Monthly Archives: November 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Erin

From the cutest Turkey Trotters around…

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Guest Post: How to Use a Bulb Srynge

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Erin

As promised, my friend Jordyn Redwood, ER nurse and writer extraordinaire is going to be posting common medical Q & A’s on my blog twice every month. I’m superexcited about this and think it will not only be a ton of fun but it will also be really informative. So, a huge thank you to Jordyn! And, if you want to know more about her, Jordyn is not only a novelist with a book coming out from Kregel in a few months, but she’s also a blogger who writes a superfun blog called “Redwood’s Medical Edge” where she discusses now novelists approach medical issues in their books. Check it out here.

Proper use of a Bulb Syringe

After your baby is delivered, most people look at this item and think it’s not useful anymore. I’m here to tell you that it may be one of the most useful items you have on hand—especially during respiratory season.

The size you go home with will work well for the first few months of life. However, if your child is older than 3-4 months, you’ll need to purchase a larger size or obtain one from your pediatrician.

Bulb syringes are designed to clear secretions from the nose and mouth. During RSV season, one of the most problematic symptoms for infants is the increase in thick, tenacious secretions. An infant with a clogged nose won’t nurse or take the bottle well. If they aren’t feeding well, this can lead to a concern for dehydration. Also, a stuffy nose makes for more difficult sleep and a non-sleeping baby leads to a cranky household.

It’s best to use the bulb syringe to:
1. Clear an obvious clogged nose.
2. Clear the nose before feeding.
3. Clear the nose before sleep.

Here’s the procedure:
1. Instill a few saline drops into the nose and let the infant breathe in and out for a few breaths.
2. Depress the bulb and insert the tip a few millimeters into one nare.
3. Let the bulb inflate back up while keeping the end in the nose. This will pull out the secretions. If the bulb stays depressed, it’s likely that the nare is pretty clogged and you’ll need to repeat these steps until it inflates back up easily.
4. Once the inflated bulb is out of the nose, depress it again into a tissue to remove the secretions you collected.

This You-tube video gives a pretty good overview: http://youtu.be/uNl31A_b_bs. I would just add using the saline drops as this will help loosen and thin the secretions.

Are you comfortable using a bulb syringe?

Jordyn Redwood has served the pediatric population and their families for many years. She has five years of experience in the pediatric ICU and ten years of pediatric ER nursing which is the area she currently works. Jordyn also teaches CPR and advanced resuscitation courses.

Jordyn is also a suspense author. Her novel, Lilly’s Ashes, will be published by Kregel in the Spring of 2012. She also hosts a medical blog for authors which you can find at www.jordynredwood.com.

Disclaimer: Remember, these posts are for education and discussion. If your child is sick and you think they require medical attention, take them to their pediatrician or local emergency department.

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Holiday Traditions: Gratefulness

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Erin

Holiday Traditions: Gratefulness

We have so much! So, yesterday, when I had my kids sit down and draw pictures of all the things they are thankful for, I wasn’t surprised when their lists went on and on and on. Mine: My kids. My family. My home. Health (restored after a tough year). The fact that I once again love coffee after being unable to drink it without throwing up when I was pregnant. And, the list goes on and on and on…

But, I started thinking: What about Jesus? Yes, we have wonderful family and friends and a home and food and toys and clothes and everything we need… but isn’t the ultimate gift we have Jesus himself? How can I teach my kids to be thankful for Jesus?

This week: Gratefulness

Scriptural Foundation: Psalm 95

Psalm 95

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.

For the Lord is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

Gratefulness Day

This week, we’re having Gratefulness Day on Wednesday, where we’re going to focus on one of the reasons we’re grateful for Jesus. He chose us. He saved us. He blesses us. He loves us.

Here are a few of the stories we’re reading:

Jesus calms the storm (Matthew

Parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25)

Here are a few of the songs we’re singing:

- I love you Lord

- Jesus I love you

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Holiday Traditions: Joyfulness

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Erin

What are your holiday traditions? Do you gather around the game every Thanksgiving and cheer for your favorite team? Hike into the woods to find the perfect Christmas tree? Sip hot cocoa while you decorate it? Make your great-grandma’s almost world-famous gingerbread?

Traditions are great! I treasure each and every one that my family has—from our day-after-Thanksgiving movie breakfast to singing carols while my mom plays the piano on Christmas Eve. But, sometimes, I wonder if while I’m working so hard to create a festive holiday spirit, I’m forgetting that the spirit of the holidays is Christ—and that as a parent, I need to work to infuse everything we do, say or celebrate with His amazing love.

So, this year, I have a challenge for you: Infuse Christ into your holiday traditions. Not simply by talking about Jesus or telling your kids that He is the reason for the season, but by focusing on the characteristics of Christ in everything you do. So, from now until Christmas, I’m going to explore on godly characteristic—gratefulness, love, joy, peace, faithfulness—on my blog each week and share with you some ideas on how you can get your kids thinking about these godly characteristics as they enjoy the holiday season.

This week: Joyfulness
Scriptural Foundation: Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Making Joylights

Today, we made joylights.

I got the idea off of Pinterest so it’s not my own, but we made a little twist in the project. Today, we talked about how Christ’s light is our joy… and how everytime we see our joylights sparkling, we can remember Christ’s love.

Here’s how we did it:

1. Buy 6 glass jars (any size). We used tealight holders.
2. Use a foam paintbrush to coat the jars in Mod Podge.
3. Roll the coated jars in Epsom salts.
4. Dry 1 hour, then repeat.
5. Drop tealights or other candles in the jars and light them.
6. Talk about how Christ’s love sparkles and shines during the holiday season… and light your joylights often to remind your children of the joy we can get from Christ.

Enjoy!

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Happy Veteran’s Day!

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Erin

Okay, so I know Veteran’s Day isn’t until Friday, but I’m celebrating a little bit early on my blog because, well, Friday is a day off of school which means I’ll be busy busy busy.

That said, I want to take a moment to honor our veterans– and the current service men and women who fight so hard for our country. My prayers are with you all and I’m so grateful to the heroes who have given so much to give me and my family the peace and hope that comes with living in the US.

And, in order to spread the celebratory love, I’m giving away a book! My friend Cathy West wrote an amazing book called Yesterday’s Tomorrow. It’s set during the Vietnam War– an era I hadn’t read much about before reading this novel– and it’s a fascinating and compelling look at life in Vietnam during that time period. Even better, the book also has a great love story, believable characters and more. I LOVED the book– and I read a lot lot lot of books, and give very few the “loved it” stamp of approval. I think you’d really like it… so I’m giving away an e-copy.

To win your copy (courtesy of ME!), just reply to this post and tell me why you’d like to read more about the Vietnam War period. I’ll draw one winner on Veterans Day (at random) and email you a Kindle Copy off of Amazon.

Now, here’s a bit more about the book and the author, just in case you’re curious:

Vietnam, 1967.

Independent, career-driven journalist Kristin Taylor wants two things: to honor her father’s memory by becoming an award-winning overseas correspondent and to keep tabs on her only brother, Teddy, who signed up for the war against their mother’s wishes. Brilliant photographer Luke Maddox, silent and brooding, exudes mystery. Kristin is convinced he’s hiding something.

Willing to risk it all for what they believe in, Kristin and Luke engage in their own tumultuous battle until, in an unexpected twist, they’re forced to work together. Ambushed by love, they must decide whether or not to set aside their own private agendas for the hope of tomorrow that has captured their hearts.

Educated in Bermuda, England and Canada, Catherine holds a degree in English from the University of Toronto. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or tending to her roses and orchids. Catherine and her husband live on the beautiful island of Bermuda, with their two college-aged children. Catherine is a member of Romance Writers of America, and American Christian Fiction Writers, and is a founding member of International Christian Fiction Writers. Catherine’s debut novel Yesterday’s Tomorrow, released in March 2011 through