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.....
Monday, September 17, 2007
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
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
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....?
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!
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!
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