One of the gifts my daughter got for her birth party was a Gund Teddy Bear. It was a typical looking cream-colored bear, but it had a velcro strap on the back so you could attach it to a crib and it played music.
Honestly, I thought, "errr, great".
We didn't actually remove it from the box for months.
I finally decided that I should at least let her see it. I tried strapping it to the crib and...
She was ambivalent about it.
For months, we had it in her play box and gave it to her occasionally She found the music buttons in the back of the bear and figured out how to turn them on. It was really cute. One of the buttons is a volume button, so she had fun turning up the volume every time we turned it down.
When I was packing for the hospital, I grabbed the bear because it was soft and wasn't one of her favorites- so, if it got dirty, well, it wouldn't really matter.
But the little bear has become one of her favorites. Perhaps it always was and we just didn't notice. She absolutely loves curling her fingers through the fur and it's almost exactly her size at 101/2 months, so I'm sure that it feels good have someone to cuddle with that is about your own size. She looks like the little bear in Country Bear Jamboree.
I'm personally really impressed with the audio tracks- they're very good. We have a couple of other "soothing" musical toys and their audio tracks sound like kid toys. This one sounds like it's a real recording of the ocean or a forest or a heartbeat. The music tracks loop, but they are well written, so it doesn't sound like the song ever ends and starts again, which is nice. And the audio stops after 15 minutes, which is nice.
I know that it was not intended to be a teddy bear for a baby to cuddle with, but if it wasn't meant for cuddling, why make it furry and cuddly? And if it was meant for cuddling, why make the buttons easy for a baby to use?
Monday, January 21, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Gluten Free and Gluten Safe
I have been gluten intolerant for most of my life.
I just didn't know it.
Growing up, I had never heard of anything like being allergic to bread. I think of all the "healthy" foods I was trying to eat in high school (pastas, sandwiches, crackers, etc) and I would have been better off just eating candy and potato chips.
It's what you call ironic.
When I got diagnosed, I was a literally a month away from turning 21. I was really sick and the doctors could not identify why. Finally, this old GI doc did an intestinal biopsy (oh, yeah, it was "fun") and diagnosed me with Celiac Sprue. When he called on the phone, that's all he said, "you have Celiac Sprue".
Like, uhm, what!?
After a very painful, teary investigation of what I was now allowed to eat, I found my self on a regiment of tapioca pudding and rice cakes. That and some baked potatoes- that was about all I knew I could eat.
This was WAY before the days of googling something.
This was WAY before the days of "GLUTEN FREE!" labels on packages.
I had to learn everything the hard way- mostly reading medical journal articles on what celiac sprue was and what could be done about it. Many hours in the medical library at the university pulling dusty volumes off the shelves. Thank goodness my job was there, anyway!
What I found (boiled down) was this:
Celiac Disease/Celiace Sprue/Gluten Intolerance is an allergy to gluten.
This is completely different than gluten sensitive, which is not an allergic reaction at all. People who are gluten sensitive could eat wheat without ensuing a whole-body illness for weeks on end.
Products in the US have been ramping up their advertising for being "Gluten Free". This is actually quite a tricky statement. Most of the products that we eat are naturally gluten free. Fresh fruits and vegetables, coffee, rice, nuts- I've seen the strangest things as advertised to be gluten free- they naturally ARE!
But Gluten Free does not mean Gluten Safe. Gluten is two part molecule (think of Legos) found ONLY in wheat. But those of us with Gluten Intolerance cannot have Wheat OR Barley OR Rye...and we can't have any of those hybrids, either. We can't eat any grass/cereal grains that are grown in fields with wheat, or rotated in fields with wheat because the contamination is so high. This includes Quinoa, Amaranth, Sorghum, Teff, Oats, Buckwheat, or Millet.
Products sold by Pamela's ARE NOT gluten safe. They are gluten free, but they are made with Sorghum and Millet. (Millet, by the way, is a grain you should avoid if you have hypothyroidism). Similarly, products by Bob's often contain oats, which are on the gluten free, but not gluten-safe list. They're fine if you're eating gluten-free because of Autism or some other non-immune problem.
The only retail products I've found that have an entire line of truly gluten free and gluten safe foods are Glutino and Kinnikinnick. All of the products I've seen by these manufacturers are made with rice and tapioca flours. Glutino pretzels are fantastic. Kinnikinnick has a fantastic white sandwich bread (freezer section). Udi's also makes some good products, but their entire line is not gluten safe. And their frozen foods are expensive and TERRIBLE. They're like eating foods bought at a gas station. (I tried to contact customer service to complain, but they just said, "Thanks for purchasing our products. Sorry you didn't like them.").
Now, it turns out that the US has finally declared those with severe food allergies disabled. It's about time. Our fates are in the hands of those around us and we often become sick because people just don't know- or frankly don't care. But if you've got a food allergy, you know what it's like to be in a meeting and have to get up suddenly because your supposedly safe lunch turned out to not be safe.
In summary, gluten free products are not always gluten safe products. Be sure you read your labels CAREFULLY!
If you have questions or comments, please feel free to write to me.
I just didn't know it.
Growing up, I had never heard of anything like being allergic to bread. I think of all the "healthy" foods I was trying to eat in high school (pastas, sandwiches, crackers, etc) and I would have been better off just eating candy and potato chips.
It's what you call ironic.
When I got diagnosed, I was a literally a month away from turning 21. I was really sick and the doctors could not identify why. Finally, this old GI doc did an intestinal biopsy (oh, yeah, it was "fun") and diagnosed me with Celiac Sprue. When he called on the phone, that's all he said, "you have Celiac Sprue".
Like, uhm, what!?
After a very painful, teary investigation of what I was now allowed to eat, I found my self on a regiment of tapioca pudding and rice cakes. That and some baked potatoes- that was about all I knew I could eat.
This was WAY before the days of googling something.
This was WAY before the days of "GLUTEN FREE!" labels on packages.
I had to learn everything the hard way- mostly reading medical journal articles on what celiac sprue was and what could be done about it. Many hours in the medical library at the university pulling dusty volumes off the shelves. Thank goodness my job was there, anyway!
What I found (boiled down) was this:
Celiac Disease/Celiace Sprue/Gluten Intolerance is an allergy to gluten.
This is completely different than gluten sensitive, which is not an allergic reaction at all. People who are gluten sensitive could eat wheat without ensuing a whole-body illness for weeks on end.
Products in the US have been ramping up their advertising for being "Gluten Free". This is actually quite a tricky statement. Most of the products that we eat are naturally gluten free. Fresh fruits and vegetables, coffee, rice, nuts- I've seen the strangest things as advertised to be gluten free- they naturally ARE!
But Gluten Free does not mean Gluten Safe. Gluten is two part molecule (think of Legos) found ONLY in wheat. But those of us with Gluten Intolerance cannot have Wheat OR Barley OR Rye...and we can't have any of those hybrids, either. We can't eat any grass/cereal grains that are grown in fields with wheat, or rotated in fields with wheat because the contamination is so high. This includes Quinoa, Amaranth, Sorghum, Teff, Oats, Buckwheat, or Millet.
Products sold by Pamela's ARE NOT gluten safe. They are gluten free, but they are made with Sorghum and Millet. (Millet, by the way, is a grain you should avoid if you have hypothyroidism). Similarly, products by Bob's often contain oats, which are on the gluten free, but not gluten-safe list. They're fine if you're eating gluten-free because of Autism or some other non-immune problem.
The only retail products I've found that have an entire line of truly gluten free and gluten safe foods are Glutino and Kinnikinnick. All of the products I've seen by these manufacturers are made with rice and tapioca flours. Glutino pretzels are fantastic. Kinnikinnick has a fantastic white sandwich bread (freezer section). Udi's also makes some good products, but their entire line is not gluten safe. And their frozen foods are expensive and TERRIBLE. They're like eating foods bought at a gas station. (I tried to contact customer service to complain, but they just said, "Thanks for purchasing our products. Sorry you didn't like them.").
Now, it turns out that the US has finally declared those with severe food allergies disabled. It's about time. Our fates are in the hands of those around us and we often become sick because people just don't know- or frankly don't care. But if you've got a food allergy, you know what it's like to be in a meeting and have to get up suddenly because your supposedly safe lunch turned out to not be safe.
In summary, gluten free products are not always gluten safe products. Be sure you read your labels CAREFULLY!
If you have questions or comments, please feel free to write to me.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Bubble Gum Flavoring
When my daughter came home from the hospital this week, we were given a prescription for oral antibiotics. I remember getting an eye or ear infection as a kid and getting the ubiquitous bottle of opaque pink Amoxicillin that tasted like Tutti-Fruiti and had to be kept in the refrigerator.
Honestly, what flavor is Tutti-Fruiti? I think it was invented when they couldn't find a good single fruit flavoring and dumped all of the flavorings together. My sister and I used to do something similar with the coke machines at burger joints. Both are equally as disgusting. I thought that Tutti-Fruiti was about as terrible as it came.
Then I got the medicine for my daughter.
It's "Bubble Gum" flavored.
Or, at least, that's what we were told. It doesn't smell like bubble gum. It has the same pepto-bismol pink as bubble gum, but it smells VILE. I mean VILE. And the smell lingers. It's like cooking fish- once you cooked it in your house, it SMELLS like fish for days.
Now, I have cats, as well, so I'm used to tasting a little bit of a medication before I give it to them. (As an aside, if you've ever tried to give your cats a prescription, you know it's like trying to force feed a Tasmanian devil. I HIGHLY recommend cream cheese for solids and tuna in OIL for liquids- tuna in water doesn't work because it doesn't smell enough). ANYWAY, so I taste this viscous sticky goo that I'm supposed to shoot into my daughter's mouth with a syringe.
_I_ gagged.
How is this supposed to be palatable for children!? And this was the antibiotic that tasted good. I hate to think what the others taste like.
But, being a biologist, I knew she had to take it, regardless of the flavor. And as a Mom, I wasn't surprised when she screamingly blurped out most of what I shot into her mouth.
At least the pharmacies are smart about this and give you EXTRA. I guess some incidently loss is expected.
After finally getting the dosage into her, I was thinking- who gives their 10 month old bubble gum? How is this a good flavor for them? Why not just "Applesauce" or "Pear"? Even "Blueberry"?
I was pondering this flavoring choice as I was AGAIN wiping up the rejected, sticky pink goo in my daugher's ear and skin folds. I had given her a Gerber Melt to help her wash the flavor down.
And then it hit me.
Why doesn't Gerber help out with the flavorings of some of these medicines? I think I would pay the premium to have something that actually went down easily.
And then I wondered why the medicines aren't in the freeze-dried little chips like the Gerber Melts. It seems like my daughter hates the fact that she has no control over what is being squirted into her mouth- even more than the flavor itself. She wants to control what goes in.
Why hasn't anyone in the food and drug industry thought of this yet?
Friday, January 18, 2013
Something Resembling Red Tape
Evidently there is a flu outbreak in the Twin Cities. Or as people said to me this past week "It's not flu, it's influenza."
First off, it's the same thing. For those that think there's a difference...well, they're just so stupid that I don't know what to say. I just try not to roll my eyes right at them.
Second of all, it's winter. There's a flu outbreak EVERY winter. It's because people are trapped inside with recirculated air. People travel to see others that they don't usually see- it all is a germ smorgasbord.
Ok, but let's say that, "oh my god, there's a communicable virus on the loose!" What should you DO!?
Obviously, avoid sick people. But should you not be able to do that, wash your hands after you touch anything and before you touch your face or your belongings. This REALLY cuts down on the spread of viruses.
But, wait, what about hand sanitizer?
It's a nice attempt at keeping your hands clean. It's what you should use if you don't have soap and water handy. You actually wash away 50% of the germs on your hands, just by rubbing them in the water; soap gets you the other 49% (well, up to). It's quite sad that doctors are now only using hand sanitizer because it doesn't stop everything. Hand sanitizers are usually alcohol-based, which means that you're just rubbing your hands with expensively perfumed isopropyl- that's the cheap rubbing alcohol. Soap and water wash away everything; hand sanitizers only work on LIVING bugs...you're still at risk for viruses.
So, you can either go with the expensively perfumed rubbing alcohol or the free soap and water in the bathroom.
Kleenex- make sure you have some at work. Don't just wipe your nose on your hand like a 5 year old. Oh, you think I'm kidding!? Sadly, no. Working in the IT world is like working with a bunch of kindergardeners with expensive toys.
And glasses- I honestly have always thought that people that wear glasses get less germs. I don't know that there has been a study on this, but it seems that providing a physical barrier between your eyes and the germs at large is a good idea. Accordingly, those of you who wear contacts...well, it seems like you're just rolling out the welcome mat. You see, the eyes are the only facial opening that doesn't have some sort of tonsil (aka lymph node) to help protect the body from invaders. The nose and mouth have tonsils; the ears have the the tympanic membrane (aka ear drum)- the eyes alone are unprotected.
But, I digress. I was tell you about the marvelous protective procedures from the Children's hospital. So, they have this policy about visitors to the hospital. You have to go to the front desk and they "screen" you. When I saw this written, I thought it was going to be a doctor sitting down there with a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff.
But, no.
It's the part-time volunteer at the front desk asking if you have a cough, a fever, or just don't feel well.
Some screening.
Then, if you answer No to these questions (regardless of how you actually ARE feeling), you get a little name sticker with your picture on it and the date. You get a green sticker if you say you're healthy, a yellow sticker if you say you feel a little ill, and a red sticker if you say you're sick.
Mind you, this is all self-reporting.
Well, if you're there multiple days in a row, you're supposed to go down and get a new sticker. But they can't tell until they get close enough to you to read the date because there aren't any other visual indicators that the badge is old.
They don't have a different layout each day (like picture on the left/picture on the right)
They don't have a different print color.
They don't even have the day of the week.
And then there's the picture. With my hair back in a pony tail, the picture I took could be anyone- male or female, of any age BECAUSE IT'S SO WASHED OUT, YOU CAN BARELY MAKE OUT THE FACE!
It just seems like it's more public brainwashing like the TSA security measures that have no real security in them AT ALL. They do not protect you from dangerous things on airplanes- they're just as worth while as this sorry excuse for germ security.
So, I guess my message is this: don't be fooled by other people's germ security or a little sticker saying they're well. Take care of yourself this season. It's all up to you.
First off, it's the same thing. For those that think there's a difference...well, they're just so stupid that I don't know what to say. I just try not to roll my eyes right at them.
Second of all, it's winter. There's a flu outbreak EVERY winter. It's because people are trapped inside with recirculated air. People travel to see others that they don't usually see- it all is a germ smorgasbord.
Ok, but let's say that, "oh my god, there's a communicable virus on the loose!" What should you DO!?
Obviously, avoid sick people. But should you not be able to do that, wash your hands after you touch anything and before you touch your face or your belongings. This REALLY cuts down on the spread of viruses.
But, wait, what about hand sanitizer?
It's a nice attempt at keeping your hands clean. It's what you should use if you don't have soap and water handy. You actually wash away 50% of the germs on your hands, just by rubbing them in the water; soap gets you the other 49% (well, up to). It's quite sad that doctors are now only using hand sanitizer because it doesn't stop everything. Hand sanitizers are usually alcohol-based, which means that you're just rubbing your hands with expensively perfumed isopropyl- that's the cheap rubbing alcohol. Soap and water wash away everything; hand sanitizers only work on LIVING bugs...you're still at risk for viruses.
So, you can either go with the expensively perfumed rubbing alcohol or the free soap and water in the bathroom.
Kleenex- make sure you have some at work. Don't just wipe your nose on your hand like a 5 year old. Oh, you think I'm kidding!? Sadly, no. Working in the IT world is like working with a bunch of kindergardeners with expensive toys.
And glasses- I honestly have always thought that people that wear glasses get less germs. I don't know that there has been a study on this, but it seems that providing a physical barrier between your eyes and the germs at large is a good idea. Accordingly, those of you who wear contacts...well, it seems like you're just rolling out the welcome mat. You see, the eyes are the only facial opening that doesn't have some sort of tonsil (aka lymph node) to help protect the body from invaders. The nose and mouth have tonsils; the ears have the the tympanic membrane (aka ear drum)- the eyes alone are unprotected.
But, I digress. I was tell you about the marvelous protective procedures from the Children's hospital. So, they have this policy about visitors to the hospital. You have to go to the front desk and they "screen" you. When I saw this written, I thought it was going to be a doctor sitting down there with a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff.
But, no.
It's the part-time volunteer at the front desk asking if you have a cough, a fever, or just don't feel well.
Some screening.
Then, if you answer No to these questions (regardless of how you actually ARE feeling), you get a little name sticker with your picture on it and the date. You get a green sticker if you say you're healthy, a yellow sticker if you say you feel a little ill, and a red sticker if you say you're sick.
Mind you, this is all self-reporting.
Well, if you're there multiple days in a row, you're supposed to go down and get a new sticker. But they can't tell until they get close enough to you to read the date because there aren't any other visual indicators that the badge is old.
They don't have a different layout each day (like picture on the left/picture on the right)
They don't have a different print color.
They don't even have the day of the week.
And then there's the picture. With my hair back in a pony tail, the picture I took could be anyone- male or female, of any age BECAUSE IT'S SO WASHED OUT, YOU CAN BARELY MAKE OUT THE FACE!
It just seems like it's more public brainwashing like the TSA security measures that have no real security in them AT ALL. They do not protect you from dangerous things on airplanes- they're just as worth while as this sorry excuse for germ security.
So, I guess my message is this: don't be fooled by other people's germ security or a little sticker saying they're well. Take care of yourself this season. It's all up to you.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Breastfeeding Beyond 6 Months
So, this is something I didn't know anything about. I thought that if I could make it breastfeeding to 6 months, I was doing great.
It's now month 11 and I'm still working at it.
And it's WORK.
But I still am able to get some milk out, which is good. I found out from a lactation consultant, after I stopped being able to pump out 2 oz/60+ mls out of every breast every 2 hours, that my milk production would naturally decrease after 6 months. It's just part of the whole process. I was really freaked out about it. It's something that only I can give my daughter and it's something that I find is so important to me- well, I just never would have guessed I would feel that way about squirting milk out of my boobs.
So, there were some things that I have done that really have helped me continue to breastfeed.
Best of luck to you!
It's now month 11 and I'm still working at it.
And it's WORK.
But I still am able to get some milk out, which is good. I found out from a lactation consultant, after I stopped being able to pump out 2 oz/60+ mls out of every breast every 2 hours, that my milk production would naturally decrease after 6 months. It's just part of the whole process. I was really freaked out about it. It's something that only I can give my daughter and it's something that I find is so important to me- well, I just never would have guessed I would feel that way about squirting milk out of my boobs.
So, there were some things that I have done that really have helped me continue to breastfeed.
- Fenugreek. It's an herb. You can get it anywhere. You take a couple capsules throughout the day and it helps your body convert food into milk.
- Pump every 2-3 hours, even at night. I hear this so often, "oh, it's ok if you just let yourself sleep and skip pumpings/feedings." These are the same women that don't make it past 8 months because their milk dries up. Go figure. If you want to continue to breastfeed, keep up the pumpings.
- If you bottle feed and breastfeed, use the smallest nipple size forever. I did this because I couldn't breastfeed at work, but wanted to as soon as I got home. We use the Dr. Brown's bottles, which are great. But if you follow the nipple size instructions, the baby's pull gets weak, which means that they won't pull as much milk out of you ever time, thereby decreasing the volume you make..that's if they will take the breast at all after getting a fast flow nipple. We started with the P size nipple. When we increased to the Size 1 nipple because the instructions told us it was time, the baby stopped breastfeeding and did a lot of choking. She also sucked down the milk in the bottle REALLY fast, but was still hungry. This is because she was eating too fast. When we went back to the P size nipple, she stopped choking and spitting up and she went back to breastfeeding.
- Make sure you eat enough. I just naturally found myself reverting to my old diet as I got more active. However, that wasn't enough calories to keep me going and make milk or her. As soon as I started to eat more, my milk came back.
- Make sure you drink LOTS of water. I mean a LOT. I have a 32oz water bottle and I drink at least 1/2 of it after every daily feeding and a full bottle at least after every evening feeding. A good rule of thumb for whether or not you're drinking enough is: if you don't have to pee, you didn't drink enough. You should have to pee every hour to two hours.
- I found that even with all of this, my milk still wasn't letting down very well after month 8. I found that Acupuncture really helped. She prescribed Plum Flower's Free and Easy Wanderer to help with the milk let down. (NOTE the word PRESCRIBED- be smart about what you put in your body).
- Finally, stay away from any caffeine or alcohol. They are diuretics and decrease your milk production besides.
She's 10 months and she's doing fine with the P size nipple. When she wants it out fast, she gets it out fast. She's completely in the middle of the age/weight chart, so she's doing fine.
Best of luck to you!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
When You Know It's Time to Change Jobs
Yes, I'm getting a lot of, uh, SUBLIMINAL messages about some things that need to change in my life right now. One of them, as we already knew, is that I need to change my job. But what really got me was this:
I was on the phone with the HR recruiter for the company that I work for, the company that I joined because it was supposedly so family-centric, and I told her about having my baby in at the hospital, that we would be here for a week, ...she actually asked me this:
"So, do you think you'd be able to go to an interview in a day or so?"
yeah, she actually asked me to leave my sick INFANT that just had surgery to go to an interview that my chances of getting are slim to none because I don't have the required experience.
Can you believe it?
The best part is that the same woman called again, and AGAIN asked me to go on an interview this week- in person.
It's like it just doesn't sink in.
I am curious- if you feel like sharing- what is the most outrageous thing your company has ever asked of you? This seemed to be right up there with, "Are you retarded?"
I was on the phone with the HR recruiter for the company that I work for, the company that I joined because it was supposedly so family-centric, and I told her about having my baby in at the hospital, that we would be here for a week, ...she actually asked me this:
"So, do you think you'd be able to go to an interview in a day or so?"
yeah, she actually asked me to leave my sick INFANT that just had surgery to go to an interview that my chances of getting are slim to none because I don't have the required experience.
Can you believe it?
The best part is that the same woman called again, and AGAIN asked me to go on an interview this week- in person.
It's like it just doesn't sink in.
I am curious- if you feel like sharing- what is the most outrageous thing your company has ever asked of you? This seemed to be right up there with, "Are you retarded?"
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
You Know You Need a New Doctor When...
So, we've had a bit of a busy time.
We got to take our daughter into the hospital an infection that wasn't an emergency when we went to the doctor, but it became an emergency because the doctor sent us to the wrong place. I think that it's probably time to get a new doctor when:
So, yeah....
We set out in the morning to get our daughter checked out for a small problem, but the doctor dilly dallied about so much that it became an ER visit at the end of the evening.
Needless to say, I have a lot of comments about the failure of the Allina medical system to help us out. I also have to say that my experience at the ghetto hospital has proven to be everything I expected, with the exception of the fact that there was no room for nursing down in the ER.
THIS IS A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
Do you think, maybe, PERHAPS, there might be nursing mothers?!?
Alas, I will have to gather my thoughts on these excessive failures and collect them into something more intelligible.
In the meantime, kiss your kids and be grateful that you don't have to have a baby with an IV.
We got to take our daughter into the hospital an infection that wasn't an emergency when we went to the doctor, but it became an emergency because the doctor sent us to the wrong place. I think that it's probably time to get a new doctor when:
- Your doctor doesn't know how to get the correct referral.
- Your doctor doesn't know that a child can only be seen at a Children's hospital in Minnesota.
- Your doctor doesn't say she doesn't know.
- Your doctor feels that excessive drooling is a differential/unique symptom to a problem in a child that's teething.
So, yeah....
We set out in the morning to get our daughter checked out for a small problem, but the doctor dilly dallied about so much that it became an ER visit at the end of the evening.
Needless to say, I have a lot of comments about the failure of the Allina medical system to help us out. I also have to say that my experience at the ghetto hospital has proven to be everything I expected, with the exception of the fact that there was no room for nursing down in the ER.
THIS IS A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
Do you think, maybe, PERHAPS, there might be nursing mothers?!?
Alas, I will have to gather my thoughts on these excessive failures and collect them into something more intelligible.
In the meantime, kiss your kids and be grateful that you don't have to have a baby with an IV.
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