PJStar.com-Doctor says Baby died from infection, not starvation

So i saw a Link Update on my facebook this morning and couldn't help but click the link.  www.Momslikeme.com had posted a link about a 5 month old's death.......This just makes me sick.   Some people shouldn't be allowd to have children.  This poor little 5 month old was left in a car seat for atleast 8-9 days in a home by himself.  The parents just left him there.  It stated in the article that he died from a bacterial infection, caused by not having his diaper changed for almost 9 days.  And this poor little boy wasn't feed either.   Everyone thought he died of starvation, but it was the infection that put the little boy into a colma like state where he then died.   My question is, WHAT KIND OF PARENTS ARE YOU?!?!?!  If you bring a baby into this world, Take care of it, or give it to someone that will.  There are so many people out there that can't have children and would gladly take care of someone elses.  This sickens me to no end!  The parents of this little boy couldn't even look at the autopsy photos of their son, and tried to say they fed him and hour before he was found dead, strapped into a car seat in a snow suit.  Carseats are made for a reason.......to transport your child in a CAR!!  Not to be left sitting around in.  Apparently the parents both face up to 100 yrs in prison for this.  I belive they should get more than that!  They let a child die, and had no remorse or sorrow.  Death Penalty sounds good to me.   Maybe they should both have to wear diapers and not have them changed, see how it feels.  I just don't understand how this could happen!  I just don't understand how someone could just let their child sit by themselves and not care what happens to them.  

You can read the entire article here.........BeWare, its not pretty!

Contests Contests Contests

Here is your latest update of contests for all you mommy's to enter. There are some really great ones this time around.

The Parents with Style is giving aways Kickin' Coaster From Learning Curve. This thing is pretty awesome. Not only is it adorable to put your little one in, but it actually serves as entertainment and isn't just going to have your little one sitting there looking at you. It will stimulate some play and fun times and grows with your little bundle of joy.

It lets the baby move around and glides back and forth with their kicks.  No other boucy seat does this.  I think this thing is amazing and recomend it to all new parents.  You can see a Demo of the Kickin' Coaster on the Learning Curve Website.  

Key Features of this new product are:

two seats in one: a soothing infant seat, and an active play seat

baby-activated glide helps develop core and leg muscles...while having fun!

twinkle lights for visual tracking

soothing vibrations

eight adjustable positions

two bouncy characters for visual fun

removeable infant head support included

multi-level volume control

removable teether rattle for infant play

two types of music: soothing and playful, with six songs in all

 age range: from birth, up to 25 lbs

 requires one D and three AA batteries

To Enter this contest just click over to The Parents With Style website and post a comment.  There are other ways to earn more entries.  Visit The Parents With Style Website for more details

We are all running low on money, and as a parent, we are more than likely worse off than other.  Bright Hub is hosting a contest for 10 lucky winners to win a $200 Visa Gift card.  How great would that be???  All you have to do is go to their site and fill out the little form with your info and you can enter once a day and get extra entries for referals.  They are giving 3 Lucky winners will get their gift card Early on May 15th.  So Hurry and Enter and get as many entries as you can for a chance at 200$ Visa Gift card.  

Fire & Ice is giving away $500 Gift Card to their store for the best Mommy and Baby picture.  All you have to do is send them via email, mail or at a store location, your best photo of you and your kido.  Then on May 19th they will choose one randomly as the winner.  All photos must be entered by May 11th to be part of the contest.  For more info, check out the Fire & Ice website.

Frugal Mommy of 2 Girls and Dealfriends have teamed up for an awesome contest to give one lucky person a 1000$ via paypal.  All you have to do is sign up a new account at DealFriends and then go to Frugal Mommy of 2 girls' website and comment on her post with your username at DealFriends and what you like about the site or what they could add or change and your entered.  The Deadline is June 8 2009 and is open to US Residents only.  Who couldn't use an extra 1000$ these days.  

  

There are a lot more other contests to enter, so keep checking back for the newest latest contests that can score you some sweet loot and prizes.

Untill Next Time

Keep Smiling and Keep the Kidos Happy and Healthy

12 Money Saving Tips for Moms

We all know having kido's isn't cheap. We are constantly spending money on something. Well here are a few tips to saving some money so maybe at the end of the month you'll have a few extra bucks to spend on something nice for Mommy!

1. For you working moms and the hubby, Try brown bagging it for lunch. Instead of spending $5-10 a day on lunch, pack a lunch and save that money for your Date night once a month. You will be suprised at how much money you will save with brown bagging it.

2. For you mommy's that love to read when the little ones taking his nap, Don't buy costly books that are going to just sit around when you finish them. Go to your local library and find a good book. This way you can just return it and get a new one, no need to spend 20$ on a book you are going to read once, or sometimes never finish because its not what you thought it would be.

3. Buy used when you can. Consignment shops and Thrift stores are great. They have gently used and sometimes new items, for Half or even more of what you would pay for them in the store. Clothes are a great buy from consignment shops and thrift stores. Take a peek around. Spend 20$ on clothes for the kidos instead of 120$ at the store.

4. Start a SWAP Meet. Get a group of your Mommy/Daddy Friends together and help eachother out. Weather it be babysitting, cutting the grass, fixing the car or your plumbing, you can save a lot of money by helping a friend out. You watch their 3 kidos for a night so they can have a night out and they fix your car. Even swap. Everyone has a handy friend. Talk about it with your friends. Save yourself some money and them too.

5. When buying from stores, Shop the Clearance section. Something that is orginally 20$ might be marked down to 6$. Save Save Save!!!

6. Pay for things with Cash instead of your Credit/Debit Card. I have found if i go into a store with only 50$ cash, thats what i spend and thats it. If you have your debit/credit card with you, you are more inclined to spend more, because you know you can just swipe that little card. If you only have a certin amount of money, then thats all you can spend, end of story and it Saves you big time in the end.

7. Once in a while, skip your trip to the grocery store, and use what you have. We all know we have plenty of food in the freezer and pantry, but we just don't want to take the time to make it. So skip the shopping trip every 3rd or 4th time and take the challenge to use what you have and make an awsome dinner. Money saver right there.

8. Make food and freeze it. Make your own breads, cookies, muffins, meatloafs....etc.... Make food and put them in zipper bags and store them. Its quick, easy and less of a hassel when it comes to making dinner. And if you have these things on hand, its less you will be spending each month at the grocery store.

9. Say NO to Fast food and Ordering Out. Having a pizza delivered is 15$ these days. You can make your own for about 5$ at home. And this can also be fun, by letting the kidos in on the fun. Let them help put the toppings on. Save that extra 10$ for something you will NEED Later on.

10. Kick the Gym Membership to the Curb! Exercise at home with your kidos. Not only does it save you money, it saves you gas, and keeps your kidos healthy too.

11. Make your own decorations, cakes and games for birthday parties or baby/bridal showers. You can save a load of money on that. You can make a cake for maybe 10$ at home, but you would pay 20-30$ at the store. Plus its fun to get a group of your friends and kido's together for fun baking and craft ideas.

12. Ditch Paper towles completly from your home. You will save money if you just use regular towles around the house. This way you just toss them in the wash, instead of having to add the paper towels to your trash and then having to buy more. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle! :)

Right now, we all need to save and conserve as much as possible. With the tips i have listed, you can save a good bit of money. Put that money in an envelope and save it for when you REALLY NEED It. There are millions of money saving tips out there, but these are just a few i like to use. You will be suprised how much money you can save when you Plan things out.
Untill Next Time

Keep Smiling and Keep the Kidos Healthy and Happy!

Always Stop and Smell the Flowers

My Son desided when he saw a tulip outside the other day that he was going to take the time to stopand smell the flowers! :) He just recently picked up the SNIFFING Habbit! He sniffs things and says "EWWWW". Its adorable. So here are his pictures, i thought i would share them with my loyal readers to Brighten your day! :)



How Stinking Adorable is he? :) Remember to always let your kidos try new things. Always stop and Smell the flowers. Let them play in the dirt. Its not going to hurt them. And it makes for a great Photo Opportunity. :)



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Keep Smiling and Keep the Kidos Healthy And Happy

Raising A Baby On A Budget...Tips and Trics

Raising a baby isn't cheap! So i'm going to share some tricks, tips and ideas on how to raise your kido on a budge.

1. Buying in bulk never hurts. Sam's Club Memberships are like $40 for a year. And that $40 can save you hundreds of Dollars on Groceries. You can buy all your canned goods and non-parishables and stock up and save up.

2. When shopping, always take a list, and stick to the list. Search the stores website or flyer for sales and savings. Coupons are a great way to save some money.

3. Buying Generic never hurts. Its the same thing, just with a different name!

4. Diapers......Boy are they expensive. Buying them in bulk can save you a load of money. Cases are normally cheaper than the large bags. And also, do your shopping around.....Again the Generic are just as good. And don't forget to sign up for coupons and savings from your favorite diaper company! Cloth Diapers are also a money saver!!

5. Formula is super expensive. Remember that Powder is always cheaper. And to get more help if your a low income family, try applying for WIC.

6. When buying furniture for your little ones room, always buy what can grow with your kido. Convertable Cribs and Car Seats are a money saver. They go from Infant to Toddler in no time. You can always do Second Hand also! Goodwill, garage sales, craigslist, consignment shops. You can always find a deal. Just make sure to check for Recalls.

7. Coupons Coupons Coupons!!!! Find them in the flyers, online, from a friend, the sunday paper, Find them and Clip away! Just don't get Carried away! only clip for the things you normally use in the house.

8. Baby clothes are expensive too. But you can always save money in this department. Second hand is Awesome!! You can swap with friends, buy second hand. Most stores have sales at the end of each season. So keep your eyes peeled for those 2.99 outfits for next year!

9. The number one big time money saver is.....Breast Feeding and making your own baby foods. Breast Feeding cuts out that 25$ a can formula. And making your own baby food is easy, all you need is a blender and some fruits and vegies and TADA Blend Away!

There are so many ways to save money and raise your kidos on a budget. And remember you can always unload all that un-needed baby stuff to a consignment shop or list it on Craigslist and Make some extra money to put in the bank.



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Keep Smiling and Keep the Kidos Happy and Healthy

Time for Mom

As Moms, we all know how frustrating life can be at times and how often we think, "I NEED A VACATION". But we all know, our vacations come when the kidos take a nap or go to bed. So I thought I would share a few things I like to call "My Vacation" with my loyal readers......

1. Next time your out buying diapers or formula, swing over to the bath isle. Grab up a cheap bottle of bubble bath. When you get the kidos to bed, fill up the tub with water and add the bubbles and grab a good book and sit back and relax and catch up on that reading you have been missing out on.

2. We can't all afford those amazing foot spa's, but i have another option. Find a bassin, or you could even use the baby bath tub you don't use anymore. Fill it up with kinda hot water, and add in some baking soda and some sweet smelling soap, and just soak your feet in it for a good 15-20 minutes while you watch some tv, you'll be amazed at how your feet will feel when your finished. After you dry off your feet, put some baby lotion on them and you'r feet will feel like your baby's bum!


3. I find it great to catch an hour or two of mommy time if i get up a little before my little guy, or stay up a little later. I can get the bills paid without having crayon marks on my checks, sit down and watch a NON-Cartoon show on tv, or even take a nice hot shower. Every second is so enjoyable.

4. Me and some friends have organized a Baby Swap Group. When we feel we are about to go crazy, we just call up one of the girls and ask for an hour or two. Drop off the kidos at your friends house and go get a massage or a manacure. Whatever you Fancy. Ahhh Quiet time. And Vice Versa! We are a group of moms who understand how crazy days can get. So Start a Baby Swap group and have some Mommy Time.

5. And if this one isn't obvious, i don't know what would be. Hubby Duty!! When the Hubby has a day off, or when he gets home from work, Ask him to watch the kidos for an hour, and take some mommy time. It could be a hot shower, or a nice walk with the dog. Whatever you feel you need. And another thing the hubby can do is give you a nice relaxing massage after the kidos are to bed.


There is always something you can do to get a "Mommy Vacation" on a normal day. If you have any ideas that you use, feel free to share them in the comment section, i'm sure everyone would love to hear them :)



Untill Next Time

Keep Smiling And Keep the Kidos Happy and Healthy!!

A Worthy Cause....Tide Loads of Hope

I was laying in bed lastnight, and i couldn't sleep so i was watching VH1 hoping i could finally fall asleep. As i was watching, i saw the commercial for the Tide Loads Of Hope. This is a great way to lend a helping hand without really having to do anything. For every bottle of Yellow Cap Tide you purchase, a portion of that money goes to people affected by some sort of disaster. I Would love to help out with this, but myself and my son are both Allergic to Tide, :( Which sucks. But if your like us, and have an allergy, Just hope on over to the Tide site and you can help in other ways. You can buy a Vintage Tide shirt They are 20$, and all the money you spend on those goes to Disaster relief. I belive its only 10 cents from the Yellow Cap Tide that goes to the fund. So i say this is a Worthy Cause, and everyone should try and help out. Just think about how many natural disasters happen each year, and how many people need help.

The team at Tide go around with like 32 Energy Efficient Washers and Dries and go to the areas that need help and wash, dry and Fold their laundry. This is like getting a million dollars to some of these families. When a natural disaster strikes, you never know what your going to do. Well Tide is here to help out a little by giving these families clean clothes to wear and clean sheets to sleep on and clean blankets to cover up with.


So go on over to www.tide.com and see if you can help out a little by buying a shirt or buying the Yellow Cap Tide.

Untill Next Time

Keep Smiling and Keep the Kidos Healthy and Happy

Psych Evaluations and Neurology.... Oy Vey

I have for the last 3 months been trying to get my son an Psych Evaluation so we can have a diagnosis of what exactly is wrong with him. His dr. and his therapists all agree he may be autistic. No matter what it is, it dosn't matter to me and daddy, we will still love him and be by his side no matter what. But its sooooo hard to even get someone to schedual an appt. for him in Pittsburgh. We are on like 5 waiting lists, and waiting for like 4 other places to call us back to see if they can get him in or not. I know there are millions of children that need to have these evaluations, but seriously, there isn't one place in Pittsburgh that can schedual a dang appt?? Do i really have to be on a waiting list for 5 months?? This is crazy! I'm about to start researching other places in the surrounding states to see if i can find someplace that can get him in sooner and just fly or drive there and get it done. I want to know if there is something wrong with my little man. I'm sure there is something going on, he's 23lbs at 2.5 yrs old and he has such a bad temper and has a horrible track record with his behavior and he can't play with more than one toy at a time or he goes into his panic hand shaking act. I am currently waiting for a call back from Childrens Hospital's Child Develepment Unit, hoping that they can squeeze us in sometime soon. I know they are moving their location to a new AMAZING hopstial they just built, but just gime a call here people. i will take only like 5 minutes of your time. Damien's Dr's and Therapists have all suggest the CDU at Childrens, so i thought i would take a shot and give them a call. Well i called and i got an Answering service, and they say, i'll send them your message and someone will be in contact with you to schedual an appt. They never say, Someone will call you back today, or tomorrow, its just someone will call you. So this could also be a waiting game. I hate waiting.

The newest thing that we are trying to deal with is getting an appt. with Neurology at Childrens. Damien has started having Headaches to the point where he holds his head and cries, and cries Tears! He isn't big on crying unless something is REALLY hurting him. So i know that something is going on. When he was a baby they found an arachnoid cyst on his brain. They assured me that it was nothing to worry about and that all kids have them. Well all i know is that if i see the Neurologist and he tells me the headaches are because of the Cyst, you best bet someone is getting a lawsuit from me. I find it hard to belive that all kids have them. I'm throwing the BS flag at that dr. over and over again. I have done my research, and even if they say its Benign, it can still cause issues for your kido!

As i said before, don't ever second guess youself as a mom, you know whats best for your child. If you don't agree with what a dr. says, speak up, it never hurts to have extra tests run just for your own peace of mind. Yes it may be costly, but Is your child really comparable to Money? I don't think so!



So untill Next Time

Keep Smiling and Keep the kidos happy and healthy

7 Day Stomach Virus From Hell....

Sorry for the disappearance loyal readers, my son caught that horrible stomach bug where he threw up EVERYTHING for 6 days and had diarrhea too. And all us moms out there know that that will sooner or later lead to Dehydration, which is a trip to the ER for you and your kido! We actually made 3 trips to the ER with my son for this stomach bug. So everyone keep an eye on your kidos when they get sick. Being Dehydrated is a very bad thing.

Hes not a fan of the name band they put on him at the ER

Keep your eyes open for the signs of Dehydration:
-No tears when they are crying
-Dry Mouth and Lips
-If you lightly punch the skin on their wrist, it should go right back down, if not, they are Dehydrated.
-Little or No pee within a 6 hr period
-Very tired
-Very Thirsty
-Wrinkly Skin

And also Remember, this stomach bug is Virual, so there isn't anything they can give your kidos to get rid of it. The only thing that they could offer me for my son was Anti-nausea meds,which didn't work for him at all. Just stock your house with Pedialyte, either the drink or if your kido is big enough, the freezie pops and get them to take as much of this as possible. Yes, they may just puke it all back up, but some of it will stay in. But as a mother, you know whats best for your child, and if you feel that the fluids arn't staying enough, don't ever second guess yourself as a mom, take your child directly to the ER to get an IV and Fluids. It never hurts to be over worried, its your job as a mom. I decided to take my son to the ER when he hadn't pee'd in like 6 hours and was super pale. That is a def. sign of Dehydration.

See how Pale he is?

Thankfully, he is now starting to feel better. Still running a little temp, but atleast he is back to being able to eat without throwing it all up and hes up and moving around again. He lost 2lbs from all of this,which sucks, but he'll put it back on. I'll be posting more fun stuff here later, so keep your eyes open! :)



Untill Next Time

Keep Smiling and Keep the Kidos Healthy and Happy

Autism Awarness Month

My son has a lot of signs of being autistic, and i have a neice who is autistic, and know many other autistic children, so when i read this post online today, i decided it was worthy of a repost.

Directly From Gulf Daily News

Did you know over 67 million people around the world are affected by autism including here in Bahrain? Today marks World Autism Awareness Day - only one of three official diseases specified by United Nations days.

Events are being held all over the world in recognition of this day - including here in Bahrain.

On the December 18, 2007, the UN General Assembly by unanimous consent adopted Resolution 62/139, which declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day.

The resolution, which Bahrain is a co-sponsor of, encourages all member states to take measures to raise awareness of autism throughout society, to promote early diagnosis and early behavioural intervention and to acknowledge the high rate of autism in all regions of the world and the consequent development challenges to long term health care, education, training and intervention programmes.

Autism affects individuals regardless of race, socioeconomic status or geography. Its causes are unknown, and it affects more boys than girls.

In some areas around the world the prevalence of autism is increasing.

Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by behavioural challenges. However, early diagnosis and intervention improves the lives of people affected.

First warning signs appear when a child is between 18 and 24 months old. (click here to read the entire story)

This is something that everyone should support. There are so many kids affected by this, Give a little support where support is Due!

Here are some things that you could do in April brought to you by the Autism Society Of America.....

Host your own event. ASA‘s 1Power4Autism is the first grassroots fundraising Web site for the autism community. It gives you an opportunity to “turn on your power” by starting an event online and the tools you need to mobilize your friends and family. Learn more at http://www.1power4autism.org/. Or for more events in your area, please visit our event calendar. Get bouncing! After a successful first year, ASA and inflatable playground franchise Pump It Up are bouncing again with “Bounce for Autism” - a nationwide, community-based fundraising event that combines family fun with raising awareness and support for autism in locations that welcome children on the autism spectrum. Find an event near you at http://www.bounceforautism.org/. Show your colors. Wear your autism awareness puzzle bracelet to show your support. To purchase autism awareness items please visit our online store. Read a book. In The Horse Boy, Rupert Isaacson shares his inspiring story of how he and his wife learned to think of their son’s autism as an adventure rather than a curse, a beginning rather than an end. Little, Brown and Company is publishing the book on April 14, 2009, and will be partnering with the Autism Society of America to raise awareness. Both the ASA and the book aim to empower families to think creatively and openly when it comes to treatment. Learn more at http://www.horseboythebook.com/. Spread awareness. ASA has free download materials to help your family, your school, your church or other community organization learn more about people with autism. ASA has developed a poster which can be displayed to raise awareness in your community. To download an 8-1/2 X 11" PDF of the 2009 NAAM poster, click here, or to request a 24 X 36" PDF version of the poster, click here. Our “Growing Up Together” is a new, popular pamphlet that teaches typical kids how much fun they can have with their friends on the autism spectrum. Visit www.autism-society.org/shop_downloads for this and other great material provided free of charge. ASA’s Safe and Sound materials are also critical to keeping our citizens with autism safe. Bring our cards and pamphlets to your local police and fire station and help us spread awareness today! To learn more, please visit www.autism-society.org/research_safeandsound. Take action. Getting involved in advocacy efforts at the local, state and national levels is a crucial way to support legislation benefiting those with autism and their loved ones. Check out current national initiatives at www.autism-society.org/research_advo_action. Become a member. A gift of $30 gives you all the benefits of membership, including access to a community that provides comfort, support and essential information to families living with autism; ASA's quarterly magazine the Autism Advocate, a leading source of information on the latest issues in autism; and valuable resource information and advocacy for autism-related issues. With your help, we can achieve our mission of improving the lives of all affected by autism. Learn more about becoming a member at www.autism-society.org/join_home. Learn the signs. Research indicates that early identification is associated with dramatically better outcomes for individuals with autism. The earlier a child is diagnosed, the earlier the child can begin benefiting from one of the many specialized intervention approaches to treatment and education. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities has developed the "Learn the Signs. Act Early." campaign and provide a number of informational materials on developmental milestones for parents, healthcare providers, early childhood educators and others that are available on their Web site http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/index.html.

If you can do anything, do it. If you think you can't do anything, your wrong. Inform one person that April is World Autism Awareness Month Tell them a little bit about what Autism is and how kids are dealing with the daily struggles and how parents handle it. You can always do something. Autism is Serious and Everyone should know about it. Do your Research and Help out where you can help out! :)



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Keep Smiling and Keep the Kidos Healthy and Happy

Child Hood Asthma Rant

The last couple weeks have been pretty crazy for me and my 2.5 yr old son, due to his Asthma! Its been so out of no where. He has the inhallers and the nebulizer, and it just dosn't seem to be getting any better. I'm so super worried all the time to the point where i'm not sleeping at night. I talked to his drs. and they put him on a daily, 2 times a day new inhaller, but i'm seeing no improvment in the last 3 weeks. So now its time for me to play paranoid mom and do my online research.

Every time we go to the dr. about this, they always say, are you sure its his asthma and not a cold?? I'm 10000% sure its not a cold. I went onto pediatricasthma.com and they have lists of whats asthma and whats a cold.

ASTHMA

Coughing (especially at night)

Wheezing — a whistling sound when your child breathes

Rapid breathing, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing

Tightness in chest

COLD

Coughing

Sore throat

Runny, stuffy nose

Sneezing

Low-grade fever

Now Come On can you see the difference there? I know whats wrong with my kido. One thing i'm not so sure about is the cause of his Asthma! I have been told by a few different dr. that this could all be because of his G.E.R.D. How can G.E.R.D trigger Asthma? Granted, when he has an eppisode, he does cough a lot and cries, but i dont remember the last time that happened we had an asthma problem. Right now hes on Albuteral, Pulmacort, Flovent and Previcid. The only thing that really seems to work is when we use the nebulizer with the pulmacort and the albuteral. This really limits the amount of fun we can have.

I am not 100% sure what exactly can be done but i'll keep on researching till i find something out.

Sorry for my Rant, just very paranoid and worried mommy.

Untill Next Time

Keep smiling and keep the Kidos Happy and Healthy