Doctor Mom

A Reflection on 1 Year Ago...

2011-10-07T16:17:00.003-04:00

Tonight is Kol Nidre. I am reminded, and have been reminded by others, of the events of last Kol Nidre. A night where I sat next to a man, a (then) stranger, who died next to me.

He was in the right place at the right time. In a synogogue full of doctors, a defibrilator, prayers and possibly even God, this man died and then was restored back to life. And he is still living. Today, he has had 365 extra days of life and stories and memories to share with his wife and family. And I know they are grateful.

I, too, today, am reflecting on life. Last year I was happy and complete with my husband and 2 beautiful daughters. But now, in this last year, I have grown an entirely NEW life who was not even a thought in my mind one year ago today. That is amazing.

I am now blessed with my 3rd baby girl who is now 3 weeks old and has made our already complete family more whole. She is healthy and beautiful and requires 24/7 attention. And I love her.

To all those who have written comments or have emailed, I am sorry I have been out of touch. I will be back as soon as this little one allows.
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I just re-read my post from last year and it still touches me...so I will repost it below. L'Shanah Tovah.

It was the holiest day of the year. Kol Nidre. The night before Yom Kippur.

I entered the synagogue after a filling meal preparing for my fast. Running late as usual. Looking around to find my family and my seat before the service started. There they were. In the usual place. We embraced. Ready to be inscribed in The Book of Life.

Then it happened. Something I was totally unprepared for; yet, I had spent years of my adult life preparing for this actual moment. I turn to the elderly man seated next to me, he is slumped over in his chair; no breath, no pulse, no life. His heart had stopped. In this most sacred of places, on this most holy of nights. Right next to his family. Just as he was to be inscribed in the Book of Life.

I remained calm and my doctor instincts took over. I have done this before, so many times, so long ago, it seemed. Yet this was so different. The hospital is a safe, controlled environment. There are masks and medicines and respirators and IV lines. Here, there is none of that. Just a bunch of well trained physicians and other caring members of the community wanting to help. Praying that this breath would not be his last.

He lay across on the chairs where we were seated. I felt his neck and confirmed that he was without a pulse. Delegate. Someone call 911. Start compressions. I look down. It is my duty to give him a breath.

ABC. Airway. Breathing. Circulation.

No bag and mask. No comforts of the familiar "code blue". I bent down and began to breathe for him. And then started chest compressions to circulate the blood that needed to get to his brain quickly.

He was moved to the hallway. The life saving device was there. An Automated External Defibrillator. Another doctor placed the pads, called all clear, and the life sustaining shock was delivered to the patient. The patient, a husband, a brother, a father called Abba. It had been about 4 minutes. It seemed like an eternity.

And then a breath. And with that, a return of a pulse. And his eyes opened.

"Abba, don't leave me", his son insisted. "I am here with you."

Time passed, EMS arrived, the patient was stabilized and transferred to the hospital. He was awake, combative and breathing on his own. On his way to a recovery. From death, back to life.

I returned to the service trying to decipher what had just happened. But before I could gather my thoughts, before I could process this moment, the following words were spoken:
Great is the eternal power at the heart of life; mighty the love that is stronger than death. Faithful love gives life to all, the acts of grace restore our strength.
Words I have heard every year at this time since childhood. Yet tonight, they took on a new meaning.
Life's harsh winds uproot the weak; its hard rain beats down upon our kin. Let those who stand support the falling, keep faith with those that lie in the dust.
And while I would not classify myself as deeply religious or even necessarily spiritual, it was hard to hear those words and not feel as though they were being spoken directly to us. To all those who helped bring this man back to life.
To the sick, we must bring healing; and to those that are bound, release. We give thanks for the power to live and act, for the blessing of love that is stronger than death.
Was there some divine intervention that put me in this place? Was this night not supposed to be his last? Could his family's blessings of love save this man from death?

I sat through the rest of the service and continued to reflect on what had happened. I spoke the words that I have every year, tonight, with more conviction.
Birth is a beginning, and death a destination.
And life is a journey:
from childhood to maturity, and youth to age;
From innocence to awareness, and ignorance to knowing;
From foolishness to discretion, and then, perhaps, to wisdom;
From weakness to strength, or strength to weakness--
and, often, back again;
From health to sickness, And back, we pray, to health again;
From offense to forgiveness, from loneliness to love,
From joy to gratitude, from pain to compassion
And grief to understanding---from fear to faith;
From defeat to defeat to defeat--
Until, looking backward or ahead,
We see that victory lies
Not at some high place along the way,
But in having made the journey, stage by stage,
A sacred pilgrimage.
Birth is a beginning, and death a destination.
And life is a journey, a sacred pilgrimage--
To life everlasting.

May this year be a happy and healthy one. L'shanah Tovah.

A BIG day for a LITTLE girl....

2011-09-05T21:00:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow I will put you on the bus and send you off to your first day of kindergarten.

Tonight you asked me if I could believe that you are starting school tomorrow.

A part of me CAN'T believe it. As I sit here ready to give birth to your sister, I can remember what my life was like waiting for you to come into my world; 5 long, yet short years ago. I remember looking at you, so small, and wondering what you would become. I remember thinking that I couldn't wait for you to talk, because I couldn't wait to hear what you had to say. Now I know. And I love every little square inch of you. And even though I can remember life before you, I can't imagine my world without you.

The other part of me CAN believe it. I have seen how far you have come. Now I know you. I know your moods, your silly songs, what makes you mad and what makes you smile. I know you are ready for this.

Not just because we have been practicing your letters and the sounds that they make. Not because you can count to 100. Not because you can write your name without messing up any of the letters. But because you are ready to blossom. You are ready to share your charm and your essence with the world. You are ready to learn. From your teachers and from your classmates. To learn about reading and math, but also about making friends and fitting in. Some lessons will be easy for you, and some will be hard. Just like life.

You are a big girl. You won't always need me anymore. But I will always be here for you. This is just the first of one of many of those days that I will realize this. This is the first of many baby steps to come. Baby steps that will lead you on your path of independence. Please take them slowly.

I have taught you to have good behavior. I hope you will say please and thank you. I know you will be the shy version of yourself tomorrow and I'm ok with that. In time, your little light will shine for everyone to see.

This is the first of one of many small, yet big milestones.

I know you are ready for this.
I'm just not sure that I am.

A Woman to Admire...

2011-08-01T16:16:00.001-04:00

Rather than address my consistent lack of blogging and my persistent writers block, I have just decided to (try to) dive back in and get my groove back. Lets hope this works.

One of my favorite blogging sites is called "Mothers in Medicine". It is a collaboration of blog posts from doctors or other health care professionals of different specialties and their perspectives and struggles in managing it all. And while most of my readers are likely not doctors, the issues and that are addressed on this site are universal for all working (and even SAH) mothers. Pay the site a visit, you might find it interesting.

They recently posted a clip from YouTube of Facebook's COO, Sheryl Sandberg. Since watching this, it has fueled something in me to want to share this with all the other women I know. Both young women and older women. High School students, college grads and those who have already set forth on their career paths. Mothers and those that want to be mothers someday. And that desire to share this has driven me back, FINALLY, to the blog. And I am grateful for this.

This clip is about 15 minutes long and well worth watching. Not only because this woman is an inspiration to myself and should be to all women. Not only because she ran this speech by Gloria Steinem (!!!) before she gave it. Not only because she was recently featured in Vogue. Not only because she has a net worth of $400 million and is just over forty. Not for any one of these reasons, but for all of them, and more.

Lets hope that this can inspire some of you too. Maybe it will inspire you to stay in the work force and find your perfect balance. Maybe it will inspire you to lean into your career rather than pull back. Maybe it will inspire you as a mother to be a strong role model for your daughters. Maybe it will inspire you to pursue whatever it is that fuels your passion or challenges you.

Or maybe it will just give you something interesting to think about. So, go ahead, watch it and then share it with other women.

This hit a nerve...

2011-05-04T12:37:00.000-04:00

Though I've been suffering from writing indecisiveness and block, I am still a bundle of emotion wrapped up in a bow (as my sister so often reminds me that all maternity clothes want you to look wrapped up like a present!)

Yesterday, I cried while watching this commercial, and think everyone should see it.

Let me know if its just me and my ridiculous pregnancy hormones.

I'm Back...With News...

2011-04-04T10:48:00.000-04:00

So, in the past couple of months I have been noticely (or, you may not have noticed) absent from blogging. I'm not sure exactly what has pulled me away from this space. Well, it hasn't been one thing, but a bunch of things. Thankfully, my practice is growing and I have found myself pulled in the direction of patient care. But this is not the real issue.

The real issue is that I find this place to be a place of honesty, one where I put out my true thoughts and feelings and hope it affects some of my readers. But, for some time, I have been forced to be private. Just in case. So, now I have good, no, amazing news that has been boiling under the surface. Under the surface of my belly, that is.

I am growing baby #3.

There, I said it. I have put it out into this universe. And as I put it out there I am terrified.
Terrified of something going wrong. Worried that it may not be true. Nervous about the future. And it will be this way until Semptember, when the newest member of my family will make her (or his!!!) debut into our world.

And now, I am free to write about my ever expanding pant size, my constant and unrelenting nausea, and my excitement (and fear), of the arrival of baby #3. I can tell you stories of telling my girls about the baby's arrival, and their characteristic responses. I can now confess that although this baby was planned, I am scared that it will upset a harmonious balance in my life, career and home. I can share the excitement of planning a new room with either pink or blue hues. I can be reminded of what it is like to grow a new life inside of this (old) body and know that with each kick, something unbelievable is on the horizon.

Hopefully you will not grow sick of hearing about this new development. I will try to use this (last) pregnancy and baby rearing experience to discuss important medical, pediatric, and of course, parenting issues.

That is, if I can find the time.

Just what I needed...

2011-02-03T20:18:00.000-05:00

I have written before about my Bedtime Woes, and recently things have gotten somewhat better. I credit one of my fine readers, with her suggestion to turn off the TV after 5 pm. What a difference this has made for our family. I have found that it is easier to get the kids to settle down, and we focus more on reading before bed which is a good thing.

So, tonight I was called into the Hot Pocket's room for one last snuggle. I was at the end of my rope, frustrated, and wanting to go to bed. I gave her one kiss but that did not settle her. She wanted one last snuggle. I gave in and laid down next to her and she gave me a giant squeeze.

And told me she loved me to the stars.
And I told her I loved her to the moon. And back.

I kissed her goodnight and then she told me that she needed the biggest hug ever. She proceeded to squeeze me tight and put every little ounce of her sweetness into that hug.

How did she know that I needed that?

My First Guest Post

2011-01-28T09:45:00.000-05:00

Check out my Featured Post with another great mommy blogger, Kate, from Mommy Monologues....

Here it is...I wish I was a Doctor Mom...

Happy Weekend!! It can't come soon enough!

Better or Worse?...Definitely Different...

2011-01-11T13:41:00.002-05:00

I stumbled upon a very interesting article from this weekend's WSJ entitled "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior". It is an excerpt from a new book "Battle Hymn of The Tiger Mother" By Amy Chua. It sheds light on the way that the Chinese rear their children and its sharp contrast from the typical American Way. I found the article fascinating and even somewhat scary, but when I finished, I was unsure if this type of child rearing is genius or detrimental to a child's psyche. It may, in fact, be both.

The book is written by a Chinese Professor and Writer from Yale Law School, a prototypical overachiever herself (interestingly, it seems that she is married to a Jewish Man). She starts by describing a few things that she has forbidden her children to do including "going on play dates, acting in school plays, getting any grade less than an A, and not being the #1 student in every class". And no, she is not kidding. She, and other Chinese mothers do not believe that learning should be fun and that "academic achievement is a reflection of successful parenting."

Now, the reason I am so perplexed by my overall feelings on this article is that I strongly agree with it and disagree with it all at the same time. The author makes the point that "nothing is truly fun until you are good at it" and that "practice, practice, practice makes perfect." I agree with this. I think it is difficult to tell at a young age what your child will excel at, and often I find myself encouraging the Boober and the Hot Pocket to do things that I would like them to do. But...to a point. I would not override their preferences with forced coercion. I would not push them for fear of retaliation. I would not degrade them if they were not good at something.

Last summer I came face to face with this type of "Chinese Parenting" when I decided that I NEEDED to enroll my oldest in Kumon. I had heard about the merits of the program from many other doctors and felt it was important, no crucial, to start at a young age. And so like many other things that I set my mind on, I took the Boober for her testing that week. We walked into the center. We were probably the only Caucasian people there. The Boober was very afraid of this place. She clearly was not ready and did not want to do it. But, I persisted. She sat down and was tested by a pimply faced 14 year old girl, a Kumon student herself. She quizzed her for 15 minutes on a math workbook and 15 minutes on a reading workbook. When we left there, I was scared. Scared to push my baby academically. Scared that she would not find a love for learning if I forced it on her. Scared that she wouldn't feel like a kid if she had daily homework at age 3.

We haven't gone back.

I have written before on my thoughts about our primary goals as parents. The cornerstone of child rearing is to raise bright, motivated and self assured citizens of the world. There surely are various ways of doing this. I adhere to the typical "American Way" of encouragement and praise. Chua brings up a wholly different principle of essentially forcing a child to be good, no great, at something which will result in self fulfillment and esteem due to talent rather than inflated ego.

Her children will surely go to Yale or Harvard. Mine will likely be Wolverines. Hopefully, they all will be happy.

Her ideas are interesting, indeed. I bought the book. And now, I am contemplating enrolling the girls in piano.

I've decided to rename my children...

2011-01-07T15:10:00.000-05:00

First of all, I love my kids names. And if up to this point you have been reading my blog, or if you (are lucky enough to..) know me, you know their names as well. And, I'm sure you think they are fabulous. I'm not bragging here, because I really did not name them. My hubby did. So I cannot take credit.

Since beginnig to blog, I have been unsure about how much of myself to reveal, and in what way to do it. But recently, I am happy that I have many new readers that I have met through the blogosphere (who knew?). Up until now, I am sometimes hesitant to use my kids names. Now, more time has passed and I have found my blogging voice. I feel more comfortable about talking about the family, and so I have decided to rename them.

My oldest daughter, for future blog posts will be called by one of her favorite names, The Boober. Here she is modeling after a haircut.

And my littlest, cuddliest munchkin will be affectionately known as The Hot Pocket. This is also a nickname that she embraces. What a face!

So, there it is. Now I can talk about them freely and not worry about it.
Whew...one less thing to stress about!
Happy Weekend.

Why I Can't Tell You This Story...

2010-12-27T14:17:00.000-05:00

This week, I had many interesting cases in my clinical practice. One posed an interesting ethical dilemma, and 2 others were interesting medical cases in pediatrics that are relatively rare in primary care.

So, since I have not been posting much lately, I figured these cases would be great blog posts.
...Until I realized that I actually did not feel right about sharing the details of these cases. Because it is my ethical obligation to adhere to privacy practices. Because I have a duty to protect the anonymity of my patients. Because there is no way to change the story enough for it to be unrecognizable. Even though the general dialogue would make for an excellent discussion. Even though you would find it interesting. Even if it gave me a topic for a needed blog post.

So I was out of luck...or was I?
I then realized it would be (just as?) interesting to talk about privacy practices and the physician-writer dilemma.

You may (or may not) know it, but one of the forms buried in the pile of paperwork that you get upon registering with your physicians office is their HIPPA policy statement. HIPAA stands for the "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act" and was put into effect in 1996. It basically states that your medical record is confidential, and details cannot be shared with others without your explicit permission. You, not your doctor, are the owner of your medical information. And this is how it should be.

So, then the question arises, who owns a patent's story?

A patient comes in to the office with a complaint, a problem, a story. I sift through their words, translate them into medical jargon, pick out the important information by asking pointed questions. I may get all the information I need in a short sentence from the patient (this would make my job easy). But, more often their story is tangled in a web of (seemingly) unimportant ~~detractors~~ details that I must sort through to get to the gist of the problem. Once we have clarified the problem (the history), we move on to a physical exam and pair that with laboratory or imaging tests that help us arrive at a diagnosis. It's a bit more complicated than that, but you get the idea.

So, I can synthesize all of this information into a succinct "case presentation". I would take the pertinent portions of the history, physical exam and lab tests and present them. I would formulate a short "differential diagnosis" (a list of diagnostic possibilities for the patient) and ultimately arrive at a conclusion that would hopefully give the patient treatment options and a prognosis.

The patient owns the story. And their signs and symptoms. But, after all this medical manipulation, I have crafted it into something quite different than its original form. So, am I then the owner of that case as the treating physician?

Physicians talk candidly quite often about patients, and, unless they are shared patients, anonymity is typically preserved. The reason for the sharing of information is to get another physician's opinion about a case and allow for a transfer of ideas. I believe that most patients would not take issue with the sharing of anonymous medical information between professionals as a point of academic interest.

But, what if I decided to share some patient stories with you, my readers on my blog? What if I protected my patients by changing the names and details of the story? What if I decided to write a book that included interesting patient stories? Are those stories mine to share?

What would you, or the patient, think about that? Would you be honored that your story was interesting enough to share? Would you feel that sharing your story in this way may help other patients or doctors? Or, would you feel betrayed? That a trust had been broken in this important professional relationship? Do I have an obligation (ethically, legally) to inform the patient that I plan to share the case?

I do not know the answers to many of these questions, I am just posing them for the sake of conversation. I suppose the answers are quite personal and different for all physicians. Right now, as a new physician-writer, I will be erring on the side of caution and keeping these stories to myself. Or letting enough time pass and wait for other similar cases to come along that can be "combined" to adequately disguise the story.

So, for now, my lips are sealed.
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So, what do you think? Would you take issue with your physician sharing your 'story'?

Happy Holidays...

2010-12-24T16:02:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays from The Doctor Mom....

Still testing my feed with my social media 'mentor' from White Coat Underground.

Bedtime Woes & Bad Dreams...

2010-12-11T02:56:00.002-05:00

We have been undergoing quite a bit of transition in the house. After a tough couple of weeks and a shake-up with the girls school situation, things seem to be, well...off. And this is never more obvious than at bedtime.

The hot pocket's (now almost 3) previously easy and seamless bedtime routine is now turning into a nearly 1 hour drama, filled with cajoling, books, back rubs and crying. Oh, and snuggles; she requires lots of them. And she has worn down my husband's patience, which is very difficult to do.

The Boober (4), on the other hand, has always been quite a handful at night. The problem, we have determined....she is resistant to sleep. She lays in bed for a while, and just when you think she may be sleeping, she pops her head in our room to let us know that she is still awake. And scared. This can go on until 11 pm.

At first I thought she was "faking" the whole scared thing. What could she possibly be afraid of in her safe and cozy room? Well, last night I became convinced that her fears are real. She was getting ready to go to sleep and her blinds were open and she said "scary tree" and made me close them. And, in thinking about it, I realized that the winter trees with no leaves and scary shadows may very well be intimidating. Then, as she does every night, she screams out in the night in the middle of a bad dream. A couple of ear piercing cries later, I checked on her. She said..."too many monsters mommy...". Poor girl...Disney movies are haunting my baby. I think she may even be afraid to go to sleep. What solves this problem...of course, someone laying in bed with her.

So, what is a good parent to do?

This brings me to the frequent conundrum between PARENT and PEDIATRICIAN, the difference between DOCTOR and MOM.

The Pediatrician would say...

These are classic nightmares

Appropriate age (commonly 3-6 when imaginations run wild but the distinction between fantasy and reality is not clear).
They happen late in the sleep cycle (not in the deep stages of sleep like night terrors).
The child remembers (vividly) what the dream was about and may be afraid to go back to sleep.

Do NOT let this be the start of a NEW bad habit...

Do NOT let her sleep in your bed because it may make her scared of her own bed
Do NOT begin sleeping in her bed because it will become difficult for her to sleep alone

Reassure her and let her know that she is safe.
Reassure the parent that this is a common stage for children, and it will improve.

The PARENT would say:

Go to her when she needs you. Reassure her and stay until she is asleep, or no longer afraid. If you are exhausted, well...you may end up sleeping there. Or you may just find her in your bed in the morning.
Let her know that dreams and nightmares are a part of every person's active IMAGINATION.
Try to prevent them by not watching scary movies or reading scary books (umm...every Disney movie has a good villain).
Think of ways to keep the "bad guys" away...

monster spray...tried that
Good dream cream...up next
Nightlight...check
Light in the night animal...money wasted.

Let her have a security object to keep her feeling safe...or 20 animals/blankets/pillows to fill the bed.
If all else fails...call your DOCTOR (ha!)

So...calling all mommies out there, any other suggestions for me?

To My Girls...

2010-11-25T07:34:00.000-05:00

Dear Girls:

Today is Thanksgiving. This week, in your (home) school, you have been making art projects with turkeys and talking about pilgrims. But really, this holiday is about giving THANKS.

You will never know a day without a home. You will never feel unsafe and be without the comfort of your own bed. Although you may not eat some nights, you will never go hungry. You may not get every single toy you "need" when you see a commercial, but you will never know what it truly means want. You will always have your Mommy and Daddy cheering for you [loudly] in the corner. You have been, and will continue to be, surrounded by a family that loves and supports you. And that will never, ever change.

But today, I hope you can understand that what you have is so very rare. There are people out there that work so hard and still cannot provide for their family. There are families out there who do not have a comfy home and have to stay out in the cold without "feet" jammies. There are children who don't have enough food and don't have access to the food that "makes you strong for the monkey bars". There are people who don't have families and have to eat alone tonight on Thanksgiving.

So, today, I will try to help you understand that you are blessed. And we are blessed to have you. And we should be thankful for that.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers and The Doctor Mom "fans"!

iToddler...

2010-11-10T21:01:00.000-05:00

I was recently on vacation with my 2 girls. And each of their iPhones. I survived the flight and many nice evenings out in restaurants with my newly (perfectly) behaved children. Now, you may think that is utterly ridiculous OR... you may understand because your children have their own phones/ipads/computers. I am aware that, as with everything else in life, these phones are a double edged sword. They are a fabulous distractor in times of need. You have games and videos at your fingertips. But user beware, they are HIGHLY addictive to all toddlers.

Well, apparently I am not alone. There has been a flurry of recent articles in the mainstream media about children using technology. The bottom line is even the most expert psychologists don't know whether to tout the iPhone as a fabulous learning tool for children or something more sinister.

Click below for 2 insightful articles on the subject of kids and iPhones:

USA TODAY: "Parents Worry About Toddlers Tiny Fingers Itching for iPhones"

NY TIMES: "Toddlers Favorite Toy: The iPhone"

But, the real point of this post is to say that I am on board with iPhone "learning", because for me, now, there is NO TURNING BACK. So, instead, I will impart my "research" into the best Toddler and Preschool Apps, so you can learn from all of my searching and wasted monies.

APP:	DESCRIPTION:	COST:
LUNCHBOX:	Works on counting, colors, numbers, letters and even some puzzles mixed in. Stickers used as rewards.	$0.99
SHAPE BUILDER (LITE):	A puzzle game that has plenty of great free puzzles of common objects (ie guitar and truck).	FREE!
BALLOONIMALS:	Clever app. Starts with a picture of a balloon, you blow into the bottom of the phone and it blows up, then shake the phone to change the balloon into an animal. Push on the animal it moves; and then you can pump it up until it bursts. Great app, but beware, my toddler spit into the phone so much that it didn’t charge well for a while.	$1.99 (also a lite version)
CUPCAKES:	Provides hours of toddler entertainment! Start by picking the wrapper for your cupcakes, then pick from more than 10 different batters. Put the cupcakes in the oven to bake and then the fun begins. Choose from many different frostings, toppings and even candles that you can light and blow out. You can then eat the cupcake (virtually). Pros: no calories. Cons: you make delicious cupcakes that you may wish you could really eat.	$0.99
PBS KIDS PHOTO FACTORY:	Start by selecting a picture from your phone (or take a new one). Then you can pick from many different PBS characters and objects to add to the picture and finish it off with a cute frame. My kids save these to the photo library or you can email them.	FREE!
MY FIRST PUZZLES:	Another cute puzzle game that reminds me of the Melissa and Doug puzzles we have at home. My 2 year old loves this one.	$1.99
MAKE A MARTIAN:	Pretty self explanatory; starts with a blob of color and you can change all the body parts to make a cute and wacky creature!	$0.99
TODDLER TEASERS (SHAPES) and others:	This one is great because there a bit of learning involved. A bunch of different shapes (or colors) are presented and the game asks you to identify the correct one. Rewards with stickers.	FREE!
MEMORY PRO:	A FREE matching game	FREE!
PRESCHOOL ADVENTURE:	This one has 8 different types of skills ranging from colors to typing and is great. Makes cute noises too.	$0.99
ALPHABET TRACING:	This one is great for the 4-year-old (preschool) crowd. Starts with a letter and a train moves and shows them how to trace both upper and lower case letters with their finger.	FREE!

Now go...get to the App Store!

_________________________________________________________
Are your kids iToddlers?
Come on...Join in the conversation...
Tell me about your favorite apps below!

The Scoop on Poop...

2010-11-08T11:43:00.000-05:00

With a rush of new babies being born both in my medical practice and in my personal circle, the questions about poop begin. Along with sleep, it seems to be the most talked about subject by parents of newborn babies. In fact, even with parents of young kids, poop seems to be a very popular subject.

There may be too much of it. It may be loose. It is always smelly. It can be green, yellow, black or brown. It may be like a ball or a gooey mustard seed-like mess. Sometimes it doesn’t come, for days.

But whatever its consistency, it seems to cause much distress.

So, don't STRESS...

Let’s start with the beginning….

When babies are born the first type of poop that is passed is called MECONIUM. Meconium is the black tar like poop; it is made up of all sorts of different debris like dead skin cells, hair and amniotic fluid that was swallowed by the baby in utero. Some babies can pass meconium in the amniotic fluid prior to being born (usually babies that come late); which can cause some problems in the newborn period. But most babies do not do this and will pass the 1^st meconium stool within the first 24 hours of life. This is the ONLY type of black stool which is NORMAL, other black stool later can signify digested blood (or can be seen in patients taking iron supplements).

BREAST FED BABIES:

After the initial passage of meconium, breast fed baby's poop changes to a soft, runny mustard seed like consistency that some parents confuse with diarrhea (because it is so loose). Most breast fed babies poop with each feed for the first couple (2-4) weeks of life. Stool frequency tends to drop off quite quickly after the first 2 weeks of life in breast fed babies and then can BE AS INFREQUENTLY AS ONCE EVERY 2 WEEKS. This is the cause of much stress and distress by parents because their baby went from a “frequent stooler” to an "infrequent stooler" and the question of constipation and colic arises (see below). It is very uncommon for a breast fed infant to be constipated, so do not stress if they are not pooping every day.

FORMULA FED BABIES:

Formula fed babies can have a variety of different stools, but they are usually tan colored and soft, and should be no thicker than a peanut butter type consistency. Stool in formula fed babies can vary, but in general, most babies after the first month will poop 1-2 times per day. The key here is: IF YOU CHANGE WHAT IS GOING IN, YOU WILL CHANGE WHAT IS COMING OUT. So, if you switch from breast to formula or change formulas, the consistency of the poop will change too, and that is NORMAL. Formula fed infants are more likely than breast fed infants to become constipated, so be on the lookout for hard stools.

SOLID FOOD POOP:
When your child begins solids, their poop will again change. By this time, stools should be fairly consistent, but again, will vary between children. Poop will change fairly frequently depending on what is fed. Click here for a picture of solid food poop (in case you are faint of heart). Sometimes you may see pieces of digested food in poop that can even look like blood. Also, beware of blueberries; kids can eat a ton of these and get a dark purple or black colored poop that looks kind of scary!

Is it Constipation? Is it Colic?

Once there is a decrease in the frequency of infant stools parents naturally wonder if their child is constipated. The answer is usually NO. Constipation is NOT defined by how frequently you poop, but rather what the stool looks like when it comes. If it is soft and mushy, this is NORMAL. Even if it is once a week. Do not sweat it. You don't need suppositories, prune juice or the rectal thermometer; all you need is patience. Your child is only considered constipated if the stool coming out looks like dried out balls of poop (which is UNCOMMON in newborns).

Now on colic or fussiness and its relation to poop:

Unfortunately, the frequency of a baby’s poop slows down at the same time where babies are “waking up” and becoming more alert. Parents often make the association between less frequent stools and fussiness, but the relationship is likely NOT causative, it just happens at the same time.

On drawing the legs up and crying:

I frequently hear from parents that their baby appears uncomfortable, cries, grunts and draws up their legs when they poop. This is actually NORMAL and PHYSIOLOGIC. When adults go to the bathroom, they sit on the toilet with their legs bent at 90 degrees and bear down to have a bowel movement. Well, we all know that babies don't (consciously) know how to do this. So, what they do is draw up their legs (like sitting on the toilet), which lowers the rectum; and cry or grunt, which increases the intra-abdominal pressure (like bearing down). This is the only way they know how to pass stool. So, it is not that they are uncomfortable, it is that the crying actually gets the poop out. In fact, if you feel like your baby is having a hard time having a bowel movement, you can help them by rubbing their tummy and drawing up their legs for them.

Now that we know about NORMAL poop...stay tuned for an upcoming posting on ABNORMAL poop....

When it comes to sex...Are you NORMAL?

2010-10-19T21:12:00.001-04:00

Last week, I was in Chicago for the annual meeting of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS). It was a fabulous conference. I wish that I could summarize all that I learned and share it here, but I will not bore you with all the details. Instead, I will fill you in on some information from the most interesting (and relevant) lecture of the bunch.

I have been meaning to post all week, but have been unbelievably busy due to the implementation of an electronic medical record system in my office. It will be an improvement in the long run, but right now it is a form of slow torture.

A PhD. psychologist named Sheryl Kingsberg presented information on sexuality and aging, which was relevant for women of all ages. She was witty, the talk was stimulating (pun intended) and packed with useful information. I wanted to share the ideas presented there so I will do the best job I can of summarizing the main points. She made 3 analogies that I thought were VERY helpful in explaining issues relating to female sexuality.

1. My wife/girlfriend/partner never initiates sex (so she must not like it...). This is a common complaint from men. And it is true. In general, women can get by on less sex than men. Let's say that a women is satisfied with having sex once a week, and her husband is satisfied with 3 times a week. Well, the woman, being the intellectual that she is, can add well and knows that if she initiates sex once a week and he does 3 times a week, that is 4 times per week which is just TOO MUCH. So, instead, she decides that she will sneak her one time a week in under his 3 times a week and everyone will be happy. Right?

Well, not necessarily. Women know that if they start to initiate sex more often, their partner will want to do it more. So they wait. However, an important change then occurs. Apparently, we all have an "external" type of view of ourselves. So, for example, if you are faced with a dessert table and every time you go to the dessert table you pick a chocolate chip cookie, over time you will realize that you must like chocolate chip cookies because you always choose them. Over time, if a woman fails to initiate sex she may stop and think "if I don't ever initiate sex, I must not like sex." And it does not help that her partner may question her affinity to sex as well. But this is not necessarily true. She may enjoy sex, just on her own schedule, and she may wait for her partner to make the first move, which is entirely NORMAL.

2. Women have a DIFFERENT sexual response cycle from men. In 1966, a linear model of sexual response was produced by Masters and Johnson as seen below.

This model starts with excitement and moves through a plateau phase onto orgasm and then resolution. It often holds true for males but is NOT characteristic of most female sexual response. For women, sexual response tends to be more of a CYCLE as more recently characterized by Basson.

For most women, it is actually NORMAL to have a low sexual desire. Women do not typically spend their day fantasizing about the hot sex they may have that evening with their husband (on a side note, they MAY fantasize about their husband cleaning the kitchen, but I digress...). For most women, AROUSAL usually preceeds DESIRE. So that means that IT IS NORMAL to NOT THINK ABOUT SEX until you start to do it. And then once you get started, the desire starts and the whole thing is not half bad.

Think about it like exercise. I hate going to the gym. Every night before I plan to work out I start to think of any excuse to get out of it. When it comes time to do it, I dread it. But, if I actually get myself on the treadmill, sometime about mid-workout, my perception of it changes and I actually get into it and it's not that bad. And, when the workout is over, I feel energized and refreshed and vow to do it all over again the next day. But then, the next day I may dread it again. And the cycle continues...just like sex.

3. If sex feels good, and it's free, why doesn't my partner want to do it all the time? Well, like most things in life, when we are young and things are new you may want to to do them all the time. So, for most couples, the passion that comes with having a new partner means that sex happens often in the beginning of a relationship. However, over time, this type of new sexual passion will die down as life often gets in the way of constant sex. Apparently, passion has about a two year window and after that, to keep the passion going, most couples HAVE TO WORK AT IT. However, because men have an innately higher sex drive than women, there is often a discord between partners in how much sex they are satisfied with.

Here, the analogy she made had to do with ice cream. She gave a great example of a couple eating dessert. The wife says to her husband, "we have not had ice cream in a while, why don't we have ice cream tonight". He says "sure, that sounds like a great idea" and they enjoy the dessert for the evening. Fast forward to the next evening when the wife says, "that ice cream we had last night was so good, lets do it again tonight." He is hesitant but finally agrees but feels full and fat afterward and thinks he may not want to do it again for awhile. The 3rd night the wife turns again to the husband and says "How about ice cream again tonight, we can have a different flavor and you'll enjoy it....and I can't enjoy it alone...". He hesitates, may beg not to do, but she convinces him to do it even though he does not want to. Well, on the 4th night he has learned his lesson. He decides to go to bed early saying he has a headache. Sounds like a familiar pattern.

The reason I wanted to post these anecdotes is to point out how NORMAL and universal these issues are. The first step in any type of counseling of a patient having sexual issues is trying to normalize the problem and change perception of what is typical. Often women are coaxed into thinking that the are ABNORMAL because their sexual drive is different than that of their partner. This is actually very normal and understanding this can relieve much of the distress surrounding this issue. In fact, sexual problems are only classified as DYSFUNCTION if the issue is causing DISTRESS to the patient. So, there is NO NORMAL when it comes to how much sex you have. That, like everything else, is personal and something you will need to negotiate with your partner so that BOTH people are happy and satisfied.

All Alone...

2010-10-06T23:09:00.000-04:00

I am at a conference in a big city relatively close to home. On my ride to the airport I realized that I had not been on a plane in over 6 months. And, while that may not sound long to some, for me, it is an eternity.

I love to travel. Let me rephrase that. I used to love to travel. Now, however, it is easier to stay home. But this trip is different. I am at a medical conference preparing to learn about something that piques my academic mind. Planning to add to my fund of knowledge to help my patients. And refueling for more blog topics, I'm sure.

Today I realized that I am a changed woman from the person I used to be. Now, my mind, my thoughts and my ramblings represent the beliefs of a fiercely independent thinker. But, in other aspects of my life, I am no longer the independent person I used to be.

I don’t travel alone much anymore. In fact, I'm rarely ever alone at all for more than an hour at a time. As a result, I (embarrassingly), do not even know how to get to the airport in my own hometown without my Nav. When I got to the airport it felt strange not having my husband to direct me. Or to ask me 1,001 times if I had my boarding pass. And to check to be sure I hadn't lost my license.

This time, as in times long ago, it was just me. In charge of me. And ONLY me. I proceeded through each point, checking and rechecking myself to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything. I walked through the airport looking around in the stores, taking my sweet time, buying a magazine, drinking a well deserved latte, and eating dinner with no one to attend to. No chaos traveling behind me. No unnecessary potty breaks. No strollers or kid paraphernalia.

I didn't break a sweat even once. A strange feeling, indeed.

And now, here I lay in a hotel room with just myself, my computer and the television. A little slice of peaceful heaven. No stories or book readers tonight. No return trips for one more kiss goodnight. No headphones on my ears to watch Kardashians. No potential wake ups with bad dreams. Just me, my blog and my thoughts. And, hopefully, a well deserved GREAT night sleep.

It sounds wonderful for tonight. But I’ll be ready for my life back in the morning.

What My Latte Means to Me...

2010-10-01T16:50:00.000-04:00

Like most moms I have little free time on my hands. My days are filled with patients, errands, phone calls, exercise and a preoccupation with schedules. But there is one short window of time in my day where that all goes away.

My morning is rushed. My husband gets up at the BCOD (butt crack of dawn) to get dressed and make lunches. I roll out of bed a bit later at the COD (crack of dawn). Then, the torture begins as I have to wake the two (teenager like) toddlers who remain sleeping. They are crabby. They resist getting dressed. They call for daddy even when they know he is not there. They don't willingly brush their teeth or hair. They run around like maniacs when I try to put on their shoes. They both want to be carried down the stairs. Sometimes at the same time. Then they fight over which toy they want to add to the endless collection that already fills the back seat of the car.

Then it is off to school. The car ride begins with begging for a video, to which I initially resist, then, ultimately give into. 2 minutes into the video, we arrive at school. We may still be at the credits. I can get them inside quickly by motivating them with "last one there is a rotten egg". I wonder how long they will fall for this one. Then into the classroom to quickly prepare a large carbohydrate load for breakfast. 2 kisses on the head, good-bye and I'm off.

To my 15 minutes of heaven. The only peace and quiet of the day. Music fills my ears. And if I am not running late, I get my coffee. Tall soy latte. One splenda. $3.13 of pure bliss.

It is the one thing that is relaxing in the morning. Like a quick trip to the beach minus the plane, bathing suit and large bill. The first sip reminds me that all the hectic-ness will eventually end. That this moment will not be filled with whining. Or questions. Or "can I just ask you one more thing...."

That this moment is just for me. And it just ended.

Back to the grind!

On Gratitude...

2010-09-24T15:38:00.000-04:00

I have much to be thankful for on an everyday basis. A healthy family. A supportive husband. A secure job. Wonderful friends. But, recently, I have learned, I have much more to be thankful for.

This week has been overwhelming. The response to the recent incident on Kol Nidre has been more than I have ever imagined. From people close to the family, from my community and from complete strangers. It is like getting a great big virtual hug. Many times a day. And it is heartwarming.

Ok...and I LOVE the blog traffic.

And, in my usual fashion, I have questioned my role and the bigger meaning of it all. Truth be told, the recent "publicity" has been a bit uncomfortable. Good or bad, as a doctor, my job never ends. It is a constant responsibility, as it should be. I consider what I did to be an extension of that job. My duty. To put my knowledge and education to use when someone needs it most. Not a hero. Just lucky. Right place, right time. Able and willing to help. Along with many others, who put forth great effort to make a difference.

In Yiddish it is called Beshert. Meant to be. Beshert. I was near this man and able to help. Beshert. This man happens to be the uncle to one of my former partners. Beshert. Many doctor friends at the hospital continued to care for this same patient. Beshert. That I have a forum to discuss my thoughts and reflect on what happened. Beshert. That these words, told directly from my heart, could reach his family and loved ones so quickly. And that they touched a nerve with them. And with you. And that you may have been kind enough to share my story with others.

I spoke with the son of the patient and he expressed his gratitude to me. He told me about his father. That he is his hero. That this was not his time. That he is a patent attorney, and still working. That his mind is sharp and he is a thinker. And that he is kind and generous man.

I told him that the AED saved his life. Because it did. This little machine, that can be operated by anyone, restarted his heart after its electrical system went awry. That he would not be here if someone had not bought that machine. Right place, right time.

And then he told me something that made all of my doubts of heroism go away. Something that made me think less about the science of sudden cardiac death, and more about the meaning of his spirit.

That machine saved his heart, but you saved his brain.

He is more than his body and his beating heart. He is a devoted father. A loving husband. A generous member of the Jewish community. A thoughtful attorney. And in those few moments before his heart was "restarted", we preserved all that. For him. For his family.

There are times when we are reminded how precious this gift of life is. This, for me, is one of those times.

Thank you for your taking the time to read my post and for sharing your thoughts.

___________________________________________________________________________

On a more academic note:

Here is important information about HANDS ONLY CPR. If you are faced with a situation like the above, you do NOT have to be a doctor to save a life. You don't even have to do mouth to mouth resuscitation. PLEASE watch the short video for a demonstration.

I have also included a link to a handout that I give to all parents to put in their cupboards should their child need help. Click the above link and then select the 2nd box entitled "Choking Prevention". PRINT this. Put it someplace you will remember. You will need it in an emergency.

If you have never seen an AED, watch this video so you could use this simple device if needed. It could save a life.

A Kol Nidre to Remember...

2010-09-18T22:38:00.000-04:00

May this year be a happy and healthy one. L'shanah Tovah.

Flu Shots...Important Information

2010-09-15T16:11:00.000-04:00

So with flu season rapidly approaching...I want to provide some information to my readers about this year's flu shots to answer some important questions.

Flu shots are recommended for all children over the age of 6 months. The flu can be a serious illness in any child, regardless of their previous health status. If you have a child under 6 months, the best way to protect them from the flu is to get yourself immunized. Unfortunately, the most devastating effects of the flu can be seen in infants, so be sure to protect yourself and your baby.

Essentially, the only TRUE contraindication to the flu shot is an egg allergy (or a history of Gullian Barre Syndrome within 6 weeks of a flu shot, though this is RARE). Both the intramuscular vaccine and the nasal mist are manufactured inside of eggs, so egg allergy means no vaccine and even more frequent hand washing.

Though the H1N1 pandemic officially ended this summer, there is still a risk for this type of flu. This year's flu shot is a COMBINATION of the H1N1 shot and the seasonal flu vaccine. Though there were (unwarranted) concerns early last year about the safety of H1N1 vaccine, millions and millions of doses were given last year with no increase in adverse events reported.

For kids: Who needs what and when...

<6 MTHS		NO SHOT
6 MTHS - 8 YEARS	NO PREVIOUS SEASONAL FLU SHOT	2 SHOTS, SEPARATED BY 4 WEEKS
	PREVIOUS SEASONAL FLU SHOT, BUT NO H1N1 SHOT	2 SHOTS , SEPARATED BY 4 WEEKS
	PREVIOUS FLU SHOT & AT LEAST 1 DOSE OF H1NI LAST YEAR	1 SHOT
>9 YEARS	REGARDLESS OF PREVIOUS IMMUNIZATION STATUS	1 SHOT

This year, as in years past, there will be 2 forms of the flu vaccine available. The Flu Mist is a live form of the flu virus and can be given to healthy children over age 2 without any lung problems or immune compromise. There is a risk of MILD upper respiratory congestion with the flu mist. The intramuscular vaccine is available as well and this is a KILLED form of the flu virus. You cannot get sick from the flu shot.

There is even more recent data proving that there is NO association of autism with vaccine preservatives (thimerosal). However, there is plenty of preservative free vaccine available. All vaccines for children under 36 months is preservative free. The preservative free vaccine is in the individually stored syringes and does not need to be drawn up by the nurse. Ask your doctor what type of vaccine they are using if you are concerned.

The best time to get the flu shot is EARLY IN THE SEASON. The immunity will last well beyond this flu season and there is no sense in being unprotected early in the season. So, call your doctor and find out if they have received their shipments of shots. And don't forget the importance of hand washing!

Click here for more information from our friends at the CDC.

Stay healthy!!

Dear Daughter...

2010-09-07T14:48:00.000-04:00

I am a working Mommy. Always have been. Probably always will be. Right now, I am very comfortable in this place. But I have not always been. Before and after having my first baby I struggled with this idea. In fact, at one point, I became resentful of my career path knowing I could not wave good bye (temporarily) and be welcomed back.

I grew up with a SAHM. She was always around. To drive us anywhere. To run our errands. To take care of us when we were sick. Would I be a less of a mother if I was unable to do all of these things? Or would my work add to my children's experience and my own and make me an even better parent?

Jury is still out on this one.

Today I ran across this article by Lisa Belkin of the NYTs in her blog "Motherlode". Apparently, 8 years ago, there was some research indicating that children of parents with working mothers were cognitively delayed compared with those with SAHM's. Scary. Luckily, 4 years ago when I had my child, I was blissfully unaware of such research.

However, in light of the fact that about 60% of mothers actually work when their children are under 6, these same researchers decided to dig a bit deeper and follow these children through 1st grade. They did confirm the mild cognitive delay among children with working mothers in the first year of life. However, they go on to state that the other benefits of having a working mother offset this "harm", and the overall effect on development is, in fact, neutral. These benefits included "greater maternal sensitivity, a higher income, and that these mothers were more likely to find high quality child care."

But actually, that is not what I found so compelling about the article. At the end of the piece, she talks about a woman who is returning to work after maternity leave and is struggling with the decision. She decides to write her child a letter to explain her reasons for returning to work.

What a fabulous idea. If I would have wrote such a letter here's what I would have said:

Dear Precious Daughter,

Your life has changed mine in this very short time. I spent many a days wishing and hoping for someone as special as you to come into my world. I loved feeling you with me, knowing that I was never alone for the last 280 days of my life. Although I have continued to walk (quickly) through my ever so crazy life, I have never stopped thinking about your well being.

The day you were born changed everything. I am now part of my own family, forever bonded to you and your daddy. I have spent the last 8 weeks loving you, changing you, feeding you and nurturing you. And I have loved every (sleepless, exhausted) minute of it.

But now it is time for me to go. I promise will not leave you. I never would. But I must go back to this thing I call my career. It calls to me at night, albeit, differently than you do. It, like you, wants to be taken care of and nurtured. And although I may try to suppress its voice, its calling will not be muffled. And I cannot let it go.

Before you came into my life I made a decision to pursue a higher education. I have worked hard, shed countless tears and sat through endless lectures to get where I am today. I have a brain that is full of knowledge about the body and its inner workings. I can help people with the information I have learned. Through my work, I can feel fulfilled and challenged daily. I can have time to think. I will have time to read. And learn. And talk to other adults.

I can work to give you more in your life than you would have if I didn't. You can help keep me balanced and grounded. You will remind me of what is important. And no matter what, you will always be my first priority.

I know you will be better for it. I want to be a role model to you. I know you will have so much to give to this big world one day. I, too, have much to share. And I know you would not want me to give this part of myself up. And, luckily, I don't have to.

I have invested time and resources to ensure that you are well taken care of. You will be around other children and caregivers that will teach you. I hope that you see that a woman, a mommy, can be smart, educated, stimulated and balanced. I promise I will not waste these days. I will be proud of myself. I hope you will be proud of me.

If I close my eyes I can picture you as a mature woman. I see us talking about your path. I know you will have struggles just like I did. I wonder what choice you will make for yourself when that day comes. I wonder what kind of example you would set for your daughters. And I hope that you will make a decision for yourself that will make you feel fulfilled and comfortable.

And I will always be proud of you. Because you are my greatest accomplishment.

Love always,

Your Mommy

The Women's Group

2010-09-01T14:29:00.000-04:00

I have been uninspired on the blog front lately. Maybe my mind is too quiet. I should consider this to be a good thing in life, just not for blogging. So I polled my Maj group about potential blog topics and they suggested I write about...the Maj group. I like that idea. I'll run with it.

The maj group (now known as the women's group) was formed in effort to allow our group of women to have a weekly excuse to leave the house and not put their kids to bed. Ok, and to have wine. We wanted a social game. We wanted to eat guacamole (too much of it). We wanted our brains to be challenged. We learned this game which is a combination of luck and skill. Some of us have mastered it more than others. But the group over the past year has become much more than a forum for this (ever challenging) game.

It is a forum for ideas. For sharing. For relating. To help us all do better. And maybe even to be better. And no topic seems off limits.

We talk about things that are VERY superficial. Who will win the bachelor and why we continue to watch. What is set to record on the DVR. Who is the craziest of the housewives. What will be our new fall purse. Where are the best places to find bargains on things that we don't need that cost too much. About celebrities and movie premieres and US weekly.

We talk about things that are sort of superficial and sort of practical.   How to make your hair straighter. Where to get a facial. About a new type of nail polish that probably is just the same as the old nail polish. About exercise and body woes.

We talk about all things baby. How to breast feed. How to swaddle. How to make it all work. What products you must have. How to make your husband help. How to soak in all that baby love.

We talk about taking care of the kids. What we buy at the grocery. What we pack in the kids lunches. What vegetables are a hit with those that refuse. About which dance class is best. About teachers and buses and mommy friends.

We talk about things that make us worry. About careers. About homes. About children. About husbands and marriages. About in laws. About families. About fertility. About life.

We give opinions. Ones that not you may not hear. The ones that are honest and real and straight forward. The kind of advice that can only be given when someone really gets the road you walk on.

And they get it because they listen. Every week as life goes by. On Monday night at 7:30 we pause, we play and we discuss. For a couple of hours that seem to go by on fast forward. Then we go home, and live.

Until the next week, when we do it all again.

____________________________________________________

Do you have a group of women that you can bounce ideas off of?
What is your excuse for a get together?
Have you ever played Maj? [if not...you should start!]
What do you think of the 2010 card? [I hate it!]

Vaccine Advocacy

2010-08-23T15:23:00.000-04:00

Immunizations are a hot topic these days. It is hard to go even a couple of days without hearing something on the news, by a patient, or by a friend questioning the safety of immunizations. And I get it. I'm a parent. I'm plagued by worry for my children. But unfortunately, sometimes information is not passed on to parents responsibly, leading them to make choices for their children based on information which is NOT fact. This scares me because these decisions can be LIFE OR DEATH decisions. Children DO, even in America, die of PREVENTABLE and COMMUNICABLE diseases due to poor vaccination practices. What a tragedy.

I would like to pass on 2 EXCELLENT articles to my readers. The first is a 'cartoon' about Andrew Wakefield, the British scientist who recently had his medical license revoked for his work on 'MMR and AUTISM'. It is a quick summary of the lack of science behind his claims and the financial stake that he had in his research practices.

Click here to read: THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF DR. ANDREW WAKEFIELD

The second article is a great piece about RESPONSIBLE VACCINE ADVOCACY. If you DO vaccinate your children, and do not want them to be at risk for communicable diseases from other, unvaccinated children, SPEAK UP. Be PROUD of your stance to eliminate unnecessary illness and death in our country. Consider becoming an advocate for vaccination. Consider going to your doctor and updating your own vaccination status. Fear the disease, NOT the vaccine.

Feel free to pass along the button above that says "Hug Me, I'm Vaccinated".
You can make a difference!

Vacation...or more work?

2010-08-18T15:28:00.000-04:00

I am getting ready to go on a family vacation. A short trip to a coveted destination in my home state. Can't wait. Fun, yes....Relaxing, well....no.

This job (yes, job) of organizing/packing/arranging the kids, myself, my car, my husband for our "vacation" is more work than staying home. I begin thinking stressing about the trip 2 weeks before we go. But it's worth all the work, right?

I will get to go and relax, in amazing surroundings, read a book, schedule a spa appointment...oh, no, wait, I'm confused...that was my life BK (before kids). Let me try to describe a vacation AK (after kids)...

1. Do laundry so that clothes that need to go are clean.
2. Pack each kid and myself. Be sure not to forget sunscreen, bathing suits, diapers, proper clothes, pajamas, toothbrush, shampoo, sippy cups, wipes, snack cups and all other ridiculous kid products. Oh, and be sure I throw in appropriate clothes for me.
3. Clean out my (disaster of a...) car so that the drive is bearable only for it to be messed up again.
4. Anticipate any/all needs of kids for travel.
5. Pack plenty of snacks, drinks, toys, suckers, videos, and princesses so that boredom is kept at bay and expenses at gas station are minimized.
6. Prepare camera for photo ops (see prior post about pictures).
7. Prepare the stroller, and decide which one of 5 to bring...this is very difficult. (Am I the only crazy person out there with 5 strollers, I would guess not...)

And that is just before the trip. During the ride there will be singing, smiles and laughter amidst the fighting, whining and crying. There will be plenty of "are we there yet?" questions beginning 30 minutes into the ride. And then, during the trip I will question why we call this "vacation" as it may be more difficult than my actual day job of saving lives. And I have not even outlined what happens when I get home...just thinking about it makes me stressed.

But why do we do it? For the smiles. For the small snippets of laughter that fall in between the tortured moments of temper tantrums and tears. For the memories. For the indelible impression that family trips make on a child's developing brain. So that when they are adults they can have a momentary flash, a vision, of a memory and say "I did that as a kid with my parents". And they will want to do this with their children and pass on this tradition.

A tradition of fun. And family.
So here we go!

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Do you have great memories from childhood family vacations?
Do you find family vacations stressful?
How many strollers crowd your garage?