Thursday, October 31, 2013

Happy First Halloween Reef

Reef Indy - Pumpkin Boy

Halloween is the night of October 31, the eve of All Saints' Day, commonly celebrated by children who dress in costume and solicit candy or other treats door-to-door.

Reef Indy will be observing his first Halloween dressed in his Baby Shark Costume from Chasing Fireflies. 

Oma and Opa had to help Reef try on his costume earlier this week. Although he is only seven and a half weeks old, the 0-6 month size outfit was a tad snug.

Nevertheless, he was super cute and ready for Trick-or-treating. This costume is very well made and of great quality.

Reef's Dad's Zack-O-Lantern
Reef's Dad's Zack-O-Lantern



Gold Takes Silver
In First College Competition

Lily Gold, a VCHS graduate from the class of 2013, recently competed in the Mid-America Open for the Lindenwood University Olympic Weightlifting team. It was her first competition at the college level.

Lily Gold competed in the 58kg class and took second place.


The Lindenwood Lions are coached by Jainping Ma, a former Olympic athlete on the Chinese team in 1988.

Check out this video of Lily's lift: 



Lily Gold will be competing again this weekend at "The Lab Open" in St.Louis with the Lindenwood University team 53kg Division

Oma has had the pleasure of knowing Lily for a while and has always been in awe of her determination.  We look forward to seeing her lift in the Olympics one day!

You Are What You Eat And Drink

The Story of Cinnamon in America



Cinnamon and Cassia are not obtained from the same plant.

When shopping for your family, you have to be diligent to insure that you are really buying what you think you are buying. After reading about the benefits of the everyday spice Cinnamon, Oma took to the habit of drinking a hot cup of cinnamon and honey every morning.

However, imagine Oma's surprise to learn most cinnamon sold in supermarkets in North America comes from the less expensive variety, Cassia which is actually a cousin of cinnamon. Due to the presence of a moderately toxic component called Coumarin*, European health agencies have warned against consuming high amounts of cassia.

Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), sometimes called true cinnamon, has a long history. It originated in Asia, mostly Sri Lanka and India. Now, cinnamon shrubs are grown in almost every tropical region of the world.

Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices known. It was mentioned in the Old Testament. In the book of Exodus, God instructs Moses to make a holy anointing oil out of cinnamon, cassia, olive oil, myrrh, and hemp.

From the 16th to the 19th centuries, there were power struggles among European nations over who would control Ceylon and the lucrative cinnamon industry. In the early part of the 19th century, other countries began growing cinnamon and it became available to everyone.

Today, Ceylon cinnamon is produced in Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, Brazil and the Caribbean, while Cassia cinnamon is mainly produced in China, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Although related, cinnamon and cassia are not obtained from the same plant. They should be treated as separate foods, both from a nutritional and a health standpoint. Ceylon cinnamon is typically more expensive than any of the cassia versions, and it is also the cinnamon more closely associated with potential health benefits involving blood sugar regulation. 


Jimbo’s is a natural foods grocer.

Oma special orders her Ceylon cinnamon from Jimbo’s. Jimbo’s is a natural foods grocer with locations in San Diego/Del Mar and Escondido. For 25 years, Jimbo’s has proudly supported local organic farms.

Organic means food is grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides or herbicides. Organically grown foods are higher in nutrients, including antioxidant vitamins, iron, magnesium and phosphorus. Over 95% of Jimbo’s produce is organically grown!

Both honey and cinnamon have been used to heal for centuries, on their own and as in combination. In Chinese medicine, following Yin and Yang principles, cinnamon is used to cure conditions of cold (excess Yin) as it is considered to be Yang (heat). In this case, honey is seen to be neutral, in balance.

Oma enjoys her cup of “Cinnamon and Honey Tea” every morning. In addition to the health benefits of this concoction, this simple beverage serves as a reminder to pay careful attention to the sustenance you choose for your body. 


* Coumarin is known to cause liver and kidney damage in high concentrations.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Reef Indy Smiles

Oma loves it when Baby Reef Smiles!

 

Dad and Baby Reef Enjoying Their Sunday


Many babies treat their parents and grandparents to their first smile when they're between six and eight weeks old. (Reef Indy is seven weeks old.)

By encouraging Reef Indy to smile, you are helping him develop self-esteem. It lets Reef know that his feelings are important and that he can affect his environment. It's also important for his overall brain development.

At around one or two months, babies will gradually start to respond to environmental stimulation. Here are some tips to coax a baby grin:

  • Choose a period when your baby is relaxed. A hungry baby isn't inclined to smile.
  • Take your baby in your arms with his face very close to yours. Remember, at this age your baby sees best at 8-12 inches away.
  • Smile widely at his and offer a warm "hello" in that sing-song pitch parents do so well.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

October is SIDS Awareness Month

 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)



Reef Indy - Place baby to sleep on his back at naptime and at night time.


Did you know that 80-90% of SIDS-related deaths are due to unsafe sleep practices?



ALWAYS:

    Reef Indy - Place baby to sleep on his back at naptime and at night time.
  • Place baby to sleep on his or her back at naptime and at night time.
  • Use a crib that meets current safety standards with a firm mattress that fits snuggly and is covered with only a tight-fitting crib sheet.
  • Remove all soft bedding and toys from your baby’s sleep area (this includes loose blankets, bumpers, pillows and positioners). The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests using a wearable blanket instead of loose blankets to keep your baby warm.
  • Offer a pacifier when putting baby to sleep. If breastfeeding, introduce pacifier after one month or after breastfeeding has been established.
  • Breastfeed, if possible, but when finished, put your baby back to sleep in his or her separate safe sleep area alongside your bed.

NEVER:

  • Never put your baby to sleep on any soft surface.
  • Never dress your baby too warmly for sleep; keep room temperature 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Never allow anyone to smoke around your baby or take your baby into a room or car where someone has recently smoked.

Nothing else should go in the crib with your baby
no blanket, pillow, bumper pads or toys. 

 

What SIDS Is and What SIDS Is Not


SIDS Is:

  • The major cause of death in infants from 1 month to 1 year of age, with most deaths occurring between 2 and 4 months
  • Sudden and silent - the infant was seemingly healthy
  • Currently, unpredictable and unpreventable
  • Determined only after an autopsy, an examination of the death scene, and a review of the clinical history
  • Designated as a diagnosis of exclusion
  • A recognized medical disorder listed in the International Classification of Diseases, ( 9th Revision)
  • An infant death that leaves unanswered questions, causing intense grief for parents and families.

SIDS Is Not:

  • Caused by vomiting and choking, or minor illnesses such as colds or infections
  • Caused by immunizations
  • Contagious
  • Child abuse
  • The cause of every unexpected infant death

Monday, October 21, 2013

Hewlett-Packard (HP) Non-Support Continues

Read Part One of this Saga by Clicking Here


Bad - HP 3005 PR USB 3.0 Port Replicator
Bad - HP 3005 PR USB 3.0 Port Replicator- Ignominy  
8:00 a.m - Finally found time to call the special number Tina, my HP Help Expert gave me.  I was hoping to get my HP 690650-001 SPS-Assy USB 3.0 Port Replicator up and running quickly.


Oma got to Hugo who told me that I had the wrong department (of course). He does not know why Tina sent me to him.  Oma was on hold for 30 minutes then Hugo transferred me to tech support at 800.334.5144.  Yup that is the same number I started out with.

Shruthi asked me all the same questions regarding the issues I was having.  I have answered these question numerous times with numerous people.  After Shruthi heard my story, she stated she would have to put me on hold so that she could collect information from the senior technician.

I asked to speak to the senior technician personally. Shruthi could not do that however, she was going to put me on hold so that she could get a supervisor. Shruthi promised it would be no longer than a three minute wait.

9:01a.m. placed on hold

9:06 a.m. Shruthi asked me to wait a minute.

9:07 a.m. Mathew came on line.  He is a Supervisor Case Manager.  After hearing the entire story again regarding my HP 690650-001 SPS-Assy USB 3.0 Port Replicator, he placed me on hold so that he could get more information.

When he returned, he stated that the replicator would will not the run the laptop power; the laptop power cord would have to be connected to run the laptop. 


Mathew connected with my laptop to trouble shoot.  

  • 9:27 AM You have granted full permission to Technician. To revoke, click the red X on the toolbar or press Pause/Break on the keyboard. 
  • 9:27 AM Checking configuration... 
  • 9:27 AM Checking configuration... 
  • 9:27 AM Connecting... 
  • 9:27 AM Connected. A support representative will be with you shortly. 
  • 9:27 AM Support session established with Shruti. 
  • 9:27 AM Remote Control started by Shruti. 
  • 9:33 AM Shruti has ended the session. 9:33 AM Remote Control by Shruti stopped.

He worked on the settings for the display but made it worse. Now my second monitor had poor quality of display and did not match what we were doing on the laptop.  Mathew was not sure why it was doing what it was doing and frankly Oma got scared. After all - Mathew had previously informed me that he was a Case Manager and not a computer tech!

After a discussion with Mathew and Opa - Oma decided that the HP 3005 PR USB 3.0 Port Replicator does not work at all!


We are shipping it back today and demanding our money back!  It is a shame that Oma could not be reimbursed for all the time wasted on this fiasco!





Sunday, October 20, 2013

Should Baby Reef Indy Wear Sunglasses?

Should Baby Reef Indy Wear Sunglasses?


While enjoying Fun Family Friday, I noticed that baby Reef Indy was closing his eyes while outside with his Opa. Reef just loves being walked outdoors, but he always squints or closes his eyes. It is very sunny in Southern California, so Oma started wondering if it was ever too early to introduce Reef to sunshine.

Oma learned that it is a good idea, because exposure to ultraviolet rays may raise his risk for cataracts and other eye problems later in life. However, it is advised that if the baby resists, you shouldn’t push it. A visor or a hat could also be utilized to keep the sun out of his eyes and might be a more workable choice than shades for babies, toddlers, and even some older kids.

Not just any sunglasses will do, though. Putting low-quality sunglasses on your child is worse than his wearing no glasses at all. That's because poor-quality sunglasses can cause your child's pupils to dilate – therefore letting more UVA and UVB rays in – without offering protection.

When choosing sunglasses, buy a pair with a label saying it blocks 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays. Labels that say the glasses meet ANSI (American National Standards Institute) requirements or block UV absorption up to 400 nm (nanometers) mean you're getting this protection, too. You can trust the labeling in reliable stores, but not necessarily with a vendor on the street.

Oma learned that baby sunglasses come in various styles and are designed with the baby’s specific needs in mind. Unlike adult sunglasses that come as one size fits all, baby sunglasses come in various sizes to ensure a good fit for every baby's face.

Oma rummaged the internet. Baby Banz Sunglasses - Age 0-2 boosted rave reviews. 

Should Baby Reef Indy Wear Sunglasses?
Reef Indy's New Baby Banz

They have:
  • Plastic frame 
  • Plastic lens 
  • non-polarized 
  • Lens width: 60 millimeters 
  • Silicone Nose and Brow Piece is embedded into the glasses for added comfort 
  • Material: 82% Polyamide 18% Spandex 
  • Neoprene elastic strap matches chosen color of sunglasses and allows for flexibility, breath-ability, and comfort 

They were super cute too. Oma bought a pair for Baby Reef Indy. I will let you know how he likes them.