Reston Mom

Haiti on my mind

I want to say something about the devastating situation of Haiti.  How can you not say something about that? 

I just am not sure what I want to say.  

I guess I want to say that the situation is bad. Really bad.  An understatement.  I want to say that I can hardly think about all the little babies who have been barely clinging to life - some lying on the pavement outside of orphanages, bones broken, little water if any, perhaps only one adult to try to care for them all. I want to say that it breaks my heart just as badly to hear of women trying to sell themselves (and succeeding) to get money or whatever they need.  

There is so much desperation.  My gut aches for the people there.  I cry out to God for their relief!

But, I guess what I also want to say is:

There is so much hope.  My heart races every time I hear of another miracle.  Like spring flowers lifting their heads through the snow come the stories of hope rising through the rubble. Another baby found alive after eight days.  Halleluiah!  A Christian man trapped is able to share his faith with another trapped man and that man finds hope for the future.  Babies who were previously waiting on the paperwork to come home to their adoptive families in America are here now and more coming quickly. Aid is reaching people. Love and necessities are being extended to the Haitians from people all over the globe. Hope is spreading.  

I guess what I want to say is that Haiti is on my mind and in my heart again today. And in my prayers.

I pray.

I pray.

I know my prayers rise in tandem with millions of others.  

Do you want to know where God is today? Don't look for Him among the clouds.  

God is in Haiti. 

Turn your eyes there - as the smoke clears, you will see Him, cradling his babies. 

petition for Haiti children

I took this from the God's Littlest Angels in Haiti blog - the link is good, go there and sign the petition!

From: [email protected] 
To: [email protected] 
Sent: 1/15/2010 12:12:46 P.M. Mountain Standard Time 
Subj: petition to bring already-adopted children out of haiti now

Please circulate this petition immediately for "US Should Issue Visas to Bring Already-Adopted Children out of Haiti Now!" to as many people as possible. We are approaching 1000 signatures – the more we gather, the stronger the statement. The signatures are for use with the State Department and US Congresspersons, as a tool to push for action. A pdf of the list of signatures will be made available to any credible organization who requests it for this purpose. Should you need a copy of this petition and signatures, please email me for the latest copy.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/visasforadoptedhaitianchildren/

Sincerely,

Janelle Benedict

parent of child in Haiti

What breaks my heart

Here is topic that is not pretty - but I kinda feel like I need to say something about it.  This is something that repeatedly draws my attention and breaks my heart.  I'm anxious to be further involved in helping - but for today, my one step is just to get some information out there.  I don't think most people walk around with reality - so here you go, you've got two choices: harden your heart so you can get past the pain, or steel your resolve to help do something about this.

I'm talking about child sex trafficking.

Did you know that the U.S. is among the top countries in the world for sex trafficking?

My 5 yr. old daughter is sitting beside me doing her school work while I work on posting.  She looks up at me and smiles with pride at how her handwriting is improving.  The only thing she's worried about right now is what she'll have to choose from for lunch today. I can't imagine her any other way.  I refuse to take her in my mind to the places where some other children live - to their days, their fears.  I can't because I can't bear it.  I will not connect her face with that pain.  No child should wear that face. 

1.2 million children are being trafficked every year in addition to the millions already held captive in trafficking. Every 2 minutes a child is being prepared for sexual exploitation. (UNICEF)

The average victim is forced to have sex up to 40 times a day (US Dept. of Justice)

The average age of a victim is 11-14 years old (US Dept of State)

The total market value of illicit human trafficking is estimated to be in excess of $32 Billion (UN)

Girls as young as 4-6 yrs. are sold by their own families into the sex slave trace (US Dept. of State)

The FBI reports over 300,000 children in the U.S. are at risk of being sexually exploited for commercial uses (FBI)

This is an epidemic that cannot be ignored.  Money and perversion are winning as people are trafficked from 127 countries to be exploited in 137 countries (UNODC).  Will we continue to sit by in our cozy homes and at our happy playgrounds and ignore this?  Will you?

If you'd like to find out more about what you can do, check out these websites: IJM.org or www.crisisaid.org

could babies born in American hospitals be left to die?

This is not meant to be an incendiary post - it's just that I've been contemplating this a lot lately and am surprised that I never really gave thought to this angle very much before.  

So, I posted earlier about this article which talks about a woman who gave birth in Great Britain to a baby that was alive, breathing,  and completely healthy other than normal complications from having been born before 22 weeks, but was refused care for the baby (which died in her arms 2 hrs. later) due to the fact that according to British National Healthcare Guidelines, a baby is not a baby until it is 22 weeks old.  Consequently, the mother was also refused steroid shots to strengthen the baby's immature lungs for birth when she arrived at the hospital in labor nor was she able to receive medicine to help stop the labor - both because the baby was less than 22 weeks old.  

Most people stand aghast at this.  I do.

But then, I realized, the only reason this doesn't happen in our own country is because our healthcare isn't government run. 

Because, if your stance is pro-choice then under a government run healthcare system, this also has to be your stance - that babies under a given age, ie: 22 weeks, don't qualify for any help or care even if they are born alive to a parent who desperately wants and loves them - because they aren't babies.  

The best way I can find to explain why this is so, is to use the words of President Obama from his March 30, 2001 statement on the Illinois floor (disclaimer - this is not a post about Obama, but he is an example of a pro-choice politician and he put these words clearly)

OBAMA: "Number one, whenever we define a previable fetus as a person that is protected by the equal protection clause or the other elements in the Constitution, what we're really saying is, in fact, that they are persons that are entitled to the kinds of protections that would be provided to a -- a child, a nine-month-old -- child that was delivered to term.  That determination then, essentially, if it was accepted by a court, would forbid abortions to take place.  I mean, it -- it would essentially bar abortions, because the equal protection clause does not allow somebody to kill a child, and if this is a child, then this would be an anti-abortion statute."

So basically, if early-term abortion is legal because prior to 22 weeks a baby is not a fetus, not a baby-human with rights - then that must also be upheld in other circumstances.  Because the moment a preemie is born before 22 weeks and you consider this breathing, living baby a person with rights that demand you to help them fight to survive - then you must also consider all of the babies that are aborted prior to 22 weeks as babies with rights to life and essentially you contradict a pro-choice stance - or you support infanticide.  

This is Obama's stance and under a government run healthcare system, these are the kinds of things that could be put into practice even in America.  

I think that pro-choice supporters most often see abortion as a personal choice that doesn't affect anyone but the mother and perhaps the father.  But, maybe that is simply because in this country - we still fight to protect the lives of those preemies that are wanted by their parents.  However, seen in one light, in conjunction with goverment run health care - your desire to retain the choice to abort a pregnancy also becomes the choice to stand by and let my beloved premature baby unneccesarily die.

how the world views babies

I was pointed towards this article at Parent Dish by Kirsten about how in Britain, babies who are not yet 22 weeks old are not considered babies as established in the British National Healthcare Guidelines and therefore if your baby is born before 22 weeks - even with a vital chance - you can receive no healthcare for them to ensure their survival (as was the case with the baby in this story).  Oh - my heart is in my feet! and my head is about to pop off with outrage!  Couple this with a story featured on NPR that I was recently listening to about the plight of mothers in rural China under the one child rule who are forced into having abortions.  That particular story focused on one couple who had no previous children and had filed all the appropriate government paperwork for their pregnancy and then were forced to have an abortion by mistake.  

I can't stand this.  

I really can't stand this.

I can't write everything I would need or want to say about unborn babies and born babies in this space, so I won't - but I also cannot just say nothing.  So for right now, I'm simply throwing this out there and saying it's outrageous.

I'm also not going to go all politicky on you right now - but I will say this: I'm still pretty gray on the whole government run healthcare issue, I see pro's and con's and that makes it not too easy to fully stand on one side or the other.  But, I must say that the article mentioned above did cause me to pause and think about where things could go (I stress "could" not "would" or "must") should our government be in control of our healthcare.  Ponder....

Tasty news! free Reston Yogen Fruz!

Yogen Fruz is celebrating it's grand opening at the Reston Town Center with free small frozen yogurts from 12 - 1 pm.  That combined with $1 flip-flops at Old Navy that day adds up to one terrific Saturday!

Amtrak's National Train Day

If your kids love trains, then this is for you!  If they don't love trains, they might after this:

Amtrak will be celebrating America’s love for rail travel at the 2^nd Annual National Train Day event in DC on tomorrow, May 9 from 10 am to 3 pm (EST). This is a great event for the whole family and the best part is that it’s free!

This year, American Idol Judge, Randy Jackson will be at Union Station to help celebrate 140 years of train travel throughout the country!  Other festivities will also include Radio Disney, magicians, face painters, train exhibits and more! 

The Georgia 300, President Obama’s historic inaugural private train car will also be at Union Station for all to see! The Dover Harbor will be on display as well.

(Also, earn quadruple Amtrak Guest Rewards points for any trip taken on National Train Day, Saturday, May 9, 2009.)

$.31 night at Baskin Robbins

Between 5 and 10 pm tonight - April 29,  you can get a scoop from Baskin Robbins for just 31 cents and help out America's firefighters at the same time.

Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee day

Tomorrow is iced coffee day at Dunkin' Donuts - which means iced coffee for $.50 - now that's something I'm down with.  Although, I know better than to walk in there because I totally lack self-control when it comes to donuts.

Here's something else - for every iced coffee you buy, 10% will go to support Home for our Troops. Awesome! - and yet, come on....what is that like $.05?  Better than nothing, but a little cheapy don't you think?  We can do better than that can't we?  I know it adds up and we've got a company talking profit margin here - I totally support the effort, don't get me wrong.  At least they are getting the word out about a great organization.  Who wants breakfast tomorrow?

Free Chick-Fil-A tonight only!

For all the locals:  I was told that the Chick-Fil-A on Rte 7 in Sterling will have free kids meals from 6-8 tonight (Thursday) and a drawing for a little bike for all children who are wearing their pajamas.  So, if you don't know what you are doing for dinner, here is one option!

Toxic E-waste

I saw this video on 60 Minutes last night and was appalled!  It made me look at my own computer and some of America's big problems in a new way.  Ugh - so crappy.


Watch CBS Videos Online

Free Krispy Kreme for voters

Thanks to my friend Erica for pointing this one out!  Oh where is the nearest Krispy Kreme - I have such a weakness for donuts!  What do you guys think about all this free stuff on Election Day?  If your candidate doesn't win, at least you get a donut for consolation! What a country we live in.....

Free Election Day Scoops at Ben & Jerry's

Participating Ben and Jerry's ice cream stores are giving away free scoops tomorrow from 5 - 8 pm.
Election day is looking better and better....the end of the campaigns (amen to that!), free Starbucks and free Ben and Jerry's!  Isn't America grand?

vote and get free Starbs

If you haven't already heard....vote tomorrow and Starbucks will give you a tall cup of coffee on them.  Okay.  We already have more important incentives to vote, but a free cup of coffee ain't a bad thing.

Family with Down Syndrome Child meets Candidates

This post isn't really meant to be a campaign for or against anybody....I just thought it was a nice story.
Family with Down Syndrome Child Meets John McCain and Sarah Palin                                                                      September 9, 2008

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT:
RUSH: Kurt in Pittsburgh, hello, sir.  Nice to have your on the EIB Network, and how about the Steelers defense?
CALLER: How about those Steelers, huh?RUSH: How about that?

CALLER: Hey, listen, Rush, longtime listener, first-time caller, one of those Bible, family, gun clingers from western Pennsylvania.
RUSH: Thank you.
CALLER: And I wanted to share a story with you. A week ago last Saturday we went to the Palin-McCain rally in Washington, Pennsylvania, was the day after he announced her , and we have a five-year-old daughter wit hDown syndrome, and we made a sign that said: "We Love Kids with Down Syndrome."  So when they pulled in in their bus the sign did catch their, McCain and Palin and the rest of their family, it caught their eye, we could tell, they gave us a thumbs-up from the bus, so we were all excited just by that --
RUSH: Wait, wait, wait.  Who gave you the thumbs up, McCain and Palin?
CALLER: McCain, Palin, Cindy McCain, we could see them from the bus. We were in a position where we had eye contact with them --
RUSH: Oh, cool.
CALLER: My wife was holding our daughter
RUSH: Very, very, very cool.
CALLER: It was really cool, Rush.  I was like, "Wow, that's awesome," because I love Governor Palin and so I thought that's really neat.  So then we moved around as the bus was getting ready to pull out, we kind of positioned ourselves so we could just wave them on and a Secret Service agent came up to us and said, "Hey, can you come with us?"  I was like, "Do we have a choice?"
RUSH: (laughing) You shouldn't have worried.  It's not the Clinton administration.
CALLER: Right. So we accompanied them up the hill, we went right to the bus, where it was, and Governor Palin, Senator McCain, Cindy, Todd Palin, they're all standing there.  We're in this inner circle with just us and them and the Secret Service agent, and they came right up to us and thanked us for coming out, said they loved our sing, and Governor Palin immediately said, "May I hold your daughter?" and our daughter Chloe, who's five, went right to her, and I have some pictures I'd love to send you maybe when I'm done here, but Governor Palin was hugging Chloe and then her little daughter brought their baby Trig who has Down syndrome from the bus, he was napping, and Chloe went right over and kissed him on the cheek, and my son Nolan who's nine, he thanked her.
RUSH: This is amazing.
CALLER: I will send you all the stuff, Senator McCain was talking to my son, and we thanked him for his service, and he asked my son if he wanted to see the bus, and we were hanging out and it was very surreal.  I felt like we could have had a pizza and a beer with them, they were so warm.
RUSH: You know what? I want to put you on hold.  I want Snerdley to give you our super-secret, known-only-to-three-people here, e-mail address.
CALLER: I will send you everything, Rush.
RUSH: And then could you send us these pictures?  Would you mind if we put them on the website?
CALLER: I would be honored, and my main thing is they are warm, kind, genuine people, and they represent the best of this country.
  - a little more banter about the pictures and stuff --
CALLER:  Well, we're very blessed and I want people to know what a blessing it is to have a child with Down Syndrome.  These kids, they're angels.
RUSH:  That's the thing. There's always good to be found in everything that happens.  It may be a while before it reveals itself.
CALLER: Absolutely.
RUSH: Right, and when she hugged my daughter I said, here's the difference, this candidate embraces life and all its limitless possibilities.
RUSH: All right.
CALLER:  That's what she is.
RUSH:  Terrific, okay, I gotta run here, but I'm going to put you on hold.
CALLER: Thank you, Rush.
RUSH: Thank you, Kurt.  I really appreciate it. 
END TRANSCRIPT


             

             

             

             

Great American Dine Out

From September 21-28 2008, thousands of restaurants across America will unite and mobilize consumers to dine out and raise millions of dollars to help Share Our Strength end childhood hunger in America.  All you have to do is go eat at a participating restaurant and a portion of the proceeds will go to benefit this great cause.  There are tons of restaurants (good ones and also places like Caribou Coffee) here in Reston alone that are participating.  Go here to check them out or to find restaurants near where you live. 

Kid's art festival at Reston Town Center

The 8th annual GWAC Youth Art Fest is being brought from D.C. to the Reston Town Center this year on September 27 from 1 to 6pm.  The event is open to all kids K-12 and will include a mini concert, performances, arts and crafts, games, activities and prizes for the whole family.  The event also includes an art competition with a judging panel that includes esteemed directors, professors and artists from institutions such as the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, John F. Kennedy Center, Corcoran School of Art & Design, George Mason University and the Duke Ellington School of Arts.
 Proceeds from the event will go to benefit Devotion To Children. They are a small Reston-based non-profit who provide high quality educational and childcare programs for children aged six and under from economically disadvantaged families, so that their parents can be relieved of childcare burdens and be gainfully employed.
Come out and join in the fun, let your kids explore their creativity, and celebrate art! You can learn more by visiting www.YouthArtFest.com - where you will also find the guidelines for entering the art competition. Otherwise, just come out for face painting, balloon artists, dance and martial art performances, great children's art, games, and more....
And, if you are interested in volunteering or helping out, Alicia would love to hear from you at [email protected].
 

Cheesecake Factory - slices for $1.50

That's right...on Wednesday, July 30th, (which is by the way, National Cheesecake Day!) The C-Factory is celebrating it's 30th anniversary by selling at original prices.  Translation: any slice of cheesecake for a buck fifty!  It's going to be a busy night!
And, I have to thank BeachBabies for the scoop (or should I say, the slice :)

global food crisis and making a difference

It is shameful how easy it is to complain about rising costs of gas and groceries from the comfort of the richest nation in the world. I have to fight to keep perspective.  I don't know if you are aware that there is a global food crisis happening right now and that people are suffering.  It has been said that this crisis could potentially plunge an additional 100 million families on each continent into hunger.
"A combination of natural disasters, rising oil prices, and a reduction in staple food items like rice are ravaging families who were already struggling to buy food for their family. Because of these factors inflation has kicked in and caused food prices to soar over the past few months. This rise in food prices triggered the recent outbreak of violence in Haiti and in Bangladesh the cost of a kilo of rice went from $.31 to $.56 in less than 3 months. Most of these families living in poverty earn less than $2 per day and most of them are skipping meals because of the increase in costs." 
Brian Seay summarizes a massive issue - and his family has decided to make a small change to help make a difference. They aren't the only ones. A few families I know have decided to give up one dinner meal each week to just eat rice, only rice.  They will spend that evening teaching their children about a different country and families in crisis.  They have also decided to give 10% of their weekly grocery budget to the Compassion Food Crisis Fund.  Brian has said that he will write a weekly post with stories from these countries and their specific needs to help any family who would join their efforts.  I am so inspired by these families and appreciate the fact that they will not only make a difference by contributing financially, but they will also make a difference by raising compassionate children who will continue to look beyond themselves into the world around them. 

organics; better for kids, not the environment

While organic foods are better for human consumption...they aren't helping the globe's issue of greenhouse gases, in fact they may be contributing. 

• it takes more organically raised animals to meet the production of conventionally raised animals; more animals = more emissions.
• an organically raised cow gives off 16% more greenhouse gases than a conventionally raised cow; that's more cows + more emissions per cow
• organic beef steers take longer to achieve slaughter weight; more time = more emissions
• grass-fed cows burp up almost twice as much methane as grain-fed cows
• an organic chicken's lifetime greenhouse gas emissions exceed a non-organic bird's by 45%
• the meat-intensive diet generates 1.5 tons of greenhouse gases per year more than a vegetarian diet according to researchers at the University of Chicago
• organic fruits and veggies must use up more land per unit of food to match conventional yields
• plenty of organic foods are actually produced by industrial-scale farms, then shipped thousands of miles to their destination; picture refrigerated trucks belching carbon-dioxide and energy-dependent hothouses
• genetic-engineering may save millions of tons of CO2 annually
• rice that is genetically engineered to be nitrogen-efficient may save 50 million tons of carbon-dioxide per year

If you are serious about adopting a climate-friendly diet, you may find that the best bet is to cut out meat and eat food that is conventionally grown locally and in season. 

Celebrate Mama!

On Sat. June, 7th there will be a "Celebrate Mama!" celebration held in D.C.    It's basically a big carnival of expo booths that brings together local products, services, and organizations that cater to mamas.   Each location has entertainment, crafts, raffles, and on-site services sprinkled in throughout the event.  Goodie bags will be given out to the first 250 families.  If you can't make it to this one, there will also be a celebration held in Vienna this fall - and if you want to participate as a vendor or just get your info. in their gift packets, here is the information.  Otherwise, check the website for more information about locations near you and ways that Celebrate Mama! can help market your business. 

more on vaccines and autism

I've posted a video of a CBS interview with former N.I.H. director Dr. Bernadine Healy.  You'll find a candid conversation about the lack of research to determine whether there is a link in some sub-groups of people between vaccines and autism.  This video has been circulating through various parenting blogs and I just wanted to make a particular comment; while I am in agreement with Dr. Healy and don't necessarily agree with what has been our Government's stance/approach to this area of research, I can understand that the position has been complicated and difficult.  Vaccine rates are already dropping due to various reasons including general discomfort by parents because of an overload of information and a lack of research.   However, if the government were to officially say with any kind of strong, authoritative statement that "some children are put at risk of developing autism in conjunction with vaccines" without fully understanding who those children are, it would in the meantime of conducting research, cause parents who don't know if their children fall into that category to certainly discontinue vaccinating their children to remove the possible risk.  I do agree that the government should do intense research on these hypotheses, but I also disagree with Dr. Healy when she says that she doesn't think it would scare the public. Being stuck in the unknown is already a source of fear and concern for many parents.  Having clear results following intensive research won't scare us and are a must, but how to handle this in the meantime is tricky.  Vaccines remain the number one effective strategy for wiping out serious epidemic diseases - the government is responsible to those children who may be at risk, but they are responsible for caring for a lot more than that too.  complete CBS story

character and cartoons

I recently had a conversation with my husband where I made comment about cartoons.....the cartoons our kids would be familiar with are more and more engineered for educational purposes - getting smart.  Super Why, Word World, Little Einsteins are all prime examples, but even Dora and Diego include interactive decisions based on color, shape, logic, etc.... Entire channels are based around cartoons that are educational (sprout for preschoolers for example) - and it seems the more "educational" it is, as in the more math, science, reading help it contains, the more it appeals to parents.  Other than maybe Sesame Street and a few other obscure programs, this wasn't the case when I was a child at all.  Rather the cartoons were geared towards character. Remember the old-school CareBears who came down to offer support, advice, and cheer to children? Even the Smurfs and GummiBears in their good guys vs. the bad guy escapades usually had some moral or character-building wrap up to the plot.  Well, cartoons are just cartoons and this is somewhat of a ridiculous post...but there just might be a cultural trend that is subtly reflected here.  Are parents placing more importance on scholastic aptitude and IQ scores than on building good character? Well, I don't know.  But I do know that I've had more conversations at the playground about preschool and learning how to read than I have about teaching honesty, generosity, and keeping your word.  And, I've met more kids on the playground who can read and do math but find no trouble in directly lying to me and bullying other kids.  Just some observations.

rise in Measles

Recently the CDC reported the largest spike in measles cases since 2001.  Apparently there are two factors to consider regarding:  one factor may be, as the CDC reported, that the vaccinations are in some instances being given out of accordance with the recommended schedule which may inhibit the effectiveness and the other factor is the rise in the number of parents opting out of having their children vaccinated for various reasons.  Here are some interesting things to note:

• in the last 4 months, the CDC has reported 64 confirmed cases of measles in 9 states
• according to the ABC news report, "Of the 59 measles cases among U.S. residents, 21 of the people were between 16 months and 19 years old -- and 14 of them claimed vaccination exemptions due to religious or personal beliefs."
• according to the NY Times report, ""Before 1963, when the vaccine became available in this country, there were three million to four million cases of measles annually. The disease killed 400 to 500 children a year and put 48,000 in the hospital. The vaccine wiped out transmission here by 2000, but the disease can easily be imported because there are so many cases overseas.
• There is no cure for the measles, it can have horrible medical consequences, and worldwide, measles still kills 242,000 children a year.

Speaking Engagement

  I've been asked to serve as guest speaker for RCC at the movie theaters in Reston Town Center and I'd love to have you there.  So please come join me Sunday at 10 am when I'll be sharing some insights about parenting and motherhood.  It's going to be a great time and I'm looking forward to it and to hopefully sharing that time with you. 

Community Spelling Bee

Here's a great opportunity!   SCORE! (located in the Northpoint Village Center) is hosting a community-wide spelling bee.  The spelling bee is completely free of charge and open to kids from K-10th grades.  The winners have the chance to WIN UP TO $1500 in college savings bonds! Here's what you need to know:

When:
Saturday, March 29th
11-2:00 pm

Where:
Mott Community Center
12111 Braddock Rd
Fairfax, VA 20124

To Register:
registration is free
call (703) 464-9300 or visit SCORE! at 1424 North Point Village Center before March 29th.

If you are unfamiliar with SCORE! Educational Centers you may find it a great resource.  Their mission is to deliver academic progress in a fun learning environment to inspire kids grades Pre-K through 10th to love learning.

 

Ask RESTONMOM - 3/13/08

Dear Restonmom,
"As a mom of an almost-12-year-old daughter, I've been really bothered by the TV commercials for Gardasil (the vaccine being promoted for young girls to guard against Human Papillomavirus). Several states currently have bills trying to make this a mandatory vaccine for girls entering 6th grade (with, in most, if not all cases a parental opt-out). I know you often address medical issues, and specifically vaccine related ones. I've been doing some research on it myself and was wondering if you had looked into this at all or had any thoughts on the topic." Jessi

Dear Jessi,
This is a great question and one that could be addressed from many angles.  For my readers who don't know, Gardasil is a vaccine recommended to girls from 9-26 years of age for the prevention of HPV, a disease which is transmitted sexually, and which may cause cervical cancer or other cancers. It is the most common STD, over 50% of all sexually active people acquire HPV at some point in their lives. The really great thing about this vaccine is that it is a huge medical breakthrough in preventative medicine against cancer - and that is amazing and worth celebrating.  The debatable issue is safety - as for now, it appears safe and lacks any evidence which really critically holds up against that.  However, being very new, there is much more research that needs to be done. The downside to this vaccination is that the disease it addresses is totally preventable with abstinence or in the context of a faithful marriage, and perhaps that is the issue upon which more attention and education should be applied.  As far as making the vaccine mandatory within schools, this may seem a new issue because of the targeted age....however, it is really quite in line with the already implemented practices of having elementary school children required to be vaccinated against certain infectious diseases such as measles.  The general idea is that by implementing mass vaccinations some diseases can eventually be completely eradicated or made to be extremely rare throughout large populations.  There are so many things we could talk about surrounding this topic, but I'll simply leave you all with a final story: I went to high school with a young woman who later fell in love and got married with the hopes of starting a family.  Sadly, she experienced a rape and she was infected by HPV. Due to the cancer, her chance of ever having children was lost.  Her cancer is terminal, and right now she is dying.  She is just 30 years old.

Dear Readers,  please feel free to comment with your own thoughts or feelings.

Can you trust your doctor, part 2

I got some great responses to my first post, and I hope if you have something to say, you'll still comment there or here.  I just thought I'd throw a few more things out there for discussion, and I'll try to be as sensitive as I can.  It seems like what many people need in order to develop trust is a relationship with their doctor - and rightly so, it also seems that people aren't getting this, but rather rushed, impersonal care.  I'm convinced that the issue with this lies elsewhere - the Doctor ends up being the front man for problems in the healthcare system.  It's like going to a restaurant; if the kitchen screws up, it's the server who gets stiffed.  Is anyone aware that often doctors are actually only alotted a certain amount of time to be with each patient? say 15 min. - which is clearly not enough time to do a good job, any doctor would agree with that - but practices and hospitals jam-packed with a list of patients can't fit everyone in and give that kind of care, it is impossible.  As part of the problem, our health care system is bombarded by really frustrating issues - it is excruciating to learn how much money and time is spent in caring for illnesses directly related to being overweight, for example.  Avoidable diseases, non-emergencies, paperwork and other things are taking a lot of your doctor's time away from you.  There are lots of issues within the health care system that I just can't properly address here, but I know that so many doctors are just as frustrated.  I definitely would be an advocate for doctors and health practitioners to give more time to conversation and care in the room as well as having time to do the reading, research, and additional work outside of the examination room that is needed to diagnose and advise....but I also would be an advocate for encouraging patients to understand that many doctors do have a superb amount of trustworthy knowledge and experience which is beneficial and a heart and a desire to offer the very best care that they can.  It's a shame that doctor-patient relationships have to be so tricky these days and influenced by so much - it takes a lot of understanding on both sides.

Can doctors be trusted?

I'm going to make an interesting comment and I'd love to hear your thoughts.  I've been seeing growing numbers of conversations about informed birth choices, natural birth, home births, using midwifes and doulas, and the high infant mortality rate in America as compared to some other countries and Ricky Lake's "The Business of Being Born." (which I haven't seen yet and hear is quite balanced) - as well as following the safety issues of vaccinations.  I'm really glad, actually, that good forums are being created to educate and help moms to make the safest, best choices for themselves and their babies.  I'll admit that America's health care system has some issues that need to be dealt with.  But, what I've also noticed in many of these conversations is that the doctors are becoming the scapegoat...often conversations are walking a fine line of subtly suggesting that doctors in general cannot be trusted, don't have patients best interests in mind, are misinformed, uninvolved and are just out to make money, etc.  I have known several doctors and nurses, including obstetricians and pediatricians who were amazing individuals who chose that line of work precisely because they do care for their patients and do a great job.  I think parents should make the decisions that are right for them and the safest for mom and baby, but I think it is such a shame when people are growing more and more scared to trust their physicians, often for unfounded reasons.

lots of interesting health news

First, I read this article about a ruling made in U.S. Court of Federal Claims which said that in a particular case, vaccines aggravated pre-existing factors to cause this child to regress into autism.  It is a good door opened which will hopefully bring about more research and help for children and comfort for parents who have been claiming this connection all along.
Then, I read this article about the numbers of measles cases in England and Wales jumping to a record high in the past few years, especially among traveling and religious communities where the vaccination uptake has been historically low. 
No wonder parents are confused and scared.  On the one hand, while the government still denies that there is any connection between vaccines and autism, a Federal Court has just ruled to give compensation and care in favor of the autistic child.  Certainly that is going to lend credibility to claims that there is a connection and bring added questions into the minds of parents.  On the other hand, there is still much proof that vaccinations remain the safest way to protect society against the spread of serious infectious diseases.  And even among individuals with a strong immune system. It can take up to ten days for your body to build the necessary components to successfully combat a disease it has never been exposed to before.  For some diseases, the damage that can be done in that amount of time is irreversible. And regardless of the outcome, no parent wants to watch their kid suffer miserably through illness.
Well, this is just a tip of the iceburg....conversations and controversies on both sides of the issue of vaccinations continue with equally long lists of factors and issues.  In the meantime, as we all struggle to make the best decisions we can, I pray for continued health for your children and for mine.

Georgia schools go single sex

Greene County, Georgia, will become the first U.S. school district to go entirely single-sex - boys and girls in separate classrooms. " a move born of desperation over years of poor test scores, soaring dropout rates and high numbers of teenage pregnancies." There are hopes that single-sex classrooms will help raise test scores and graduation rates in a district where more than three-quarters of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. Boys and girls in elementary grades will learn in separate classrooms and grades 7-12 will attend separate schools, while some elective and extra-curricular activities will probably remain co-ed.  Though this is the first entire district to approve the measure, these aren't the first schools to do this...nationally there are more than 350 schools already doing this. Research shows that girls and boys learn differently and that certain distractions ensue in mixed gender environments, so perhaps there are some great benefits to be had from this, but teachers and parents remain split over the move.  You can read about it here. What do you think about single-sex education?

Green-washing

"Going Green" is all the rage right now, and for good purpose.  But, with so many companies apt to jump on the bandwagon simply in order to gain customer approval, we may be falling for green-washing and feeling good about buying a product advertised as environmentally friendly while missing the entire point.  This month's issue of FastCompany magazine had a great article (read it here)about this that I really appreciated, in fact I thought it was so poignant that I've copied a big portion of it below. Please read it.
"The challenge of green living is similarly simple: Achieve the same quality of life using less stuff and less energy.  A truly green consumer won't buy 8,000 square feet of bamboo flooring because the label said it had been hand-rubbed by Nepalese children for a fair wage; she'll dump the McMansion and try to live in a walkable area close to work.  A green business will not deploy teams of researchers to figure out which 20% post-recycled-content copy paper to use; it will offer free bus of subway vouchers, start a carpooling program, and let workers telecommute one day a week.  Being efficient on the big stuff packs much more environmental punch than the benefits that come from choosing between competing light-green product A and the kelly-green product B.  The uncomfortable fact for many green marketers - and targets of that marketing - is that genuinely going green would mean giving up most of the products and services that clutter our consumer culture.  It would mean simplifying, valuing time and people over stuff.  How can most products avoid the sin of the hidden trade-off?  With a simple label; "You don't really need this." Green washing isn't merely a result of poor labeling standards and consumer protection.  It's part and parcel of an economy built on trade in material and energy waste.  Until we are collectively ready to really go green, greenwashing will be with us. Naturally."

Reston real-estate market

Here is some FYI on the real estate market in Reston.....I know with recent dips in the economy, people have had this on their minds.  So, my friend Scott Montgomery who is an agent for Keller Williams, and who also lives in Reston, had his team send some current market "good news" information our way:

• While there's been talk of a housing slump and a recession, comparing average sales prices for Nov. 2007 - Jan. 2008 to the same time last year, you'll notice there isn't much of a change at all: Av. sales price Nov. 06- Jan. 07; 437k / Av. sales price Nov. 07- Jan. 08; 430k
• With the recent Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, you might be able to negotiate a lower interest rate for the remainder of your mortgage.

Here's what Scott has to say about the Reston area: "Reston's numbers are staying put! This is a great indication of how the area sustains its value. With the great education system, proximity to Washington D.C., and suburban lifestyle, Reston continues to be a great place to buy and live. Being a Reston resident myself, I truly believe in this area as both an investment and a place to begin a family. My children have a backyard to play in, a safe neighborhood to run around in, go trick-or-treating, and grow up!  I wouldn't want to live anywhere else."
If you are interested in more information about the real estate market in Reston right now, check out www.TheRealEstatePost.com.  You'll find a ton of information, some really helpful people, and even some great blogs - fun too! Did you know that one Reston address was voted #7 of all tackiest Christmas displays in the state? (you can see a picture).
Scott would love to help you out as well, so feel free to contact him.  He's got some great expertise, is a local, and can help take out some of your stress with buying or selling right now and cares that the process should be easy and successful for you.  Plus, he's about to be a father again, this time to twins! So he understands the concerns, worries, needs, and limited schedules of parents!

Should the show be canceled?

This topic seems to be hot right now and I hate to beat it into the ground, but to (I quote) "participate in what is a national conversation about a controversial subject", I'd love to hear your thoughts about this article regarding "The nation's largest pediatricians' group on Monday said ABC should cancel the first episode of a new series because it perpetuates the myth that vaccines can cause autism." 

find the right presidential candidate for you

I do think that as women and citizens, we should take our right to vote seriously and be a part of influencing our nation and our world for the better.  Sometimes, it is difficult to find time, or even motivation, to stay informed.  Glassbooth is a site which may help you to decide which 2008 presidential candidate most represents you. I don't advise this as your 100% method of decision making here, but I think it is a good way for busy moms to get started. 

Gardakill?

I read this post over at momlogic about some recent deaths and miscarriages in conjunction with the Gardasil cervical cancer vaccination.  But what I especially found interesting about it was this quote by OB/Gyn, Dr. Jennifer Ashton: "If a patient leaves a doctor's office after getting the vaccine and is killed in a car accident, that's reported as a vaccine related death. A death of any kind within a certain period of time after receiving the vaccine will always be reported as vaccine related."   Is that true? and if it is, well it's no wonder that it is so difficult to get true reliable statistics surrounding such topics.

Inspired talks

Feeling like you need a little inspiration? (and I'm not talking about finally being inspired to potty train your child) Missing your college and career days - or at least missing the adult stimulus of interesting ideas and big thinkers?  Then take a few minutes to check out this site,  TED - where you can watch "inspired talks by the world's greatest thinkers and doers."  Search themes related to technology, entertainment, design, business, science, culture, arts, and global issues....or search by those which are rated most inspiring, most funny, jaw-dropping, etc....  Have fun reviving your brain and having something more interesting to talk about with other moms at the bus stop besides what you had for dinner last night and whether or not jr. ate it. 

Pottery Barn Book - get it today!

Pottery Barn Kids is having a 3-day sale with up to 65% off.  Here's a great find from the sale:
Pottery Barn Kids: Kids Rooms.  Get the book for $9.99 and be inspired to create great spaces for your kids, learn imaginative ways to organize everything, and revel in the stylishness of it all! 

the early bird gets a bad grade....

There's been a lot of talk about this article from the NY Times, here's an excerpt:

"Research shows that teenagers’ body clocks are set to a schedule that is different from that of younger children or adults. This prevents adolescents from dropping off until around 11 p.m., when they produce the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin, and waking up much before 8 a.m. when their bodies stop producing melatonin. The result is that the first class of the morning is often a waste, with as many as 28 percent of students falling asleep, according to a National Sleep Foundation poll. Some are so sleepy they don’t even show up, contributing to failure and dropout rates."

This doesn't seem like new news to me....I remember hearing this a good while ago, but perhaps there has been more research since then. At the very least, I can say that after three years of teaching high school I found that first period was DEFINITELY the most challenging to get motivated. At any rate, I'd love to know what parents think about the idea of moving the school day schedule back? 

Autism more genes than environment, studies say

I just posted on this headline, only to find out that ABC is reporting that three separate new studies have identified the same gene abnormality as a possible cause of autism. Here are highlights from the report, but you can read the whole thing here.

• "For years now, scientists have suspected that autism is a complex genetic disorder, the development of which depends on a constellation of genes working together rather than the work of one single gene."  "Today, a group of studies published in the American Journal of Human Genetics not only confirmed the link between this gene and autism, but they begin to identify the specific role this gene plays in the development of the disorder." "
• "Many experts belie(ve) that this research adds to the evidence that genetic factors play more of a role in the development of autism than environmental factors." "Environmental factors in autism is a separate issue," said Carla Mazefsky, assistant professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "Given autism's strong genetic basis, identification of genes that play a role is of critical importance. This study further emphasizes the complexity of the genetics underlying autism."
• "this study adds to the evidence that genetic factors play a role and adds strong results to the idea that cell adhesion in the brain plays a role in autism." However, she said she believes that environmental factors still play a role in the development of the disorder. "This is similar to risk for diabetes, which is very strongly affected by exercise, weight and sugar consumption, but some people can be coach potatoes and eat what they want and don't get sick. Those with a more resilient genetic predisposition for autism may get the same environmental factors without ill effect," Burmeister explained.
• "But the findings that suggest genetics may play a stronger role than environmental factors may be a small measure of comfort for parents who may have blamed themselves for their child's condition.

As always, there continues to be debate and conflict in terms of research and opinion regarding autism - hopefully the end result will be a better understanding with better help for those wonderful kids who have autism.

The blame game

So, with all the media tuned in to 16 yr. old Jamie-Lynne Spears' pregnancy, I caught myself having the following thoughts.  It seems that with Britney's publicized problems and now Jamie-Lynne's own issues, people are quick to cast judgment on their mother, Lynne Spears. Someone has to be to blame for the paths these girls are taking, right?  And the blame always goes to the mother.  Now, I'm not saying anything about Lynne - I know nothing about her (though I don't think I'd give her the mother-of-the-year award), but what I would like to say is that maybe it isn't always mom's fault.  Even though they are young, teens are individuals who make decisions regarding their own lives - and sometimes they just get it wrong, or messy, or whatever.....  I'll bet that there are plenty of awesome mothers out there who did everything a mom could possibly do to love and teach and prepare their children and still their kids made poor decisions with whopping consequences.  Now, I'm not letting moms off the hook - we obviously exert enormous influence in the lives of our children. But eventually, we as moms have to realize that even when we have done our very best, kids are sometimes going to make decisions that reflect themselves and not us. The question good mothers everywhere need to be asking is what our response will be if/when our kid decides to go ahead and make stupid, immature decisions for themselves. By the way, if you are interested, rumor has it that Lynne Spears is writing a book about her experiences as a mom.

a must read! Kids Health trends 2008

KidsHealth just published a fantastic article discussing ten important kids' health trends to watch for in 2008.  Each area discusses the trend, what to watch for, and gives additional resources. I definitely recommend reading through this!

To be a germaphobe, or not to be...that is the ?

I stopped buying anti-bacterial hand soap quite a while ago due to environmental effects and some theories I'd read about.....I just revisited this topic with a Nov. 13 article in the Washington Post titled "Are Antimicrobial Soaps Breeding Tougher Bugs?"  I was interested to read again some of the things I had also seen published elsewhere and thought it was good food for thought, here's some highlights from the article:

• our obsession with killing germs ultimately may do us more harm than good
• "for general use, antibacterial soaps are not superior to cleansing with regular soap and water"
• (on anti-bacterial ingredients being added to household products) "That's happening despite several potential negative consequences, including weakening of the immune system which could lead to a greater chance of allergies in children, and their possible link to the emergence of antibiotic resistance - the very problem that is making some diseases, such as MRSA, so difficult to treat.
• many illnesses such as cold and flu are not caused by bacteria but by viruses - antibacterials don't slow a virus at all.
• Some bacteria are bad for us, but some are good. The antimicrobials kill both. And when the good bacteria are gone, there's more room for the bad bacteria to grow, raising our risk of becoming sick.
• A germ-free environment may actually weaken our immune systems
• Scientists have discovered high levels of triclosan and triclocarban, two of the common antibacterial compounds found in soaps and detergents, in our ecosystem, in nearly 60% of streams and rivers.
• The chlorine that is routinely added to wastewater reacts with triclosan and in the presence of sunlight is transformed into a dioxin that is harmful to aquatic life and thus the food chain.

toy manufactured in China recalled - again?

You may have heard that another China-manufactured toy was recalled recently - Aqua Dots, expected to be a big seller this holiday season.  The coating on the beads that causes them to stick together when water is added contains a chemical which can turn toxic when swallowed - basically, once ingested the chemical breaks down into GHB (knows as the date-rape drug). Even though safety testing by retailers and manufacturers has recently been stepped up, these beads still reached stores and injured at least two children.  Why?  Apparently some of the glue used in the toy had been switched to 1,4-butanediol (banned for use in the U.S.) by a Chinese sub-contractor.  While retailers are asking manufacturers to document testing for things such as lead paint, things like 1,4-butanediol have to come through specific testing for the agent with sophisticated laboratory tests. Many companies hire labs, but it isn't mandatory - yet. The case certainly has been bolstered. In the case of Aqua Dots, not all batches were contaminated either. Therefore, reassurance may only come if every batch of a toy is required to be tested in the future. In the meantime, some parents are choosing to personally ban any toys made in China in an effort to personally protect their children. 

Adoption is an amazing option!

November is Adoption Awareness Month, a month set aside to raise awareness about adopting children from foster care.  Matt and I have talked seriously about adoption, but with every conversation we stumble a bit over whether we feel like we'd adopt a baby or whether adopting might look a bit differently.  We have many friends who have amazing stories and beautiful children through adopting a baby, but we also have at least one person who is near and dear to us with a bit of a different adoption story to share.  My little sister Nikki (now 16) was adopted as a teenager by my parents after having lived with them as foster parents for 3 years.  While her complete story, unable to be fully told here, would absolutely blow you away...I asked her to write a short comment from her experience:

"I was adopted after living with them approximately three years. During those three years, I felt very insecure, not knowing what my future would be.  Being adopted has given me a brand new life, new opportunities, and a really great family.  When I first learned that I was going to be removed  from my old home, I was devastated!  I blamed God for doing such a cruel thing to me.  Now I realize that this has been the best thing that's ever happened to me! This has been so amazing to me that God loved me so much that he gave me a new life. I am so grateful to my new parents, family, and friends that have made me who I am today."

Newsweek food allergy cover story

The November 5th issue of Newsweek features a cover story titled "Kids and the Growing Food Allergy Threat."
Though my children don't have any allergies, I certainly have a fair share of friends whose children do.  A pertinent and interesting article, I thought I'd recommend it to you as food for thought. Here are a few of the interesting things it contains:

• "One of the most intriguing theories (why allergies are on the rise), dubbed the "hygene hypothesis," is that we've all become too clean..."
• "intriguing research even posits that kids born by Caesarean section could be at higher risk for allergies, perhaps because they were never exposed to healthy bacteria in their mothers' birth canals."
• "studies have shown that children who grow up on farms, where they are in constant contact with dirt and animals, are less likely to develop allergies."
• "countries that have advised avoidance of peanuts in early childhood, like the United States, have seen the greatest rise in peanut allergies"
• "fewer than 1% of kids under five suffer from peanut allergies"
• "parents - conditioned by overcautious pediatricians who've told them to keep their young kids away from nuts and eggs - may panic unnecesssarily.  Not every rash or stomachache after lunch is an allergy."
• "Allergists say a fair number of kids are being told to avoid foods they aren't allergic to."
• "skin tests for allergies overpredict the number of people who would have a reaction about 60% of the time.  Blood tests, combined with a carefully documented history of symptoms, are more helpful."

The immune system is a complex and fantastically interesting thing....however, this means that there is still a lot to learn.  Nobody knows precisely what causes food allergies.  "A combination of genes - allergies run in families - and environment clearly play a role."  Meanwhile, as the numbers of children who are diagnosed with allergies continues to rise, we are learning to be a society sensitive to the protection of those who truly are in danger from some kinds of food - and remaining hopeful that the key to keeping balance in the immune system won't continue to stump researchers for long. 

picky eaters - born or made?

There's been a lot of talk in the news recently about a study published by the American Journal of Clinial Nutrition which may point to heredity as a claim for children's picky eating.  It is an interesting thought - are kids born picky or made picky? Well, turns out it is probably a little bit of both.  Although the study is largely speculative based on questioning thousands of parents of both identical and fraternal twins ages 8-11, there seems to be enough reasonable evidence to suggest that if your children are picky eaters, they probably inherited some of their taste sensitive tendancies from you.  The study focused on neophobia - the fear of new foods - which is kind of different than just not liking the taste of something.  The goal of the study was to learn what hereditary vs. environmental factors affect the mechanisms of food neophobia in order to best help children better accept new foods.  Food neophobia is common among young children but becomes a problem when parents stop feeding them new foods that they might dislike with the long term consequence of low fruit and vegetable intake during childhood.  Regardless of the findings of this study, it is preferable to continue introducing and re-introducing a variety of new and healthy fruits and vegetables to kids.  Breaking the habit of not offering a particular food to your children because you assume they aren't going to like it is a great place to start. I know I've certainly been surprised a couple of times when it turned out that my girls actually liked something that I would have sworn they'd have rejected. 

Children's medicine recall

You may be aware that McNeil Consumer Health recently voluntarily recalled their children's products as follows:

• Concentrated TYLENOL Infants' Drops Plus Cold
• Concentrated TYLENOL Infants' Drops Plus Cold & Cough
• PediaCare Infant Dropper Decongestant
• PediaCare Infant Dropper Long-Acting Cough
• PediaCare Infant Drops Decongestant (containing pseudoephedrine)
• PediaCare Infant Dropper Decongestant & Cough
• PediaCare Infant Drops Decongestant & Cough (containing pseudoephedrine)

also recalled were:
    Dimetapp Decongestant Plus Cough Infant Drops;
    Dimetapp Decongestant Infant Drops
    Little Colds Decongestant Plus Cough;
    Little Colds Multi-Symptom Cold Formula;
    Robitussin Infant Cough DM Drops;
    Triaminic Infant & Toddler Thin Strips Decongestant
    Triaminic Infant & Toddler Thin Strips Decongestant Plus Cough.

The recalls happened after questions were raised about the safety of these products and whether they were effective in the first place.  Children, especially under the age of four, are susceptible to harm and even death cause by overdosage. The FDA recommends that over-the-counter children's cough and cold medicines containing decongestants and antihistamines should be clearly labeled with instructions not to be given to very young children (under 2).   This probably won't be the last of the recalls, in the meantime  Vincent Ianelli, M.D.  posed these interesting questions about what parents may do in response:

• simply stop giving their young children any cough and cold medicines, which is the goal of the FDA?
• give cough and cold medicines marketed for older kids and adults and simply try to guess at a dose, leading to more overdoses and side effects?
• be more likely to rush to their pediatrician and ask for an antibiotic every time their child gets a cold because they have no over-the-counter medicine to give their child?

The best possible result, in my opinion, is that parents would be more vigilant about following dosage recommendations when medication is needed...and when it isn't needed or it's efficacy is in question, avoid medicating if possible.  Having a child who is miserable, cranky, and sounds like they are suffering can stir up a lot of emotions in parents including fear, helplessness, concern, frustration, and exhaustion.  Talk to your pediatrician to understand and nail down what exactly the symptoms are and why they are happening and decide together on a safe plan to take care of your child which may include other options as well as or in lieu of medication.

on Cesarean Secton Delivery

Did you know that the rates of babies born by C-section are sky rocketing? That this major abdomenal surgery is one of the most routinely peformed operations in our nation? That some women are opting for a scheduled cesarean before even trying to give birth the way it was intended?  Well, I've had two c-sections, which is not exactly how I would have chosen things to go. But I'm really grateful, because without this option there is a possibility that either I or my first daughter (and consequently second daughter) or both would not be here today.  Still, c-section carries risk to both mom and child....and requires an intense recovery.  If it is possible to deliver vaginally, I recommend going for it!