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In a recent study found in Pediatrics, it was discovered that a probiotic called Lactobacillus reuteri may help to ease the symptoms of colic in infants. The peer had ninety breastfed infants of the same gestational age participate. Eighty three of these infants completed the perceive according to the requirements (ie their parents kept a diary, infants were not on antibiotics during the contemplate, etc). In order to develop a control for the study, all the babies were exclusively breastfed. The mother of the infant was to sustain a food diary to prove that she had avoided dairy during the course of the study. The infants were of similar age, similar birth weights, and had symptoms of colic, crying at least 3 hours a day for at least 3 days a week. These infants had all shown the first signs of colic 5-7 days before the peruse started. The witness was conceived when another researcher found that colicky infants consistently had a lower amount of beneficial probiotic intestinal flora. An experiment was performed to witness if supplementing with probiotics would ease the symptoms of colic.

In the study, forty-one of the infants, randomly selected, had received 5 drops of an oil suspension probiotic containing 100 million colony of Lactobacillus reuteri 30 minutes after a feeding, once daily for 28 days. At the start of this spy, the infants in this probiotic group were crying on average 197 minutes per day with a range of 80-276 minutes/day. Forty-two of the infants, randomly selected, received simethicone, an anti-gas medication found in Mylicon. They were given 15 drops, twice a day after feeding. At the start of the study, the infants in the simethicone group were crying on average 197 minutes per day with a range of 80-278 minutes/day. Parents were asked to record the length and number of colic episodes during the course of the glimpse. They were also asked to represent number and consistency of bowel movements and any observed adverse effects that may influence the results of the experiment. The infants were reexamined on days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 by the same pediatrician. No adverse reactions took place in either group during the course of the experiment.

The study found that after day 7, the infants that were taking the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri were crying on average 159 minutes per day. The infants that were taking the simethicone were crying 177 minutes per day on average after day 7. The results were even better after day 28, with the probiotic group crying only 51 minutes per day, compared to the simethicone group crying 145 minutes per day on average. It was discovered that 95% of the infants taking the probiotic responded favorably to the treatment while only 7% of the infants taking the simethicone responded favorably to the treatment. The dissimilarity in crying time between the two groups after 28 days was 94 minutes a day. Any parents that have dealt with colic first hand can tell you that this is a huge difference.

The researchers have concluded that probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri may be key in easing the symptoms of colic in an infant, and that the lack of this important intestinal flora may be an explanation for colic . The probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri is found to be a safe alternative to many of the current treatments used to treat colic symptoms. BioGaia AB produced the probiotic oil suspension used in this study. BioGaia is available commercially.

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Relief is on the Way

If you have a colicky baby, my thoughts are with you. Really! There is nothing worse than dealing with a baby that has colic. Or having a crying baby that you can’t seem to calm down; add that to sleepless nights, and you have one exhausted parent. And even taking the little one to the doctor may not relieve the constant crying that is often associated with a colicky baby.

Whether your baby has one of the following signs or you’ve dealt with a colicky baby before, finding the right cure is vital to your babies and your future sleep. A baby’s discomfort from colic can rein havoc on a family. Thanks to remedies that have been mom approved, you can regain the perfect colic solution for your baby and your family.

Does your baby have Colic:

The baby cries for long periods of time without being consoled.

The baby shows signs of gas.

The baby shows symptoms of crying occurring at the same time each day. Or is just nonstop throughout the day.

Has constant fussiness, or irritability.

Colic Pain Relief

Although there is no single cause for colic, there are ways to not only help your colicky baby, but find relief for yourself as well. Have no fear; there are ways to succor this pain that the colicky baby endures. You just have to try things until you come by the right remedy for your baby. And when your baby finds relief to the discomfort and pain, the whole family will rest easier.

Different things to try with a Colicky Baby

I am sure all the parents who are indeed dealing with this very baby issue are nodding their heads. No matter what you’ve done, the baby is still crying. Stir until you can’t walk any more. Rock the colicky baby in the rocking chair. Recall a drive all in hopes the colicky baby will finally find some sleep. And yes, I am distinct you’ve even tried sitting on the washer in hopes that the sound would calm the crying baby.

Other possible suggestions to back the colic are a baby swing, instrumental music, and rubbing the baby’s stomach.

Herb for Colic Relief

Peppermint is known to help colicky babies. You can either bag the peppermint at your local health store. Because you can buy the peppermint in drop form, you can place a drop under the babies tongue for instant relief.

Another option is to try Colic Calm Gripe Water, which you can buy online. This is a mom approved remedy that is a completely safe and natural remedy.

Sources:

http://www.coliccalm.com/baby_infant_newborn_articles/baby_colic_treatment.htm

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The Mayo Clinic defines colic as crying in a newborn that lasts more than three hours a day, at least three days per week. Colic among infants isn’t anything new and is quite common. Unfortunately, colic causes discomfort for a baby. This often leaves parents feeling helpless.

When your newborn baby continues to cry day after day, it also takes a toll on you. My second daughter was born crying day and night for the first two and a half months of her life. I remember feeling exhausted and extremely stressed out. I also had a two year archaic at the time and felt like I wasn’t able to give her the attention she deserved because I was always trying to get the baby to stop crying.

There are many different treatments for colic, although there is no cure. Colic usually goes away after the first few months of a newborn’s life, but can last up to the baby’s first birthday. Your pediatrician can give you some excellent suggestions on how to hold your baby to relieve some of the discomfort, and how to make certain your baby is getting the least amount of air through his or her bottle. These will relieve. Another treatment that has been quite effective is the use of gripe water.

There are a few different brands of gripe water on the market, but you should stick with an herbal gripe water. This is because herbal gripe water products do not have side effects, making them the safest choice for your baby. They are not made with alcohol like some other forms of gripe water. Compose clear you read the packaging designate carefully before you choose a gripe water for your baby. You will also want to gain sure the gripe water is approved by the FDA (not all gripe water is).

Read the instructions on the particular gripe water you purchased. Shake the bottle up and then fill the dropper with the designated amount of gripe water. Shoot the gripe water in your baby’s mouth. Try to place it in the baby’s cheek so that the baby doesn’t spit it succor out. If your baby doesn’t like the taste of the gripe water, you can mix it with an ounce of water or diluted juice. Then let your baby drink it straight from a bottle.

Order the employ of the gripe water as instructed in the directions. Some gripe water products are safe to use multiple times throughout the day. The gripe water is fast-acting, so you can expect to see results in as little as five minutes.

Warning:
Do not store the gripe water in the refrigerator. It should be kept at room temperature.

Sources:

“Colic,” Mayo Clinic.

“Best Remedy for Colic Newborns,” Gripe Water Guide.

“Gripe Water,” Colic-Baby-Bootcamp.com

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In my article Emotional Needs of You and Your Newborn, I covered mostly the emotional needs of both baby and yourself. I was amazed upon speaking to Mom’s to be how many things that were of the unknown to them. I would like to screen at least the basics.

Physical Needs If You Are Breastfeeding

One of the most important physical needs of the modern Mom if she is breastfeeding a proper, well balanced diet. A lot of Moms when they come home are anxious to find to their “pre baby” body. Don’t hurry this, the weight will come off. It used to be said that the breast feeding Mom needed to recall in five hundred extra calories a day. Experts have now come to the conclusion this is not the same for everyone. Women have varying weights and activity levels so this means varying caloric needs. As long as Mom eats well balanced healthy meals she should meet the caloric needs she has to keep up with the physical changes within her body. If you are breastfeeding, you need to contemplate of everything you put into your body, as it will then be passed on to your baby through your milk. Abstain from alcohol and smoking and cut back on caffeine if you are breastfeeding. Remember, what you eat, they eat. Besides the obvious, and staying away from alcohol, medicine, and smoking, you also need to keep in mind what may make the baby gassy. A baby with gas pains definitely will not be ecstatic, and in turn will make youunhappy and more friendly to exhaustion.

Foods that could beget your baby gassy if you are breast feeding:
Turnips
brussel sprouts
garlic
cabbage
onion
pepper
broccoli
cucumbers

If You Are Bottle Feeding

Back when I had my kids, we boiled everything. The bottles, nipples, the water before we added it to the formula all for sterilization. This no longer holds true, and for a gracious reason. Researchers have found that boiling bottles, or adding boiling water to bottles makes a chemical within the plastic bottles leach out. This chemical is called BPA, or Bisphenol A. After studies done at Harvard, it was found that the chemical leaches out and shows up in the urine even after normal use with no boiling, but that when boiling liquids went into these bottles, as much as sixty nine percent more of the chemical leached out. Because of these studies, researchers are now looking to replace this chemical found in plastic bottles. So remember, a good old-fashioned fashioned hand washing of these bottles will do for now.

The Healing Process

Your doctor probably told you to give your body six weeks to recover. Besides that, they usually don’t go into too much. The hormones that sustained your baby during pregnancy will now win a real nose dive. The hormones drop ninety percent in two days. This may cause some weepiness, but not too noteworthy, and they even out stunning nicely after that initial two days. If you delivered vaginally, you will be quite sore, but there are steps to take that will help. If there was an episiotomy, you must acquire special care to avoid infection where the stitches are. Keep a squirt bottle in your bathroom, and squirt yourself clean after every bathroom use. Besides cutting down infection rates, this also soothes the area. Keep a jar of Tucks Wipes to the bottle. These wipes kind of look like acne pads, and are so soothing and useful. Use these to gently wipe the area down, and you can even keep a couple in your panty liner this will greatly reduce the swelling you experience after birth.

Sex After Baby is Born

The typical amount of time your doctor will issue you to wait is four to six weeks. There is a very good reason for waiting. Your body just underwent some major trauma and needs to recover. The lining of the uterus is particularly susceptible to infection right now. Not only should sex be avoided because of this, but also the use of tampons and douching, anything at all that would enter the vagina can cause a major infection. Another thing to watch for is you may have lacerations, and or tears inside which bacteria can enter through also. Depending on what measure of birth control is decided you may have to wait because of that also. Many women hold they cannot get pregnant while breastfeeding. If you use this method, it only works if you exclusively nurse. No supplemental formula bottles, and no pacifiers, nursing exclusively. The baby needs to eat every four hours or less in order for this method to work.

Rest

It sounds impossible, but earn as much rest as possible following delivery. Your body uses your resting time as its healing time. Ask your partner to take care of the baby while you take a much needed nap. Again, don’t fret over housework, it will still be there when you’re feeling better, no sense in pushing now.

Nutrition

Eat many small meals instead of three large ones. Make these meals count by including fruits and vegetables. Continue using your prenatal vitamins. When your body has the proper nutrients it will heal much faster. Don’t forget to stay well hydrated, drink plenty of water during the day, and don’t forget calcium enriched foods and drinks. If you take care of yourself postpartum, you will heal faster and be ready to indulge in the fantastic baby you brought into this world.

With proper care, and by listening to your own body’s cues, physical recovery of giving birth will happen pretty quickly. Remember, by feeling physically better, your emotions and overall happiness will come about without too much time passing. Remember, caring for yourself is caring for your baby.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_breast-milk-interactions-chart_8788.bc
http://pregnancy.families.com/blog/recovery-after-childbirth
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080130092108.htm

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As with many mothers, I was shocked when I learned in the delivery room that my baby had a cleft lip. I can level-headed remember it vividly. The doctors were reassuring me that everything would be fine, but that my son did have a cleft lip. As they handed the bright pink screaming baby boy to me, my baby boy, I didn’t care. He was healthy. He was mine. And he was here! I wasn’t sure what would happen, but I promised my baby that we would get through it together. But I wasn’t prepared for the feeding difficulties that would accompany his cute little crooked face as my husband calls it.

I had always planned to breastfeed my son, but now I wasn’t sure. While in the hospital we had to bottle feed him, because he refused to nurse (my milk hadn’t come in yet). It was a trying time. He took in so much air when he ate. My son has an incomplete left cleft lip, so as I cradled him in my left arm, I held the bottle with my right hand and was able to wrap my pinky finger around the nipple and cover the gap in his lip. This helped to reduce the air dramatically, but he was still very gassy and fussy because of the large amounts of air that filled his stomach. He burped often six times or more during each feeding, and the air still filled his tummy. He wasn’t able to eat enough because of it. He would procure hungry very frequently, but only be able to eat small portions.

When we got home from the hospital, I began feeding him with the Avent Newborn bottle. The nipple is very large and was able to mostly fill in the gap in his lip. Once my milk came in a few days later, I began nursing him. The Avent bottle no longer worked for him because the effort of getting the milk from the bottle became too much for him and he would tire quickly into each feeding and descend asleep. I nursed him exclusively for two months. It was wonderful. My son grew well and took in very little air when he ate because my breast made up for the gap in his lip. At first, it was difficult for him to get a secure latch and he would become impatient. The lactation and speech therapy departments at the hospital where I delivered worked with me to help him to latch correctly. I had to alternate the holds I used while nursing him based upon his mood. The football and mature cradle hold worked the best.

But as my son turned two months old, he began eating more milk than I could effect. It was very frustrating for the both of us. I began the trial of supplementing with formula, but the inconsistency was too much for him to handle. He would sometimes want to nurse and then others would want the bottle. I struggled with the decision, but finally decided with my husbands back that bottle feeding would be best. I tried the highly recommended VentAire bottles by Playtex, but the nipple was too hard and small. My son became gassy and fussy again due to the tremendous quantities of air he too in. I switched again to another system, one I remembered my mom using with my youngest sister who was also sensitive to air. The Playtex Drop-In system has done wonders for my son. From the minute he began using them, I could hear that no air went in as he sucked on the bottle. The nipples are large and soft, very similar to breastfeeding, and this combined with the drop-in bags that shrink as the baby drinks, no air gets in his tummy.

Unfortunately, he unexcited was fussy after mealtimes and spit up frequently. He was on the Similac Advance Infant formula that the hospital recommended. I switched him to the Similac Sensitive Formula, and the problem was solved once his body had time to adjust to the change in formula. After a month of strictly bottle feeding, he is now eating homemade baby food that I prepare for him. Teaching a cleft baby to eat from a spoon was no easy feat. It was and is still very messy. But it was worth it. I bought the rubber coated infant spoons and started him on fruits and rice cereal. Patience is the key to spoon feeding. I began slowly introducing foods, only about a tablespoon at a time. He loves the sweet taste of fruit, but he still has a strong need to suck. At first I would spoon a little food in his mouth and he would gulp it down like milk. After about a week of that, he learned to spend his tongue to move the food in his mouth and he now swallows normally. However it is still very messy. The food always moves through the gap in his lip and up into his left nostril as he eats. I have not found a way to prevent this. I simply clean his nose out with a q-tip after every other feeding. And like all babies, food drips down his chin to his clothes. A healthy supply of bibs will save you from having to change baby’s outfit after every feeding. Once he finishes his now 1/2 cup of baby food, he drinks about 4.5 oz of formula.

It is unbelievable how far we have come to have our happy, healthy baby. I no longer dread feeding times and the subsequent fussiness and gassiness that frail to occur. Now, my son is very content after each feeding and is gaining weight rapidly. At three and a half months, he is almost double his birth weight of 7.3 lbs and has outgrown much of his wardrobe. I strongly recommend the Playtex Drop-In bottles and introducing baby food to your child at the appropriate time. I hope my experience helps you have a happy feeding experience with your cleft baby.

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Unless you are one of the few that are thriving in this globally downturned economy, expecting a baby is a welcome but extremely expensive surprise. Between maternity items that have been marked up three or four times to baby furniture that threatens to clean out your bank account, not to mention medical expenses, you may wonder how you will ever be able to care for your child without having to secure a second or third job.

Follow these money-saving tips to save literally hundreds of dollars in baby and maternity related expenses.

Opting for secondhand clothes and items

Once you secure out that your family is expecting a new baby, begin asking your friends, coworkers, and family members if they have any secondhand items that they do not want. I was fortunate enough to have a superior friend let me borrow three huge boxes of maternity clothes, a sister who gave me all of her little girl’s infant clothes, and a loving mother-in-law who is always on e-bay searching for baby items at reduced prices. Obvious things, like a car seat, should never be bought secondhand, but most other items can be. Obviously, if you have children already, see what you can reuse for the new baby, from dressers to clothes to toys.

Pace your baby expenses

Gauge what you have to buy now by the age of your child. Your baby will not need a high chair or even a full crib for several months. A basinet can easily last your child those few months you need to save up for the crib. If you lift a Playard, you can have a basinet that later does double duty as a portable crib.

Avoid high cost unnecessary baby items

Be wary of items that are considered “must-haves” but are actually just gimmicks to dupe new parents. Examples of unnecessary high cost baby items are walkers, deluxe mats, cribs, and cradles, almost anything that is hyper electronic, video baby monitors, a diaper genie, and wipe warmers (a hand does just fine). Make a list of true must-haves, such as a car seat, a crib, a bassinet, and a stroller. Almost anything else can wait until you have the funds. Also, avoid any baby educational videos. According to CNN, studies have shown that baby videos are not as effective as a parent, and actually may lead to overstimulation and other problems.

Check out the Freecycle Network for free baby furniture

Set up through Yahoo groups and entirely grassroots organization, the Freecycle Network strives to crop waste by setting up local groups that give away furniture, electronics, and other items for free. Click on the link, find your city, and then see what is being given away in your local neighborhood. There is no cost to you, except picking up the item. You can also post what you need, for example, a baby crib. This is a great way to place hundreds of dollars and attend the environment to boot!

SOURCES:
Madison Park, “Study: Want a smart baby? TV’s not going to help”, CNNhealth.com.

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Town Place Suites is one of Marriott’s newest endeavors. This looks like an apartment complex and is designed for long-term travellers… like those relocating or on a set-term work contract. They offer studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom suites… all with fully equipped kitchens, large work spaces with 2 phone lines with free high hasten Internet access (but not wireless), personalized voice mail, and on-site business services (such as fax and photocopies). There is a guest laundry on premises, and same-day dry cleaning available.

Location-wise, it’s in a very residential area of Falls Church, about 6 or 7 miles outside DC and only 1 mile from the east Falls Church Metro site. This is set up with two buildings in an L shape, with the runt outdoor pool at the junction of the two buildings. It’s heavenly cold right now so the pool is covered with a plastic tarp, but the area looks clean and would be lively during the warmer months.

The Town Place Suites office is more like a rental office than a hotel lobby. They have free coffee in the first room you enter, and then the desk is in the next petite room. The staff here is very upbeat and friendly. We went down about everyday for extras like shampoo and decaf coffee. Never an eyebrow raised.

The room buildings have the doors facing the hallway inside, and you have the option of taking the very nice stairway or the elevator up to your floor. The carpet looks brand new so I’m wondering how long this has been open.

We went with a studio suite so upon entering there is a large closet to the left, and a very nice size bathroom to the right. I hate cramped bathrooms so this was nice to see. It’s white tile and a medium toned wood, with a large mirror over the sink area and another full sized mirror on the wall behind the door. They supply shampoo and soap, but you can also get things like razors and toothbrushes from the office. There is a small blow dryer on the wall. The water pressure is very good, with plenty of nice hot water.

Farther in you find a small but full kitchen to the right, and a decent sized work desk to the left. The kitchen is fully equipped with full size fridge, microwave, stove, dishwasher, and service for 3. They supply both dish soap and soap for the dishwasher. The coffeemaker is an 8-cup Braun so you don’t have to wait forever for it to brew in the morning. Sweeeeet.

The desk is more than sufficient for our laptop, and is big enough to double as a dining table if you prefer. There are two wooden chairs with it.

Beyond this is a cramped sitting area with a loveseat and cushy chair facing the 19″ Phillips TV (full cable) on a fairly nice wooden stand with a drawer. There is also a large square demolish table between the loveseat and chair, and a coffee table in front of the savor seat with an artificial yet nice flower plan. In front off all this is the Queen size bed with tables on both sides. Another sweeeeeeeeeeet.

The decor is an unobtrusive green and cream. Very relaxing. The two paintings in the room are of tasteful floral arrangements. There is no view to speak of, the parking lot, but like I said, this is a residential setting designed to make you feel at home… it’s not a tourist destination.

The housekeeping is limited. They arrive once a week and do everything, then another once a week for a refresh of your supplies. Anything you need in the meantime may be picked up in the office though.

There is no restaurant here, but plenty fairly close. There is an ABC liquor store, a Rite-Aid, and an Indian grocery store suitable off the hotel parking lot, with a 7-11 unhurried those. There is also a Laredo Taco across the street if you don’t feel like getting in your car.

Some of the other area restaurants include Applebee’s, Everest Kabob & Tandoor, Italian Cafe, Big Street Grill, and Ireland’s Four Provinces. I’ll add links to full reviews of a few of those as soon as I get them posted… Most of these places deliver free with a minimum $15 order.

Towne Place Suites does let you bring your pets, but they charge a one-time non-refundable $100 deposit to do so.

Check-in: 3:00 PM; Checkout: 12:00 PM

The parking is free, but not covered.

All in all, I’d stay at Town Place Suites again. This was a very nice room with all fresh everything. We feel quite comfortable here and I just adore the staff. Do book from their website, they offer the best deal themselves. Also, rates go down depending on how long you are staying. My only gripe, really, is that the walls are impartial a little bit thin… not a major pickle during our cease, but I could hear the person next door showering every morning.

205 Hillwood Ave.
Falls Church, VA 22046
Phone: 1 703-237-6172
Fax: 1 703-237-6173

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When my youngest daughter, Noel, was a baby she had terrible gas. She would scrunch up her legs and sob and I felt helpless. I quickly learned there were a few products I needed to keep in the house in case another attack of gas came. These products worked for me quite well.

1. Mylicon Infant Dye Free Drops. Do not be fooled by any imitators. Mylicon drops have been around for a long time and for good reason. They work! They abet your infant of the gas pressure and allow the gas to pass through. You can give them to your baby straight up or you can mix the drops with 1 ounce of water, formula, or breast milk. Infants of any age can grasp them and they don’t have any other drug interactions.

2. Colic Calm Gripe Water. This product sounds like it is impartial for treating colic. Colicky babies usually suffer from gas and this product does work to cure the gas. It is FDA approved so parents can feel confident that it has been tested and found excellent for infants. What is great about this product is that it is all natural and has no side effects. It also works instantly to abet the gas so that your infant can relax and get some sleep.

3. Hylands Colic Tablets. These tablets are placed under your infants tongue where they will dissolve. I used these tablets more often that the gripe water because my baby didn’t make a face, and couldn’t understand how to spit it out since the tablets went under the tongue. They dissolve instantly and close any spasms associated with the gas.

4. Diminutive Tummys Gas Relief Drops for Infants & Children. This product works the same way as the Mylicon drops do because they contain the same ingredient-Simethicone. There are no dyes, artificial flavors, alcohol, or saccharin to be worried about. Just give your baby the amount of drops instructed on the packaging and it will begin to work in a couple of minutes. Pediatricians do recommend this brand which is why I have included it even though I strictly used the Mylicon drops.

5. Tummy Warmer Packet. You can buy these tummy warmers in expressionless colors or attached to a character like Elmo. You state these warmers in the microwave for 20 seconds and then set them on your baby’s tummy. They work to break up the gas naturally and provide your infant with some relief from the pain. What is great about these packets is that they can be used in later years as an ice pack. You just put them in the freezer for 1-2 hours.

The best way to relieve infant gas is to try to prevent your infant from getting too much air in his or her stomach. Make sure you are holding your baby right during feedings and use bottles that are designed to finish your baby from drinking any air.

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Domestic Violence (spousal abuse or domestic abuse) is life threatening. The conditioning of emotional abuse induces self-loathing and fear eventually transforming to battering intimidation of terroristic threats and in some cases, sexual violence.

It is difficult to break the chains of spousal abuse once you are living with it. If you are not a person who has experienced domestic abuse you probably think it should be easy to get out, but it isn’t.

To truly understand why victims of domestic abuse cease in these terrible situations you have to compare the situation to a bad habit. Most bad habits are very difficult to wreck, and when a person has been broke down beyond repair the situation becomes helpless.

Spousal abuse is the bad habit of letting a spouse control, who you talk to, who you are friends with, where you go, how you dress. Domestic violence can make you loose your job, loose touch with family and friends, forget your moral values and in the worst case of all, jeopardizes the safety of your life and the lives of children.

With persistence and self-respect over time the human mind can accomplish anything. Getting benefit what was taken from you is one of the most difficult tasks when you hadn’t even realized your personality was missing.

Domestic violence breaks down everything you ever stood for, making who you once were a distant memory. You don’t have to live this scheme, break the cycle. Get out before it’s too late.

Ending the violence is done in only one design, escape. Freeing oneself from domestic abuse is easy, getting up the nerve to actually do it is easier said than done.

The following is impartial one of my stories but it is the most important one because it’s the fable of how I realized my entire life was spinning out of control and how I decided to remove myself and my children from an extremely life threatening situation.

Hand painting ceramics has always been an uncouth passion of mine. I attended my first class at age 5 and for the duration of my life, painting would be an important part of it.

In 1993 and again in 1994 I celebrated the birth of my children and life was picture perfect. I had the ideal family, a husband, a daughter and a son. Tiny did I know that all my dreams for a happy life were about to be destroyed.

When I was about to have my second baby, my husband would make unkind remarks about my weight during the last few months of my pregnancy, and usually making me cry.

After the baby was born my husband handed me a pager and instructed me to call him right away if he beeped. I took my babies everywhere I went and one day when I was out shopping the pager went off. I was at the check out counter and had planned to go directly home after, so I ignored the beeping completely.

As I arrived home about 10 or 15 minutes later I noticed a mess in the driveway that I couldn’t quite recognize. When I exited my car I was looking down trying to figure out what on earth was in the driveway.

I proceeded down the driveway looking at the items strewn about and that was when I realized what it was I was seeing. I picked up the first item, my hands began to shake and the tears pooled up into puddles of heartbreak.

I quick slipped the broken piece into my pocket and noticed him looking at me through the kitchen window with a enormous elephantine smile on his face. Then I looked over at my babies in the car.

I sucked up the tears and brought the children and the groceries in the house. As I settled in the children and arranged the groceries he just sat in his chair drinking a beer and smiling.

My heart was pounding and I knew that if I had said anything about what was in my pocket his reaction would terrify the children so I achingly kept calm.

I do the kids down for a nap and was proceeding to clean up the kitchen when he came in and demanded to know why I didn’t call him when he beeped me. I was shaking; my brain was humming so loud I could barely hear his voice talking.

The image of the contents of my pocket was embedded in my mind. I hadn’t gone outside to watch fair how bad it was but in my heart I knew it was even worse than I could imagine.

I just stood there staring at him in shock I wanted to break down and cry. Then he grabbed me and told me that if I ever ignored his page again he was going to do the same to the two things I loved the most and then left the house.

I put the kids down for a nap grabbed a garbage bag and summoned up enough courage to go outside. It took a few minutes to even open up the door, I just looked out the window.

I was putting them back together in my mind as my eyes panned frantically around the driveway. I checked to see if the kids were asleep and opened the door.

Every action slow motion as my feet fumbled below me. Tears at this point uncontrollable and the shaking, that awful shaking I’ll never forget it.

The first piece I picked up jiggled in my pocked as I curved in agonizing heartache picking up the broken pieces of my life. Every brush stroke an extension of my soul smashed to pieces on the cruel cold blacktop. Remnants so small they resembled chalk dust.

I picked up a piece of chimney and a section of window, items that were once priceless one of kind masterpieces were completely destroyed. My entire Christmas Village was gone.

I had spent hours upon hours over 20 years to complete this collection filled with love and happiness. He demolished them in an instant, all because I didn’t answer his stupid pager.

I stood over the broken pieces of my life thinking about the past few months of mental and physical domestic violence which led me to this point.

I swept up the last shards of the once splendid works of art and peered into the garbage bag as my tears splashed down on the broken bits of Christmas. Wondering how I ever let it get this bad and thought about what he had said.

The only thing in the world I love more than my art is my children and he wasn’t ever going to threaten me with them again. I knew at that moment the only choice I had was to rush. I needed to pack up my children and get out before the domestic violence that I had been suffering through turned to my children.

I wasn’t about to wait another minute, I went into the house and began to pack. I was almost done packing the car when he busted in the door and asked me where I notion I was going.

I told him that I was going to finish with my mother for a few days and that was it, I received a beating that almost killed me. The children, thank God, slept through the entire ordeal and before it was over the police were at my door demanding to be let in.

My husband held me down with his hand over my mouth and told me if I made a sound he was going to end me. All I could reflect about where my babies innocently sleeping in the other room.

Without thinking, I bit his hand and screamed as loud as I could. He proceeded to beat me in the face and chest and just when I belief I was going to die the police kicked in the side door and pulled him off of me. That was the last time my children and I ever saw their father.

Domestic violence made me blind to the love I had for myself. My passion for my art was the only thing that made me realize that the situation I was in wasn’t going to get any better and if he could do this to my beautiful things knowing how much they meant to me what was preventing him from hurting my children.

I wasn’t going to stick around to find out honest how far he would go. Unwilling to gamble with the lives of my children I signed a domestic violence restraining order and had him imprisoned for 5 years.

After that, it took me years before I was able to paint again, but as you can see by the photographs attached to this article I am support and better than ever.

I’m sharing this story so everyone out there who thinks domestic violence is something that will just go away, it won’t. Domestic violence is an illness that there is no cure, if you are in a location of domestic abuse you need to bag out before someone gets killed.

If children are in the mix it will teach them the same traits and their lives will most likely have the same outcome. Do it for yourself but if you have children do it for them. I didn’t want my son growing up thinking that to show treasure you have to hit and I didn’t want my daughter learning that getting hit is love.

Control is a major factor in domestic violence, don’t let you become controlled be an independent and if a spouse won’t let that be an option, get out before it’s too unhurried. There are many resources for victims of domestic violence, don’t be fearful to get help. You didn’t get to this point alone and you will not get out alone, ask for help.

Anything worth having doesn’t come easy, rolling over and playing dead is not the way to acknowledge when dealing with an abusive spouse because dead is where you will eventually destroy up.

When I escaped I was attending group therapy with other battered spouses and I had already got out, but most of the people in the group would come to the session with broken arms and bruises all over their faces and arms. They would cry and say I love them, they didn’t mean it. I had to stop going to group because these people were making me crazy.

I was passed that point and trying to get on with my unusual life and these people would just leave the group at the demolish of the session, after crying and telling their sad tales and then go back to the person who was beating the living hell out of them. Most had children too.

I would leave the group upset to the point where I couldn’t even drive home right away because I wouldn’t be able to close crying. I know what it is like to be afraid to leave. I was disturbed too, but if you are being abused and a victim of domestic violence get assist and get out.

I was afraid to be alone and have to support two babies in diapers with no job and no money, but I did it. I was worried about where my next meal was going to reach from and there were many nights I ate peanut butter and jelly just to survive, but I did.

Sure I was panicked about my children growing up without a father and because I didn’t have a father growing up I stayed in a violent relationship thinking it will get better, but it only got worse, it always gets worse.

Children and adults all over the world suffer the repercussions of domestic violence. If you are a victim of domestic violence or know someone who is contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline, http://www.ndvh.org/. They are located at PP Box 761810, Austin, Texas 78716 or call 1 (800) 799-SAFE (7233) / 1 (800) 787-3224 (TTY) for more information.

Remember, you are the only one who can do anything about your space, if domestic violence has you in its grasp, turn your back on it and procure out. Don’t go back because they say they are sorry, how many times they have said that before. You deserve a better life and so do the children. Spousal abuse is no joke; get out while you still can.

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Any parent who has dealt with a colicky infant knows that aside from the loss of sleep, the stress of hearing a crying baby for hours on end, and the guilt from not being able to adequately care for the infant, one of the most devastating side effects is the profound loneliness they feel.

Mention to someone on the phone that the baby cries a lot and you might hear: “Why, dear, that’s what babies do!” or “Good. Strengthens their lungs.” Or any other untrue and unhelpful clichés.

Colic in infants has long been defined by the rule of threes: three hours of crying a day for at least three days a week over a period of at least three weeks. This is hardly useful or helpful to the desperate parent who doesn’t want to wait three weeks to see if their wailing infant has colic or not.

A new Infant Behavior, Yell and Sleep Clinic is trying to change all that. This clinic is affectionately known as the Colic Clinic and is a collaboration between Brown University, Brown Medical School and Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. This clinic takes a revolutionary and research driven approach to finding out why the baby is crying.

And that’s not all. The Colic Clinic believes as firmly in paying attention to the psychological needs of the bewildered, stressed parents too. Clinical psychologists and social workers are available at each appointment to listen to the needs, fears, and questions of the parents, notably the mother. Dr. Twomey who works at the clinic in addition to being an assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown Medical School, believes that validation of the parents’ difficulties is the most important component in treating the colic.

Many mothers of a colicky or fussy infant feel that it is their fault, that they just aren’t coping well with the stresses of motherhood. Dr. Twomey and her colleagues believe that unaddressed colic can strain a marriage, and even the parent-child relationship. Mothers can develop a bond with their child that is either too distant out of self-preservation, or too conclude out of a understanding that the mother is the only one who can help the child.

Colic in infants takes another toll on mom, too. A strong link has been discovered between postpartum depression and inconsolable or “high-needs” babies. A depressed mom caring for a colicky newborn is dangerous to both. Moms need to be told to buy care of themselves, that they are doing the best they can, and that the crying is not their fault.

But the Colic Clinic believes, unlike many medical practitioners, that there is a reason and therefore a cure for colic. Instead of the above mentioned “rule of threes”, Dr. Lester who founded the Colic Clinic, is a bit more specific about the symptoms of colic. If a baby’s cry has a sudden onset; if the cry is intense and piercing; if the infant struggles in apparent harm, such as pulling her legs to her chest, doubling over, clenching muscles in her arms and legs; and is unable to respond to her parents’ attempts to comfort her, that baby is said to have colic.

Some treatments involve feeding problems. Babies with gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD for instance will cry inconsolably. GERD is explained more fully in this article. Some babies with colic exhibit signs of food allergies; some studies indicate that as many as 75% of fussy babies have an intolerance to the protein found in milk or soy, or both. Further information on dairy intolerances can be found in this article.

For some babies, the prescription could be thickening the formula with cereal; taking a medication like Zantac to reduce the acid the stomach produces; switching to hypoallergenic formula or modifying a breastfeeding woman’s diet. Other changes like helping babies to eat a “full meal” instead of “snacking” every hour or so can help, too. Many babies experience relief by using wedge pillows and keeping the baby just for 20-30 minutes after each feeding. Babies with GERD are often in injure when they lie flat.

Sometimes, schedules, routines and some help with self-soothing can be the key. There is some evidence that certain babies, and later children and even adults, are objective more sensitive to atmosphere, sounds, smells and other irritants unnoticed by the general population. For that reason and others, the practitioners at the Infant Behavior, Cry and Sleep Clinic encourage the exhaust of a “cry diary”. This can help to pinpoint time of day, before or after feeding, and other possible causes for the inconsolable, high-pitched wailing common to colic.

These strategies do help, say the blissful parents. But most of all, the magic words “We can help you” bring relief.