We have to cook low-sodium in my house, and what I do is make a lot of the meals that I normally would, but I start with no-salt ingredients and put in the salt that I want to, so I know exactly how much is going in.  If you have to make something with canned beans (I tend to use dried beans) rinse them really well to eliminate some of the salt.  Also, sometimes I really under-salt whatever recipe I’m making, and let those who don’t have to avoid it add their own.  Last, sometimes the Salt Avoider just has to eat something different.  If everyone is having hot dogs, for example, the Salt Avoider has a sandwich with Thin ‘n’ Trim Chicken (from the deli).  It has lower sodium.  Lots of water and hibiscus tea helps, too.

Also, look into whether or not DH has sleep apnea.  It is sneaky and will raise his BP like crazy.

Look up the “DASH” diet as it helps to decrease blood pressure.  It is a well balanced guidelines which encourages adequate fruits, veges and calcium in addition to low sodium.

Forget about having a salt shaker at the table, if you do that now.  A similar thing happened to my dad when I was a kid and the salt shaker left the table never to return (not even to mine).  Eventually you don’t miss that added salt.  Watch for hidden salt in cheeses (cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, ricotta, etc).  Cooking from scratch as much as possible helps because convenience foods tend to be high in sodium.  Rinse off canned beans before using.  Moderate exercise also helps enormously with high blood pressure.  My dad still struggles despite a low sodium diet.  He has found that if he takes a walk every day his blood pressure is noticeably lower - he isn’t speedwalking either, just a regular pace.  Good luck!  High blood pressure is the “silent killer” because you don’t seem to get symptoms until you are in real danger.  I also suffer from high blood pressure, it runs in the family but I do what I can.  Meditation and prayer in addition to moderate exercise combined with generic procardia do the trick.  Thankfully for me procardia is okay during pregnancy.

If you are cooking from scratch, you shouldn’t have a problem with too much salt.  I would watch using processed foods - canned soups, prepackaged rices and pastas with mixes and the like.  Eating fast food and take out food can add a lot of extra sodium to one’s daily diet - so make his lunch for him to take to work every day, and limit eating out.

I wondered the same thing 10 months ago with my first.  Here’s a link to a book I can’t recommend enough: http://www.amazon.com/Baby-led-Weaning-Helping-Your-Baby/dp/0091923808.  (PS - The “weaning” in the title refers to a very gradual, months-long process.)

Sorry, the above post was supposed to be for the question below (oops!

My pediatrician has always told us to do it between 4 and 6 months, whenever we felt was the right time. My oldest is 5, so this doesn’t seem to be a new guideline.

Our pediatrician recommends waiting until 6 months but many friends were advised to start around 4 months by their pediatricians.

I’ve been doing this mom thing long enough to have had recommendations swing from one end to the other. With my oldest it was 4 months, then it moved to 6 months or later and now it seems to be 4-6 months again. Me? I introduce when the baby seems ready. If they are still tongue thrusting, can’t sit up well, and aren’t interested in what we are eating, I wait. If they are grabbing at what we are eating and sitting well, I may start. What the calendar says has little to do with it.
*I*, per pediatrician, was started on rice cereal at 4 weeks and was eating PB&J at 4 months. I was eating table food including hamburger by 6 months. I got my first teeth at 8 months :D I figure there are things that we are doing now, recommended by doctors, that will horrify our daughters :D Just don’t discount your mothers intuition.

My oldest is 14 and he was more formula fed than breast fed as I had problems and no support. The ped said to start at 4 months and no strawberries, milk or peanuts until 12 months. And he was fine. My second was the same recommendations but was strictly breastfed and did not tolerate solids until 6 months. The same food policies for my third, who is now 6, were the same except for peanut butter. That had moved to two years of age. And my fourth who is 2 weeks from age 2 (sniff, I miss my “baby”) was given the same guidelines. Not that I followed them. I agree with Karen above who stated to watch for baby’s cues. I did that with my second two and they were fine. But, on a more cautious note, I would watch the peanut allergy thing as so many kids nowadays seem to have peanut allergies. Oh! and on that “old fashioned” method of feeding, my friend’s baby wasn’t gaining enough so the ped told her to add cereal to the formula. Just like how we were fed as babies! I think that the “official” best way to feed your baby will keep changing gears for as long as there will be babies. And everyone has their own experiences and what works for them.

Thank you ladies, good to know! Sounds like it’s all pretty subjective (I agree that it’s probably best to go off the baby’s cues and intuition), so I can relax a bit

My current pediatrician told me to hold PB until 3 years, preferrably 5. I almost laughed.
With umpteen older siblings who ALL eat peanut butter like it is it’s own food group, even if I wanted to wait until three it is a near impossibilty.

I live in Canada—and public health nurses here now recommend around six months, following baby’s cues, starting with pureed meat, and then adding fruit and veggies, and then anything else you want to give them. We have been told rice cereals and pablums are unnecessary, and actually not very good for infants (nutritionally devoid, and the iron in them isn’t very bioavailable.) In fact, I was told if didn’t have to ever feed my youngest grains if I didn’t want to—it was up to me. I don’t eat grains, but our kids do.

We were encouraged to introduce Eddie to peanut butter and nut butters around his first birthday—a recent long-term study comparing allergen rates in Canada and Israel shows the Israeli kids have much lower allergy rates—and when all things are equalized, the only difference between the two is when typical allergens were introduced. Most Israeli babies have nut butters before the first birthday.

The only thing we withheld from Eddie was honey—babies under 1 year should never eat honey, due to possible botulism toxin in it. Babies over a year and adults process it out just fine (it’s tiny amounts, and only in rare batches) but the infant liver and kidneys don’t and it can make them very sick.

So there’s a slightly different perspective.

My sons’ pediatrician suggested cereal at 4 months, but since it gave my older son diarrhea, we waited until 6 months with the younger.

SO, since my 9 month old eats his brother’s peanut butter crackers off the floor and drinks milk out of his cup (when he leaves it lying around) he shouldn’t have any common allergies, right?

No advice for you, just wanted to let you know you’re not alone. I could have written this! (My son is also 8 and I homeschool). I look forward to reading any responses from other moms.

My 8 yo dd is very similar - and we don’t homeschool.  She attended parochial school from k-2 and now she is in public school for 3rd.  I don’t know what we are doing next year because she’s very bright and our public school is not challenging for her (she has 26 kids in her class!) and once our Catholic school closed, the other ones are much more expensive. 

I try to reframe some of her characteristics in a more positive way - stubborn is strong-willed, for example.  I’ve found she does better when she has activities all her own (she shares certain activities with her 10 yr old sister).  She also is needier than the other kids and seems to appreciate more one-on-one time with me or DH, even if it is just riding along to the grocery store or pharmacy.  Good luck!  At least with an older child who struggled the same way, you know for sure that “this too shall pass.”

Ha, ha!  My 8 year old son is the same way!  He’s such a grouch—so negative, hates everything, always “bored” etc.  And he’s home schooled—very uncooperative.  My hubby and I discovered two things that make his world go round: money, and private time with either of us.  So if cooperation is leading him to $ or a game of chess with me, or a trip to the hardware store with dad (alone), he manages to paste a smile on his face and do some schoolwork.  Maybe your guy would respond to something similar.  Hate to resort to bribes, but some kids need to see tangible expressions of their efforts.

Hi there. My kids have had this problem occasionally so God bless you for enduring this daily. What helps me is when I remember to treat them with respect. (I don’t always - especially pms-ing!) And by respect, I mean, giving them the opportunity to explain themselves when (even if I witnessed the whole thing) they have done something wrong. I try and use my calmest, most nonjudgemental voice possible and ask, “what happened?” or “Is there something I can help with?” rather than “what did you do?” or “what happened this time?” I found the way I framed questions was the key to getting the response or tone I wanted. And constant, constant positive reenforcement. Even a casual, as you walk past him, “you look nice today” goes a long way. He knows you’ve noticed him. Sometimes it’s just a need for extra attention which is hard when they’re others who demand your attention, too. Someone gave me some advice yesterday when I complained about my back talking preteen and that was not to take it personally. So everytime he starts pushing your buttons, know that it’s not about you but rather about how he feels most comfortable right at that moment to react. Some things just become habit and you don’t know how to change. And certainly, an 8 yr old can’t easily make those changes on his own. And call him out on his moods. “I can see you’re angry. If you want to tell me why, I’ll listen or if you want to go have some quiet time to think about it, then O.K. do that. But you cannot disrupt learning time.” I am seeing on my end that it’s all about private attention. Just one on one time with mommy or daddy. I simply curled my daughter’s hair last night after little ones had gone to bed and she was even a different child this morning. Go figure. Good luck and try and give yourself 10 minutes a day somewhere to get a break. Mommies need “timeouts” too! (And if the rule of thumb is 1 minute per age, wouldn’t you just love that much time?!)

Hi Jay,

I’ll pray for peace for you.  My Mum and good friend both went in for a Mammogram for that same thing, but the cause was “plugged milk ducts”...so, let’s hope for something like that!  Good for you for taking care of yourself

Jay, I’ll add you to my prayers.  I don’t have any tips for you but whenever I have to go in for stuff at the doctors that makes me nervous I always bring my rosary beads.  Helps keep my mind off things at least! 

Jay,

It’s good that you’re having your mammogram done. Of course it’s scary, especially when you’re already nervous about the lump. I understand—I had a benign lump removed when I was 19. That was one way to spend a college Spring Break—surgery!

Prayers for peace for you while you wait for the test and the results.

On a practical note—the process itself is a bit uncomfortable, yes, but it doesn’t last long and it’s not painful. I just remind myself that the tech is doing her best to get the best possible image and the squishing and the adjusting are part of the process. They need to image the complete breast, so they can see the chest wall as well.

A couple tips, take tylenol or advil (or generic) before you go and try to time it so it’s not immediately before or during your period (if possible).

Do not panic (or try not to) if you get called back for another image. It does not necessarily mean they’ve found something “bad,” but that perhaps they need a clearer view There are also benign changes and calcifications that sometimes need to be looked at more closely to determine if they need to be checked.

Prayers for you!

Are you having an ultrasound as well? My doctor always orders a diagnostic mammogram & ultrasound when i have spots checked. I’ve had many lumps checked out since one was removed when I was 18 (I’m 36 now.) the process is uncomfortable, but not painful, IMO. I’ve never taken Tylenol or anything. Just a quick strong squeeze a couple of times on each side. Some places will tell you the results before you leave, others won’t. The techs won’t tell you a thing. They can tell you when your doctor will get the results.
You are in my prayers. Please update us when you have results. I know how hard the waiting is.

I had a mammogram in my mid-20s because of a mass, and followed up with an ultrasound. It appeared my problems were due to cysts (they were quite painful!), and I have found that by avoiding caffeine, they have pretty much went away entirely.  I pray that they find nothing to worry about on you as well!

Thank you for all the great advice and prayers.  My appt. isn’t until the 1st and the ultrasound is prn so I’m not sure if they will do it or not after the mammogram.  I will update when I can.  Thanks again for all the prayers.

Yes!  I love mine.  It’s a bit pricey, but I need a lot of support and that is what it gives, plus I liked being able to order a regular bra size, not just S/M/L:
http://www.amazon.com/Shock-Absorber-Womens-Sports-Silver/dp/B00368CL6Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319558283&sr=8-1

I am a size 38DD-40DD and I have the Helly Hansen Underarmour sports bra in XL and I LOVE it. I wear it almost every day because it helps my back so much. I run in it and have done Zumba in it too. It is really supportive for larger busted women.

So sorry for your loss, prayers coming your way.

So sorry,
May God bless you, and keep you in this time

Natalie, I’m so sorry for the loss of your precious baby.  You have my prayers.

I’m sorry Natalie.  I’m praying for you guys.

Saying a prayer for you.

Praying!

I’m not an AHG mom, but I can offer you the perspective of a girl who was actually involved in AHG. I just “graduated” from the program last year. First, I would visit several troop meetings before actually committing. While the core program is always the same, many troops focus on different aspects of AHG- for instance, some troops are very outdoorsy, while others are more craftsy or badge oriented. Personally, my favorite aspect of AHG was becoming friends with the other girls(several of which are now my closest friends) and doing the high adventure activities, such as backpacking, summer camp, etc. Hope this helps!

Are the outfits required? Because if not, you could wait and maybe squirrel away some money to buy them later.

We just started an AHG troop at our parish last year, and I LOVE it!  My daughter (13) has made so many new friends-girls she would not have met anywhere else.  Our troop is “outdoorsy” focused and does 2 family camping trips per year, and the older girls do a lot of kayaking, rock climbing, and unit level camping.
One of the side benefits we didn’t foresee last year, is the camaraderie between the younger and older girls.  One of the Pathfinders (Kindergarden) passes my middle schooler on the way home from school, and she is so excited to see “that girl from AHG” every afternoon.
As a mom, I have met so many solid Catholic and Christian families who are wonderful role models for my family.  I highly recommend visiting the troop and joining if it works in your family.

dear worried mom,
prayers for you!  Your mind is so crazy, it can make up the dumbest things to worry about even when you know there’s no reason to worry!  I struggle with that all the time.  Sometimes it helps me to calm my mind if I just say really simple, little kid’s prayers for peace, like singing “he’s got the whole world in his hands.”

Prayers here, too!

I use the downloadable MP3s from here: http://www.rosaryarmy.com/?page_id=22

Comfy, I was a three sport letterwinner in high school - all as a student manager, so I’ve seen plenty of crutches in my day! My best advice is to NOT have them set so high that he puts his weight on the tops of the crutches under his arms.  His weight really should be born where he grabs with his hands, not his armpits.

Not sure how young he is, so he might get this figured out on his own… when people get started on them, they tend to bring their good leg up even with their crutches, then step out with the crutches and come up even. As he gets more comfortable on them, he can learn to “swing through” and put his good leg beyond the crutches, taking longer steps. The fewer steps he has to take to get from point A to B, the less rubbing there will be overall!

Good luck - hope everything goes well!