Saturday, December 10, 2011
Final Blog!!!
I am so happy to be writing my last blog for the semester! This has been the best English 102 course I could ask for. It has been a nice outlet to express some of my thoughts and to read the thoughts of others. I also feel that the workload was appropriate, it was not overwhelming at all. One thing I would suggest to make blogging easier is for the instructor to give prompts every week. It was difficult thinking of different topics all of the time. I think it would be helpful if we had like two different topics to choose from every week and we could write one post on that topic and one on a topic of our own choosing. As much as I enjoyed this, I don't think I will be continuing to blog. I can't say that I will never blog again but for now I don't really have time. If I were to have a blog it would probably be on one topic that I was really interested in like advanced practice nursing. Maybe someday I will keep a blog related to advanced practice nursing issues. Thanks for a great semester!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
A little stress with that turkey
Ok, last week I was going on about how I really didn't have that much work to do and I was excited about the holidays and graduation and blah, blah, blah. Now I am starting to feel the crunch. I have one week and 2 days to finish my course work at Pitt State. Part of that includes a major family assessment paper and video teaching session that I haven't even started. I'm really not even sure when paper 4 for English 102 is due but I'm really hoping it's not this Monday because I haven't started that yet either! (shhh, don't tell) I'm basically flying by the seat of my pants now and completing whatever is due next before moving onto something else.
Added to all of this, I have been sick this week. While at work Monday I was chilled all day long. I came home and started running a fever. The next day my fever was over 102, chills, massive headache, backache and soar throat. I was supposed to work Wednesday but had to call in. Calling into work right before Christmas when you don't have sick time is not good for the shopping budget. And I still hadn't shopped for my thanksgiving dinner meal preparations. So after my ibuprofen kicked in I had to go to Walmart sick and buy stuff to make for thanksgiving. Thankfully, I felt a little better for Thanksgiving so headed off to my mom's an hour and forty minutes away. And I made it back in time to be in line at Toys r us at 800. After Toys r us, I headed to Target where my husband had been standing in line for me. We attempted to go to the mall after Target but was quickly exhausted and found that the deals were not worth the wait.
I did manage to get my tree up and the house decorated (on the inside anyway) for Christmas. All of this taking away from what I really need to be doing is writing papers!
Added to all of this, I have been sick this week. While at work Monday I was chilled all day long. I came home and started running a fever. The next day my fever was over 102, chills, massive headache, backache and soar throat. I was supposed to work Wednesday but had to call in. Calling into work right before Christmas when you don't have sick time is not good for the shopping budget. And I still hadn't shopped for my thanksgiving dinner meal preparations. So after my ibuprofen kicked in I had to go to Walmart sick and buy stuff to make for thanksgiving. Thankfully, I felt a little better for Thanksgiving so headed off to my mom's an hour and forty minutes away. And I made it back in time to be in line at Toys r us at 800. After Toys r us, I headed to Target where my husband had been standing in line for me. We attempted to go to the mall after Target but was quickly exhausted and found that the deals were not worth the wait.
I did manage to get my tree up and the house decorated (on the inside anyway) for Christmas. All of this taking away from what I really need to be doing is writing papers!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Benefits of Fasting
My church has recently called a fast on Mondays. So I wanted to learn more about the subject. I have heard that fasting is good for your body and spirit and can actually cleanse and heal your body. I'm not one to take what I hear seriously unless it can be proved to me by research or come from a very reliable source. So I decided to do some research. Many religions include fasting as a way of drawing closer to God. The Bible states in many scriptures that fasting is an important part of one's walk with God and even vital to having prayers answered. I have always believed according to the scripture that fasting is the best way to crucify the flesh and strengthen the spirit. As a nurse though, I wanted to know if there really are physical benefits or if these are just claims from the religious and health gurus.
I was interested to find in Science Daily from April of 2011, that research has been presented at The American College of Cardiology conference that shows the benefits of fasting. The research showed that fasting is a great way to lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes. It was found that fasting causes the body to release cholesterol as the body began to use fat cells for energy rather than glucose. This is important because the less fat cells you have the less likely you are to have insulin resistance which is part of diabetes.
I also found information in another reliable source. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has also published an article with research studies that were done on alternate day fasting. The studies are mostly on animals but shows very promising results in humans. The studies have shown that alternate day fasting may reduce the risk of certain cancers, help prevent heart disease and diabetes and improve blood pressure.
Hopefully this area will receive more attention from researchers in the near future but from what I see I feel that fasting is medically beneficial and spiritually beneficial. I would not recommend fasting to everyone though. Breastfeeding women should not fast and those with medical conditions such as diabetes should only fast with strict glucose monitoring. There are many types of fasting and I am not going to go into detail about all of them but I will continue with the 24 hour fast once a week and maybe add another day during the week. I can also say that since I have been doing this for the last month, I have seen some significant changes in my family and my life personally.
I was interested to find in Science Daily from April of 2011, that research has been presented at The American College of Cardiology conference that shows the benefits of fasting. The research showed that fasting is a great way to lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes. It was found that fasting causes the body to release cholesterol as the body began to use fat cells for energy rather than glucose. This is important because the less fat cells you have the less likely you are to have insulin resistance which is part of diabetes.
I also found information in another reliable source. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has also published an article with research studies that were done on alternate day fasting. The studies are mostly on animals but shows very promising results in humans. The studies have shown that alternate day fasting may reduce the risk of certain cancers, help prevent heart disease and diabetes and improve blood pressure.
Hopefully this area will receive more attention from researchers in the near future but from what I see I feel that fasting is medically beneficial and spiritually beneficial. I would not recommend fasting to everyone though. Breastfeeding women should not fast and those with medical conditions such as diabetes should only fast with strict glucose monitoring. There are many types of fasting and I am not going to go into detail about all of them but I will continue with the 24 hour fast once a week and maybe add another day during the week. I can also say that since I have been doing this for the last month, I have seen some significant changes in my family and my life personally.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Time for a new hairstyle!
I'm excited because I have a hair appointment today! I only get my hair done about twice a year because it is so expensive. I go to the same person everytime. I know I could get it done cheaper somewhere else but I'm to afraid to try anyone new. It's about 120 dollars with the tip. I have very long hair (almost to my waist) and most people that I have been to don't do a good job on long hair. The last few times I had blonde highlights and dark lowlights and a little bit of red added. This time I'm going to skip the red because it always fades to a rusty color that isn't very pretty in my hair. My plan this time is to just add some high and low lights to my roots, cut about 2 inches off my hair and add a lot of layers. I hope it looks good and doesn't turn out to be too short! My hair lady does a great job but she tends to cut off twice as much as you want her to so I'm always kind of nervous to tell her to take off any length. Anyway, I'm excited and I hope it looks good so I can look nice for the holidays!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Sad state of humanity
I had no idea what I wanted to write about today so I turned to the news. I checked out the top stories and was drawn to the story about baby Lisa. This little girl from Kansas City has been missing for more than 5 weeks and the parents are being called suspects. The parents claim that someone entered the home and kidnapped the little girl out of her crib. Dad was working late and came home and found the door unlocked and the baby gone. Mom claims she had been drinking and passed out after the baby went to sleep.
As I looked down at other headlines the next one I noticed was a teenager who tweeted 144 times about her sexual abuse before killing herself. She had reported the abuse a year prior and was told there was not enough evidence. She had apparently tried to kill herself before but failed. This time she succeeded. If you look at the story you will see she was a beautiful girl who had a lot to live for. Sadly, she died by suffocation after learning the method online.
The last story I looked at was about a 3 year old girl who was beat to death by her stepfather for "not wanting" to eat her dog. The man reported that she choked on the hot dog but police said that the violence of the abuse was shocking even for seasoned detectives. The man reportedly punched the little girl in the chest and beat her with his fists and a belt even after she lay lifeless on the ground. He had also reported biting her a few weeks earlier for urinating on herself.
The stories go on and on. It is so heartbreaking to hear the stories of abuse, but choosing not to read about them or hear about them doesn't mean they don't exist. Unfortunately, it is all to real. There are so many children out there who are being abused senselessly. This was the reason my husband and I decided we wanted to foster children. We became licensed foster parents but then had to take a break because of our own child being ill. Foster parenting is a great way to help change the course of a hurting child's life. You can break the cycle of abuse and give them a new outlook on life. These kids need compassionate people who will show them that they are worth loving. This website has information about becoming a foster parent in Missouri.
As I looked down at other headlines the next one I noticed was a teenager who tweeted 144 times about her sexual abuse before killing herself. She had reported the abuse a year prior and was told there was not enough evidence. She had apparently tried to kill herself before but failed. This time she succeeded. If you look at the story you will see she was a beautiful girl who had a lot to live for. Sadly, she died by suffocation after learning the method online.
The last story I looked at was about a 3 year old girl who was beat to death by her stepfather for "not wanting" to eat her dog. The man reported that she choked on the hot dog but police said that the violence of the abuse was shocking even for seasoned detectives. The man reportedly punched the little girl in the chest and beat her with his fists and a belt even after she lay lifeless on the ground. He had also reported biting her a few weeks earlier for urinating on herself.
The stories go on and on. It is so heartbreaking to hear the stories of abuse, but choosing not to read about them or hear about them doesn't mean they don't exist. Unfortunately, it is all to real. There are so many children out there who are being abused senselessly. This was the reason my husband and I decided we wanted to foster children. We became licensed foster parents but then had to take a break because of our own child being ill. Foster parenting is a great way to help change the course of a hurting child's life. You can break the cycle of abuse and give them a new outlook on life. These kids need compassionate people who will show them that they are worth loving. This website has information about becoming a foster parent in Missouri.
Christmas is coming!!!
I'm so excited Christmas is coming! A few months ago I dreaded Christmas season this year because I saw it as finals time, projects coming due, papers to write, and graduation. Now, however, I realize that I will be done with most of my course work by Dec. 6th which leaves me a few weeks to enjoy Christmas. I also realized that I only have one actual final to take and the papers and projects I have to do are not as big a deal as I thought they were going to be. This is a great final semester for me! After this semester I will have no school until May (assuming I get accepted to grad school)! That makes Christmas even more exciting to me! I don't have to rush around getting Christmas decorations taken down and getting my house clean to start school in January. I am really looking foward to spending some quality time with my family. I will have to work more than I do now but at least I will not have the stress of assignments hanging over my head. I love Christmas! I love the decorations and being snowed in or iced in and baking and eating and christmas songs and kids being on break and spending time with friends and family and everything else that entails Christmas!
Friday, November 4, 2011
Healthy Eating
I will admit that I am not the healthiest eater in the world, not even in my house. I have a major sweet tooth. If I haven't had something sweet to eat then I feel like I still need to eat. It's not that I don't know how to eat right, it's just that I don't want to. So, I was thinking about sharing some incentives for healthy eating that may motivate me and maybe even someone else.
The most important reason to eat right is to prevent disease. Eating has an enormous relationship to health. For example, overeating can lead to obesity which is a major cause of heart disease in America. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America. Obesity can also lead to diabetes, hypertension, and stroke. On the flip side, eating right can actually help fight off certain cancers. For example, garlic contains compounds that can help prevent skin, lung, and colon cancer.
Another reason to eat right is to feel better. Eating a diet full of fatty foods can make you feel like crud. They can make you sluggish, slow down your digestive system, cause breakouts (which affects your self-image), and give you heartburn. When you eat a diet full of fiber, fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains you will have more energy, better skin, and a healthy digestive tract.
The biggest incentive for me to eat right is to look better. I know that sounds very vain but when you are young and healthy you don't care as much about diseases you may get 20 years down the road. We care about how we look even though it may not actually be the most important reason to eat right, it is the best incentive. Eating right will help lose weight and prevent gaining weight so that we can keep wearing our favorite size jeans. Ok, now I kind of regret what I had for lunch.
The most important reason to eat right is to prevent disease. Eating has an enormous relationship to health. For example, overeating can lead to obesity which is a major cause of heart disease in America. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America. Obesity can also lead to diabetes, hypertension, and stroke. On the flip side, eating right can actually help fight off certain cancers. For example, garlic contains compounds that can help prevent skin, lung, and colon cancer.
Another reason to eat right is to feel better. Eating a diet full of fatty foods can make you feel like crud. They can make you sluggish, slow down your digestive system, cause breakouts (which affects your self-image), and give you heartburn. When you eat a diet full of fiber, fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains you will have more energy, better skin, and a healthy digestive tract.
The biggest incentive for me to eat right is to look better. I know that sounds very vain but when you are young and healthy you don't care as much about diseases you may get 20 years down the road. We care about how we look even though it may not actually be the most important reason to eat right, it is the best incentive. Eating right will help lose weight and prevent gaining weight so that we can keep wearing our favorite size jeans. Ok, now I kind of regret what I had for lunch.
Teenage Dating
Ok, so I know I wrote paper #3 about this subject but I would like to talk some more about my opinion on the subject. Most parents have no objections to their children dating as long as they date someone the parents approve of. Although, there are some parents out there though that don't even really know the person their teen is dating. That is scary. Some people think dating is just a normal and maybe even necessary part of growing up. I agree that dating is "normal" in today's society, but normal isn't always a good thing. It's normal for kids to try drugs and alcohol now days also but that doesn't mean I want my kid to do it. It's normal for people to get divorced a few times and it's normal to sleep around before you get married. I would like for my child to be abnormal. I would like for my children to save themselves completely for their spouse. I would also like for them to be madly in love with the person they marry and stay with them for the rest of their lives. I would like for their children to see the love in their parents so much that they want the same thing for themselves. I know you can't really force a child not to date (some would argue) because they will find a way if they really want to. But shouldn't we as parents let our kids know they don't have to settle for normal?
Friday, October 28, 2011
Be Professional Please!
I will not mention where I work but tonight is one of those nights thats getting a little out of hand. I don't think I'm an uptight person and I would not even ask someone to watch their language around me. I just think that people should try to be professional when they are at work. No matter what the job is people don't want to be uncomfortable at work. Filthy language at work makes me very uncomfortable. Tonight alone I have heard mention of blow jobs, pole dancing, a request for all the women to come to work in thongs tomorrow, jokes about one person giving another sexual favors, and climbing into someone's vagina. And I have only been at work for an hour and a half. I feel that is very inconsiderate of other people and is just rude, unacceptable behavior. I may sound angrier than I actually am. This is personal thoughts on the subject but I am not angry. I am used to this sort of behavior from my colleague's, unfortunately. I'm not angry but it makes me feel awkward and out of place since I would never joke or talk that way. So, while I am not going to say anything to my coworkers about their rude behavior, I would just like to let you all know that while we may not say anything about the filthy talk it does make some of us uncomfortable.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Depression
So my brother called me the other day obviously very depressed. My brother always battles depression but this time it really didn't make sense. At 29 years old he has never held a job for more than a few months and hasn't had any training or education to help him to get a good job. Well, he started truck driving school a few months ago and is getting ready to graduate next week. When he graduates he has multiple job opportunities to start out at 45,000 a year. So I think he should be happy and excited not depressed. His reason for being depressed was that he doesn't want to waste the next week in class when he's already passed his final. He wants to go to work now. I tried to explain to him that a week is not a big deal and he should be excited that in a week he will be making more money than he's ever made in his life. I don't think I got through to him.
Depression can be a major problem to some people. Everyone feels down at times but people with major clinical depression are often unable to get better without treatment. They may have feelings of sadness that last for weeks, inability to sleep, appetite changes, loss of interest in things that normally bring pleasure, and thoughts of suicide. Depressive disorders appear to have a genetic tendency as well. This is obvious in my family because my father died from suicide and was an alcoholic. Substance abuse can be another sign of a major depressive disorder. All of my siblings, except me, have struggled with substance abuse, depression and thoughts of suicide. When these things are seen in families it is critically important to seek treatment.
Treatment may include a combination of psychotherapy and medication. There are many medications that are available to help with depression. Most of these medications work by altering chemical levels in the brain.
If someone you know is battling depression it is important to take it seriously. Do not minimize their feelings or make them feel guilty for feeling the way they do. If you are depressed please seek help. Depression is a serious medical condition and needs to be treated medically. Some people feel that depression is all in your head may stereotype people who take medication for depression. This is really sad. Just because depression is not a physical illness that you can see does not mean that it is any less of a medical condition.
Depression can be a major problem to some people. Everyone feels down at times but people with major clinical depression are often unable to get better without treatment. They may have feelings of sadness that last for weeks, inability to sleep, appetite changes, loss of interest in things that normally bring pleasure, and thoughts of suicide. Depressive disorders appear to have a genetic tendency as well. This is obvious in my family because my father died from suicide and was an alcoholic. Substance abuse can be another sign of a major depressive disorder. All of my siblings, except me, have struggled with substance abuse, depression and thoughts of suicide. When these things are seen in families it is critically important to seek treatment.
Treatment may include a combination of psychotherapy and medication. There are many medications that are available to help with depression. Most of these medications work by altering chemical levels in the brain.
If someone you know is battling depression it is important to take it seriously. Do not minimize their feelings or make them feel guilty for feeling the way they do. If you are depressed please seek help. Depression is a serious medical condition and needs to be treated medically. Some people feel that depression is all in your head may stereotype people who take medication for depression. This is really sad. Just because depression is not a physical illness that you can see does not mean that it is any less of a medical condition.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Looking for a Daycare
Every mom knows how hard it is when you have to leave your little one and go back to work. I have been blessed because I have a full-time student friend that lives with me and has watched my son for the last two years while I work. Starting in January though, I will need to work full-time while I take a semester off before starting grad school. My friend will not probably not be available all the time so I'm starting to think about childcare options.
I'm pretty picky, like most moms, when it comes to a babysitter or daycare. In a perfect world I would be able to be a full-time mom and have a fulfilling and high-earning job I could do from home but that just isn't reality. So I must think about my options. The first option for most people is a family member or friend to watch the baby. I don't have any family in the area except my mom who lives an hour and a half away. Most of my friends either have their hands full with their own children or work themselves. So that is not going to work.
So I'm down to two choices. Either an in home daycare or a child care center. They both have their pros and cons. The good thing about an in home daycare is they are often more flexible with hours. Being a nurse that would be beneficial for me. Also, some people feel children get more one on one care in a home and that the environment is more comfortable and nurturing. The bad thing is that licensing is often not as strict for homes, providers may not have early childhood education, and you really don't know what happens when your not there. Unless I knew the provider well I would worry about abuse or neglect because no one is monitoring what the provider does.
I think a center is the best option for us. The bad thing about a center is that there are so many children and each adult is responsible for more children. It is also not as comfortable as a home. The positives are that they are well regulated, offer age-appropriate activities, you don't have to worry about your child sitting in front of the tv all day, and you don't have to worry about what to do when the provider is sick.
The most important part of child care is that the child is happy and well taken care of. If your kid hates going to daycare then there might be a problem. It's really important to check out references. Contact information for the state can be found here to check the background of a center. A child care center will meet our needs best but a home might be best for someone else. Every family has to consider what is most suitable to their own needs.
I'm pretty picky, like most moms, when it comes to a babysitter or daycare. In a perfect world I would be able to be a full-time mom and have a fulfilling and high-earning job I could do from home but that just isn't reality. So I must think about my options. The first option for most people is a family member or friend to watch the baby. I don't have any family in the area except my mom who lives an hour and a half away. Most of my friends either have their hands full with their own children or work themselves. So that is not going to work.
So I'm down to two choices. Either an in home daycare or a child care center. They both have their pros and cons. The good thing about an in home daycare is they are often more flexible with hours. Being a nurse that would be beneficial for me. Also, some people feel children get more one on one care in a home and that the environment is more comfortable and nurturing. The bad thing is that licensing is often not as strict for homes, providers may not have early childhood education, and you really don't know what happens when your not there. Unless I knew the provider well I would worry about abuse or neglect because no one is monitoring what the provider does.
I think a center is the best option for us. The bad thing about a center is that there are so many children and each adult is responsible for more children. It is also not as comfortable as a home. The positives are that they are well regulated, offer age-appropriate activities, you don't have to worry about your child sitting in front of the tv all day, and you don't have to worry about what to do when the provider is sick.
The most important part of child care is that the child is happy and well taken care of. If your kid hates going to daycare then there might be a problem. It's really important to check out references. Contact information for the state can be found here to check the background of a center. A child care center will meet our needs best but a home might be best for someone else. Every family has to consider what is most suitable to their own needs.
too tired to write......
This has been a long week. I knew it was going to be bad before it even started and now that it's over I'm ready to sleep. I would actually pay good money to be able to get 8-10 hours of uninterupted sleep tonight. But that will not happen. My two year old does not sleep. He slept beautifully as a baby but does not sleep well as a toddler. He has to sleep in our room because he has tube feeding going at night and he arches and kicks and tosses and turns all night long. I tried to take a nap today since my husband was home for a little while this afternoon but that didn't work out either. The baby knows how to open doors now and every time I started to doze off I would hear the door open again. So that leads me back to my starting point. I am too tired to write or think of anything to write today. After working, school, kids choir concert, house keeping, grad stats mid-term, papers written, blah blah blah........I really have nothing to say today except that I'm ok with losing a few points because this is too short.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Role Confusion
Ok, I would like to clear up some confusion about my career role. My family keeps asking me when I will get my "PA". I tell them, "It isn't a PA its an NP". They say, "Oh, then you get your PA"? I will never be a PA. Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners are actually similar in many ways but are distinctly different. There is a lot of confusion in the community about what a Nurse Practitioner is and what Physician Assistant is. I will not try to explain in great detail the role of the Physician Assistant because I'm not one nor will I ever be.
Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants are referred to by many as "mid-level" providers. Some Nurse Practitioners are comfortable with this terminology and others feel that it is an inaccurate description of the care they provide. Studies have shown that Nurse Practitioners deliver the same or sometimes better outcomes than primary care physicians. This particular link is to a study that shows no significant difference between patient satisfaction with Nurse Practitioners and Physicians in primary care.
The role of Nurse Practitioners is always expanding. Nurse Practitioners are Masters or Doctorate prepared and may work in primary care in a clinic, or in a speciality such as orthopedics. Some oversee educational programs such as a hospitals diabetes education. They can work in a hospital and make rounds on patients or work in home health. In over half of the states Nurse Practitioners may work independently from physicians. This means they can actually open clinics for themselves. Unfortunately, Missouri is not one of those states. Physician collaboration is required here. However, with health care reform occurring, it will be necessary for states to remove barriers for Nurse Practitioners to be able to provide care for the growing number of health care recipients. Missouri and many other states restrict NPs from operating to the full capacity of their education and training. Hopefully, Missouri will remove many of its barriers in the next few years before I graduate.
I could write several pages to discuss the roles of Nurse Practitioners but I would just like you to know that Nurse Practitioners are well-trained and capable health care providers. They are able to diagnose and treat most acute and chronic diseases. Many times NPs have a better bedside manner due to their nursing background. In the future many of us will be seeing the Nurse Practitioner instead of a physician and that should not be viewed as a bad thing!
Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants are referred to by many as "mid-level" providers. Some Nurse Practitioners are comfortable with this terminology and others feel that it is an inaccurate description of the care they provide. Studies have shown that Nurse Practitioners deliver the same or sometimes better outcomes than primary care physicians. This particular link is to a study that shows no significant difference between patient satisfaction with Nurse Practitioners and Physicians in primary care.
The role of Nurse Practitioners is always expanding. Nurse Practitioners are Masters or Doctorate prepared and may work in primary care in a clinic, or in a speciality such as orthopedics. Some oversee educational programs such as a hospitals diabetes education. They can work in a hospital and make rounds on patients or work in home health. In over half of the states Nurse Practitioners may work independently from physicians. This means they can actually open clinics for themselves. Unfortunately, Missouri is not one of those states. Physician collaboration is required here. However, with health care reform occurring, it will be necessary for states to remove barriers for Nurse Practitioners to be able to provide care for the growing number of health care recipients. Missouri and many other states restrict NPs from operating to the full capacity of their education and training. Hopefully, Missouri will remove many of its barriers in the next few years before I graduate.
I could write several pages to discuss the roles of Nurse Practitioners but I would just like you to know that Nurse Practitioners are well-trained and capable health care providers. They are able to diagnose and treat most acute and chronic diseases. Many times NPs have a better bedside manner due to their nursing background. In the future many of us will be seeing the Nurse Practitioner instead of a physician and that should not be viewed as a bad thing!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Visiting In-Laws!
I do love my in-laws. They are really good people. I know most people say their in-laws are coming to visit with a roll of the eyes. I don't feel that way. The only bad thing about it is they came at a bad time. They got here the Saturday before last and are leaving next Saturday. That means we only had one weekend with them and have to spend two weekends transporting them to and from Kansas City. My husband had to work the one Saturday they were here so we didn't get to do anything that day anyway. He also worked the whole first week and even had to go to Kansas City overnight for work one day. Then we will have to take them to Kansas City Friday and be back for him to work overnight at a lock-in for College Heights that night. Thankfully, he did take vacation this week but it still seems that he didn't really get to spend much time with his parents. The other bad part is that the kids are in school. My older kids are 12 and 16 so they have had to go to school and do homework and haven't been able to do much with their grandparents.
We do have some good plans for the next couple of days. Tomorrow we are going to let the kids skip school and we are all going to the Tulsa Zoo. Then Thursday when the kids get out of school we are going to go to Lambert's for dinner and then Branson to watch Noah the Musical. (10 dollars for Joplin residents this weekend) I think my husband, son and father in law are going fishing tonight also. The other good thing is that my baby has gotten to spend a lot of time with his grandparents. He hasn't seen them much since they live in California so this has been good for the baby and his grandparents. It's also been nice for me to be able to leave him with them while I go to work or school. My mother in law has been making dinner for the family on the days I'm at work too so that has been really nice. I'm going to miss them when they leave!
We do have some good plans for the next couple of days. Tomorrow we are going to let the kids skip school and we are all going to the Tulsa Zoo. Then Thursday when the kids get out of school we are going to go to Lambert's for dinner and then Branson to watch Noah the Musical. (10 dollars for Joplin residents this weekend) I think my husband, son and father in law are going fishing tonight also. The other good thing is that my baby has gotten to spend a lot of time with his grandparents. He hasn't seen them much since they live in California so this has been good for the baby and his grandparents. It's also been nice for me to be able to leave him with them while I go to work or school. My mother in law has been making dinner for the family on the days I'm at work too so that has been really nice. I'm going to miss them when they leave!
Friday, September 30, 2011
TV for Toddlers?
I know how difficult it can be to get things done when you have little ones running around. TV can seem like a great way to get the house clean or sit and relax for a while after being exhausted from chasing your 2 year old around all day. But is TV good for kids? The obvious answer seems to be no. Yet, there are so many educational programs and Nick JR claims to be "preschool on tv", so maybe it's not so bad.
There has been a lot of research going on the last several years that seems to prove that too much tv can lead to attention span problems in children. They say that tv rewires a child's brain to need fast movement all the time and causes them to lose the ability to focus on the slower pace of normal life. I tend to agree with this since ADHD was unheard of back when kids went outside to play instead of spending hours and hours in front of the tv, playstation or computer.
Here is an eyeopening quote "According to a study published in Nature magazine... the basal ganglia portion of the brain becomes very active when a person plays video games and watches TV. And the body releases a chemical called dopamine. Ritalin (and cocaine) also work on the basal ganglia of the brain and increase dopamine. As Dr. Amen writes, �The problem is that the more dopamine is released, the less neurotransmitter is available to do schoolwork, chores, homework and so on.
Maybe this is why video games are so addicting. It makes alot of sense that if they are getting the same neurochemical response as taking ritalin or cocaine that they would become addicted.
However, there are also studies that show that content is important as well as quantity. Studies have shown that educational programs such as Sesamme Street watched at age 3 increase vocabulary at age 5 and that it also leads to better grades in high school. The study also seemed to indicate that the advantages were greater for kids from lower socioeconomic status who don't have the same access to educational opportunities.
Placing your child in front of the tv also takes away from time spent interacting with adults and engaging in opportunities to learn. For example, working puzzles and reading stories. Even playing with cars or running around in the back yard is an educational opportunity for a small child.
My personal opinion is that tv should be very limited in small children. I think that if they are going to watch tv then it should be slow paced and educational shows such as Sesamme Street and Blue's Clues. The time should be limited to maybe an hour a day (although experts recommend 30 min) when you really need to have some time to yourself. The quote above should also make us think twice about allowing our older children to spend hours on the video games. We need to think about what's best for our children, not what's easier for us. By not taking the easy way out, we will end up with smarter and more socially adept children.
Here is another interesting article about ADD and television if you are interested.
There has been a lot of research going on the last several years that seems to prove that too much tv can lead to attention span problems in children. They say that tv rewires a child's brain to need fast movement all the time and causes them to lose the ability to focus on the slower pace of normal life. I tend to agree with this since ADHD was unheard of back when kids went outside to play instead of spending hours and hours in front of the tv, playstation or computer.
Here is an eyeopening quote "According to a study published in Nature magazine... the basal ganglia portion of the brain becomes very active when a person plays video games and watches TV. And the body releases a chemical called dopamine. Ritalin (and cocaine) also work on the basal ganglia of the brain and increase dopamine. As Dr. Amen writes, �The problem is that the more dopamine is released, the less neurotransmitter is available to do schoolwork, chores, homework and so on.
Maybe this is why video games are so addicting. It makes alot of sense that if they are getting the same neurochemical response as taking ritalin or cocaine that they would become addicted.
However, there are also studies that show that content is important as well as quantity. Studies have shown that educational programs such as Sesamme Street watched at age 3 increase vocabulary at age 5 and that it also leads to better grades in high school. The study also seemed to indicate that the advantages were greater for kids from lower socioeconomic status who don't have the same access to educational opportunities.
Placing your child in front of the tv also takes away from time spent interacting with adults and engaging in opportunities to learn. For example, working puzzles and reading stories. Even playing with cars or running around in the back yard is an educational opportunity for a small child.
My personal opinion is that tv should be very limited in small children. I think that if they are going to watch tv then it should be slow paced and educational shows such as Sesamme Street and Blue's Clues. The time should be limited to maybe an hour a day (although experts recommend 30 min) when you really need to have some time to yourself. The quote above should also make us think twice about allowing our older children to spend hours on the video games. We need to think about what's best for our children, not what's easier for us. By not taking the easy way out, we will end up with smarter and more socially adept children.
Here is another interesting article about ADD and television if you are interested.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Oasis Church of Joplin
Have I mentioned before that I love my church? My husband and I moved to Missouri to 6 1/2 years ago to help start a church. We had never thought about helping with a church plant before but God had plans for us. We had been attending my husband's dad's church because his dad was the Pastor. When his dad resigned we decided to find another church. After about a year we started talking about how we would like to move to out of California somewhere to the Midwest. But we felt like God wanted us to stay under our Pastor's ministry. Very shortly after that our Pastor announced to us that he was moving to Missouri to start a church. We immediately knew that's where God wanted us. I don't know why God wanted us to go a state with a million churches to start a church but I'm glad He did!
Our church started with less than ten people in an office front building that was about 20 by 40 feet. At one time we were up to about 150 people and currently run about 100 on Sunday morning. Our church is now in a real church building located at Rangeline and Zora behind SMB bank. I believe that one day our church will run thousands of people but the number isn't the most important thing. The most important thing is that the people who attend our church have had lasting change in their lives. They feel that they are loved and accepted and God is speaking into their lives. We have a great congregation of people!
We also have amazing Pastors. Our Pastors are friends with everybody. In some churches this can be a bad thing because the people want to think the Pastors are perfect and if they get to know them too well they realize they are not perfect. I like that our Pastor allows the people to get to know his family, has them over for the holidays if they have no where to go, and will go to dinner or hangout with anyone who asks him. Yes, they will realize he is not perfect but once they know his heart they will usually be ok with that. After all, Pastors are people too and they are imperfect just like the rest of us.
Anyway, I love my church and I love Missouri and I'm so glad we are here and a part of this vision!
Our church started with less than ten people in an office front building that was about 20 by 40 feet. At one time we were up to about 150 people and currently run about 100 on Sunday morning. Our church is now in a real church building located at Rangeline and Zora behind SMB bank. I believe that one day our church will run thousands of people but the number isn't the most important thing. The most important thing is that the people who attend our church have had lasting change in their lives. They feel that they are loved and accepted and God is speaking into their lives. We have a great congregation of people!
We also have amazing Pastors. Our Pastors are friends with everybody. In some churches this can be a bad thing because the people want to think the Pastors are perfect and if they get to know them too well they realize they are not perfect. I like that our Pastor allows the people to get to know his family, has them over for the holidays if they have no where to go, and will go to dinner or hangout with anyone who asks him. Yes, they will realize he is not perfect but once they know his heart they will usually be ok with that. After all, Pastors are people too and they are imperfect just like the rest of us.
Anyway, I love my church and I love Missouri and I'm so glad we are here and a part of this vision!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Planning a Vacation!
I have to admit I enjoy planning things. My problem in the past has been that I plan things so much that I would get bent out of shape whenever things didn't go exactly the way I had planned. Unfortunately, with a husband and son with ADHD, that seemed to happen a lot. So I have learned over the years that great plans are an essential but flexibility is also required.
I am always planning something! Currently, I am working on my plans to attend nurse practitioner school. I'm working on my application by getting my reference letters out, typing out a resume, making copies of my certifications etc. My real fun will begin in the next few weeks when I begin to plan my vacation in December!
We are going to California to see family and a friend I haven't seen in years. While we are there we will be going to Disneyland! My older kids have been several times so it's not a big deal to them but it's the baby's first time.
I'm not sure yet if we will be driving or flying. I'm going to start keeping an eye on ticket prices to see if I can find a good deal. I need a great deal to be able to afford tickets for a family of five!
I wanted to share a few tips on how to plan an awesome and affordable vacation. The first thing you need to decide is where you are going to go. If you are flexible with location you can find some really awesome deals. Websites like allegiantair.com offer weekly travel deals. For example, I just found out that if I stay at the Jolly Roger near disneyland for three nights I can get the fourth night free! Sometimes you can get flights to Florida, Las Vegas and Los Angeles for as low as 50 dollars.
It's a good idea to check out websites like cheaptickets.com and travelocity.com just to see what prices other places are offering. You do have to be careful though because those websites make money off of booking. Often times you can get a better deal on hotels and rental cars by calling them directly. It's a good idea to know what the prices are online and through discount websites when you call so you will know if you are getting the best deal.
This goes for plane tickets also. Check out cheaptickets.com and the airlines website directly before you purchase tickets. Sometimes you can get the best deals through smaller airlines that offer less flexible schedules but much cheaper tickets. Allegiant air for example, flies nonstop to several different locations at much cheaper prices. A couple years ago I was able to purchase tickets for LA for 60 dollars each way.
Another thing I do is plan activities while we are there. If you decide what you are going to do ahead of time you can look for discount tickets. A good website to use when planning activities is tripadvisor.com. This website will give you reviews on museums, amusement parks, restaurants, hotels, and more. They also make recommendations for things to do in whatever town you are visiting.
Finally, don't forget to use your resources! Many businesses offer discounts for theme parks and popular attractions. Your employer may offer discount silver dollar city, disneyland or dixie stampede! Many credit unions also offer discounts. If you are a AAA member you can also get lots of great deals. I hope this information helps you to plan a fun and reasonably priced vacation for your family!
I am always planning something! Currently, I am working on my plans to attend nurse practitioner school. I'm working on my application by getting my reference letters out, typing out a resume, making copies of my certifications etc. My real fun will begin in the next few weeks when I begin to plan my vacation in December!
We are going to California to see family and a friend I haven't seen in years. While we are there we will be going to Disneyland! My older kids have been several times so it's not a big deal to them but it's the baby's first time.
I'm not sure yet if we will be driving or flying. I'm going to start keeping an eye on ticket prices to see if I can find a good deal. I need a great deal to be able to afford tickets for a family of five!
I wanted to share a few tips on how to plan an awesome and affordable vacation. The first thing you need to decide is where you are going to go. If you are flexible with location you can find some really awesome deals. Websites like allegiantair.com offer weekly travel deals. For example, I just found out that if I stay at the Jolly Roger near disneyland for three nights I can get the fourth night free! Sometimes you can get flights to Florida, Las Vegas and Los Angeles for as low as 50 dollars.
It's a good idea to check out websites like cheaptickets.com and travelocity.com just to see what prices other places are offering. You do have to be careful though because those websites make money off of booking. Often times you can get a better deal on hotels and rental cars by calling them directly. It's a good idea to know what the prices are online and through discount websites when you call so you will know if you are getting the best deal.
This goes for plane tickets also. Check out cheaptickets.com and the airlines website directly before you purchase tickets. Sometimes you can get the best deals through smaller airlines that offer less flexible schedules but much cheaper tickets. Allegiant air for example, flies nonstop to several different locations at much cheaper prices. A couple years ago I was able to purchase tickets for LA for 60 dollars each way.
Another thing I do is plan activities while we are there. If you decide what you are going to do ahead of time you can look for discount tickets. A good website to use when planning activities is tripadvisor.com. This website will give you reviews on museums, amusement parks, restaurants, hotels, and more. They also make recommendations for things to do in whatever town you are visiting.
Finally, don't forget to use your resources! Many businesses offer discounts for theme parks and popular attractions. Your employer may offer discount silver dollar city, disneyland or dixie stampede! Many credit unions also offer discounts. If you are a AAA member you can also get lots of great deals. I hope this information helps you to plan a fun and reasonably priced vacation for your family!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
I am truly blessed!
I grew up with an alcoholic and abusive father. He wasn't abusive to me but he was abusive of my mom and older siblings. My dad died when I was nine of an overdose on alcohol and pills. My mom worked very hard with four children to support us while dealing with her abusive husband and trying to get through nursing school. She graduated a few years before my dad died. We were very poor when I was little. Before my mom finished school we lived in a trailer with 2 bedrooms. All four kids shared a bedroom. It took my mom 5 tries at marriage before she finally found a keeper. That was just last year!
There's a lot more to the sob story but the point is.....things could have turned out a lot worse for me. Actually, things weren't looking good for me when I got pregnant at 15 years old. We got married and moved away with the military. My husband and I raised our daughter by ourselves without any financial or emotional support from any family. Things still didn't really look good.
In spite of everything, my husband and I have stuck through the hard times and are now at 16 years of marriage. We have a 16 year old daughter, 12 year old son, and 2 year old son. Our kids are such a blessing! I wouldn't trade my life or my family for anything in this world. My kids are not perfect but they are really good kids. I don't have to worry about them getting involved in drugs or worry that they are out getting in to trouble when they are with their friends. I can't wait to see what wonderful things God has in store for them when they grow up. Kristin in beautiful, fun, creative, and gifted in music. Levi is super intelligent, witty, and outgoing. Noah is just a plain doll!
Besides having 3 beautiful children and a loving husband, I have an amazing church family. I haven't had a relationship with my family since they are all addicts and have lived in different states. My church family has always been there for us. We always have "family" to spend the holidays with. We know our church family loves us and accepts us in spite of our imperfections just like we do them.
Recently, my mom moved to the area, met a new man and changed her life. This has been an amazing blessing as well. Now my children have real grandparents that live a little over an hour away. They have always had my husbands parents and family but they live in California. This is the first time in my life my children have had the opportunity to have a relationship with my mom. They also now have an awesome grandpa. I wish he would have been around my whole life but I'm glad we have him now!
My life is proof that God cares and things can change! I'm so thankful for all that He's done in my life!
In spite of everything, my husband and I have stuck through the hard times and are now at 16 years of marriage. We have a 16 year old daughter, 12 year old son, and 2 year old son. Our kids are such a blessing! I wouldn't trade my life or my family for anything in this world. My kids are not perfect but they are really good kids. I don't have to worry about them getting involved in drugs or worry that they are out getting in to trouble when they are with their friends. I can't wait to see what wonderful things God has in store for them when they grow up. Kristin in beautiful, fun, creative, and gifted in music. Levi is super intelligent, witty, and outgoing. Noah is just a plain doll!
Besides having 3 beautiful children and a loving husband, I have an amazing church family. I haven't had a relationship with my family since they are all addicts and have lived in different states. My church family has always been there for us. We always have "family" to spend the holidays with. We know our church family loves us and accepts us in spite of our imperfections just like we do them.
Recently, my mom moved to the area, met a new man and changed her life. This has been an amazing blessing as well. Now my children have real grandparents that live a little over an hour away. They have always had my husbands parents and family but they live in California. This is the first time in my life my children have had the opportunity to have a relationship with my mom. They also now have an awesome grandpa. I wish he would have been around my whole life but I'm glad we have him now!
My life is proof that God cares and things can change! I'm so thankful for all that He's done in my life!
Friday, September 16, 2011
The Truth about Pneumonia
We all know pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. However, there are a few erroneous myths out there about pneumonia. We've all heard our mothers or grandmothers say, "put a coat on before you catch pneumonia". This is a popular old wives tale that being in the cold actually causes pneumonia. Another one is that when you have pneumonia you need to stay in bed. My own husband believed that since my son has pneumonia after his surgery he needs to stay in bed. The purpose of this blog is to educate the reader on the symptoms, causes and prevention of pneumonia.
Pneumonia symptoms can vary and are difficult to recognize at times. In the elderly, they may not even run fever or they may have a low temperature. However, the typical symptoms are productive cough, fever, shortness of breath, chills, and chest pain during respiration. If the pneumonia is severe you may experience low oxygen levels which manifest as blue tinged lips or pale or dusky nail beds. In small children watch for sucking in around the ribs, sternum, and clavicle or nostril flaring. If you notice any of these things in an infant or child please take them to the emergency room right away.
Pneumonia is most commonly caused by bacteria but it can also be caused by viruses, fungi, and aspiration. Aspiration is when something foreign is inhaled into the lungs. An example of this would be someone who has been drinking too much, passes out, vomits, and then breaths in the vomit. (A good reason not to drink). This can be a very difficult type of pneumonia to treat and is very dangerous. Pneumonia can be acquired in the community or in the hospital. Typically, pneumonia is not "caught". What I mean is you don't catch pneumonia from your friend, you catch the cold, flu or bacteria that they have. I might get the flu from my friend and end up with pneumonia while my friend is better in a few days. Similarly, I may have pneumonia and my friend may drink out my cup and end up with a cold. So, it is not the location of the infection that is contagious as so much it is the actual bacteria or virus.
The number one way to prevent pneumonia and other types of contagious illnesses is hand washing. Hand washing is surprisingly the most effective and simplest way of preventing the spread of disease. One way to prevent pneumonia specifically is to keep moving. When you are sick with the flu it's not a good idea to lay in one spot for days and have your spouse wait on you hand and foot. When you move around you help keep those alveoli (tiny air sacs in your lungs) open. When you stay in one spot fluid can accumulate in the alveoli and become a breeding ground for bacteria. Coughing and deep breathing is another way of helping prevent pneumonia when you are sick with the flu or laying in bed for an extended period of time for other reasons such as surgery. Coughing and deep breathing also help to keep those alveoli open. If you must stay in bed, make sure to change positions frequently and do cough and deep breathing exercises.
If you suspect you or your loved one has pneumonia seek prompt medical attention. The doctor will listen to your chest with a stethoscope and possible take xrays. They will also check your oxygen level. If the doctor feels that you need intravenous antibiotics or oxygen then you will be hospitalized. If the doctor does not feel this is necessary then you will be sent home with oral antibiotics. Be sure to take all your antibiotics until they are gone. you also need to drink plenty of fluid and get plenty of rest. Like I said before, do not lay in bed for days without moving as this will only make the pneumonia worse. If you smoke you need to quit. I will probably make that the topic of my next blog. We all know how bad smoking is for you but if you have pneumonia and smoke you will have a more difficult and possibly complicated recovery. I hope you or your loved ones are never sick with pneumonia but if you do I hope this information helps!
Pneumonia symptoms can vary and are difficult to recognize at times. In the elderly, they may not even run fever or they may have a low temperature. However, the typical symptoms are productive cough, fever, shortness of breath, chills, and chest pain during respiration. If the pneumonia is severe you may experience low oxygen levels which manifest as blue tinged lips or pale or dusky nail beds. In small children watch for sucking in around the ribs, sternum, and clavicle or nostril flaring. If you notice any of these things in an infant or child please take them to the emergency room right away.
Pneumonia is most commonly caused by bacteria but it can also be caused by viruses, fungi, and aspiration. Aspiration is when something foreign is inhaled into the lungs. An example of this would be someone who has been drinking too much, passes out, vomits, and then breaths in the vomit. (A good reason not to drink). This can be a very difficult type of pneumonia to treat and is very dangerous. Pneumonia can be acquired in the community or in the hospital. Typically, pneumonia is not "caught". What I mean is you don't catch pneumonia from your friend, you catch the cold, flu or bacteria that they have. I might get the flu from my friend and end up with pneumonia while my friend is better in a few days. Similarly, I may have pneumonia and my friend may drink out my cup and end up with a cold. So, it is not the location of the infection that is contagious as so much it is the actual bacteria or virus.
The number one way to prevent pneumonia and other types of contagious illnesses is hand washing. Hand washing is surprisingly the most effective and simplest way of preventing the spread of disease. One way to prevent pneumonia specifically is to keep moving. When you are sick with the flu it's not a good idea to lay in one spot for days and have your spouse wait on you hand and foot. When you move around you help keep those alveoli (tiny air sacs in your lungs) open. When you stay in one spot fluid can accumulate in the alveoli and become a breeding ground for bacteria. Coughing and deep breathing is another way of helping prevent pneumonia when you are sick with the flu or laying in bed for an extended period of time for other reasons such as surgery. Coughing and deep breathing also help to keep those alveoli open. If you must stay in bed, make sure to change positions frequently and do cough and deep breathing exercises.
If you suspect you or your loved one has pneumonia seek prompt medical attention. The doctor will listen to your chest with a stethoscope and possible take xrays. They will also check your oxygen level. If the doctor feels that you need intravenous antibiotics or oxygen then you will be hospitalized. If the doctor does not feel this is necessary then you will be sent home with oral antibiotics. Be sure to take all your antibiotics until they are gone. you also need to drink plenty of fluid and get plenty of rest. Like I said before, do not lay in bed for days without moving as this will only make the pneumonia worse. If you smoke you need to quit. I will probably make that the topic of my next blog. We all know how bad smoking is for you but if you have pneumonia and smoke you will have a more difficult and possibly complicated recovery. I hope you or your loved ones are never sick with pneumonia but if you do I hope this information helps!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Noah's Surgery
Last Thursday was the day we have been looking forward to for a long, long time. Well, it was actually a year and a half but that seems like a very long time when you are dealing with a sick child. I mentioned in a previous post that Noah (my 2 year old) has had swallowing problems and has had repeated respiratory infections and trouble gaining weight since he started baby food at six months old. We had one doctor tell us it was laryngomalacia and another doctor told us it wasn't. The third doctor repeated the bronchoscopy and said he definitely did have laryngomalacia and she also found a fish bone embedded in his tonsil! (This was part of his surgery.) It is still hard to believe that all his problems could be caused by laryngomalacia because children typically outgrow this by the time they are two and 99% of children do not have major problems with it.
The other problem he has been having since being on tube feedings is chronic vomiting. He would vomit sometimes twice a day and sometimes twice a week. The surgeon decided that when he placed the gastric tube he wanted to do another procedure called a Nissen Fundoplication. This is where they take a part of the stomach and wrap it around the lower esophagus to create a high pressure zone that reflux cannot get past. This was supposed to fix the chronic vomiting.
Well, Noah came home from the hospital Sunday after having all this done on Thursday. The whole time he was in the hospital he was too sick to get out of bed. He walked once during his hospitalization. We thought maybe when he came home he would feel better and want to play. He didn't. Monday I ended up taking him to the emergency room. They did a chest and abdominal xray and found that he has pneumonia and was severely constipated. After miralax, enemas, and antibiotics he is finally feeling better today and has actually been out of bed playing! Now we are just dealing with nausea and vomiting. Except he can't really vomit since he had the fundoplication, he just wretches. When he starts retching we have to attach a tube to the "button" on his belly and open it so the vomit can come out. I feel so sorry for him!
The next few days will be spent trying to adjust his feeding so that he doesn't get nauseous but doesn't have to be on slow rate feedings all day. It's a huge pain to be on continuous feedings because he is attached to a backpack all day. That wasn't a big deal when he was laying in bed but now that he is running around again it's very difficult. The backpack is too heavy for him to carry on his back so he drags it around. If it lays flat then it gets air in it and starts beeping. So we have to follow him around and make sure his backpack stays upright. We will be praying that he tolerates his feedings for the next couple of days so that he doesn't have to keep doing this!
The other problem he has been having since being on tube feedings is chronic vomiting. He would vomit sometimes twice a day and sometimes twice a week. The surgeon decided that when he placed the gastric tube he wanted to do another procedure called a Nissen Fundoplication. This is where they take a part of the stomach and wrap it around the lower esophagus to create a high pressure zone that reflux cannot get past. This was supposed to fix the chronic vomiting.
Well, Noah came home from the hospital Sunday after having all this done on Thursday. The whole time he was in the hospital he was too sick to get out of bed. He walked once during his hospitalization. We thought maybe when he came home he would feel better and want to play. He didn't. Monday I ended up taking him to the emergency room. They did a chest and abdominal xray and found that he has pneumonia and was severely constipated. After miralax, enemas, and antibiotics he is finally feeling better today and has actually been out of bed playing! Now we are just dealing with nausea and vomiting. Except he can't really vomit since he had the fundoplication, he just wretches. When he starts retching we have to attach a tube to the "button" on his belly and open it so the vomit can come out. I feel so sorry for him!
The next few days will be spent trying to adjust his feeding so that he doesn't get nauseous but doesn't have to be on slow rate feedings all day. It's a huge pain to be on continuous feedings because he is attached to a backpack all day. That wasn't a big deal when he was laying in bed but now that he is running around again it's very difficult. The backpack is too heavy for him to carry on his back so he drags it around. If it lays flat then it gets air in it and starts beeping. So we have to follow him around and make sure his backpack stays upright. We will be praying that he tolerates his feedings for the next couple of days so that he doesn't have to keep doing this!
Friday, September 9, 2011
Michael Jackson Case
The Michael Jackson trial has been back in the news lately due to jury selection for the trial against Dr. Conrad Murray. This will prove to be an extremely difficult task. There is hardly a person on the planet who is not familiar with the case. Finding an unbiased juror will be, in my opinion, impossible. The death of Michael Jackson gained international attention instantly. Added to the media craze over the death of the King of Pop was the information that his death resulted from gross medical malpractice which has been deemed a homicide.
I am not nor have I ever been a fan of Michael Jackson although I am sympathetic for his family, friends and fans. My interest in this case stems from my interest in medicine. As a critical care nurse, I have administered propofol more times than I can count. I would never administer this medication to someone who is not on a ventilator. The major side effect of propofol is respiratory depression. This means that whenever you give the drug you take the chance that the patient could stop breathing. Propofol should only be administered in a health care setting with lifesaving equipment and professionals trained in CPR. In spite of these dangers, police did not find any monitors, controlled infusion pumps, defibrillators, or other equipment in the room where Jackson died. They did find an empty oxygen cylinder. There were also reports that this cardiologist did not even perform CPR correctly at the scene. The complete disregard for safety is astounding to me. In fact, I would say negligence at this level can only be intentional homicide or complete stupidity. Conrad admits to administering the medication along with other powerful sedatives to help Jackson sleep. This confession in combination with the evidence found at the scene should make it easy to convict this sad excuse for a physician.
I am not nor have I ever been a fan of Michael Jackson although I am sympathetic for his family, friends and fans. My interest in this case stems from my interest in medicine. As a critical care nurse, I have administered propofol more times than I can count. I would never administer this medication to someone who is not on a ventilator. The major side effect of propofol is respiratory depression. This means that whenever you give the drug you take the chance that the patient could stop breathing. Propofol should only be administered in a health care setting with lifesaving equipment and professionals trained in CPR. In spite of these dangers, police did not find any monitors, controlled infusion pumps, defibrillators, or other equipment in the room where Jackson died. They did find an empty oxygen cylinder. There were also reports that this cardiologist did not even perform CPR correctly at the scene. The complete disregard for safety is astounding to me. In fact, I would say negligence at this level can only be intentional homicide or complete stupidity. Conrad admits to administering the medication along with other powerful sedatives to help Jackson sleep. This confession in combination with the evidence found at the scene should make it easy to convict this sad excuse for a physician.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Craziness!!!
We all know parenting is hard work, right? It's even harder when you're trying your best to do it right! This week I made the very difficult decision of making my daughter break up with her boyfriend. She is 16 years old and this was her first real relationship. My problem was that the boy was a bad influence on my daughter. He would not even accept me on facebook because he didn't want me to see all the cussing all over his page. But I knew he really liked my daughter a lot and they were getting way too emotionally attached for 16 year olds. Well, I tried giving my daughter the opportunity to break it off with him and when it became evident she was unwilling or incapable, I decided to do it myself. I told her she had to break up with him that night.
Little did I know the drama that was about to ensue! The next day I felt sorry for the boy so I text him to try to make him feel a little better. His "mom" answers and says Lucas is no longer with us....he killed himself last night...! She also proceeded to go on about how my daughter was everything to him and she made him happy and on and on. I had my husband call to find out if it was true and they would not answer. So we called the police to find out if it was true. The police said they did not respond to any suicide but if it was a diabetic overdose then it would have been considered medical and they wouldn't even know about it. My daughter believes the mom is lying and I don't know what to believe. I checked the obituaries this morning, called schools (I don't know which one he goes to, its in another town), and called the main hospital. I found no proof of his death as of yet.
The text messages have stopped and the boy has not tried to contact my daughter since the breakup. There is alot more to the story and it's very confusing. I don't know weather to believe its true or a lie! Right now we are going to assume it is not true until we have proof otherwise. I sincerely hope it is all a hoax. If it is then I am so glad I made the tough decision to get my daughter away from this psychologically challenged boy and his family!
Little did I know the drama that was about to ensue! The next day I felt sorry for the boy so I text him to try to make him feel a little better. His "mom" answers and says Lucas is no longer with us....he killed himself last night...! She also proceeded to go on about how my daughter was everything to him and she made him happy and on and on. I had my husband call to find out if it was true and they would not answer. So we called the police to find out if it was true. The police said they did not respond to any suicide but if it was a diabetic overdose then it would have been considered medical and they wouldn't even know about it. My daughter believes the mom is lying and I don't know what to believe. I checked the obituaries this morning, called schools (I don't know which one he goes to, its in another town), and called the main hospital. I found no proof of his death as of yet.
The text messages have stopped and the boy has not tried to contact my daughter since the breakup. There is alot more to the story and it's very confusing. I don't know weather to believe its true or a lie! Right now we are going to assume it is not true until we have proof otherwise. I sincerely hope it is all a hoax. If it is then I am so glad I made the tough decision to get my daughter away from this psychologically challenged boy and his family!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Is 16 too young to drive?
http://www.rmiia.org/auto/teens/Teen_Driving_Statistics.asp
http://dor.mo.gov/drivers/teens/gradlaw.php
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/286684/parenting_tips_easing_your_teen_into_pg5.html?cat=25
My daughter just turned 16 on Aug 16th. On her birthday she passed her driver's test and received her license! I had many well-intending friends and relatives who expressed concern that 16 is way too young to drive. I agree that 16 is young and many 16 year olds are not mature enough to handle the responsibility. However, I do not agree that all 16 year olds are too young to drive. I believe that should be judged on an individual basis.
There are many dangers in which teenage drivers are more susceptible too. Cell phone use is highest among 16-24 year olds and most teens use the cell to text rather than talk. We all know how dangerous that can be. Most of us have been nearly ran off the road at some point or another by someone trying to text and drive. Teen drivers can also be easily distracted by other teens in the car, ipods, eating and many other things. Adding inexperience to these distractions can be fatal.
Many states have enacted graduated driver's licenses to protect our youth. Missouri is one of those states. The first step is a permit. A young driver must hold a permit for at least 6 months before they can get a license. That license is an under 18 license. This license is restricted with a curfew and limits on how many children may ride in the car. The driver also must maintain no alcohol or drug offense. Before the driver gets a full license they must get an under 21 license which also carries restrictions. These graduated driver's license programs have greatly reduced teenage motor vehicle deaths.
This is not to say parents should rush out and get there child a permit as soon as they turn 15. Parents need to use discretion when deciding if their child is ready to drive. Consider the child's grades, ability to complete chores, and willingness to accept instruction. If your child argues with you anytime you try to tell them anything they probably will not listen to driving instructions either. If your child is known to associate with teens who drink, smoke or use drugs then they are probably not ready to drive. Those would be the kids in the car with them while they're driving.
As for me, I'm glad my daughter is driving! She drives back and forth to school and church, and she can run to get milk. I do not allow her to go anywhere she wants whenever she wants. I believe limits should be strict when they start out until they become more experienced. Teens are still children who need boundaries but the benefits of driving can be great for the child and parent if the child is ready.
http://dor.mo.gov/drivers/teens/gradlaw.php
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/286684/parenting_tips_easing_your_teen_into_pg5.html?cat=25
My daughter just turned 16 on Aug 16th. On her birthday she passed her driver's test and received her license! I had many well-intending friends and relatives who expressed concern that 16 is way too young to drive. I agree that 16 is young and many 16 year olds are not mature enough to handle the responsibility. However, I do not agree that all 16 year olds are too young to drive. I believe that should be judged on an individual basis.
There are many dangers in which teenage drivers are more susceptible too. Cell phone use is highest among 16-24 year olds and most teens use the cell to text rather than talk. We all know how dangerous that can be. Most of us have been nearly ran off the road at some point or another by someone trying to text and drive. Teen drivers can also be easily distracted by other teens in the car, ipods, eating and many other things. Adding inexperience to these distractions can be fatal.
Many states have enacted graduated driver's licenses to protect our youth. Missouri is one of those states. The first step is a permit. A young driver must hold a permit for at least 6 months before they can get a license. That license is an under 18 license. This license is restricted with a curfew and limits on how many children may ride in the car. The driver also must maintain no alcohol or drug offense. Before the driver gets a full license they must get an under 21 license which also carries restrictions. These graduated driver's license programs have greatly reduced teenage motor vehicle deaths.
This is not to say parents should rush out and get there child a permit as soon as they turn 15. Parents need to use discretion when deciding if their child is ready to drive. Consider the child's grades, ability to complete chores, and willingness to accept instruction. If your child argues with you anytime you try to tell them anything they probably will not listen to driving instructions either. If your child is known to associate with teens who drink, smoke or use drugs then they are probably not ready to drive. Those would be the kids in the car with them while they're driving.
As for me, I'm glad my daughter is driving! She drives back and forth to school and church, and she can run to get milk. I do not allow her to go anywhere she wants whenever she wants. I believe limits should be strict when they start out until they become more experienced. Teens are still children who need boundaries but the benefits of driving can be great for the child and parent if the child is ready.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
My search for answers
Hello everyone! I would like to use this opportunity to vent about my struggle to find a diagnosis and treatment for my son's swallowing problem. Noah is my 2 year old boy. He's full of energy and affection! Noah has been suffering from frequent respiratory infections, asthma, and failure to thrive since he started eating baby food at 5 months old. Last January we discovered this was all due to trouble swallowing but we don't know why he has trouble swallowing. He is developmentally normal in every other way. A few months ago we went to an ENT doctor who said his problem was laryngomalacia. So he sent us to a pediatric ENT surgeon to fix it. When we went to see that doctor she informed us that laryngomalacia was not his problem. After she did a scope to look down his throat she sent us to third ENT doctor because she didn't know what the problem was. This doctor is planning on doing surgery but is not really sure if the surgery will fix the problem or not.
Last Friday was supposed to be Noah's surgery but when we went to see the surgeon he decided to postpone the surgery and do another test. We did the test Sunday and are waiting for the results. We are also going to see a Neurologist Wednesday to see if there is a neurological cause to all of this.
Oh, yeah I forgot to mention he has been on tube feedings for the last 4 months and has also been vomitting frequently. Also, our weekly trips to kansas city for therapy failed.
So the surgery is for a fundoplication, g- tube placement, and bronchoscopy. Hopefully, his surgery will be in the next week or so and he will start getting better and all this will be behind us soon. It has been a frustrating process because every time we think we have found an answer it turns out we haven't. We have exhausted almost all of our options so I'm really praying this will work! I will update next week what we find out from neurology and surgery.
Last Friday was supposed to be Noah's surgery but when we went to see the surgeon he decided to postpone the surgery and do another test. We did the test Sunday and are waiting for the results. We are also going to see a Neurologist Wednesday to see if there is a neurological cause to all of this.
Oh, yeah I forgot to mention he has been on tube feedings for the last 4 months and has also been vomitting frequently. Also, our weekly trips to kansas city for therapy failed.
So the surgery is for a fundoplication, g- tube placement, and bronchoscopy. Hopefully, his surgery will be in the next week or so and he will start getting better and all this will be behind us soon. It has been a frustrating process because every time we think we have found an answer it turns out we haven't. We have exhausted almost all of our options so I'm really praying this will work! I will update next week what we find out from neurology and surgery.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
English 102
Hello! My name is Janeice Hukill. I am 31 years old and I have 3 children. I am an RN working on BSN which I will I will be completing in December. Next summer my hope is to start working on my masters. I have taken many online classes but I have never blogged. This is new to me as I'm sure it is to some of you as well. This should be fun!
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