New Symptoms. What to do.

Over the course of my daughter’s 14.5 year life, we have had new symptoms pop up every couple years. This year was no exception. She began fainting. It first happened on the beach at 8:00 in the morning. If it … Continue reading →

Genetic Testing & DNA

Natalie has had LOTS of genetic testing.  There’s never been a diagnosis that encompasses more than one or two of her … issues. I remember her old neurologist – back when she had seizures – said he was sure she … Continue reading →

Quotes

My last post referenced the book The Shape Of the Eye by George Estreich.  I am enjoying this book so much.  I have not been able to read it as I normally read a book, blasting through from start to … Continue reading →

New Book

I’m reading a new book titled The Shape of The Eye by George Estreich. What an excellent book!  He is the father of Laura, who has Down Syndrome.  Feeding issues are present throughout, along with an honest (without being discouraging), factual, … Continue reading →

Too Hot To Handle – updated

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Sometimes when feeding blended meals via g-tube, the food is actually too hot to put in the tummy!  Our mouths are our first line of defense, protecting our bodies from food that is too hot to eat.  But we still … Continue reading →

Eggs

I just read this over at Yahoo Health’s “8 ‘Scary’ Food Myths – Busted!” by David Zinczenko “Nutrition “Scare” #8: Eggs are Cholesterol Bombs! Perhaps the biggest nutrition myth is that eggs are bad for your heart, a fact attributed to the cholesterol … Continue reading →

MMPP: My Most Popular Posts

Before and After Photos of my girlie-girl, Natalie Calorie Requirements by Age and Recipe Calorie Counts Feeding Schedule Using 2 Ounce Syringes Unclogging a G-Tube and Attachments Recipes and Other Info

AFTER the Medical Appointment

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As the parent of a child with special needs, our car knows the way to the local children’s hospital by itself. I honestly have NO idea how many times we have visited over the last 13 years, and I don’t … Continue reading →

COLD water

Do you notice when you prepare food how often the instructions say to start with a pan of cold water? Whether it is for boiling pasta, corn, rice, oatmeal, etc. the instructions invariably say to use cold water. I recommend using cold water in my recipes also.

Here is the reason:  “All” plumbing pipes can contain lead.  It is THOUGHT that HOT water pulls more of the lead from the pipes into the water.  Using cold water is THOUGHT to not pull lead from the pipes. However, I use my PUR water filter to avoid the issue altogether.  But don’t run hot water through a PUR – it ruins the filter.

So, although it would take less time to boil hot water, use cold, okay?

My Published Article

Here is the link to my article published in Complex Child Magazine.

It is called “Living at Natalie’s Speed” … I wrote it as a reminder to myself, and to anyone else who needs it, that one of the positive aspects of our special needs family member is the necessity of slowing down.  I normally live at Mach 10, but with Natalie, life goes much slower, and I am actually happier that way.  Life is sweeter at a slower pace.

That being said, I just started a job today.  We’ll see how that mixes in!