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The Common Cold

As we approach Cold and Flu season, parents are already frantically washing their kid’s hands. We yell at them to NOT touch ANYTHING in the public washrooms. It’s like a plague, and we just want to stay away from any sort of sickness.

Not only do we feel sorry for our little ones when they catch cold, or worse stomach flu, but we also have to worry about ourselves. First off, if we get sick, how are we to care for our loved ones? And secondly, if we get sick, how are we ever going to take time off of work?!

The Calgary Health Region gives out pamphlets year round to help us under stand the Common Cold.
1.) What is a cold?
The cold is an illness caused by a virus. There are over 100 different cold viruses. Colds can occur any time of the year.

2.) How is a cold spread?
A cold can be spread when someone who is sick coughs or sneezes tiny drops into the air or onto objects. People who breathe in or are in direct contact with these drops (example: by touching their nose or eyes with contaminated hands) can get the disease.

This is why we try to teach children to cough or sneeze into their elbows!

3.) How long does a cold last?
A cold usually lasts about 7 to 10 days. It can be spread to other people one day before, and up to 5 days after symptoms appear.

4.) How is a cold treated?
Antibiotics DO NOT help a cold, because it is caused by a virus, not bacteria. There is no specific treatment for a cold, but to ease symptoms you can eat healthy foods and drink lots of water, juice and warm liquids, rest, gargle with salt water to help throat pain, take pain or fever medicine as needed (ASA products such as Aspirin are not recommended for children) and use a cool-mist vaporizer.

5.) When do you go see a doctor for a cold?
When you have a fever for more than 2 days. See below for a guide on *Normal temperatures.
If a child is under 3 months who has a fever.
If there is pain on one or both ears (small children may tug on their ears when they have pain)
If you have trouble breathing or pain in your chest.
If you have a very painful and red throat

6.) How can a cold be prevented?
Wash your hands
Keep your hands away from your nose and eyes
Don’t share drinks, cups, spoon or forks with a person who is sick
Maintain a healthy and active lifestyle

For more information call the Health Link 403-943-LINK (5465), 1-866-408-LINK or Communicable Disease Control at 403-944-7075

This is actual information taken from The Calgary Health Region pamphlet given to me from the Alberta’s Children’s Hospital. (This material is designed for information purposes only. It should not be used in place of medical advice, instruction and/or treatment. If you have specific questions, please consult your doctor or appropriate health care professional.

*Temperature Guide for children:
From the Calgary Health Region
Fever is one way your child’s body fights an infection. The most common illness in children is infection from a virus. There are thousands of different viruses. Fever can also be caused by an infection with bacteria. Fever itself will not harm your child. How high the fever is does NOT tell you how serious your child’s illness is. How your child acts is a better sign. Normal temperatures* in children are:
• Rectal: 36.6 – 38.0 °C (97.9 – 100.4 °F)
• Mouth: 35.5 – 37.5 °C (95.9 – 99.5 °F)
• Underarm: 34.7 – 37.3 °C (94.5 – 99.1 °F)
• Infants under 60 days: 36.3 – 37.3 °C (97.3 – 99.1 °F)
• Ear: 35.8 – 38.0 °C (96.4 – 100.4 °F) (not recommended in infants)
*Canadian Pediatric Society

A baby less than 3 months old with a fever needs to be seen by a doctor.

Calgary Heath Region Link – Caring for a Child With a Fever
Calgary Health Region Link – The Common Cold Alberta

Health Services Link – http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/
Bonus Code: Cold

Last Friday, just before my vacation was up, we decided to take the kids to Heritage Park for the day. I’ve concluded that, yes, I’ve been spoiled. I’ve had the opportunity to visit the park in the past with Media invitations. Mind you, when I’ve gone in the past, I never took the time to get on the rides. (I’m a chicken when it comes to rides).

This last visit was different as I just went with my family. My two boys and my husband. I was surprised at the cost! Wowzers! I should have looked online first to see what I was getting into. Heritage Park is a ton of fun for the whole family, but I recommend getting the seasons pass if you think you’ll go more than twice. After purchasing an individual ticket for the train ride, we decided that we needed to upgrade to the whole day bracelet. But they wouldn’t give us the discount for the train ride towards the bracelet, saying that is would screw up their system. Oi! So if you head out, get the bracelet first… so you don’t damage your wallet!

There IS a lot of fun for the whole family… and yes I even went on the Farris Wheel… (not telling my son I wanted to puke…) The Carousel was also a winner. I could handle that more than the wheel! Plus the animals were fun to watch!

But buyers beware; check the cost before you go!!! Here’s a link to their pricing page Heritage Park.

Bouns Code: PARK

It was a quick decision, but my husband and I decided to go camping this past weekend. We went down to the Crowsnest to fish at Lost Creek and Carbondale River. This area suffered a fire in 2003, but mother nature always has a way to make itself beautiful. Crowsnest Fire.

And proof that I was there… a picture of my boots!

The perfect way to wrap up a day of hiking, fishing and photography!

BONUS CODE: FISH

Calgary is launching an advertising blitz complete with a song that says “We are not all cowboys.”
The city is trying to change its reputation and attract workers as it faces a looming labour shortage.
The campaign uses the slogan — “Calgary. Be Part of the Energy.”

I’ll be honest when I moved to Calgary 16 years ago from Vancouver, I was totally prepared to wear cowboy boots thinking that it was a cowboy town. Not to paint the beautiful Cowboys and Cowgirls we DO have in a bad light… but Calgary is only “Cowboys” during Stampede! The pride and love this city has is truly unbelievable. I said it early on when I moved here that Calgary IS unique with a Cowboy taste but the whole bottle is what counts and in my mind Calgary is full of Energy. It’s a big city but a small community that looks after each other! Why wouldn’t you want to move here!!

I LOVE THIS CITY!

Bonus Code: Cowboy

Over the weekend we celebrated Mother’s Day. And now that I’m a mom, it gives the day a whole new meaning. Not only is it a day to celebrate your own mom, but it’s a day to recognize all the exceptional mother’s in our lives. They may be your new best friend, your neighbor, a woman in the news and maybe… even you!

I want to extend a heart felt hug to all mother’s who make this world a better place. The mother’s who give unconditionally from their heart to make children feel loved, to validate teenagers, and to lend a hand to their adult children. Biological mothers, adopted mothers, foster mothers, and Grandmother’s who always give! We’ve known since the beginning of time that it’s not easy to be a mother; it’s just something we do.

Whether we have a good day or bad, at the end of the day we tried our best. And if today wasn’t our best, then tomorrow we’ll do better. So thank you Mom’s of the world for being you!

If ever you’ve wondered if you’ve found your soul mate, have a child.
If ever you’ve wondered if you’ve been blessed in your life, have a child.
If ever you’ve wondered if you’ve made a difference in the world, look through the eyes of a child.
If ever you wondered if you are loved, be a mother.
~ Christina Rowsell ~

Bonus Code: Exceptional

The only way I can seem to have a smooth week is if I do a weeks worth of food planning… But I get bored with my ideas! This usually consists of Steak, Pork Chops, Chicken, Sheppard’s Pie, and Pizza. Thanks to Darlene who emailed me this to “spice” up my menu. Thanks for sharing Darlene. Send me your favorite dishes christina.rowsell@rci.rogers.com

Darlene’s Peachy Pork Picante:
Here’s one that’s easy and pretty fool-proof. If you like spicy
slightly sweet main dish, you’ll love this!

My husband and 2 children (10 and 14) have loved this for years!

PEACHY PORK PICANTE
1 lbs boneless pork loin
1 Tbs taco seasoning mix
1 Tbs vegetable oil
1 cup chunky salsa
1/3 cup reduced sugar peach jam

Cut pork into 3/4 inch cubes. Combine pork with taco seasoning in a
re-sealable plastic bag and knead to mix. Let marinate in the fridge for
an hour or 2.

Heat oil in a large skillet over med-hi heat. Add pork. Cook, stirring
frequently, until pork is browned on all sides, about 10 mins. Stir in
salsa and peach jam. Reduce heat to low and cover skillet. Simmer,
stirring occasionally until pork is cooked through, about 20 min.

Spoon over cooked rice or corkscrew pasta or egg noodles. Enjoy!

Serves 4

* You can make this as spicy as you like depending on the heat in the
salsa you use.

Have a great day Christina!

BONUS CODE: PORK

The Mustard Seed has a higher demand for food hampers during the winter. Dry pasta, sauce canned vegetables and canned meat are all good things to donate. Calgarians are being asked to help out.

Even packable lunch items such as granola bars and fruit cups for kids’ lunches, are also welcome.

Donations can be dropped off at either of the two mustard seed locations, every day.

Visit the Mustard Seed for more information

We’ve been doing a Steps program at work. There’s a team of us who walk for exercise and team spirit, and our employer gave us our steppers! All of this is good… except my stepper isn’t working! I usually bump it and re-start it, and at the end of the day I check my steps and it says 584! What! I KNOW I walked futher than that, especially on a day where I’ve taken the boys to the zoo and did a 45 minute grocery shopping trip!

So my question I’m putting out to you is… where do I get a good pedometer? I downloaded the free app on my IPhone, but it eats up my battery!!! Oi! I’ve got 5 more pounds to go, and I want to take a good stab at 10,000 steps a day… but as far as I know I’m only doing 1000!

Any suggestions??

There’s a great article from Chatelaine Magazine about making the right food choices. To be honest with you, I never used to think much about what I was eating… but now that I have to make choices for my kids, I’ve started to really pay attention to it.

Here’s the article from Chatelaine.com

Five unhealthy foods you think are healthy
You probably think these items are good for you, but they’re not. Get back on track by tossing them today!

What hidden calories lurk in the staples you reach for every day? You might be surprised: these common grocery items seem like they’re good for you, but they’re actually full of hidden fats, sugars and sodium. Edmonton dietitian Brenda Arychuk gave us the lowdown on the five products to trash from your cupboard.

Juice
100 percent fruit juice without added sugar is healthy, right? “Pure apple juice has the same glycemic load as pop – up to seven teaspoons of sugar per cup,” says Arychuk. Plus, it’s high in calories. To easily cut out a few hundred, replace juice with water. That’s probably what your body is craving, anyway.

Tomato sauce
It might seem like the start to a nutritious dinner, but half a cup of prepared tomato sauce could contain a whopping 500 to 800 g of sodium. “With prepared foods, something that doesn’t seem super salty can be loaded with sodium,” adds Arychuk. “You’re better off buying plain tomatoes and making your own sauce.” Intimidated by the time commitment of homemade? Don’t be. Our 20-minute, three-ingredient tomato sauce couldn’t be easier.

Cereal and granola bars
You’re already avoiding sugary cereals – or are you? “Granola is a red flag for added fat and sugar,” cautions Arychuk. Sugar could be half the total carbohydrates, and the same goes for granola bars. “A lot of these are glorified cookies,” she adds. Look for those high in fibre and protein, and avoid coatings – they’re just fat and sugar.

Instant noodles
Those quick prepared soup cups chosen that look like a sensible work lunch are actually the opposite. “You’re looking at 500 g of sodium in one small serving – and the wrong kind of fat,” says Arychuk. Instant ramen noodles also tend to contain palm oil, high in saturated fat. “You’re better off just getting rid of them.”

Salad dressing and marinades
We tend not to think of calories when we reach for condiments or marinades, even though they’re a triple threat: high in sugar, fat and salt. Make your own dressing with 1 tsp balsamic vinegar and 2 tsp olive oil, and make DIY marinades as well. Or, if you’re going to store-bought, be picky: Arychuk suggests reading the label closely, since amounts vary widely between brands.

Bonus Code is HEALTHY. Good until midnight Sunday Nov.14th.

On Thursday, thousands will take part in Remembrance Day Services. It’s a chance to recognize the sacrifices made by all our Canadian soldiers. Here’s a list of some of the services happening in Calgary, and some of the surrounding communities, on November 11, 2010:

Services in Calgary
The Military Museums, 4520 Crowchild Trail S.W. Service begins at 10:45.

Jubilee Auditorium, 1415 14 Avenue N.W. Service begins at 10:30

Memorial Park Cenotaph, 12 Avenue & 4 Street S.W. Service begins at 10:30

Services at Royal Canadian Legion Branches
Bowness Branch, Bowness Sportsplex, 7809 43 Avenue N.W. Service begins at 10:30 a.m.

Branch No. 1,116 7 Avenue. S.E. Service begins at 10:30 a.m.

Centennial Branch, 9202 Horton Road S.W. Service begins at 10:45 a.m.

Chapelhow Branch, 606 38 Avenue N.E. Service begins at 10:40 a.m.

Forest Lawn Branch, 755 40 Street S.E. Service begins at 11 a.m.

Millennium Branch, 2828 28 Street S.W. (Killarney‑Glengarry Community Centre). Service begins at 10:45 a.m.

North Calgary, 1910 Kensington Road N.W. Service begins at 11 a.m. (Members only)

Ogden Branch, 2625 78 Avenue S.E. Service begins at 9 a.m.

Jubilee Branch, 6208 Rundlehorn Drive N.E. Service begins at 10:30 a.m.

Services in southern Alberta communities:
Cochrane High School, 529 4 Avenue N. Service begins at 10 a.m.

Canmore Legion, 834 7 Street. Parade begins outside Legion at 9:30 a.m.

Lethbridge Exhibition Park, South pavilion, 3401 Parkside Drive S. Service begins at 9:30 a.m.

Medicine Hat Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre, 401 1 Street S.E. Service begins at 10 a.m followed by ceremony at the town cenotaph at 11 a.m.

Banff Elementary School, parade begins at town cenotaph at 10:15 a.m. Service begins in school gym at 10:30 a.m.

Okotoks, Foothills Centennial Centre, 204 Community Way. Service begins at 10 a.m.

Strathmore Civic Centre, 120 Brent Blvd.,Seated by 10:30 a.m. Colours marched just before 11 a.m.