Kristie McNealy, MD

New Parents Have 6 Month Sleep Deficit

Kristie — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:41:44 +0000

Apparently, I’m in good company, because the very same day I felt compelled to blog about all the sleep the baby and I haven’t been getting, the results of a UK sleep study were released showing that new parents lose an average of 6 months of seep in their child’s first 24 months of life. [...]

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Cheap Homemade Fun – Face Paint

Kristie — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:39:36 +0000

Update: Once the kids were done, I stuck our son in the tub because he had face paint everywhere. As it turns out, the blue stained their skin a bit. Thankfully nobody had too much of that color on their face, and we don’t have any important events coming up in [...]

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Baby Sleep Trouble – Or The Baby Who Never Sleeps

Kristie — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:47:21 +0000

Ssshhhh. Baby sleeping . . . Oh wait, never mind. He’s awake already. I know two things for certain. First, I’m not alone in the sleep problem department, because if you type “baby sleep” into Google, you’ll get something like 48 MILLION hits. “Baby sleep tips” winnows that down to a paltry 6 or 7 million [...]

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Organic Gardening Fails 2010

Kristie — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:08:18 +0000

I started gardening last year, when we made it a priority to start adding more local and organic foods to our diet. Despite some lousy weather, including snow while I still had green tomatoes on the vine, I had decent success with my first “real” garden. This year, however, things have been off from the [...]

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Prematurity and Special Educational Needs

Kristie — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 04:25:48 +0000

Later this year, our preemie will be turning 5, which means that she’ll be starting school very soon. As that date approaches, I find myself contemplating the research and anecdotes I’ve encountered over the past 4 years related to learning problems in school-aged preemies. Last month, I wrote an article over at Family Health Guide about [...]

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Mommy MD Guide to Pregnancy and Birth

Kristie — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:33:21 +0000

If you’re currently expecting, or hoping to become pregnant soon, a new book: Mommy MD Guide to Pregnancy and Birth is a must have. The book interviewed 60 doctors who are also moms, for their memories, tips and tricks related to pregnancy, and I’m honored to be among them. Tackling pregnancy week by week, the [...]

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BiliSoft BiliBlanket Improves Bonding During Phototherapy

Kristie — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 17:06:59 +0000

Bonding with your baby in the NICU can be difficult, especially if your baby is very small or sick, and can’t be held or handled often. Kangaroo care, holding baby skin-to-skin, has enormous benefits both babies and parents in the NICU, including improved bonding. Unfortunately, sometimes medical treatments including the use of phototherapy to treat [...]

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Bond with Your Baby from Anywhere with Sound Beginnings

Kristie — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 03:34:19 +0000

A unique new device is providing a creative way for family and friends to bond with your baby-to-be, no matter how far away they are. Sound Beginnings and Sound Delivery by Creative Baby Inc. is a unique platform that allows a mother to share music and voice messages with their baby during the third trimester [...]

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Lead Contamination Alleged in Common Kids Foods

Kristie — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 05:18:13 +0000

A notice of violation of California’s Proposition 65 made by the Environmental Law Foundations alleges that a number of popular fruit and juice products sold in the United States contain unacceptable levels of lead. The specific food categories tested included apple juice, grape juice, packaged pears and peaches (includine baby food) and fruit cocktail. The specific [...]

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Sun Protection and Safe Sunscreens

Kristie — Thu, 27 May 2010 12:30:27 +0000

With summer fast approaching, sun safety is an important topic. Unfortunately, protecting skin from cancer causing UVA rays isn’t as simple as slapping on any old drug store sun screen, according to the 2010 Sunscreen Guide from the Environmental Working Group. The Environmental Working Group rates sunscreen based on UVA and UVB protection, as well as [...]

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Medela Announces Corporate Lactation Program to Benefit Companies AND Breastfeeding Moms

Kristie — Wed, 26 May 2010 03:51:14 +0000

I’m a big fan of Medela. As I’ve shared before, I pumped breastmilk for two of my children, because they had trouble nursing. One had a “disorganized suck” and the other, born 9 week early, just couldn’t generate enough suction to get the job done at the breast. Through 13 months of exclusive pumping, I [...]

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Genetic Testing – Know Your Genes

Kristie — Sun, 16 May 2010 04:21:17 +0000

With every month that passes, scientists learn more about our genes, and how they impact our health. With that knowledge, we’re also gaining the ability to test for a variety of genetic conditions. The world of genetic diseases and genetic testing can be confusing and overwhelming though. Thankfully, there is a new resource from the [...]

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Intervention Significantly Reduces Medication Use in the NICU

Kristie — Sun, 09 May 2010 05:07:21 +0000

Life in the neonatal intensive care is intense, and with the relative chaos and frequent pressure to “do anything” to save these tiny lives, many of the medications now in common use are actually poorly tested. A new study by Pediatrix Medical Group researchers has found that the use of educational programs and automated feedback [...]

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Women’s Health Blog at Family Health Guide

Kristie — Mon, 03 May 2010 22:00:12 +0000

If you remember back to the start of the new year, you might recall a mention of a new blogging project that was in the works. It took a little longer than originally planned, but in April I became the women’s health blogger at Family Health Guide! With a new baby and a new blog, posting [...]

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Most Shoppers Satisfied When They Turn to Store Brands to Cut Costs

Kristie — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:51:35 +0000

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine. With economic problems and high unemployment continuing to drain the pocketbooks of many Americans, most moms I know are putting effort into cutting their grocery budget. In fact, according to the report Recession, Recovery & Store Brands, 8 [...]

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Google Not a Reliable Source of Child Health Advice

Kristie — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:39:19 +0000

With ever increasing access to the internet, more and more people are turning to Google for the answers to medical questions. Unfortunately, a lot of medical information on the web is less than reliable, and sometimes just plain wrong. A newly published study out of the UK looked at Google search results for 5 common [...]

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Put on Your Walking Shoes – It’s Time to March for Babies

Kristie — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:23:45 +0000

As the mom of two preemies, and a March of Dimes Mom, the March of Dimes is a charity which holds a special place in my heart. Without research funded by the March of Dimes, my younger daughter and many kids like her probably wouldn’t be alive today. Research and NICU support services take money though, [...]

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Earth Month Brings Chances to Learn and Win Cloth Diapers

Kristie — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 04:07:47 +0000

I’ve discussed our journey from disposables into cloth several times on this blog. While cloth can definitely save money in the long run, it can be daunting to set aside enough cash to build a usable cloth diaper stash. Deciding what you actually like and want/need to buy is a whole other issue! It’s Earth [...]

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Yoplait Greek Giveaway Winner

Kristie — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:28:29 +0000

After another carb loading morning, I glanced at the clock and realized that it was time to pick the winner of my Yoplait Greek “Nourish Your Inner Goddess” gift pack. Thanks again to Yoplait and MyBlog Spark for sponsoring this giveaway, and for giving my family the chance to sample new Yoplait Greek. The winner of [...]

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Yoplait Greek Yogurt Makes a Protein Packed Snack Giveaway

Kristie — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 22:37:32 +0000

*Comments now closed. A winner has been chosen!* I’m the type of person who can easily make it to the end of the day eating nothing but carbs. Pancakes for breakfast, a bagel at lunch and pasta for dinner, and I’m happy as a clam. But as a nursing mom, I’m doing my best to get [...]

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New Resource Helps Get Insurance Reimbursements for Breastfeeding Expenses

Kristie — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 21:27:39 +0000

There was never a question in my mind whether or not I would breastfeed. It was the plan, the only plan. So, when my first daughter was born 4 weeks early and had a lot of trouble with nursing, I was pretty much devastated. Buying formula wasn’t part of the plan, both for health and [...]

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Winner Announced – Grains of Goodness Giveaway

Kristie — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:01:44 +0000

In the midst of celebrating little M’s one month birthday (I can’t believe it’s really been a month), I managed to forget to announce the winner of the Grains of Goodness giveaway I hosted last week. I’m pretty sure it’s his fault. He did take my brain with him when he was born after all [...]

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Easy 100% Whole Wheat Bread Recipe

Kristie — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:54:59 +0000

Ok, before I get started, I have to admit that the 100% part of the title to this post drives me a little bit batty. The part of me which loves to argue semantics cringes, because obviously, this bread has something in it other than whole wheat. Unfortunately though, I’ve found that googling for a [...]

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Baby Wearing Safety – CPSC Warns of Hazards of Bag Style Slings

Kristie — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:21:51 +0000

Yesterday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a warning to parents urging caution when using slings to carry infants less than 4 months of age, as a result of 14 deaths “associated with sling-style infant carriers”. The rather vague description of the types of carriers that pose a danger has caused a lot of confusion among [...]

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31 Days of Aries Book Tour and iPod Touch Giveaway

Kristie — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:54:42 +0000

This month I’m excited to be participating in the 31 Days of Aries blog book tour, celebrating the release of Aries Rising, the first in the Star Crossed series of young adult books by Bonnie Hearn Hill. Aries Rising features Logan McRae, an ordinary highschool girl who finds an old astrology book, and uses it [...]

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Whole Grain Goodness Giveaway

Kristie — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:42:58 +0000

I know that back in January, I posted some goals for 2010, and one of them involved continuing to reduce our dependence on packaged foods. Then, baby number four was born, and he turned our world right upside down. It’s kind of amazing how foggy my memory was about just how hard it is to [...]

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Two Weeks of Chaos

Kristie — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:07:43 +0000

I can hardly believe it’s been two weeks. TWO WEEKS!! At this rate, he’ll be in kindergarten before I get back to writing regular blog posts. All the way back on February 13th, I woke up having contractions. They weren’t exactly painful, but they were enough to wake me up and get my attention every 15 [...]

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Disney on Ice and Arenacross Denver Discounts!

Kristie — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:38:11 +0000

I’ve been very wrapped up in being a mommy to baby M, as well as the three big kids over the past two weeks, and I have a lot of blogging to catch up on. Today I have one last batch of Disney ticket deals to share. I probably won’t have any more discount codes [...]

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My Funny Valentine

Kristie — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:52:41 +0000

Despite the jokes, apparently, the 14th was THE day . . . The newest member of the McNealy clan made his way into the world today, February 14th, at 1:16am. A sweet Valentines gift for all of us, weighing in at 7lbs 8ozs and measuring 19 1/2 inches long. He baked for 2 days longer than [...]

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39 Weeks . . . and Counting

Kristie — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:51:05 +0000

As of today, I’m 39 weeks pregnant. If I don’t go into labor before tomorrow morning, I’ll officially be the most pregnant I’ve ever been – a concept that seemed ludicrous around the midpoint of this pregnancy. As much as you might be thinking that I should simply be overjoyed to carry this baby so long, [...]

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Other Uses for Cloth Diapers

Kristie — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:36:53 +0000

I haven’t been in the mood for blogging much lately, but I got a little inspiration today while watching the younger two kids making some sort of crazy creation out of a stack of cloth diapers they were “folding”. So, for those of you wondering what in the world you are going to do with [...]

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Get Me Out Explores the Sometimes Shocking History of Childbirth

Kristie — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 04:29:15 +0000

As you’ve probably noticed by now, I’ve been a little distracted (perhaps fixated) on when and how our newest addition is going to make his entrance into the world. Fittingly, I received a copy of Get Me Out: A History of Childbirth from the Garden of Eden to the Sperm Bank by Randi Hutter Epstein, [...]

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Disney Live and Monster Jam Coming to Denver!

Kristie — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:01:06 +0000

Before I type yet another pregnancy update, I wanted to take a minute to let all my Denver area readers know about two more shows from Feld Entertainment that will be coming to Denver in February. Both of these shows are a little different than the Disney on Ice shows I’ve posted about in the [...]

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Anticipation

Kristie — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:36:41 +0000

Many of you caught snippets of this on Twitter yesterday, but here’s the whole uneventful tale for your reading pleasure . . . Yesterday while I was doing laundry, I noticed that I was feeling very crampy and uncomfortable. It was a different sort of uncomfortable than I’ve had before in this pregnancy, so it crossed [...]

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Make a Promise and Help Fund Cervical Cancer Screening for Women in Need

Kristie — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:02:40 +0000

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and Hologic, Inc. has partnered with the National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) to fund cervical cancer screening for women in need. Hologic will donate $1 towards preventive healthcare for women for every person who “makes the promise” to take care of their health and passes it on to friends [...]

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Chef’s Requested Bacon Wrapped Filets in Pan Gravy with Roasted Veggies

Kristie — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:57:42 +0000

Back in November, I shared a recipe using Chef’s Requested Flatiron Grill Steaks. It took me a while to get the chance to film my latest creation, but today I’d like to share a recipe and video featuring Chef’s Requested Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon in pan gravy with vegetables roasted in foil. This makes a [...]

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Voluntary Recall of HAPPYTOT and HAPPYBABY Baby Food Pouches

Kristie — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 20:06:02 +0000

This week, Nurture Inc. announced a voluntary recall of HAPPYTOT Stage 4 and the new HAPPYBABY Stage 1 and Stage 2 pouch products due to a packaging defect. According to the company and the FDA, some of the pouches were discovered to be leaking or swollen, which could indicate a problem with the safety of [...]

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Healthy Accomplishments in 2009 and Goals for 2010

Kristie — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:18:10 +0000

2009 brought a lot of changes in the way we do things in the McNealy household. I used my Christmas money last year to invest in cloth diapers, and as of this week, we’ve been cloth diapering for a solid year. I still use disposables for travel and other odd times, but I can count [...]

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Pregnancy Pointers – The Hospital Bag

Kristie — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 05:35:01 +0000

It’s time to admit that this baby could be here any day now, and to celebrate the occasion I packed my bag for the hospital today. Actually, it’s more like repacking, since I put together a bag with some comfort items and few quiet, crafty projects back when I was put on bedrest at 20 [...]

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Exciting Plans for 2010

Kristie — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:38:52 +0000

As 2009 draws to a close, my head is full of all of the things we’ve got coming up in the new year. Starting some time next week (there are still a few details to be worked out), I’ll be taking up a position as an expert blogger on women’s and children’s health topics on [...]

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Breech Babies – Medical Monday

Kristie — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:46:51 +0000

Now that I’ve hit the 32 week mark, most of my worries over this baby and delivery have shifted away from preterm birth and towards more mundane pregnancy issues. Aside from wicked pelvic pain, the thing that has been on my mind most lately is breech presentation. My second child was breech, but she was delivered [...]

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Christmas Wishes for the NICU

Kristie — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:56:23 +0000

As we prepare our Christmas dinner, and bake up treats for our special Christmas breakfast, my belly can’t help but get in the way. It’s straining my usually way too big apron to it’s breaking point, and bumping into the counter as I lean in to grab a bowl or dish. Four years ago on [...]

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Managing Pregnancy Weight Gain Through the Holidays

Kristie — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 04:04:37 +0000

The holidays present a challenge to anyone who is trying to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle, but being pregnant during the holidays can make life even more challenging. Between cravings and the abundance of holiday goodies, it can be easy to pack on the pounds. On the other hand, if you’re struggling with morning [...]

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Holiday Cheer and My Fave Christmas Cookies

Kristie — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:04:53 +0000

It’s been a crazy week, filled with two birthdays, Christmas shopping and plenty of packing and shipping. I wanted to take a few minutes to wish you all a merry Christmas and share my all time favorite Christmas cookie recipe. Every year, for as long as I can remember, I’ve had a hand in baking and [...]

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On This Day . . .

Kristie — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:16:04 +0000

Over the past seven years, December has been an eventful month for us, and I don’t just mean the regular holiday type eventfulness. So far, we’ve managed to have two unexpected December babies (one 4 weeks early and the other 9). As a result, I’ve spent more of December in the hospital than I’d care [...]

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PuffPac Provides a New Twist on Gift Wrapping – What’s New Wednesday

Kristie — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:50:50 +0000

With the holidays rapidly approaching, I wanted to share a new gift wrap product I had the chance to try out recently. The PuffPac, an inflatable gift wrapping product, takes the fun of a mylar balloon and lets you add a gift inside. To use a PuffPac, you simply slide your gift inside, seal the pouch [...]

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Cold and Flu Prevention and Safe Natural Remedies – Medical Monday

Kristie — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:18:47 +0000

The changes in recommendations regarding the use of over the counter cold remedies in young children over the past few years have made knowing what is safe to give your kids more confusing than ever. This is especially true if you’re like me, and certain medications that were fine when your oldest was a toddler [...]

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Disney on Ice Worlds of Fantasy Review and Ticket Discount

Kristie — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:41:41 +0000

Disney on Ice is in Denver again, and I have ticket discount codes and a review for all of you! Disney on Ice: Worlds of Fantasy opened at the Pepsi Center last night. Thanks to Feld Entertainment and Mom Central, I was able to take my girls for a special night out to see the show. [...]

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US Scores a D Again on Premature Birth Report Card – Medical Monday

Kristie — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:11:09 +0000

Today, I wanted to wrap up Prematurity Awareness Month by taking a quick look at the 2009 Premature Birth Report card, an annual initiative of the March of Dimes. Once again, the nation as a whole scored a ‘D’ for their premature birth rate. There wasn’t a single state that got an ‘A’, and for [...]

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The Inner Game of Stress – What’s New Wednesday

Kristie — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:26:48 +0000

Back while I was on bedrest, I spent some time reading a new book, The Inner Game of Stress: Outsmart Life’s Challenges and Fulfill Your Potential. It was pretty good timing, because stress over the baby’s well being and the challenges of managing our household while horizontal on the couch had pretty much overwhelmed [...]

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A Brief Rant on Prematurity Awareness . . . Medical Monday

Kristie — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:21:16 +0000

Today, for Prematurity Awareness Month and Medical Monday, I’d like to share a personal rant. Each October, stores are flooded with pink ribbon merchandise. Newspapers, magazines, websites, even grocery store ads, manage to “think pink.” According to the National Cancer Institute, 12.7% of women, or 1 in 8, will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their [...]

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Disney on Ice Ticket Winner Announced!

Kristie — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:28:25 +0000

As I mentioned last week, Disney on Ice: Worlds of Fantasy will be performing at the Pepsi Center from December 4th through the 6th, and then at the Denver Coliseum from December 11th through the 13th. I have a 4 pack of tickets to give away today, but in case you’re not the winner, here’s a [...]

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Unstuffed Peppers Recipe Featuring Chef’s Requested 100 Calorie Steaks

Kristie — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:05:26 +0000

Last month, I shared a review of Chef’s Requested 100 calorie Flatiron Grill Steaks, a unique steak that is perfectly portioned to be 100 calories with just 3.5 grams of fat. I promised you’d hear more about these yummy steaks in the future, so I’m going to share a recipe I like to make with [...]

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AquaHydrate Sports Water for Proper Hydration – What’s New Wednesday

Kristie — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:29:46 +0000

Elite athlete or not, staying hydrated is important. When your body is dehydrated, it simply can’t perform its best. Unfortunately, many sports drinks come loaded with sugar, calories and additives like artificial colors and flavors your body doesn’t need! If you’re looking for a calorie free beverage that will help you stay hydrated, AquaHydrate sports water [...]

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Ski Banz Winner Announced!

Kristie — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:23:07 +0000

Thanks to everyone who entered the Ski Banz kid’s ski goggles giveaway! Remember, if you’re not a winner, you can always hop on over to the Baby Banz site and order a pair or two. For just $15, they are really a bargain when it comes to quality ski goggles that will help protect your [...]

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Why I Fight for Preemies

Kristie — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:36:10 +0000

I’ve written about it so many times, I don’t know what I’ve said and what I haven’t anymore. But, today is Prematurity Awareness Day, and I HAVE to say something. Prematurity has cast it’s shadow on my life more than once. The first time I was just a girl. My aunt and uncle had a little [...]

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SPIN Program Decreases NEC and Ups Human Milk Feedings in Preemies – Medical Monday

Kristie — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:35:10 +0000

A special research and feeding program has simultaneously increased the rate of human milk feeding and decreased the rate of a serious medical complication in premature babies at UC San Diego Medical Center. Since the implementation of the Supporting Premature Infant Nutrition program (SPIN) at UCSD, the rate of human milk feeding has gone up [...]

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Being Thankful for My Healthy Kids

Kristie — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:46:00 +0000

It’s easy to take health for granted until something goes wrong. Today, all of my kids are healthy, and for that I am thankful. I know what I have to be thankful for because we haven’t always been so lucky. Four years ago this December, I was admitted to the hospital in preterm labor. I was [...]

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Can We Find 500 Bloggers to Fight for Preemies?

Kristie — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:59:44 +0000

Tuesday is Prematurity Awareness Day, and as I type this, 379 bloggers are registered to Fight For Preemies. That’s great, but it would be really awesome if we could get 500 people registered and blogging in time for the big day. In the US, 1 in 8 babies are born premature, but prematurity is a global [...]

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Disney on Ice: Worlds of Fantasy Denver Ticket Giveaway!

Kristie — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:33:20 +0000

**Comments are now closed. I’ll be announcing the winner of the Disney on Ice tickets shortly** Disney on Ice is coming to Denver again, and I have discount codes and a ticket giveaway for my local readers! Disney on Ice: Worlds of Fantasy will be performing at the Pepsi Center from December 4th through the 6th, [...]

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Give Thanks for #HealthyKids

Kristie — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:52:07 +0000

Too often, we take our health, and the health of our kids for granted. It doesn’t even cross our minds until something goes wrong. The Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition (CCIC) would like to change that, by encouraging people to give thanks for the healthy kids in their lives during “Healthy Kids Thank-A-Thon 2009”. The CCIC works [...]

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Winter Sun Safety and Ski Banz Giveaway! – What’s New Wednesday

Kristie — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:15:31 +0000

**Comments are now closed. Winner will be announced shortly!** Ski Banz Giveaway runs from November 11-17th – enter below! If the foot of snow we had on the ground before Halloween is any indication, summer is definitely over, and ski season is on its way. But, just because beach weather has drawn to a close, doesn’t mean [...]

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Fetal Fibronectin Test Helps Predict Preterm Birth – Medical Monday

Kristie — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:35:28 +0000

As I mentioned last week, I’ll be focusing on prematurity related Medical Monday topics all November long for Prematurity Awareness Month. Don’t forget to register for Fight for Preemies on November 17th! ********** Doctors have a number of ways to predict which women will deliver their babies too soon, but did you know that the presence of [...]

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Parents Charged After Preemie Baby is Starved to Death

Kristie — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:48:34 +0000

A Lakeland, Florida couple were arrested on murder and felony child abuse charges after their 5-month-old daughter died in their home on November 1st. The baby, a preemie named Chauntasia Gardner, weighed only 6 pounds when she died of starvation. The story is disturbing on so many levels. I couldn’t possibly have time to type them [...]

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Kangaroo Care Saves Preemie Baby on Primetime

Kristie — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:27:54 +0000

Tonight, Grey’s Anatomy (Hello, my name is Kristie, and I’m a Grey’s Anatomy addict…) opened with a baby being delivered 10 weeks premature by emergency c-section. Mom had been in an auto accident, and both mom and baby had bleeding on their brains. When the baby is failing, and her death seems imminent, Karev picks [...]

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Human Body Detectives Makes Learning About Health Fun – What’s New Wednesday

Kristie — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:59 +0000

It seems as though my love of medicine has rubbed off on my oldest daughter. Maybe it was those 6 months she spent sitting in the back of the lecture hall with me before she turned one, or maybe it’s genetic. I guess we’ll never know for sure. Either way, as a homeschooling mom with [...]

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Hospitals To Crack Down on Inductions – Medical Monday

Kristie — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:41:17 +0000

It’s Prematurity Awareness Month, so my Medical Mondays posts all month will focus on preventing preterm birth. Late preterm babies face considerable health risks, such as breathing and feeding difficulties and prolonged hospitals stays. Despite this knowledge, a significant number of deliveries in the US are elective inductions before 39 weeks gestation. This spring, the Joint [...]

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24 Week Baby Update and Announcements

Kristie — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:52:37 +0000

By the time you read this, I’ll be 24 weeks pregnant. 24 weeks marks the threshold of viability. Back when our 31 weeker was born, there were no options for babies born before that point at our hospital. That has changed some, but the outcomes for most babies born so early still aren’t very good. A [...]

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Busy Breathers Oxygen Backpack Makes Life on the Go Easier – What’s New Wednesday

Kristie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:47:14 +0000

A few months ago, I had the good fortune of meeting Michelle Staley, founder of Busy Breathers LLC on Twitter. Michelle is a fellow preemie mom as well as inventor of the Busy Breather backpack. Her product is something I really wish I could have gotten my hands on during the 17 months our daughter [...]

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Enjoy Chef’s Requested Steaks in Heart Healthy Portions

Kristie — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:45:59 +0000

Maintaining a heart healthy diet can be difficult, especially if you love a good steak. Portion control can be hard, and figuring out how much fat is in a random cut of meat from your grocery store is even worse. Thanks to Chef’s Requested, you can now enjoy a steak without all the guilt. The new [...]

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Trick-or-Treat Food Allergy Safety – Medical Monday

Kristie — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:47:00 +0000

If you’ve got a child with food allergies, holidays provide special challenges. Treats are abundant, and everyone and their uncle is handing them out to your child everywhere you go around Halloween. So, how do you keep your child with food allergies safe and happy for trick-or-treating? Review the Rules If they are old enough to understand, [...]

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Free Spook-tacular Halloween Event at Pump it Up Littleton – What’s New Wednesday

Kristie — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:18:01 +0000

Update - Details have changed. Instead of a canned food item, participants are being asked to bring a gently used coat to donate to Coats for Colorado. If you’re looking for a fun and free way to entertain your little ghosts and goblins this month, be sure to check out a Spook-tacular event taking place a [...]

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Free or Discounted IVF With Clinical Trials – Medical Monday

Kristie — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:37:14 +0000

**Note – I’ve once again had to close comments on a clinical trial post. Please contact the trials directly if you feel you may qualify.** Fertility treatments are expensive. Even with insurance coverage, many couples are forced to give up before they have a child of their own. The single post that seems to generate the [...]

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Advantages of Cloth with Convenience of Disposables

Kristie — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:50:47 +0000

I’ve been cloth diapering for about 10 months now, and I thought we pretty much had our system down to a science. Then we found out we were expecting baby #4, and I started my diaper hunt all over again. I’ve been trying to find both smaller diapers, and diapers that might make my life [...]

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Ultrasound Update

Kristie — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:35:08 +0000

The past two weeks pretty much crept by, while we worried and waited for something to happen. But finally, Wednesday arrived and I had my follow-up ultrasound. Thankfully, we found out that things actually look better! My cervix measured 2mm longer than last time, and there isn’t any change when they put pressure on my belly [...]

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Coloring Book Helps Big Brothers and Sisters of NICU Babies – What’s New Wednesday

Kristie — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:02:19 +0000

Helping siblings cope with having a baby brother or sister in the NICU is an issue that has been near and dear to me ever since our second daughter was born 9 weeks early. Her 46 day NICU stay was hard on all of us, but one of the worst things was trying to figure [...]

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Preemies Still Dying Despite More Aggressive Care – Medical Monday

Kristie — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:23:10 +0000

Despite medical advances and more aggressive care, a recent study has yielded disappointing results about the survival of preemies at the edge of viability. The study, out of Johns Hopkins, compared the mortality rate and interventions provided to preemies born between 22 and 24 weeks of pregnancy between 1993 and 1995 to preemies born at [...]

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Bedrest 2009 – Still Here On The Couch

Kristie — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:54:12 +0000

Well, it’s been a week, and I’m still here hanging out on the couch, which is a very good thing. I’m 21 weeks pregnant today, which leaves 6 days until my follow up ultrasound, and 3 more weeks until we reach the point where the baby would be considered viable. I’ve spent the week blogging, stressing [...]

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Save on Holiday Shopping and Get Rewarded with iPerks – What’s New Wednesday

Kristie — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:41:55 +0000

As part of my effort to reorganize around here, I’ll be sharing my posts about products and upcoming events in a weekly post I’ve dubbed “What’s New Wednesday”. If you’ve got a product or event you’d like me to share with my readers (preferably health or family oriented), please contact me. For the rest of [...]

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New Synagis Guidelines for RSV Prevention: Medical Monday

Kristie — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:26:19 +0000

First – a bit of housekeeping . . . Since returning from Type-A Mom, I’ve been trying to figure out a better way to organize my blog to cope with the increasing number of local events and products I’m getting involved with, without getting all the medical information lost in the shuffle. For the time being, [...]

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Universal Bilirubin Screening Reduces Serious Newborn Jaundice

Kristie — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:00:48 +0000

A retrospective study of over 350,000 infants has shown that universal screening for high bilirubin significantly decreases the incidence of dangerously high bilirubin levels. The study compared over 38,000 infants who were born in hospitals with universal bilirubin screening policies to over 300,00 infants born in hospitals without a universal screening policy. Researchers found that hospitals [...]

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Oh Baby – Here We Go Again

Kristie — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:24:04 +0000

I’ve written a lot about my other pregnancies, but for some reason, I just haven’t had a lot to say about baby #4. It’s probably a combination of morning sickness and the sheer chaos of taking care of 3 kids, a dog and 2 businesses, but I just haven’t had the energy to put this [...]

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Type-A Mom Conference Wrap Up – Better Late than Never!

Kristie — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:41:03 +0000

I’ve only been home for three days, but somehow I still feel like it’s taken me absolutely FOREVER to write this post! I left for Type-A Mom Conference in Asheville last week feeling more than a little apprehensive about the whole thing. It was my first ever blogger conference, and on top of going, I was [...]

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Fight for Preemies: Bloggers Unite

Kristie — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:43:22 +0000

November is fast approaching (crazy, right??), and I wanted to remind everyone that November is Prematurity Awareness Month. 1 in 8 babies in the United States are born premature, a fate that puts them at risk for lifelong physical and developmental complications. On top of this, prematurity is the number one cause of [...]

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Type-A Mom Blogging Conference

Kristie — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:01:43 +0000

I’m typing from Asheville this morning, where I’m excited to be attending the first ever Type-A Mom Conference. If you’re here, please say hi. I’ll be speaking twice on Friday. First Renee Ross and I will have a session on turning your pre-kid career into a blogging niche. Later in the [...]

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See Zing Zang Zoom in Denver!

Kristie — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:35:04 +0000

I wanted to give a heads up to all of my Denver area readers that the circus is coming to town Zing Zang Zoom, by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, will be arriving in Denver on September 30th, and the show will be running until October 11th. I can’t remember the [...]

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Eat at Chili’s and Other Ways to Raise Childhood Cancer Awareness

Kristie — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:24:12 +0000

Earlier this month, I reminded you that September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Now I want to share a few ways that you can help. One of the easiest things you can do to help raise awareness and money for childhood cancer is eat at Chili’s. On Monday, September 28th, all Chili’s restaurants will be [...]

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Cirque du Soleil Adds More Shows in Denver

Kristie — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:18:35 +0000

This is a little off topic, but since it is good family fun, I’d thought I’d pass the information along to all of you. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet some moms who travel with Cirque du Soleil KOOZA, and learn about what their life on the road is like. It [...]

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Coconut Oil as an Alternative to Butter or Shortening

Kristie — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:47:18 +0000

I’ve written several different posts about the ways our diet has evolved since our son was diagnosed with food allergies. As we all became more conscious about reading labels and being aware of what was in our food for his sake, we began to think more about the way different ingredients were impacting our overall [...]

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Car Seat Safety and National Seat Check Saturday

Kristie — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:24:31 +0000

In honor of National Child Passenger Safety Week, I had the opportunity to learn about some excellent car seat safety resources from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Auto accidents are the leading cause of death in children ages 2 to 14, and 3 in 4 kids is less safe than they could be, because [...]

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Hooray Colorado Parents! Nearly 80% of Colorado’s Children Are Fully Immunized

Kristie — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:17:26 +0000

Today, I wanted to share this guest post on childhood immunizations, and recent results of the National Immunization Survey. Thanks to Melanie for sharing this piece! By Melanie Marin a full-time mom of a kindergartener and a toddler, and part time coordinator working on immunization issues for a local public health agency in Larimer County It [...]

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September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Kristie — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:45:02 +0000

It’s getting a little crazy around here again, but I couldn’t let September 1st pass without reminding you all that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Cancer is the number 1 disease killer of children, and despite the improving survival rates for most childhood cancers, 1/4 of all kids who are diagnosed with cancer still [...]

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CDC Considers Promoting Routine Circumcision to Reduce HIV Risk

Kristie — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:34:22 +0000

In the wake of their analysis of research out of Africa showing that male circumcision may reduce the likelihood of HIV infection in men, the CDC is considering making a recommendation for routine infant circumcision in the US. CDC officials cite the high rate of HIV infection in the US, and a need to do [...]

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Induction of Labor Could Actually Reduce C-Section Rates In Some Cases

Kristie — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:24:44 +0000

I can’t tell you the number of times that I’ve heard that inducing labor increases a woman’s risk of having a c-section. Having never been faced with the possibility of induction (my kids come early, and no one needs to coax them out), I’d honestly never really looked into the truth of this claim. That is [...]

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Mom Pregnant with 12 Babies is a Hoax

Kristie — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:02:09 +0000

Just a day after I crossed my fingers and hoped that the story about the Tunisian woman carrying 12 babies was a hoax, news reports reveal the mom has psychological problems, and probably isn’t pregnant at all. Apparently, what we didn’t hear from the initial news reports, is that when this woman first surfaced, she was [...]

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Is Organic Food Healthier, or is this Some Kind of Cult?

Kristie — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:43:13 +0000

Over the past couple of months, I’ve been running across some chatter on the internet over whether or not organic foods are “healthier” than other types of food. Many of the bloggers who are opting out of the organic food trend have a pretty harsh view of the organic food industry and those consumers who [...]

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Tunisian Woman Said to be Carrying 12 Babies – Will the Madness Never End?

Kristie — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:13:46 +0000

Note – You can check out an important update to this post here. Earlier this year, octomom Nadia Suleman made a sensation when she gave birth to octuplets, but now a mom in Tunisia is heading straight for the record books by reportedly attempting to carry 12 babies. Yes, you read that right – I said [...]

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Ethical Issues in Extreme Prematurity Brought to Light by This Lovely Life

Kristie — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 03:50:48 +0000

Recently, my post about the HR 3200 healthcare reform bill sparked a little debate in the comments about neonatal resuscitation in extremely premature babies. I, like many parents of preemies, have strong opinions about how I would want my own child cared for if they were born very premature (before 25 weeks). However, aside from [...]

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Study on Preemies and Cord Clamping to Begin

Kristie — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:04:24 +0000

A little over a year ago, I wrote about a small study by Dr. Judith Mercer, which showed that delayed umbilical cord clamping might reduce the risk of intraventricular hemorrhage and sepsis in preemies. Today I read that Mercer, a nurse midwife, has begun a much larger trial of cord clamp timing in premature babies. In [...]

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ObamaCare: A Physician’s Point of View On The Negative Ramifications of America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009

Kristie — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 04:40:19 +0000

Healthcare reform is obviously the hot button topic of the day, and unfortunately, as a good (and well educated) friend of mine admitted today, the sum of the average American’s knowledge about the current healthcare bill comes from the nightly news. From their perspective, ObamaCare sounds pretty good. I’d like to share my take on this [...]

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