On Quick Take Whenever 2-29-12

8 Random Thoughts:

1. I don't really mind watching My Little Ponies. Rarity is my favorite. :)

2. I love potato chips on ham sandwiches.

3. I am ready for it to be April so I have a better idea of what my next two years will look like.

4. I want to grow out Addie's bangs so she can lose the Brenda Walsh look. I am not looking forward to the process though. The kid can't keep a barrette in her hair to save her life.

5. Ryan got into the gifted program. :)

6. Why don't cats have belly buttons? Someone needs to explain this too me.

7. I am skeered of the spring. Last fall, around campus, I saw more female and male buttcracks then I had ever seen in my entire life. I don't want butt crack to be the new cleavage. Butts are kind of inherently gross and it is not that I am prude, there are just very few butts I want to see. I have a feeling as soon as it starts to get a little warmer butt cracks will be cropping up all over the classroom.

8. Whenever I have to go to the clinic/lab I think of this song. :P

On a Random Quicktake

11 Random thoughts because I don't have the inclination to put together a coherent blog post.

1. Neurology is super interesting. I love how our brains are put together, so intricate. It is also super scary to know how one little blood clot or tumor can fuck it up.

2. Today we had to watch video of individuals with different types of aphasia. One type effected physical production and the other effected speech comprehension and coherent production. Some of the people in the class laughed at the poor guy that had the later aphasia. I get that it was odd and uncomfortable to watch, but... The video just made me sad for the poor guy. You judge.



See? Not funny.

2. My son loves LEGO Star Wars. He makes "scenes" out of them every dang day. Yesterday he tore apart a bunch of them and called the scene The Ruins of Naboo. I know I am his mom, but I am pretty sure he is brilliant. :P

3. Speaking of which I had him tested for gifted a few weeks ago. I wonder how he does on standardized tests?

4. Speaking of Star Wars, I kind of find Star Wars super boring. I frequently zone out when my son talks to me about it. Smile and nod. Smile and nod.

5. I also think Transformers are lame.

6. My new show is Dance Moms on Lifetime. It all has to be fake. Seriously. Who lets their kid get yelled at everyday by some a-hole? Who wants to watch that? Oh yeah, me. Watching those parents makes me feel better about myself.

7. I am afraid my kids are going to be messed up because their dad is such a screw up. How did I not see this coming? It is odd to think of the double life my ex must have been leading. If he could have just been a normal screw up that had a normal affair we all would be much better off right now.

8. It is weird to talk nicely to the ex. But I am an adult and capable of acting like one to get business done.

9. My cat has to move out. I wrote a personal ad for her today. It will be up on petfinder soon. I am sad about this and cried all day Saturday about it. Mostly because when I told my daughter the kitty had to find a new home she started crying and told me that I made her heart hurt. The cat will be so much happier without 3 roommates though. If anyone knows someone who wants a 7 year old declawed female let me know. I will drive her almost anywhere.

10. I am ready for spring.

11. I love Crocs.

On Used Cloth Dipes

I need someone to explain the draw of buying used cloth diapers to me. Used diaper sales are all over my facebook today, so surely one of my friends can enlighten me.

I get that used diapers are cheaper then new ones, but the fact that they are used means some little person pooped and peed in them. Probably a lot. The fact that they have been through a washing machine doesn't really help me understand this phenomenon any better. I would never ever want to put on some one else's underwear that had previously been pooped in, even if it had, indeed, taken a turn around a Whirlpool.

If you buy used cloth diapers do you also buy used grown up undies? At least no one has likely pooped or peed in those! Do you make your kids give their old underwear to their younger siblings when they out grow them?

Is it because they are babies you think they don't care that they are wearing someone else's drawers? Because I bet they do care. Babies are just miniature people. They have feelings and dignity and it probably makes them sad to wear used underwear.

In fact, I am going to hypothesize that 20% of colic cases from moms who cloth diaper are caused by by their babies protesting used dipes.

Poor babies. If only their mamas had bought them new undies their colic would be cured. :(

(By the way I will laugh my behind off if this thread ever gets pulled up by a google search for colic cures. :P)

The end.

On Teh Queenly Prospectus

So my friend Chu has a ChÜberlist. It has all the things she wants to get done during the year. I always enjoy reading her list updates and seeing her cross her items off her list. So, I am going to be a big old copy cat.

I don't have a super fun name like Chu. :( Luberlist sounds like something found on a gay porn site. So I am going to be boringly pretentious and call this Teh Queenly Prospectus. While Chu is ambitious and has 100 things she wants to get done, I am going to be lazy and aim for 25. :P More may be added throughout the year.

Without further ado, here is my list:

1. Complete a 30 day Shred.
2. Finalize a life plan by May.
3. Get the divorce finalized.
4. Teach Ad to read.
5. Work on writing with Ry 2 nights a week.
6. Get the kids in swimming lessons.
7. Find a church.
8. Investigate local choirs.
9. Sell the truck.
10. Fit into old pants by June.
11. Get my hair cut every 4 months.
12. Get my hair highlighted.
13. Learn how to do my own eyebrows
14. Get at least a 3.8 every semester.
15. Organize my bedroom.
16. Find a part time job or assistantship
17. Learn either sign language or relearn Spanish.
18. Open a local checking account.
19. Read 6 non fiction books not related to school.
20. Learn how to make a new type of cookie.
21. Get Ad's allergy numbers retested.
22. Drop 2 pant sizes by December.
23. Teach Ry to tie his shoes.
24. Teach both my kids to wipe their own asses.
25. Try a new type of fruit

I can't say I am glad to see 2011 bite the big one. I am not going to tempt fate by claiming 2012 couldn't get much worse then this past year, because as crappy as it was, it definitely could have been worse. Still, I have a good feeling about 2012.

And remember, I am a little psychic.

On Quick Take Friday 12-30-11

7 Random Thoughts

1. I have a reoccurring dream of air planes crashing. I have one about every 6 months. I am never in the plane, I always just watch it crash. It now freaks me out to see airplanes flying low because I bet someday I will see a real plane crash. I am pretty sure I am a little bit psychic. Example:

2. While I had no idea how drastically my life would change this year, at the beginning of the year I had this weird feeling that something bad was going to happen. My life went on as normal and it wasn't a feeling based on any observations. When my grandma died I thought maybe that was it but the feeling didn't go away. After the shit hit the fan and everything died down I actually felt kind of relieved that at least I didn't have any weird ominous premonition feelings anymore. At least I knew what I was dealing with and the weird feeling went away.

3. My cat is snoring.

4. It is odd to think that I might get remarried someday. I don't think I want anymore kids though. I was done with two. If I did have more it would only be one. I would feel bad though because I would not stay home with it. Pumping would be a pain in the ass too.

5. Plus apparently Rockford is totally anti-VBAC. Even though I have already had one successful VBAC, apparently once you are a VBAC you are always a VBAC. I could always just squat in my bathtub I guess. :)

6. It is funny that I have thought out any possible future births I don't even really plan to have.

7. Whenever my son acts out on his anger I want to punch my ex-husband in the balls. Hard. I didn't sign up for this gig.

On Quick Take Friday 11-18-11

7 Random Thoughts

1. I kind of think probably 85% of men are probably disgusting.

2. 15 year olds are pretty dang young and if you are into them then you are a sick fuck and I hope you get butt raped in jail.

3. If you go around saying "karma is real" constantly I will find it hard not to find it ironic if you get cancer.

4. I am totally itching for a verbal fight right now.

5. I don't give a shit if Milwaukee runs an anti-cosleeping ad. I don't feel like the hearts of the people behind the ad are in the wrong place and frankly most people that say they safely co-sleep don't. (Said as a person who actually did safely co-sleep with both of her kids. Hmm, did I?)

6. I think people that don't vaccinate are negligent in lots and lots of ways.

7. I wonder if WAHM every really make any money with their house parties. It is all very very pyramid schemey.

On Magic Milk

I just wrote and audiology paper and wanted to share it with my lactivist friends. It is nothing special but I think a few of you will find it interesting. :)

Breastfeeding’s Role in Reducing Otitis Media Induced Hearing Loss

Most new mothers have heard the advertising slogan “Breast is Best”. It is part of an advertising campaign by the federal government to increase breastfeeding rates among American mothers. Much research has been done to uncover the many benefits of breastfeeding which include reduced risk of obesity, reduced incidences of allergies, increased immune systems, and reduced risk of many types of cancer (Sears, 2011). Yet, as wonderful as breast milk is for babies, could there really be any reason to write an audiology paper about the subject? As it turns out, yes there is! Not only does breast milk have all the properties mentioned above, but it also plays a role in preventing hearing loss (Bauman, 2011). Increased immune system, a more hygienic angle for feeding, and natural genetic therapy all lead breastfed babies to have reduced rates of chronic otitis media. As chronic otitis media is a leading cause of conductive hearing loss in children, having fewer incidences of chronic otitis media leads to reduced rates of conductive hearing loss in children.

The first way in which breastfeeding reduces chronic otitis media induced hearing loss is that breastfeeding has been proven to increase a child’s immune system (Sears, 2011). Breast milk contains live cells, like those in blood. These cells contain active antibodies and anti-infective properties. As a result of these properties, breastfed babies, on average, experience fewer hospital stays, doctor’s visits, and illnesses in general. Specifically, researchers at the University of New York's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences found that 25% of exclusively breastfed babies had had an ear infection by six months. In comparison, 54% of formula fed babies had experienced an ear infection by six months of age. Further more, these researchers found that formula-feeding was the most significant predictor of chronic inner ear infections (Duncan, 1993).

When a child has otitis media there is almost always fluid in the middle ear. The average hearing loss in ears with fluid is 24 decibels. Thicker fluid can cause a loss, up to 45 decibels. This loss can cause significant detriment to a child’s speech development. (American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 2011). Therefore, as breastfeeding reduces the incidence of otitis media, it by default reduces the rates of conductive hearing loss in children.

The reduction of otitis media is not limited to the time in which the child is breastfeeding either. It has been shown that the antibodies and anti-infective properties consumed in breast milk continue to protect children against otitis media through their 5th birthdays, and possibly beyond (Duncan, 1993).

The second manner in which breastfeeding protects against otitis media induced hearing loss is that children that are breast fed are naturally held at an inclined position to feed. When the head is held tilted up the milk follows a normal path down the esophagus. However, when a baby is lying flat on his back and sucking on a bottle, formula can find its way into the eustation tubes. (See examples of common feeding positions below.) In infants the eustation tube is much shorter and is more angled. This makes it much easier for bacteria to migrate from the nose and throat up into the middle ear space (American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 2011). Having formula inside the eustation tubes creates a breeding ground for bacteria and leads to otitis media. (Sears, 2011). As breastfed babies are fed at an angle that is hygienic for the eustation tubes, as a group they experience fewer incidences of otitis media due to this benefit.


Examples of common bottle-feeding and breastfeeding positions:



Pictures are from stockphoto.com


The last way in which breastfeeding guards against otitis media induced hearing loss is perhaps the most exciting. In 2006 the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston performed a study that indentified two genes that are common in children who have chronic otitis media. These two genes generate immune proteins known as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). (University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 2006). Beyond merely identifying the genes that make children prone to chronic otitis media, the researchers found that breast-feeding neutralized the effect of the genes. Not only that, children were found to be protected from recurrent infections even later in childhood when they were no longer breastfeeding. This is not just another example of the anti-infective properties of breastfeeding, but evidence that breastfeeding has genetically therapeutic qualities. (University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 2006)

Nearly all of the articles referenced in this paper were linked on Le Leche League International’s website. http://www.llli.org/nb/nbbenefits.html. This site and organization is dedicated to promoting the benefits of breastfeeding and supporting mothers whom breastfeed or wish to breastfeed. Le Leche League International reports that despite the benefits of breasting listed above and many, many more, only 15% of American mothers are exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months, as is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. ("Breastfeeding statistics," 2008) Although this number is not simply due to lack of education on the benefits of breastfeeding alone, this lack does play a role in the low rate. It is therefore the role of all medical professionals, including Audiologists and Speech Pathologists, to educate parents and potential parents on the benefits of breastfeeding as a way to reduce the risk of otitis media induced hearing loss.

References

The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (2011, November 15). Fact sheet: Chronic otitis media (middle ear infection) and hearing loss. Retrieved from http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/otitisMediaHearingLoss.cfm

Bauman, N. (2007, November 03). Breast-feeding reduces ear infections. Retrieved from http://hearinglosshelp.com/weblog/breast-feeding-reduces-ear-infections.php

Breastfeeding statistics . (2008, September 29). Retrieved from http://www.llli.org/cbi/bfstats03.html

Duncan, B. (1993) “Exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months protects against Otitis Media”, Pediatrics 91: 872

Sears, W. (2011, November 15). Ear infections. Retrieved from http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/childhood-illnesses/ear-infections

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (2006, December 9). Breast-feeding Overcomes A Genetic Tendency Toward Ear Infections, Scientists Discover. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 15, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com¬ /releases/2006/12/061209083450.htm