Rockin' Parents

We Rock! Vacation w/out kiddies.

For the love of a sister

I'll admit it, I'm a little needy at times.

I'm a sucker for a nice compliment.

I do know my own worth, but I will

acknowledge that I at times thrive

off the validation of my worth from

those whom I love.

Why?

Heck, I don't know... And I'm sure there

is some one out there who would be good at

analyzing my psyche. However, Now isn't the time.

I just wanna tell my story. (feel free to contact me later*wink*)

So, my 22 yr old sister sends me a text:

2:53 pm

"Hey do you know how to make zucchini bread?"

MY reply

"I have a recipe for it at home, but I don't know it right off. I can send it to you"

Her reply 3:02 pm

"Can you just make it for me:-)"

MY reply

"lol, maybe"

Her reply

"Come on you know you want to! Flex those Black Martha Stewart skills"

INTERJECTION, inside info- I heart Martha Stewart, she is so creatively awesome. I secretly want to be her.

My reply (trying to play it tough & cool)

"Maybe. Don't try to hype me up...hehehe"

The result?

You know it. I was in the store gathering the ingredients.

I had been caught in the web! And I knew it. I was gettin' played.

But for the love of a sister, I was going along for the ride and I liked it.

As I began preparing, mixing up the ingredients for this lovely loaf,

which I so knowingly was suckered into, I added something extra.

One cup of hugs, a half a cup of kisses and a splash of sisterly hopes and dreams.

This is the result:

Yum-mo!
The follow up text:

3:02 pm

"Are you home today?"

Her reply

"No, @ work"

My reply

"All day?...awww too bad. Guess u wont be able to eat your ZUCCHINI BREAD."

Her reply

"Did you add walnuts?"

My reply

" I did"

Her Reply

"OMG! Your the best"
My reply (trying to be cool and tough)

"yeah yeah, that's what you say to all the sisters. I'm just a sucka for flattery"

All the while, I'm smiling from ear to ear. Because even if only for a moment due to my culinary skills...I enjoyed feeling needed and appreciated.

*Want the recipe for this yummy Zucchini bread? Click below http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/zucchini-bread-recipe/index.html

Eat your Spinach

I really enjoy a good meal, especially one that I have made on my own. I love to collect recipes, and recipe books. I love it even more when I have a good recipe that gets my daughter to eat her veggies.

This morning I made a simple breakfast that consisted of Feta cheese, eggs, fresh spinach, fresh tomatoes, and onions. It is not my original recipe, but I love it just the same. It provides a little bit of everything (protein, dairy, vegetables). I am still on my vegetarian voyage, and so this was right up my alley, my daughter "hates anything green" but with a little prodding from me even she ate this dish. The verdict? Luvs it! She even asked for seconds. I think I found a winner here.

The dish is easy to make:
2 eggs
diced onions, the amount is up to personal taste. ( i love lots of onions)
a hand full of fresh spinach, cut or whole pieces
dice a quarter of a tomato
two table spoons of Low fat Feta
*Double the ingredients for more servings*
Pour into a heated pan, lightly oiled with olive oil and scramble. Serve hot and enjoy.
* be creative, add mushrooms, sprouts, red, green, yellow peppers and even add a side of baked or grilled salmon.*

Some things are never too early to test for

With the birth of a new baby, every mother experiences the emotional roller coaster of sheer joy and nagging fear. For the duration of 9 + mos prior to the delivery, we take all the necessary steps to ensure good health and early detection of illness via the ultrasounds, monthly blood work for the labs, and prenatal vitamins.

When I gave birth to both of my children, one of my first thoughts and first words were; "is the baby healthy?" I was concerned about their little bodies functioning properly, and like any mother in the labor and delivery room I was relieved to hear the doctor give the children a clean bill of health.

Imagine my fears though, when my 2 month old daughter began to display what looked to me like signs of a vision problem. I tried to push my fears aside, telling myself it was just my imagination, but my husband and I could no longer keep those thoughts at bay after a well care checkup with her pediatrician revealed similar concerns. After a follow up visit, it appeared that my daughter's symptoms began to dissipate and she no longer concerned the doctor and therefore did not require any further testing. What a relief!

Reflecting on my own personal experience in dealing with a possible vision problem in the past with my infant, it is no wonder that I felt it was a privilege to help spread the word about the ENFANT PEDIATRIC VEP VISION TESTING SYSTEM.

The ENFANT PEDIATRIC VEP VISION TESTING SYSTEM is a unique and non-invasive pediatric vision test that can be given to children as young as 6 months! With the utilization of the Enfant system, Doctors are able to test for various vision problems such as amblyopia(commonly known as lazy eye), optic nerve disorders, and refractive errors. Which I believe is wonderful, considering the fact that vision disorders are the fourth most common disability among children in the U.S., according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Although this device can be used on children of all ages, the recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics is that "Children should have routine vision screenings starting at six months of age" ( I know, I was surprised to learn that as well). I bet you are wondering, "how can my baby, who cannot speak be tested for vision deficits?" This is what I think is so cool about this device! It uses Visual Evoked Potential to discover the deficits. This is done by evaluating the child's response to an external stimulus along the entire visual pathway from the lens of the eye to the visual cortex of the brain, thereby not requiring a verbal response. Click HERE to see a video on this.

Here is a list of some important facts regarding the ENFANT PEDIATRIC VEP VISION TESTING SYSTEM:

• Utilizes clinically proven, FDA- approved technology


• Delivers a 97% sensitivity in detecting visual deficits where and when they exist.


• Provides immediate, on-site test results in simple, pass/fail format


• Requires no dilation or sedation for maximum patient safety.


• Features child-friendly animated characters and graphics accompanied by music.


• Can be completed in five to seven minutes, contributing to a more than 90% test completion rate.


• Is currently utilized by more than 250 pediatric practices, and is easily Incorporated into a child's regular well care visit.


• Stimulates the vision system with a specific pattern to elicit electrical signals to the visual cortex of the brain.


• Uses objective, statistical analysis to assess the child's neurological response to the stimuli, and compares the two eyes to determine if asymmetries are present.


• If asymmetries are present, the patient is referred to an eye care specialist for further evaluation.

To learn about some of the more subtle warning signs of vision problems in young children, an online vision assessment quiz has been created at http://www.freevisionquiz.com/ . The quiz is simple and only takes a few minutes (really) to complete. I took the quiz and I would like to encourage you to take it too. If after taking this brief quiz, you have been made aware that there are areas in which there is a potential vision problem with your child please know further assistance is not out of reach. There are 21 states from which you may locate a pediatric office performing the VEP testing. Go to http://www.enfantvision.com/ to find your local office.

So, if you are a concerned parent (and I know you are), remember that early intervention and detection is vital for healthy vision. Help spread the word!