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My life is centered around knowing what’s going on in the world, especially when it comes to kids. Here you can find the practical news that will make your life safer, healthier and more enjoyable.
About.com has an article today that looks at whether your kids are overweight or underweight. My oldest son is in the just right category, but I am not sure about the toddler. He looks good to me, but I think I will check this out to make sure. There are so many kids who are facing obesity these days. There are many more who are overweight or headed in that direction.
Personally, I have a hard time getting my kids to eat. I have started making them take at least 3 bites. Otherwise, they will go the entire day without a decent meal. Other friends of mine say their kids don't stop eating and they have limit what they eat. I think it must be a mixture of heredity and learned behavior. What are your thoughts?
Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.
From ABC: Despite all our medical advances, about 12-and-a-half percent of babies in the United States are born prematurely -- and that rate is rising. That statistic comes from the March of Dimes, which is promoting "prematurity awareness month."
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services hopes to bring that rate down to 7-point-6 percent as part of its "Healthy People 2010" initiative.The March of Dimes graded each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
With the exception of Vermont, which rated a "B," every state earned a "C" or worse. Among other factors, the March of Dimes blames lack of health insurance, smoking mothers and rising rates of early induction and Caesarean sections.
I think more research needs to be done looking at why women are going into labor early. I was the correct weight, no diabetes, no other health concerns and I went into labor at 27 1/2 weeks. Fortunately, my labor was stopped after I was given magnesium and my son was born on time. However, doctors have no idea why this happened to me. Therefore, there is no real way to prevent this for some people. And there is really no proof that bed rest prevents women from going into labor. It's just one of the only things we can do that might help.Has anyone else had preterm labor?
-NewsAnchorMom Jen
Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.
We have all rejoiced with the local family who won the Extreme Makeover Home in Pekin. If you don't live in town, you now have a chance to see why they are so special.
Jeannie and Steve Grys have four biological children. She is a nurse. He is a Special Education Teacher. They saw a need for foster care parents in the community more than 20 years ago and put their names on the list. Since then, they have fostered more than 250 kids and adopted three children with special needs.
Here's the story we ran on WHOI:
Of course, I interviewed everyone for this story for an hour or so. I am sure the photographers dread going out on stories with me!
I didn't have time to type out the entire interviews, but here are some clips I wish I could have included in the story:
Jen:Why do you do this?
Steve Grys: "We're kid oriented and that's our future. Sometimes you get off, to a rocky start. If we can help smooth that out, that's what we want to do. We just love kids. I guess it's a way you think, you can make a difference in the world because like with Jake you never know how what you're doing is going to impact that child and that child is going to impact so many others that he'll meet."
Jen: How do you handle it when foster kids leave? Steve:"I never treat the child like they're a foster kid or something that's not part of the family."
Jen:What happens when the child goes home? Steve:"Most of the time it's a good thing, but there are those times when the child goes back to a situation they left that was not good. That's frustrating."
Jen:Why did you adopt?
Steve: "We never got into foster care with the idea of adopting-special needs or not. They said they were going to have to split them up-the twins-because of their medical disabilities. The only consistent thing they had ever had was each other. We asked the other kids what they thought about adopting the twins. It wasn't even an issue. It's lets do this. So that was awesome."
Jen:What about Jake's adoption?
Steve:"He knew us as mom and dad and as his brothers and sisters. We're in the kid business. I was not about to say we have loved you and taken care of you since you were three-now you're moving on. That's not gonna happen."
How do you deal with Jake's brittle bone disease?
Steve:"He has probably broken every bone in his body at least once except for his head. And we've all broken him. Everyone of us at one point has broken him. I lifted him out of his car seat under the arms and I broke a rib. We just put a cast on him and continue with what we were doing. This is when I knew he was part of the family and everything was good no matter what happened."
Case Work Leona Zeigler Counseling and Family Services
The counselors tell couples who are interested in foster care what they need to do to the get the process started. There are several agencies that can help. Some are public, some private. The couple will have to pass a background check, take classes and decide what kind of child will work best with their family. Zeigler says sometimes people are more apt to take kids with special needs. Other parents might do better with kids who are having behavioral problems. Some foster parents only take babies, some only take teenagers. There are even times when people who live in a mostly Caucasian community don't take kids of another race because they won't be accepted in that community.
Jen: What should prospective foster parents expect? Leona:"When children first come into care, it's always very hard. They may have just been separated from their family. All kids love their family. All families love their children. So sometimes it's hard because you have to find the time an energy to let those children know that they are okay. Biological families when they are removed from them are ripped. They are tore. Their family has just been removed. Their kids are just in an uproar and parents don't understand."
Jen: What kind of kids are these?
Leona: "Most often-Babies who have been neglected or older kids who have been abused or neglected. They have mothers with mental health issues that are not self medicating correctly or parents with drug additions."
Jen:What is the goal of fostering?
Leona:"Optimal always is to return home-to help the biological parents address whatever brought those children into care and fix it."
Jen:Who makes a good foster parent?:
Leona:"I think our biggest thing is can you open up your home to these children? Can you understand the turmoil they're going through. Can you understand when they cry you sit and hold them?"
Jen: How did Jake end up being a Grys?
Leona:
"At that point, we were looking at someone who could medically meet his needs, but knowing that this little boy's needs were going to be so extensive, We needed the creme of the crop foster family. I knew he was in good hands when we met again. Jake sat in the middle of the table at that review and sang Amen. When we got the initial call that he was born, we didn't even know that he was gonna live. So going from where he was years ago-not even knowing if he was gonna live to where he is now is quite a miracle!"
Jen: How can people afford to foster in struggling economic times?
Leona: "Many families think they have to do it on their own and certainly in the economic situations we're in now, they can't maintain that. The get a monthly stipend for each child. (The Grys say it's between $300-$350 a month. That goes toward medical costs, food clothing and anything else.)
Jen: Are there a lot of sibling groups?
Leona: Sibling groups are common. It's also common if there is only one child that the biological parents will continue to have more babies that also need homes. We try not to break up sibling groups, but sometimes have to. Foster parents can only have 6 kids total including the ones already at their home-they have seen sibling groups of 10."
Jeannie Grys Interview Foster Mom
Jen: What was it like when you got Jake as a baby?
Jeannie: "I took one look at him and said wait-this is more than just a leg surgery. I looked at my husband and said-this is some sort of syndrome. He said, that's okay. We can do this. I said are you sure? They didn't actually say it, but we were lead to believe he wouldn't live."
Jen: Why did you end up adopting if that's not what you set out to do?
Jeannie: "Jake was healthy enough to be put on the adoption waiting list at three years old and we were like no-we can't let him go. He was ours. We had spent three years keeping him alive. And we couldn't give him up. That's how we ended up adopting again."
Jen: Is it hard to give the foster kids back?
Jeannie:
"We do grow attached, but we know it's not in their best interest to stay with us. There are a lot people out there who really want to adopt that cant' have kids. It's really rewarding when you take a sick child and they leave a fairly healthy child."
Jen: Who is the best person to become a foster parent?
Jeannie:
"You can't be real pattern oriented because you are working different kids, different children, different temperaments into your family. You have to do it because it's a calling-because it's something you want to do for the child. It's a sacrifice."
Jen: What do the foster kids call you?
Jeannie: "99 kids out of 100 you don't know when they come in how long they're going to be there, what they're going to be like. You tell them you can call me-this, this or that and they usually end up calling you mom or dad because that's what the other kids call you."
Jen: Anything else you want to mention?
Jeannie:"If you have what it takes to do this, you're really, really needed because some of us are getting really old to be doing this."
Phone Numbers in the Heart of Illinois:
Counseling and Family Services: (309) 676-2400 Department of Children and Family Services: (217) 782-4000 Lutheran Family Services: (309) 671-0300 Adoption Information Center of Illinois
If you work at an adoption agency and you want to be listed, please let me know. BTW, November is National Adoption Awareness Month so this story is just a perfect example of what you can do to help these kids. Jeannie says there have been times when kids she has fostered had to leave her home because they were too destructive, but she says you take the good and bad and know in the end you are helping. She and her husband are amazing!
If you have adopted, I would love to hear your story!
-NewsAnchorMom Jen
Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.
From Mylicon.com:Johnson & Johnson • Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals Company (JJMCP) is voluntarily recalling approximately 12,000 units of Infants’ MYLICON® GAS RELIEF DYE FREE drops (simethicone-antigas) non-staining sold in 1 oz. plastic bottles that were distributed after October 5, 2008 nationwide. The company is taking this action in consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Although the potential for serious medical events is low, the company is implementing this recall to the consumer level as a precaution after determining that some bottles could include metal fragments that were generated during the manufacturing process. If any medical events were to occur, most are expected to be temporary and resolve without medical treatment. Parents who have given the product to their infant and are concerned should contact their health care provider immediately.
The two lots of Infants’ MYLICON® GAS RELIEF DYE FREE drops non-staining 1 oz. bottles included in the recall are:
Product: Infants’ MYLICON® Gas Relief Dye Free Non-Staining Drops 1oz.
Code #71683791111-1
Lot #SMF007 OR SMF008
Exp 09/10
Consumers can find the lot numbers on the bottom of the box containing the product and also on the lower left side of the sticker on the product bottle.
Consumers who purchased Infants’ MYLICON® GAS RELIEF DYE FREE drops non-staining included in this recall should immediately stop using the product and contact the company at 1-800-222-9435 (Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST) or via the Internet at www.mylicon.com for instructions regarding how to dispose of the product and request a replacement or refund.
Infants’ MYLICON® drops are sold over-the counter, in retail stores and pharmacies, as an anti-gas medicine to relieve the discomfort of infant gas frequently caused by air swallowing or by certain formulas or foods.
The recall does not affect any Original Infants’ MYLICON® GAS RELIEF products (1/2 oz. or 1 oz. size) or Infants’ MYLICON® GAS RELIEF DYE FREE drops non-staining (1/2 oz. size).
The manufacturer has instructed retailers and wholesalers to return their inventories.
I did use the Mylicon drops with my kids. My youngest ended up having reflux, so he had the stronger medication. It worked great. I was never convinced the Mylicon drops helped with gas in my babies, but I know some people swear by it. What do you think?
-NewsAnchorMom Jen
Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.
I don't know anyone who isn't trying to scrimp and save right now. I think about every dollar I spent at the grocery store and I am trying very hard not to waste food.(even when my toddler throws it on the floor-5 second rule, right?)I love this information from Media Source It really does help me out at the grocery store!
If you spend any time at all in the grocery store, chances are you’ll spend a lot of money. The price of food has jumped 7.5% in the last year alone, more than twice the rate of medical costs.
Even though food costs more, you don’t have to sacrifice nutrition. Experts say there are plenty of low-cost highly nutritious foods, and a few you should put on your next grocery list. Like most of us Kelly Urse has felt the bite of her budget when it comes to fixing food for her family, which means she and her daughters have to plan their meals more carefully than ever before. “We shop the ads, we look for those flyers that come every week in the neighborhood newspaper, and we’re certainly looking for coupons,” says Kelly.
Experts say in an effort to save a little money, many of us often buy cheaper, more processed foods, which can be unhealthy. So scientists and dietitians from Ohio State University Medical Center have identified some of the top foods for staying healthy on a budget.
It all starts with theTOMATO. “Always cheap, no matter what time of year it is. You can buy tomatoes already canned with a lot of extra herbs and spices in them,” says Shirley Kindrick, PhD at Ohio State University Medical Center. Researchers at Ohio State have found that cooking tomatoes concentrates their power to fight diseases like cancer.
So registered dietitian Shirley Kindrick says, tomato soups, pastes, or spaghetti sauces are a cheap healthy idea, and if you want to cut down on the price of meats... “One of the first things that comes to mind isBEANS.Beans are an excellent source of protein and what’s our highest-cost item in the grocery store? It’s our meats,” says Kindrick.
Next, an inexpensive item you may not have considered, but Kindrick says cookingSTEEL OATS in a crock pot is a great meal anytime. “We often overlook the importance of oatmeal, but that’s a whole grain. One that we know will lower our cholesterol,” says Kindrick.
And lastly, buy cheap,DRY PASTAS, even macaroni and cheese, to make the most of leftovers.“So throw in that broccoli, maybe you have some leftover meat, throw that in there and you’ve got a great meal for not very much and it didn’t take you very long,” says Kindrick.
If you are a savvy shopper, please give us more tips! What do buy at the grocery store that is inexpensive and healthy?
-NewsAnchorMom Jen
Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.
From ABC: Trying to have a baby can often be trying for some couples. Millions of women will give birth this year, but Dr. Michael Randell says getting pregnant isn't always so easy. He said, "The statistics are against you. You only have a 15% chance of conceiving each month. About 85% of patients will conceive within the first year of trying."
Randell says certain lifestyle changes before conception may help improve a woman's fertility and get her body ready for pregnancy. If you're smoking, that can affect fertility both for the male, as well as the female. Using any drugs can also affect fertility. You can maximize your chance of conceiving if you look at the calendar and figure out when it is that you are ovulating.
Experts also recommend eating a healthy diet and exercising, losing weight to help reduce the risk of gestational diabetes, taking a folic acid supplement to prevent birth defects and making sure immunizations are up to date to lower the risk of infection while pregnant. Randell also tells his patients to relax.
If you haven't been successful in 12 months of trying, it's time to then seek help. An obstetrician can perform basic fertility tests. In more complicated cases, a woman may be referred to a reproductive endocrinologist.
-NewsAnchorMom Jen
Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.
From ABC: An unlikely hero helped save the life of a toddler in Denver. Willie is Megan Howard's one year old Quaker parrot. She says he talks a lot and sometimes says things that aren't so nice. but last Friday the parrot did more than just talk.
He alerted Howard that the two year old girl she was babysitting was choking and needed help. Howard says she was in the bathroom when Hannah started choking on a pop tart. The parrot screeched louder than she had ever heard and was yelling "Mama baby, Mama baby."
Howard said she came out of the bathroom and noticed Hannah was blue in the face. Howard performed the Heimlich maneuver which stopped her choking and says if Willie had not warned her, she might not have been able to get to Hannah in time.
So I have never wanted a parrot, but this makes me think otherwise. I don't think my son's fish named Fire Ice Storm would have done this! Seriously though, there are huge safety benefits to having certain pets like parrots, dogs, etc. Has anyone had a pet save them or their kids?
-NewsAnchorMom Jen
Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.
I feel like everyone I know, me included, is complaining about a few extra pounds and/or flabby muscles. I don't know if it's the time of year, the economy or what, but a lot of people I know are slacking right now. I can't seem to get motivated. I went to Body Pump for the first time in six months last week! That is way too long! I may not be overweight, but I can certainly tell I have been eating too much pizza, drinking too much soda(yes I am back on that track again!) and munching on too much left over Halloween candy.
As many of you know, we are headed on vacation in a few weeks to sunny Florida. I have been searching for "healthy snack options" for the trip instead of convenience foods. I saw this article on ABC and thought it might help you too!
Plan Ahead Regardless of the length of your trip, you're going to want a snack. Be prepared and bring healthy options with you. "If you're going on a road trip, I recommend packing a mini-cooler of healthy sandwiches, filtered water and fresh fruit," nutritionist Christine Avanti said. "If you're flying, you can pack a brown-bag lunch as opposed to succumbing to the salted nuts and preservative-loaded packaged snacks the airlines offer."
Hobday recommends making sure you book a hotel room with a fridge "so you have healthy snacks and meals on hand. Pick up high-fiber cereal and skim milk, fat-free yogurt, fresh veggies and fruit." That way you'll stave off the urge to splurge on 2 a.m. macadamia nuts or MSG-filled party mix. Smart Solutions It's not always possible to find fresh and healthy options on the go. If you're in a jam there are a few packaged goods and fast foods to look out for or take with you. "At a convenience store, grab a Luna bar, bag of soy chips or small handful of nuts. They all contain a mix of carbs and protein, so they'll keep your blood-sugar steady and keep you feeling full," Hobday said.
Avanti also recommends Cliff Builder Bars and Go Organic Bars (available at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's).
"If you are not suffering from high-blood pressure, turkey and salmon jerky are fantastic low-fat 'packaged' proteins. ... If you are vegetarian you can enjoy veggie jerky or seitan strips [both available at most Whole Foods and Wild Oats markets]," Avanti said.
Yogurt can be another excellent source of low-fat protein.
You can find a full "Fast Food Guide" on Avanti's Web site www.christineavanti.com, which outlines the healthiest (and worst) fast-food meals at most major chains. To view click here. (I did check this out and it is super helpful! The 6-inch Tuna at Subway has 31 grams of fat! It's my son's favorite and mine too. Umm, not good! The bean burrito and chicken taquito and Taco Bell aren't too bad-9 and 11 g of fat. I think I'll make a run for the border the next time I'm in a hurry with the kids!)
Super Snack Ideas
For an easy grab-and-go snack, Avanti suggested low-fat string cheese with fresh or dried fruit, which she said "also pairs well with whole wheat crackers or pretzels." For sandwiches, she prefers the lean protein of turkey.
If you have time, "try making a healthy trail-mix with an ounce of nuts and an ounce of air-popped popcorn or pack portable fresh foods that won't spoil easily," Hobday said. "If you have a fridge, put together a parfait with layers of plain low-fat yogurt and berries or snack on baby carrots dipped in a quarter cup of hummus." For more healthy treats click here.
Okay, I had no idea there is turkey jerky and veggie jerky. Does that taste good? My kids won't eat the Cliff bars, but they will eat Luna Bars. I think I'll pack those, some grapes, good ol' PB& J squares, trail mix and string cheese. Does anyone else have any ideas for snacks to take with kids? BTW, you can still go with us and the Chicago Cubs to Florida in December. Just click on my face at the top of this page for details.
-NewsAnchorMom Jen
Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.
Imagine people showing up to your house at all hours of the night asking for a peek inside. Think about what it would be like if you have to go to the grocery store and every few seconds someone would stop to talk to you. The Grys family from Pekin says it's all worth it and they are happy to talk to the hundreds of people who donated their time and money to give them their dream home.
The Grys family won Extreme Makeover Home Edition a few weeks ago and they are still being bombarded by people. Most of them want to see the inside of the house-which they cannot reveal until after the episode airs tentatively January 11th. They said one man pulled into their driveway, walked up the slope and said, "I will see what's inside that house." One of the older sons had to walk outside and say, "No you won't sir." There have also been some kind of scary incidents that they asked me not to mention specifically.
However, the sort of "stalking incidents" are only a small part of the great experience they are having. Most people congratulate them, hug them and tell them they deserve all the support they're getting. The Grys family has fostered more than 250 kids and adopted three kids with special needs after having four biological children. They are a modest family. Jeanie is a nurse. Steve is a Special Education teacher. Their foster/adoption story is amazing! Of course, I interviewed them about that. I just had to know how they could do so much! I will bring you that story later this week!
Here are a couple shots of the Grys home right after it was finished. The guy in the cowboy hat is the director, G.T. Photographer Gil McIntire shared these photos with me.
-NewsAnchorMom Jen
Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.
If you're looking for the best Christmas gifts for your kids, here's a reminder of which ones are best for learning-and they're not necessarily the ones marketed that way!
From Medstar:It's a dilemma many parents face, buy your kids the toys with all the bells and whistles. or get the educational ones. Child psychologists say the best toys may be the ones you least expect.
Go into any toy store and the choices can be overwhelming. Many promise "brain-building" skills, but do all the blinking lights and music really deliver? Child psychologists say it's all how they're used.
Dr. Pete Stavinoha said, "It's things that kids wanna interact with, things that don't necessarily do things for a child, but they allow the child to kind of use their imagination and build things or draw things or move and kind of let them express themselves."
Choosing a toy that promotes interaction between a parent and child is best. Experts recommend books, building blocks, dolls and arts and crafts. Dr. Stavinoha said, "Those aren't going to promote a child's development nearly as much as something that helps them interact with others or let's them use their imagination, think for themselves, solve problems, overcome frustrations, all those kinds of things."
While electronic toys and games do have their place, participating with your children using simple, traditional toys may be best. And if you're shopping for outside activities, Dr. Stavinoha says to stick to the tried and true traditional trikes and bikes that encourage exercise.
Back to the computer for a moment, Dr. Stavinoha cautions against toddlers spending too much time at the computer. Even though children may know how to navigate a mouse, they're most likely not developing problem solving skills.
I have only bought a few books for my kids so far. My five-year-old has a couple of things on a list. I have no idea where to get them! Yikes!
-NewsAnchorMom Jen
Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.
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About.com has an article today that looks at whether your kids are overweight or underweight. My oldest son is in the just right category, but I am not sure about the toddler. He looks good to me, but I think I will check this out to make sure. There are so many kids who are facing obesity these days. There are many more who are overweight or headed in that direction. 
