Thank you for welcoming our guest posters the last few weeks. I have really enjoyed hearing the great ideas and different perspectives each person brings to the table. I would love to open it up even further, so if any of you has a creative solution that you would like to share, please drop me a line at trish[at]anotherpieceofthepuzzle[dot]com.

I was recently approached for help regarding difficulty with a child not keeping his seatbelt on in the car. With some research and a little help from our local ASA listserve, I came up with a list of suggestions.

The Seat Belt Buckle Guard from McNaughton Inc. will fit on seat belts with buckles up to 2” wide and has a push and turn cap much like you would find on a prescription bottle. Simply remove the cap and you have access to press the release button.

A similar product, the Buckle Boss Belt Guard from GBY, Inc., slides down over the seat belt buckle and has several slots. You fit the seat belt into one of them and then use a key or other thin object in one of the other slots to press the release button when desired.

For more comprehensive solutions, E-Z-ON Products Inc. of Florida offers a variety of products for use in family vehicles, school buses and medical transport. There you will find a selection of vests and harnesses, as well as mounts and other accessories that may be needed for safety.

One of the parents I spoke to swears by her Britax carseat, and I have since seen that brand discussed in several different places, with generally good reviews. If your child is still within the height and weight limits and cannot open the harness buckle, this may be an option for you.

Feel free to add to the list via the comments if you have any other ideas on this topic! You can also join in and share the creative solutions YOU have found to your own challenges. For more details on how to participate, click here.

Trish can be found writing here at 5MFSN every Friday in addition to hosting Try This Tuesday. You can also find Trish at her blog, Another Piece of the Puzzle.

Welcome to a month of one-pot suppers at Cooking for Special Needs. This week I thought I’d start with a favorite, stick-to-your-ribs supper. Chili makes for a delicious, hearty meal. It’s fast and simple to make, and it can be served with some of your favorite accompaniments. My husband and kids love to eat it with tortilla chips or steamed rice.

Steak Chili with Beans

1 ½ lbs. chuck steak, cubed
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 Tbs. canola oil
1 Tbs. chili powder
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. cumin
1 cup GF beef broth
1 eight ounce can tomato sauce
1 fifteen ounce can beans (kidney or pink), rinsed and drained
Salt and pepper to taste

Over medium heat, warm canola oil in a large pot. Add cubed beef and brown on all sides. Add onion, pepper, and garlic. Cook about 5 minutes, until vegetables are softened. Add chili powder, oregano, cumin, broth, and tomato sauce. Bring to boil, reduce to medium-low heat, and cover. Allow to simmer about 20 minutes. Add beans and cook an additional 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with tortilla chips, steamed rice, corn tortillas, or salad.

We have a winner in last week's drawing for the book, Down Syndrome and Vitamin Therapy by Kent MacLeod. It's Tara Marie, of the blog Emma Sage.

Congratulations, and happy reading!

"It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child."

~Pablo Picasso

Welcome to Magic Marker Monday! If you haven't heard about Magic Marker Monday yet, click here and then hurry right back…

This week we had some fun combining science with art. We talked about wind and clouds — what they are and what causes them to do the things that they do. Then we painted them…

First we did "cloud paintings" using shaving cream. The kids thought this was grand fun! Even Kyle liked it because we used paintbrushes which meant he got to keep his fingers clean. (We learned last week that finger painting is NOT his cup of tea.) The "paintings" take quite a while to dry, but they dry puffy — like clouds!

Jacqui's cloud painting — we talked about how it looked like a cumulus cloud and what cumulus clouds were.

Kyle's cloud painting — we talked about how it looked like a cirrus cloud and what cirrus clouds were.

Next we did wind paintings…

Jacqui's Wind Painting

Kyle's Wind Painting

We drew pictures and then we dripped watery blue paint on them and blew the paint around with straws. Well — Jacqui did anyway. Kyle wouldn't draw anything, but sort of did the wind painting part. We talked about what causes wind and how it moves and then looked at the wind patterns on our paintings. Jacqui thought this one was really fun — Kyle mostly just wanted to drink the "blue juice" with his straw.

Hope your kiddos all had some artistic fun too — can't wait to see what they've been doodling all week!

What about you? What has your little artist been up to lately?

Want the Magic Marker Monday button code? Click Here!

Find out more about Michelle
Read Michelle's weekly column
Meet Michelle here each Monday for Magic Marker Monday
Join Michelle here on first Thursdays for the Beyond Ordinary Blog Carnival and on the second Friday of each month for Me Time
Questions? Please feel free to email Michelle at childlif[at]gmail[dot]com or come and visit her at In The Life of a Child

This weekend I am off to camp….with my kids….and my husband….and 20 other families dragging their bags of chemo and immune-suppressed kids into the wilderness.

**  snort  **

The “camp” has private suites and there will be nightcaps.  This is how I roll the wild.

But the 20 other families? That’s the best part.

It’s a support camp, a weekend away for families with children in treatment for cancer.  Sounds fun, no?  In all honesty, its things like this that kept us sane over the past two years.

There is something truly amazing about meeting “your people”, finding a niche in the world that comprehends what your life is like.  Not the smile you put on for outside world. The real life, the one that invades your every thought and keeps you awake at night….the one full of fear and uncertainty…the one with frustration and anger…THAT real life is lonely.

I felt so isolated and alone when Peyton got sick, because no one around me had any way to identify with what we were going through. There was a lot of love, sympathy, comforting….but no real understanding.  They wanted to, but unless you’ve been chest-deep in it, you can’t.

The day I walked into my first support group meeting, I was quiet…NO, for real, quiet!…just soaking in the people around me, listening to the stories, looking at the sea of tiny bald heads playing as if the world was normal.  I left support group that day determined that I would never darken their doors again.  The last thing I needed was to sit around and TALK about their cancer, to get to know other families, because why would I want to take on their emotional burden as well? I had my own daughter to worry about, what was the point of getting to know these other children and risk getting attached to one who might die. NOT FOR ME.

Yet, the next week I found myself with Peyton’s hand in mine, standing outside of those doors again.

Because something in me cried out for understanding and the knowledge that I could spill it out…the good, bad and ugly…and heads would nod, they would get where I was coming from because they’d been there and back already.  It healed a raw, gaping wound inside of me.

Two years later, support group is just as much a part of our lives as church, school and grocery shopping….though less formal that the first, less work than the second and less expensive than the third.  I recommend it to any newly diagnosed parent I meet. There’s no way to express how important it is to find the hands that will hold yours with encouragement and support.

I think that’s one reason I was so drawn to 5MFSN.  It was one great big, unlimited support group.  It’s arms reach wide and encompass so many. I imagine a parent out there searching the internet for information….cause, really?…who of us hasn’t played Dr. Google?…searching for answers, comfort, understanding….and stumbling across this site.

Welcome to your port in the storm, my friends.

Where do you find your support?  Has there been a special group that reached out for your child’s specific needs?  Share them, you never know who might be in need of your information.

You can also find me at Hope4Peyton, you come by, it's nice…we have cookies! Feel free to email me at Anissa.Mayhew (at) gmail (dot )com.

The subject of today's interview was inspired by a Charles Dickens quote. I, for one, am very thankful for that inspiration because it has brought Kristen and her blog, No Small Thing, into our family of bloggers!

Tell me a little about yourself and your family.

My name is Kristen, and I am David’s wife. I am mommy to Kate (7—almost 8!), William (6.5), Henry (4.5) and Ella (1.25) . David and I “grew up” together…we’ve been together for over 20 years now, more than half our lives. I am a SAHM, and right now, I am living my dream life. I just didn’t know it would be so challenging, and so very profoundly beautiful.

Tell me more about child’s disabilities. Did you know when he was born that he had disabilities. If not, how did you feel when you discovered it?

Henry has severe sensorineural hearing loss bilaterally. He also has been diagnosed as having a neuropathic component to his hearing problems (Auditory Neuropathy, or AN).

We did not know about his hearing problems when he was born. Virginia has mandatory hearing screenings at birth. He passed. We had no idea there was a problem until his language failed to progress. When Henry didn’t appear to recognize his name at 18 months, I was concerned and began “testing” him with noises.

How did I feel when I found out? In a word…Crushed. Or maybe…Trampled. Or…Alone. Then there was Angry. And Sad. And Hopeful. And Proud. And so began our journey…

How have your son’s disabilities affected you as a person and as a mother? What did you do right? What do you wish you had done differently?

As a person, I am much less quick to judge a child’s behavior (or a parent’s response to that behavior).

Oh, and I’ve learned to take help from friends. I tried, boy did I try, to do it all myself. But I got to a point where I realized that I just couldn’t handle it all anymore. I needed people.

As far as what I’ve done right…I think the jury is still out on that! I wish I had followed my instincts that something was wrong with the language development a lot sooner.

And I could (still) have more patience.

What do you want other parents fighting the same fight to know?

I would encourage you to follow your instincts. Of course you want to seek out opinions from experts, but you must also learn to think of yourself as an important piece of the “expert puzzle.” Without you, the puzzle is incomplete.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I think we have to remember that those of us that have a child with a disability have been given a true gift. It is sometimes hard to see it that way, when your child is in pain, or is suffering in some way.

We will never forget that each new day with our children is a miracle.

Deborah can be found writing here at 5MFSN every Sunday and Wednesday, and can also be found at Pipecleaner Dreams.

I'm kicking back tonight. Just me and my laptop. And a large Dr. Pepper over ice.

But let's just keep that last part between me and you, k? Trust me when I say the size of this Dr. Pepper is not Weight Watcher friendly.

I'll put in extra laps tomorrow.

Maybe.

I can hear Reed and Parker in our 'safe room.' This is the room Parker hangs out in during the Sick Season. There are some pretty tough rules that have to be followed before anyone can hang with Parker during the Sick Season:

A 'safe shirt'. This is a clean shirt that hasn't been worn outside.

Freshly washed hands. I have to hear you sing the alphabet while you are washing your hands. That is how I know your hands are actually clean.

But, to be on the safe side, I'll make you slather on the Germ-X.

And make you swear that you haven't even experienced as much a sniffle in the last two weeks.

I can hear Reed yelling…uh.. encouraging BYU to complete a touchdown. After each of Reed's outbursts, Parker follows suit with a few sentiments of his own.

The joy these two get from hanging out together is pretty obvious. Parker watches Reed closely for clues to how he should react. Parker really doesn't understand the game of football. But that is okay. Neither do I.

Parker isn't concerned whether BYU or Utah State wins. He's hanging in not for the love of the game, but for the love of his Dad.

I have to smile as I listen to Reed explain the game to Parker. Who's doing what. Who should have done what.

I don't often hear of the relationship between a father and son being described as a love story.

But that is exactly what Reed and Parker are experiencing.

A story of love.

You can find Parker and his Dad hanging out at their other blog: Praying For Parker

I'm taking a guess that you're a mom who does not to want to spend your fall and winter cooped up with sick kids. Maybe we can help.

Lysol is teaming up with Dr. Jim Sears, co-host of the new show, The Doctors, premiering this fall on CBS and author of The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood, to equip you with the information and goods to help keep your family healthier.

Lysol.com provides informative articles to help you fight germs in your home, such as:

Germ "Hot Spots" in the home
Cleaning and Disinfecting for a Healthy Home

As a home school family, we are taking advantage of Lysol's Germ Info Center which provides information, lesson plans, games and activities to help educate families in the fight against disease-causing germs. When it comes to germs, I feel sure your children, like my boys, provide plenty of teachable moments.

The reality is that 22 million school days are lost every year to the common cold alone. A good starting point in teaching healthy habits is with the following tips from Dr. Sears:

Healthy Habits Produce Healthy Kids

The best strategy to prevent the flu is simple: exercise, sufficient sleep and good nutrition. Help your family maintain a healthy diet packed with vitamins and nutrients, including foods that boost the immune system and thus prevent the onset of illness. Some of these foods include: fish, citrus fruits and leafy vegetables.

Wash Hands Often and Properly

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hand washing is the most effective way to stay healthy. Washing hands frequently and properly helps to kill the viruses and bacteria that have collected. Use regular soap and warm water to scrub hands, including the backs, in between fingers and under nails – for 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based gel if soap and water are not available. Remind your kids to sneeze and cough into the crux of their elbow and keep their hands away from their eyes, nose and mouth.

Disinfect to Protect

Kids can touch and retouch more than 300 surfaces in just 30 minutes. Protect and prevent the spread of germs by cleaning commonly touched surfaces and objects with a disinfectant such as Lysol Disinfectant Spray. Regular cleaning and disinfecting will help kill cold- and flu-causing viruses and bacteria before anyone in the family gets sick.

Be Prepared to Fight the Flu

Stock up on items such as tissues, vitamin C, throat lozenges, hand sanitizer and disinfectant spray. Keep them in one handy place to make illness prevention even easier.

Consult Your Doctor

Talk with your doctor before cold and flu season begins to determine whether you or your children are candidates for a flu shot. He or she can also recommend appropriate over-the-counter medicines or alternative remedies.

Visit Lysol.com for additional prevention tips, advice, and products to aid your family's well-being this cold and flu season.

The Giveaway

Enter to win Lysol's Fight the Flu Kit Giveaway packed with things a mom needs to keep her kids (and herself) germ-free this cold and flu season:

* Lysol 4 in 1 Disinfecting Wipes
* Lysol Disinfectant Spray
* Lysol to Go Disinfectant spray
* Lysol Healthy Touch Hand Sanitizer Foam
* Vitamin C
* Digital thermometer
* A copy of the 70-page booklet, Looking After You and Your Baby
* R.B.'s Activity Book - to help kids learn healthy habits

To be entered in the random draw for a chance to win this kit, simply leave a comment on this post by 11:59PM, Monday, October 13, 2008. A winner will be drawn from comments via random.org and announced here Tuesday, October 14.

Melody can be found writing here at 5MFSN every Tuesday in addition to hosting Special Exposure Wednesday. You will also find her at Slurping Life sharing photos and a few words from her special life.

Three Strange Words: Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Hello! I’m your guest blogger, Jen, every Friday in the month of October. I’ll be writing about my special little girls, Grace and Meghan, who were both born premature and also have a genetic disorder. This is my introduction.

In April 2002, our Gracie entered the world screaming as loud as she possibly could. She’d just been “extracted” from her warm, soothing water world by the unexpected hands of a surgeon. It was as if she was saying, “Put me back in there.” I remember feeling so relieved when she cried and wailed loudly, though.

In the previous two weeks, I had been on the severe pre-eclampsia roller coaster ride with sudden onset swelling/edema, dangerous high blood pressure, vision disturbances, and kidney failure issues, the worst headache of my life, and lots of bed rest on my left side. I was only 34 weeks pregnant. It didn’t seem like life could be any scarier.

In NICU with Gracie, we passed time by reading her chart from top to bottom. Most of the time, we didn’t know what we were looking at but did see abbreviations in the chart that had abnormal values. I can still picture that piece of paper in my mind. The letters AST, ALT, GGT, and Alk Phos had abnormal results. We both wondered what that meant and figured it had to do with being born premature.

I can’t remember the exact day that the gastroenterologist found us in the NICU, but I do remember Charlie and I were caught off guard and quite confused. The doctor asked us if any members of our families had ever had emphysema or liver issues. I didn’t know of any and neither did Charlie. I finally asked her, “Why?” Then she nonchalantly uttered the words that changed our lives forever:

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.

Our world had been turned upside down by a premature baby, but now we were facing something life threatening. The doctor explained that Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency is a genetic disorder which originates as a problem in the liver, where the Alpha-1 protein is misfolded inside every liver cell. It then can get clogged inside those cells, and cause liver dysfunction. Because those Alpha-1 proteins are not available in the rest of the body (a.k.a. a deficiency) to perform their anti-inflammatory work by traveling in the bloodstream to the lungs, the lungs can sustain damage over time resulting in early onset emphysema. Liver and lung transplants are often a final result in early adulthood, but there are many researchers studying replacement therapies along with potential cures.

Looking at Gracie, you would never know that her liver doesn’t work properly and that her lungs need vigilant protection from cigarette smoke, pollution, and other irritants. As her mommy, my primary job is to help her assimilate Alpha-1 into her everyday life.

Grace also has a younger sister, Meghan, who was also born premature at 27 weeks gestation and also has Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. I promise to write more about Meghan next week. Grace and Meghan will have each other as they grow up as former preemies and children who have Alpha-1.

At the age of 6, Gracie is just beginning to understand that she has Alpha-1 and just what exactly that means. Only time will tell if Alpha-1 will ravage Grace’s liver or lungs, but my husband and I are dedicated to showing her that being a former preemie with sensory issues as well as Alpha-1 do not define her. Meanwhile, Charlie and I treat her like the precious gift that she is, remembering that Grace’s Alpha-1 liver and lungs are allowing her to live.

Jen
Unique But Not Alone http://alphagirls.blogspot.com

"We need quiet time to examine our lives openly and honestly … spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order."

~Susan L. Taylor

Parents of special needs children are brilliant caregivers — except when it comes to caring for themselves. When was the last time you left your house for a quiet walk? Had a solitary cup of coffee or tea? Browsed through a bookstore by yourself? Sat alone in the park and enjoyed the silence?

If you're like me, finding times like these are a challenge. So why don't we take on that challenge together?

Make some time to do something BY YOURSELF that matters to you — take in a concert, paint a picture, walk in the rain — anything so long as it doesn't involve catering to the needs of anyone else, then meet me here on the second Friday of each month to share about your "Me Time" moment.

Sound like a plan?

Good. See you here next Friday!

On the second Friday of every month, Michelle will share a Me Time moment here at 5MFSN along with a Mr. Linky. To share a Me Time moment of your own simply:

• Put up a post on your blog sharing about your Me Time moment for the month.

• Sign Mr. Linky with the direct link to your post.

• Please leave a comment on the Me Time post here at 5MFSN — we love to hear from you.

• Click the links shared on Mr. Linky and get to know some of the other incredible parents here at 5MFSN.

• Please remember to leave a comment on the other posts that you visit. You'll help inspire and encourage a fellow parent. We're all in this together!

• Want the Me Time button code? Click here.

See you here on the second Friday of every month!

Find out more about Michelle
Read Michelle's weekly column
Meet Michelle here each Monday for Magic Marker Monday
Join Michelle here on first Thursdays for the Beyond Ordinary Blog Carnival and on the second Friday of each month for Me Time
Questions? Please feel free to email Michelle at childlif[at]gmail[dot]com or come and visit her at In The Life of a Child