A Beautiful Painful Day

 

Who would have thought that such a beautiful day, so sunny and bright with just the right amount of heat would end with me at the doctor with a busted open knee.

 

The day started off wonderful and bright so the boys and I decided to go out on the lake with our raft like boat.

 

Son number four gets really excited when we can go swimming or boating. Now, let me be clear it is not a large boat, quite the contrary. It is a blow up four seater rafting/floating boat, but son number four thinks it’s a Yacht!!

 

We pumped up the boat and stuffed it in the back of my Suburban and heading up the street to the Big Lake.

 

Sons’ number 2 and 3 were at other activities so it was just son number one and four and I.  We packed a lunch, took our goggles and pushed the boat into the water.

 

Son number one took his fishing pole so he started fishing right away. Son number four wanted to drop into that lake as soon as we were out deep enough.

 

Once he jumped in and started swimming around I decided to join him.

 

“Mommy look at me, I can swim like a dolphin.” He said.

 

He bobbed up and down and all around for over an hour. Of course son number one said we were making so much noise it was scaring his fish away.

 

Soon after we decided to get out and go home. I got the bright idea to let son number one paddle back to the dock alone while son number four and I swam to some rocks and climbed out.

 

I reached the rock first and started to climb when all of a sudden my foot slipped and I hit a large rock dead on with my knee.

 

At first I could only see a scratch so I climbed out and reached down to pull son number four out. When he was on the shore he told me that I was bleeding.

 

Sure enough I had a nice size cut in the middle of my knee and every time I bent it, it would open and blood came flowing out.

 

I tied a towel around my leg and quickly drove home. I told the boys I would be alright and drove with my swimsuit still on and goggles on my head to the doctor.

 

You should have seen the look on the nurses’ face when I came through the door.

 

Shortly after I arrived I was given stitches in my knee and prescribed an antibiotic.

 

Then back home I was headed. Even though my knee was throbbing and the stitches itched, I was so excited about the fun time we had that day.

 

I was able to spend quality time with my oldest and youngest son, time I will never be able to get back and just like life the good time had an interruption of a painful time but it was still worth the journey.

 

Thanks for sharing

Cassandra

 

Cassandra Walker is a Co-Host of the Best of the STL, an action packed, hour-long show, recorded in front of a live studio audience.  Each episode features the best that St. Louis has to offer, blending lighthearted interviews with the scenes and faces of St. Louis and throwing in a touch of humor.  The Best of the STL can be viewed on STL TV on Wednesday nights at 8:00pm. In addition, Cassandra is a popular columnist, motivational speaker, TV and Radio personality, and author of two acclaimed, award-winning books for the teenage audience: Stories From My Life: Cassandra Walker Talks to Teens About Growing Up (1997), and Becoming Myself: True Stories About Learning From Life (1994). In addition, Cassandra has written her very own fictional series, The Girl Power Club (1999). Cassandra, her husband, and her children live in the greater St. Louis, Missouri area.

 

Click here to see Cassandra and more info on the Best of the STL.

 

 

 

(ARA) - From MP3 players to e-books, technology is an integral part of the modern home. However, when we think of technology and how we use it on a daily basis, entertainment is top of mind, not health and wellness. As a doctor and a mom, Jennifer Trachtenberg, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and pediatrician at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, recommends four household gadgets that will help make for a healthier home and family.

Air purifier: The EPA says levels of indoor air pollution can be between two to five times higher than outdoor air. Poor indoor air quality can negatively impact many people's health. In fact, some cold-like symptoms, including sneezing, sore throats and running noses can be triggered by indoor allergens such as dust, mold spores and pet dander which are commonly found in indoor air. One way to improve indoor air quality can be to use air purifiers. One such air purifier is the Honeywell HEPAClean UV Tower Air Purifier which is a new model that combines three air cleaning technologies: carbon zeolite pre-filter which can reduce common household odors, ultraviolet light which can reduce viruses, bacteria, fungi and mold spores and HEPAClean filters which can remove up to 99 percent of allergens from the air passing through the filter.

Thermometer: Fever is often one of the first signs of the flu, and also a sign when you're most contagious. When temperature-taking, reach for technology that is accurate and trusted. The Braun ThermoScan Ear Thermometer is used by more pediatricians and moms in the U.S. than any other brand. This advanced thermometer is proven to be more accurate than rectal and temple measurements and features patented technology, such as its pre-warmed tip and positioning guidance system that ensures accuracy every time.

Humidifier: Keeping the air a little moister can relieve your children's congestion and coughs, and help them sleep better. A humidifier adds essential moisture to any room, providing temporary relief from dry eyes, dry nose, flakey skin, and chapped lips. When selecting a model right for you, it's important to look for new humidifier technologies like the ultraviolet light chamber in the Vicks GermFree Humidifier that kills up to 99.9 percent of mold and bacteria in the water.

Hygrometer: Keeping the humidity level at a good balance in your house is important for relieving chest congestion, soothing parched skin and even reducing static electricity in the air. If you think your home humidity levels might not be up to par, a hygrometer is a handy device available at most drug stores. Hygrometers provide a digital readout of the relative humidity in your home, and are compact and low-cost. New research indicates the flu will have less of a chance of surviving on surfaces and in the air if you use your hygrometer and humidifier together to keep humidity at the ideal 40 to 60 percent level.

With just a few handy gadgets, you can ensure a healthier living space for yourself and your family.

Courtesy of ARAcontent
 

Fort Zumwalt School District

Posiitve Peer Influence Presents a Safe Halloween

All four FZ High Schools are simultaneously hosting this event at their location

When:  Thursday, October 28, 2010
Time:    6pm to 8pm

All FZ pre-school and elementary school students and siblings, accompianed by an adult are invited.

Games, booths, mascots and treats are provided free of charge by students and patrons of the FZ School District.

A Mother’s Morning

When you wake up in the morning, you usually go about your day by getting ready for whatever tasks await you.

A typical morning for most would be to wake up to an alarm, get out of bed, brush their teeth, shower, get dressed, comb and style their hair and hopefully have some breakfast.

A mother’s morning is usually a bit different than the rest of the world. Now, fathers I am not saying that some of you don’t help out with the children and yes some of you are single dads, but most of the time it is the mothers who do the daily shuffle.

Now a mother’s typical day looks more like mine…

Alarm clock goes off and I listen for a few minutes to the radio broadcaster, I take in a deep breath and blow it out. I swing back the covers, say “Thank you Jesus” and head to the restroom.

I never, ever make it all the way there before one of our son’s comes running in saying something like… Can I use your bathroom? Mom, I can’t find my socks!! I had a bad dream last night that I had homework for 10 years!!

Actually, what he doesn’t realize is that, that wasn’t a dream he really will have homework for ten years!!

I attempt to brush my teeth but I am soon interrupted again by screams coming from son number three (the perfectionist) “One of my shoe strings is longer than the other one, I can’t wear these, I need new shoes!”

By the time we head to the breakfast table, I have already put my required signature on two late assignments, gone over the spelling words one more time for the day’s test, gave armpit sniffs to make sure everyone had bathed, because my boys are known for putting on deodorant only, in an attempt not to have to take a shower.

I have helped brushed at least two sets of teeth, tied a double knot in son number four’s shoes, helped rescue a research paper from the printer that had gone wild and managed to write out three checks for overdue lunch money.

When we do sit down to eat, a prayer is quickly said; food is inhaled at record speed in an attempt to finish eating before the bus reaches our house. They rarely make it!

Before I can even swallow one taste of coffee, I am chasing a child down the drive way to give him his library book just moments before he boards the bus.

I walk calmly back into our home and tell myself, 15 years from now I will only have to get myself out of bed….If I make it that long.

Thanks for sharing,

Cassandra

 

Cassandra Walker is a Co-Host of the Best of the STL, an action packed, hour-long show, recorded in front of a live studio audience.  Each episode features the best that St. Louis has to offer, blending lighthearted interviews with the scenes and faces of St. Louis and throwing in a touch of humor.  The Best of the STL can be viewed on STL TV on Wednesday nights at 8:00pm. In addition, Cassandra is a popular columnist, motivational speaker, TV and Radio personality, and author of two acclaimed, award-winning books for the teenage audience: Stories From My Life: Cassandra Walker Talks to Teens About Growing Up (1997), and Becoming Myself: True Stories About Learning From Life (1994). In addition, Cassandra has written her very own fictional series, The Girl Power Club (1999). Cassandra, her husband, and her children live in the greater St. Louis, Missouri area.

 

Click here to see Cassandra and more info on the Best of the STL.

 

Jim Chapman is the youth speaker your teens will want to hear! Jim speaks to thousands of people every year in conferences, camps, retreats, school assemblies, revivals and more. Jim will have you laughing one minute, crying the next and leaving challenged. His humor, passion and use of multimedia will deliver a powerful message. A style like no other!

Jim has 20 plus years of youth ministry experience. Jim has started multiple Christian Campus clubs in schools in the St. Louis area. A former radio personality, and one of the most sought after speakers throughout North America.

Jim was born and raised in Illinois. He has a bachelors degree from St. Louis Christian College. He is an ordained Minister. Jim has had several articles published concerning the youth culture of today. Jim and his wife Jennifer along with their two boys, Tyler and Hunter live in the St. Louis area. He loves sports and is an avid runner.

Click here to see a short video of Jim delivering a message to youth

Click here to schedule Jim today

 

Click here to go to Big Chap Youth Ministries web site