Category Archives: Health and Wellness

Strep Throat Strikes the Roys

This was originally posted on another blog site on July 8th, but I brought it over because I think there is some good info on strep.  Thankfully, we have now been taking medication for several days and are finally feeling much better.

We are generally a pretty healthy family.  My kids have only been on antibiotics twice each, my husband has not been to the doctor in about 15 years (not that he should not be going for a check-up) and I manage to escape most illness as well.  Not this time, Strep Throat hit our house in a nasty way.

Strep Throat Comes Knockin’

In May, I started an eating program called The Plan and the first 3 days began with a cleanse.  I absolutely love the program and am still following it to date. However, during the initial 20 days, I decided to give my body a break from my regular daily supplements and this included my daily dose of Immunocal.  Dumb.  This product is my major defender when it comes to warding off illness and staying healthy.  I am sure that the 20 days reprieve, had an impact on my Glutathione levels and my bodies ability to fight off infections.  I have always been more prone to catching something during high stress times and typically for me as a teacher, that is September and June.  I always seem to make it through the stress and as soon as things are settling and I am no longer running on adrenaline, my body relaxes and illness comes crashing down. In the past, I have been smart enough to double-up on my Immunocal and can often sail through without incident, but with no Immuncal intake for almost a month and high stress at work, the inevitable happened.  On June 20th, I became very sick with a bad chest cold that never really seemed to go away.  In the midst of this, my son Shay was complaining that he wasn’t feeling well and had a sore throat.  He had white little spots in the back of his throat and it was quite red.  It looked similar to the photo below.

 strep throat

I thought it might be strep, so I took him to a Walk-In Clinic, but the doctor said it was just a sore throat and didn’t swob it.  So here we are, about 17 days later with a huge mixture of good and bad days.  Shay’s sore throat seemed to go away on its own, but he has had a high fever, no appetite, little energy, cough, runny nose, numerous nosebleeds and he’s needed lots of extra sleep and even extended naps.  He just has not been himself for the last few weeks.  I can see him dropping weight and just generally not well.  My own symptoms have been persistent as well.  Although my horrible cough and congestion have mostly cleared, I have continued to feel a heaviness in my chest and low energy level.  So, when I could feel the brutally sore throat starting on Saturday, I knew I had had enough and that we would both be heading back to a Walk-In on Sunday.

Strep Throat…Is it Worth The Wait?

Oh Ya!  Many people would be worried about a strep diagnosis and hope that it is not what it is, but let me tell you when I woke up on Sunday morning I felt like I had been hit by a truck and looked forward to the diagnosis, so I could get me some antibiotics asap.  Unfortunately, we arrived at the clinic at 8:57 am (3 minutes before opening), but proceeded to wait in an air conditioned waiting room until 11:30, when our names were finally called.  By this time, I was literally ready to lie on the floor.  Although I didn’t do anything as drastic, I did have to spend much of the time folded in half with my head between my legs to try to nurse the pounding headache and horrific sore throat I had.  I was virtually unable to swallow or speak (a treat for my family).  Even breathing seemed to be difficult.  The pain was excruciating.  Once in, we were assessed and swobbed (there was no way we were leaving with out a swob, but luckily I didn’t have to cause a scene to get my wish).  Within 15 minutes, the doctor came back with little indicator sticks and told Shay what to look for.  Doctor Shay delivered the diagnosis  – we both have Strep Throat.  Yay!  That means proper medicine, proper treatment and finally getting well.  Yes, as awful as the wait was, it was well worth it.

Waiting for Two Strep Throat Prescriptions Can’t Be That Bad, Can It?

Wrong.  I dropped off Shay and went straight to the pharmacy.  Being a very practical person, I always like to make good use of my time, so I thought I would pick up the 4 items that had already made it onto my next grocery list even though we just shopped (I hate that).  The trouble is, Superstore is very big and I was very sick and very weak.  By this time, it was almost 1:30 and I felt like I was close to death.  As I leaned on the bar of my cart for support, I shivered with fever and was wracked in pain.  I was imagining that I looked somewhat like one of the plague victims from some Hollywood blockbuster like Outbreak.  I had VERY SICK PERSON written all over me.  Of course, to make matters worse, the organic apples I bought had a faulty scan code and they had to do a price check.  When the clerk said, “I am sorry, we just have to check the price”, she was so lucky I was unable to speak.  Little did she know that the faint smile and nod that I sent her way really meant, “that’s fine if you don’t mind scraping me off the floor when I collapse.”  I picked-up the prescriptions and some Strepsils (to help sooth my sore throat until the antibiotics began to work) and hurried to the car.  I took my first dose of both before I left the parking lot and collapsed in bed with a temperature 102.2, as soon as I got home.  Other than rolling from side to side to try and find a more comfortable position, I didn’t move for 18 hours.  Luckily my husband brought me what I needed and I barely had to get up to go to the bathroom either.  I guess when you are unable to eat or drink, there really is nothing to eliminate from your system.  By bedtime last night I was still in excruciating pain – my throat, neck and head were so sore that I couldn’t even open my eyes to watch a bit of television.  It was at this point that I added something else to my arsenal.  Thank the good Lord for “Aleve”.  I took one before bed last night and was finallly able to get some sleep.  At 11:15 p.m. I woke up to soaked sheets, jammies, etc.  I was sweating profusely, but the fever had broken and I felt a little better.  Although my throat is still very sore and my headache lingers, I am feeling better than yesterday (obviously or there would be no post).  Hopefully, all symptoms will be gone within a day or two.  Shay is still not eating much, but never did have symptoms as severe as mine.

Strep Throat and I Have Quite a History

As an early years teacher, I am exposed to many viruses and illnesses throughout the course of a year.  Early in my career, I would get Strep Throat frequently, at least once a year.  It seemed that I was particularly susceptible to it.  My battle with regular strep throat infections continued through most of the 90’s and I became quite good at self-diagnosing and always knew when I need to get to the doctor for medication.  In the winter of 1998, it was no exception.  I woke up early in the morning to a very sore throat (strep I thought), but proceeded to go to work.  I thought that if I could make it through the morning, I would be able to write a proper sub plan.  By 10 my condition was extreme.  I was unable to drive and had to call my husband to come and pick me up from work.  We drove straight to my doctor.  I stayed in the car while my husband waited in the waiting room.  My throat was unbearable and the headache I had was debilitating.  I was literally laying down in the car writhing in pain.  When my name was called, Tim came out and got me. After the doctor did his assessment, I was directed to go straight downtown to a neurologist that would be waiting for me to arrive.  The neurologist saw me right away and worried that the symptoms were more consistent with meningitis than strep.  I was sent to the hospital for a spinal tap.  If you want to know exactly what a spinal tap or lumbar puncture is, you can follow the above link and check out the youtube video.  Personally I couldn’t watch more than a few seconds, as it brought back too much trauma.  My personal definition of a spinal tap is “a trip to hell”.  When all was said and done, I was diagnosed with a severe strain of strep throat (obviously long before they invented the quick 10 minute test or we would have avoided the whole fiasco).  Anyways, between my brutal case of strep throat and the side effects of the spinal tap.  I was completely bed ridden for seven days and was not even able to get up to go to the bathroom.  Thank goodness we had hardwood floors.  My big bathrobe that allowed me to slide on my back from my bed to the bathroom and back when necessary.  It took me 2 weeks to fully recover and I missed 10 days of work.  The headache following the procedure was indescribable and the whole episode will never be forgotten, but the interesting thing is that I never got strep throat again…until now that is.   Strep and I do not mix well and it seems that when I do get it, I get hit hard.  The good news is, I am on the mend and was diagnosed quickly.  Thank goodness for the invention of the quick test!

The Importance of Treating Strep

Strep throat ,if left untreated, can sometimes cause complications.  According to the Mayo Clinic:

It’s important to identify strep throat for a number of reasons. If untreated, strep throat can sometimes cause complications such as kidney inflammation and rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever can lead to painful and inflamed joints, a rash and even damage to heart valves.

Well, I am feeling a bit better as the day goes on and can’t wait for my body to respond fully to the medication.  Needless to say I have been back on my Immunocal supplements and have every confidence that I will dodge the next bullet that comes our way.  Have a great day and stay well!

Ice Cream Truck Hoax used to Promote Healthy Eating

Two guys fool patrons by driving around in an ice cream truck, but offer vegetables and fruit instead of the frozen treats they desire.  Some find it amusing, but others are clearly not impressed.  Mind the “bleeps” and view before sharing with your kids.  In the end the customers are happy as the pranksters offer free ice cream and treats to those he has pranked.

Ice Cream Season is Here!

It is hot outside and we are all looking for ways to stay cool.  Aside from a day at the beach, a frozen treat like ice cream is at the top of the list for many.  We are not unlike most Canadians and in fact, owned our own ice cream shop for several years.  Bobby Jo’s Ice Cream Shop was our seasonal restaurant that offered approximately 20 delicious flavours of ice cream.  Needless to say,  I have tried them all and certainly have my favourite ice cream flavours.  Likewise, our children love ice cream and it is certainly their choice when we decide to go for a treat.  From blizzards to gelati to revels to sundaes to ice cream cakes to the traditional soft and hard ice cream cones, the choices and variations are endless.

Ice Cream in the Freezer vs. a Trip to the the Local Ice Cream Shop

ice cream

A tough decsion.  Hands down, it is much cheaper to buy good quality ice cream on sale and store it at home in your freezer for those “sometimes treats”.  I have bought the Breyer’s specialty flavours for as low as $4.99.  When I find them on sale for this price, I will often by a few different flavour options that I know my kids will love.  We can probably get 3 or more whole family trips to the ice cream store for the price of one container of ice cream and at $5 there really is no comparison.

ice cream cone

The flip side is a trip to the ice cream shop.  This becomes a family outing and offers more selection, including the obvious soft and hard ice cream choices.  It is much more expensive and takes very little to make it a $20 stop for a family of 4.  However, there is one big advantage.  You are not likely to go to the ice cream shop on a very regular basis because of the cost.  If you don’t have ice cream in your freezer, it simply is not there as a choice when  you are in search of a snack on a hot day or when you are tired and hungry at the end of a long day and don’t have the stamina left to make a good healthy choice.

Dr. Sears: I have an 80/20 rule for my family and my patients. 80 percent of our food choices need to be healthy ones. Home is the 80 percent so I only have healthy food in my house. It’s 10:00 pm and you’re hungry. When you open the pantry and see junk food, it is hard to say no. At 10:00 pm, you don’t have any will power. So we make our decisions in the grocery store, not staring at the pantry. The key is creating healthy habits.

For me, we do a bit of both.  We do not keep ice cream on hand all of the time because I know that when we have it in the house,  my family will want to eat it more often….everyday if I would let them.  However, there are times when we will purchase it.  When we have it in the house the kids probably have ice cream as a treat more often than normal, until it is gone, and then we don’t repurchase it for quite some time.  The trips to the ice cream shop are more rare and thus special, and considered more of a family outing that we can all enjoy.

Ice Cream Shop or In the Freezer – weigh in by commenting at the end of the post.

Ice Cream Alternatives

What I do like to do is try to keep other frozen treats at home for those hot days that offer a much healthier alternative to ice cream.  They can be hit and miss with the kids, but some of the ones that some or all of my family enjoy are:

    • frozen grapes
    • homemade sugar free fruit based popsicles (see recipe in slurpee post)
    • frozen banana treat – I LOVE these!  And you can make so many simple variations.
    • smoothy (see recipe in slurpee post)
    • Frozen yogurt tubes, simple but always a hit

frozen bananas

Click the picture to get the original poster and recipe.

Manitoba Named the Slurpee Capital of the Year for the 14th Straight Year – Good or Bad?

Slurpees can be refreshing on a hot day – no doubt, but really people?  I am actually embarrassed by the fact that we as Manitobans not only hold this title, but brag about it.  Check out one of the news releases in a local paper.  Perhaps “free slurpee” day is not all its hyped up to be!

Once Again Manitoba is Crowned the Slurpee Capital

At our house slurpees are a once in a while treat.  In fact, it is not uncommon for my kids to say on a hot mid summer day ~ you haven’t bought us a slurpee yet this year, can we go for a treat.  We probably purchase our children one to three over the course of a year, but don’t have as much control over those that are gifted to them.  As an alternative, we often make our own homemade “free” versions.  When I say free, I am not just talking about not paying for the $2 treat, but rather all the other freebies a homemade recipe offers….our “slurpees” (more like smoothies) are free of dyes, sugar, additives, preservatives, empty calories, artificial sweeteners and artificial flavours.  See the end of the blog if you are interested in our healthy recipe.  There is absolutely no nutritional value in a slurpee as far as I am concerned and what amazes me is how many small children I see drinking them.  So you see, its not just about being cheap, what makes its so costly is the impact that cumulative consumption coupled with other poor dietary choices can have on our bodies and especially on those of our children.  Although it is often easier to follow the crowd and give in, try to make decisions based on the best interest of your own children.

Could a slurpee actually be harmful?

Probably the occasional slurpee would not be harmful. At least not on its own, but if a person’s diet consists of foods that are high in additives and artificial dyes and flavourings, the results could have a very negative impact.  As a teacher, I have seen an increasing number of students enter kindergarten with attentional issues.  Although diet is not always the culprit, it is a great place to start.   It is amazing to me to see how many young children consume junk food on a daily basis.  For many, I believe it is like a poison to their system and truly impacts their ability to learn and focus.  Did you know that food dyes, sugar and artificial additives have been directly linked to ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in case studies.  To learn more about some of the research on this click here.  Every parent wants their child to be happy, but giving into their desires for candy and fast food might not be the best path to get there.

FOOD DYES: If you thought Starbucks was gross for using crushed bugs in their strawberry Frappucinos, you’ll be horrified to know that certain Slurpee flavors are chock full of toxic artificial coloring. 7-Eleven uses several different food dyes, but one of hte most common is Red 40 (even the ones that aren’t red), which has been tied to reactions ranging form migraines and headaches to temper tantrums, hyperactivity, aggressive behavior, uncontrollable crying and screaming, kicking, nervousness, dizziness, and inability to sit still or concentrate in kids.

Read more: http://www.blisstree.com/2012/07/11/food/nutrition/anatomy-of-slurpee-bad-for-you-590/#ixzz2YZIGntGz“rel=nofollow”

My Personal Philosophy on Children and Diet

We are quite a health conscious family.  In fact, I am sure my eldest was 4 before she realized that a cracker was not a cookie.  She was never given fruit juice or sweets as a baby, toddler and rarely as a pre-schooler.  I remember her June field trip at the end of Nursery School when she complained that her teacher gave them each a popsicle, but she had to throw it out because it tasted awful.  (This, of course, was the first time she had ever tasted a store bought popsicle loaded with sugar.)  We consistently made healthy choices for her as long as we were able to do that.  A young child only knows what they are exposed to.  My thinking was “juice vs. milk or water”.  Dah!  I think most children would choose the sweet option.  By not making juice one of the options, the choices were limited to milk or water.  Water is essential and I wanted to ensure my kids liked to drink water.  “Cookie vs. vegetables”  Again, no brainer.  I figured by exposing our children to as many healthy options as possible, we would develop their palate for healthy food at a very young age.  A great example of this is cottage cheese.  So many people will not touch cottage cheese, but both of our kids love it.  It was introduced to them as infants and has been a regular part of their diet ever since.  I am not naive enough to think that we would always have this control, but it gave our children the best start possible.  Of course, it is not as easy to do this with the second child, but we gave it our best shot.  This is not to say that at 9 and 11, they both don’t enjoy treats and would probably even ask for a treat everyday if they thought for a moment that they would get one.  Generally, they know that they can expect a store bought treat from us once or twice a week.

Sugar Be Gone!!

I posted a blog last January outlining our experience with going to a no sugar diet (keeping in mind that we rarely have a sugary treat in the house).  Our quest to reduce sugar consumption stemmed more from the observations we made concerning our own family, along with some research that I had done.  Our intervention was targeting the hidden sugars laden in the grains we consume on a daily basis and I am not just talking about sugar coated breakfast cereals.  We noticed our children’s becoming much less fruit and vegetable based and their choices would often be grain based foods such as cereal and bread.  What we noticed was that they would crave grains and would no longer get satisfaction from the healthier choices such as veggies.  We sound wicked mood swings and they were becoming picky eaters.  It was then that I realized how much sugar was in grain based food and the addictive properties that it might have.  Did you know that two slices of whole wheat bread increase blood sugar to a higher level than a candy bar does?

Since our 3 month commitment to “no sugar” consumption in our home, we have continued to eat healthy, but no longer follow the Paleo/Primal lifestyle plan.   I still believe that one has to be really careful with grain and sugar consumption, but the program was not the “perfect fit” that I was hoping for.  As a rule, I feel that the best choices we can make are pure whole foods that have had as little processing as possible ~ fruits, vegetables and meat.

I use Martha Stewart’s recipe for popsicles and adapt it to meet our needs.  Basically, we OMIT THE SUGAR completely, substitute the blueberries with frozen mixed berries and reduce the yogurt to about 3/4 cup.  We add a bit of extra lemon juice, unsweetened pineapple juice or even milk if additional liquid is needed.  It makes a great refreshing smoothy and we freeze the leftovers for popsicles!

To sum it all up, the choice is ultimately up to you, but I for one will not be helping Manitoba earn the World’s Slurpee Capital of the Year Award for the 15th year in a row!!

“The Tween Challenge” ~ How to Keep up to Speed with Your Growing Kids

The Tween Challenge has definitely hit our house.

I have been an early years teacher for over 20 years and would consider myself an expert on young children, especially 4 to 6 year olds as that is where the bulk of my experience has been.  However, now that my own kids are beyond that, I am totally in foreign territory.

I find as the mom of a tween, I am constantly having to “right the ship” and make adjustments in my parenting.  Everyday seems to bring with it new questions or situations that I was in no way prepared for and quite honestly I often don’t have a clue how to respond.  I am always seeking knowledge, good advice and sound parenting tips from books, friends and family, and/or Google to help me through.

What is a Tween Anyways?

When people refer to a tween, they are often referring to a child between the ages of 10 and 12….bigger and more mature than a child, but not yet a teenager.

What makes the tween years so challenging are the overwhelming number of changes that tweens encounter in this short span of their lives. They are no longer early years students, but now walk the halls and hang-out with the middle years students in the school.  With the move to “middle years” comes extra opportunity and responsibility.  Students are often able to opt into clubs and join school teams that were not offered to them as an early years student.  Perhaps they’d like to be a patrol, or a library helper or maybe join a school leadership team.  All of the new opportunities are very exciting, but at the same time can be taxing on some kids, especially if they make too many commitments, in addition to those they have outside of school.  Often tweens also have a heavier classroom work load and additional homework.

Other Tween Changes and Challenges 

If all of the above is not enough for a child that has just hit double digits, lets add the early onset of puberty to the mix.  This is an excerpt from an article published in The Observer, in 2012.

They found that in 1860, the average age of the onset of puberty in girls was 16.6 years. In 1920, it was 14.6; in 1950, 13.1; 1980, 12.5; and in 2010, it had dropped to 10.5.

Alarming!  It just seems so young to have to face so many changes in their body.  I believe that this is especially hard for tween girls.  Many young girls bulk-up prior to puberty.  It is their body’s way of preparing for what is to come.  While still trying to understand this and come to terms with their new fuller form, many tweens are also beginning to develop breasts and start their first period, but of course, that is not all.  They discover they don’t smell as pretty as they used to and now have to shower every day and wear deodorant. To top that off they have hair on their legs that makes them feel too embarrased to dress for the weather and thus they sweat even more!  Ugh!  Where does the maddness stop? How about the daily barrage of images of “flawless” girls with “perfect” faces and bodies plastered over every billboard, advertisement, magazine, etc.  Check out the Dove video called Beauty Pressure to see what are girls are dealing with.

Tweens Are Often Lost in the Gap Between Childhood and a Teenager

It is no wonder tweens are so confused and emotional.  They mourn the blissful childhood that seemed to end in a blink and yet are excited about being “more grown-up”. So many mixed emotions, coupled with the multiple physical and social changes they are feeling can sometimes leave a tween feeling alone and sad, despite having people around them that love them deeply.

Self-esteem is a raising issue and I believe that tweens just don’t have the maturity to process all of these changes and feelings the way that our “16.6” year old ancestors did in the 1860’s.  The young ladies of the 1800’s were going through puberty shortly before becoming an adult, while ours have just stepped out of their early years classrooms.  Yikes!

What Can We Do to Support Our Young Girls Through This Process?

I certainly don’t have many answers and believe that if there is a mistake to be made, I have done it.  However, I have found some really great resources that I would love to share.

  1. If you have not yet watched these videos, they are produced by Dove and really great in helping to understand body image:  Dove Real Beauty Sketches, The Evolution of Beauty
  2. Learn and talk about Body Image and Self-Esteem.  Gain an understanding of the differences between the two.
  3. Know and understand the stages of puberty so that you can be ready for them and observe where your daughter is at.
  4. If you are interested, Dove also has a PDF that makes a great reference.  It is a Teacher’s book from one of their Self-Esteem courses, so it is very relevant.
  5. I heard about a great magazine for young girl’s called Moon Magazine. We have just ordered a subscription.
  6. Unfortunately, I just learned about this course and how excellent it was through my cousin who went through it with her daughter.  I called to register and we are first on the waiting list because the class for this fall is full.  It is called Mothers and Daughters in Touch and sounds amazing.
If you are like me, you just want to say and do the right things, and I certainly do not always get it right (by a long shot).  However, I believe that knowledge, when applied and mixed with lots of prayers, greatly improves my chances!  Good luck out there!