RSV Prevention and World Prematurity Day #MC #RSVAwareness #PreemieProtection #sponsored

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for MedImmune. I received  a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Today is World Prematurity Day and what better way to honor families who have experienced the birth of a premature baby than to discuss RSV Prevention. Up to 1/3 of parents are unaware of the risks and symptoms of RSV and often brush them off as a simple cold. However, when you're dealing with an infant, especially a premature one, any illness should be taken seriously.

When Lynzie was about 22 months old, she contracted RSV. Her symptoms included blue color around her mouth, as well as a raspy cough and gasping for breath. As young parents with no experience recognizing the symptoms of a sick baby, we held off taking her to the doctor much longer than we should have. We'd dealt with sickness like this ourselves as adults and knew we eventually recovered fine. It didn't occur to us how this sickness could be much more serious in a baby or toddler.

When my husband noticed her "falling asleep" on the couch, I realized she was actually passing out. We raced her to the emergency room, me singing, You Are My Sunshine, all the way just to keep myself from panicking. Her oxygen saturation was very low and she was immediately put into an oxygen tent where she spent three days. 

We were blessed to have a baby who recovered, yet not all children do. Up to 200 infants die each year from RSV.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus effects nearly all babies by the time they're two years old. It usually causes mild or moderate cold-like symptoms, but in some babies, symptoms become severe and cause a dangerous infection.

Premature babies, those born before 37 weeks, are at a higher risk for severe symptoms since they usually have underdeveloped lungs and immune systems. RSV season usually runs November-March and accounts for about 125,000 hospitalizations each year.

Here are some things to look for in your infant:

*Persistent coughing/wheezing

*Bluish color around lips, mouth, fingernails (indicates lack of oxygen)

*Rapid, difficult, gasping breaths

*Fever (over 100.4º in infants 3 mo. and younger)

How can you prevent RSV? Here are some crucial steps:

*Understand risk factors to see if your baby is at an increased risk.

*Never let anyone smoke around your baby.

*Wash your hands and require others to do the same before handling your baby.

*Keep toys, clothes, and blankets clean.

*Avoid crowds or other young children during RSV season.

For more information, contact your child's doctor or visit RSVProtection.com.

Chocolate Orange Swirl Bread

I made this delicious bread for the kids' breakfast a couple days ago and it was a huge hit! I substituted clementines for the oranges, since that's what I had on hand, and made up the remaining amount with lemon juice. It was still great! Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Chocolate Orange Swirl Bread
(makes 2 loaves)

1 c. softened butter
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
2 lg. oranges
4 c. flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 TB. unsweetened cocoa
2 TB. milk

Mix butter, sugar, and eggs until well combined. Grate the peels from both the oranges to measure at least 2 TB. zest. Juice both oranges to equal approximately 1 c. of juice. If you don't get quite enough, you can add milk or water to make up the difference. Mix zest and juice into butter mixture. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl, then stir into wet mixture until just combined. Pour all but 1 c. of mixture into 2 pans. Add cocoa and milk to the remaining mixture and whisk until well combined. Divide between the two pans, pouring down the middle of each. Use a knife to swirl the mixture around a bit. Bake at 325º for 1 hour.

Why It's Not "UnChristian" To Be Open On Christmas Day And Thanksgiving

I can't tell you how many versions of "Don't Shop at ...." I see during this time of year. Stores are labeled pro or against Christmas, like in the recently published AFA Naughty or Nice list. 

People put up snotty status memes like this one:

Or this one is even better...

Makes me want to remind them about the holi-day our Lord, a practicing Jew, celebrated during this time of year---Hanukkah. Heard of it? Besides the fact that it makes sense for a business to buy a Happy Holidays banner that will suffice from Nov. 1-Jan. 2, this arrogant point of view also shows off your ignorance, since Christmas was a man-made holiday that came way after Jesus. I don't think he really cares one way or another if or how we celebrate it. (Yes, I celebrate. No, I don't want to have this discussion.)

But the thing that just makes me want to smack y'all upside the head is when you tell me you're going to actually boycott a store because it's open on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Are you kidding me?

"Oh, but those poor single moms should be home with their poor kids who have to be in school all week long and they should at least get Christmas together, for crying out loud!"

Really? No, actually it's called, doing what you have to do. Or, more plainly, having character and integrity.

Ok, so I'm sure there are tons of people, who work for companies that require them to work on a holiday, who are pretty put out about the whole thing. In fact, I bet every single one of them wishes they could be home with their families for Christmas Day. 

You know, because that's what normal families do.

You know what else probably goes through their minds? They're probably thanking God they have a job. They're probably thanking God they might be able to provide for some or all of their family's celebration that year. They're probably thanking God they're doing better than they did last year. Maybe they know their willingness to work hard, even when it hurts, will show their employers that they're committed to the job and they'll be put up for a promotion? 

Many companies offer time and a half, or even double time and a half, for employees who will work the holiday. Maybe that's the make it or break it day that will push their paychecks up just enough to be able to make their family celebration meaningful. Because they're making their own family traditions...a normal for them that is, frankly, none of your business.

Last Thanksgiving morning, my husband was home for the day, enjoying his paid holiday with his children. As they all giggled and played in the living room, I worked in the kitchen preparing a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner---more food than we could even fit on our table. I realized I'd forgotten to get something, and headed to Walmart. I felt a little guilty "making" the cashier ring me up, even though she had to be there anyway. As I reached for my change, I told her thank you for working that day. I told her how much I appreciated the store being open so I could finish what I was working on. 

That woman didn't see me as some snob who was rubbing it in her face that I got to be normal and she didn't. She smiled big and told me how much she appreciated that I said that. I'd made her feel valued in the midst of hundreds of other shoppers also rushing through to get back to the kitchen. Her family was preparing the dinner and she was going home later that afternoon to enjoy it with them. This was her normal.

This Thanksgiving, I might just head down to Walmart for the fun of it. Just to tell one of them thanks for doing hard things. Here's a new status meme for you...I dare you.