Heart beats

I had an appointment today first thing and was able to hear the heart beats of our little miracle. Just Amazing! Our doctor said that they sound strong and the only thing he's concerned about right now is my weight loss. I am down 6lbs. from my first visit and even though I feel like I've been stuffing my face it hasn't made an impact on the scale. So, more food and less craziness for me. We think that stress might be what's happening. When you're going all day running kids here and there, trying to keep a household held down, etc. you kind of forget to take care of yourself. I guess most people just grab and go food but I'm a vegetarian with a gluten allergy...which means no fast and fried for me :)

After the appointment I took the kids to the Fort Worth Zoo where we meet a family from school/church/daisy scouts. The weather was perfect, clouds kept the sun at bay and the kids were so well behaved!! Couldn't ask for more than that.

Avi had her first Parent teacher conference yesterday. It was different to say the least (and 45 minutes long). You know you're in trouble when the teacher starts with, "Don't worry, I don't have anyone after you so we can take our time!"...dun dun dun. It wasn't too bad though, we already knew everything the teacher was going to say. Academically awesome, socially behind, eager to impress you, eager to control the situation, all that.  Nothing we can't handle though. Kids are who they are and it's not our jobs as parents to change them, just help them figure out how be good people and get though whatever situation they come up against. Embrace their strengths and work through their weaknesses. I know far to many adults who never learned that skill...it's not pretty.

All in all, I guess we've had a good week :) Next week is "Drug Free Week" at school and everyday has a different theme. In the spirit of this, I pulled some info from a newsletter my pediatrician's office puts out. Enjoy!

Studies and research on kids and drugs and gangs are reported each year. Their reports this year show an increase in kids reporting they go to schools where drugs are used, kept and sold and where there are gangs. Middle school children reporting drugs in their schools increased from 23% last year to 39% this year. Public schools had 57% reporting drugs and 22% private and religious schools. (I am surprised that it is as high as 22%.) Gangs were reported 46% in public and 2% in private schools. Schools that the teens reported drugs and gangs, as compared to those schools that don’t, they had more smoking (23% vs 2%), more alcohol use (39% vs 12%), and more marijuana use (21% vs 4%). These teens also reported 4-5 times more likely to associate with friends who use those products. The teens that reported not using drugs and joining gangs reported closer ties with the family.  

Strong family involvement was the main factor with good relationships, their parents listened to them, they attended religious services, and they had family dinners together. (These are the same factors in those teens with less delinquency and pregnancy.) So turn off the TV and phones and text messages and have dinner together. Talk and laugh and do not fuss at what they are eating. Go camping or join in with your kids to see their sports games or be a youth leader in your religion or in scouting. YOU will have fun and you will have less headaches with your kids not getting into trouble.