Pansy and Peony: For My Father
popping up very quickly to put in this bleg
with luck will have a 5 generation picture to post next week!
alicia: September 2007 Archives
FDA Warns Consumers about the Risk of Cryptosporidium Illness from Baby’s Bliss Gripe Water
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to consume Baby’s Bliss Gripe Water, apple flavor, with a code of 26952V and expiration date of October 2008 (shown as “10/08” on the label), distributed by MOM Enterprises, Inc., of San Rafael, Calif. FDA confirmed through laboratory analysis the presence of cryptosporidium after investigating the illness of a 6-week-old infant in Minnesota who consumed the product. Cryptosporidium is a parasite that can cause intestinal infections.
The most common symptom of infection is watery diarrhea. Other symptoms can include dehydration, weight loss, stomach cramps or pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms generally begin two to ten days after becoming infected with the parasite and generally last one to two weeks. While most people with healthy immune systems will recover without treatment, the infection could be serious or life-threatening for certain individuals. Infants, children and pregnant women are susceptible to dehydration resulting from diarrhea, which can be life-threatening. Individuals with weakened immune systems are also at risk for a more serious and life-threatening form of illness.
Parents of children who have recently consumed Baby’s Bliss Gripe Water, apple flavor, and have these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. Parents and caregivers who have given this product to their infants and children should be alert for diarrhea and other signs of Cryptosporidium infection.
Approximately 17,600 bottles of the product were distributed nationwide in retail stores and sold over the Internet between November 2006 and September 2007. A code of 26952V with an expiration date of 10/08 appears on the bottle’s carton. The product is sold in a four-ounce plastic bottle packaged inside of a cardboard carton which is labeled with the following: Baby’s Bliss. Pediatrician Recommended Gripe Water. Apple Flavor. An herbal supplement used to ease the gas and stomach discomfort often associated with colic, hiccups, and teething. Dietary Supplement. 4 fl. ozs. (120 ml). Ginger Extract. Fennel Extract. Other ingredients: Deionized Water, Vegetable Glycerin, Fructose, Natural apple flavor, Citric acid, Bioflavonoid Extract, and Grapefruit Seed Extract. Distributed by: MOM Enterprises, Inc., San Rafael, CA 94903 USA. FDA advises consumers to throw away bottles of the product described above that they have in their possession.
MOM Enterprises, Inc. is fully cooperating with FDA’s investigation into the cause of the contamination and is recalling all potentially contaminated products. FDA continues to investigate and will provide updates as more information becomes available. Consumers can call the FDA at 1-888-723-3366.
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1 million cribs being recalled after deaths - Los Angeles Times
The maker of Simplicity and Graco cribs on Friday recalled about 1 million of the beds after the deaths of at least two infants, including one in California.
(snip)
"Don't take a chance at all," said Scott Wolfson, a spokesman for the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission, which announced the voluntary recall by Reading, Pa.-based Simplicity Inc., one of the nation's largest crib manufacturers.
The recalled Simplicity crib models include: Aspen 3 in 1, Aspen 4 in 1, Nursery-in-a-Box, Crib N Changer Combo, Chelsea and Pooh 4 in 1. The recall also involves the following Simplicity cribs that used the Graco logo: Aspen 3 in 1, Ultra 3 in 1, Ultra 4 in 1, Ultra 5 in 1, Whitney and the Trio.
The recalled cribs have one of the following model numbers, which can be found on the envelope attached to the mattress support and on the label attached to the headboard: 4600, 4605, 4705, 5000, 8000, 8324, 8800, 8740, 8910, 8994, 8050, 8750, 8760 and 8996.
For more information, call Simplicity's recall hotline at (888) 593-9274 or visit www.simplicityforchildren.com.
VP shunt infections in patients with hydrocephalus
CME for nurses.
That is the diagnosis for Emma's fever. The gram stain of the CSF grew out Gram + cocci, probably staph, most likely s. epidermidis. But we won't know until they can grow the organisms out a little further and run more tests.
They have removed the 'P' part of her V-P shunt and are draining the excess CSF into an external collection device. This requires meticulous nursing care. She is getting vancomycin both through the shunt tubing and through her brand new PICC line. She will be in the hospital until there are 3 consecutive negative cultures of the CSF. And then they will have to decide what to do about her shunt.
Stay tuned. More angst on the way.
My brother in law is home now and getting home nursing care. The ultimate diagnosis was MRSA. He is doing a lot better.
Emma is back in the hospital for at least overnight observation. She was vaccinated on Friday with Pediarix and an oral Rotavirus vaccine. She started to run a fever Sunday afternoon and spiked today despite tylenol. She saw her neurosurgeon, her pediatrician, and was then sent to the ED at the Children's hospital, where they did a CT scan and tapped her shunt. The fluid was clear but they are going to keep her overnight for observation and repeat blood tests in the morning.
I am exhausted but I think of how much more exhausted Jess must be, and so too my youngest daughter B who has been helping Jess out since just before Emma's birth. I am also experiencing some guilt that I have been begging prayers from my loyal readers and not giving you any real content, but such is life right now. Soon, eventually, I will try to focus my energies to pull it together. I have had some great ideas but life trumps blog, anyday. I am faced with 2500 unread messages in my inbox and I have been scanning it and only answering personal and urgent stuff - so if you have written to me about something and haven't gotten an answer, just write me again and put something compelling in the subject line so that I will know it is one of you folks!
Will update when I can.
sorry folks, it seems that lately the only time I pop up is with a prayer request. But this is important.
My brother-in-law Matthew is in the hospital right now with a rapidly spreading infection that began in the skin of his abdomen. They are not sure what the organism is yet, but they have started IV antibiotics and may end up having to do surgery. I am thinking either MRSA or a virulent strep, but of course no one will know until the cultures grow out.
Prayers greatly appreciated.
Emma drowses in her sleep shirt and socks after a brief bedtime snack. note hospital linens. 9-6
Emma managed to pull out her IV line. She is doing well, and will be coming home tomorrow. Thanks again for all the prayers.
Tomorrow I hope to be able to can the tons of tomatoes that are all ripe at the same time. Any recipes?
Emma came through ok, but she has 4 surgical sites and is a little groggy still, according to Jess. The new shunt went in just fine and is working, but removing the old shunt was a bit more complicated. We don't know just how long she will need to stay in the hospital this time - originally it was supposed to be 23 hours post-op, but we will see.
It is so hard being here but I have used up pretty much all my time off except for the scheduled time off for my #4 child's wedding in October - and there are babies being born whose moms are relying on me. The practice that I am in is still looking for a couple more CNMs and we also have an opening for a nurse-practitioner. Email me if you want more information.
I have a picture of Emma in the recovery room but I can't download it to my computer right now, and I am not sure if I should post it. She looks pretty good for having just had major surgery, but she certainly isn't her usual self. I am still trying to figure out how to shrink some of the earlier pix to fit the blog (and I am not talking just pixel size but more file size here - I might need to find a copy of photo shop or the like).
I have been trying to upload her more recent pix but the files are too large and I haven't been able to figure out how to shrink them down.
Anyhow, life has been hectic - every time I think I will have the time to concentrate on some of the posts I want to write something else happens.
Emma has been increasingly fussy and irritable, and today we were told that her shunt is not working right . So tomorrow morning she will go back into the hospital for what we hope will be a less than 24 hour stay. They will take out the non-working shunt and put in a new on on the other side of her head. Hopefully this one will work better and longer. It is scary for us, if somewhat routine for the surgeons.
Father Val came by to see Jess and Emma tonight and gave Emma the anointing of the sick in preparation.
The surgery is scheduled for 0730 tomorrow (Thursday). Prayers please, both now and later.
And please also include in your prayers my youngest daughter, B,, who has given up a considerable chunk of her time to help her oldest sister with the baby. It isn't easy for her, either, and she could use your prayers as well.
Thanks.
Will update when I can.
Shrimp boat captain earns midwife wings
The thing that really bothers me is that they bottle fed this baby!!!!
