The Prissy Mommy Chronicles

Sick Baby = Worried Mommy

I realized that I never came back to update you all about Chase's diarrhea.  He is doing just fine now!  The lactose-free soy formula worked miracles, and his loose BM's ceased almost immediately.  He was a bit constipated in the beginning but some applesauce helped soften his stools back up a bit.  The (good) doctor said that, should all continue to go well, he could return to his normal diet by next Thursday (by then he should have built the enzymes back up needed to process lactose).

I'm sooo happy that his system is re-balanced. I hated him being sick so much!!! I really was so scared, but hadn't been expressing just how worried I was.  In fact, I tried hard to keep my tone "light" in that post (*shrug* just because) but was laying awake at night worried about my baby.  I thought it could be something far more serious, and it didn't help that I was furiously googling "baby - infant - diarrhea" like a mad woman. I was tearfully quoting stats to Derek, like how 3 million babies die of diarrhea each year and so forth.  *smh* Sometimes google does more harm than good. His response: "Yeah, maybe in 3rd world countries."  But you know when you're in that state of paranoia and terror there really is no attending to logic or reality testing.

Anyway, so all is well in the land of Chase and thank you sooo much for your prayers, well wishes and sweet comments/emails. It's so hard seeing your baby sick, isn't it?  But no worries now. *smile* I think any fussiness going forward can be attributed to teething.

above: KRT illustration

CLICK HERE to return to the Homepage.

Tender Pot Roast

Hi folks!  I apologize that today's Friday Featured Recipe is sooo super late... Friday is darn near over, right?!!  Had a couple of days without internet at home while we worked through a few glitches while transitioning to wireless (yaaaay us!!!!).

Anyway, so introducing today's feature is a real treat for me!  You've probably heard me referencing  "Nabs" in some of my blog posts.  Well today, live and in living color, my older sister and "besty," Nabulungi, is sharing a delectable dish from her own hearth!  She's a wonderful cook (takes after our grandmother) who specializes in both southern dishes and Italian cuisine, and truly puts her heart and soul into ALL of her creations.  Without further ado, in her own words:

"After deciding to forego nursing school for the time being so that I could be at home with our two kids full time, I knew I'd better step up my cooking game, lest I be mocked as a bootleg stay-at-home mom.  Although I love delicious food, I'm not a fan of high-maintenance recipes, so I'm constantly in search of either a shortcut to a fabulous ending or a very simplified masterpiece.  In my roast recipe, I found both!  I decided to go the crock-pot route so that I wouldn't be compelled to slave over the stove and, at the same time, be practically guaranteed a tender and flavorful outcome.  My recipe borrows from the advice of several self-proclaimed pot roast gurus, online sources, and personal modifications to suit my liking. Also, being that I'm a huge red wine fan, it was important to me to incorporate that flavor into this rich meat dish.

When I'm not changing diapers or tripping over Legos, I enjoy watching Judge Karen, Judge Judy, or the People's Court, talking/texting on the phone with my sisters, bickering and then making up with my husband, entertaining friends, wasting time on YouTube and Wikipedia, and planning family trips."

Ingredients:

• 1 pot roast of your preference (I used a top round, but bottom rounds are tender as well) 
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large potato, chopped
• 1 envelope pot roast seasoning
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup catsup
• 1/4 cup of dry red wine
• 2 tsp mustard
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• extra virgin olive oil
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• kosher salt
• pepper
• poultry seasoning
• 3 bay leaves

Preparation:

Puncture holes throughout entire surface of roast in order to increase absorbency of seasoning.  Liberally apply olive oil all over roast. Heavily season on all sides (I chose not to season the broth, and instead made sure to be generous with the seasonings on the roast itself.) Place in crock pot. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over meat. Depending on size of your roast (mine was 2 lbs), you may need to add more or less water. Just be sure that broth almost completely covers everything.  Cook on low 8 to 10 hours. Stir occasionally to ensure that all ingredients (meat and veggies) are completely submerged, and if you choose so, turn the pot roast a few times to ensure that both sides are equally immersed in the broth.   At completion, the pot roast should be so tender that it easily pulls apart by gently prodding with a spoon.  Serve hot with your favorite side dishes.  I chose to pair mine with black-eyed-peas and steamed okra, rice and gravy, and baked macaroni and cheese.

CLICK HERE to return to the Homepage.

Site Updates

Hey folks!  So I've been a busy little bee working on the blog and trying hard to tighten loose nuts and bolts that have been bugging me for the longest.  I had quite a number of items on my To Do list and am glad to say I've gone down much of the list.

Here are some of the changes you've likely noticed around these parts of late:

♥ By now I'm sure you've seen the photo thumbnails at the end of each post directing you to related articles.  Yup, that's courtesy of a neat little widget called LinkWithin!  I'm excited about this feature as it retrieves and indexes old posts from my blog archive that otherwise would likely not be read by newcomers to the blog (unless you're just one who takes the time to scroll aaallllll the way back to the beginning and, in that case, 'I love you, Bless your heart, you're my new BFF!')

♥ I finally got around to switching everything over to the prissymommy.com domain name.  This was a long time coming as it required me to fix broken urls to each and every image on the site as well as various links within the site.  I finally found time to do this, so you'll no longer be seeing the girlyhomewebzine url with links.  Im so glad because, grrrrr, that's been irking me something terrible!

♥ Unfortunately, when I switched over domains, I had to reconfigure my Feedburner account.  In doing so, I lost my entire subscription list as well as all email subscribers. This was truly devastating, as I'm sure my fellow bloggers can imagine.  However, there aren't too many programs available that will merge feeds, and it had to be done. *sigh* In any event, please note that the link to my feed has changed. If you were a subscriber of my blog, you'll no longer receive updates using the old feed address, so please re-subscribe using the new subscription link at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/tpmc

♥ I'm pleased to announce that my blog is now available on the Amazon Kindle. This was totally inspired by Derek, who just loves his Kindle and can't go any place without it (no really, I mean it).  My husband is a voracious reader and goes through books/newspapers like nothing I've ever seen before, so the Kindle was, like, created just for him. 

For those who aren't familiar with this neat little gadget, Kindle is a portable reading device from Amazon.com that allows you to download books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers in less than a minute.  It’s wireless, so there’s no PC and no syncing required.  Although I don't personally own one I know that many others, besides Derek, are super attached to their Kindle (as evidenced by all the New Yorkers whose noses are buried in their Kindles on the train commute to work). *smile* Anyway, if you're  a part of the Kindle clique as well, you can subscribe here!

Unfortunately, there is no way for me to distribute my blog for free (Amazon won't allow this) but you'll only be paying $.99 per month, which shouldn't break your budget (and if it does, shoot, I'm not judging, because dernit we're in a recession and Lord knows times are tough!)

In other news:

♥ Guess who finally invested in some "Mommy Cards."  I'm so siced about this!  Thanks to the fabulous work of Danielle aka The Design Girl (who also created my banner and button!) I now have business cards for social networking purposes.  

What are my plans for these delightful little cards, you ask?  Oh, I plan to keep them on hand for anything from blog meet-ups to family/friend gatherings when folks are asking about the baby and demanding to know why they haven't received (via snail mail) any updated pictures of him lately.  My response: "Oh Auntie/Uncle So and So... it's 2009, and everything is online now!" *charming smile then BAM!!! whip out a card and hand it over*  "Be sure to visit my blog regularly. I update often."  Hehe!

But seriously though... I'm excited because I do have an engagement Saturday, and it will be the first time I'm putting my cards to good use.  Chase and I were invited to an exclusive Build-A-Bear Workshop Meet and Greet at the Fifth Avenue store, where we'll be mingling with other mom bloggers and be among the first to make the new Peace and Hugs Bear, meet twelve-year-old singing sensation Jamia Nash (star of the movie "August Rush"), and I'll also be receiving a Build-A-Bear gift card to give away to one of my readers!!! So be on the look out for that giveaway.  I'm, like, super pumped that I'll get to meet other New York area mom bloggers and their children, and am hoping this leads to the building of new relationships.

♥ Lastly, on a more serious note, I feel compelled to address the issue of Girly Home Webzine at this time.  I've received lots of emails (some curious, a few hostile, several worried, many confused) inquiring about the future of the webzine and my failure to bring closure to the webzine if it has indeed been retired.  I've been asked questions like: "Why haven't there been any new posts lately?  Are you on hiatus?  Will there ever be updates again?"  If I'm being completely honest, the answer is.... I'm not sure.  I will say this though: With the birth of Chase my life changed and priorities had to be reordered.  I love writing/blogging and will always be found in the blogosphere in some capacity or other.  However, as far as whether or not my creative energies will be channeled into the webzine again, this remains to be seen...

Like the navigation system in a vehicle, life has a way of directing you to where you should be - the Prissy Mommy Chronicles really just evolved of it's own natural accord, and I didn't fight it.  I don't mean to come off sounding all philosophical or zen or anything.  I sincerely thank the readers/subscribers of Girly Home Webzine who have been loyal to me from the beginning, and I do apologize for the abrupt way that I ended things.  If you've noticed I've redirected the webzine traffic to this blog and hope that, while I continue to  contemplate the future of the webzine, you follow me on this new life journey!

I believe that concludes the site updates for the time being, and I shall return with more as they come along.  Muchas Smoochas!!!

CLICK HERE to return to the Homepage.

Healthy Hair 101: Overview

"Reader Mail"

Dear Yakini,

I am in the beginning stages of trying to take care of myself: skin, hair, and body.  So you can imagine my joy when I saw your website!  My question is about my hair. It is soooooo thin. What do you recommend to aid in thickening it up? 

I'm in the process of washing and deep conditioning once a week now so we shall see if this helps at all.  Are there any special conditioners you'd recommend?  What about vitamins?  Hair tips!  Anything would be greatly appreciated!  I'm looking forward to all of your updates and advice.  I will be sharing your site with all of my friends!

Thanks

Dear Reader,

Thanks for the lovely email!  I'm always happy to share healthy hair tips from my regimen with other ladies.  Be mindful, however, that I have extremely fine-textured and soft, type 4a hair that is mildly relaxed.  So I designed my regimen with minimal manipulation in mind, as this is what has allowed me to retain length while also thickening the hair shaft.

I encourage you to use these tips as a guide to help you develop a personalized regimen, based on your own hair type and needs.

---

Overview

As I've indicated, my hair is naturally very fine and that is genetic.  However, prior to 2005 it was thinner and limper than it had to be.  This is before I joined an online hair community and learned to properly care for it.  At this time my hair was seriously thin and over-processed, primarily from relaxing too frequently and also indulging in one too many Dominican blowouts.  Further, the ends were split and raggedy.  [Aside: I am a major advocate of Dominican salons today.  However, now I only get the roots blown out after a rollerset].   

In August 2005 I made the decision to start taking better care of my hair, stop relying on extensions for length, and do only what works for me, rather than following the advice of a stylist or hair magazine.  It was at this time that I began to discover the factors that were keeping my hair thin and contributing to breakage. 

---

Past Mistakes

• roughly combing my hair every day, throughout the day
• wrapped my hair every night, in the SAME direction, and securing the wrap with a BRUSH
• relaxing my hair every 6 weeks, and sometimes a few days sooner, if I felt that it "needed" it
• using a regular touch-up, when all my hair ever needed was mild
• playing in my hair with my fingers (combing through it absent-mindedly and/or twirling it around my fingers)
• failing to wear protective styles (i.e., wearing it down often, so that the ends were frequently brushing against my rough cotton coat or shirt)
• not moisturizing properly, especially not the ends. This resulted in dandruff and dry, rough ends that would break easily
• trimming too much and too often. A good trim 1-2 times per year is all you really need... that is, if you protect the ends and DUST them regularly to remove splits
• dying my hair, using permanent dye with bleach, repeatedly, several times a year (out of sheer boredom)
• using a curling iron on a daily basis

---

Since embarking upon my healthy hair journey in 2005 I've picked up some really valuable tips.  I'm pleased to note that my hair is substantially thicker and had also reached waist length (prior to my cutting it back to bra strap length during my first trimester).  I attribute this progress to a number of reasons:

Thicker, Healthier Hair

*Note* These are tips that work for me.  Various hair types require varying levels of care, so make sure you tweak your regimen and do what works for yours!

Drink lots of water and eat a healthy, balanced diet! Healthy hair begins from within. Your hair, skin, AND nails will thank you!

Sometimes it isn't possible to get all the nutrients our body needs from our daily diet.  Vitamins will complement your diet as well as help to stimulate your hair's growth rate.  I suggest taking a multi- and hair vitamin.  I recommend:
Biotin (10 mg)
One A Day For Women
B-100 Complex (optional)

Avoid DIRECT heat at all costs. That includes flat-irons, blow dryers, and curling irons.

In lieu of direct heat, roller set under a hooded dryer (indirect heat) to dry, with large magnetic rollers. Then finger tousle, rather than comb out, your hair... as the curls fall naturally, this makes for a really sexy, big, wavy look! Very "Charlie's Angels."

Pin curl your hair at night to maintain that fresh-out-of-the-salon, bouncy look. For a curly/roller set look, make the pin-curl smaller. For a looser, wrapped look, make the pin-curl looser..... OR just tuck the hair under your satin bonnet and sleep with it loose.

Shoulder Length Ladies: When hair is shoulder length it's even MORE prone to breakage because it's in contact with your clothing. The frequent rubbing against rough wool and cotton is fraying those ends!

Avoid wrapping if you can (especially fine-haired ladies). Over time, it may thin out your hair on one side. If you MUST wrap, alternate directions nightly.

Try "stretching" your relaxer.  See if you can go 2-3 months instead of <6 weeks. This prevents overlap of the chemicals onto the previously relaxed hair, and avoids weakening of the hair.  Eventually, your hair will be stronger. There are some women who can stretch for 4 months plus. Do only what works for YOU. I find that stretching this long isn't good for my fine hair, so at the most i'll stretch for 8-9 weeks.

Go with the mildest relaxer that you can! How do you really know that you need that super.... or that regular? If a milder relaxer can straighten your hair to your liking, then opt for this one!  I recommend experimenting with a milder relaxer for one touch-up just to see how your hair likes it. 

As long as the ends of your hair are exposed.... they aren't protected!  During your grow out process, they should be seen only rarely. Find a style that allows you to moisturize and tuck those ends in.  (Click the thumbprint to enlarge image of my protective style).

Be creative AND frugal! Use what's in your kitchen.  Add eggs or mayonnaise (protein) honey, ripe avocado, coconut milk, or coconut/olive oil (softness/silkiness/moisture), crushed garlic (prevents breakage), or cayenne pepper (stimulates scalp) to your conditioning treatments for at-home special pampering treatments!

Dust as needed.  I haven’t had a "major" trim in years.  And I really don’t need it! If you protect the ends well, all you'll require is an occasional dusting. You'll NEVER see growth if you allow your stylist to give you a trim with every touch-up! While fresh, bluntly cut ends are attractive, be mindful that this is an aesthetic preference and has very little do with growth!*

If the ends have already split or thinned you have no choice but to cut them.  Best to get rid of the damaged ends now....then protect, protect, protect! The good news is that after one GOOD trim, all you'll need to do is dust for maintenance from that point on.

Try not to comb your hair every day! The less you comb/manipulate your hair, the less your ends risk breaking off (especially during the early phases of your hair journey, when your hair is still vulnerable/damaged). The growth that you retain will be well worth it! Combing when wet is best for me.  When I do comb dry, I use a soft, medium- to wide-toothed comb.  If you can find a seamless comb, even better.

Whenever possible, avoid brushing your hair.  The bristles of a brush are harsh and may snap your hairs, resulting in unnecessary breakage. 

Your hair is made up of about 70% Keratin Protein. Essentially, you NEED protein for healthy hair! If you don't think you are getting enough protein in your diet, then add a protein shake. In the past I've drank Perfect Zero Carb Isopure Whey Protein in mango peach.  It is delish! Have fun and throw some fresh fruit and honey in it!

My hair responds well to strong protein, but that does not mean yours will too.  I use Aphogee Treatment For Damaged Hair every 10 weeks, but I may sometimes use a milder protein treatment in between.  I like the ORS Hair Mayonnaise as a pre-shampoo treatment. Topical protein is just as important as internal protein!

Deep condition your tresses at least once per week, for a minimum of 15-20 minutes.  I exclusively use Dominican products (Aceite de oliva shampoo by Capile or Nacidit, Aceite de oliva rinse for detangling, Avocado Cream Conditioner with cholesterol for deep conditioning).  However, there is a wide array of shampoos/conditioners on the market, and I urge you to do your research, experiment with a few, and find what your hair likes/responds to!

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!!!! This is a 2-Step Process: moisturize & seal.  African-American (Type 3-4) hair is naturally drier than Type 1-2 hair.... so it's important that we keep our hair moisturized in order to retain our growth. Otherwise, it will grow.... and then break right on off.

Still not getting enough moisture? You may want to consider "baggying" your entire head at night. Here's how a frugal lady like me baggies: I use one of the cheapie plastic caps from the drug store, or saran wrap/plastic grocery bag if I've run out.  Moisturize as usual, bun loosely, wrap the plastic around my head closely, and put on my silk scarf to secure. You will find that your hair is slightly damp in the morning, and that's okay. In the morning your hair is already styled (the same bun from last night) and all you need to do is use your fingers to "clean it up," i.e., lightly scrape back any hairs that are awry. The brush/comb does not need to touch your hair at all during this process.

Shedding is natural. A shed hair is long (the length of a full strand) and has a bulb at one end. Breakage is NOT natural! If you are finding short, broken hairs on your shirt and/or the floor when you comb or style this may be an indication that you are lacking protein, moisture, or BOTH!

Consider using Henna, especially if you have FINE strands like me.  Henna thickened my strands substantially, and also added a lovely, subtle auburn tint. It was somewhat drying, so I did have to increase my moisturizing to counter this. At one point I was using the Henna weekly, then my schedule no longer permitted.  After I stopped the results of the Henna lasted for a few months, and then I found that my hair reverted to its natural finer texture. Refer to my Henna article for more about my experiences with this.

Treat yourself sometimes! Although I'm a major advocate of protective styling, I do wear my hair out on the weekends and special occasions.  I find that wearing a bun, or similar updo, is an attractive, conservative look for work.  However on the weekends it's fun to "let my hair down" in every sense of the word. I encourage you to do the same! 

---

*More On Trimming

In the past I trimmed with every relaxer, per my stylist's suggestion. I had been conditioned to believe that this is what you are "supposed" to do. Thus, although my hair "looked" and certainly was healthy, I was not seeing any growth at all.  Essentially, my stylist was trimming off the 1/2" of new growth I got monthly.... so I never saw a difference in length.  My hair remained at one length for years.

These days I wear my hair in a protective style Monday through Thursday, which keeps the ends free of most destructive elements.  For the last several years I have only gotten my ends "dusted," as needed.  I dust about 3-4 times per year, and I find that is plenty.  I realize now that anything more is excessive and would only derail my hair goals.

The lesson learned: While fresh, bluntly cut ends certainly do look nice, as long as you roller-set your hair, protective style a few times throughout the week, wrap/roll it at night, avoid direct heat, and keep it relatively healthy.... you should be able to avoid most split ends, and a trim with each touch-up becomes unnecessary.

---

Concluding Remarks

Achieving healthy hair is a process and it does take time.  However, if you are reading this post and have reached the end, it means you have decided to take back control of your hair, as I took control in 2005.  Congratulations to you!  That is the FIRST step, and a very important one. 

In this post, I listed many practices that you can begin to incorporate into your regimen that will ultimately result in thicker, healthier hair.  The last, and perhaps most valuable, piece of advice I will give is to have fun and enjoy your hair journey, every step of the way!  It is amazing what you will learn, about your hair and also about yourself, as you evolve and grow in this journey.

CLICK HERE to return to the Homepage.

Sirloin With Mango Chutney Gravy

It's Friday's Featured Recipe time!  Today we have a dear friend of mine joining us to chat about herself and her recipe!  I met Eboni (waaay) back in 2003 on good old Xanga.com. *smile* She was one of my favorite bloggers then and turns out we are twin souls who have since stayed in touch.  I did the cake for her son's 3rd birthday bash, we've been to the Bahamas , celebrated milestone birthdays together, enjoyed a skating rink party (lol), and she's pretty much advised/mentored me through every single online project I've undertaken.  What can I say, this lady is fabulous!

Eboni graduated from Rutgers University and enjoys sports, fashion... and shopping, of course! *smile* Anyone from the Tristate area?  Well, her family owned Eboni's Restaurant and Southern Cuisine!  How cool is that?  Without further digression, I bring you Ms. Eboni!

"A self-proclaimed 'true blue' Jersey girl, I am an ambitious thirty-something mother, sister, daughter, granddaughter, BFF, friend, employee, and boutique owner.  Born and bred in the Garden State, I left the comforts of New Jersey for the promises and potential of the south in March of 2006. The Charlotte-Metro area has been my home for nearly 4 years and, though it took me nearly that long to detach myself from my Jersey license plates, I can say that moving to the South East was the best thing for me!

I created this recipe because I'd been craving both mangoes and beef for a while.  After watching an episode of Top Chef I decided to make a Sirloin strip and mango chutney. 

According to Wikipedia.com, chutney is '...a variety of sweet and spicy condiments, usually involving a fresh, chopped primary vegetable or fruit with added seasonings.  Chutney, as a genre, is often similar to the indian pickle and the salsa of Latin American cuisine, or European relish... The Hindi translation of "to make chutney" is a common idiom meaning crush. This is because the process of making chutney often involves the crushing of ingredients together.'

This was my first attempt at a chutney of any sort and, while I've never tasted it before, I loved the way it came out!  *It's important to note that chutneys are generally chunky in consistency and the fruits involved usually remain whole.  However, I preferred mine a smoother texture to top my sirloin strips like a gravy, so I pureed it."

Ingredients:

• 6 firm half-ripe mangoes, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 cup cider vinegar
• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 2-inch fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced – or ground ginger is fine.
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper salt and ground pepper
• Jalapeno peppers to taste
• 1 tablespoon turmeric

Preparation:

Chutney

In a large skillet bring all the ingredients to boil, over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low, simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring constantly from sticking to the bottom of the skillet. Remove from heat and let the chutney cool before serving.

Pan Fried Sirloin

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in your skillet over high heat. Sprinkle sirloins with salt and pepper. Add sirloins to skillet and cook to desired doneness, about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare.

CLICK HERE to return to the Homepage.

Noir Mommies & A Lil' Butter Features

Hey ladies!  I'm featured today on two really fantastic sites, so be sure to swing by and check me out!

Noir Mommies is an information sharing community that helps guide parents and parents-to-be.  Many of the stories shared by other moms and dads over there have hit home for me on a very personal level... and I love that!  It really is an amazing resource.  However, not only are the articles on point, it's a webzine after my own heart because of how attractive and eye-catching the design (if you ask me, presentation is everything in cyberspace!)  Please check out my guest post "Making God Laugh Through My Future Planning Talk" and leave your thoughts! 

Every busy mom I know worries about how to prepare fast and nutritious meals for her family.  As a working mom I sometimes find there is little time for meal planning, preparation, cooking, and clean up afterward.  A Lil' Butter is the place where moms can share recipes, tips, and techniques to get a healthy dinner on the table quickly.  Doesn't that sound lovely!?? 

This week I contributed one of my all-time favorite summer time recipes, Watergate Salad.  Kids (and husbands!) love this easy dish, and they can help make it too!  Children grow in self-confidence as they learn to cook like grown-ups. The more they do themselves, including prep and clean up, the more they will learn. So this recipe is a fav of mind because it not only encourages an interactive family experience... it's yummy to boot!  I hope the readers over at A Lil' Butter enjoy it too! *smile*

Thanks for the features ladies!!!

CLICK HERE to return to the Homepage.

Taking a Sick Day With the Baby

We noticed after we returned from Disney World that Chase was having bowel movements much more frequently throughout the day (after nearly every diaper change, versus 2-3 BMs per day previously).  Then, since last Friday, his stools became looser and sometimes watery.  Nothing had changed as far as his diet and, fortunately, no blood in his stool or vomiting (questions his doctor asked).  Last week when we brought Chase in for his 6-month checkup we expressed our concerns to the doctor (this is the cold doctor, if you'll recall).  He dismissed our concerns, noting that Chase is teething, which sometimes can lead to diarrhea.  However, since last week his stools went from soft to watery.  On Monday I called the doctor's office to speak with his regular pediatrician (the kind one).  He asked me about blood in his stool, throwing up, Chase's mood/disposition, whether or not he is still eating, and some other questions.  He then told me to start Chase on Pedialyte to avoid dehydration, and to continue feeding him as usual.  He said that if the diarrhea doesn't show signs of clearing up within 3 days then to bring him in. 

Unfortunately, Chase's day care had other plans.  I knew that when your child is sick, they ask you to keep him home.  This had been explained to us during orientation as well as outlined in the brochure.  However, since no one knew what was causing this recurring diarrhea we weren't sure if it was contagious, so they continued to let him come.  However, when I picked him up from school yesterday, apparently they'd had some little conference amongst themselves.  I was told that I needed to keep Chase home for (at least) 24 hours and also encouraged to take him back to the doctor.  They said that another little girl had diarrhea for a couple of days (hers has since cleared up), and apparently they are blaming Chase for that.  I should note that, yes,I'm aware my tone sounds slightly bitter... but it was hard not feeling miffed when they told me he had to stay home.  I know this is standard procedure, nothing personal, and of course if one of his classmates was ill I would definitely not want that child around my sweet baby.  So just humor me, please, as I know my little hurt feelings are irrational, yet I can't help feeling bad about them not wanting my child at school.

So I called my supervisor as I was driving home to let her know that I'd be out today.  I got up first thing this morning and called Chase's doctor's office.  We were fortunate in being able to get a last minute appointment with the (kind) doctor this morning.  We went in at 8:00 am and were the only ones in the waiting room (yipppeee!!!!)  The nurse immediately escorted us into the examination room where I undressed Chase and he was weighed.  He has gained 6 oz. since his appointment 11 days ago, which the doctor noted is GREAT (because if he was losing weight, accompanied by the diarrhea, this would be a red flag).

His pediatrician, who hadn't seen Chase since his 4-month appointment, walked into the room and greeted us warmly and enthusiastically!  My heart just swelled with happiness and relief to see him.  He is so much better for my baby than his daggone partner!  He proceeded to give Chase a really thorough examination, from the roota to the toota, and then asked me more questions about what was happening.  He said that it could be a number of things causing the diarrhea, but noted that teething is likely not the cause of this.  It's also not an ear infection, and his lungs and heart sound clear and strong.  He said that Chase may have caught a little virus somewhere, and the virus has caused his body to stop producing the enzymes that break down the natural sugars/lactose in the milk.  He says this often happens with bouts of diarrhea. So he  said to start Chase on soy/lactose-free formula for the next couple of weeks, or until the diarrhea clears up.  Once his stools have returned to normal he should resume his normal diet.  Meanwhile, we're not to give him any fruit juices.  Instead, he can eat applesauce, rice cereal, and carrots, and he should continue to drink the Pedialyte after watery stools to replenish his fluids/lost nutrients.  The doctor suggested I keep him out of school for one more day (bummer!) and to call him on Saturday to let him know how Chase is doing.  Then he said that if the diarrhea continues for another week he is going to take a stool sample and do a culture in the lab so he can find out more information.  (Derek didn't understand why he couldn't just take it then and run tests, but I figured the doctor wanted to see if changing his diet made a difference first).  So this part was very alarming.  I'd been trying so hard up to this point not to let my overactive imagination get the best of me... but this made it hard. I really, really hope and pray that it clears up by then.  The doctor seemed to think that it might, and I appreciated his confidence a great deal.

Oh, and guess what else?!! Chase got a Thomas the Train sticker from his doctor for doing a great job! *smile*  (lol, if you read the other post then you know just how special these little things are to me)

So Chase and I are home today just enjoying some Mommy-Son bonding time.  Fortunately, this little virus hasn't dampened his spirits one bit, and he's been his normal giggly, silly, energetic and playful self! We just read stories and sang songs, and then he fell asleep for his late morning nap.  When he wakes up we're going to head to the park down the street.  It would be easy for me to lounge around the house all day and be lazy and catch up on my blogging, and just have Chase in the bed with me watching Noggin and playing with toys... but my conscience wouldn't allow that (lol).  I feel compelled to give him a full, busy day, because I know he'd be getting that at day care, and I want him to feel stimulated and active as he usually is on the weekdays.  I don't want to cheat him out of the fun that he is used to having at school, you know? 

Please keep us in your prayers as Chase fights to get this virus out of his little system.  Also, moms and dads, if you know any other natural home remedies for infant diarrhea feel free to share!

CLICK HERE to return to the Homepage.

Bibi's Banana Nut Bread

Today's guest recipe is once again compliments of... ma mère!  My mom's banana nut bread was highly coveted in our household - it was a family favorite growing up.  We were always begging her to make this yummy treat... and when she decided to indulge us, it was a "big deal." *smile* I love a slice served warm or even cool from the fridge, and spread with just a thin layer of margarine. And a glass of milk, of course!

My mother is a native of Orangeburg, South Carolina and a professor/scholar of African-American history.  Her first book, "Parlor Ladies and Ebony Drudges," is a comparative history of black women's work and lives in South Carolina between 1880 and 1940.  Her current project is tentatively entitled "Takin' Company: History of Love, Courtship, and Sex of a Southern African American Female in the Early Twentieth Century."  She has four lovely daughters and currently resides in Maryland with her husband and their maltese, Banjee, and poodle, Senji.

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar 

1/2 cup shortening

2 eggs

2 cups flour

3/4 cup chopped walnuts

1 teaspoon baking soda

3 soft, ripe bananas, mashed

Preparation:

Cream sugar and shortening; add eggs, flour, soda, bananas, and chopped nuts. Pour banana bread batter into 1 greased and floured loaf pan.  Bake at 325° for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

CLICK HERE to return to the Homepage. 

On the Road Again...

image source: Orange You Lucky

...but this time headed to the The Tar Heel State!  We're visiting friends Will and Kendra, along with their two darling boys, in Wake Forest, NC.  Our flight leaves tomorrow at 7:00 pm!

I've always loved North Carolina.  My family and I lived in Charlotte for a spell... and it'll always be my favorite place ever.  We lived in a small, close-knit community where my sister and I biked outside most days, had a makeshift little "club house" that was a paved hideaway just adjacent to the house, had slumber parties on weekends with our friends down the road, and could hear our dad calling our names, from just about anywhere in the neighborhood, when dusk fell.  We spent some real formative years there.  Good times!  I'd love to move back one day, over the rainbow.  I think it'd be a lovely place to raise Chase and his (future) siblings.

Have you ever noticed that life just seems to slow down the farther south you go? I hear folks talk about "that warm southern hospitality." It really does exist, you know. If you've never had the opportunity to experience it you've missed out on one of life's real pleasures.  However, for some unknown reason, I just never seem to be able to replicate that exact same atmosphere of southern hospitality here in the city. I try and try, always offering warmth and gentility in my home, but it's just not the same. I'm the same person here that I was there, but the pace is so much faster here.  Have you ever tried to really relax, and enjoy the company and conversation, when folks have to rush somewhere? It just can't be done. I miss the fellow-shipping with like souls.  In a way, this blog is my attempt to capture some of that down home charm for my readers who appreciate manners, politeness, making others feel welcome, serving home cooked food in a gracious atmosphere, laughter, and the ability to relax and really enjoy the day.  

Derek and I have been out there to visit the Monden family on several occasions and, with each visit stayed, at the Umstead Hotel and Spa.  Oh, it's the ultimate indulgence! It's the first (and only) Five Diamond resort I've ever stayed at and I swear each time we've gone they treated us like hand-spun silk!  Seriously... from the moment we roll into that driveway and relinquish our luggage to the eager, beaming bellman, I feel like Shug Avery a'coming to town!  And although Will and Kendra have always graciously opened their home to us, we preferred to stay at the resort for that extra little bit of pampering and frou frou.  You know what I mean?

Well, this is the first time we're going as a family... and also the first time we'll be taking the Mondens up on their offer to stay with them.  We've talked and come to the realization that... the Umstead (and Umstead prices!) are absolutely no place to bring a 6-month old.  And that's perfectly okay.  I'm excited about this trip for a different reason now... the boys will get to play together, and we'll enjoy some adult time once they're asleep--just talking and drinking and laughing and kickin it!  I haven't done that in a while, and definitely miss it!  Let's see... so last time we saw them was Easter and Chase was around 3 months... so he wasn't as "into" the boys as he will surely be now.  It's so crazy, but once they hit that 6-month mark it's like they become these independent little people... sitting up, with a sense of humor, being silly, trying to hold their own bottle and putting their pacifier in, super curious and interested in everything around them, and just babbling up a storm (stringing together consonants that are almost recognizable).  Chase tends to enjoy other small children, so I'm looking forward to him interacting with the boys a bit more, and I'll be taking pics and videos galore!

Oh, and on the subject of videos... I finally had a chance to upload some of the Disney videos.  Please visit my channel on YouTube when you get a chance!  Some of the footage is hilarious, while the rest just plain cute. *smile*  I tried to upload the videos in order, so you could get a feel of the sequence of the trip and how events played out!  Start with the Just Arriving in Disney With Chase, and just enjoy from there! 

Finally, while I'm away, do check out my feature at The Young Mommy Life.  Created in 2008 to address the serious lack of attention paid to 20-something moms in mainstream media, this awesome blogging young mama of two takes on everything from finding a family-friendly workplaces to the fine art of keeping house.  I love her blog for its candor and down-to-earth vibe, and I have a feeling you will too!

CLICK HERE to return to the Homepage. 

6 Month Check-up and Re-evaluating Our Baby Doctor

image source: Greg Clarke

So Chase had his 6-month check-up today.  We're about eight days late, but we were of course out of town last weekend, so no real issue.  The great thing is that his doctor's office is a few blocks away from us--a nice stroller ride on a warm day, but usually we just drive over.  Anyway, he sees two doctors in private practice - two older pediatricians (early 60s) who work together and often see the children interchangeably.  They're partners, if you will.  Ideally, it works out well, because if one doctor is unavailable, the other doctor knows your child equally well and can see him or her instead. 

Well naturally, I have my favorite of the two.  One guy is Jewish, the other is a Haitian gentleman.  But that's neither here nor there.  My favorite doctor is the one who I initially met in the hospital after I gave birth to Chase, as he came to check on Chase each morning since his birth.  To me, he is a lot warmer, more personable, funny, sweet, and also gives Chase a sticker (or "medal," as he calls it) with each visit (especially after a shot).  The other doctor is colder, more formal, has a sarcastic sense of humor that I don't appreciate, and comes off way more condescending in general.  Definitely a no-nonsense type of guy but, to me, that doesn't really work for a pediatrician.  Now, maybe if he were the doctor performing my heart transplant or brain surgery, I might forgive his clinical coldness and brusque tone.  But come on, dude.  You work among babies and tots!  Smile a little.... and let the smile reach your eyes.

*sigh* Anyway, so when we got to the office this morning, I was dismayed to see that my "preferred" doctor was out.  We hadn't seen his partner (remember, office partner, not "life partner"... hey, gotta clarify these days) since Chase was two weeks old.  After our third visit with said doctor, I told Derek I wanted to start scheduling Chase's appointments solely with my favorite doc, and he readily agreed.  So for the last six months Chase has seen the sweet, warm doctor exclusively.  So I was stunned to walk in and see the other guy.  I'm assuming our doctor was sick. 

Anyway, so he came in to the examination room and greeted me.  It may have been my paranoia (as I told Derek later), but I definitely felt he was icy and short with me, even more so than usual.  In my fantasy, he is offended that we chose the other doctor over him.  But whatever.  So he proceeds to give Chase a quick and non-thorough once over.  *smh* He got three vaccinations today, and the doctor was quick and rough.  No sticker, no "Good job, champ!," no nothing.  Totally dismissive of his cries of pain, and discouraged us from comforting him until after the third shot.  Everything was fine, health wise.  Chase is developmentally where he should be, in the 75th percentile in terms of his height, and in the 90th percentile as far as weight (Oops! We better get you moving in that jumper, babe! lol)

We went in his office following the examination to ask questions.  I had only a couple, the primary one being whether or not we should cease night-time feedings.  At this point Chase gets up 1-2 times per night.  He goes to bed for the night at 6:30 pm, so his last feeding is at that time.  Then he wakes up to eat around midnight or 1 am... and occasionally he will wake up again for a 3:30-4 am feeding.  Then we get him up at 6:30 am for school and he eats then.  But BabyCenter.com (which I usually swear by) had said that we now need to let Chase start crying it out--that he should be able to sustain until the morning!  So I posed this question to the doctor and he brusquely replied that Chase should be sleeping through the night, and these late night feedings need to stop! He said that Chase is now old enough to go 12 hours, at night, without eating.  He went on to explain that we need to be consistent once we do end the feedings (which I agree with), meaning, we can't be hardcore parents and let him cry it out Monday through Wednesday, but become softies on Thursday and feed him then.  It'll confuse him terribly.  So once we make this decision, we must stick with it.  The doctor stated that, by two weeks, Chase would be sleeping peacefully through the night.

I then asked, somewhat tentatively (because honestly, this dude reduces me to a ball of nerves, which I hate!), if I should "wean" him off these night feedings rather than doing it cold turkey. Like, since he sometimes wakes up twice, should I go a week with just feeding him once... then by week 2 or 3 cut off the night feedings completely?  It seems this would be less traumatic for him and, quite frankly, minimizing his distress is MY goal.  Even more ideal, by 7 months or so Chase may be sleeping straight through the night on his own, with no intervention needed by us at all.  He got to the 1-2 per night feedings on his own, after all, when as a newborn he woke up every 1.5 hours.   

The doctor snapped that we need to stop the night feedings pronto, and basically said that's why Chase is a fat boy now and in the 90th percentile weight-wise. *wince* I'm paraphrasing his tongue lashing, of course, but that was the gist of it.  He said that if we don't put an end to this now, then Chase will be waking up demanding meals during the night at five years old.  He then proceeded to give us some other crappy advice, like how Chase doesn't need to begin baby food until he is 1 years old (well guess what buddy, you're about 1.5 months too late!), and to get Chase a playpen and he needs to spend his play time in there with his toys.  He kept repeating, "The crib is not a place to play during the day, he needs to associate it with sleeping only."  Okay, I agree with that... but who said we place Chase in the crib to play during the day?  Because we surely don't!  And ummmm, a playpen?  Really?!! As if!  Chasey-bear is a free spirit, and he enjoys his jumper, his swing, and lolling around on his activity mat throughout the day. We are not putting that boy in no archaic, cage-like  playpen. *sigh*  He then went on to stress that we be mindful of accidents, and consider baby-proofing the house in the upcoming months, since Chase will be mobile soon. 

Anyway, so after thanking the doctor for his time, we headed to the receptionist where we made sure to book Chase's 9 month appointment with the other doctor.... and this time I'm going to call ahead to make sure he is in!  It's not that this doc isn't a smart or knowledgable man.  They are both very experienced doctors with lots of degrees and certifications to show for it. *shrug* But it's more than that, you know?  I don't seem to see eye to eye with this doctor... our philosophies are different.  Also, I want to be treated with respect, I want to be spoken to like you've got some sense, and I want you to be playful and warm toward my baby and give him stickers, and not treat us like we're encouraging a lifestyle of baby morbid obesity.  A kind word, a smile, and a twinkling eye goes a looong way with me... and I'd rather give my business to the doctor who makes that extra effort to make us feel comfortable.

Soooo stay tuned for the post about weaning Chase off his night time feedings. *sigh* We decided we're going to start in two weeks (since we're going out of town next weekend, and we don't want to do anything to upset or disrupt his sense of normalcy while in a new place). And yes, I am doing it MY way--decreasing the feedings to one time nightly, and then cutting them out altogether.  I'll let you know how it goes!

CLICK HERE to return to the Homepage.