I'm not a fan of the origins of this holiday nor am I a fan of any of the scary, glory, dark stuff... however, I do see this time of year as an opportunity to socialize and interact with neighbors who will be knocking on our door and just be 'light'... not necessarily with tracks... but with genuine love.
I read this article which I felt had some pretty good points. My husband was a little turned off by the tone of it and felt it was a bit harsh criticizing those who choose to celebrate in an alternative way with "harvest parties'. I personally kind of see this whole "halloween controversial topic" as the "food for idols" passage in the new testament. Let's not judge how others are convicted here... and let's also try not to cause our brothers to stumble.
So that is my 2 cents! I debated on whether to post this... but hey... figured that's what blogs are for. As my children grow older and just now entering the public school scene... these kind of topics come up and stir up deep discussions between my husband and I. What a challenge and awesome privilege and responsibility to raise children!
Lord, give us grace, cover over our mistakes, and pray we have some fun along the way!
I was all ready to blog about lower back pain... which I'm experiencing quite a bit with this pregnancy especially during these last few weeks... however, this article about a 12 year old girl who died from an asthma attack that started in school caught my eye today and broke my heart. Let's talk about asthma.
Here are some fast facts from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation:
In a single day:
- 44,000 people have an asthma attack
- 36,000 kids miss school due to asthma
- 27,000 adults miss work due to asthma
- 4,700 people visit the ER due to asthma
- 1,200 people are admitted to the hospital due to asthma
- 9 people die from asthma
Troubling fact:
- while most other chronic illnesses have decreased in death rate over time... there has been a 50% increase in death rate since 1980 for asthmatics across age, gender, and ethnic groups... the rate for children under 19 years old has increased by nearly 80%
So what is asthma?
- chronic condition in which the airways narrow and swell and produce extra mucous
Symptoms of asthma can include:
- coughing
- wheezing
- chest tightness
- shortness of breath
What can trigger asthma or make it worse?
- exercise (cold and dry air)
- environment (chemicals, fumes, gases, or dust)
- allergy (pet dander, cockroaches, pollen)
Treatments of asthma include:
- avoiding and removing triggers (second hand smoke, carpet, pets etc)
- treating allergies
- rescue inhaler or nebulizer for acute symptoms
- maintenance inhaler or other maintenance medications
- getting the flu shot during flu season
Asthma is not well controlled if:
- needing rescue inhaler more than twice a week due to symptoms
- waking up at night more than twice a month due to symptoms
It is important to see your physician if asthma is suspected and to routinely follow up to make sure it is well controlled. There is a breathing test that can be performed to assess whether or not someone has asthma and also how severe the condition is. Using a peak flow meter at home will help you know how severe your symptoms are. Patients with asthma should discuss and develop an Asthma Action Plan with their physician. Having a plan helps to decrease trips to the emergency room as well as need for inpatient hospitalization.
I'm nearing the end of this pregnancy and I'm looking forward to getting this weight off! It has been increasingly hard to get comfortable especially laying down at night. Overall, it has been a fairly uneventful pregnancy. The first trimester is always hardest for me... I don't like the nausea and fatigue. However, as I gained energy and appetite back during my second trimester, I started to swim. Swimming is the best exercise for pregnant moms!
Here are some physical reasons why...
- low impact
- good cardiovascular benefits
- improves circulation
- builds muscle tone and strength
- builds endurance
- supports weight
- decreases burden on limbs and spine
Here are some other reasons I love swimming while pregnant...
- burns calories
- feel less fatigued
- helps with sleep
- helps with emotional coping
When I'm in the water, I feel light and happy. As I do my laps back and forth, I can clear my mind and relax and I literally feel myself de-stress. Swimming was what kept me sane this summer.
