Contest Announcement!

Well, I was planning to do a big, fun contest during our Blog Blast, but I have been sick! So instead, we're going to go the easy (boring) route and just do a random drawing.

Two winners will get to have their pictures taken with Santa at Sunset Mall!

Just write your name in a comment below. All names will be entered into randompicker.com, and two will be randomly selected. Winners must be followers of SanAngeloMoms.com, and the SanAngeloMoms Blog ("Like" the Facebook page, and "Join" the Blog).

Submissions will be taken until Friday, 12/21 at 9:00 a.m. Winners will be announced at noon on Friday.

Good Luck!

Baby's Health Alert: It's RSV Season

Facts about RSV:  What is it and how is it different from the common cold?  

Flu season brings along with it another thing for Moms to worry about.  Most of us have heard of RSV, but aren't quite sure what the deal is.  Is this something I should be afraid of?  What should I do if my baby is exposed to RSV?  What if my baby is diagnosed with RSV?  There are horror stories going around about serious illnesses and even deaths from RSV.  It’s important to get the facts before we panic! 

What is RSV?   RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is one of many viruses that (in MOST children) causes an upper respiratory infection = aka “the common cold.”  However, in babies who have chronic lung disease (CLD) or babies who were born prematurely (especially before 35 weeks gestation), it can cause serious illness.  It can cause pneumonia and is the leading cause of bronchiolitis (infection/inflammation of the small breathing tubes of the lungs). 

It’s transmitted just like the cold and flu – by direct contact or airborne droplets. 

As always the best way to prevent RSV is to stay away from other sick contacts, covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, throwing away tissues, and good hand washing. 

Symptoms of RSV?  - Are the same as the common cold:  runny nose, cough, and fever.  Usually the cough gets worse.  In serious cases, the baby’s breathing will become rapid and difficult (especially in those high risk groups: preemies and CLD).  Sometimes, feeding/drinking can become difficult, because it just takes too much energy for these babies to suck or swallow & they can easily get dehydrated.  Be especially on the lookout for any bluish color around the lips or fingertips.  These are a bad sign that not enough oxygen is being delivered to the baby’s bloodstream. If your baby has this or any of the following symptoms, contact your Pediatrician right away or get to your nearest emergency room: breathing difficulties, baby is younger than 2-3 months and has fever or shows any signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, crying without tears or urinating less often. 

Treatment of RSV is usually treatment of the symptoms.  It is a virus, so it usually has to just run its course, but sometimes inhaled medications called bronchodilators are used to help open up the airways.  Sometimes, this is not much help for babies with RSV at all, and if they are very ill, they may need to be hospitalized for observation, oxygen, and IV fluids.  Antibiotics won’t work, because RSV is not a bacteria.  In general though, treating RSV is just like treating the cold:  supportive treatment.  Nasal saline washes, running cool mist humidifiers, fluids, rest and fever reducers as needed…..and, of course……..Mommy’s TLC!!!!

The Good News about RSV is that most kiddos are well their way to recovery in about a week and as your baby gets older, the less serious RSV is, because the airways get larger.  After about age 2, RSV presents as just the common cold in most kids. 

The Bad News about RSV is that in preemies and kiddos with CLD, it can be a precursor to and make asthma and other breathing problems worse.  And children with heart disease can especially have a hard time recovering. 

Bottom Line:  Prevention is the key.  No one can say it enough.  Your baby should avoid contact with other sick people, and everyone should be washing their hands frequently, especially after coughs and sneezes.  If your baby was born prematurely, there is a vaccine available, so talk to your Pediatrician about that. 

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This post intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on SanAngeloMoms. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911."

Cancer survivor.... I think.

I just finished my chemo treatment for skin cancer two days ago and man was that a wild ride....

Six months ago I went into the dermatologist's office because I knew I had one cancer spot on my face. I knew it was cancer because it never healed... it would look like a pimple and then would crust over like a scab and bleed a little then repeat.... Well I had it for about 8 months before I knew myself it was cancer then I waited another 2 years to have it checked because... I was scared. dumb.

After I healed from my surgery I was told I needed to do chemo to kill all my pre-cancer. For one month I had to apply a topical chemo cream to my face once in the morning and then again at night before I went to bed. Nothing happened for about two weeks and then like some kind of evil magic I looked like I dumped hot oil on my face....

Welts started appearing on the sides of my nose first which wasn't too bad, it was like having a really bad cold and only having paper towels to wipe your nose with, but after the 3rd week I was in total pain. I am in no way complaining because I finished my treatment and am thankful that I caught it all before I had to have more surgeries to have it all removed.

I missed having my baby be able to touch my face and giving her kisses without fear of her touching this toxic cream and getting it on her face. The sun made me feel like a vampire!!! When the sun was directly on my face I literally was in pain like I would catch into a big mass of burning flames and turn into dust. I found myself vomiting and would get random nose bleeds. I was exhausted all the time and just didn't feel like myself which I of coarse expected to happen but things always stink a little more when your actually doing them instead of mentally preparing yourself for them =)

These "spots" or "scabs" look like severe acne from a distance and I have gotten so many disgusted looks and know people talk about me when I'm at the store... gives me a new perspective on people that look different that I see... I have always tried to be compassionate and not to stare and have taught my daughter to do the same though it's a very difficult thing for 2 year olds to do, lol.

I have had people tell me that I should wear makeup to cover it up so I don't scare children during my photo shoots but I can't because it can cause an infection..... through it all I kept a smile on my face.

Luckily for me I have a loving family and friends and wonderful clients that stood by my side and kept me incredibly busy the entire treatment time so I didn't have a chance to sit and dwell on everything and feel sorry for myself. I don't know what I would have done if I would have been left at home all day every day like I had planned when I first found out I had to do chemo. I have received many messages over my treatment coarse telling me of alternate treatments and how chemo is poison and can actually kill you faster than some of the organic remedies, though harsh I don't think my topical chemo is as hard core as the other types of chemo. And it got me thinking.... how does someone decide what to do?

My cancer was pretty easy to treat and made me funny looking but what does someone with liver cancer do? Someone with lung cancer? They know how harsh their treatments will be and that it could kill them... do they do chemo? Do they do the organic remedies and just hope that all the online research is true and that God will pull them through? I am a God fearing and loving woman but I'm not sure that I would be ok with just leaving my life up to this new research and prayers, as horrible as that sounds.

On one hand chemo has worked for some and on the other hand I have read endless testimonies about people dying from the chemo alone. I imagine doctors make a killing off of it too.... no pun intended. I had a checkup 2 days ago and my dr told me that she wants me to do another round of chemo in 2 months to make sure I have killed all the cancer on my face. If this doesn't work I will have surgery on my face yet again and I am very torn on how to feel about this.

I am facing at least a month of healing for these sores to heal and then I will have a burned/red look on my skin for about a year already.... I would like to hear your thoughts on this subject... am I really off??? But hey... I can hug and kiss on my baby now =)

Perfect Parenting Misperception

I put out some really personal information on my social networking sites this past week.  My husband is seeking mental health treatment and I shared it with my Instagram feed and eventually my Facebook friends.  Most people were surprised because I hadn’t mentioned us having any issues and I definitely hadn’t mentioned that I had moved out for a week and was staying with a friend!  I was concerned about this being seen as “oversharing” but the support we both received was phenomenal.  Many of my friends came forward and shared their own experiences and for one day it seemed like Facebook had been transformed into an environment of positive support instead of the negative site everyone seems to complain about.  That got me really reflecting on what image I’m sending out, both as a spouse and a parent.

Something that has always bothered me about some “moms groups” is the inability to honestly open up and share the hard times with the good.  It’s very common to see first milestones, family celebrations, and lots of positive moments shared with others, but not always the bad moments.  I worry that this leads other moms to feel like they’re alone when they are experiencing normal rough days with the kids.  While I was talking with two friends at the gym about my husband, one of them commented that she was surprised I was under any stress because I always seem so calm and patient, particularly with my 16-month old, Pistol.  It actually took me back because I feel soo far from “calm and patient” especially with Pistol.  She’s the youngest and loudest of four girls, she doesn’t seem to have a single people pleasing bone in her body, she is a rule maker and not a rule follower, and I’m constantly correcting her over and over (and over) for the same things!  My friend actually expressed that she felt like a “bad mom” because of how comparatively calm I am. 

There’s not a perfect parent on the planet and I don’t think there’s a perfect way to parent.  I do think that if you have an emotional attachment to anyone then that relationship will cause you stress.  Who could you possibly have more emotional attachment and investment in than your own children made from your mold?  It seems that if you are an involved parent, you will have a strong emotional relationship with your child for better or worse and both ends of that spectrum are stressful.  Firsts and milestones are overwhelmingly emotional at times!  Some moms cry at the first step, dads melt at the first, “I love you”, everyone bawls their parental eyes out when it’s time for college and marriage.  These are happy moments but they’re stressful because of the emotion you have invested in that little being making all these big steps!  On the other end of it temper tantrums, “NO”s, and regular day to day life will cause you stress.  How much stress and how you handle that stress is completely up to you, but there is no parent, who is actively parenting their child, that avoids these stressors.  Just as much as we share the positive we shouldn’t be hiding the negative, especially not from our support systems.  Whether it be friends, family, or social networking if you have a support system they are there for your day to day stressors just as much as your big crisis. 

I definitely have not been attempting to project any image of perfection and definitely did not expect other moms to compare themselves to me based on 5 minute snippets of my life.  That being said, I had been comparing myself to other moms based on brief snippets of their day to day life.  I have a friend pregnant with her fifth child who can spend an hour vacuuming, watch my child drag a bag of chips upside down across her carpet, and this SuperMom of a woman will barely raise her eyebrow as she says, “Pistol, are you being naughty?  It’s okay” followed by laughter and more vacuuming. That’s an actual quote from her in times that have me red faced, barely breathing, and on the edge of a nervous breakdown.  So here I am feeling like an emotionally unstable parent and others are looking at me at the epitomy of calm parenting and I’m just left dumbfounded on it all.

My point in all of this is that while no one wants to be a “Debbie Downer” we should share our downs as easily as we share our ups.  Maybe not to the same groups of people but to someone!  If you could just briefly share with one of those “perfect moms” in your life, “Man, it really gets at me when Jack throws the ball inside after the 400^th time I’ve said “No ball inside!”” then you might have something shared with you!  You might hear that your “perfect mom” has the same issue or a similar one with her kids.  You might get some great tips or at least a different perspective.  At the very least, I would expect that you sharing that you are not perfect and that you get stressed will give you a sense of relief and you will find others who are willing to talk to you and help normalize those times when you feel like the worst mom in the world.  I actually think being concerned enough to wonder what type of parent you are and to realize you aren’t perfect is a HUGE sign of being a great parent.  Parenting is stressful and there’s no one who escapes the stressors of such an intensely emotional relationship.  Finding a system of support where others will talk honestly with you about their bad moments and their good ones can definitely make any struggle a little easier!

Giving BIG, Even When You Have Little

I am a firm believer that you should always help with a need when you can, but when my husband was in his last year of school we hardly had enough of anything to “help” ourselves, let alone anyone else. I knew there had to be some way I could still touch someone else, make their life a little easier, show them that they are not forgotten… I just had to get creative about it!

For some reason seeing homeless/needy people on the side of the road has always pulled on my hearts strings, hard. It is difficult for me to imagine falling to that level, to have nothing at all and, it seems, no one at all. My children must have inherited that same compassion, as they are constantly willing to try and give out money to the needy. This seemed like a "good enough idea" until, well, we didn’t have any extra money… and by that, I mean none.

This is where that “creativity” comes in to play...

For the most part of that last year of school we had to survive somehow, and cutting money from our grocery bills seemed like it could make the biggest impact, so I taught myself to coupon. I would request samples form companies just for the coupons that came with them. After a while I had WAY more toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, floss, soap, cleansers, lotions, etc. than I would ever use or care to have laying around. My daughter and I decided to put those samples to good use and make little “care packs” to pass out to the needy people we saw on the sides of the road.

We decided we would make a goal to fill ten care packs, once we had given them all away we would make more. We used brown paper bag lunch sacks, which my daughter colored with bible verses and pictures, and filled them with all the samples we accumulated along with some water bottles, cans of soup and plastic spoons we found on sale. Due to the samples, some of the care packs were geared more toward one gender and in that case we would mark the bottom of the sacks “male” or “female”.  Once we met our goal, I told my daughter to put two in the car as we set out to run errands.

I didn’t know until we were way down the road, but my daughter had chosen to bring one female and one male pack instead of the many other gender neutral ones. I said a silent prayer as we drove around that we would be able to find "a male AND female" to pass them out to (seemed a little strange praying for homeless couple to appear, lol). Soon after as we pulled up to a red light, we saw them… two needy people, one male and one female! My daughter was ecstatic, she was screaming for me to roll down the window, I was so excited to see the couple standing there and a little unnerved from the screaming all around me that I was rolling down every window but the one I needed to. Finally we were able to hand over the packs and stop holding up traffic. The smiled on my daughter’s face was priceless!

This small act may not seem like much to anyone else, but by performing it I was able to look and reach beyond my own financial situation, make the day of a stranger in need, and teach both my daughter (and myself) that we can always help others in need... no matter what our circumstances may be.

If you too are wondering how you can help those around you in creative, low cost ways, I have a few ideas for you listed below:

1.     My Coke Rewards: Did you know you could enter online the codes found on the caps and boxes of Coke product  to redeem them for prizes? If you already drink Coke products this cost nothing extra to you. Consider giving prizes like a McDonalds gift card, a coupon for a free 20 oz Coke product or other gifts to those standing out in the elements.

2.     Free Hair Cut Referral Cards: Did you know many stylists will give you a referral card for a free haircut if you simply ask? Think about asking for one of these the next time you are in a salon. You could pass it out to someone who might be in need for a job and will be going to an interview.

3.     Pampers & Huggies Rewards: Did you know that many diaper companies enclose codes in their products that you could enter online in exchange for prizes? Many of the prizes are toys for babies and toddlers. Collect points all year and consider redeeming your points for toys that you can donate to needy kids or Toys for Tots at Christmas time. This takes no more than entering the codes and shipping is even free!

4.     Candy for the Troops: Did you know many organizations are more than happy to take your extra Halloween candy and send it to troops over seas? Who really needs all that candy? Consider discussing your plan with your children before Trick or Treating to help get them involved.

5.     Bahlmans Coat Drive: Did you know you can donate a gently used coat to Bahlmas Cleaners and they will have them dry cleaned and then pass them out to those in need? As moms, we know how fast our little ones can out grown clothes, consider donating last year’s coats to Bahlmans.

I’d like to know what are some other ideas you have had to help those in need in a creative way?

Prayers

Prayers to all those affected by the senseless tragedy in Connecticut, from SanAngeloMoms <3

Merry Christmas!!

Before I get to this blog post, I just wanted to share a few things about it.  I originally had this published in a paper I write for (Laurel Leader-Call) with the hopes that others would read it and share with me some of their own ideas about "gift condensing," and that's exactly what they did! With that being said, please post in the comment section any ideas or gift giving traditions that play out in your families on Christmas morning. I'm always eager to learn. This post does reflect my religious belief, but I'm going to hope no one takes offense to it. I promise I'm not trying to push any thing on anyone. :)

Santa’s Black Card

“I want this, and that, and one of those!”

It’s Christmas, and the must-have-it-all attitude has nearly consumed the children in my home. 

“You’ll probably get a few things from your lists if you’re good,” I said to our sons as their lists began to mirror the complete inventory of Toys-R-Us, “but you know you can’t have all of these things, right?” 

Their smiles crumbled.  Our youngest son was completely heartbroken, and looked at me as if I told him we were destitute and soon to become homeless.  The oldest, our logical thinker, quite seriously said, “It’ll be okay!  I know Santa doesn’t have elves to make that much stuff for all the kids.  That would be impossible.  He has a Black Card.”

The American Express Centurion Card, solid black and made of titanium with requirements of at least $21,000 that must be charged and paid in full each month, is about as attainable to the Walters family Santa as a free trip to the moon.  I looked at my little guys who were waiting for me to assure them that Santa could find a way to get them whatever they asked for.  They’d worked so hard all year helping others and love to give to those in need, so I wondered how on earth I was going to tell them Santa doesn’t really have a Black Card.  Or better yet, that no matter how deserving they were, no one really merits that much stuff.

I remember being the same way as a child, despite my parents setting good examples of what it means to live selflessly.  Even the most altruistic of children get a little wayward at Christmastime.  As a young child, I would wait so impatiently for the J.C. Penney Christmas catalog to arrive in the mail.  Once I had the book in my possession, highlighter and pen in hand, I would make list after list of everything I thought I needed.  A time or two, I sent my massive lists to relatives, and couldn’t understand why they thought I was being cute.  In fact, the first time I was nationally published was in elementary school when I wrote a complaint letter to a newspaper.  My complaint was that my parents had bought a C.D. player for my brother and I to share, and I thought I deserved to have one for myself alone.  I pouted on paper in hope to seek attention and validation, but instead I hurt my parents and my own image.  It never occurred to me how ungrateful I was being, and how that may make people feel about me.

It was a life-changing moment for sure, and after the Black Card proclamation I wanted to make sure more than ever that our boys understood that life was not about getting a C.D. player of your own.  I wanted to kick the habit good and well before they reached adulthood and had children of their own on top of that.  Too often we see grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles in a race to give the better or most gifts.  The kids end up bombarded with toys they don’t even take out of the packaging until April.  It’s a battle that can’t be won!

So how do you tell children that Santa doesn’t have a Black Card?  It’s hard to explain to young minds that Santa is broke or on a budget in a way they can understand.  I took the problem to my friends and learned of some clever solutions.  My favorite suggestion is one several of my friends are participating in now.  The idea is for Santa to deliver just four presents to each child.  The children are then explained (via letter from Santa) that three of the gifts represent the gifts the wise men gave to Jesus the day of his birth.  Since gold, frankincense and myrrh aren’t practicable gifts, in their places the kids receive something they want, something they need, and something to read.  The fourth gift, something to wear, represents Mary’s gift to her son when she wrapped in him swaddling clothes. 

Through the process, the story of Christmas will take precedence over the legend of Santa.  It’s a beautiful tribute to the real purpose of celebration, and the little ones learn to become ambassadors for the message of Christmas: hope, love, and giving.  Jesus, the reason we celebrate, was satisfied with four gifts and later devoted his life to helping others.  Who could argue it doesn’t work?  I think it’s about time for Santa and his helpers to cut up those cards.