I’ve got all the symptoms count ‘em 1, 2, 3

17 Nov posted by

Aaron spending time with Elora in the NICU

November 17th is Preemie Awareness Day- and you guys know I’ve had several preemies. Before I had an early baby, I very ignorant about the issues that preemies face.  I naively thought once they went home from the NICU, they were just like a full term healthy baby.  Sometimes you get lucky and that’s the case, but unfortunately for many more of these early birds have weaker immune systems and are more susceptible to respiratory issues do to underdeveloped lungs at birth.

I’d never heard of RSV until we had Amelia.  She was born five weeks early, and despite the fact that Lili was also born at the same gestation and was fine, Mia needed medical intervention at birth to breathe.  She spent almost 2 weeks in the NICU taking the steps necessary to wean down to room air before she came home.   Because of this, her fall birth, and the fact she had four older siblings who were cesspools of germs, she received monthly Synagis shots to help protect her from RSV.

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) symptoms present like the common cold in most full-term babies, and the majority contract it by the age of two with parents and caregivers not even realizing they have it.  But for preemies, their compromised immune and respiratory systems increase their risk for developing much more serious issues.

Looking back, my now 13 year old was hospitalized for several days when he was just a few months old with what the doctors called bronchiolitis, but I’ve since learned that is most commonly caused by RSV.  He was full term, and it was super scary.  I’m so glad that my preemies all received the shots to protect them!

According to the CDC, RSV season typically runs from November to March in most of the U.S., but can vary based on where you live, so check with your child’s pediatrician.  Half a million babies are born early in the US each year- so we really need to spread the word to protect these babies- and that’s why I’m posting about this today, November 17th, World Prematurity Day.

To learn more about RSV, go to RSVProtection.com where you can find great info on prevention, risk factors, and more.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.


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Filed Under: health, NICU

Yes I’m Siskel, Yes I’m Ebert & You’re Getting Two Thumbs Up

9 Nov posted by

Saturday night, I took the two oldest boys to see In Time.  I liked it-  and so did they.  Aside from Harry Potter, it was the first grown-up movie I’ve seen in the theater in probably 6 months.  I will say that I liked Amanda Seyfried blond.  I wasn’t fond of her bob and bangs.

We decided we should start keeping just our one arm covered, and that ladies nylons of the future must be incredibly strong.  She jumped out of windows, ran miles in high heels, climbed fences and hopped across roofs without getting a run or tear.  Amazing.  Also?  Rich men wear red lipstick in the future.

Monday was the first day my mom felt good again after her chemo last week- so it takes almost a full week.  We decided to head out to eat at The Melting Pot, yum.

On the drive I was thinking- the last time I was at The Melting Pot (the only other time actually) was to celebrate Ryan being halfway done with chemo- and my mom is now halfway done!  So it’s like a tradition now…

Hopefully no one else gets cancer though.

Anyway, we’ll be home this afternoon, and I can’t wait to see the rest of my family!


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Filed Under: 1featured, chemotherapy, family, my mom

Aaron & Peas

23 Oct posted by

Aaron is certified or qualified or something to paint parts of the helicopters that he works on.  Generally that task falls to someone else, and he oversees it, however because of his certification, he gets to take a pulmonary function test every so often.

For years I’ve been telling Aaron that he has allergies.  When he would mow the lawn, he’d sneeze and cough and snot for days afterwards.  Every time we visit my family in NY, the same thing.  If he cleaned something dusty- again, he’d have issues.  His breathing would get raspy and it worried me and so he went to the flight surgeon a few years back who gave him some over the counter type allergy medicine like Claritin or Allegra.

He would fare better if he remembered to take it before doing yard work or whatever, and I assumed he just had seasonal type allergies.

Anyway, back to the pulmonary function testing- his came out funky the last time he took it, so he was referred over to a pulmonologist.  He did some testing, and the bottom line is Aaron is allergic to everything (dust, pollen, grass, etc) and has asthma.  Now he’s got a nifty inhaler and other assorted medications to take.

Geeze, we really make such a cute couple…

In other unrelated news, the other day I was looking in the freezer for something and the boys were dancing around my feet begging for food.  There was an open bag of frozen peas, so I grabbed two and popped one in each of the boys’ mouths.  They loved them.

Now every time someone opens the fridge or freezer, they are right on your heels begging for veggies.  Dylan was just sitting on Aaron’s lap in the living room, and he heard me open the fridge in the kitchen and he squealed YAY! and came running.  They’re so silly!


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Filed Under: Aaron, health, twins

Potential Headache Cure?

28 Sep posted by

Once you become a parent, your needs get put second.  I know that sounds obvious, and everyone assumes it, but you don’t always realize just how far aside things may get pushed.

For example, I went five years between dental appointments.  Part of the reason for that is I’m not a huge fan of the dentist- but there’s also the reasons excuses, such as:

  • I was pregnant
  • I had a newborn
  • I had no sitter
  • My teeth weren’t bothering me
  • I’d rather spend the money on something for my kids
  • I just didn’t want to

So it probably doesn’t come to you as a huge shock that I haven’t had my eyes checked since Mia was a newborn.  (She’ll be 7 in less than two weeks)

I’ve been out of contacts for years, although my one year supply I bought at my last optometrist appointment lasted closer to 4 years since I don’t wear them daily.  My glasses… oy, my glasses.   They are in such sad shape.  The lenses are scratched.  The arms are bent weird, and I’m afraid to fix them because they’re close to snapping.  Due to that, they don’t fit my face right and slide off my nose if I look down slightly.

And it should go without saying that it’s almost a certainty that my prescription has changed since my last exam.  I find myself squinting often, and that leads to headaches.

The military covers eye exams, but not contact fittings or glasses frames and lenses.  Provided I actually make an appointment and get my eyes checked, I’d have to pay out of pocket for anything to actually make me SEE better.  I need a pair of cheap glasses since I hate spending money on myself.

I found that on glasses.com you can upload a photo and try on glasses virtually.  They have free shipping, and lenses are included in the pricing.  I know lots of people order their contacts online because it’s less expensive than at the eye doctor, so why not your glasses as well?  They even have Aaron’s coveted Oakley sunglasses…

How often do you get an eye exam?  And for those of you who wear glasses/contacts, how often do you get new ones?


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Filed Under: about me, health, spon

Emergen-C Kidz Blog Tour

16 Sep posted by

Back to school means back to cold and flu season.  Instead of just our own private family germs, we’re suddenly exposed to every kid and their family when the girls go to school.  And once of the kids gets sick, it spreads like wildfire through everyone.

We offer our kids a wide variety of healthy foods every day, but that doesn’t mean they eat them!  Whether it’s Ryan stealing all of Dylan’s fruit or the girls trading in the lunchroom, I can’t always guarantee the kids are eating a well balanced diet.

Enter Emergen-C Kidz.  Each fun & fizzy packet provides kids with 250 mg of vitamin C, along with antioxidents, B vitamins and electrolytes.  Available in three kid-friendly flavors- Fruit Punch, Orange & Grape- there’s one to suit every kid’s preferences.

Emergen-C Kidz Pledge & Vitamin Angels

You can help Emergen-C Kidz give back!  For every box sold, Emergen-C will donate 25 cents to Vitamin Angels to provide essential nutrients to one child for one year, helping reduce childhood mortality worldwide. Additionally, can take the My Emergen-C Kidz Pledge at Facebook.com/EmergenC to commit to a fun and healthy lifestyle for their family. For every Pledge, Emergen-C will donate an additional 25 cents.

While on the Emergen-C Facebook page, don’t forget to sign up for your free sample!

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Emergen-C and received samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.


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Filed Under: health, Kids, spon
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