Friday, September 28, 2007

The Devil Wears Pampers

Personally, I think my son is a little angel....he is a VERY good baby [now toddler]. I really can't complain, because he is so sweet, loving and easy going. However, that doesn't mean he doesn't have a devilish side.....

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Russian woman's 12th baby weighs in at 17.1 POUNDS?!?!??!?!?!!

My first [and only] biological child weighed a hefty 9 lbs. 6 oz. at birth. I did not have a C-Section, and I'm not sure if I should be proud or embarrassed that I pushed that huge, ole noggin of his out! But my child is a mere shrimpy compared to THIS one......

======================================
BARNAUL, Russia (Reuters) - A Siberian woman who gave birth to her 12th child -- doing more than her fair share to stem Russia's population decline -- was stunned to find that little Nadia weighed in at a massive 7.75 kg (17.1 lb).

Nadia was delivered by caesarean section in the local maternity hospital in the Altai region on September 17, joining eight sisters and three brothers, a local reporter said.

"We were all simply in shock," said Nadia's mother, Tatyana Barabanova, 43. "What did the father say? He couldn't say a thing -- he just stood there blinking."

"I ate everything, we don't have the money for special foods so I just ate potatoes, noodles and tomatoes," she told the reporter, adding that all her previous babies had weighed more than 5 kg.
The Guinness World Records lists a 10.2 kg baby boy born in Italy in 1955, and a 10.8 kg baby boy who was born in the United States in 1879 but died 11 hours later.

The average weight for most healthy newborn babies is around 3.2 kg (7.06 lb), according to World Health Organisation figures.
======================================

Did you also happen to notice it was her TWELFTH baby.....?

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Thanks, Honey....

In a few weeks, we will have two special events to celebrate. Our wedding anniversary is the same day as my wife's birthday.

Let me say that again -- our wedding anniversary is the SAME DAY as my wife's birthday. In other words, as a guy, I only have ONE really important day to remember each year instead of two.

This is a GREAT thing, but it could also be a really bad thing....like, what if I forgot it? I don't think I ever would, but if I did....well, I would be forgetting TWO important things, so I'm guessing the wrath that would follow would be twice as bad.....

But since I never plan to forget this date, I'm back to this being a GREAT thing....and it isn't so bad for the wifey either. Frankly, she ends up getting a better gift, because she usually wants one big thing. We just lump the gift giving all together for her.

Last year, it was this fancy iJoy massage chair. This year....well, she'll just have to wait and find out!

Monday, September 24, 2007

Dad Labs, Inc.

Recently, I was contacted by the COO of Dad Labs, Inc., Brad Powell. He said, "Hey got baby!, come check us out!" So, we did....

About Dad Labs:

America has seen a fundamental societal shift in the role of men in parenting. While many in the media and academia have observed this trend, no brand or company has emerged to meet the needs of these "New" fathers. Enter Dad Labs, Inc., a start-up company dedicated to providing creative media content and information products to serve this new generation of "Super Dads."
Dad Labs will be the fatherhood brand.

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Dad Labs is an information and entertainment company that fosters the father/child relationship through media, instructional and retail products. The mission of the company is to strengthen families and benefit children by empowering today's fathers. The company provides resources to expecting, new and veteran fathers that will launch them into a more active and creative role in the lives of their children. Dad Labs speaks to the corporate executive and the delivery driver with a voice that is authentic and genuinely male, with wisdom and self-depracating humor of experience. The products and services offered are honest, informative, sometimes off-color, but always dedicated to the spirit of fatherhood. Dad Labs speaks guy and presents information through guy-colored lenses.

Founded in 2004 by Troy Lanier, Clay Nichols and Brad Powell, Dad Labs aims to be the voice of the new fatherhood. The company was founded on the core value that parents must be the primary movers in the lives of their children and fathers must play a leading role in this journey. The team at Dad Labs is committed to assisting the busy father by providing him with accessible and digestible information and parenting ideas. Dad Labs will not only inform the father with its entertainment products, but will also foster creative father/child activities through retail products.

The trio bring more than 30 years of teaching and hands on fatherhood experience, as well as professional film making and writing experience. Troy Lanier and Clay Nichols are accomplished authors and were named to the Austin Chronicle Best of 2005 for their book "Filmmaking for Teens: Pulling off Your Shorts." The company's first DVD, DueDads: The Man's Survival Guide to Pregnancy scheduled for release in the summer of 2006 recently won a 27th annual Bronze Telly Award.

All three founders have been long time teachers at Austin's St. Stephen's School and combined have seven small children.

Some Dad Labs Links:

Dad Labs Blog
Creative Team

Sunday, September 23, 2007

When do You Find the Time.....?

More than once, I've been asked, "When do you find the time to write in your blog?" Or create new designs? Or clean the house? Or do all that cool Photoshop stuff? Or get a hair cut or pedicure? Or....breath....???

There isn't an easy, simple answer, but I would have to say: prioritize and multi-task are a big part of it. Oh, and make lists! I'm a big list maker. It really motivates me to cross things off, so it's more likely to get done if it's on a list!

Here might be my list for today [in no particular order]:

1. Finish report to manager and E-mail
2. Write in blog, moderate any comments
3. Make breakfast [Sunday is our big breakfast day]
4. Clean up after breakfast
5. Check E-mail
6. If there's time, do some research on story behind "We Are Marshall" [which we watched last night]
7. Laundry -- clean new sheets we just bought, fold clothes
8. Create some new designs -- it's been awhile
9. Complete FSA paperwork for refund
10. Return items to Target and K-mart [this probably won't get done until this week]

I'm sure there's more, but that gives you an idea. Thus far, I've done 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 [other than the folding part]...and I'm working on 2 now. And I've done all this online stuff in the last hour, because my baby is snoozing away.....Zzzzzzzzzzzzz................because when he's awake, he is my focus. And when the girls are here, they are usually the focus. No matter what else might be a priority, the kids are THE priority.

And that's key for me -- get stuff done when Nick is napping! Or during my lunch break. Or after Nick goes to bed. Whenever I can find a free moment, I squeeze something in. And since I've prioritized my list, I always know what my top "must do" items are. I do those first and then work down to the medium priority and so on. And accept that some things might not get done as soon as I had hoped [if at all!].

Oh well, the kids are the priority, so other things can just wait....speaking of which, my baby is awake, so it's time to go!

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Stop Hogging the Blog!

In the summary of this blog, you might have noticed this sentence: New mom, Designer and Research Freak and her husband share their adventures in parenthood! You see the "and her husband" part....? Well, that's me. I'm the husband. But the wife has been making most of the posts, so I told her it was my turn. After all, it's our blog.

So, summer is coming to an end [even though it doesn't feel like it today], and I was thinking back on all of the fun our family has had in the past few months.....trips to Cedar Point and Seattle, Nick's first birthday, hot days at the pool, weekends of sailing.....it's been a good summer.

This photo is from Cedar Point. My girls, Taylor and Sarah, are in front, and Nicholas and I are in back. My wife took the photo. Taylor was so excited to "drive" the old car!

In the photo above, the girls are having fun on Lake Sammamish. My best friend, Rodney, recently bought a boat. We took it out on a beautiful afternoon, and everyone had a great time playing out on the water. Sarah was too afraid to go on the tube alone, so her loving big sis went along for the ride.

We're looking forward to the good times we know will come with the holidays.....

Thursday, September 20, 2007

The Exceedingly Complex Role of the Stepmom

The Exceedingly Complex Role of the Stepmom
by Teresa Paprock


"Do you, the bride, take this man, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health. . . and do you take his kids?"

You may never hear a minister utter these words at a wedding, but in theory, they're becoming more and more appropriate. The "blended family" - a term that is both celebrated and abhorred, depending on whom you ask, is becoming a fact of modern life.

Statistics show that while one out of every two marriages today will end in divorce, three-fourths of divorced people will eventually remarry (suggesting that the institution of marriage is alive and well, even if people sometimes pick the wrong partner). Unfortunately the rate of divorce for second marriages is even higher. And step relationships can be a huge factor.

Ask any family therapist, and they'll agree: the stepmother generally has the most challenging role in these new families. There are plenty of reasons for this, starting with history. One research group found some 900 stories referring to the concept of an "evil stepmother", the most well known of these "Snow White"? and "Cinderella"? Certainly there are stepmothers that do terrible things (as there are biological mothers that do). And the myth is becoming less acceptable as more and more women take on the stepmother role. But it's still true that stepmothers have an uphill battle on almost every front.

The role of a stepmother is exceedingly complex. A stepmom can get whiplash trying to negotiate her way around competing interests and attempting to find a path through veritable mazes of paradox. Stepmoms often have all of the responsibilities of parenting (think cooking, cleaning, laundry) but none of the legal rights. Stepmoms may constantly be trying to find the middle ground between being a child's pal and being a disciplinarian. Those who feel no love for their stepchildren are seen as cold; those who do can be accused of "trying to take the place of the biological mother". In short, being a stepmom means pleasing some of the people only some of the time.

A stepparent's role in a family is unique in that it is born of loss. A child has lost a natural parent due to death or divorce; the natural parent may be in the child's life all the time, or may be gone, but a child's dreams of having "the perfect family" have been shattered, and a stepmom is the living proof of that fact.

A stepmom's relationship with the biological mother can range from friendly to neutral to downright hostile.

"I consider myself very lucky," says Claire, whose household contains her two children and her husband's two children, all under the age of nine. "At first, my stepchildren's biological mother was really angry. But over time she realized that I take good care of the kids, and now we are best friends."

Not everyone is so fortunate.

"When I first got married I had this fantasy that the biological mother and I would be friends and would co-parent this child together," says Kyra. "Now, several therapists later, our two households can communicate only via lawyer, and even now there are blowups. I wish that she could at least appreciate that her son and I have a loving relationship, but I sometimes think she'd rather that I be a terrible person to give her an excuse for hating me."

Lynnette, the custodial stepmom of three elementary school children, had a similar experience when her stepchildren's biological mother lost custody of them.

"I didn't know how to function being the object of such intense and systematic hatred," she says, but adds, "the children were a little unruly, but they are wonderful, sweet, and absolutely dear."

Relationships between stepparents and stepchildren can vary greatly. There truly are some children that "only a mother could love", and there are stepmothers that behave badly and give their stepchildren good reason to dislike them. Sometimes a stepmom tries her best, but is faced with a "team" made up of her husband and stepchildren, against which she's always losing.

Other stepmoms and stepkids just "click".

"I love my stepdaughter as if she is my own," says Rebekkah. "She's sweet, smart, funny, pretty, and talented. We actually enjoy being together, and she's never given me that "You're not my real mom" crap. But I give so much of the credit to her, for being the kind of person she is, frankly, she's an easy kid to love."

A big reason why the rate of divorce among second marriages is extraordinarily high is that the husband and wife often argue over the children. Jane is a clinical social worker and a stepmom as well. She knows from personal experience how important it is to keep the marital relationship strong. "My husband and I have always known that we were together because we loved each other, not because we wanted a pseudo-family," she says.

Jane emphasizes the need for the children's father to promote the stepmom as a parent figure within the household, deserving of respect. "When I would have a little struggle," says Jane, who has two stepchildren, was supported by my husband. "Still, it took time to acclimate."

"Many husbands," she says, "want their wives to be pals with the children" - an unrealistic wish. And many "experts" on stepparenting say that stepmoms should never discipline their stepkids. But discipline is not punishment; it's a form of teaching and can be done in a positive way.

"Discipline comes from the word "disciple", Jane says. "It's about directing them in the way they should go. Children need the adults in their lives to be parents, not friends."


Link to article: http://secondwivescafe.com/article.php?id=40

Teresa Paprock is a freelance writer, co-author of two books, and the editor of a parenting magazine in the Midwest, as well as the stepmom of a 13-year-old boy.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Operation Buckeye: Please Help!

The Christmas I found out I was pregnant with Nicholas was when my dad sent out his first care packages to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. It wasn't called anything then -- it was just my dad collecting items or money to buy items to send in the first round of boxes. He got the idea after reading a newspaper article about our troops.

Most, if not all, the money came from my dad and mom, our family [including me and the hubby] and dad's friends. My hubby and I went to Meijer with him to buy the items for those first boxes and planned to help him pack them all up. [While the hubby helped Dad fill the cart, I snuck off to buy my pregnancy test!]

Since then, this labor of love has a name, more volunteers, more attention and more funds. It's not just my dad, Jim, anymore. It's now called Operation Buckeye. Last year, 1064 boxes were sent to the men and women of our armed forces. To date, over 1400 boxes have been sent.

Trying to bring a touch of home and brighten the day of a soldier, the boxes contain items that are both treats and necessities: Beef Jerky and hard candy are two of the favorites, along with drink mixes (to give water a better taste). Gum, chips, cheese crackers, canned fruit, granola bars, tuna snacks, tooth brushes and paste, books, batteries, deodorant, foot powder, peanuts, puzzle books, and wipes are only a partial list of items sent.


Want to Help Operation Buckeye?
There are several ways to help. The most obvious is through donations:

Operation Buckeye
PO Box 1814
Westerville, OH 43086-1814

Or dropped off at any Huntington Bank branch [if you live in Columbus, OH].
Please make all checks out to "Operation Buckeye"

They also look for volunteers. Volunteers gather at Operation Buckeye HQ every second and fourth Saturday. Boxes are usually packed from 1pm to 4pm.

Operation Buckeye HQ is located at :
4290 N. High Street
Columbus, OH 43214


Contact Operation Buckeye:
Jim Caronis [my wonderful dad!!] - Chairman: Jim@operationbuckeye.org
Dave Eyestone - Treasurer: Dave@operationbuckeye.org


More About Operation Buckeye
OPERATION BUCKEYE was formed with the sole purpose of sending boxes to our troops as a way to thank them for their efforts and to bring a touch of home to them. The physical conditions they endure are difficult and being away from family for long periods of time is also difficult.

OPERATION BUCKEYE boxes contain food and snacks, personal hygiene items, reading materials, and good wishes of love and support.

All monies raised through letter writing campaigns, media exposure, and donations from individuals and companies are used to purchase items , supplies, and postage. OPERATION BUCKEYE provides caring civilians the opportunity to show their appreciation and respect to the men and women of our military stationed in hostile and remote regions of the world.


Related Articles or Stories:

http://www.dispatch.com/live/contentbe/dispatch/2006/10/19/20061019-C1-00.html
http://ohio15th.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html
http://www.dispatch.com/live/contentbe/dispatch/2007/03/01/20070301-B1-01.html
http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/05/27/MIKE27.ART_ART_05-27-07_B2_0K6RAR0.html


P.S. My dad has NO idea I posted this in my blog! He's not about self-promotion, but I wanted to try and help out, so I've been putting the word out about Operation Buckeye. And I'm SO proud of my dad for doing all of this and just wanted to brag a little about him......

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Fun With Photoshop & Filters

I'm a Photoshop JUNKIE, that's for sure. I love that program. You can take away most of my software, and I wouldn't complain. Try to take away Photoshop [notice I say TRY], and get ready for a big ole bruhaha.

In addition to being a PS addict, I am also into filters. You can use filters to get some COOL and amazing effects. Or combine multiple filters on layers. The possibilities are endless, and the results can be spectacular.

Lately, I've been having a BLAST with Filter Forge. I have been getting exciting results! Some of the images look like they were drawn or painted. So, I thought I would share a little slide show of my latest work [not everything was done with Filter Forge....some is just good, old fashioned Photoshop editing!]....





Monday, September 17, 2007

The Verdict is in...

Last week, I started my jury duty gig. It's been an interesting experience. Today, we heard closing remarks and then deliberated for several hours.

The verdict is in.....guilty on all charges. Even though I believe he's guilty, and we came to our decision pretty quickly......well, I am still sad. He was once somebody's baby.....

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Tastefully Simple Party

Last night, Taylor and I attended a Tastefully Simple party at my friend's house. I haven't seen my friend in awhile, so I was looking forward to catching up. I think Taylor was excited about trying all the food!

Taylor wasn't the only child there, but she was the oldest. The Tastefully Simple consultant brought her three daughters. The youngest was a few months older than Nick, and Taylor was so excited a toddler was there. She loves babies, and I think having the experience of a baby brother has helped her prepare a little for being a mother herself one day [a looooooong time from now, of course].

We had a great time at the party! Taylor especially loved the beer bread they had, but she tried everything. I was very proud of her for keeping such an open mind! Her younger sister isn't so open when it comes to food and will insist she doesn't like something even though she's eaten it multiple times before. If you let her, she'll ask for Mac and Cheese every meal! Definitely a carb girl.....

Some of the samples were pretty garlicky....oh boy! We had some major garlic breath. But Tastefully Simple has some pretty good stuff, and it's SO easy to make. We're looking forward to our order arriving! I know Taylor will want to make the pumpkin bread first.

If you are interested in learning more about Tastefully Simple, please contact:

Robyn Stuhan
Tastefully Simple Team Manager
616-247-0840
rstuhan@gmail.com
www.tastefullysimple.com/web/rstuhan

National Stepfamily Day!



September 16 is National Stepfamily Day! It was started in 1997 by Christy Borgeld.

Link to their Web site: http://www.nationalstepfamilyday.com/Home_Page.html

Friday, September 14, 2007

Blood Clots Look Like Grape Jelly

My six-year-old stepdaughter had her tonsils taken out the Tuesday after Labor Day. That Thursday, she was taken to the E.R., because she was dehydrated. I guess it hurt to drink or eat anything, so she wasn't. My husband met his ex-wife at the hospital, but I stayed home with the baby. Yesterday was the first time I've seen Sarah since her operation.

Everything was good. Sarah seemed fine. Showed us the boo-boo she got from riding her scooter at her mom's. Ate some dinner of spaghetti. Had a little ice cream later. Part of a cookie her mom had sent over. No big deal. Off to bed.

This morning, my husband went up to wake the 10-year-old, Taylor. I could hear them chatting on the baby monitor, so I went upstairs to ask them to keep it down, so they didn't wake the baby. Then, we hear this loud cough, and I asked, "Was that Sarah....?"

Now, Sarah seems to have a cough all of the time. So, hearing her cough wouldn't be something new. My husband went in to check on her nonetheless. I stayed in Taylor's room with her as we discussed me dropping her off at school.

Andy and Sarah walk by, and I hear him asking her if she can take a bath. I said, "Oh, I thought maybe she threw up, but she's fine?" He scrunched up his nose and shook his head. I took that to mean she HAD thrown up or was NOT fine, so I went into her room to check it out.....

BAD IDEA.

OMG.....she had thrown up big blood clots all over her bed. It was on the sheets, comforter, pillows. There were little drops of blood on the carpet, too. In a word......GROSS. I just don't do so well with the ooey, icky stuff.

Poor Sarah was now in the bathroom hanging over the tub, still sick. My husband was yelling at us that we would need to go to the hospital. Sure, sure, good idea, I agree.....but I reminded him of the two other kids.....what about them? Seemed like everybody was yelling about what to do!

Well, once we all calmed down a little, we quickly formed a plan. Hubby called 9-1-1, the 10-year-old got the baby changed and dressed, and I ran downstairs to get dressed [since I had just gotten out of the shower and was in a t-shirt with wet hair].

Hubby took care of Sarah [who had thankfully stopped throwing up], and I ran around getting his wallet, phone, shoes, etc. I also got Sarah a stuffed animal to take with her and then checked on the other two kids. Taylor and the baby were in the baby's room playing with the door closed, because Taylor didn't want to see the blood and was afraid of the baby going into Sarah's room and getting into anything.

Then, I ran outside and waved down the ambulance. I showed one of them the blood clots in her room and bathroom while the other two stayed with Sarah.

It was decided that I would stay home and get the other two kids off to school and day care. Sarah went in the ambulance, and Andy followed.

Phew! What a morning. Talked to hubby several times, and Sarah sounds really good - so much better. Last I heard, the doctor was coming to see her, so I don't know what's up.

After they left, I attempted to clean up. I didn't want the blood to "set" and ruin the carpet, mattress, comforter, etc. More importantly, I didn't want Sarah to come home to this mess in her room or bathroom.

I could have NEVER been a doctor. I kept gagging and nearly screamed when a blood clot flew out of the comforter and landed on my hand. The worst was trying to get the biggest clots off the sheets before putting them into the washer. It seriously looked like grape jelly......I had to keep telling myself that, so I could clean it all up. I'm okay with just blood -- it was the CLOTS that were killing me.

Well, I got through the worst of it. I cleaned out the tub and used our mini steam cleaner to do the carpet and mattress. I actually got almost all of it out of the mattress. We'll see how much comes out of the comforter, sheets and pillows.....no biggie. It was Hello, Kitty!, and I'm sure Sarah will be wanting something more "mature" soon enough.

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Recalled toys: What you need to know

Q: Are all toys from China a danger?
A: While many of the recalled toys were manufactured in China, plenty of Chinese-made toys have not been recalled. Several Fisher-Price and Mattel products, among others, have been involved in recent recalls.

Q: Is there a list of recalled toys?
A: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Web site includes a list of toy recalls back to 1974. You also can call 1-800-638-2772. You can sign up to receive e-mailed recall lists from the CPSC at cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx

Q: Are officials saying I shouldn't buy any toys from China?
A: No. They say they are working on strengthening safety protocols for imports. Specific toys known to pose a risk have been identified through recalls.

Q: Are there any prominent toy manufacturers whose toys are made in the United States?
A: About 80 percent of toys in the U.S. market come from China, so it can be difficult to find American-made toys. Many of the companies are niche operations, such as Maple Landmark Woodcraft in Vermont or Holgate Toys in Pennsylvania. Larger brands that say part or all of their toys are made in the U.S. include K'NEX, Little Tikes and Colorforms. When in doubt, you can always check the box to see where a toy was made.

Q: If I buy American-made toys, am I safe?
A: Going all-American may not be a solution. Quality-control issues can happen in any country -- and according to Carol Rehtmeyer, president of the Toy & Game Industry Foundation, some smaller U.S. companies may test their products less stringently than big-box companies that do business overseas. "Companies who are in the U.S., willing to produce in the U.S., tend to be, on average, smaller entrepreneurial companies," Rehtmeyer said. "Smaller companies are going to have less financial ability to run products through product-safety testing."

Q: My 3-year-old daughter is desperate for a Geo Trax Locomotive, which has been recalled. Are companies going to make more of the affected products, without the lead, before Christmas?
A: Mattel, which owns Fisher-Price, said in a statement Thursday that it does not plan to produce new versions of the toys at this time. It is producing new versions of some of the affected pieces of the toys for use in a replacement program.

Q: Why is lead paint dangerous?
A: Lead is the most common environmental poison to harm children. It can cause abdominal pain, constipation and vomiting, anemia, stunted growth and brain damage, among other things. Many children show no symptoms during exposure.

Q: How big of a risk are these toys?
A: If you just bought the toy and your child hasn't handled it, there's no risk, according to Dr. Marcel Casavant, director of the Central Ohio Lead Clinic and a physician at Children's Hospital in Columbus. Risk increases if children have handled the toy, especially with wet hands, or put it in their mouth, especially repeatedly. There's no magic number on how much exposure will put a child at serious risk, he said.

Q: Do I need to worry about toys from China for older children?
A: Up to age 6, the brain is very susceptible to even small amounts of lead. But even if an older child is playing with the toy, there is still a concern that younger playmates could get ahold of it, or that the toy could be handed down after the recall has been forgotten. "We really do like to plain old get rid of these lead sources," Casavant said.

Q: Are toys the most dangerous source of lead poisoning?
A: Poisoning from toys isn't a big problem in Casavant's clinic. Far more common, he said, is exposure to lead paint from older homes. Other sources of lead exposure include soil, plumbing and adults who bring home lead dust from their jobs, such as plumbers or electricians. There are scores of other sources -- for an exposure checklist, go to OrlandoSentinel.com/leaddanger

Q: What can I do if I'm concerned about lead exposure?
A: See your doctor, or contact the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

Sara K. Clarke can be reached at skclarke@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5664. From link: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-asectoysside07090707sep07,0,2343050.story

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Girl Left Inside Car For Eight Hours Or More

UNION TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- A 2-year-old girl found dead inside a car Thursday afternoon [August 23, 2007] in Union Township died due to heat exposure, an official said Friday.

Authorities said the car was parked with its windows rolled up outside Glen Este Middle School, where teachers started reporting Wednesday to prepare for next week's start of classes.The Clermont County coroner's office said the girl had been inside the car for at least seven hours while her mother, assistant principal Brenda Nesselroad-Slaby, attended a faculty meeting.


There are many heated debates about this topic going on all over the country. I participated in one on Cafemom.com.

I'm not sure what should happen to this woman....what her true punishment should be. Nothing will bring her daughter, Cecilia, back, and no one is suffering greater than this child's family. I can not even imagine the pain of losing my child and hope I never experience it -- especially if I were the cause of it. But is losing her child punishment enough for this woman....?

The big question is -- was this truly an accident? What really happened?

I won't go into how I could never leave MY son in the car, etc. Or rehash all the excuses -- she was distracted, running late, didn't usually drop off her daughter, had tinted windows and so on. I would like to point out one thing that I feel is being overlooked by many, though.

I live very close to where this happened in Ohio, so it's been all over our news, and I've read several stories about it.

Here's a link to one such news article:
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070824/NEWS01/708240427

And another:
http://www.wlwt.com/news/14023482/detail.html

While reading these news stories, something caught my attention......doughnuts. This kind, thoughtful woman REMEMBERED to pick up eight dozen doughnuts and drop them off at school for her staff....security cameras even showed that she returned to her Mercedes SUV multiple times to retrieve items from the back seat. Police also said the doughnuts were even on the seat next to Cecilia Slaby's car seat.

So, this educated, devoted mother remembered to pick up doughnuts for her teachers but forgot to take her daughter to a baby-sitter.....and then didn't notice the child [who was supposedly sleeping] in her car seat even though she made several trips to her car.....?

I'd also like to ask.....

.......How many people would feel the same if this 2-year-old had been left to die an agonizing death in a beat-up old car from a poor minority mother living in a really bad part of town instead of an educated one with a good job and a fancy Mercedes?

.......Would the media have been so interested in this story if this same thing happened to a child in a Honda? I mean, how many times do they need to mention the make of her SUV and the illegally tinted windows.....?

.......What if she had been in a bar drinking and "just forgot" about her child -- what then?

........Or what if you eliminate the doughnuts from the story....?

Would a change in circumstances or details change YOUR opinion on the fate of this woman.....? Would you be MORE sympathetic and understanding or LESS....?

Monday, September 3, 2007

Pasta With Smoked Salmon & Capers

I haven't posted any recipes before, but this one was SO good, I just had to put it on here! It all started, because my husband loves this smoked salmon pasta dish at his favorite restaurant, The Boat Shed, near his mom's home in WA. He used to live across an inlet from the restaurant and would eat there all the time. Now, he only gets to dine there 1-2 times a year.

Well, I searched online for a good recipe and stumbled upon one that sounded pretty good. It's as follows:

Ingredients:
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped [can also use a shallot]
1/4 pound smoked salmon, chopped [if you like salmon, add more. We did 8 oz.]
1 cup heavy cream (a.k.a. whipping cream)
3 tablespoons capers, drained
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 pound pasta, cooked al dente, drained (reserving about 1/4 cup of the cooking water), and tossed with olive oil
Freshly grated imported Parmesan cheese

Preparation:
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté until translucent, but not browned. Add the smoked salmon and continue cooking just until the salmon turns opaque, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in the cream and add the capers. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Be careful how much salt you add because the smoked salmon and capers are both salty.

Add the pasta and toss to coat. If there doesn't appear to be enough sauce, add a couple of tablespoons of the pasta cooking water to thin it down. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Serves 4 [or 2.5 for two meals! It was almost better the next day!]

The first time we made this, I felt like the salmon was a little mushy. It was still VERY GOOD, don't get me wrong -- even with slightly mushy salmon! I think we might have cooked it too long before adding the pasta. My recommendations are to either (a) don't cook too long after adding the salmon or (b) add the salmon closer to the end.

This recipe has immediately become a family favorite, and even Mr. Nick was clamoring for more!

Saturday, September 1, 2007

September is Baby Safety Month

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- September is Baby Safety Month, sponsored annually by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). Now in its 24th year, this month-long education campaign exists to increase consumer awareness of safety issues surrounding the safe use and selection of juvenile products.

This year's Baby Safety Month theme focuses on getting parents and caregivers "Out & About With Baby" by providing valuable information for keeping baby safe outside of the home. From carriers to car seats to strollers and more, there are a wide variety of products all parents and caregivers need. With more options available than ever before, there is quite a bit to consider when choosing the product best suited for baby.

Each year, JPMA relies on the cooperation of retailers to assist in spreading the word about Baby Safety Month. Again this year, JPMA provided retailers with electronic access to all Baby Safety Month materials at http://www.jpma.org.

More than ever before, the safety of juvenile products is top of mind among parents nationwide. That's why JPMA's Certification Program offers added assurance the product was built with safety in mind. Through the program, products are tested by independent laboratories to confirm compliance with the current safety standard. For example, a JPMA Certified crib must meet the U.S. standards which includes 16 CFR 1303. If it is JPMA Certified, lead testing (on surface coatings) is required annually. This is just one of the many benefits of buying JPMA certified products.

"JPMA understands the enormous task of raising a child, and constantly strives to educate the public about the safe use and selection of juvenile products," commented Kelly Mariotti, JPMA Chairperson. "This September, we're enlisting the help of retailers to spread the message of safety, so parents and caregivers can feel confident in the juvenile products they use and get baby 'out and about' safely."

Baby Safety Month started in 1983 when JPMA initiated "Expectant Mother's Day." In 1986, it was extended to a week long celebration, until 1991, when JPMA sponsored the first "Baby Safety Awareness Month." Since then, every September has been designated as Baby Safety Month.

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, Inc. is an international trade organization of 325 member companies in the United States, Canada and Mexico. These companies manufacture and/or import infant products such as cribs, car seats, strollers, bedding, and a wide range of accessories and decorative items.

For more information on JPMA, Baby Safety Month or to order the Safe and Sound for Baby brochure, contact JPMA at 856.638-0420 or visit the Web site at http://www.jpma.org.