With summer approaching many of us will spend countless hours’ poolside. Although playing in the pool is fun for everyone, it may come with some devastating consequences. Drowning remains the number one leading cause of death among 1 to 4 year olds. In addition, 20 percent of near-drowning survivors suffer severe neurological disabilities, which usually results in long-lasting emotional and psychological trauma for the child as well as the child’s family.
Several months ago my mother-in-law sent me a video of an infant falling in a pool and then miraculously he saved his own life. Although this video was difficult to watch, it definitely proved a point. It illustrated that an infant, with some training, can instinctively self-rescue. This video was created by ISR, Infant Swimming Resource.
Infant Swimming Resource was created in 1966 by Dr. Harvey Barnett. At the time, 18 year old Dr. Barnett was an active lifeguard and focused on water safety. However, after he witnessed a neighbor’s child drown, Dr. Barnett made it his mission to not let another child drown. As he started providing swimming lessons for children, he began to notice that non-verbal infants were able to respond to certain types of instruction and learn as well. From there he developed a specific self-rescue technique for babies ages 6 months to 6 years old. Since 1966, ISR has delivered over 7 million lessons to teach water self-rescue skills.
The ISR instructor at first works with your child's initial skills to build competence and confidence under water. Then the ISR instructor will focus on several key aspects; to hold their breath under water, to swim with their head down, to roll onto their back to float, rest and breath, to roll back over and continue swimming until they reach the side of the pool to crawl out or be rescued, and to first learn these skills in a swim diaper and then while fully clothed.
It may sound a bit skeptical to teach an infant or toddler how to swim, but I assure you watching these videos are quit convincing. If you are interested in these lessons for your child there are many ISR authorized independent instructors in the Chicagoland area that provide these services. Mention this article and local ISR Instructor Trish Hinshaw will give a 15% discount on ISR lessons. As ISR states, these lessons may save your child’s life but it is vital to remember that there is no substitute for adult supervision.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Mother's Day Post from Examiner
Mother’s Day is a time to pay tribute to our mothers, grandmothers and wives. Since 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, I want to pay special tribute to my mother and all the women in this world who have battled breast cancer.
As a child we look to our mothers to take care of us and always keep us safe. However, for many of us, our mother's will face breast cancer at some point in their lives. Due to this, we need to switch roles and be there for our mothers during this terrifying journey. For my mother, I was there at the moment of her diagnosis, her follow up appointments and for her double mastectomy. I also spent countless hours searching the Internet for any information that might help save my mother’s life or I would email her inspirational poems or blogs by other women that would help lift her spirits.
My mother was diagnosed with two separate invasive breast cancers in her left breast. Thankfully, her cancer did not spread to her lymph nodes. Therefore, her cancer was considered Stage I. After careful consideration, my mother chose to have a double mastectomy for her sanity’s sake. She wanted to free herself from the great burden of having repeat mammograms and living in fear of those results. During all of this, my mother remained a true champion. Although she was scared about what was to come she still remained strong for all of us.
This Mother’s Day I am grateful to have a mother who is a survivor, who is strong and who is my role model. I am mostly grateful that she is now cancer free. This Mother’s Day take the opportunity to remind the women in your lives to do monthly self-exams, have routine mammograms, and to donate to breast cancer research. If you are unsure of what to give as a gift this year, try giving something meaningful and support breast cancer research as well. There are several websites where you can actually buy nice Mother’s Day gifts and part of the proceeds go to breast cancer research. Can you imagine a world without breast cancer? I can! Happy Mother's Day!!
As a child we look to our mothers to take care of us and always keep us safe. However, for many of us, our mother's will face breast cancer at some point in their lives. Due to this, we need to switch roles and be there for our mothers during this terrifying journey. For my mother, I was there at the moment of her diagnosis, her follow up appointments and for her double mastectomy. I also spent countless hours searching the Internet for any information that might help save my mother’s life or I would email her inspirational poems or blogs by other women that would help lift her spirits.
My mother was diagnosed with two separate invasive breast cancers in her left breast. Thankfully, her cancer did not spread to her lymph nodes. Therefore, her cancer was considered Stage I. After careful consideration, my mother chose to have a double mastectomy for her sanity’s sake. She wanted to free herself from the great burden of having repeat mammograms and living in fear of those results. During all of this, my mother remained a true champion. Although she was scared about what was to come she still remained strong for all of us.
This Mother’s Day I am grateful to have a mother who is a survivor, who is strong and who is my role model. I am mostly grateful that she is now cancer free. This Mother’s Day take the opportunity to remind the women in your lives to do monthly self-exams, have routine mammograms, and to donate to breast cancer research. If you are unsure of what to give as a gift this year, try giving something meaningful and support breast cancer research as well. There are several websites where you can actually buy nice Mother’s Day gifts and part of the proceeds go to breast cancer research. Can you imagine a world without breast cancer? I can! Happy Mother's Day!!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
The Puppy Parade
Well, we did it!! We have just got a new puppy. Like having three kids, a dog and fish was not enough, lol. His name is Scrapy and he is a pek-a-poo. So basically he is a lil' furball like our other dog Rocky. I am happy to report that he is well- mannered, slept through the night and is adorable. Ethan is so excited! The great thing is that Scrapy entertains him and he hits his sisters less. I know this will not last forever but it is nice to have a break for awhile.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Sibling Rivalry Show Down
Currently I am trying to survive the sibling rivalry in my household. Ethan had no problem with his sisters until they became mobile. Once they started crawling the jealousy set in and he also became very territorial. Now that they are walking and fighting back it has been an ultimate fighting show down and I am the referee. He hits, pushes and takes their toys away. Now I know that many will say this is normal but when you are living it it is living hell. I have tried every punishment in the book, except spanking, and he does not care. I feel like I spend my days just yelling. I do not want to raise my kids this way. So I am on a mission to chill out and remember that he is just displaying insecurity through aggression. I love him and I hope this time will pass soon for both our sakes. Any one suffering the same fate out there?
I am currently The Stay-at-Home Mom's Examiner therefore these articles and more can also be found on my examiner homepage.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Food Allergies on the Rise Among Children
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that food allergies among children are on the rise. Children with food allergies have increased 18% in the past decade. The reason for this increase is still unclear. Therefore, food allergy precautions need to be taken seriously.
When our son Ethan was born he was constantly vomiting and never slept more than forty-five minutes. We saw six different pediatricians and they all said he was colic and I was worrying too much. When Ethan was three months old he had blood in his stool. This is the classic sign of a milk protein allergy. Although he was strictly breastfed, the dairy I was eating was making him sick. I quickly put him on a hypoallergenic formula and within days he was no longer vomiting and finally started to sleep. By thirteen months Ethan grew out of his allergy and now consumes milk and dairy products just fine.
On the other hand, my adorable nephew Jackson gave us all a terrible scare several months ago. When he was about eight months old my sister-in-law gave him a taste of a desert that contained milk. Within minutes his face swelled up and 911 had to be called. Thankfully he is OK but cannot eat anything with milk or eggs. My brother and sister-in-law have to carry an EpiPen at all times just in case he is exposed to milk by accident. Hopefully Jackson will out grew his allergy. He is likely to since 90% of children will out grow milk and egg allergies whereas only 10% to 20% will out grow nut allergies.
Both experiences have brought the seriousness of food allergies to my family’s attention. It is vital that other families take precautions when introducing their child to foods commonly associated with allergic reactions. These foods are milk, eggs, nuts, soy and wheat, and fish. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics a child should avoid peanut butter until three years of age and whole milk until one year of age. Following these simple recommendations may save your child’s life.
When exposing your child to foods most associated with allergies there are several signs of an allergic reaction to watch for. Hives, difficulty breathing or asthma symptoms, swelling of the mouth or throat, vomiting and diarrhea, and loss consciousness are all signs of an allergic reaction. These signs can appear within minutes or hours. Call 911 or your health care provider immediately if you believe your child is having an allergic reaction.
When our son Ethan was born he was constantly vomiting and never slept more than forty-five minutes. We saw six different pediatricians and they all said he was colic and I was worrying too much. When Ethan was three months old he had blood in his stool. This is the classic sign of a milk protein allergy. Although he was strictly breastfed, the dairy I was eating was making him sick. I quickly put him on a hypoallergenic formula and within days he was no longer vomiting and finally started to sleep. By thirteen months Ethan grew out of his allergy and now consumes milk and dairy products just fine.
On the other hand, my adorable nephew Jackson gave us all a terrible scare several months ago. When he was about eight months old my sister-in-law gave him a taste of a desert that contained milk. Within minutes his face swelled up and 911 had to be called. Thankfully he is OK but cannot eat anything with milk or eggs. My brother and sister-in-law have to carry an EpiPen at all times just in case he is exposed to milk by accident. Hopefully Jackson will out grew his allergy. He is likely to since 90% of children will out grow milk and egg allergies whereas only 10% to 20% will out grow nut allergies.
Both experiences have brought the seriousness of food allergies to my family’s attention. It is vital that other families take precautions when introducing their child to foods commonly associated with allergic reactions. These foods are milk, eggs, nuts, soy and wheat, and fish. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics a child should avoid peanut butter until three years of age and whole milk until one year of age. Following these simple recommendations may save your child’s life.
When exposing your child to foods most associated with allergies there are several signs of an allergic reaction to watch for. Hives, difficulty breathing or asthma symptoms, swelling of the mouth or throat, vomiting and diarrhea, and loss consciousness are all signs of an allergic reaction. These signs can appear within minutes or hours. Call 911 or your health care provider immediately if you believe your child is having an allergic reaction.
To Doc Band or Not To Doc Band
The Back to Sleep Campaign started in 1991 has been successful in reducing the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, SIDS. However there has been an unforeseen consequence, more children are being diagnosed with positional plagiocephaly. Positional plagiocephaly occurs when a baby sleeps in the same position repeatedly or because the baby has problems with their neck muscles.
We first learned of positional plagiocephaly when we had our twin girls, Paige and Emmy. When Paige was born we noticed that she always slept with her head tilted to the right, looking left. My husband and I just thought maybe this position was most comfortable for her and did not think much more of it. However, when Paige was about four months old we started to notice her remaining in this titled position even when sitting up. This became quit a concern for us. We took her to see her pediatrician and this is when we learned that Paige had torticollis, tightness of the neck muscles, and would need physical therapy to stretch her neck. Paige’s doctor also noticed a flat spot on the back of her head due to her repeatedly sleeping in the same position, positional plagiocephaly.
We started physical therapy immediately and we are happy to say that Paige no longer tilts her head to the right and she is hitting all her milestones. However, her head not only remained flat but it also caused slight asymmetry to her face. The next step was to take Paige to Cranial Technologies in Oak Brook to see whether or not she would need to fitted with a Doc Band.
The Doc Band, which looks like a helmet, applies mild pressure to capture the growth of an infants head while holding growth in the prominent areas and encouraging it in the flat regions. The length of the treatment depends of the severity of plagiocephaly and the child’s age. The Doc Band has to be worn 23 hours a day in order to achieve the best results.
Paige had enough asymmetry to warrant the Doc Band and thankfully our insurance covered all the costs. Now we had to make the difficult decision of whether or not we wanted her to endure wearing the Doc Band consistently for months. We decided to pursue the treatment after reading many posts from parents online who wished they had done it for their children because their asymmetry was becoming more apparent with age.
Paige has been wearing her Doc Band for one month now and she has adjusted to it just fine. To our great surprise the shape of her head has already become more round and her asymmetry is slowly looking better. Positional plagiocephaly not only causes cosmetic problems but it also has been linked to difficulty with vision and problems with eating and chewing, which can lead to TMJ. Although it is vital to follow the back to sleep rule please keep in mind positional plagiocephaly. So when your child is awake plenty of tummy time is essential. If you have concerns about the shape of your child’s head or if you noticed your child tilts his/her neck please contact your pediatrican.
We first learned of positional plagiocephaly when we had our twin girls, Paige and Emmy. When Paige was born we noticed that she always slept with her head tilted to the right, looking left. My husband and I just thought maybe this position was most comfortable for her and did not think much more of it. However, when Paige was about four months old we started to notice her remaining in this titled position even when sitting up. This became quit a concern for us. We took her to see her pediatrician and this is when we learned that Paige had torticollis, tightness of the neck muscles, and would need physical therapy to stretch her neck. Paige’s doctor also noticed a flat spot on the back of her head due to her repeatedly sleeping in the same position, positional plagiocephaly.
We started physical therapy immediately and we are happy to say that Paige no longer tilts her head to the right and she is hitting all her milestones. However, her head not only remained flat but it also caused slight asymmetry to her face. The next step was to take Paige to Cranial Technologies in Oak Brook to see whether or not she would need to fitted with a Doc Band.
The Doc Band, which looks like a helmet, applies mild pressure to capture the growth of an infants head while holding growth in the prominent areas and encouraging it in the flat regions. The length of the treatment depends of the severity of plagiocephaly and the child’s age. The Doc Band has to be worn 23 hours a day in order to achieve the best results.
Paige had enough asymmetry to warrant the Doc Band and thankfully our insurance covered all the costs. Now we had to make the difficult decision of whether or not we wanted her to endure wearing the Doc Band consistently for months. We decided to pursue the treatment after reading many posts from parents online who wished they had done it for their children because their asymmetry was becoming more apparent with age.
Paige has been wearing her Doc Band for one month now and she has adjusted to it just fine. To our great surprise the shape of her head has already become more round and her asymmetry is slowly looking better. Positional plagiocephaly not only causes cosmetic problems but it also has been linked to difficulty with vision and problems with eating and chewing, which can lead to TMJ. Although it is vital to follow the back to sleep rule please keep in mind positional plagiocephaly. So when your child is awake plenty of tummy time is essential. If you have concerns about the shape of your child’s head or if you noticed your child tilts his/her neck please contact your pediatrican.
Duck Talk on the Riverwalk
When my husband and I want to enjoy some family time with our three kids without spending a dime, we take them to Naperville’s Riverwalk, located in the heart of downtown Naperville. The Riverwalk is truly breathtaking with its lush landscaping, brick pavement, and of course an abundance of ducks just paddling away. In the spring and summer I would not say that it is crowded but rather lively. Everyone is out enjoying the scenery and just relaxing. The best place to begin your walk is at Main and Jackson Street. There is a free parking complex just one block east on Chicago Avenue, behind Barnes and Noble.
Our two and 1/2 year old son, Ethan, and twin one year old girls, Paige and Emmy, have a blast when we take them for a stroll down the river. On a recent trip, our son befriended a rather large goose just waddling down the path. The goose instantly became a member of our family as he joined us on our stroll. Then to our surprise, Ethan began to communicate with the goose in duck talk. There was a quack-quack here and a quack-quack there! We did not know Ethan was so fluent in duck. We could not help but laugh and of course Ethan loved the attention. The moment was adorable and we will treasure it always.
Emmy and Paige being only one year old just giggle as they watch the ducks swim around and chase each other. Emmy decided to make the walk a bit more interesting by throwing her toy into the river. I am happy to say no ducks where injured by this but the next thing I knew I was running down the path chasing her toy that was rapidly drifting away by the current. Luckily there was a large bolder against the wall and I cautiously stepped down and scooped it up. Victory! Her toy was safe at last but needed a good washing.
Once we finish The Riverwalk we then make our way to the beautiful fountains just above the path. Ethan of course has to play with the water and get all wet. I highly recommend bringing a change of clothes just in case. Downtown Naperville also has many quaint boutiques, a variety of restaurants and novelty shops. We enjoy walking up and down the streets just browsing. One of our favorite places to eat is Jimmy’s Grill on the corner of Chicago and Washington. It is a large bar and grill with indoor and outdoor seating. The prices are reasonable and Jimmy’s is big enough to fit a family of five with one booster seat and two highchairs.
There is no doubt in my mind that Naperville's Riverwalk is worth our time and energy. Not only is it free, which is a crucial necessity during these hard economic times, but it is also truly enjoyable. The shops and restaurants are just an added bonus. The Riverwalk would also make a great romantic evening out just for two. So next time we will leave the kids at home and re-experience downtown Naperville in a whole new light.
Our two and 1/2 year old son, Ethan, and twin one year old girls, Paige and Emmy, have a blast when we take them for a stroll down the river. On a recent trip, our son befriended a rather large goose just waddling down the path. The goose instantly became a member of our family as he joined us on our stroll. Then to our surprise, Ethan began to communicate with the goose in duck talk. There was a quack-quack here and a quack-quack there! We did not know Ethan was so fluent in duck. We could not help but laugh and of course Ethan loved the attention. The moment was adorable and we will treasure it always.
Emmy and Paige being only one year old just giggle as they watch the ducks swim around and chase each other. Emmy decided to make the walk a bit more interesting by throwing her toy into the river. I am happy to say no ducks where injured by this but the next thing I knew I was running down the path chasing her toy that was rapidly drifting away by the current. Luckily there was a large bolder against the wall and I cautiously stepped down and scooped it up. Victory! Her toy was safe at last but needed a good washing.
Once we finish The Riverwalk we then make our way to the beautiful fountains just above the path. Ethan of course has to play with the water and get all wet. I highly recommend bringing a change of clothes just in case. Downtown Naperville also has many quaint boutiques, a variety of restaurants and novelty shops. We enjoy walking up and down the streets just browsing. One of our favorite places to eat is Jimmy’s Grill on the corner of Chicago and Washington. It is a large bar and grill with indoor and outdoor seating. The prices are reasonable and Jimmy’s is big enough to fit a family of five with one booster seat and two highchairs.
There is no doubt in my mind that Naperville's Riverwalk is worth our time and energy. Not only is it free, which is a crucial necessity during these hard economic times, but it is also truly enjoyable. The shops and restaurants are just an added bonus. The Riverwalk would also make a great romantic evening out just for two. So next time we will leave the kids at home and re-experience downtown Naperville in a whole new light.
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