Indian Summer

Today was a bit of Indian summer here in chilly New Jersey.  I guess low 40’s in the winter counts for that!  We would love to move somewhere warm again!  Especially me!  I think being a “snow bird” is the best of both worlds, go south for the winter, and come back for the spring, summer and fall… Wish that was possible, but unless we home school, that won’t work with their schedule. 

We took the trio to the park today to celebrate the “warm” weather.  Took some fun video’s you can see at http://www.TheRealParents.com.

It was a fun day, and inexpensive too.  The park by us is huge, so with three kids I can’t go alone, Mikey came along.  the kids spread out too much to keep track of alone.  Out numbered!   Hope it gets warmer very, very soon!

 
All The Best,

Sandy & Mike Quast

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Mud face masks…

Mike and I had a great time this last weekend at “Hannah’s Salon” getting mud mask facials.  Hannah is our 7-year-old, who loves all things beauty.  I’m a bit of a tom boy myself, but that’s okay. 

First I gave her a facial with face cleanser, a hot towel and then moisturizer, then hot towel again, then green mountain clay mask. She loved it.

Of course I was not going to get off that easily, as she wanted to do me too.  Okay, she was neat, but then she wanted to do daddy’s face… 

Mike is such a trooper with those things, I made a video of him getting his face done, see it on our website at http://www.TheRealParents.com.  It’s pretty funny. 

Could she get anymore mask on his face??

Best, Sandy (& Mike Q) www.TheRealParents.com

Fun Turkey day family trip…

We had a fun turkey day trip to see Aunt Jess and Uncle Marc and 30+ other family and friends in sunny PA. 

We had a great trip, the ride there was crazy as usual, lots of bickering between Mike and I.  We usually don’t get along on route to our journey’s, kinda like brothers and sisters… Been together too long… See the reality video with the kiddies at http://TheRealParents.tumblr.com.  You can subscribe to our video blog there if you are amused…

Working on writing a speech for my Toastmasters club we go to once a month.  Tomorrow is my 7th speech, “research your topic” so I am doing the Swine Flu H1N1 as my topic. 

Better listen up, I did the research, you can benefit… DON’T get the vaccine til you listen!  I’ll post the video of the recorded speech on Thursday on the video blog above.  Hasta manana, back to speech writing.  Hope all had a great Turkey Day!

Best,

Sandy (&  Mike ) Hosts www.theRealParents.com

OMG, I thought the other dentist day was bad…

I’ve never had a worse experience at the pediatric dentist as this past Saturday, yes Saturday!  My poor son Ryan is only 5, and his back molar tooth was hurting bad, so he woke up at night crying.  We gave him baby motrin, and he did go back to sleep. 

But what are we supposed to do now, the last dental appt did not touch that tooth, his mouth is full with issues!  (His sisters isn’t much better).  I scheduled him an emergency Sat appt, and was thinking it would be good to just get it taken care of. 

 I went in, brought my Kid’s Stuff coupon book to brouse through and find a fun activity to do afterwards with the family, and to take his mind off being at the dentist.  His appt was 2:00.  After we arrived, they were running late, no biggie, they have video games there, Pac Man… and Ryan loves them.  This is one reason he liked the new dentist.  We’ll that thought was surely short lived.

When he went in, she said he needed a baby root canal (pulbodimy?) I think she called it?  And the tooth right next to it, a cavity or potential root canal too?  She said no problem, we’ll take care of them both now. 

Ok I thought, one less trip and one less novicane needle to have to go through.  He picked Vanilla sweet air, and then was ok for his needle, a bit swirmy, but ok.  I thought, ok great the worst is over.  Boy was I WRONG! 

The Doc started to work on the back molar, and he started screaming!  I said what’s the problem?  He doesn’t feel anything right?  She said, (while holding him down from kicking and screaming), oh, yeah,  he has a HOT tooth and then she gave him another shot right into his exposed nerve, and he hollared, crying with dripping tears and saying for me to help him! 

I am sick even thinking about it now.  He from then on, he did not stop going absoulutly crazy,  the nerve novicane did nothing buy torture him!  I think he would have been more comfortable if she was sawing him arm off! 

She said, with a tooth like this, the novicane doen’t really work.  I said, then okay, were outta here…but he was still going balistic even when she wasn’t touching him.  I think he was just anticipating the pain, and he had NEVER had an experience at the dentist like this (we were both caught off guard).

I told her to pull the tooth if that would help him, just anything to stop his pain,… she said she couldn’t, and an oral surgeon would have too.  Her assistant called 3 and no one was there on the weekend. 

I said for her to get the brackets out of his mouth because this was too much.  She said I can’t the root is exposed, then she said she could squirt this gell on the nerve and kill it.  She had already put cotton in his mouth and he wanted nothing to do with her getting the antiseptic swab out, I told him I would do it, I was beside myself, and he was still screaming!

  Finally we got the brackets out of his mouth, and she put the gel on the tooth and a quick VERY quick temp white cavity filling.  I thought once she put the nerve gel on, he would be okay, but NO he began yelling it’s cold, make it stop mommy…

This is after she was all done with the little she got done.  She said that’s all I can do if he won’t stay still for the root canal.  Of course he won’t would you??

Apparently a HOT tooth, is an infected one that usually has the patient on antibiotics for 3 days prior, would have been nice if she had told me before she started anything.  He was MUCH better before his visit, wish I knew.  I am tramitized still, and he is.  The ENTIRE 30 minute ride home, he kept begging me to  make the cold stop, “mommy please, help me…please I can’t stop crying…it hurts, please help me” as I’m practically driving off the road in panic. 

The dentist told me to give him the Tylenol with Codine prescription I got over the phone the day before to hold him over.  She also gave him the antibiotic he needed BEFORE the appt prescription to be picked up.  Poor Ryan, had to wait 30 minutes in EXCRUCIATING pain for me to get home, to get any pain relief!  I thought about making a stop at the ER cause that’s how much pain he was in, but then headed home for the medicine.

Luckily after we got home, I gave him the medicine, and he just wanted to lay in his bed.  Finally he fell asleep, THANK GOD! When he was sleeping, I called an oral surgeon, thinking that he was in this much pain with double novicane, I don’t even want to know how he’ll feel when that wears off!  The oral surgeon called the on-call surgeon and was supposed to call me right back.  NO CALL DID I GET UNTIL MONDAY! 

THANK GOD,  when he awoke, he felt better, perhaps the nerve died?  I don’t want to take him back to find out.  We stayed home the rest of the day, so much for a fun family day!

P.S.  As you can guess, I am despirately seeking a Sedation Dentist, the kind you get the pill or drink 30 minutes prior to work, and they can do hours of dental work in one day, without the patient even knowing.  CAN ANYONE RECOMMEND A SEDATION DENTIST IN NEW JERSEY?? (NOT JUST NITRIS OXIDE, WE NEED THE BIG DOGS!)  That is our next stop cause he will NEVER go back with good reason to a regular dentist!

Weight Loss Challenge…

Hey there,  Mike and I are on Day #6 of our newest venture the “weight loss challenge.”  I want to lose 15 lbe,  Mike about 25lbs.  We’d love if you would join us (if you need to!)

We will be posting weekly video’s (http://TheRealParents.tumblr.com) of us getting back on the horse of working out and eating better. 

Just last night, I discovered how easy it is to make baked chicken.  I know, sounds lame, but I always grilled it (only when warm outside), which blocks out about 5 months in NJ. 

Mike just cut up boneless, skinless chicken (w/o hormones, antibiotics…) and then put it into a baking dish at 375 degrees covered with foil for about 35 minutes. 

In the meantime…I made a packet of low fat alfredo sauce, steamed broccoli and ziti, and tossed it.  Delicious!  It tastes just like the Lean Cuisine version (Hearty Portion) meal I loved years ago. 

So excited,… now can cook the chicken twice a week, season differently each time, and voila… new, easy, low fat meals!  Tomorrow I’m gonna put spag sauce on the chicken and low fat mozz cheese for chix parm!  Yum! 

Until next time,… come subscribe to our video blog for the latest reality weight loss videos at http://TheRealParents.tumblr.com.

Best,  Sandy (& Mike) http://www.TheRealParents.com

 

Oh, what a fun day, taking 2 kids to the dentist…ugh!

Yesterday was fun,  Ryan had a 9:30 dentist appt, Hanah a 10:00.  The old nasty dentist says he needs 4 baby root canals, and 2 cavities at age 5!  Thought that was bad, Hannah needs the same at age 7!  So much for giving the kids juice and water.  I guess we have the genes of deep grooved teeth, aren’t they lucky.  Take one look into Mike’s mouth and their is not one tooth without a filling!..

We had to switch dentists cause the old barbaric one hates her job for one, and as a pediatric dentist, also happens to hate kids!  Sucks to be her, she needs to get another job.  Not only that, but just about EVERY time we go there, she makes us wait over TWO hours with 3 small kids in a waiting room, with the kids cringing even longer!

Not sure why we didn’t switch a while ago.  New dentist was so nice, had sweet choc smelling air to help with the novicane shot.  He said forget 4 root canals each, Han needs 2 teeth pulled, and then 1 root canal, and Ry one pulled and then 2 root canals.  Yesterday he did a cap on Ryan’s and Han had her other cavity done.  Also, BIG plus, no mercury cavities here!  The last dentist wanted to charge us $400 extra for white fillings each!  What a swindler!  Really pays to shop around. 

We’ll just uploaded my first “reality” video, kinda goofy, no other people but me, but I was testing out my remedial editing skills…check it out at our video blog at http://TheRealParents.tumblr.com and subscribe to see the latest video’s as they come out.

Best,  Sandy (& Mike)

http://TheRealParents.com

A bike ride and a jog…

Youth divisionFINALLY a nice day in NJ.  68 and sunny, what more can you ask for in November?  We decided to take the kids out for a bike ride, it’s been forever it seems.  We rode up the the High School, and then jogged and raced each other on the track. 

Wow, Hannah Bananna blew me away, she’s so fast for a seven yearl old!  Anyway, a few tears from her, I think she had a cramp, and little Colin also.  He loves to run, anywhere, just keeps running. Think he’ll be a track star, can if he wants.

  Han started back into her competitive Cheerleading on Wed last week.  She’s so excited.  Ryan will start basketball this friday eve, I volunteered Mike to coach.  Should be fun, Mike did a great job coaching kindergarten soccer a few weeks ago at the Boys and Girls Club. 

Onto bed for me, 2 kids and a dentist tomorrow morning, first thing!  Should I have a glass of wine now, to calm my nerves?

Best,  Sandy (& Mike) ** see our video blog at: http://TheRealParents.tubmlr.com

Gardasil causes cancer.

Needle PicPretty revealing what the motive is here.  When is someone going to do something about this??  You would think that the insurance companies that have to cover paying the medical bills for Big Pharma causing so many families children to get autoimmune diseases, cancers, diabetes, asthma, arthritis… and the rest of the gammet caused by childhood vaccines, would finally put a stop to this madness. 

<a href = “http://www.naturalnews.com/Report_HPV_Vaccine_0.html”>The Great HPV Vaccine Hoax Exposed</a>

Best,  Sandy & Mike     http://TheRealParents.tumblr.com

Gardasil vaccine warning, ABC News

Gardasil PicJust found this, and thought it was important to forward on. 

“ABC Wakes Up, Reports Gardasil Dangers Network finally covers the negative side of the “cervical cancer vaccine” story. By Kristen Fyfe Culture and Media Institute August 21, 2008 Having the New England Journal of Medicine publish a strong editorial cautioning the medical community about Gardasil was apparently the kick in the pants ABC News needed to report, finally, on the risks associated with the widely promoted drug. Gardasil is used as a vaccine against certain strains of a sexually transmitted disease linked to cervical cancer.

The network has been behind the curve in reporting any negative news about the HPV vaccine Gardasil, as CMI has documented previously. Just last week this author noted that the network was being out-reported by its local affiliates on the subject. However, ABC has just offered a one-two punch in a 12-hour window, with Gardasil stories on both the August 20 broadcast of World News with Charles Gibson and the August 21 broadcast of Good Morning America. The impetus for both stories was an editorial titled “Human Papillomavirus Vaccination – Reasons for Caution,” which was published August 21 by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

According to the editorial, Despite great expectations and promising results of clinical trials, we still lack sufficient evidence of an effective vaccine against cervical cancer. Several strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer, and two vaccines directed against the currently most important oncogenic strains (i.e., the HPV-16 and HPV-18 serotypes) have been developed. That is the good news. The bad news is that the overall effect of the vaccines on cervical cancer remains unknown. As Kim and Goldie1 point out in this issue of the Journal, the real impact of HPV vaccination on cervical cancer will not be observable for decades.

ABC reporter Sharyn Alfonsi reported the story on World News and also included information the network had failed to report until now: that serious side effects are also associated with the Gardasil vaccine. As CMI reported last month, much of the liberal media has failed to report on information uncovered by Judicial Watch about the more than 9,000 cases of side effects linked to the vaccine, which include paralysis and death. Following Alfonsi’s taped package, World News anchor Charles Gibson interviewed the network’s medical editor, Dr. Timothy Johnson, about the NEJM editorial and the efficacy of the vaccine. Johnson’s strongest statement came in calling for a slow down in the effort of “mass vaccination.”

Gibson: Were we too quick to embrace this vaccine?

Johnson: Well I think the company did a very effective job of glossing over these questions in its marketing campaign and convincing the public that this vaccine would indeed prevent cervical cancer. As Sharyn rightly points out, that simply has not been proven long term. So I think we have to be more cautious especially about mass vaccination programs, for example required for school entry. I’d also say, Charlie, that any parent, who after reading and thinking about it, wants to adopt a wait and see attitude, that parent should not be criticized.

Johnson repeated the same caution on Good Morning America. The marketing campaign Johnson refers to is the “One Less” campaign by Merck, the maker of Gardasil. The company has commercials running on television and in movie theaters, and a print campaign that targets many mass-market magazines.

What Johnson didn’t mention was Merck’s push on the legislative front in states around the country to institute mandatory vaccination for girls entering middle school. Currently Virginia is the only state with a mandatory vaccination requirement, though the state legislature did provide an opt-out provision for parents. Several other states are considering mandatory vaccination laws. Kristen Fyfe is senior writer at the Culture and Media Institute, a division of the Media Research Center.”

Best,  Sandy & Mike

http://TheRealParents.tumblr.com

Congress being paid off by drug companies… and it’s legal!

Congress (from Photoxpress.com)This we found on a website www.americanaffairs.suite101.com, great article!

American Drug Companies’ Political Influence

Pharmaceutical Companies and USA Healthcare Reform

© Frank W. Hardy Oct 23, 2009 

Fresh from their victories over reform of Medicare Part D, the major drug companies are using proven tactics, on the US Congress, that were so successful – Lobbyists!

Along with their cousins, Wall Street’s financial institutions, America’s drug companies are maximizing the benefits of Capital Hill’s revolving door policy of politicians becoming pharmaceutical lobbyists. These companies are the latest in a series of special interest groups bombarding the United States Congress with an army of professional lobbyists. Hat in hand for legislative requests, these lobbyists have taken the art to new heights. Successfully stifling Medicare drug reform they turn their former legislators, staffers and aids loose in the halls of Congress.

The Revolving Door

CBS News reporter Sharyl Attkisson said on October 20, 2009, “The pharmaceutical industry is putting its army of lobbyists into overdrive… There are 3,000 registered health care lobbyists on Capitol Hill…And in many cases, those lobbyists are former members of Congress who shaped laws that benefited the industry they joined.”

It is perfectly legal. Members of Congress (and their staffers) join committees, write laws that affect an industry and citizens, retire and then join the industry they wrote laws to protect. Other legislation, that was written to halt or at least stem the flow, has simply been bypassed by some of these very lawmakers. Attkisson continued, “The non-profit journalism group ProPublica has found 27 former members of Congress and staffers who were major players in Part D and are now working for the pharmaceutical industry on health care reform. The revolving door is dizzying.”

The Major Congressional Players

  • Republican Congressman W. J. “Billy” Tauzin of Louisiana – is by far the most flamboyant of the pharmaceutical lobbyists. Patrick Martin wrote in December 2004’s International Committee of the Fourth International, “…the retiring chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee certainly earned the [$2 million a year] position…of CEO of (PhRMA), the Washington lobby representing US drug manufacturers.” Judy Sarasohn, quoted in her article Special Interest, in December 2004’s Washington Post, “It’s a sad commentary on politics in Washington that a member of Congress who pushed through a major piece of legislation benefiting the drug industry, gets the job leading that industry.”
  • Senator John Breaux Democrat from Louisiana – who, as Senator, successfully fought against allowing drug prices to be negotiated in Medicare Part D, now works for Breaux Lott Leadership Group (with former Republican Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott). Their firm received $300,000 this year to lobby for the pharmaceutical industry according to ProPublica.
  • Republican Senator Don Nickles of Oklahoma – who, also as Senator, fought against the import of cheaper drugs from Canada in the Medicare legislation; now works for his own firm. According to October 20, 2009 ProPublica data, “Bristol Myers-Squibb paid the Nickles Group $120,000 this year to lobby for…health care reform issues related to Medicaid and Medicare.
  • Congressional Staffer and Former Chief Health and Welfare Counsel, Michelle Easton – has gone through the revolving door several times. She worked for Senator Breaux on Medicare Part D drug reform legislation, and then she became a Vice President for the drug lobby firm PhRMA. This was followed by a return to government as a staffer for Senate Finance Chairman, Montana Democrat Max Baucus – a key player in the current healthcare debate. Easton left government again and currently woks as a lobbyist for Well Point Healthcare Company.

Is the Fox Guarding the Hen House?

Read more: http://americanaffairs.suite101.com/article.cfm/american_drug_companies_political_influence#ixzz0WljI18Od