Melamine & infant formula-China

You haven't heard from me in awhile & here is why:
As you may or may not have heard, there is a big issue going on with China’s formula. Here is a link that explains more about it, if you care to read about it. http://www.who.int/csr/media/faq/QAmelamine/en/index.html
But in a nutshell, the milk producers in China were watering down their milk that they had gotten from the farmers. In order to get a higher protein count, they added melamine to it, so it would pass. Then it was sent to other producers of milk products-formula, candy, etc.
Doctors are not sure yet of what, if any, long term effects there are from the melamine in formula. It has been shown to cause kidney stones & even more serious renal problems.
There is a pediatric international adoption specialist who is on this yahoo group for the china milk issue. She is recommending that every Chinese adoptee be tested with a urinalysis, some blood work & a renal ultrasound. She feels all 3 of these need to be done, as some of the tests come back fine, yet stones are found on the ultrasound, and these are on kids that don’t have any symptoms.
I have spent the last week & and a half trying to get our pediatrician to authorize these. The only thing we finally got was a urinalysis (& it turned out fine). Trying to get that specimen is a whole other story!!
Maddie has not really had any symptoms, but the reason we wanted to have her tested was because sometimes she wakes up from her nap like she’s in pain. She’s crying & arching her back. We thought maybe it was a gas bubble or something & then after a while she is fine. But maybe she is having pain when she tries to urinate. But the pediatrician is not concerned. So I guess we have to leave it there, for now.
I will admit I am frustrated with this. But not sure what else I can do. I guess next time she has one of those episodes, we just head to the ER. Not sure what else to do.
Thanks for listening to me “vent”!

Adult sitting! 10-17-08

Why the cat's away, the mice will play!
Julie's husband & son are gone on a 10 day hunting trip to Colorado. While they are gone, I, being the good friend that I am, make the supreme sacrifice to come & watch over her & make sure she is safe! Of course, I bring my computer with me-just in case I have some spare time-like when she goes to bed early! 2:00am!
Tune in tomorrow to see what (if anything) gets done!
(Ok, we really did do something-we want & saw Brad Stein, a Christian comedian tonight. Gave me something to work on! haha!)

Pumpkin Patch 10-16-08

Madeline & I went on a field trip with our Parent Participation class of 2 year olds to the pumpkin patch. Maddie enjoyed following the trails. Over. And over. And over again. She didn't pay much attention to the animals & didn't even want to pick out a pumpkin. I think she kind of enjoying walking through the corn maze & of course, playing in the dirt! But, she did wear herself out really well!

MBHS Homecoming Dance 10-11-08

Lindsay was allowed to go to the Homecoming Dance this year at MBHS. Her friend Maddie, came over & did her hair & makeup. Lindsay looks beautiful! She went with her friend, Sarah Page. They both looked so nice! When I asked Lindsay for the highlight of the night, it was "dancing with a group of people"! Lindsay said the music got better towards the end, because it was more songs that everyone knew, but they finished about 20 minutes early.

what a week!

What started out as a promising looking week, turned out to be not so great after all.

We had a fun time at Avila Valley Barn with Auntie Stacey & Eli on Tuesday. Maddie's favorite thing was stomping in every mud puddle she could find. She could care less about the animals!

Thursday we had pony pictures in our parent participation class. Maddie wasn't super thrilled about getting on the pony, but was ok if I stood by her. We had to leave early from our class so I could get in to the doctor to have this spot looked at on my neck. It just kept getting larger & larger & now it hurts. I'm concerned that it is another staph infection. They did a culture on it & started me on antibiotics. I have to go back in on Monday to have it rechecked & get the results. I don't want to go anywhere-it looks soooo ugly!

Thursday night, our black & white cat, Lucky, didn't come in. That is not highly unusual, but we still haven't seen him. So we're thinking we have lost yet another cat! :(

Friday, Maddie has another cold. I think it's round 3 of those for her! Poor thing. The antibiotics that I'm on are making me pretty nauseated, so I am kind of useless. Maddie & I did a lot of laying around together. Michael is doing everything-driving the kids to & from school plus trying to work on top of it! What a guy!

Another disappointment for the weekend is that my oldest brother Thom, was going to be taking a photography class over here & stay with us for several days. But he called on Friday evening & he has not been feeling well. (He passed his 2 year anniversary since he was diagnosed with cancer about 2 weeks ago! Praise the Lord!) I sure hope he gets feeling better soon. We missed having him over here & getting to spend some time with him. Darlene & her sister Patty are over also. We are hoping to get to go to dinner on Monday night.

I think I'm finally getting used to the antibiotics, other then feeling sleepy with them, I'm not nearly as nauseated, so I actually got out on the computer tonight & am posting this! Yeah!

Baby Beach Day 10-1-08

What started out as just a walk along the boardwalk this morning, turned into a beach play day! It was an absolutely gorgeous morning & Maddie & I decided to enjoy it! We had done 1 lap on the boardwalk & had to stop to watch the seals swim & catch fish. Then that led to getting out of the stroller & going & playing in the sand. We had a lot of fun building castles & stomping on them.
Thank you God for this beautiful place we live & the opportunity to enjoy it!