty hats, such as Santa hats, are cute for kids to wear at Christmas. I have a couple for the boys and hope to have them wear the hats, so I can snap their picture and make it into Christmas cards.

Granite Countertops

2011-11-16T10:39:00.001-05:00

When our house was built, I went with a simple, inexpensive countertop for the bathrooms and kitchen. The countertops in the bathrooms are just a standard white. The kitchen countertop was a laminate with a marble blue/black pattern. The kitchen also has an island with the same countertop pattern.
After nine years, the island countertop has held up fairly well. A few scratches here and there, but it still looked ok. The countertop area underneath the dish drainer near the sink is a different story. The coloring is all faded with tons of scratches. The constant contact with water really damaged the laminate countertop.
The boys father decided to redo the countertop in the kitchen. That was my birthday gift three years ago. A few months ago he finally started working on replacing the laminate countertop. He picked out a light colored stone countertop. He completed the island, but has yet to start the rest of the kitchen, so I will probably have a mismatched kitchen for another three years.
It looks nice, but the sealant he put on is not holding up well at all. Just a drop of water, eats right through the sealant. If you look at it in the right light, you can see all these light blotches. I'm not real happy about that. Apple cider vinegar leaked out of the blender and made a huge blotch too. He either didn't seal the countertop properly, or he needs to use a different sealant. Based on the damage to the island, the area near the sink/dish drainer will be ruined very quickly if he doesn't do something differently.
Granite countertops are also really nice. They look so much better than laminate countertops. Granite countertops are more heat resistant and scratch resistant than the laminate. Granite countertops are more expensive though. They also need to be sealed. Upgrading the kitchen is a good investment as it brings more value to your home.

In Home Elder Care

2011-11-14T12:12:00.002-05:00

As you age, health becomes an issue. There's not much you can do about it, other than eat healthy and exercise to try and stay healthy as long as possible. Sooner or later though, most people reach an age where they can no longer take care of themselves. Options include going to live in a nursing home or assisted living facility, live with someone else, or in home elder care.
In home elder care allows you to still live in your own home, but someone comes in to your home every day to help you. A company called Preferred Care At Home has locations all around the United States. They offer services such as companion services which offers personal and social interaction, homemaker services which offers help with meal preparation, housekeeping and laundry, and personal support services which offers help with bathing, grooming etc. Care is also available especially for those with Alzheimer's. The caregiver provides services such as stimulating mental awareness, engaging in reading or crafts, helping with hygiene and maintaining a safe home environment. A skilled care service provides help with medical issues such as insulin injecting, iv's, feeding tubes, colostomy care. A live in care service is also available where a caregiver is present 24 hours per day. It's also the same caregiver who is present every day. There is a not a different one all the time. Continuity of care is important in order to help create a relationship with the caregiver. It also gives the caregiver personal knowledge of the person that can't be found on paper.
In home elder care is often more cost effective than nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Services may be covered by Medicare, Medicaid or VA Benefits.
Preferred Care at Home has been offering in home elder care since 1984. It's worth a look if you or someone you know needs help taking care of themselves.

Window Curtains

2011-11-11T10:08:00.002-05:00

A year after our house was built and we moved in, I became pregnant with my oldest son. I paid for everything myself, so I was pretty broke when we moved in. I didn't have extra money for decorating other than your basics. I don't like a lot of clutter, so I didn't mind.
Over the years, I've been pretty busy having and raising two kids, pretty much by myself, all on top of working. Luckily, I've been able to work at home, so that has helped save time, money on gas and daycare. Now that the boys are older and more independent, I have a little more time to focus on other things.
One of those things, I would like to focus on more is decorating the interior of my house. I don't want different styles mashed together in one room. I want each room to have it's own style. I like all different styles, but gravitate towards simple, modern or contemporary. I like more neutral colors too. The house is post and beam, so there is a lot of wood throughout. Neutral colors work well with the wood. The boy's rooms have more color though. The kitchen countertop was a laminate with a blue/black swirl pattern, but is now being redone with a whitish stone. It's much nicer!
One area I would like to work on are the windows. The windows all have blinds and over the years I've been contemplating either upgrading the blinds to something nicer or buying window curtains. The blinds are just simple, inexpensive blinds I bought at Walmart. Simple window curtains would add a nice finishing touch. Window curtains can be expensive though, so it pays to shop around.

Outerwear For Kids

2011-11-09T10:23:00.000-05:00

Today's weather is really nice. It's sunny and the temperature is supposed to reach 70. Unusual for November in upstate New York. It's a nice switch from the rainy fall we have had so far.
We did have the first snow a week or two ago. It didn't amount to anything other than a little ground covering.
I hate to think about digging out all of our winter clothes. I'm sure at least one of the boys needs new boots. All the stores around here have outerwear for kids on display. I think we are all set with jackets, snow pants, hats and gloves for this year though.
One spring I was shopping and saw a rack of outerwear for kids on clearance. I stopped and took a look at what they had. I found a nice winter jacket regularly priced at $40, but marked down to $5. My oldest was two years away from fitting into it, but I bought it and saved it. He wore it last year even though it was a little big. This year it should fit better. $5 for outerwear for kids that my oldest will get several years out of, and my youngest will probably also get use out of, is a pretty good deal.
I hate shopping though. I'm always in a rush and prefer to just order online. To go shopping by myself, I have to find a babysitter. The only babysitter I have is my mother who's a half hour away. I prefer not to take the boys with me when I go shopping. Sometimes they have issues behaving. It's just easier, and quicker, to go buy myself. A few weeks ago my oldest pitched a fit in Walmart because I wouldn't buy him a Lego set he wanted. Of course I had to pick the wrong checkout line. We had to wait forever and the whole time he was in the cart crying and screaming. Everyone was staring at us like we were lunatics. lol.
My youngest and I have been taking weekly trips to get groceries while his brother is in school. Unfortunately, the past few trips he has decided he no longer wants to ride in the cart. He wants to run down the aisles. The last trip I gave him my cell phone so he could watch Sponge Bob. That seemed to pacify him enough so he wasn't running around.
A few days ago my oldest was wondering what the mall was. I don't think I will be taking either one of the boys to the mall anytime soon. I will stick to ordering online.

Boys and Stitches

2011-11-08T21:20:00.002-05:00

A little over a week before school started, my six year old was goofing around with his three year old brother. I'm not exactly sure what they were doing. I was getting food out of the refrigerator for lunch when I heard a thud and crying. My six year old came over with a big gash in his chin. Apparently he hit it on the edge of the coffee table.
Last summer his brother was walking on the couch with a blanket over his head and fell over the edge onto a Thomas the Train spin and fix toy. He split his right eyebrow and needed two stitches. Based on that experience, I could tell my six year old also needed stitches. It looked about as deep as it could go and was split wide open. When a cut doesn't stop bleeding after ten minutes and starts getting clear colored pus coming out of it, it definitely needs stitches.
Urgent care is much cheaper. Usually you just have to pay a co-pay. The wait is always long though, so we went to the emergency room. We waited about a half hour in the waiting room, which wasn't too bad. Unfortunately, we had another hour and a half wait once we got into a room. Luckily, I had brought a snack and my Soap Opera Digest to read. My six year old brought his Nintendo DS to keep busy. In a way, the wait was kind of relaxing since we couldn't do anything except sit and wait. I never sit down for two hours to just read!
Finally, the doctor in his cotton medical scrubs came in to examine my son. The cut was right on the bottom of his chin. The doctor's two options were to use a special glue to close the wound or the old fashioned stitches. If we chose the glue, my son would have to be very careful not to bump his chin, so the wound wouldn't split open again. With him being very active and a three year old brother who's always rough-housing with him, I didn't think the glue would be a good option, so we went with the old fashioned stitches.
First the doctor numbed the area. A nurse wearing scrubs that looked like they were purchased from http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/ held his head. The doctor then put in two stitches. My son was very tough and did a great job holding still while the doctor put in the stitches. Afterwards, my son said he used "the force" to hold still. lol. He's a huge Star Wars fan. After five days, his regular doctor took the stitches out. She said the wound was healing very well.
According to the doctor's from both times we went for stitches, facial stitches for boys are an inevitable rite of passage. They all had scars to show from when they were boys. The boys' father has facial scars. I even have a couple from wiping out on my brother's bike in my parent's gravel driveway. I almost passed out. I had a fat lip for a few days. It was really bad.
My youngest son's scar has healed very well. Two months later my oldest son still has a bit of a reddish scar. Hopefully with time, it will heal and not leave much of a scar.

Oriental Rugs Puzzle Mat Rug

2011-11-08T15:42:00.000-05:00

Our house has an open floor plan for the kitchen, dining and living room areas. It has a cathedral ceiling with a loft area that overlooks the dining and living rooms. The loft is where my office is, so I can overlook the living room and see what the boys are doing. It works out great as I can get work done without them being underfoot and keep an eye on them at the same time.
For now, the living room doubles as a playroom. I was only here a year before I got pregnant with my oldest son. After building a house and buying basic furniture, I was pretty broke. I paid for everything myself with no financial help from my so-called significant other.
When my son was born, the living room consisted of a couch, chair, loveseat, coffee table, television and stand, so I had lots of room for baby toys, which turned into toddler toys and then kid toys.
No more kids are planned, so I'm slowly migrating the toys out of the living room into the boy's bedrooms. After 7 years, it's time. I can't wait to get my living room back.
One thing I can't wait to revamp is the rug. There is an area rug between the coffee table and the television. It is just a cheap $20 area rug from Walmart. The boy's father got them a big foam number/letter puzzle mat. It is the size of a large area rug, so that is laying on top of the cheap area rug. It's not bad as it protects the area rug from spills and crumbs, but my youngest likes to take the puzzle mat apart. It's a real pain to put back together every night. I know someday I will miss it, but right now, I can't wait until it goes away. One of those nice, expensive oriental rugs would be nice. Oriental rugs are so pretty. They come in tons of different colors and designs, so it's hard to choose which one I like the best. Even though I'm not ready to buy one, I enjoy browsing oriental rugs. I'm sure when the time is right to replace the puzzle mat, I will find the right oriental rug for my living room.

Beachin

2011-10-28T16:28:00.000-05:00

Thanks for the post from Al Mills

I visited Security Choice Website to schedule a date to get an alarm system put into our new beach condo. We actually purchased the condo from my husband’s step grandmother. The condo is in great shape but definitely needs to be updated. We want to add an alarm system and make some changes to the décor. Currently, the best way that I can describe the décor, is “Miami Vice”. Everything looks like Florida in the nineteen eighties. It is really beachey, but just is not our taste. I have ordered some new furniture for the condo which should be in next week. I am having the condo re-carpeted now. I chose a light beige berber to replace the dark teal carpet that covers the condo. I really think that the lighter carpet is going to open the place up. When we get done with it, it is going to be beautiful and a wonderful vacation spot. We love the beach and are looking forward to spending most of our time off sunning and drinking margaritas!

Test

2011-10-20T14:52:00.002-05:00

The width strains against the failing hate.

Darth Maul's Mission: Darth Maul vs Obi Wan

2011-10-18T09:26:00.001-05:00

My first grader is really learning to read. It's amazing to watch the progress he's made in the month he's been in school. He bought a book at the book fair yesterday and can read most of the words. He's a huge Star Wars fan, so he bought Darth Maul's Mission. It's a cute little book for a young Star Wars fan. It features the Lego version of Obi Wan, Darth Maul, Darth Vader and Darth Sidious. The story is featured in a comic book way of telling a story with bubbles above the characters. It's a Darth Maul vs Obi Wan kind of story. It gets a few laughs, especially when a Wookie eats homework.
The newer Star Wars movies: Episode I The Phantom Menace, Episode II Attack of the Clones, Episode III Revenge of the Sith, have a lot of violence, but the older Star Wars movies: Episode IV A New Hope, Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, Episode VI Return of the Jedi, aren't as violent. Star Wars provides a good tool for learning good vs. evil concepts for a school age child. The saga of how Anakin, a little boy, turned into Darth Vader, an evil man, is very interesting. It's a good lesson in making good choices and how everything that happens to a person affects them in some way and influences the type of person an innocent child turns into.

More Star Wars Books

Tiger Cub Badge Placement Sew Patch Uniform Guide Scout Requirements

2011-10-07T11:35:00.001-05:00

My little 6 year old joined Cub Scouts this year, Tiger Cubs. He looks so cute in his uniform, and he's very excited about joining! Apparently, a pack leader came to his classroom and gave a talk. He mentioned there's an activity day where they use bow and arrows. The flyer has a picture of Boy Scouts doing tug of war. That was all it took to gain his interest. Little does he know all the useful life lessons, values and skills he will be learning. I thought Boy Scouts was just about learning outdoor survival skills. There's a lot more to it.
For Cub Scouts, an adult partner must attend all meetings. It's more focused on family time and doing activities together. For Tiger Cubs, the handbook has 5 achievement levels each with several activities. Once all activities for an achievement level have been completed, they can move on to the next achievement level. When all achievements and parts have been completed, a Tiger Cub badge is earned. There are also extra activities. Completing a set of 10 extra activities, earns a Tiger Cub bead. The Tiger Cub activities are fairly simple, but fun. The first activity in achievement level 1 involves doing some sort of chore around the house together, so the child understands each person in a household has a role and to pitch in and help. Great idea! I'm planning on having us clean his room together. It's a mess. He was actually cleaning it all by himself once in a while until one day when his father insisted he clean it up. My 6 year old is super stubborn, so of course, he hasn't touched it since then, since he knows a messy room is an issue. To get him to do things, you have to kind of trick him and definitely not make an issue out of it.
Other activities involve baking, planting a seed, going to a museum, visiting a train or bus station, visiting a bakery, a zoo, police/fire station.
I'm not sure yet what they do at the Tiger Cub pack/den meetings, but there are 2 den meetings a month and 1 pack meeting a month, where all the dens attend. There are also holiday parties and a banquet.
A little time consuming, but not as bad as a sport. It's also better bonding since you get to attend the meetings and do the activities together.
It's a little costly to join and get the uniform though. It was $20.50 to join, get the handbook and subscribe to Boys Life magazine. The uniform was $62.00. It included the shirt, hat, neckerchief & clasp, belt and 3 badges. Each Tiger Cub badge has it's own position on the Tiger Cub uniform shirt. Here is a link to the official Tiger Cub badge placement shown in the Tiger Cub, Wolf Cub Scout, and Bear Cub Scout Uniform Inspection Sheet.
I'm not much of a sew-er, so it took me a couple hours to sew on the badges. Came out pretty good though. The council shoulder emblem is centered on the left sleeve, aligned at the top with the seam. The pack numbers go below that. The world crest badge is centered between the top left seam and the top of the left pocket. Use tape or a needle to hold the badge in place while sewing it on.
Use thread that matches the color of the badge. Thread the string through the eye of the needle. and cut a piece of thread about 18 inches long. Double knot it at the end. Start from the inside of the shirt and make each stitch about 1/4 inch long. Work your way around the badge until you reach the first stitch. Make sure you are on the inside of the shirt. Double knot the string as close to the fabric as you can. Cut the string to remove the needle and remaining string.
I guess there is an adhesive you can buy to attach the badges to the shirt. Much easier, but I prefer the old fashioned sewing technique, so I know the badges are secure.
The Tiger Cub Scout neckerchief is also a little tricky to figure out when you are not familiar with how it is worn. Here is a diagram which shows how to fold and wear the Tiger Cub neckerchief.
I bought my son's Cub Scout uniform at a local Boy Scout store, but there is also an online Boy Scout store you can order them from.
This site is a good Boy Scout guide and includes Boy Scout requirements, Tiger Scout requirements and Boy Scout rank requirements.

More Boy Scout Resources

My School Lunch: Pizza Review

2011-10-05T14:22:00.000-05:00

My school lunches were always pretty disgusting from what I remember. My 6 year old loves buying school lunch though. Luckily, he only likes a few things: chicken nuggets/tenders and grilled cheese sandwich. Last year he liked the cheesy cheese pizza, but this year he said it has too much sauce and won't buy it. They serve it EVERY Friday, so I'm very glad he doesn't want to buy it. Based on my high blood sugar, high cholesterol diagnosis 2 years ago, which you can read about at my healthy living naturally blog, I've learned a lot about nutrition. I'm not a nutrition expert, but my doctor said I know more than the average person, so based on what I know, let's dissect one of my son's school lunches: the cheesy cheese pizza, and find out all the crap that these kids are eating, EVERY Friday.

The crust: most likely bleached, white flour. What does white flour do? It causes a rapid, high surge in blood sugar and then a crash. Ever notice how irritable or tired you get after eating a bunch of pizza? That's your blood sugar crash. The pancreas releases insulin to counteract all the sugar in the blood. Over time, the pancreas wears out and is unable to counteract all of the sugar in the blood, leading to diabetes. Improvement: make a THIN crust out of 100% whole grains. Whole grains slowly release sugar into the blood. There's no spike and crash like with white flour. A slow release keeps the blood sugar level steady and doesn't overwhelm the pancreas.

Sauce: Tomato/spaghetti sauce is very healthy. Tomatoes are full of lycopene, which helps in cancer prevention. Sauce is also a great way to hide pureed vegetables. The majority of sauces are full of sugar though. If the kids are really lucky, the sauce might even contain high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). If you don't know what HFCS is, I suggest you watch Food Inc.. It's manufactured in a laboratory from corn using anitbiotics and bacteria. Sounds yummy huh. The corn is also genetically modified.
I buy Classico sauce since it is sugar free. The only drawback is it is not organic, so it's full of pesticides. Improvement: Use an organic, sugar free sauce full of several pureed vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, peppers, onions, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, etc.

Cheese/Milk served with the meal: Eaten in moderation, cheese is fairly good for you as it contains calcium and protein. Mozzarella cheese is low fat, but the milk it comes from is a problem. A lot of milk contains antibiotics, growth hormones and pesticides. The best bet is unpasteurized, raw milk from your local farmer. Of course, the FDA has problems with raw milk, so organic milk is a good choice. Improvement: Use cheese which comes from organic milk, such as Organic Valley.

Today, my son's school lunch was chicken tenders. The chicken most likely came from chickens who have been fed genetically modified corn (GMO) and antibiotics. For dessert, he said they served a pudding/whipped cream/oreo dish. Sounds good if you use healthy ingredients: Make your own pudding with organic milk. Make your own whipped cream with organic milk and buy organic oreos. Yes they make organic oreos. They are really good and can be found at a health food store or amazon.com. Still not exactly the healthiest dish, but an improvement over the original version.

My son's school lunch is also the same foods over and over and over: pizza, tacos, chicken nuggets/tenders, grilled cheese sandwich/deli sandwich, roast turkey and chili. Surprisingly enough, I haven't seen spaghetti or macaroni and cheese on the menu yet. This month does have baked ziti, probably with high carbohydrate white flour pasta though.

It doesn't take much to make a healther version of a meal. You just have to swap different types of ingredients and add in a few fruits/vegetables. It might cost a little more, but I'd rather spend money on healthier food versions with the added bonus of feeling better, than spend money on unhealthy versions, eventually medication and have the added bonus of feeling like crap.

A lot of sugar, starchy carbohydrates, chemicals in food: they all affect a child's behavior too. I can definitely tell when my boys have eaten too much unhealthy food, especially the oldest. He becomes loud, refuses to listen, cries when he doesn't get his way, etc. He's almost 7, but starts acting like he's 2. The behavior change is really something.

There was a teacher in Chicago who ended up eating school lunch one day because she had forgotten her lunch. She couldn't believe what kids were eating. She blogged about it, "The fed up with lunch blog", and wrote a book, Fed Up with Lunch: The School Lunch Project: How One Anonymous Teacher Survived a Year of School Lunches, about it.
It is pretty amazing how few people really care what's being served in schools.
There are so many adults/kids who are overweight, have diabetes and other worse illnesses, and it's pretty much all due to the food they eat. Why they don't make nutrition/meal preparation courses mandatory in school and college is beyond me. Oh yeah I remember why: Eat organic fruits/vegetables, a few whole grains, healthy fats, lean meats & dairy and you are less sick and feel better which leads to less medication which means less dollars for the pharmaceutical industry which the medical world revolves around.

Nutrition Info

3 Year Old Acts Like Dog

2011-09-21T13:28:00.001-05:00

My 3 year old is obsessed with dogs! He just loves them. He has a whole gang of stuffed dogs he carries around with him. He plays with then all day long. He feeds them, sleeps with them. The other day he gave them a pretend bath. They really do need a real bath. They started smelling like a real dog after a while. It's hard to get them away from him. One of these nights I'm going to have to do it after he goes to bed. The one time that I brought him down to the washing machine while I put the doggies in proved very traumatic for him. lol
The only drawback is I think he has a dust mite allergy, which the doggies aggravate when not frequently washed. He does have one, Doggie, which is hypoallergenic. I thought about trying to replace the whole gang with hypoallergenic stuffed animals, but I think it would be too devestating for him. Pooch, Puppy, Big Dog & the rest of the gang are irreplaceable.
Lately, he's even been acting like a dog. Barking, which sounds very realistic, licking his cheerios out of a bowl, walking on all fours. He wants a dog costume for Halloween. From what I've read, it's a stage. He just has a very active imagination and will grow out of it. No cause for alarm.
When we go someplace, the doggies come along. Pooch sits in his brother's seat when his brother isn't with us. Luckily, nowadays, he just brings one or two doggies. Two years ago he would bring the whole gang. One time when we went to pick up his brother from pre-school he even insisted on bringing along this huge, bright, yellow duck. Then he made me carry it into the school! lol I got a few funny smirks.
Someday I will really miss that little boy and his doggies.

More Toddler Resources

Apple Cider Vinegar Honey Garlic Recipe Cold Flu Remedy

2011-09-19T09:40:00.001-05:00

My oldest just started first grade. We made it through 2 full weeks of school before he caught the first round of sickness. Better than last year, since he got sick after 4 days.
In my ever expanding bag of cold and flu remedies, I've added this recipe:

Put the following in a blender...

1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup raw honey
8 cloves garlic

Mix on high speed for 60 seconds. Pour mixture into a glass container. Seal and leave in the refrigerator for five days. Normal dosage is two tsp. in a glass of water or fruit juice, grape or orange juice is best before breakfast.

The original link is here:

http://rawfoodinfo.com/articles/art_cidervingarlichoney.html

I just made the first batch, so I don't know how it will work, but it seems good. I had a taste and it's really good. I'm going to put 2 tsp in 3 tbs of apple juice and give him a little at a time throughout the day. Probably will do it for a few days if he's willing. I'm going to try it on my 3 year old too. I think he has allergies, since his nose is always stuffy.
I follow Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar Facebook page and they posted it.
I drink 2 tsp of Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar in a glass of water with a dash of honey every day. If I don't drink it for a few days, I definitely notice a difference in my energy level. It's supposed to help with headaches/migraines too. I love honey and grow my own garlic, so it's a recipe you can't go wrong with.

http://ice-princess-parent-talk.blogspot.com/2010/10/croup-ear-infection-home-remedies.html

http://ice-princess-parent-talk.blogspot.com/2010/09/cold-flu-home-remedies.html

More Home Remedies

Stay at home mom

2011-09-02T14:53:00.001-05:00

Guest post from: Constance Rodgers

I really like being a stay at home mom but there are a lot more responsibilities now that there were even when I was working. I think since I’m not physically in an office everyone expects me to be able to be everywhere when and where they need me which means my days are pretty full between going to pick up the dry cleaning, taking the kids to things and getting stuff to feed everyone three meals a day. Sometimes I wish I had more time to get everything done but somehow I always look down and it’s 3pm and I’ve got to be somewhere! My husband’s always asking me to do stuff like go to Http://ShopElectricityRatesTEXAS.Com to look into the electricity bill and call the security company to get the alarms fixed. I don’t mind doing any of that but he’s got to realize doing that leaves me less time to do the other stuff he needs – it’s a trade off to get everything done even for a stay at home mom like me!

The Bachelorette

2011-07-02T20:46:00.000-05:00

Author: Jonathan Suarez

One great competition show that was recently created for television is the Bachelorette. If one has seen "The Bachelor," then one knows exactly what to expect with "The Bachelorette." The premise of this show is exactly the same as "The Bachlor." When I first saw this show on my directstartv.com, I was truly hooked. I love seeing a woman take charge on this show and get to pick the man of her dreams.

Basically, there is a single woman on this show who gets to have her pick of 20 gorgeous men. The men on this show are simply divine and attractive to look at on a weekly basis. I simply love tuning into this show for the eye candy! It is also hilarious to see what the men will do to win a woman's love on this show. Men say all kinds of dumb things on this show, just in an effort to impress a lady. I simply can not believe what men will do for a woman's love. But, this show also gives me hope that someday I'll find my own fool for love that will do anything for me!

This is a great show to watch if someone needs a bit of hope for love in life. I think this show is a glimmer of hope in a world that can make too many people cynical about love.

Child Remove Tick Lyme Disease

2011-05-03T16:20:00.002-05:00

Ugh, my poor 6 year old is stuck on an antibiotic he's never had before. Saturday night he was running his fingers through his hair and discovered a bump. I took a look and it was a tick, full of blood. YUCK! He went for a walk in the woods that morning, so I'm hoping that is when he picked it up. It just seemed to be full of a lot of blood for having been picked up that soon. The tick must have been hungry! Apparently it takes at least 24 hours for a tick to transmit lyme disease. We are in upstate New York and a few years back my father had lyme disease, so it's definitely in this area and something to be concerned about.
I've successfully removed quite a few ticks using just tweezers, but this one was difficult. Being full of blood made it difficult to see where to grab. Being on my son also made me panicky and a bit shaky. I grabbed the tick as close to the skin as I could and pulled straight back. Unfortunately, it had a really good grip and the body ended up getting detached and squished. Not sure if it became squished after it was detached or before. Hopefully after, since squishing the sack causes the tick to vomit into the person, possibly passing diseases.
Anyways, I used the tweezers and grabbed close to the skin again and pulled. Got it out, except for one tiny piece. It was really dug into the skin, so I had to take him to the emergency room. Ticks must be running rampant this year because there was a 4 year old boy in the waiting room who also had a tick. His was in the back of his head. It looked like it was in pretty deep. His mother said she had a tick on her earlier in the day that a friend removed using a special tick removal tool called a Tick Key. I ordered a couple from Amazon.com along with a liquid called Tick Release that you put on the tick to make it let go.
The emergency room doctor had to use a needle-like tool to dig the tick piece out.
Then of course I had to follow up with our pediatrician, who immediately put him on an antibiotic just to be safe.
I really hate antibiotics, especially after his allergic reactions to penicillin and cephalosporin. In this case though, I guess an antibiotic is the lesser of two evils. Lyme disease isn't something I want to take a chance on as it causes joint pain, arthritis, heart and nerve damage. Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria, and if caught early, can be successfully treated with a round of antibiotics. Unfortunately, symptoms don't appear for 3 days to a month, sometimes longer. It's symptoms mimic other illnesses too, so it's really hard to detect. A bulls eye rash around the bite area is a good indicator of lyme disease, but not everyone develops it and not everyone who gets bit by a tick gets or shows symptoms of lyme disease.
My father developed the classic bulls eye rash, but let it go. He finally got worried and went to the doctor. He was on powerful antibiotics for a good month or two. That was a few years ago and he still has a lot of joint pain today.
Besides antibiotics, apple cider vinegar is supposed to get rid of lyme disease. No idea if it really works, but that's what I've read, so I've started my son on 2 tsp per day of Bragg's apple cider vinegar. Vitamin C is good to help with boosting his immune system. I also put him on a probiotic. That should hopefully help the good bacteria fight the bad bacteria and help with replacing the good bacteria being killed by the antibiotic.
The antibiotic he was put on is erythromycin, 3 doses of 2 ml for 14 days. It's gonna be a long 14 days. That's for sure.

More Lyme Disease info

My Kids Favorite Educational Show Sesame Street

2011-05-03T14:45:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Mae Bullock

For many kids I know that they love to watch television and even if it is only educational shows they do not mind. However, my kids are no different because they are in love with Sesame Street which is fine by me because I was raised watching this show as well and I know that it is able to provide children with a great learning background for what they need.

Every morning I know that my kids will be sitting down in front of the television when it is time to watch the show. However, even when I have to DVR the show because we are out shopping or to prepare for the weekend I know that they will still want to see the show. That is a great thing because these episodes even when they are a repeat is still going to! be able to educate my children because they always seem to find something that they missed during the first time that they viewed the show.

Even during the weekends when I forget to DVR some of the shows during the week I know that the kids are going to be able to watch the show. That is because with the satellite television from TVbyDirect.com that I have they are able to watch the show on some of the channels that are only found on this provider.

20 Tips To Reduce Stress Parenting

2011-03-30T11:35:00.005-05:00

My yearly Capricorn horoscope in Soap Opera Digest said that 2011 will be a year of chaos. So far it has proven true. The wonderful company I was working for, who shall remain nameless, ran out of work due to poor management and booted me out the door. I'm the breadwinner and have a mortgage to pay on top of food, bills etc. Luckily I have some savings to fall back on. Add to that the boys and I being sick pretty much non-stop since school started back in September and me being their primary caregiver. I also just discovered my fiance, who used up his nine lives in our relationship a long time ago, has been leading this weird secret life.
Yeah, I'm in the midst of some serious chaos and stress.
Unfortunately, drinking myself into oblivion isn't an option and I gave up tobacco 4 years ago. Not that those would really help, but they would make me feel better at least for a little while.
Here are the healthy ways I'm coping with stress:

1. Exercise - Mon: I spend 20 minutes in the morning doing a yoga dvd. Tues - Fri: I spend 20 minutes in the morning doing a Jillian Michaels dvd. Exercise helps release feel good chemicals in the brain. It also helps boost your immune system.

2. Vitamins - I make sure to take a multivitamin and Vitamin C and the doctor prescribed Vitamin D and magnesium. They help boost your immune system and the magnesium is useful for relieving anxiety.

3. Music - I have a radio in the kitchen, since that's where I spend most of my time when not on the computer. It makes a world of difference. BTW, if you are from upstate New York try 92.7 The Drive, a radio station that actually plays the Grateful Dead, Zeppelin, Tom Petty, Steve Earl - heard Copperhead Road the other day - how many radio stations play that?, tons of great stuff. Reminds me of Rock 107 20 years ago, only better.

4. Deep breathing - I've been doing a lot of that lately. Breathe in through the nose, hold for a few seconds and breathe out through the mouth. Deep breathing helps lower your blood pressure in just a few minutes.

5. Stick to a schedule - I have a daily schedule set up that helps me make sure I get work done, at least back when I had work to do. If I don't stick to the schedule, the day ends up being full of chaos and I don't get anything done. You really need to stay organized. It helps the kids too because they know what to expect throughout the day. Schools run on schedules, so why not set one up at home.

6. Get enough sleep - This is a tough one when you have kids, but it's probably the most important stress reliever. If I don't get enough sleep, I get very irritable and have trouble thinking clearly. Not a good combination when you are a software developer working at home. I go to bed the same time every night and make sure I get at least 8 hours of sleep during the week and about 9 on weekends. 7 - 8 is the optimal number of sleep hours. It's pretty much impossible when you have a baby, but after 6-9 months there should be no reason for a kid to not sleep through the night, unless they are sick. My boys are great sleepers. Even when they are sick, they sleep though the night. It's a pretty rare occasion when they don't sleep through the night.

7. Go outside and get some fresh air - Fresh air goes a long way, especially if you do it along with some deep breathing. Enjoy nature and get some sun, which will help your body produce Vitamin D naturally, which will help you physically feel better.

8. Take up a hobby if you don't already have one - Focusing on something you enjoy doing rather than on your problems will give you some time to take your mind off things and regroup.

9. Watch what you are eating and drinking - Stick with fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. People say this all the time, but it's really true. If you eat foods that are good for you and full of vitamins and minerals, you will begin to feel better, which will help you cope with stress better. Avoid processed foods. They have no nutritional value and are full of chemicals that make you feel like crap. Not to mention are a big source of major health problems. If you drink coffee, be careful it's not making you jittery and more anxious. I had to quit drinking it because it just made me too nervous. Now I stick with green tea. Chamomile tea is supposed to be good for relaxing you too.

10. Spend time playing with your kids - Stepping back and actually spending quality time and enjoying your kids makes a big difference. The saying kids grow up too fast is very true.

11. Socialize - If you have friends, go out and do something with them. Having a circle of friends is a big factor in longevity.

12. Make sure you like your job - If you hate your job, you're wasting a lot of time and putting a lot of unneeded stress on yourself. Figure out what you like to do and find a way to make money doing it. A job isn't really a job anymore when you do something you like. Since losing my job, I've had to do a lot of thinking about this one and came to the conclusion I do like being a software developer. I don't dread working. It's fun and keeps my mind sharp. If you need to develop new skills in order to work doing something you like, check out the internet and learn the skills you need. There's a lot of free information out there and a lot of online courses.

13. Read a book - Escape into a book for a while. Always a great stress buster.

14. Get lucky - If you have a partner, go grab them and head for the bedroom. No matter how you feel about them, just do it. It really will help you develop a closer relationship, if you don't already have one. I have a lot to get over with what my fiance was doing, but letting him in has really helped. It's also great for your health, since your brain releases feel good chemicals like oxytocin, which help you feel relaxed. 1 - 3 times a week is actually recommended as a way to boost your immune system. Who knew?

15. Meditate - Meditation actually changes your brain for the better. I bought a book which tells you how to meditate for just 8 minutes a day. I don't do this often enough, but once in a while I'll lay down to take a nap, not be able to sleep and end up using a meditation technique instead. When I had a concussion a few years ago, I did this quite frequently. It really helped make me feel calmer.

16. Write your thoughts and feelings down - Start a blog or journal where you vent. Talk about what's happened, how you feel, maybe how you are trying to cope, etc. That's why I like blogging. It's very therapeutic.

17. Watch television or a movie - It's a good mindless activity to take make you sit down and relax. Just don't let your mind wander. Focus on what you are watching.

18. Clean - Believe it or not, doing dishes helps me relax. Living in a clean house makes you feel organized and less stressed.

19. Laugh - Try to find the humor in what's causing the stress, if possible. Kind of depends on the situation, but sometimes it's possible.

20. Stay positive - Things might really suck at the moment, but sooner or later, they will get better. If they don't, then maybe it's a signal that it's time for a serious change. Things happen for a reason. Try to learn from what happens, so that you can move forward and not dwell on the past.

BTW, Here's a link to an article on all of the negative effects of stress. A lot of health problems are caused by stress. Stress is definitely not something to take lightly. Manage your stress and you will feel better about yourself and your life.

More Stress Relief Info

Dust Mite Allergy Carpeting

2011-03-16T14:01:00.002-05:00

Last winter my 3 year old was sick a lot thanks to his brother starting preschool. He had a constant runny nose for months. Once the school year ended, he still had a runny nose, all summer. It just wouldn't go away. He would also wake up coughing and then be ok for the rest of the day, until the next morning when he'd start coughing again. Other than that he acted ok.
I finally caught on that something besides a cold must be going on, so I turned to the internet and did some research.
Allergies are what kept coming up. I tried cutting a few things, mainly dairy, out of his diet with no luck. I cleaned his room from top to bottom, steam cleaned his carpet, washed his sheets and the few favorite stuffed animals I let him keep. Cleaning the carpet and washing the stuffed animals seemed to help for a week or so, which led me to the conclusion it must be a dust mite allergy.
I bought him a special aller ease pillow and a mattress allergy cover.
The carpet was only 7 1/2 years old and I really hated to take it out, if I wasn't 100% sure it was a dust mite allergy. All of the articles I read about dust mite allergies said to take out the carpeting. I got to the point where that was the only thing left to do. His eyes were now starting to crust shut in the morning when he woke up. BTW, Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo helped take care of that pretty well.
Finally, out came the carpet and in went cheap wood flooring from Lowes. Total cost for the flooring was only about $70.
After about two weeks, problem solved. The runny nose, cough and crusted eyes were all gone.
The problem with the carpet was his father used to use that room to change his clothes. He works with wood and his clothes are always covered in sawdust. He's a slob and I refuse to clean after him. He would just leave piles of dirty clothes laying around on the floor without ever cleaning the carpet. Years of buildup must have led to some pretty strange stuff growing in the carpet.
After the room became my son's room, I would steam clean it pretty frequently. Every time I did, the steam cleaner tank would be filled with all this disgusting dirt. I have a top rated steam cleaner, Hoover F5914-900, too. Apparently, dirt & dust get way down deep into the carpet and no amount of steam cleaning or vacuuming will get it out.
Getting it professionally done helps, but a lot still stays trapped.
Anyways, glad to have solved the runny nose, coughing, dust mite allergy problem.

More Dust Mite Allergy Info

SAHM vs. WAHM Stay At Home Work At Home Mom

2011-03-11T21:02:00.001-05:00

Ever since my little preemie was born 6 years ago, I've been working at home. I'm a programmer. Never really planned on working at home, just kind of fell into when my son was born early. I had a great boss who offered it to me. It's worked out great!
I've been working 30 hours per week, which is great. 40 hours per week is much harder when kids are around. I could actually go to work at 40 hours, but I just don't see the point of working to pay someone I don't know to take care of my kids. I'm not much of a people person and I don't trust other people very easily. Daycare in this area is a couple hundred dollars per week, so the extra money I would make would go directly to the daycare. Why bother paying someone to turn them into brats because you know they wouldn't get as good of care as they get being home. They would also start craving attention and act even worse. Living with intolerable kids doesn't sound like a good idea to me. Not to mention all the sickness that would be brought home. It's bad enough all the sickness my oldest brings home from kindergarten, but at least we get a break in the summer. Double the sickness, year around, I'd be home more than I was at work anyways.
How do you even get to know your kids when you are at work all day and they are at daycare all day? You'd see them for a couple hours at night and weekends. That's a big loss of time when their childhood goes so fast.
The biggest thing to successfully work at home is to set up a schedule and stick to it. If you don't set up a schedule, then before you know it, the day is over and you haven't gotten anything done. When it's time to work, you have to work, no matter what, unless there's an emergency. I work in between breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner. Some people work at night after the kids go to bed, but by then I'm too tired and the last thing I feel like doing is deep thinking. I like to work when I'm fresh and clear. Takes me all day to get 6 hours in, but is much better than sitting in an office staring at a computer for 8 hours straight. I would go nuts.
I work upstairs on the loft, which overlooks the living room, so I can do work and not have kids underfoot, but still see everthing the boys are doing. They don't bug me and I don't bug them. I think that is why they are so independent. They have tons of free play time, so they have learned how to keep themselves occupied. Kids these days, especially teens, seem to have problems keeping themselves busy. The ones I know are always complaining about how bored they are. I provide the boys with a play area with tons of toys and put the tv on educational kids shows. I talk to them all day long too. They don't just sit on the couch watching tv all day either. All day long they keep themselves busy playing, something kids these days have problems doing. Probably because parents are always underfoot and schedule them with activities. When kids do get some alone time, they don't know what to do with themselves.
Both boys are very creative and play independently extremely well. They are also happy, well adjusted boys who love to learn. I credit all of that to being at home.
That's the work at home life we've been doing. I work, they play, we're all good.
Unfortunately, the big company I've been working at for 10 years ran out of work and booted me out the door, so now I've turned into a stay at home mom. Something I thought would be much more fun and easier, no pressure of having to get work done. Now that I'm doing it though, I realized it's not really that great. It's really weird, kinda boring. Luckily I know how to keep myself occupied. If I didn't though, I'd be spending the day cooking, cleaning and bugging my kids. It's pretty relaxing, but definitely not the best way to spend every day for any length of time.
Work at home is the best of both worlds, and you get a paycheck.

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Happy Holidays!

2011-02-27T20:56:00.000-05:00

Guest post written by Kate Slanders

I'm so glad that the family is coming over in just a few short days. I feel like it's been so long even since Thanksgiving, when we last got together! The grandkids are getting a little older, so we're all able to have a calm meal together and a ton of fun afterwards just hanging out. I'm thinking this year of doing a dessert buffet--with this great strawberry shortcake, peanut butter fudge and butterscotch haystacks centerpiece. Sounds like a gut-bomb, right? Well, isn't that what the holidays are for?

It'll be great to have everyone in the same place again, though, that's for sure. We always enjoy the time together when we have it, especially because it's so rare that everyone's schedules align just so to allow it. My daughter's been pretty busy lately--she's been looking at domain Name Deals to try to set up her own knitting business. I hope it works out for her, but I do miss seeing her! Anyway, just a few more days and the joy can continue!

The Dangers of Fluoride

2011-01-23T17:36:00.000-05:00

Fluoride has been in the news a lot lately. Why? Because fluoride is bad for you. Surprise, surprise. That's something I've known for a few years.
At every well check, the pediatrician always asks if our water contains fluoride. We live in a rural area and get our water from a spring, so no fluoride in our water. I've always said no and they never said anything. After about 4 years of asking and being told no, the ped suddenly said the boys needed fluoride supplements. I said ok and gave them a full prescriptions worth of fluoride. The refills ran out and I forgot to ask at the next well check for a refill. After that I did a little research to see if they really needed it and came across articles from natural health experts warning against fluoride use.
Now there are articles from mainstream sources about avoiding fluoride because the CDC has issued a warning. Apparently there has been a sudden rise in cases of fluorosis in kids 12 to 16. Flourosis is streaking and white spots on teeth.
Topical use of very small amounts of fluoride help reduce tooth decay, but ingestion of fluoride is a different story.
Besides fluorosis, fluoride ingestion has been shown to cause cancer, premature birth, osteoporosis, reduced intelligence, brain damage, infertility, joint pain, just to name a few things.
Public water has added fluoride. The CDC now recommends the amount of fluoride in public water be lowered. According to natural health experts, it is a step in the right direction, but is not enough. Fluoride needs to be completely eliminated.
Fluoride is not a naturally occuring mineral. It is a toxic waste byproduct of phosphate mining. It used to be released into the air, which resulted in cattle and crop deaths. Something called wet scrubbers were then used to collect the fluoride. Fluoride comes from the wet scrubbers and is sold to be dumped into public water supplies.
Formula fed babies are full of fluoride because the water used to make the formula contains fluoride. Fluoride absorption also occurs when you take a shower a bath using water which contains fluoride. Pretty scary.
If your water contains fluoride, it might be a great idea to install water filters to filter out the fluoride. Your health and your children's health depend on it.

More Fluoride Resources

Ear Infection Ruptured Eardrum Antibiotic Resistance Kids

2011-01-20T12:35:00.000-05:00

We are hopefully on the upswing from the latest round of illness. Two weeks ago my 6 year old came home from school looking very pale with red circles around his eyes. His temperature was ok though, so I thought he was just tired. Well, about 5:00 the next morning he woke up vomiting with a 104 fever. That was it for the vomiting, but he had a sore throat. I figured it was a flu because his temperature was so high. I started him on Vitamin C and Hyland Cold n Cough syrup. The next night he started complaining of ear pain. I prefer to use the 3 or 4 day wait n see approach because he's allergic to amoxicillin/penicillin and cephalosporin. So far he's ok with azithromycin. 2 days later he still had ear pain, so I gave him 1 Hyland Earache tablet. A half hour later, he had a little blood come out of his ear. I don't know if the Hyland earache tablet caused it or if it would have happened anyways. He had the earache tablets a couple of times last winter and was ok with them. It's hard to say, but I probably will not be using them again. Normal dose is 4 tablets and he just had 1.
The next day, a Sunday, he woke up with a little crusted blood in his ear. I called his doctor and they said to take him to urgent care or keep a good eye on him and bring him in the next day. Last year we had a very bad experience with urgent care. The urgent care doctor said he had an ear infection, but refused to give him azithromycin saying it's not really used anymore for ear infections and gave us clindamycin instead, which is used in dentistry. Well, one dose of that gave him diarrhea and SEVERE stomach pains for 8 hours.
I decided to take a chance and wait until the next day. He had more crusty blood the next morning. I called the doctor and brought him in. She gave him a dose of Children's Advil and a prescription for azithromycin. The doctor didn't know if his eardrum had ruptured because it was so caked full she couldn't see anything.
The Children's Advil brought his fever right down to a normal temperature. 8 hours later when it wore off, his temperature shot right back up to 104. He was supposed to have another dose of Children's Advil, but refused and went to sleep instead. Luckily, the next day, Tuesday, his fever broke. By Thursday his ear finally stopped hurting. He still couldn't hear out of it though.
By the following Monday, he still couldn't hear out of it, so at bath time, I held a warm wash cloth up behind his ear. After the bath he said his hearing came back. I don't know if the warm wash cloth did the trick, or if it was a coincidence, but the next time he complains of ear pain I will be using a warm wash cloth behind the ear.
See, ear infections occur because fluid builds up in the Eustachian tube, which is a breeding ground for germs. In adults, the Eustachian tube runs straight up. In kids, the Eustachian tube runs at an angle making it easier for bacteria and fluid to collect. The warm wash cloth helps draw the fluid away from the inflammation. Based on everything I've read, I'm pretty sure the blood coming out of his ear was due to a ruptured eardrum. Apparently, the eardrum will heal itself. Back in the old days, doctors would make a slit in the eardrum to let the fluid out. Once the eardrum ruptures, the pain goes away because the fluid behind the eardrum causing the pain is released. When the eardrum ruptures, hearing loss does occur, but usually comes back.
Well, this ear infection, and the bleeding, was a pretty bad experience for both of us. With this round of disease I broke out a couple of new home remedies I'm going to implement every time I sense him getting sick.
First up is Braggs apple cider vinegar. It's raw and organic. The best there is. I drink 2 teaspoons of it in a glass of water everyday. It helps with the migraines I get. For my 6 year old, I put 1/4 tsp of Braggs apple cider vinegar in a 1/2 tablespoon, add a drop of honey and fill with water. I then squirt it into his mouth. Do this 4 - 8 times a day.
Second is a probiotic, or eat tons of yogurt. A must when taking antibiotics. Antibiotics kill good and bad bacteria in the body. Probiotics add good bacteria to the body. For my 6 year old, I have a kids chewable probiotic. He refuses to chew it, so I dilute it in 1 1/2 tablespoons of water and give it to him 3 - 4 times a day, using it all.
Third, I break open 2 - 4 garlic oil capsules, drip the garlic onto a paper towel and wipe on his feet at night after he goes to sleep. I put socks on his feet afterwards.
I don't know if any of these home remedies help for an ear infection, but they are worth a try.

Here are a couple of good articles on ear infections and the overuse of antibiotics:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/08/20/ear-infections-part-one.aspx

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/02/04/bacteria-ear-infection.aspx

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/12/02/new-study-shows-antibiotics-have-little-impact-on-child-ear-infections.aspx

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3 Year Old Antics

2010-12-31T22:32:00.000-05:00

Yesterday my little 3 year old was throwing toys down the stairs. I told him, we don't throw toys down the stairs, understand? He looked at me, nodded his head, brought his little hand to his forehead and saluted me saying yes ma'am! I couldn't help but laugh. What a little character!

Preschooler Discipline

3 Year Old Well Check

2010-12-28T15:01:00.000-05:00

My youngest had his 3 year old well check today. Hard to believe he is 3 already. Time sure flies! The 3 year old well check is a great visit. It is the first visit where the blood pressure gets checked, but the biggie was no shots! Shots again at the 4 and 5 year old well checks though.
I cringe every time they get vaccinated. New York state schools require them, so not much choice unless you homeschool. Maybe there are other ways around getting vaccinated, but I've never looked into it.
I used to have the boys get the flu shot, but stopped last year after the controversy surrounding the swine flu shot. The flu shot only covers certain fu strains, has the potential for side effects, weakens your immune system, etc. The home remedies I use have helped when we do get sick, with no side effects. One remedy I use for congestion is Vicks Baby Rub. My 3 year old has a cold at the moment, so his doctor said to try Vicks Baby Rub. She said it's new, but has been around a while. That kind of amused me since I've been using Vicks Baby Rub for 6 years now. She also said all the old stuff is coming back. Yeah, all the old home remedies without side effects.
Vicks Baby Rub contains petrolatum, fragrance, aloe extract, eucalyptus, lavender and rosemary oils. The first 2 ingredients are not good. For short term use, I try to overlook that. Eucalyptus is great for bacterial & viral infections. Lavender helps with relaxation and rosemary is good for respiratory infections and helps "clear the head".
Anyways, my 3 year old is 27 lbs, 36 1/2 inches tall. Just a little guy, but growing good.

More Home Remedies

Facebook Fan Page

2010-11-26T18:51:00.000-05:00

You can now keep up to date with the Ice Princess's Parent Talk blog on Facebook!

LeapFrog Learning DVD's, Baby Babble Speech

2010-11-19T15:13:00.000-05:00

It's almost my little guy's third birthday. I can't believe it's been 3 years since he was born. Time sure flies once the kids arrive.
I'm having a really hard time figuring out what to get him for his birthday. Between him and his brother, they have way too many toys. They are both really into Legos right now. We are overrun with them. I've had to hide a whole bunch of them just because they refuse to pick them up.
I'm looking for a really cool learning toy, but haven't found anything they don't already have yet. There is a new Alphie toy out. It uses cards and reviews say the cards are not very durable. My boy is a bit destructive, so that lets that out.
I did order a couple of dvd's in the hopes they will help improve his speech. He talks a lot, but is difficult to understand. I found a box set of LeapFrog learing dvd's
on sale at Amazon.com for $17.99. You get three dvd's: Letter Factory
, Talking Words Factory
and v plus 26 flash cards. Each dvd alone sells for about $9.00, so that's a pretty awesome deal. The first two dvd's are the ones I am hoping will help improve his speech. The reviews said they are very good and speech therapists are even recommending them.
Last year I bought him the two Baby Babble dvd's to help improve his speech. They are great! He loves them! He says all the words and does the signs at the end where they teach sign language for a few different words.
Now that he's older, I wanted something a little more challenging and the LeapFrog dvd's seem to fit the bill as the recommeded ages are 3-6, except for Letter Factory which is 2 - 5.

The Steam Team Carpet Cleaning in Austin

2010-11-04T16:58:00.001-05:00

When our house was built almost 8 years ago, we went with hardwood floors throughout except for the two bedrooms downstairs. I had no idea kids would one day arrive. I just thought the hardwood floors would look nice. Now that the kids have arrived, I am so glad we have hardwood floors. They are so much easier to keep clean than the carpet. With all the sickness during the school year, vomiting is inevitable. I'd much rather clean up vomit on the hardwood floor than the carpet. My youngest has a big stain on his carpet from an episode last winter. I have a steam cleaner. It worked well, but I can still see the spot. Maybe a professional carpet cleaner could help?
If you are interested in carpet cleaning in Austin, Texas, professional carpet cleaning by The Steam Team might be worth looking into. They are a residential and commercial carpet cleaning company. Before cleaning the carpets, they will decide the best treatment method for your carpets. They will spot test a small area of the carpet before beginning to make sure there will be no problems.
The Steam Team offers carpet protection to help the carpet stay clean and fresh longer. The carpet protector must be reapplied after each cleaning, but will help pick up more dirt during vacuuming and make spot removal easier.
If you have a nice Oriental rug, like I hope to get someday, that needs cleaning, The Steam Team also does wool area rug cleaning austin. To clean an Oriental rug, they first inspect it to determine the best cleaning method. Then they use pressurized air to remove loose dirt. More dirt is then removed using a pile lifter and vacuum before being preconditioned and shampooed with an oriental rug shampoo. A final rinse is done before the rug is hung to dry in a controlled atmosphere drying room. A final inspection and the rug is good as new.
If you are a do-it-yourselfer, like I am, you might want to check out The Steam Team's professional carpet cleaning tips. They offer tips on how to remove red wine, cosmetics, dirt, pet debris, and coffee/tea. Good tips worth checking out.
The Steam Team offer a 7-day written guarantee. If not satisfied they return and re-clean spots or stains, or your money back.

Croup Ear Infection Home Remedies

2010-10-28T14:50:00.001-05:00

My two little boys have come down with the croup. It all started Saturday night when my oldest looked very pale. I took his temperature and sure enough, he had a fever. Shortly after, he started making a strange cough. I've never heard anything like it, but based on previous cold n flu research I kind of figured it was croup. He sounded just like a barking seal.
After a few days he wasn't eating much and would gag/choke on certain things he did eat. Apparently croup causes inflammation in the throat around the voice box, so that explains why it was hard for him to eat.
He also had a continuous high fever for 5 days. At night it was ranging from mid 103 to low 104, so yesterday afternoon the doctor let me bring him in. She confirmed it was croup and that he also has an ear infection. Now he's on azithromycin for the ear infection. Croup is a virus, so nothing you can do about it except let it run its course.
I can never just do nothing, so whenever the boys get sick, I immediately start giving them Hyland's Cold n Cough 4 Kids along with a few other of my cold n flu home rememdies, such as lots of fluids, apple cider vinegar, lollipop juice and Vitamin C. It got us through last winter with only 2 rounds of antibiotics for the oldest, none for the youngest. Not too bad considering we were pretty much sick non stop from mid September until the end of June.
The little guy is on day 2 of his bout with croup. I immediately started him on Hyland's Cold n Cough 4 Kids since I knew it was bad and he has a history of wheezing. He's doing pretty well. The first night his temperature was 103, but last night it was about 102. His cough is getting much better.
I've also been loading them both up on honey, which is great for coughs. Honey coats the throat, is high in antioxidants and is antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral. If you can find it, Buckwheat honey is the best for coughs. It's very dark. The boys don't like it, but it works great for me.
I run a cool mist humidifier at night for both boys too. A humidifier helps loosen mucus and open the airways by adding moisture into the air.

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Hyland's Teething Tablets Recalled

2010-10-27T09:01:00.000-05:00

My favorite homeopathic company, Hyland's, is the subject of an FDA recall. ALL of Hyland's Teething tablets are being recalled due to them containing belladonna, which is used for pain and inflammation. Problems have been reported when using the teething tablets in high doses.
Parents should know better than to go overboard when handing them out to a baby. The bottle does contain directions. Parents should also know better than to leave them out where a little one can get at them. Those two points are not the fault of the company. They are the fault of the consumer.
Every article I've ever read about homeopathy, says you can not overdose on a homeopathic remedy. Teething tablets are composed of very, very small quantities of each ingredient. It would take way more than one bottle to have adverse effects. According to this article, it would take at least 6 bottles.
I used Hyland's teething tablets a couple of times on my oldest. They were amazing. He went from screaming to playing within just a few minutes.
If you ask me, I think it's big pharma trying to kill the safe, effective, no side effects products offered by the competition. It's a money thing and the more people who turn to natural, alternative remedies, the more money the pharmaceutical industry loses. Unfortunately, the companies who offer alternatives to big pharma's medicine, have no choice but to give in.
Anyways, if you have Hyland's teething tablets you are now afraid to use, you can either get a cash refund, or a coupon for another Hyland's product, by filling out this recall form on the Hyland's website.

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How To Teach Kids To Write Number 8

2010-10-08T11:14:00.001-05:00

The goal of kindergarten is to learn how to read and write. I can't wait until my son learns to read. I love reading!!!
For only starting kindergarten a few weeks ago, he's learned a lot.
He just gave me a cute tip. To write the number 8, according to my little kindergartener, you write the letter S, then change your mind and go home! lol. Yes, that's a good way to remember how to write the number 8.

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How to Wash Stuffed Animals Dust Mite Allergy

2010-09-22T15:50:00.001-05:00

About 3 months ago, my almost 3 year old had a cold and ever since then he wakes up in the morning and after his nap coughing. He just coughs for a few minutes and then he's ok. Sometime it's a real bad phlegmy cough though. I'm starting to think it's some sort of allergy, possibly to dust mites. I've been trying to clean everything I can think of in his room. I dusted, cleaned out the closet, vacuumed and steam cleaned the floor. I took out all of his old pillows and bought him a new aller ease pillow. I still have to buy a cover to put over his mattress.
I washed all of his blankets and stuffed animals. Washing the stuffed animals was the fun part. All of them say spot clean, so I wasn't sure what to do with them. He has tons of them and loves them all. I decided to take a chance and wash them in the washing machine. I took a couple of pillow cases and put a bunch of stuffed animals in each one. I didn't tie the end of the pillowcases shut, but next time I might try that. I put the stuffed pillowcases in the washing machine on the gentle cycle, hot water setting. The water needs to be hot in order to kill any dust mites lurking in the stuffed animals. I also use Arm and Hammer perfume and dye free laundry detergent. After the washing was done, I put everything in the dryer on the gentle cycle. The stuffed animals came out clean and soft.
After doing all of that, his coughing is not quite as bad. I'm going to add a few plants to his room and see if that helps any. Apparently plants are good for purifying the air. I may end up buying an air purifier for his room too.

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What to do with Kids Stickers

2010-09-19T13:39:00.000-05:00

My kids love stickers. Me, not so much. Every time they go to the dentist or doctor, they get stickers at the end of the appointment for "being good". Don't get me wrong, stickers are pretty cool. Bright colors, cool designs, some even smell nice. Remember scratch n sniff stickers? I can still smell the pizza stickers.
It's what happens when we get home that is the problem. Stickers end up pasted to the hard wood floor, the wall, the $800.00 dining room table, the kitchen cabinets, kitchen countertop. You name it, stickers have been placed there and some of them are a real pain in the butt to get off. Usually I just scrape them off with my fingernail. Using water just makes the stickers harder to remove. I have a spot on the kitchen counter of leftover sticker residue I can't get off.
I thought back to when I was a kid. Yeah, I loved stickers too. I had a cool book made especially for stickers. I'm sure it's still at my parents house in my old room someplace. I'll have to dig it out. I'm sure my kids would love it.
That's when the light when on. I'll get them each their own sticker books. I headed to the dollar store and picked each kid up one of those marble covered composition books. Now when I bribe my kids with stickers, the sticker reward goes right into their books. No more stickers all over the house and furniture. No more thrown out stickers stuck to random pieces of paper; and they get to look at their stickers whenever they want. Problem solved.

PPP

2010-09-10T08:40:00.001-05:00

Ginger anodyne clears the palate

Cold Flu Home Remedies

2010-09-08T19:44:00.000-05:00

My little preemie that I blogged about back in the early days of this blog started his first day of kindergarten today. Crazy how fast time flies! Having kids makes time go even faster. Last year he was in preschool. He loved it, but I think he was out sick more than he was there. He would get sick, then his brother would get it and then I would get it. I'm really hoping we're not sick as much this year as we were last year. At his 5 year checkup he was sick and the doctor discovered he had an ear infection. Put him on amoxicillin and guess what? He's allergic. Yup, developed hives about an hour and a half after the first dose. When he was about 2 he had taken it for a possible strep infection, but stopped it when the test came back negative. Just had diarrhea then.
After the amoxicillin reaction, the doctor put him on cephalosporin and guess what? Yup, allergic to that to. He developed hives within the first hour that were even worse. Apparently, 25% of those allergic to a penicillin, are also allergic to cephalosporin. Had to give him Benadryl for a few days to control the hives. Azithromycin was the next ordered antibiotic. He was ok with it. Ended up with another ear infection when I took him in for really bad canker sores. They were all along the bottom gum line. Poor kid. He couldn't even eat. I've never seen them like that.
Anyways, after the amoxicillin/cephalosporin allergic reactions, I started to do some serious looking into home remedies because he was able to take azithromycin two different times, but who knows if someday he will develop an allergic reaction to that.
A few things I discovered: apple cider vinegar, honey, juicing, vitamins, and Hyland's homeopathic remedies. I'm really hoping we can get through the next cold/flu season without antibiotics, but we will see.
To prepare myself for this years cold and flu season, I've started drinking the juice of one lemon per day. I started that about 2 weeks before school started.
I didn't try this last year, but am going to this year. At the onset of a fever, I am going to try Hyland's Flu Care for Kids. I'm going to switch over to Hyland's Cold n Cough medicine once the fever breaks. I used that ALOT last winter and I think that is what saved us from even more antibiotics. For the first 2 - 3 days after the fever breaks, I'm going to give it every 4 hours, then cut down to 3 doses per day for the next 2 - 3 days. Based on how they are feeling, I may give 2 doses per day for the next 2 - 3 days. I took it myself a few times when I was sick and it really does make you feel better. It just gives you this overall feeling of betterness. Hard to explain, unless you take it yourself.
Hyland's also has Vitamin C tablets for kids. Vitamin C is very important when you are sick. Each one is 25 mg and quickly dissolves in the mouth. My kids hate taking anything, so I would dissolve a tablet in a teaspoon of water and squirt it into their mouths with a medicine dropper. That was a little easier.
Emergen-C also has a 500 mg powder for kids. You add it to a cup of juice or water and drink it, or squirt it into the kids mouths a little at a time throughout the day. I'm not so sure it tastes the greatest though, so adding it to juice is probably the best bet.
Zinc is also important when you are sick. Little Remedies has a Vitamin C with zinc lollipop for kids. They are great, but my complaint with them is they contain high fructose corn syrup. Not a good thing, but I haven't been able to find a better zinc alternative, so I stuck with the lollipops. I cut off the stick and dissolved the lollipop in 2 tablespoons of water and squirted a few teaspoons at a time into their mouths. Kind of a pain, but they tend to take a few licks and waste the rest of the lollipop. You go through a bag of 18 pretty quick when you have 2 sick kids, so dissolving was much less wasteful, and the water helps with hydration.
Apple cider vinegar. Apparently it is a cure all for just about everything. I discovered it's usefulness from a website called earthclinic.com. Great site. I highly recommend checking it out. I add 1/2 tsp to a half cup of apple juice several times a day. I also put a half tablespoon of honey, which is helpful for coughs, 1/8 tsp of apple cider vinegar to a tablespoon and fill it with water. I squirt that into their mouths a few times a day up to 2 - 3 tablespoons per day.
Juicing is also great when you are sick. Apparently, juicing helps the body absorb the nutrients quicker than eating the fruit/vegetable. I bought a book called The Big Book of Juices. AWESOME! Has just about any juice you can imagine, over 400 recipes. A nice colorful picture of every recipe too. What's great about it, is it tells what each juice recipe is good for. There is a section where you look up the ailment to see the corresponding juices which work best. There's also a section where you look up vitamins to get the juice recipe with the most amount of that vitamin. I've only made a handful of the recipes, but they've all tasted very good. If we don't drink all of the juice, I make popsicles out of it. Great for kids and no high fructose corn syrup like the store bought popsicles. I'm hoping to make many more of the recipes once I get a juicer. I bought a little juicer, which is great for citrus fruits like oranges, lemons and limes, but I need a big juicer that can handle greens and other fruits.
I also have the boys on a multivitamin and 800 mg of Vitamin D. Research has shown that maintaining a Vitamin D level of 50 - 80 helps ward off colds and flus better than a flu shot.
I'll keep you posted if I come across anymore helpful cold and flu home remedies this winter.

Entertainment Tonight Celebrity News Program Rocks

2010-08-25T14:17:00.000-05:00

Entertainment Tonight Celebrity News Program Rocks

Contributed by Cameron Hodge

My best friend and I were talking the other day about some of the celebrity news we heard on Entertainment Tonight. She told me that she could not watch the celebrity news show, because her cable company dropped them.

I am so glad I can watch my favorite celebrity news program on Satellite tv in Texas. That would make me mad if my satellite company dropped it. Anyway, since that happened. She has been coming over more to watch it at my house.

We like to keep up with the latest fashions and who is playing in what movie. Entertainment tonight seems to be the only place you can go and get this type of news about celebrities. We noticed how many celebrities are getting divorces. We often wonder if they get married, just to enhance their own careers. We know that they are real people too. it just seems to us that this seems to happen more to them.

I like to hear the different charities that the celebrities support. I think it tells a lot about their character. I think knowing what goes on in their real life does have an influence on how successful they are in their careers.

I do not care to watch the celebrities who always get in trouble with the law. I think that they need to set a better example for children. This is why I think it is important to watch this very informative, celebrity news program.

RepairPal

2010-08-13T11:22:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I took my Hyundai Santa Fe, which I love by the way, in for service. It was making a few strange noises. Problem was a belt and the back brakes were rotted. A few other minor things. Total bill came to $560.00. Shocked I was and not too thrilled to be shelling out that much money. Brakes are a must have item though. I'm just glad my vehicle is all paid off.
I was just made aware of a very interesting website called RepairPal. It is a website which gives you an estimate for repairs on your vehicle for your area. For example, if you have a Toyota Corolla, which needs it's water pump replaced, you can get an estimate on how much it will cost to repair it. RepairPal will definitely prepare you for the sticker shock of getting your vehicle fixed.
RepairPal will also help you find the best shop near you at which to get your vehicle fixed. For example, if you live in Chicago, RepairPal will help you find a Chicago auto repair shop. Ratings and reviews are also given for the auto repair shops. I always just take my vehicle to the dealer where I bought the vehicle because it's sometimes hard to find a trustworthy repair shop. The dealers do tend to cost more though. It's definitely a good idea to shop around if you are looking to save money.
The RepairPal website seems like a great way to help you get the best deal on your auto repair, and it will give you a good idea on how much money it will cost to fix your vehicle, so you won't be shocked like I was.

Homemade Graham Crackers

2010-07-27T10:34:00.002-05:00

My oldest loves graham crackers with cream cheese. Unfortunately, store bought graham crackers are full of unhealthy ingredients, such as high fructose corn syrup. I'm really trying to make an effort and not buy foods which contain HFCS, MSG (monosodium glutamate, and sodium nitrate/nitrite.
I did some google searching and came across a recipe for homemade graham crackers. I haven't tried them yet, but they sound good.
Here's the link to the recipe I found at HeavenlyHomemakers.com, which I need to poke around a bit. Looks like it may have some good info.

The recipe is as follows:
Whole Wheat Honey Graham Crackers
2 ¼ cups whole wheat flour
½ cup rapadura or sucanat (dehydrated cane sugar juice)
1 t. baking powder
½ t. baking soda
½ t. salt
¼ t. cinnamon
4 T. honey
¼ c. water
1 t. vanilla
1 stick butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Melt stick of butter in a pan on the stove. Set aside.
3. In a mixing bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
4. Add the liquids: honey, water, vanilla and melted butter.
5. Stir well until a nice ball of dough is formed.
6. Cut two pieces of Parchment paper the size of the cookie sheet.
7. Lay one piece of parchment paper on the cookie sheet.
8. Place the ball of dough on the parchment paper.
9. Lay the other piece of parchment paper on top of the ball of dough. Squish dough down a little with your fist.
10. Use the rolling pin to roll the dough between the pieces of parchment paper. Roll until the dough covers the whole cookie sheet.
11. Remove the top piece of parchment paper. Cut rolled dough into 2 inch squares, or cut shapes with cookie cutters, being sure to separate the shapes from the surrounding dough a little.
12. Bake in oven for 18 minutes.
13. Turn oven off, but leave crackers in the oven to get crisp.
14. Remove from oven after 30 minutes to one hour. Break graham crackers apart.
15. Store in a air tight container.

When I make these, I'm using 1/8 tsp. salt and substituting 1/4 cup brown sugar for the 1/2 cup rapadura or sucanat. The butter will need some substituting, but I'm going to use the full stick for the first try.

I have started a new blog, in case anyone is interested. It's called Ice Princess's Healthy Living Naturally and is about all things healthy and green related to my lifestyle and any tips/articles that I find interesting.

Andrew Shue CafeMom

2009-10-02T09:04:00.006-05:00

Remember Andrew Shue from Melrose Place? He played Billy. Well, I was reading an article about how he is getting married to the Today show’s Amy Robach. At the end of the article was an update about what Andrew has been up to since he was on Melrose Place. Apparently he has "co-founded the nonprofit foundation Do Something, an organization that encourages volunteerism, and the social networking site CafeMom." Yeah, he operates the website CafeMom. I had no idea he was involved with that. It's a very impressive website. It is doing very well. Good for Andrew! His sister Elizabeth Shue is even a member.
Lots of times I've done Google searches and CafeMom has come up in the search results. It's a very useful parenting site.
You can join groups, set up a profile, create a journal and share info. I haven't gotten into it too far yet, but it looks like a great site to connect with other parents. It looks like there is quite a bit of useful parenting information available. Good place to ask questions and get parenting advice.

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How to Help Baby Sleep With Music

2009-08-14T13:22:00.009-05:00

Baby having trouble sleeping? Well, I lucked out with both of my boys. They are both great sleepers. I really have no idea how that happened. Maybe they just take after me. I LOVE to sleep. lol. I think a routine is a big part of it. We have a set feeding schedule. Breakfast when they first get up. Morning snack 2 hours later. Lunch 2 hours after that. Nap/quiet time for 2 hours. Afternoon snack when naptime is over. Dinner 2 1/2 hours after that. Bath time and bedtime snack and bedtime. I work at home, so the boys get lots of unstructured play time. They are excellent at keeping themselves occupied. My oldest son enjoys building sheds with his Legos for his Thomas and friends trains. Very creative little boy.
Anyways, during the day, they are super busy, so I think that helps wear them out, so they are ready for bed when the time comes.
One thing I have done is play music for them at bedtime. For my youngest's first year, I would put on Bob Marley. I read that babies are supposed to like Bob Marley. My son did seem to enjoy it, but for my oldest son, I used Journey's Escape cd. He would always fall asleep before the cd was even over. It was a rare occasion when he would still be awake when it was over. Shortly after my youngest turned 1, I decided to give up on Bob and switch him over to Journey. For a while I noticed he would still be awake after the Bob Marley cd was over. He would occupy himself, but it would take a little while longer for him to fall asleep. Well, I switched him over to Journey and he is now sleeping well before the Journey cd is done playing. I'm very impressed. If you have a baby or toddler who is having trouble sleeping, I highly recommend playing the Journey Escape cd for him. Who knows if it will help, but it is certainly worth a try.
BTW, music is great for stimulating a babies brain to develop.
To get a baby to sleep through the night, you might also try using a fan, or I use a humidifier, turned on high. The white noise of the fan or humidifier sometimes helps. I know the humidifier noise has helped my son sleep while he's been sick.

More Help on Getting a Baby to Sleep

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How To Remove Crayon From Walls

2009-07-29T13:29:00.005-05:00

How to remove crayon from walls is something I had to learn recently. When my 4 year old was about 2 years old, my little budding artist took his crayons and drew some nice designs on a couple of walls. Shortly after he turned 3 years old, his brother arrived and after learning how to draw mountains from Blues Clues, he decided to draw the Rocky Mountains allllllll the way down the hallway. At first it was cute and I was quite impressed with his imagination. After all, I do try to encourage his creativity every chance I get. Who else has walls with this very unique mural?
Well, it's almost 2 years later and I just want my white walls back, lol, so I've been working my way around the walls removing the crayon using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. That thing is the best. It cleans anything. All you do is wet the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and scrub away. Every so often, rinse the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser out. One thing you have to be careful of is that you don't scrub too hard. Otherwise, you will scrub right through the paint. Scrub lightly though, and you will remove the crayon from the walls very easily.

Recommended Baby, Toddler Items

Developmentally Delayed

2009-07-16T21:06:00.006-05:00

My little baby is now 19 1/2 months old. My oldest is 4 1/2 already. Unbelievable how fast time goes. Especially when the second baby comes along.
At my youngest's 15 month checkup, his doctor thought he was developmentally delayed. He wasn't walking yet, not too many words and he refused to feed himself. His doctor recommended getting Early Child Intervention involved. To encourage him to walk they suggested a walk behind push toy, which we already had. They also suggested taking him outside to walk on the grass.
To feed himself, they recommended lots of finger foods, such as peas, carrots, small pieces of fruit, cheerios, crackers, etc.
For his vocabulary, they recommended lots of reading. As you read, point to the pictures and name the objects and ask him where is ... and ask him to point to it. One book I bought is Happy Baby Words. It's a nice book. Full of pictures. He seems to enjoy it.
Also, whenever he does do something, take a few steps, feed himself a bite, etc., just encourage and give him lots of praise.
Well, he has come a long ways in the past few months. He was a late walker at 17 1/2 months, but he's running around like a mad man now. He feeds himself now, although still with his fingers. His vocabulary is growing, although I'm still not convinced he's saying as much as he should be. Sometimes his speech is a little hard to understand, but he's still young yet. I did buy him a dvd for speech development called Baby Babble 2 - First Words: P B M.
It's a nice dvd and really captures his attention. Even his brother enjoys it. This is the 2nd dvd developed by two speech pathologists. This one focuses on learning words which start with the letters P, B and M. The dvd also contains sign language chapters and a tips for parents chapter. It's pretty mellow. Background music plays as different toys and objects are shown and the names of the objects are given. I do think it has helped my son. One day he said papa out of the blue and as the video plays I've heard him jabber along with it.
The first dvd, Baby Babble - Speech-Enhancing DVD for Babies and Toddlers, focuses on more than just P, B and M. It's not quite as new, but still relevant. I plan on buying it sometime soon.
Another thing I've done to encourage my son's brain development is feed him lots of berries, blueberries, strawberries, etc. Blueberries are brain food and are pretty affordable when bought frozen. Frozen food is actually more nutritious than fresh because it is frozen as soon as it is picked. Fresh food loses nutrients in transit.
Berries are also full of antioxidants to keep everyone healthy.

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Child Constipation Remedy

2009-03-04T22:29:00.001-05:00

Just want to mention I updated some information in an earlier post about child constipation remedies.

Potty Training, How to Clean a Potty Chair

2009-02-14T22:12:00.006-05:00

My 4 year old has been potty trained for quite some time. I'm very proud of him as he pretty much did it on his own. Potty training is something you just can't push. You can guide them, but you pretty much have to wait for them to be ready. I figured night time would take a while since I wasn't about to wake my son during the night to go. One night he decided he didn't want to wear a diaper, so I let him go without one just to test him. He stayed dry for a few nights, then would be wet, then dry. It didn't take too long before he just stayed dry every night.
I opted for the potty chair over the toilet seat potty only because my son is very curious and would get into everything in the bathroom.
The potty is a pain in the butt when it comes to cleaning. Even though I keep it empty and rinsed out, it doesn't take very long for the potty bowl to become stained. I tried spraying it with lysol cleaner, letting it set a bit and then scrubbing. That works pretty good, but what worked the best was white vinegar. Just fill the potty bowl with white vinegar, let it set overnight and rinse with water. The potty should be remarkably clean. I know I was impressed.
BTW, if you are trying to choose a potty, buy a plain cheap model, as you will probably just want to throw it away once potty training is over. Even though I try to keep it clean, the potty isn't something I'm going to hang on to. Some potty chairs have all the bells and whistles with sounds and make believe flushing that sell for about $50. Watching my son's poor aim at times makes me glad I just opted for the cheap model.

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Picky Eater

2008-12-29T20:34:00.001-05:00

Got a picky eater? My 4 year old is an extremely picky eater. He pretty much lives off of cheese and crackers. He hasn't touched a vegetable in months and is now starting to reject fruit. He also eats meat sparingly. He's in the 10th percentile for weight, so he's thin, but not underweight at least.
While doing some Christmas shopping at Amazon.com, I came across a book called The Sneaky Chef. Great book! You puree various fruits, vegetables and beans and add them to various recipes. So far I've made the mac n cheese, pizza and chocolate chip cookies. I was very impressed with all 3 recipes. The mac n cheese contained carrots and sweet potatoes. The pizza contained white kidney beans, carrots and sweet potatoes and the chocolate chip cookies contained white kidney beans and dried berries. In all 3 recipes no one would ever guess the secret ingredients. If you ask me, everything tasted better than the normal recipe. Unfortunately, my son wouldn't eat the mac n cheese or the pizza, but he chowed down 3 of the chocolate chip cookies when they came out of the oven. Today he did even ate a tuna fish sandwich with wheat germ.
Next, I'm going to try burgers with spinach and blueberries, brownies with spinach and blueberries and french fries with cornmeal.
I don't like sneaking secret ingredients into my son's food, but everything else I've tried has failed, so I'm really glad I bought The Sneaky Chef. It's a good way to ensure your child or you or your spouse eat healthy.

BTW, I just discovered the author, Missy Chase Lapine, has a 2nd book out. The reviews say it is even better than the first. I will definitely be ordering it.

Tongue Tied Baby

2008-11-01T11:05:00.000-05:00

My new baby is now 11 months old already. This year sure has flown by. He's now babbling away saying mama, baba, crawling like a maniac and standing up.
Shortly after his 9 month checkup, I took him to an ear, nose, throat specialist to clip his tongue, since his ped diagnosed him as being tongue tied. You have the option of having the tongue clipped in the hospital or in the office. It's a very simple procedure, so I opted for the office. According to the specialist, the tissue which is clipped doesn't have much feeling, no nerves. Getting clipped just feels like being tapped on the hand. He said no pain reliever was necessary. My son cried & cried, poor thing, but afterwards he was fine, not cranky or anything. If I had known the specialist wasn't going to give him anything, I would have given him Tylenol before we went. For the procedure, you set the baby in your lap & try to hold him still, the doc uses scissors and tweezers and just clips the tissue. My son had a small area of white tissue on the bottom of his mouth, which went away after it was healed. His tongue is now free to move. I guess it's better to get the procedure done while young, rather than wait and have to go through speech therapy. I also read that the procedure is more complex and involves stitches if done when they are older. Be prepared for the bill though. This specialist charged $500 for the 5 minute procedure and $168 for looking in his mouth to verify he was tongue tied. Almost $700 total. Pretty crazy.

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Make your own baby food

2008-08-14T19:51:00.001-05:00

My baby is now 8 1/2 months old already. Gosh, wonder why that amount of time goes so slow when you're pregnant.
He's been on solid foods for about 3 months now. I started him out slow because he was so sensitive to what I ate. Thankfully he seems to be past that now. I haven't tried cabbage or broccoli yet, but hurray I can eat chocolate now.
I started him out on jarred baby food, just because he wasn't eating too much and jarred baby food is so quick & easy. Now that his appetite has increased, I'm making his baby food. The jarred baby food gets expensive pretty quick. I bought 4 pears for around $1.50. The amount of baby food it made would have cost arountd $5.00, so over time, making your own baby food saves quite a bit of money. Making your own baby food is so easy too and it probably tastes better.
Basically, you peel the fruit or vegetable, if you want to, cut into chunks, put in a pan, with a little bit of water and cook for a few minutes until soft, or put in a bowl with a little bit of water and microwave for a few minutes. Dump the contents of the pan/bowl into a blender and puree.
The book, Super Baby Food, is the bible of making your own baby food. It contains everything you would ever want to know. There is even a crash course in nutrition section. It suggests freezing the puree in ice cube trays and then store in the ice cube tray or baggies or whatever. I did that with my first son and it was kind of a pain putting the puree in the ice cube trays, waiting until it's frozen and then putting in containers or baggies. What I'm doing this time around is pouring the puree into the empty baby food jars I've been saving. Fill the jars with the puree, freeze and when you need a jar just pull it out of the freezer and thaw. So far, it has been working out great. Much less time consuming than the ice cube tray method.

For recipe ideas, I really like the book Blender Baby Food. The recipes are simple and don't call for bizarre ingredients. So far I've made pears, peaches, nectarines, applesauce, green beans, zucchini and bsnanas. Bananas are the easiest to make because they don't need to be cooked, just unpeel, throw in the blender and puree. Bananas should be fed to your baby everyday as they are a super food. Avocados should also be fed everyday as they help with brain development. Avocados mixed with bananas are great.
Mixing different fruits together along with rice or oatmeal cereal and formula/breast milk is a good way to mix things up and is also a good way to get a little extra fluid in the baby if they are rejecting the bottle or breast.

More Make Your Own Baby Food

Tongue Tied, Child Constipation Remedy

2008-06-21T21:37:00.005-05:00

2 weeks ago my baby had his 6 month checkup and we found out he is tongue tied. What that means is the tissue connecting his tongue to his mouth is to close to the front of his tongue. He should start sometime before his 9 month checkup, so for now I have to pay attention to the way he talks. If it sounds like there is a problem, the tissue will need to be clipped. Apparently it is a quick, in office procedure. The area is numbed and the tissue is clipped. Sounds painful, but much better than years of speech therapy.
I also asked the ped several questions about my 3 year old. For quite some time he's been pooping daily these ballish turds. I suspected he's constipated. Turns out I was right. He's probably not getting enough fluids. His ped recommended grape juice, especially white grape juice. My son's not much of an eater or drinker, so the hard part is getting him to drink the grape juice. So far it has seemed to help some. The ped also recommended Miralax. Apparently it's a tasteless, sugary powder available over the counter. You add it to the child's juice or water and it helps with the constipation. I haven't tried it yet, but may at some point.
I've also started him on a vitamin. I picked up a bottle of Walmart's generic version of the Flinstone vitamins. Unfortunately, my son didn't care for the taste, so I picked up a bottle of the Flinstone gummy vitamins. My son has had gummy worms before, so I told him the vitamins were just like them only gummy bears. Worked like a charm. If you are thinking of giving your child a multivitamin, I highly recommend the Flinstone gummy vitamins. Check with your ped first though before giving your child any vitamins.

Toddler Constipation Remedy Update:

Just want to note that Miralax is kind of like a laxative, so it shouldn't be used for an extended length of time. I just used it for a couple of days until my son's poop was normal. In order to kepp him regular, the amount of fiber needs to be increased. A 4 year old needs 9 grams of fiber per day. He is such a picky eater, that is easier said than done. His ped recommended a fiber supplement called Benefiber. It's a white, tasteless fiber which I add to his juice. 2 tsp per 8 oz contains 3 grams of fiber. Since Benefiber is a fiber supplement and not a laxative, I use it daily. So far, it has helped.
Other high fiber foods to try besides the obvious fruits, vegetables and beans are:

- Cheerios - 3 grams fiber per serving
- Wheat Thins - These are great. My son loves these topped with EZ Cheez or dipped in french onion dip. There are several different flavors and shapes. The octagon shaped wheat thins contain 5 grams of fiber per serving. There are also various flavors of square wheat thins which contain 1 to 2 grams of fiber per serving.
- Whole Grain Bread
- Fiber added yogurt
- Nutrigrain fruit bars - 2 grams of fiber per bar
- Oatmeal
- Grapes - make sure they are cut in half or quarter pieces to prevent choking

100% Juice by CapriSun is great too. It is juice which comes in pouches and my boys love them. CapriSun has many different flavors, but these are 100% juice. There are two different 100% juice flavors. So far we have just tried the Fruit Dive flavor. It has really seemed to help my son. You get 10 pouches for $2.50. I buy them at Walmart, so they are a little bit cheaper than buying them at the grocery store. Not quite as economical as making your own juice from concentrate, but hey if my boys like them and it helps with the constipation, then the extra cost is worth it.

More Tongue Tied Baby

More Constipation Remedies

BPA free baby bottles

2008-04-14T21:53:00.002-05:00

The BPA free Sassy Baby MAM baby bottles I ordered arrived a few days ago. Unfortunately, my son doesn't seem to like the nipple much. The nipple is a bit strange looking. It's a bit long lengthwise and narrow in the width with flat areas on the front and back. The bottles are also wide neck. With the first try, my son did finish the bottle. After the first few sucks, he didn't seem to have a problem. The next attempt was the first feeding of the day. Maybe he was just too hungry, but we gave up after a few sucks and some crying. The next feeding we got about halfway through the bottle before giving up. He finished the bottle at the next feeding though. I think if I persisted, he could get used to them without a problem. I'm not so sure I'm going to though.
The MAM bottles are very nice though. They are easier to clean than the Dr. Brown bottles. The bottom of the bottle unscrews and it contains a rubber valve.The valve does not have any tiny holes. It is easy to clean. Then there is just the bottle, nipple and collar. The markings are easy to read, but they are not as detailed as the Dr. Brown bottles. The MAM bottles only have markings for every ounce and half ounce and the corresponding ml marks. If you are switching from breast to bottle and your baby is not used to any other nipples, the Sassy Baby MAM bottles are definitely worth a try.
Walmart has a Parent's Choice brand BPA free bottles, a 3 pack for $2.96. I picked up a pack tonight and they work great with the standard Dr. Brown nipples and inserts. No leaking and the venting system works just fine. The Walmart Parent's Choice brand BPA free bottles are 9 oz. bottles, but a bit short for the 8 oz. Dr. Brown inserts. I have 2 4 oz. inserts, so I tried using them and they work just fine. I did take an insert from one of the 8 oz. bottles and cut it down. It's kind of a pain to cut down, but doable. Since the Walmart Parent's Choice brand BPA free bottles are so cheap and work with the Dr. Brown nipples and inserts, I think I'm just going to use them. My only complaint about the Parent's Choice brand BPA free bottles is the markings are very difficult to see. The markings are raised, but they are the same color as the bottle. For a cheap BPA free bottle, compatible with the Dr. Brown inserts, I guess I can live with it.
BTW, my son had his 4 month checkup last week, so I asked his doctor what she thought about switching to BPA free bottles and she hadn't even heard about BPA leeching because there haven't been any articles about it in the medical journals. She said it was a media thing and to use BPA free bottles if it made me feel better. Not exactly very reassuring.

Bisphenol-A, BPA

2008-04-04T22:07:00.003-05:00

I'm a bit late on this one, but better late than never I guess. I just read about BPA in Baby 411 a few weeks ago and have been subconsciously digesting the information, but should have been proactive sooner, since everywhere I look is an artice about Bisphenol-A poisoning. Apparently 90% of all baby bottles on the market today contain a chemical called Bisphenol-A or BPA which MAY cause problems such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer such as breast cancer and prostate cancer, and early onset puberty. BPA is leached into the formula or breast milk when the bottle is heated or warm liquid is added to it.
My first son is out of luck. He's 3 now and I used Munchkin's Tri-Flow bottles with him. They contain BPA.
My second son is partly out of luck. I've been using Dr. Brown's bottles with him. They also contain BPA. Dr. Brown's have come out with glass bottles though and have plans to come out with BPA free plastic bottles sometime in the next few months. I'm not too keen on glass due to the possibility of breakage, but I will definitely be buying the BPA free bottles when they become available. For now I'm going to try Sassy Baby's MAM BPA free bottles. They are available at Amazon.com, Target, Walmart, SassyBaby.com. They are a bit cheaper than the BornFree bottles. Gerber has BPA free plastic bottles available which may be usable with the Dr. Brown inserts and nipples, but they weren't available at Amazon.com with free shipping. I'm going to look in Walmart though. EvenFlo has glass bottles available.
Apparently BPA is in pretty much everything. Items with a recyclable number of 7 contain BPA. A recyclable number of 5 do not contain BPA.
There is no confirmed information that BPA is harmful to humans. Studies done on animals prove BPA is harmful to them. Studies suggest BPA might be harmful to humans. Since I've just discovered this and my youngest is still on the bottle, I'm going to be safe and switch to a BPA free bottle. I just bought a new batch of Dr. Brown bottles a month ago, so I hate to give them up, but better safe than sorry I guess.
For further reading on BPA and baby bottles, check out these links:

Z Recommends - great site with all the latest info and lists of BPA free bottles, feeding items, etc.

Baby 411 Blog - and Baby 411 - blog and companion site to the book Baby 411 whose authors are pediatricians

Switch to Faster Flow Nipples at 3 Months

2008-03-28T19:27:00.004-05:00

If you have a baby who is approaching 3 months old, is bottle fed and seems to take forever to eat, you might want to switch to level 2 nipples.
The more my son drank, the longer it took to feed him. I have a 3 year old and work, so my day is busy. I strictly pump and bottle feed him the breast milk using Dr. Brown's standard bottles. At around 2 1/2 months I switched him to the faster flow level 2 nipples. It took him a day or so to get used to the faster flow, but what a great move it was to switch to a faster flow nipple. He finishes eating much faster now. Before switching to the level 2 nipples, he would also cry and fuss after taking a few sips of milk and it would take a bit to calm him down enough to eat. With the faster flow nipple, he doesn't do that anymore. He is calm after taking a few sips of milk.
Babies go through a growth spurt at 3 months, so if your baby eats slow or cries soon after starting to eat, switching to a faster flow nipple before or around 3 months might be a good idea.

Buy Infant Formula on Ebay

2008-03-18T19:55:00.004-05:00

Did you know you can buy infant formula and infant formula coupons on ebay?
I have a bunch of infant formula I will be listing on ebay, so keep an eye out if you are interested. I also list infant formula coupons once in a while.

More Infant Formula

Baby Bottle Holder

2008-03-10T04:25:00.006-05:00

Ever bottle feed your baby, set the bottle down to burp your baby and the bottle tips over? How about set the bottle down and it leaves ring marks on the table? Well, both of those things were happening to me all the time, especially with angled neck bottles, so DH devised a baby bottle holder. It is handmade and solid wood. It is basically a cube with a hole in the top to insert the bsby bottle. One side of the baby bottle holder is also open, so you can see how much remains in the bottle. A handy little feature.
The baby bottle holder fits standard size bottles, but can be custom made to fit wider bottle sizes.
If interested, the baby bottle holder sells for $10.00, shipping/handling and tax are included and may be purchased at my website.

Forget Swaddling, Try a Sleeper

2008-03-04T08:21:00.005-05:00

The first few weeks after my newborn came home, I would swaddle him, which, btw, is one way to help soothe a baby. Swaddling was going well until one day when he started kicking out of his blanket. Shortly after that, out came the sleeper sack his brother had used. At Christmas time Kmart had a good deal on the blanket sleepers with feet. Unfortunately, the smallest size they had was 2T. I picked one up anyways to have on hand for when he grew into it. A few weeks ago I decided to put it on him. What a good idea! The blanket sleeper with feet is big, so he has lots of room. I just roll up the sleeves. It's soft, warm and zips up, so I don't have to worry about him kicking out of it like a swaddle. With a risk of SIDS for babies under a year old, the blanket sleeper is also much safer than a blanket. A blanket sleeper with feet also makes it easier to strap him into his carseat, swing, or leap frog learning seat.
If your baby keeps kicking out of his swaddled blanket, I highly recommend trying a blanket sleeper.

Nebulizer

2008-02-25T16:27:00.005-05:00

Last Thursday my newborn, who's almost 3 months old already, caught a cold. Stuffy nose, chest congestion, cough, lots of mucus, wheezing. Was hoping the humidifier, saline drops in the nose and Vicks BabyRub would help, but his congestion just kept getting worse, so I took him to the doctor today who gave a prescription for a nebulizer. I've never used one before, but it's a machine you add a presciption liquid medication to and it blows a fine mist/vapor out a tube which you hold over the baby's mouth and nose to help loosen the mucus. Nebulizers are also used for asthmatics. If you have a baby with congestion it's definitely a good idea to take them straight to the doctor. Apparently his chances of developing asthma are now increased due to his wheezing. Not significantly though since there is no family history of asthma. Still a chance though.
Just glad it's not RSV. RSV affects the lower respiratory system. According to Baby 411, wheezing is not usually a sign of a lower respiratory infection. A good RSV indicator is if the baby sucks in his rib cage and flares his nostrils when he breathes as if he is air hungry. RSV can be extremely serious so, if you suspect your baby may have it, call the doctor right away.
BTW, if you have a baby, reading Baby 411 is a must. It has info on just about every baby topic you can think of. It is also written by pediatricians.
They also have a Toddler 411 book which is just as good.

Child Cold and Congestion

2008-02-18T11:33:00.005-05:00

My 3 year old got sick over the weekend. He woke up Saturday morning with a really mucousy cough. By the end of the day he had a fever and runny nose. He's had a flu shot so I'm assuming it's the cold his father had a few weeks ago. If he's not better in the next day or two, I'm going to take him to the doctor just to be safe.
To treat the fever, I'm giving him Motrin Children's Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer for Ages 2 to 11 when he gets up in the morning and before bedtime. I'm giving him Tylenol Children's Pain Reliever/fever Reducer, for Ages 2 to 11, Stage 2 before his morning snack and before his afternoon snack.
For his cold symptoms, I'm giving him Hyland's Sniffles & Sneezes 4 Kids tablets before breakfast, before lunch and before dinner. I'm not real sure yet if these are helping him much, but they have received good reviews and are supposed to cut the duration of a cold in half. Hyland's Teething Tablets work great for teething, so I guess these are worth a try. They are very small tablets. You take 2 every 15 minutes until symptoms are relieved and then 2 every 4 hours. At first I just gave him 2 and then 2 more an hour later and then 2 every 4 hours. 2 every 15 minutes seems like a lot. They are homeopathic tablets, so no ibuprofen, no acetaminophen and not allergy causing.
I also turn his humidifier up on high and rub Vicks Vaporub Ointment on his chest, back and feet and then put socks on him. According to this site, Chester's Home Remedies, putting Vicks on his feet and then socks will help with his cough.
When sick, it's important to keep hydrated, so lots of fluid. Pudding, smoothies, popsicles and making jello with double the amount of water are also good.
Here's the smoothie I made him. It was delicious:

1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 tbs honey
squirt of lemon juice
scoop of vanilla ice cream
1 banana
handful frozen peaches
handful frozen strawberries
handful crushed ice

I'm also giving him a little pickled garlic, orange juice, and apple juice with a squirt of lemon juice and honey, spoonfuls of honey several times a day. Honey is a good home remedy for coughs.
Here's a good link on the common cold. Apparently a cold can be contagious for up to 3 weeks. Yikes!

Order Hylands Sniffles n Sneezes Tablets for kids, 125 Quick-Dissolving Tablets

Breastpumping information and tips

2008-02-12T08:39:00.000-05:00

One topic new moms always have questions about is breastfeeding and pumping. I strictly pump for my newborn and also did so with my 3 year old who was a preemie, so I thought I would give some info & tips on how I do it.

First, you need a good pump. I use the backpack version of the Medela Advanced Pump in Style breastpump. I bought mine from BestBuyBaby.com for $225.00. Great pump. Shelling out a couple hundred for a good pump, in the end, is much cheaper than the few thousand you would spend on formula; and remember, breastmilk is a thousand times better for your baby than formula.

Next, you need to set up a schedule. It's very important you stick to the schedule and pump at approximately the same time every day. You should pump every 3 to 4 hours for at least 15 to 20 minutes. I pump about 25 to 30 minutes each time, except for the first pump of the day. That's closer to 45 minutes, just because I'm fuller from not pumping during the night and want to make sure they are emptied. Emptying your breasts fully at each pumping session will help you increase and maintain your milk supply.
My pumping schedule is set up as follows:

The first pump time is whenever my son wakes up. Today it was 8am.
#2 is at 11am. This session is 3 to 4 hours after the first pump, no later than 11am though.
#3 is at 3pm. This session time does not vary.
#4 is at 6pm. This session time does not vary.
#5 is at 8:30pm. This session time does not vary.
#6 is at 11pm. This session time does not vary.

Note: my son eats 6 times a day, but if your baby eats during the night, you will need to pump then too. Basically, pump every time your baby eats, which should be every 3 to 4 hours.
In order to get my son to sleep through the night, I feed him consistently every 3 to 4 hours during the day according to my schedule above and then let him go after his 11pm feeding. Each week, as he gets older, he sleeps a little bit longer. He's now 10 weeks and slept 8 hours straight last night.

I pump and feed my son at the same time, except for the 3pm session when he eats at 2pm. At that feeding, I eat lunch and feed him at the same time. When I pump and feed him at the same time, I put him in his LeapFrog Magic Moments Learning seat and sit on the floor in front of him. Works well.

The bottles I use are Dr. Brown's standard bottles. My review is here. They are supposed to reduce spit up and gas.
My son currently averages 4 - 5 ounces at each feeding.
Here's some general guidelines as to what amount to put in the bottle:

Age: avg amount per feeding:
1-2 wks: 2-3 oz
3-4 wks: 3-4 oz
1-2 mths: 4-5 oz
2-3 mths: 5-6 oz
3-4 mths: 6-7 oz
4-7 mths: 7-8 oz
7-9 mths: 7-8 oz
9-12 mths: 7-8 oz

The batch of milk he gets at each feeding is as follows:

AT THIS FEEDING : HE GETS THIS BATCH:

#1 at 8am : #1 at 8am from the previous day
#2 at 11am : #1 at 8am from today
#3 at 2pm : #2 at 11am
#4 at 6pm : #3 at 2pm
#5 at 8:30pm : #4 at 6pm
#6 at 11pm : #5 at 8:30pm

Note: My #6 at 11pm batch gets dumped so I can eat half a garlic clove at 9:30pm to keep me from getting too run down. Garlic works wonders. Unfortunately it gives my son a lot of gas.

My son is very sensitive to what I eat, so this schedule makes it a little easier to track down what foods I may need to avoid. This post gives more info on what foods to avoid when breastfeeding.
My supply has been amazing so far, so whatever is left after I fill his bottle gets frozen.

Some tips to maximize your supply:

1.The hardest is try to get plenty of rest.

2.Pump at the same time every day. If your supply starts to decrease, add another pumping session.

3.Drink plenty of water. I drink a ton : 1-2 glasses every time I pump, 1-2 glasses at each meal/snack. I probably drink about 20 glasses pf water a day. I keep my water pitcher at room temperature. It's easier to drink the water when it's not cold. Water is good for, has no calories and keeps you healthy.

4.Get plenty to eat. I eat 6 times a day and try to eat as healthy as I can despite having to temporarily cut out some vegetables, fruit and milk due to my son's sensitivity.

5.Massage your breasts while you pump. That helps make sure all the milk gets out, which prevents clogged ducts that can lead to mastitis.

2 month checkup

2008-02-06T17:52:00.000-05:00

My newborn had his 2 month checkup today along with his first major set of vaccinations , which included a second dose of Hepatitis B, DTaP, polio (IPV), Hib and Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV). Poor guy. I think it hurts me just as much as him. Better than him getting sick though. Thank goodness for Children's Infant Tylenol, just wish it lasted l2onger than 4 hours. It starts wearing off sooner than that though. About an hour before his next dose, he woke up screaming. Let's just say it was a long hour.
He took the Tylenol well though, especially since it was the first time he's had it. It was the grape flavor and he actually seemed to like it. It was always a struggle getting it into his brother. He would always cry and try to spit it out. One time I finally got it into him and he threw it back up, along with his breakfast, all over his exersaucer, right before we had to leave for his doctor's appointment.
Other than that, he's doing well. He weighs 12 lbs and is 22 1/4 inches long.

Mamasource - Connecting Moms in Your Community

2008-02-05T07:03:00.000-05:00

Have a parenting question, but don't know who to ask? Then you might want to check out the website Mamasource. Mamasource helps you connect with other moms in your area. By joining Mamasource, you can view questions other moms have and the responses they've received. You can also post your own questions. Every day you will receive an email from Mamasource with questions from other moms. Some of the questions and responses are very informative.
Topics include everything from the best leak proof sippy cups to breastfeeding and sleep issues. I have a toddler and a newborn, so being a part of Mamasource is very helpful. It's nice to know others have similar issues. It's also nice to connect with other moms from my area.
You can access the archives of past advice which is very useful.
Mamasource also has a list of recommended businesses in your area and their reviews.
A recently added member perks section lists discounts available to Mamasource members at various websites owned by members of the Mamasource community.
Mamasource is an invaluable resource for all moms.
Membership is free.

my lot

2008-02-03T18:29:00.001-05:00

myLot User Profile

Infant Car Seat Recall

2008-02-03T10:59:00.000-05:00

Just got this Evenflo infant car seat recall in an email from Mamasource, which, btw, I will be writing a review about soon:

ALERT: Evenflo announced it is implementing a voluntary safety recall of its Discovery Infant Car Seat Models 390, 391, 534, and 552. Approximately one million units were produced beginning April 2005.

This is based on recent laboratory tests conducted by Evenflo and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTSA), which show that this car seat could potentially become separated from its base in high impact side collisions similar to those in the tests.

Owners of the affected Discovery safety seats are urged to immediately contact Evenflo and receive a free dual-hook fastener that will secure the seat to its base. The NTSA advised parents that they should continue using the safety seats while waiting for their fasteners to arrive.

More information is on Evenflo's website.

Car Seats

How To Remove Crayon From Wood Furniture

2008-01-30T15:18:00.000-05:00

My 3 year old is now a budding artist, thanks to Blues Clues. The walls, hardwood floor, coffee table, my $800 kitchen table. Nothing is safe from him and his crayons. Fortunately, I discovered how to remove crayon from wood furniture: Orange Glo wood cleaner. Spray it on and let it set a minute or two. Then wipe it off with a cloth or paper towel. No more crayon marks. I was quite impressed.
I've also heard mayonnaise removes crayon from wood, but rubbing mayonnaise on the furniture doesn't really appeal to me.

BTW, I've launched a new blog: Ice Princess's Recipes. This one is a collection of recipes: slow cooker, casseroles, skillets, baking: pie, cookies, bread, muffins, etc. I'm always trying new recipes, so I'm going to post the ones I like.

Humidifiers

2008-01-29T06:50:00.000-05:00

Shortly after my 3 year old turned 1, he caught his first cold. It's really tough when a little one gets congested. They won't let you blow their nose and they can't do it themselves. Bulb syringes help, but are a pain and pretty disgusting. Humidifiers are supposed to help, so I bought him a Vick's 1.0 Gallon Cool Mist Humidifier. A full tank lasts 18 hours before needing a refill and is very quiet on the low setting. It also has a high setting, but I don't use it very often. I think the humidifier did help some with the congestion. It also helps with coughs and dry throats. I bought this humidifier for my newborn's room too. This humidifier is best for medium sized rooms.
This humidifier takes a an antibacterial wicking filter, which filters out any impurities in the water. Emitted vapor is pure and without white dust.
Humidifiers have several other benefits besides helping clear sinuses. Humidifiers put enough humidity in the air to combat dryness. The humidity helps the respiratory system stay moist, which helps fight off bacteria, viruses and pollutants.

More Humidifiers

Moses Basket

2008-01-21T18:04:00.000-05:00

As a baby, my 3 year old had reflux, so he needed to be kept propped up after he ate. I borrowed a bassinet from my cousin and used the basket part propped up on a wooden contraption his father built. For my newborn, I wanted to get my own bassinet. However, all I planned on using was the basket, so I did some searching on the internet and came across a moses basket. The moses basket I bought is made by Badger Basket and sells for $29.99, no tax, free shipping at Amazon.com. It's a nice basket for the price and is working very well for us. It's great for nighttime and naps or just a place to lay the baby down for a few minutes. It's lightweight and the two handles make it portable. It includes a liner, pad, sheet and a removable hood. The bedding is machine washable. The moses basket measures approximately 30"L x 17"W x 18"H and is for use from birth to 15 lbs or until the baby can push-up or roll over. The price is reasonable enough so that it would even be good for grandma's. I bought the sage gingham moses basket, but it is also available in beige gingham, pink or blue.

Potty training woes

2008-01-16T23:14:00.000-05:00

Anyone's son ever pee on a power strip and blow the fuse to the room? Yup, that's what my son did tonight. Oh the joys of potty training. Just thought I'd share.

More Potty Training

Breastfeeding and pumping

2008-01-15T06:14:00.000-05:00

I breastfeed my baby, however I don't do it the traditional way. I strictly pump and feed him the breastmilk in a bottle. My first son was a preemie, so I didn't have much choice while he was in the NICU. Once he came home, he still had a weak suck and he was used to the bottle, so I just kept pumping. This time around I gave the traditional way a chance for a couple of days, but I prefer pumping. I just didn't have the time or patience. Pumping & giving the breastmilk in a bottle is just easier for me. I don't have to worry about how much he's getting. I can see it. I also don't have to worry about engorgement. I just pump a little longer if need be. The important thing with pumping is to set up a schedule and stick to it. My son is on an every 3 hour eating schedule, so that's when I pump. I hook up to the pump and bottle feed my son while he's sitting in my lap. Multitask and it works out pretty well.
If you are going to pump full time, one thing you need is a good pump. The first time I used the Medela Pump in Style Traveler backpack. Apparently these pumps are single use only, so you can't save it for a few years & use it again for the next baby and you can't use someone else's pump. Milk can back up into the pump and bacteria can form, so it's safer to just buy a new pump. Really sucks as they are expensive. This time I bought the Medela Pump in Style Advanced backpack. Great pump. The amount of milk I pump out is amazing. Got it for $225.00 at BestBuyBaby.com. They are based in New Jersey. Medela won't let sellers list pump prices on websites anymore, so if you are price shopping, you most likely will need to email the website for a price list.

More breastpumps

Breastfeeding and foods to avoid

2008-01-11T09:46:00.000-05:00

My new baby is 6 weeks old today. He's doing good. Very cute & cuddly. Pretty good sleeper for a newborn. Eats at 11pm and will sleep until 4 or 5am. After that feeding, he'll sleep until 9am. The only problem so far, is he is very sensitve to the foods I eat. Broccoli is the worst. It sends him into complete screaming that lasts for at least an hour. The first few days after he came home from the hospital, all he did was eat & sleep. Then my mother brought over broccoli & cheese soup and the screaming began. At first it didnt't register. I thought it was just the adjustment of him to life outside the womb, a growth spurt or maybe silent reflux. Then I read a list of foods to avoid while breastfeeding and there was broccoli. Stopped eating it & the screaming stopped. Other foods I need to avoid are cabbage, onions, dijon mustard, strawberries & chocolate. It's looking like tomato soup makes him vomit. How I'm going to not cook with onions and not eat chocolate for the next year is beyond me. Pump & dump a few batches I guess.
At least garlic seems safe so far. Maybe a bit of gas, but no fits. Garlic is the only thing keeping the white spots off of my tonsils, which I get when I'm run down. Normally I eat 1/2 clove once a day, but have had to increase to a clove per day. I really think garlic is what kept my blood pressure normal when I was pregnant. My first pregnancy I was border line high the whole time, but this time it was normal the whole time. If you have blood pressure problems, eating garlic is worth a try. I eat pickled garlic cut into pieces on a cracker with peanut butter. Start out slow though. Too much garlic will make you sick.

Update: Here's a link to a good chart of foods to avoid while breastfeeding. BTW, you only have to avoid the offending foods for 3 months. Yaaaay!

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Chris O'Donnell baby, Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant

2007-12-19T09:30:00.000-05:00

Congrats to Chris O'Donnell and wife on the birth of their fifth child, a daughter Maeve Frances born December 10, 8 lbs. and 21½ inches long. She joins sister Lily, 8, and brothers Chip, 7; Charlie, 4; Finley, 1.

Oh and guess who's pregnant now? Britney Spear's 16 year old sister Jamie Lynn Spears! She is currently 12 weeks pregnant. The father is her boyfriend Casey Aldridge. Apparently everyone is in shock and Britney had no idea her sister was pregnant. Let's just hope Jamie doesn't ask Britney for parenting advice. What's really funny is their mother, Lynn Spears, is writing a parenting book which has been delayed indefinitely. When it does come out, I would advise against buying it due to the poor job she has done raising her daughters.

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Dr. Brown's bottles

2007-12-16T16:59:00.000-05:00

My first son had reflux pretty bad. Unfortunately, I didn't discover Dr. Brown's bottles until he was just about off the bottle. So when I discovered I was pregnant again, I knew right away which bottles I was going to use. They seem to be working out ok so far. My second son seems to have a touch of reflux, but spit up is minimal. I do wish I had the bottles for my first son just to see how much of a difference they would have made as he vomited quite a bit. With my second son, I do think Dr. Brown's bottles make a difference though.
Some reviews I read at Amazon.com said the bottles were a pain to clean, but I don't think they are too bad. Each bottle has 5 parts: the bottle, nipple, top, and 2 parts which fit inside to reduce bubbles, so basically there are 2 extra pieces. I do dishes twice a day, so washing bottles is no big deal for me.
All in all, I am glad I decided to try Dr. Brown's bottles. If you have a baby with reflux or colic, they are certainly worth a try. The set I bought is a starter set. It comes with 3 4 oz bottles, 2 8 oz bottles and a couple of second stage nipples. The set was $17.99 at Amazon.com.

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update

2007-12-14T16:52:00.000-05:00

I was reluctant to talk about my pregnancy as things were going very well and I didn't want to jinx myself, but now that it's over and everything went well I'll give a recap with a few tips.
This was my second pregnancy and surprisingly enough, I felt pretty good the whole time except for a couple of weeks in the middle of the first trimester. My blood pressure stayed good and I even had energy the majority of the time. I really think it had to do with the garlic I take. Every night I eat a half clove of garlic cut up on a cracker with peanut butter. Garlic is supposed to help prevent high blood pressure and cuts the risk of preeclampsia during pregnancy.
I did very well until about 32 weeks. At 28 I developed gestational diabetes, which I expected since I had it with the first pregnancy. It was harder to control with just diet and exercise this time, so I ended up taking insulin. I really didn't want to, but it ended up being a good thing since it let me eat a little more and definitely made my glucose levels easier to control. The doctor gave me an insulin pen where you just used a dial on the pen to set the dosage amount, insert the needle on the pen into my leg and push a button at the top of the pen to inject the insulin. It wasn't bad. Sometimes it hurt, but it all depended on the angle I used to insert the needle.
At 32 weeks, I suddenly started bleeding, so went to the hospital. I have a history of premature delivery, so they put me on magnesium and gave me a couple of steroid shots to help the babies lungs develop faster. The bleeding stopped and after a couple of days I was released, but put on strict bedrest. It sucked, but was kind of relaxing. At 36 I came off bedrest, but my back gave out, started having muscle spasms. That was excruciating. It felt like contractions in my back. When it spasmed, I could barely stand. By 37 weeks, my back was back to normal, so I could do stuff again.
The day I turned 38 weeks, I woke up at 5:30 in the morning and my water had broken. It was really weird because I was dreaming it had broken and then all of a sudden I woke up & discovered it really had broken. Anyways, went to the hospital and at 2:44 pm my son was born. 6 lbs. 14 oz, 20 inches long. Very cute little guy.
My first son was a preemie at 31 weeks and he didn't break trail very well. He was out in 4 1/2 hours with 1 1/2 pushes. My second son was 9 hours and 45 minutes worth of pushing. All in all it wasn't too bad. No epidural, but I did have a narcotic which really didn't help much at all. Was given that after 7 hours, so the delivery was for the most part all natural. Definitely an experience.
So the focus of this blog will now be my adventures in raising my sons. I'll be posting useful tips I come across and will review products I purchase which I find useful. Hopefully I will be able to do a better job keeping this blog updated than I've done in the past, so stay tuned. In my next post I will be reviewing Dr. Brown's bottles.

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Dr. Brown's Bottles

Amazon.com - Black Friday deals

2007-11-17T10:43:00.000-05:00

So less than a week and it's the official start of the holiday shopping season. The day you can get the best deals. It's not just stores offering sales anymore. Now internet stores are getting in on the action. I just received an email from Amazon.com. Apparently they are having a big Black Friday sale which will have hourly deals from 6am to 6pm PST and limited time sales. I'm looking forward to seeing what they have to offer, since I have a bunch of stuff to order from them as soon as the prices drop low enough & the items have free shipping. I just hope I'm not in labor that day.
I'm 36 weeks today and have been on bedrest for the past 3 1/2 weeks. Thank goodness for my laptop, otherwise I would be completely bored.

Amazon.com - Holiday Toy List, Amazon Gift Central

2007-11-11T10:54:00.000-05:00

So, I'm on bedrest at the moment, until #2 decides to arrive, at the most 5 more weeks. I won't be allowed to go past my due date, since I have gestational diabetes. Spent yesterday doing some online Christmas shopping. Amazon.com is definitely the best site. They have everything & most items are free shipping over $25. Hard part is figuring out what to buy. Amazon.com has now put out a Holiday Toy List. When my son was younger, I never had a problem figuring out what to get him, but now that he's older there are a lot more choices and there aren't many top toy lists out there for 3 year olds like there are with babies & toddlers. You can search the list and view videos of over 450 toys. Featured products are from leading vendors like Hasbro, Disney, Nintendo, Leapfrog, LEGO, Fisher-Price, Mattel and Razor.
Not only that, but Amazon.com also has a Gift Central which shows category editors' recommendations on great gifts for the holiday season.
If you do any online holiday shopping, Amazon.com is definitely a good place to start.

Art Easel

2007-11-10T15:31:00.000-05:00

My son just turned 3. I read that 3 year olds are very creative. My son all of a sudden seems to be. He just recently took an interest in drawing and writing. Unfortunately, he likes drawing on the floor, coffee table, window sill, etc. I have a nice section on the wall of his decorative artwork from when he was about 2.
So for his birthday I bought him an art easel. Very nice. I got a really good deal on it, $35.00, free shipping. It's from Melissa & Doug, is wooden, has a white board on one side and a chalk board on the other side. The height is adjustable, so it will grow with him. Each side has a tray for holding supplies. My only complaint is it does not come with art supplies. I just started him out with a set of white board markers, white board eraser, a box of sidewalk chalk, and a chalkboard eraser. It does come with clips to hold paper, but they break easily. I'm going to hold off on paints for a while. He's had the easel a week and plays with it every day. The Melissa & Doug art easel was definitely a good purchase.

Children's cough and cold medicine pulled from shelves

2007-10-12T14:40:00.000-05:00

Heard this on the news last night and received an email about it today. Apparently with the arrival of cold and flu season, parents are overdosing their infants on Tylenol, which has led to various infant cold medications being pulled from store shelves. Here's the email I received:

The cough and cold season is here, and we have important information to share about infants' and children's cough and cold medicines. These medicines are generally recognized as safe and effective when used as directed. Most parents use these cough and cold medicines appropriately.

However, we have become aware of rare instances of misuse leading to accidental overdose, especially in children under the age of two. Therefore, we are voluntarily withdrawing the following concentrated cough and cold medicines from the market:

Concentrated Tylenol® Infants' Drops Plus Cold
Concentrated Tylenol® Infants' Drops Plus Cold & Cough
PediaCare® Infant Dropper Decongestant
PediaCare® Infant Dropper Long-Acting Cough
PediaCare® Infant Drops Decongestant (containing pseudoephedrine)
PediaCare® Infant Dropper Decongestant & Cough
PediaCare® Infant Drops Decongestant & Cough (containing pseudoephedrine)

If you have these products in your household, please discontinue use in children under the age of two. These actions do not apply to cough and cold medicines labeled for children aged two and above.

Additionally, these actions do not apply to Infants' and Children's Tylenol® and Motrin® pain relievers and fever reducers. When used as directed, these products are safe and effective.

As always, it is important to medicate carefully. Always use the exact dosage device that comes with the medicine. Use the medicine only as directed. And keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Whenever you have questions about how to treat your child's cough and cold symptoms, call your doctor.
For specific questions about our products, call 1-877-895-3665 or visit Tylenol.com

Your child's safety continues to be our number one priority.

This message is brought to you by the makers of Tylenol® and PediaCare®.

We realize these changes may be inconvenient for you, and we are happy to provide a valuable coupon to use on one of several products of your choice.

Call 1-877-895-3665
Visit Tylenol.com

Pretty scary. I know whenever my son needed medication I was always extremely careful about the dosage I would give him. It's hard to believe there are parents out there who would be so careless about giving a baby medicine.

Tylenol

PediaCare

Buy 1 can Similac Advance infant formula with iron - 8 oz on ebay

2007-10-09T14:56:00.000-05:00

Buy 2 Nestle Good Start 2 Supreme formula coupons - $5, $1 on ebay

2007-09-28T14:36:00.001-05:00

Buy $5.00 any Similac Infant formula coupon on ebay

2007-09-28T14:32:00.000-05:00

Maxwell Alston Sutter

2007-09-27T17:09:00.001-05:00

Just want to say congrats to Ryan Sutter, who was my favorite bachelor, & Trista on their new son Maxwell Alston. Sounded like a difficult pregnancy with a scary ending. Trista had gestational diabetes and at 36 weeks needed an emergency C-section due to preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. All is well now though & Maxwell is very adorable.

Gestational Diabetes

Preeclampsia

HELLP syndrome

UPDATE: The June 30, 2008 of Us Weekly has a nice interveiw with Ryan Sutter along with nice pics of Maxwell Alston. Max is very cute, blond hair , blue eyes, just adorable.

Jenny McCarthy: Louder than Words

2007-09-20T17:11:00.000-05:00

So yesterday I was watching Oprah and Jenny McCarthy was the guest. She was talking about autism and her new book, Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism. Apparently at 2 1/2 her son, Evan, started having seizures and was diagnosed with autism. She believes the autism was caused by the MMR shot he received. This is a common belief. Autism is usually diagnosed around the same time the MMR shot is given. It is a pretty controversial topic. One thing is for sure. Autism is on the rise. 1 in 100 children are affected by it. Pretty scary.
Anyways, Jenny's book should be a good read for those interested.

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Celebrity Baby Scoop

2007-09-14T19:12:00.000-05:00

Was surfing the web today and found an interesting site about celebrity babies. It gives the latest gossip about celebs and their kids & also tells who's expecting and when. Good read.

celebrity babies