Kids & Shampoo

Missy Moo is almost 7 yrs old and I’ve often wondered when should we stop using baby shampoo on her?  Don’t get me wrong – we don’t mind using baby shampoo and i supposed there is no harm using them – as long as it works and she has been using it since birth.  But we’ve been asked many a times from other parents – since sometimes – they do forget to buy baby shampoo and didn’t want to run out to get a bottle just because.

My guess is that as long as the kids doesn’t mind the shampoo stinging their eyes and can untangle their hair – then it shouldn’t be any harm using a normal shampoo.  I would still try not to use it so often if possible – since I am paranoid that she might have an allergy but if you are outta it and you needed to shampoo the kids’ hair – go right ahead.

Keeping Kids Hydrated & Cool

It had been a really hot summer here in Nova Scotia and some days – I just wished there were  ceiling fans everywhere in the store if possible.   Nope we don’t have airon – and it gets really muggy sometimes staying indoor even with the doors open.   We have had standing fans but they sometimes don’t work as good as the ceiling fans – some people uses the window fans but if the weather is hot outside – the window fans will just draw the hot air in instead.

But if the kids are outside a lot – how do you keep them cool and hydrated?  Fruits and veggies !  they contain 70 to 95 percent water. Try watermelon, strawberries, lettuce, and cucumbers.  Or make it fun for the kids by freezing cups of applesauce.   Yogurt – whether plain or fruity  – it contains – 80% water.  So there you have it – but the sprinklers in the lawn will work just as good while they are having fun!  keep cool inside and outside with ceiling fans and all the cooling fruits and food.

Baby Constipation

My girlfriend who just had a baby called all worried one day – because her baby  seems constipated. She asked me if Missy Moo had the same problem when she was a baby.  But truth be told Missy Moo pooped everyday without a problem – but she was on bottled milk – so i don’t know if there was any difference.  Anyhow, I tried to calm her down and told her the that frequency of bowl movements varies with different babies.  However, if the baby’s infrequent bowel movements are hard and dry and difficult to pass, she may be constipated.  And to help the baby relieve some discomfort, my grandmother used to rub my sister’s babies tummy all the time.  You can also bend her legs into her tummy and gently rotate in a clockwise motion.

Keeping Cool In The Summer

Or should i say staying hydrated in the summer?  Missy Moo is in summer camp and she refused to drink her water even though every time she comes back either for lunch or for the day – she is dripping wet.   But we all know we need to keep the kids hydrated else they have get a heat stroke.   So now i offer her fruit juices freshly squeezed from home and in a thermal bottle instead.  Not the best alternative – but if you asked me anything is better than nothing and fruit juices freshly squeezed at home – has gotta be the second best – although i prefer if she drinks water.

Growing Pains In Kids

Trust me I never knew that kids had growing pains – till Missy Moo complained for weeks now that her legs hurt.  This morning – it hurt so bad that she wasn’t able to walk but she fell down well and fine and whined too much too.  But we know she does have some kinda pain – because she doesn’t know how to lie about stuff like that yet.  Her family doctor had told us that she thinks it was growing pains too – but if it got any worst – we should get her in for a blood test – to make sure it wasn’t something else.

So while i was reading up on  testosterone cream , i went ahead and check out what one can do when your kid has got joint pains – because we didn’t want it to be junior arthritis  and if it was – we need to treat it early too.  I’m so not looking forward to it – if it was.   But I’m gonna try other alternatives on her now that I’ve read more about it.

“Massage” your child’s legs, especially the upper part. This doesn’t involve the typical massage techniques. It just involves squeezing. Put one or both hands on the child’s legs and gently but firmly squeeze. Do this continually for about 10-15 minutes. For the most part, the pain should go away and should allow the child to sleep, or at least have temporary relief from the pain.

You can also prop some pillows underneath the child’s legs to elevate them and use heating pad too – and if it gets any worst – check with the doctor to give her pain medication like ibuprofen.

811 Canada

When Missy Moo was sick last week – well, she still has cramps today – our family doctor told Mr Moo to call 811, should we need any advice in the middle of the night because this health line is manned by registered nurse.  I had asked Mr Moo to call once last week – but according to him – the nurse told him the child had to be with him to be able to access the situation.  Not as helpful as I thought they might be – but i wasn’t deterred like with my  fat burners and tried again – when Missy Moo puked like the Merlion last nite.

I’m pleased to report that the nurse online was really nice and gave me some very sound advice.  So anyone in Nova Scotia and needs medication advice – instead of going to the emergency immediately – you may want to try that first.  I called at about midnite and the nurse picked up my call immediately -so it’s better than waiting for 8hrs to see the doctor to be told to wait it out eh.

Gas aka Wind In Kids

Missy Moo had a stomach flu for a few days now -  and today was the first day she didn’t puke – but her tummy still has cramps and i strongly believed that it’s wind aka gas.  She doesn’t like taking ginger or shallot in her food as recommended by some friends and it suddenly dawn on me that an age old remedy may actually help with the gas in her tummy.  Don’t forget the doctors do not recommend anything for gas for kids her age.  So while out looking for  cheap auto insurance we headed out to a local store in town – to ask if the store owner had any Yu Yee oil.   I remember when i was a kid – my mother used to put this on us after we bath – i am so regretting it now that I didn’t do this for Missy Moo when she was a kid – that way – we wouldn’t be afraid that she doesn’t like the smell.   So parents – if you have any food or age old remedy from home or your grandparents make sure you use it on them when they are young – that way they wouldn’t give you an attitude when they are Missy Moo’s age.

Viral Infection

So we brought Missy Moo to see the family doctor this time because she was still puking today.  Remember the Stomach flu she had since Saturday – yes ! that stubborn one – it still didn’t wanna go!  darn!  and i’m not getting any sleep – i tell yer from all the puking and worrying about Missy Moo.  I am gonna need some eye creams that really work this time because i’ve got eye luggages and not just eye bags now.

So what did the doctor said ?  it’s a viral infection – so there is really nothing they can give her and to let it run it’s course she said.  I hear yer!  but it sure is hard to see her puke and go into those awful, awful cramps!  and she is so hungry but everytime she tries and eat – she just puke and puke.  So what can we do ?  helpless ?  yes ! definitely and just pray.

Stomach Bug

So Missy Moo was puking last nite and had lots of tummy cramp – we thought it was food poisoning at first – can’t blame us – never had a stomach flu before  – unlike my age spot that i’ve seen on my mom all the time when i was growing up – so i knew what it was immediately when i first started seeing them.

Anyhow – we headed to the emergency – at the hospital – when she didn’t seems any better the next day to be told that we just have to let it runs it course – *slap forehead*!  yes! and let my kid be in pain.  Seriously, i don’t understand it – and i am at times infuriated because when I am back home – i cannot remember a time whereby we did not get any medication from our family doctor.  It wasn’t too bad tonite at the emergency room – we were in and out within an hour but normally – it would have taken much, much longer.  And to think that if we had waited like 8 hrs to be told that – now ppl can kill.  I long to go home – because of medical care here – even if it was free – so what? what is good when your doctor’s office tells you to google it – or in this case – to let your kid be in pain till it stops.  Frustrating!

Dental Care In Canada

Missy Moo just went for her yearly dental appointment – and yes – in Canada – dental care is free right up till when they are 10 yrs old from what i understand.  And even though it used to be twice a year you can see the dentist for free – it’s only once a year now.    So they did make another appt for Missy Moo for next year but i called them up and made it for 6 months – we will pay the difference of $63 – afterall, it is important to take care of their teeth eh – when they are young – it’s like going for a quick trim every 3 weeks for me.

It’s really crazy i think even though Canada has this Universal health plan – but not dental plan for the adults – so if I were you and in Canada – i’ll definitely asked my kid to become a dentist – i mean everyone needs a dentist every now and then eh – so even if you don’t make it rich – you will still comfortable in this profession.

Missy Moo & Her Cough & Colds

I swear I feel bad for Missy Moo because of the nature of our work – we are out in the open so much – she gets to meet all the healthy as well as the sick customers at our store – it makes it hard to keep her healthy for long.  So once again – she is having a cold and coughing her lungs out – she is a trooper that one but we feel absolutely bad that she caught something again – when she had finally recovered from the long winter cough and cold for the last few months. Anyhow, time to take steps to build up her immune system with not only more nutrients in her diet but more vitamins to help boost her health too.   I can’t wait for the summer to come – she is usually not so sick during the hotter weather.

Blowing Noses For Kids

Missy Moo has the hardest time when she catches a cold – why?  because she can’t blow her nose – she refuses to do it.. and she just wiped her dripping nose.   And we all know – with the wiping nose like that -  your nose gets so sore  – and poor Missy Moo – you’ve gotta feel bad for her.  Her sniffing lasts so long and she loses so much weight – she is definitely not needing any quick weight loss diet like I would.

Anyhow, a trip to the family doctor – the new one – she taught her how to blow her nose and also explained why a lot of kids gets ear infection, when they have a cold.  Now when you blow your nose you cannot close two sides of the nose but one side at a time – that way the phelgm don’t get into the ears passage instead. Now it make sense how kids gets a lot of ear infection – with that knowledge now – we try to get Missy Moo to blow her nose but of course – it still isn’t easy but like everything – it will come with time.

Asthma

So after so many months – Missy Moo was still all stuffed up and as if the cold never went away.  We wonder if it is because the school keeps insisting on making them go out in the cold during break time or if they are not asked or supervised to dress properly when outside playing is one of the cause of this constant cold and stuffiness.  But the Missy Moo had a follow up check up from her x-ray she took a week ago – and it had shown that she had a mild case of bronchitis but no asthma.  So we are keeping a watchful eyes on her in the meantime, we have to get some safety glasses for the father-in-law who works a lot in his own workshop – but that will be another story for another day.

Burning When Peeing

So Missy Moo complained since yesterday that she felt like it was burning when she peed – like any anxious parents.. we called our family doctor to be told that since it is his last week in town – he is moving away for good, we can only take a urine sample and have the lab test it.   So we did and here i go thinking.. so i pick up the bottle tomorrow.. and then take the pee the next day, since the lab is closed by 11.30am.. and then i have to wait for the next day before i get some medication from the doctor for Missy Moo.  I wonder if i need to get some cigars online the next time i have a new doctor, so that Missy Moo don’t have to suffer this long before getting medication.

One have to take off my hats to the doctor and his secretary.  Why? one donch have kids.. and the other must be thinking.. not my kid what..  ! if you want.. bring her to the emergency room.  But with the H1N1 thing going around.. you think i wanna bring my kid there..??  *sigh* ..  you know.. for our family doctor and the secretary.. they sure don’t show a lot of compassion at all.  One can only say.. no lost for me.. and Missy Moo.  I’m totally aghast and should have known better.. afterall, the secretary asked me .. to look for Dr Google.. when my hemoglobin was so low.. and i needed to know..  what i should do.. or eat..  to keep me from dying a year and a half ago.

H1N1 & School

It’s bad enough that ppl who has the flu, cold or even the H1N1 come into our store.. without a nary of apology for being out in the public.. and spreading their germs.  If the kids don’t know any thing, it is up to you as a parent.. to keep them away from healthy kids. .and healthy folks.  You can imagine me getting  dark eye circle from worrying about it.. and worrying about sending my kid to school.

A kid from Missy Moo’s class was said to have H1N1 .. a few days ago.. but today i read on her FB.. that she is sending him back to school on Monday.. because he was bored.  *slap forehead* .. so to send Missy Moo to school or not..?? Really at a dilemma because if I don’t send her.. she would be bored at the store.. but if i send her.. i’m exposing her to all sorts of germs.  Tough being a mother eh. … and for those whose children has H1N1 .. DON’T SEND YOUR KIDS TO SCHOOL..  NO MATTER HOW BAD YOU ARE FEELING YOURSELF..!

Mono

So Missy Moo’s babysitter has mono for the last few weeks.  A check with our family doctor to see if we can have her back to work anytime soon, since she did call back after 2 weeks of MIA.  Well, her mother called for her after the 2 Saturday that she went sick – so we wanted to be sure – that Missy Moo won’t be infected since we all know that it is highly contagious.

The doctor’s office said that Missy Moo’s babysitter will be feeling really lethargic and is not really at risk after the 3rd week.  But because Mono does take a toll on the person’s health – we decided to let the babysitter rest more – so she doesn’t get a relapse.  Plus we were very lucky .. that Missy Moo didn’t get mono from the babysitter – because Missy Moo loves to smooch the babysitter – which I had stopped her many a times.  Thank God.. is all i can say – had Missy Moo been infected.. i’m sure .. she would be in a more terrible position than the babysitter.

So what is mono..??   Mono is caused by a specific virus called the Epstein-Barr virus. Its mode of transmission is probably by saliva. The virus is highly contagious but roommates or family members are unlikely to develop Mono unless there is close contact. The incubation period (time from contact with the virus until sickness begins) averages 25 days. Once an individual has Mono, generally there is permanent protection against having Mono again.

How long will someone who has mono be sick..?? It is very unpredictable. It will depend on the severity of the disease that may vary with individuals. If you have fever, sore throat, fatigue, or other problems, it may be necessary for you to be in bed. With good care, you should be up and around in 1 – 2 weeks. Generally speaking, the healthier your lifestyle, the shorter the duration of the illness.

It is advisable to get plenty of rest in the early stages of the disease. Your rate of recovery will depend on your psychological state. Strongly motivated persons will probably return to their normal activity more rapidly than depressed persons.

Fatigue is another matter. A few people have little to no fatigue. Others may be tired for 1 – 4 weeks gradually recovering their full strength and energy. Fatigue is NOT the cause of Mono, but the result.

When your liver or spleen is enlarged, you must be careful not to allow any blow to the chest or abdomen as this may cause damage to these organs.

Mono can be TREATED, not cured. Increased rest, and an analgesic to decrease the fever and muscle aches are the traditional methods of treating Mono. Some cases of Mono are complicated by streptococcal throat infections and may require antibiotic treatment.

Swine Flu

So what do i know about Swine flu right..??  but everyone is talking about it.. and everyone is afraid of it – well, almost everyone.  And Missy Moo being in school and all, one cannot but be afraid.. that she might catch something from her friends who are less informed about the swine flu.

Can it kill..??  I’ve listened so much to the radio.. and death toll reported in this part of Canada.. I thought we should call our public nurse .. and pick her brains.   Just so you all know .. the vaccine is not here yet – there was not much she could tell us yet but she was very helpful.  And if you are asthmatic, you automatically qualify for the vaccine.

How bad is swine flu, really?  In many ways, it’s really not that different from seasonal flu, experts say. But there are some important distinctions.

It’s natural to feel a little anxious, if not downright panicky, about the possibility of you or a family member catching the swine flu. But before you worry about worst-case scenarios, let’s put some things in perspective. The fact is, seasonal flu — the kind that circulates every fall and winter, year after year — kills 30,000 to 40,000 people. We just don’t read about every single hospitalization or complication in the news. In comparison, current government predictions are calling for anywhere from 30,000 to 90,000 swine flu-related deaths this fall. That may sound like a lot, but keep in mind that it’s out of hundreds of millions of potential infections — meaning that even as a worst-case scenario, only a small percentage of the US population would get seriously sick.

Is the swine flu really like the seasonal flu..??

So far, swine flu doesn’t seem to be more virulent than seasonal flu (symptoms are largely the same), but it is slightly more contagious. According to a new study from Cornell University, every person infected with swine flu puts 1.5 other people at risk in the few days before they themselves experience symptoms. With seasonal flu, that number is about 1.3.

Part of the reason why swine flu is more transmissible is that most people don’t have any immunity to it, unlike other seasonal flu strains, to which we may have been exposed before (this gives our immune system a leg up in fighting off the virus).

Does the swine flu only affect those old and unhealthy individuals..??

Unlike seasonal flu, which has the most serious health effects in people older than 65, with swine flu incidences so far, 75% of serious cases and 60% of deaths have occurred in people younger than 49, according to recent CDC data. But some experts believe that it’s not so much that young people are more vulnerable, it’s that older adults are less at risk. About one-third of adults over age 60 have some kind of pre-existing immunity to the H1N1 strain, according to CDC data. (There were likely strains similar to the current swine flu circulating when they were children).

What this means for you: Unless you have a chronic condition that’s shown to increase complications of swine flu (pregnancy, asthma, diabetes, or heart, kidney, or liver disease), you’ll likely battle the flu and come out just fine, says Allison Aiello, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. But that doesn’t mean you should blow off preventive measures. No matter what your age, be a vigilant handwasher and instill the habit in your kids. Get vaccinated for swine flu if you’re eligible (as well as for seasonal flu). Avoid people who are sick if you can. And pay attention to symptoms (most commonly fever, sore throat, cough, runny nose, sneezing, muscle aches, fatigue/exhaustion — and in some cases, diarrhea, headache, and a stiff neck). If you feel sick, don’t be a warrior. Stay home, rest, and drink plenty of fluids to help ensure that your body fights off the flu instead of developing complications.

More answers later.

Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist

So Missy Moo went for her ENT specialist appt today.  Surprised totally that the Doc’s office was open.. since it was a civic holiday today.  We were in and out within half an hour .. not much wait and the secretary was very nice… unlike some that we’ve met.

The doctor must be German.. and at first didn’t seems to very happy that Missy Moo didn’t wanna cooperate.  But that’s to be expected right..?? because this was a new doctor.. and she was afraid.. and didn’t know .. what to think of him.   But after the examination and all.. he seems to be nicer.. and Missy Moo seems to have calmed down then.

The final result of the examination .. was pretty good.. no infection of any kind.. so no taking out the tonsils.. he thinks it’s viral.. and he would see Missy Moo again in 6 months.  So that was the end of that fear i had been having for a week now.. or since we got the appt for Missy Moo.  As parents… it’s really hard not to worry about our kid.. but fear must not stop us from finding out the truth quickly.. and nip the problem at its bud eh.

ENT Specialist

So Missy Moo saw her family doctor with swollen tonsils and she didn’t sleep well for 3 nites in total.  As expected..  he wasn’t gonna give her any medication – surprise !! surprise..!!  NOT! He wants her to see an ENT Specialist and guess what..?? the one and only that we have here in Y-town  – is said to be meant.. and very busy.  They called today.. and Missy Moo’s appt is in NOVEMBER!!!!!  yes .. NOVEMBER..!!!!  crazy or what..??  no medication.. !!! and now the ENT doc only available 3 months from now.  So my kid gotta suffer lah..??  Wait .. let me get some Naot sandals and run home .. i think that would be faster.. !! and i’m talking about running home to Asia..!!!

Swelling Throat Glands

Missy Moo’s throat had been swelling for a few days.. but knowing that her doctor wouldn’t give her anything ..  if it just started.. we decided to wait for a few days to see if it was gonna calm itself down.. but we highly doubt it.  This morning.. she was clearing her throat incessantly during breakfast.. and as i suspected.. it had grown even bigger.. and redder.  So we called the doctor’s office.. and made an appt to see him.  They are yet to come back from the doctor’s .. and lets see what he would give her this time.