Kids' Safety Challenge

Earlier this month Ian attended a two-day Safety Challenge through our local fire department, along with his cousin and numerous other kids.

Kids pose on the back of the engine.

As we drove home from the first day of his "class" I quickly realized just how closely he had paid attention.

As I entered a left turn lane, I drove over the yellow stripes to get around a super long line of cars who were all going straight and waiting at a red light. From the back seat I hear my son announce to me that I had made a mistake driving. He continued to explain that if I want to make a turn, I need to wait patiently next time in the line of cars and not drive over the yellow stripes because it is dangerous and against the rules.

So I admitted my "bad choice" and told him thank you for correcting me and that I'd wait patiently next time. Of course, inside part of me was chuckling at the idea that my 4-1/2 year old son was giving me driving advice from the third row of the van - where he has a perfect view of the road ahead because his seat is centered. I call him my Captain and I swear he will be the safest sixteen year old on the road someday because he already knows so much about traffic safety.

Ian getting out of his "fire truck" near the
hydrant at the Safety Challenge course.

 

The boys put out the fire in the safety village.

The safety program was so neat and Ian is already asking when he can take it again. The second day they invited the kids' family up to see them "graduate" the program. They had several rescue vehicles, including the ever-popular fire truck, on display for family and siblings to explore. And he even got his own navy blue FD t-shirt to wear.

A few days later they had all of the participants return to the safety village for a special event for the kids' families. We got to see him go through an obstacle course where his safety knowledge was put to the test - literally. He loved getting to wear the bunker gear! He actually told the Major that he didn't want to take it off after he completed the course - despite the near 100 degree temperature outside.

Ian's latest career choices for when he gets older is to be a rancher, a zookeeper, a policeman, a fireman, and a teacher. He will be one busy boy. Ha!

Ian wanted to keep the jacket!

The gang gets to
feed Cheerios to the gold fish in
the safety village pond.

Father's Day

For Father's Day this year we started the weekend by making Mark's favorite cookies, white chocolate chip macadamia nut, on Friday afternoon. Saturday evening the kids went to see Nana and Papa for a bit so Mark and I went to dinner together at our favorite Japanese steakhouse. It was delicious and oh-so filling, as usual!

On Sunday morning the kids and I let Mark sleep in a bit. Okay, so he really can't sleep in (he's always been an early bird) but he enjoyed a bit of quiet time pretending to sleep while we all slipped out of the room to go start breakfast. The kids and I made him breakfast burritos and Mark really liked them. And before we ate breakfast we gave Mark his gifts. Ian had picked out a card with a big transformer on the front and he colored and wrote his name inside along with an "I love you". And the preschool where Ian attends actually sent Mark a card in the mail from Ian that he made back in the spring. He had colored a picture on the front and a list of answers to some questions about his Daddy were inside. It was a really cute surprise for Mark.

The kids were real troopers for my crafty gift ideas this year. I almost didn't think we'd pull it off but they came through and the results were pretty cool. I saw these two ideas online and thought I'd give them a try.

First I painted large wooden letters red. Then we headed out to the yard to take some shots of the kids holding the letters. It was...interesting. So after printing the photos, we put them in a large frame with three openings so each opening contains a letter - spelling out DAD all together.

Our second project was even more adventurous than the first. While the kids napped I painted a large brown tree on a canvas. Once it was dry I had Ian choose his two colors - he chose red and orange. I painted the palm of his hand and had him place his hand on the tree several places. Then it was Anna's turn. She wasn't too happy about me painting her hand (she wanted to paint mine instead) but she finally cooperated after I told her she could paint on her papers afterwards. So the end result is a canvas print of the kids' hands as the leaves on a tree.

Sunday evening we met up at Aunt Laura's house for some poolside fun and a cookout dinner with Mark's parents as well. Ian really enjoyed the pool and he was quite brave to swim out to the deep end with no one holding on to him (he has a life jacket float he wears though). The older boys had lots of fun splashing each other. And the younger cousins enjoyed the baby pool Laura had filled with toys.

It was a really nice weekend as a family and I think the kids made Daddy feel very loved.

Baby doll and her kidneys

Our baby doll became sick as we prepared to head home from vacation earlier this month. She was just not herself - so cranky, uncomfortable and almost fidgety. We were concerned it might be an ear infection because she has been prone to these in the past. She'd go from happy and playing to just miserable rather quickly - and back again. By Saturday she didn't want to be in her car seat for the five hour drive nor sit still on the airplane portion of the trip home. She kept pulling at her diaper and saying, "Owwee". Now to know Anna is to realize that she doesn't like being confined much at all. So we simply assumed she had just had it with being cooped up in the car and airplane and we toughed it out until we got home on Saturday evening, doing all we could to keep her comfortable while we were on the road. Then her symptoms changed.

At 2am on Saturday night she woke up with a 102 fever and was crying. I got her started on meds to bring the fever down and it would break, only to have it spike back up again a few hours later. Again, her mood would go from somewhat normal and happy to plain miserable and lethargic. I got her into the Mercy after hours clinic on Sunday around dinnertime to see if this was another ear infection or teething or what. None of those things. Her ears and everything checked out as normal. We were told by the doctor (or possible a PA who was very visibly not a "kid" person) she had a virus and it would just need to work through her system but to keep her on the Tylenol or Advil to control the fever.

She was due for her two-year well child checkup with her regular pediatrician on Tuesday and by that morning her fever had diminished and stayed away until 4pm that afternoon when it came back full-force. Again, we controlled it with Tylenol and waited it out since we thought it was a virus. By Thursday morning at 2am she was just so miserable and my gut told me something else was going on. I remember so clearly sitting out on the couch in the living room after getting her settled back into bed, running through each day since we returned home and evaluating how she was acting to gather any other possible symptoms. And that is when it hit me like a ton of bricks. As I sat there in the dark with my laptop open I punched in various symptoms on WebMD and a UTI came up. What?? I never even knew a toddler, baby or even a young girl could get a UTI. I had always associated that with teens or adults.

I remembered her pulling at her diaper once it became wet and saying, "Owee" or "Tee-Tee ouch" randomly throughout the previous days. Coincidentally, Anna was at the very same time starting to become curious about the potty. She loves to sit up there, wipe, toss it in the potty and flush but has never had a productive potty trip to date. She had no rash or any visible reason for being uncomfortable and as soon as I changed her diaper she'd go about playing. I then assumed she just didn't like having a wet diaper touch her skin now that she was more aware of using the potty. I also remembered a few of her night diapers having a funky odor over the past few days. It's amazing the clarity your mind can reach when you're sitting in the darkness of a completely quiet room at 2am. All of those symptoms clearly pointed to a UTI. My heart broke thinking our baby doll had been uncomfortable for so many days simply because we weren't getting the clues she was attempting to give us. I just cried.

The next morning I called and got her in to see her pediatrician first thing in the morning. When we arrived her temperature had spiked again and their thermometer read 104 degrees. The doc immediately ordered a urine analysis based on her symptoms and the fever that simply would not go away. It had been five days of off/on fevers so the doc was concerned the infection had entered her kidneys or this was early signs there was trouble with her kidneys (operation or development of). The analysis was conclusive that this was indeed a UTI that had developed into a kidney infection, and she had blood in her urine (not visible without microscope). She was started on an antibiotic that day and continued for ten days. After being on the antibiotic for two days her fever went away and thankfully did not return. Her mood and overall comfort level appeared to go back to normal. Four days after the antibiotic cycle we were brought back in for another analysis and it showed the infection was gone. Praise God. But we aren't done yet, unfortunately.

On August 10th Anna will undergo two procedures, back-to-back, at a local hospital that specializes in treating children - a renal ultrasound and VCUG (Voiding cystourethrogram). The renal ultrasound is not at all invasive. It 'shows details of the anatomy of the kidneys and bladder. It can rule out or diagnose obstructions, developmental abnormalities, tumors, and stones in the kidneys and urinary tract.'

The VCUG is the procedure I am absolutely dreading but I know it is necessary. To get a "clean" urine specimin and diagnose the UTI, Anna had to be catheterized and I don't know who cried more - her or me - during that. And the VCUG will require another catheter. VCUG is 'commonly used to evaluate the bladder and the ureters. This procedure involves putting a dye into the bladder to see whether there's an obstruction, or reflux of urine from the bladder back up to the kidneys when the child urinates.' This procedure involves a catheter, small amounts of radiation via the x-ray, and possibly mild sedation to keep the child calm/still during the procedure. All of these give me uncertainty but I am determined to do a lot of research, prepare questions for my pediatrician and any radiology staff I can reach at the hospital. I want us and Anna to be as prepared as possible because I know this is going to be a very difficult day.

To put it simply, Anna does NOT like doctors' offices or anything medically related. She will cry from the moment we pull in to the parking lot to the moment we leave for any doc visit. And because she has endured so many visits here lately, she is even more sensitive to medical environments. Poor girl, last week she got to the point where she would just repeat, "No doctor. No doctor," over and over if we got into the car. I had to reassure her that we were not going to the doctor that day. So to realize how scared she is going to be in August makes me cry inside for her.

So between now and August 10th, we will be doing a lot of praying that the procedures will go well, that Anna will cooperate so the tests can give clear, accurate results, and of course that the tests show no damage or irregularities within her bladder, kidneys or anywhere else. We're praying she is as healthy on the inside as she appears to us on the outside and the UTI was just an isolated event. I'll post more as time progresses and we learn more about the procedures.


* Medical information provided by KidsHealth.org and WebMD.com

Early success

Well, I've been so thrilled with how well the "new approach" to nutrition is going in our home. I have spent several days the past two weeks organizing (and purging) the pantry and organizing the kitchen cabinets (adding all the new ingredients) while Anna napped or after both kids went to bed. And it feels GOOD to be making these changes.

Twice now Ian has helped me make Sprinkles Blueberry Muffins (as Ian is calling them) with a Quick Fix recipe I created based on the Sneaky Chef concept. I simply used a package of Martha White blueberry muffin mix, the 1/2 cup milk it calls for, and about 1/4 cup of fresh blueberry puree - mixed and baked per package directions. Ian loved mixing in the "sprinkles" as he called the puree into the batter and scooped them into the liners. He never even asked what made the sprinkles and he saw me making the puree from fresh blueberries - ha! So the true test came when the kids tried the warm muffins. SUCCESS! Ian quickly said, "These are the best muffins I've ever had," and proceeded to eat 3 full size muffins the first batch and 4 muffins from the second batch (on different days of course). We are lucky if he eats one normally. Anna ate 2 and 3 whole muffins. I was so pleased they liked them. And I loved them, too. The real blueberries added a good punch of flavor that was lacking otherwise. And the puree created "sprinkles" throughout the muffin and a fun pale blue color to the muffin itself.

Another new recipe that I was not at all confident the kids would even try, let alone like, was chocolate chip cookies from scratch complete with old fashioned oats, unbleached flower, egg whites, mini chocolate chips, and the sneaky ingredient of Garbanzo beans (aka. chickpeas). Yes, adding beans to cookies does sound odd but pureed and mixed in, you don't even know they are there nor do you taste them. Next time I will puree the oats in addition to the chickpeas before mixing with the blender, too, to create a smoother textured cookie - more like store-bought than "granola" or "lumpy" looking. Even though this was a new texture/appearance for cookies, the kids ate multiple cookies as soon as they cooled and have asked for more nearly every day. I actually have a stash of these in my purse for on-the-go healthy snacks. And I don't mind them choosing these for snacks because they are much healthier than other options.

And for lunches I have tried adding about 1/4 cup pureed butternut squash to their boxed mac n' cheese along with a slice of Kraft cheese (broken into bits and mixed in) and it was a hit, too. You can't taste the squash much at all (at least the kids haven't noticed) and the slice of cheese helps retain the bright orange/yellow color they are used to.

So the new approach continues and I'm thrilled with the results so far. And I have to remember to take more pictures of my creations to post. Words aren't as yummy without pictures included. ;)

My favorite 'baby' things

This post may seem a bit random since my kids are no longer babies but my cousin and his wife are expecting their first child this fall and we received an invitation to their baby shower yesterday. This is probably the first baby we've bought a gift for in some time so it got me thinking...what should we get them? There is a traditional registry as a guide but I like to give something a bit more personal or unique.

Baby registries are often filled with a lot of items that are more of the popular gadget variety instead of the will get used so many times I'll save it for my next child items. Which lead me to start listing in my head all the neat items we have truly used and cherished through Ian and Anna's babyhoods. And the list kept growing.

There are some standout items that I must mention because if anyone is looking for a baby gift and doesn't want to follow the traditional registry, grab a few items from the list below and fill a cute lined wicker basket from Hobby Lobby or Michael's (who often have them half price or on clearance) with a few "parent tested, baby approved" items the new parents will say are much appreciated!

THE LIST (in no particular order):

- Baby Einstein Alphabooks

(set of 26 board books, one for each letter, within a box that has handles)

- Avent Express Microwave Steam Sterilizer

(we used this for bottles, pacifiers, utensils, toys, etc. and it lasted through both kids beautifully)

- Baby Einstein Take-Along Tunes

(this has saved my sanity on so many car trips and Anna still brings it with her at age 2 to enjoy)

- Baby Babble & Baby Babble 2 DVD (Amazon.com)

(this was vital in helping both kids' speech development, it teaches basic sign language, and it's still Anna's favorite DVD set)

- Curious George tv episodes on DVD

(the tv episodes from PBS are fantastic - Anna loved them at age one and Ian still enjoys them at four because they teach math and science concepts in a positive, colorful way)

- Playskool Lullaby Gloworm

(has light and sound but we keep the sound turned off and this is Anna's crib nightlight)

- Melissa & Doug Deluxe 50-piece Wooden ABC/123 Blocks Set or Block Cart

(set comes in a cloth bag with velcro closure or a wheeled cart for pulling - a wonderfully sturdy educational tool)

- Colorful cotton beach towels

(we love beach towels for bath towels - super absorbent, colorful designs make it easy to tell who's is who's and they are big enough to completely wrap the kids up)

- A portable place mat that wipes clean or is dishwasher/washing machine safe

- A shopping cart cover with pockets and clips for toys

(this doubles as a high chair cover and is essential to keep teething babies away from gross carts or public high chairs)

- Pottery Barn Kids Chamois Stroller Blanket

(My cousin sent this to Anna at her birth and it is THE best and softest blanket ever!)

- LuckyBaby baby sling by SmallWish

(Find SmallWish on Etsy.com - super high quality, reversible, versatile wearing styles, and custom design option)

- Exergen Temporal Thermometer

(inexpensive yet so reliable and so much easier than putting something in baby's ear at 3am!)

- Cuisinart MiniPrep Plus Food Processor

(for those who want to make their own baby/toddler food it does purees beautifully)

- Fisher Price Papasan Cradle Swing

(Okay, this is a pricey gift but this particular swing was an essential for both of our babies. We actually took it apart to take to Colorado with us when Anna was a newborn because she had colic and reflux. Without this swing she wouldn't have slept a wink....and neither would we. We used it for both kids until they maxed out the weight limit. The battery life is amazing, too!)

- Breathable Baby - Breathable Safer crib bumper (Walmart.com)

(this isn't as cute as the fluffy bumper that comes with the crib set but it's a safe alternative that won't put a child's life at risk. It is also a great way to keep little arms and legs safely inside, as well as pacifiers and lovies from falling behind the crib at night.)

- Graco Bumper Jumper (used to be called a Johny Jump Up)

(Both kids logged a lot of bounce miles in that thing and they would giggle nonstop in it. The tray is awesome for toys or snacks and the rings make it easy to keep toys within reach.)

And if all else fails, stuff a cute basket full of baby essentials like diapers in various sizes, grooming items, wash clothes, baby q-tips, diaper wipes, J&J Head To Toe baby wash, plain white burp cloths, child size clothing hangers, and large waterproof crib pads. All of these items might be super practical but they are life savers for new parents!

Happy shopping!

A new approach

As most parents can attest to, getting young children to eat healthy foods or to try new food at all can be one of the biggest struggles you'll face in the early years. All of us want our children to develop properly, build strong bodies, have energy throughout the day, and be active. But most often this is not a simple thing to accomplish with toddlers and preschoolers who insist they don't like something before they even try it.

Ian has always been a picky eater (we think it's partially because of texture issues) but now that he is four and a half and Anna is two, our meal times often turn into a battle of wills and Mark and I just got fed up with all of the stress. So after speaking to our family physician about nutrition for our entire family, we are actively trying a new approach to nutrition. But I will say up front that we are being realistic with our changes. We aren't vowing to never eat out or indulge but we really want to make a conscious effort to eat better, make better choices as it regards what is made available in our home, and be better examples for the kids on a more regular basis.

I had heard of Jessica Seinfeld's book Deceptively Delicious before meeting with our doctor but didn't know enough about it to realize it might be a good option for our family until he and his nurse recommended the concept. In researching her book I learned about a similar book released several years prior called The Sneaky Chef. I ordered both books and have become absolutely fascinated by this awesome technique. Basically the authors suggest "hiding" healthy super foods by way of pureeing or grating them and adding it to foods most children already eat such as mac n' cheese, mashed potatoes, pancakes, muffins, chicken nuggets, cupcakes, etc. Each cookbook includes instructions on pureeing and various food combinations, meal-time tips, nutrition information, and numerous recipes that incorporate the purees secretively.

I recently opted to "clean house" in our pantry and make way for much healthier food options. At the end of school I did away with things like gummy fruit snacks (the kids' favorite afternoon snack) and explained to them that I won't be buying that stuff anymore. And surprisingly, the kids have been quite receptive to the changes. Instead they are offered things like fruit, pudding, homemade juice pops, crackers, etc. And they don't see Mom and Dad eating junk either. We're doing this together.

So now when Ian asks for a snack he says, "What can I have? No junk, right?" He knows because we have talked about it together. He even helped me make some of the purees (he doesn't know what they'll be used for though) because it involves helping in the kitchen and loud appliances - two things he enjoys. Both kids have taken part in the grocery shopping for a while now - helping to put items in the cart and they know I read labels so Ian will often ask "Does this have too much sugar in it?" when he selects a treat/goodies from the shelf.



I'm also looking forward to using more whole-grain breads and pastas as well as cooking with healthier, homemade options and fresh organic foods when I can instead of constant dependence on processed or boxed foods as I have in the past. It's sad that convenience equals poor nutrition these days!

My first test of this concept with the kids was to prepare regular boxed mac n' cheese (one of Anna's staples at this age) and add one half of a raw organic carrot (grated) into the cheese mix as I prepare it. It worked!!! Since it's hidden in a food they are used to, in the form they are used to, they don't suspect any changes. So I can sit back and relax as they devour their mac n' cheese with carrots knowing it's a win-win. They get the food they like and I can lay off the begging, pleading and bribing to get them to eat something healthy.

But to take it one step further I am experimenting with similar sneaky techniques for the dishes I make for Mark and me so we can benefit as well. My first test with a regular dinner was to add pureed organic carrots into my favorite Mama's Garden Ragu sauce when serving Parmesan Chicken over spaghetti noodles with a side of fresh zucchini squash. And it was yummy.

In addition to the sneaky techniques, we'll continue to offer fruits and vegetables and new foods in general in their traditional form in hopes the kids will choose to try them at some point. In the meantime, the healthy super foods hidden within their preschooler favorites will keep them healthy.

One final note, I recently randomly tuned in to the tv show Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution and I was glued to it! I love his concepts of providing GOOD food that is GOOD for you to school age kids. His repetitive quote, 'If you don't understand the ingredients, don't buy it' stuck with me.

A new approach...couldn't hurt!