Search Results for: blog how do you react

FDA Warns of Dangers of Codeine and Tramadol for Children

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The Food and Drug Administration has posted a safety announcement that warns parents of the dangers of giving children codeine pain and cough medicines and tramadol pain medicines. This warning includes a recommendation that women who are breastfeeding not use codeine or tramadol. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued this safety warning in April of 2017. It is an update to two previous safety warnings. One was an evaluation of potential risks of codeine cough and cold medicines in children that was issued in 2015. Another was an evaluation of the risk of using tramadol in children aged 17 … Continue reading →

Are You Too Critical?

How often do you start the day with a morning lecture? My 8-year-old daughter’s answer:  “Too many!” She’s probably right. If she asks for help locating her backpack, I spend five minutes “suggesting” that she hang it in the back hall where she can easily find it. If she complains about taking the same home lunch to school every day I “propose” that she expand her palate because there’s only so much I can do with strawberries, crackers and plain chicken. When she whines about not having enough time to eat a leisurely breakfast before school I “recommend” moving up … Continue reading →

Are You Uncomfortable Being Frugal?

Whenever a lot of money is being spent, I tend to be uncomfortable, even if I am not the one doing the spending. Just hearing about lavish consumption kind of creeps me out. I keep wondering about the mortgage on the friend of a friend’s McMansion or how I could apply the cost of someone’s lavish vacation to building up our retirement fund. I don’t know how to react when friends give their toddlers spa days or I am invited to jewelry parties, or when the suggested contribution to the teacher’s or pastor’s gift is three figures (nothing against our … Continue reading →

When Your Baby Has Food Allergies

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Recently, I decided to get my baby tested for food allergies. With the history that my two boys have had, I just wanted to make sure that there were no lingering issues as we moved forward with food trialing. I had been suspicious that eggs were causing a problem with my little one when I was breastfeeding. It was one of the foods I had cut out of my diet when he was having all of his tummy issues. But, none of my children have ever been diagnosed with your typical IgE food allergies. IgE stands for Immunoglobulin E which is … Continue reading →

Finding Support from Your Friends

We’ve talked extensively about how important it is that we keep friends outside of our marriage.  And that doesn’t mean that we have friends who can’t also be friends with our spouses.  It just means that we look for emotional connections with more people than just our spouses.  I know it’s very true for me; my two best friends give me things my husband never could, and not just things like watching the six-hour BBC “Pride and Prejudice.” It’s a real romantic notion – both in the love and in the story sense of the word – that our spouses … Continue reading →

How Breaking Your Budget is Bad for Your Health

Here is another reason to stay on your budget. Breaking it can actually be bad for your health. Agonizing about how you are going to afford a new purchase can stay with you, even after you solve the problem. Researchers now say that our brains don’t like being in debt. Having fears about money affect our health long term. Whether we realize it or not, debt causes stress, and stress causes poor health. Stress and pain seem to register much more strongly than does pleasure. So, the next time you feel ready to break your budget, keep this in mind. … Continue reading →

What is Your 11 Month Old Up To?

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I am going to savor every moment of this last month. The last month before my baby officially turns into a one year old. I can’t take it. The time has gone by way too quickly. It always does. Today is his 11 month birthday and the best gift he could give me? He finally said Mama. Intentionally. You see, he has been saying “Dada” intentionally for a few months now. I have to admit that I’ve been more than a little jealous. My husband is fabulous and wonderful, and deserves the love too, but a Mom is always eager … Continue reading →

Paint Your Way to an Affordable Halloween Costume

Face paint is a spooktacular way to get into the Halloween spirit. What’s more, you don’t have to wave a brush like Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo or Pablo Picasso in order to look scary good on All Hallows’ Eve. And, even better, you don’t need to drain your wallet paying for elaborate face painting kits or fancy supplies. With a little time and energy you can whip up a batch of face paint using materials found around your home. A safe and easy recipe for face paint requires: one teaspoon of cornstarch, a half teaspoon of water, a half teaspoon … Continue reading →

What Feelings Does Your Home Bring?

What feelings do people experience when they walk into your home? Does it feel cold and stiff, as if they have walked into a museum and they can’t touch a thing? Or does it feel warm and welcoming? I don’t think we give much thought to the feelings evoked in others when they step through the door of our home. But it’s something you might want to consider, especially with the holidays just around the corner. Colors can speak a lot about you. Bold, vibrant colors or patterns may be your thing but keep in mind that for others, it … Continue reading →

Don’t Erase Your History

A few weeks ago I was pulling out an old book that my mom needed for book club. As I picked up the book a picture of my ex-husband and I fell onto the floor. For a moment I was back in high school remembering how things used to be before life got so complicated. I turned the picture over and left it on the dresser in my room and took the book to my mother. The next day my four year old brought the picture to me. He hadn’t seen pictures of us together for a very long time. … Continue reading →