in response to AidpageTeam...   How can you edit and delte old Blog Post?

 in response to Inspiration...   Thank you so much Sherry...right now things are going one day at a time, the only thing I can think of is maybe check out my Listia post...I want to try to do things myself as much as possible so I am trying to find alternative things that allow me to help myself via the help of others (the i scratch your back you scratch mine idea.lol).If you know anyone that likes jewlery,candles,clocks,or collect things,ect,ect,ect. I can hook you up with my business (trying to make some money I got my business up and going) I dont have a website,but I can email mini fliers I have made. Oh remember Safelink...still a NO, I tried to check on it and they said I never sent them the mail-in application (and I did that back in February).

 in response to Starshine...   When the door closes to an open window look out it,there might be an open door on the outside... (or thats what we are learning as a copeing phrase that is suppose to help us find the good in all bad things....) Thank you!!! I cant wait...Ive missed her so much. But Im also glad that she wasnt around to see me at my weakest when I couldnt even leave my bed I was so sad.

 in response to Starshine...   Very mixed emotions still alot of confuession. ha my health, well the good thing about the greivance center is they have a doctor that checks you out. Ive been wearing a holter monitor and many stress test, this whole ordeal with having LK and him being in surgery after surgery and his passing has taken its tol on my health, the doctor said my heart cant take much more stress. I have been on herbal remedies treating depression,Im glad the doctor is great and doesnt push unessisary pills. Because when I came I wouldnt talk,i locked myself in my room refuesed to eat for 2 days on day 3 they 302'd me to suicide watch...ugh so imbarrissing. Now they understand that i wasnt suicidale that was my dealing with saddness. that was....grrr...Im still shooken up and feeling traumatised by that experiance.
Thank you for prayers and concernes!

 in response to Starshine...   at UPMC Children hospital, LaKota has spots on his brain that are hemeragging,his brain is swelling and he is in emergancy surgery to relive it and hopefully stop the bleeding. they found that he has a tare in his lower bowl and thats why he hasnt pooped sense Saturday morning. continueing to pray he pulls thru,his chances are slim to none according to the doctors.They said if he pulls thru he has a 65% of being a vegitable the rest of his life.Thank you everyone for the support. Thank you for keeping us in prayer. LK is in Gods hands and I can only pray.It is very hard very saddining. I keep asking why he came so early if he was going to suffer so much...the doctors cant even answer that.

 in response to desertdreamer...   Thank you so much....(and thank you to everyone else for your prayers). these have been very long and very hard past few days. there is so much i need to update about him but its so hard to write. Lakota has started having seizures, he has a kidney infection and they said he has johndus. We will be going to a children hospital tonight once the helicopter is cleared to fly.LaKota has round the clock nurse & doctor care.
Thank you all for keeping LK in your prayers.

 in response to Starshine...   our DMV's are hour-hour in half away.
thank you.

 in response to positive thoughts...   I was aloud once, but I havent today he has been with heart specialist getting test.

 in response to Starshine...   oh,in a sense thats good i guess,Here we can still call the DMV and they will mail it out.
I hope your leg gets better soon.

 in response to Starshine...   cant you call the DMV and they will issue you a new one? you can get i think up to 3 replacements here.
Contact Brian and they will remove the red car symbol from your page,until you can actually get it.

 in response to Starshine...   I accepted your friend request and returned vote.thanks again. nice to see another person on my friendlist got the call from Reggie.

 in response to Starshine...   Thank you!

About Preemies
Premature infants, known as preemies, come into the world earlier than full-term infants. Prematurity occurs when a pregnancy lasts less than 37 weeks; full-term infants are born 37 to 42 weeks after the mother's last menstrual period (LMP).

Often, the cause of preterm delivery is unknown and not within the mother's control. However, sometimes it's caused by the mother's health conditions or lifestyle choices during pregnancy, such as having diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart or kidney problems, an infection (particularly infections involving the amniotic membranes, and genital and urinary tracts), poor nutrition during pregnancy, or bleeding due to abnormal positioning of the placenta.

Also, preterm delivery can happen due to structural abnormality or overstretching of the uterus by carrying more than one fetus (twins, triplets, or more) or using tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs during pregnancy. Preterm deliveries occur with greater frequency among women younger than 19 or older than 40, and among those with a previous preterm delivery.

However, any woman may have a baby prematurely, and many who do have no known causing factors.

Preemies have many special needs that make their care different from that of full-term infants, which is why they often begin their lives after delivery in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The NICU is designed to provide an atmosphere that limits stress to the infant and meets basic needs of warmth, nutrition, and protection to assure proper growth and development.

Due to many recent advances, more than 90% of premature babies who weigh 800 grams or more (a little less than 2 pounds) survive. Those who weigh more than 500 grams (a little more than 1 pound) have a more than 60% chance of survival, although their chances of complications are greater.

A Preemie's Basic Needs
Warmth
Premature babies lack the body fat necessary to maintain their body temperature, even when swaddled with blankets. So incubators or radiant warmers are used to keep them warm in the NICU. Keeping babies' temperatures within a normal range will help them grow faster.

Incubators are made of transparent plastic, and completely surround babies to keep them warm, decrease the chance of infection, and limit water loss. Radiant warmers are electrically warmed beds open to the air. These are used when the medical staff needs frequent access to the baby for care. A tiny thermometer taped to the baby's skin senses his/her body temperature and regulates the heat.

Nutrition and Growth
Premature babies have special nutritional needs because they grow at a faster rate than full-term babies and their digestive systems are immature. Neonatologists (pediatricians who specialize in the care of sick full-term and preterm infants) measure their weight in grams, not pounds and ounces. Full-term babies usually weigh more than 2,500 grams (about 5 pounds, 8 ounces), whereas premature babies weigh anywhere from about 500 to 2,500 grams.

So, what are premature babies fed? Breast milk is an excellent source of nutrition, but premature infants are too immature to feed directly from the breast or bottle until they're 32 to 34 weeks gestational age. Most premature infants have to be fed slowly because of the risk of developing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), an intestinal infection unique to preemies. Breast milk can be pumped by the mother and fed to the premature baby through a tube that goes from the baby's nose or mouth into the stomach.

Breast milk has an advantage over formula because it contains proteins that help fight infection and promote growth. Special fortifiers may be added to breast milk (or to formula if breastfeeding isn't desired), because premature infants have higher vitamin and mineral needs than full-term infants.

Nearly all premature babies receive additional calcium and phosphorus either by adding fortifier to breast milk or directly through special formulas for preemies. The baby's blood chemicals and minerals, such as blood glucose (sugar), salt, potassium, calcium, phosphate, and magnesium, are monitored regularly, and the baby's diet is adjusted to keep these substances within a normal range.
Common Health Problems of Preemies
Premature infants are prone to a number of problems, mostly because their internal organs aren't completely ready to function on their own. In general, the more premature the infant, the higher the risk of complications.

Hyperbilirubinemia
A common treatable condition of premature babies is hyperbilirubinemia, which affects 80% of premature infants. Infants with hyperbilirubinemia have high levels of bilirubin, a compound that results from the natural breakdown of blood. This high level of bilirubin causes them to develop jaundice, a yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes.

Although mild jaundice is fairly common in full-term babies (about 60%), it's much more common in premature babies. Extremely high levels of bilirubin can cause brain damage, so premature infants are monitored for jaundice and treated quickly, before bilirubin reaches dangerous levels. Jaundiced infants are placed under special blue lights that help the body eliminate bilirubin. Rarely, blood exchange transfusions are used to treat severe jaundice.

Apnea
Apnea is another common health problem among premature babies. During an apnea spell, a baby stops breathing, the heart rate may decrease, and the skin may turn pale, purplish, or blue. Apnea is usually caused by immaturity in the area of the brain that controls the drive to breathe. Almost all babies born at 30 weeks or less will experience apnea. Apnea spells become less frequent with age.

In the NICU, all premature babies are monitored for apnea spells. Treating apnea can be as simple as gently stimulating the infant to restart breathing. However, when apnea occurs frequently, the infant may require medication (most commonly caffeine) and/or a special nasal device that blows a steady stream of air into the airways to keep them open.

Anemia
Many premature infants lack the number of red blood cells (RBCs) necessary to carry adequate oxygen to the body. This complication, called anemia, is easily diagnosed using laboratory tests. These tests can determine the severity of the anemia and the number of new red blood cells being produced.

Preemies may develop anemia for a number of reasons. In the first few weeks of life, infants don't make many new RBCs. Also, an infant's red blood cells have a shorter life than an adult's. And the frequent blood samples that must be taken for laboratory testing make it difficult for RBCs to replenish. Some premature infants, especially those who weigh less than 1,000 grams, require red blood cell transfusions.

More Common Health Problems
Low Blood Pressure
Low blood pressure is a relatively common complication that may occur shortly after birth. It can be due to infection, blood loss, fluid loss, or medications given to the mother before delivery.It's treated by increasing fluid intake or prescribing medications. Infants who have low blood pressure due to blood loss may need a blood transfusion.

Respiratory Distress Syndrome
One of the most common and immediate problems facing premature infants is difficulty breathing. Many things can cause breathing difficulties in premature infants, but the most common is called respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

In RDS, the infant's immature lungs don't produce enough of an important substance called surfactant. Surfactant allows the inner surface of the lungs to expand properly when the infant makes the change from the womb to breathing air after birth. Fortunately, RDS is treatable and many infants do quite well.

When premature delivery can't be stopped, most pregnant women can be given medication just before delivery to hasten the production of surfactant in the infant's lungs and help prevent RDS. Then, immediately after birth and several times later, surfactant can be given to the infant if needed.

Although most premature babies who lack surfactant will require a breathing machine, or ventilator, for a while, the use of surfactant has greatly decreased the amount of time that infants spend on the ventilator.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), or chronic lung disease, is a common lung problem among preemies, especially those weighing less than 1,000 grams (2.2 pounds) at birth. The exact mechanism for this disease is still unclear, but extreme prematurity, severe RDS, infections before and after birth, and the prolonged use of oxygen and/or a ventilator needed to treat a lung disease all play a major role in the development of BPD.

Preemies are often treated with medication and oxygen for this condition. The lungs of those babies usually improve over the first 2 years of life, but many of them continue to have asthma-like symptoms.

Infection
Infection is a big threat to preemies because they're less able than full-term infants to fight germs that can cause serious illness. Infections can come from the mother before birth, during the process of birth, or after birth. Practically any body part can become infected. Reducing the risk of infection is why frequent hand washing is necessary in the NICU.

Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics. Other medications are prescribed to treat viral and fungal infections.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus
The ductus arteriosus is a blood vessel that is an essential part of fetal blood circulation, allowing blood to bypass the lungs, because oxygen for the blood comes from the mother and not from breathing air.

In full-term babies, the ductus arteriosus closes shortly after birth, but it frequently stays open in premature babies. When this happens, excess blood flows into the lungs and can cause breathing difficulties and sometimes heart failure.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is often treated with a medication called indomethacin or ibuprofen, which is successful in closing the ductus arteriosus in more than 80% of infants requiring these medications. However, if medical therapy fails, then surgery may be required to clamp the ductus.

Retinopathy of Prematurity
The eyes of premature infants are especially vulnerable to injury after birth. A serious complication is retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which is abnormal growth of the blood vessels in an infant's eye. About 7% of babies weighing 1,250 grams (2.75 pounds) or less at birth develop ROP, and the resulting damage may range from mild (the need for glasses) to severe (blindness).

The cause of ROP in premature infants is unknown. Although it was previously thought that too much oxygen was the primary problem, further research has shown that oxygen levels (either too low or too high) play only a contributing factor in the development of ROP. Premature babies receive eye exams in the NICU to check for ROP.

After the NICU
Preemies often require special care after leaving the NICU, sometimes in a high-risk newborn clinic or early intervention program. In addition to the regular well-child visits and immunizations that all infants receive, premature infants receive periodic hearing and eye examinations.

Careful attention is paid to the development of the nervous system, including the achievement of motor skills like smiling, sitting, and walking, as well as the positioning and tone of the muscles.

Speech and behavioral development are also important areas during follow-up. Some premature infants may require speech therapy or physical therapy as they grow up. Infants who have experienced complications in the NICU may need additional care by medical specialists.

Also important is support of the family. Caring for a premature infant is even more demanding than caring for a full-term infant, and the high-risk clinics pay special attention to the needs of the family as a whole.

Reviewed by: Samir Alabsi, MD
Date reviewed: August 2010

 in response to susie's son...   Thank you so much Chris for the lovely prayer.

 in response to positive thoughts...   Thank you for the prayers. it is so hard seeing him but not being able to hold him. He flat lined 2 times this morning, he must be a fighter tho,he keeps trying. LaKota's heart monitor keeps beeping because they are having a hard time stabelising it.his heart beat is 66BPM, and normal is over 100BPM.this is one of the hardest things Ive ever been thru.

 in response to Starshine...   Thank you for the prayers.

Sorry to hear of your loss,Death is never easy,exspecially when it is someone you are very close to and cared for. In time we heal,we don't forget, but we heal,and we never truely loose them, they are always with us. Many blessings,and remember he is always with you watching over your family.

Hello, many blessings!

 in response to Starshine...   Thank you Starshine,
He is very cute,God made him special.He is so little,when I can hold him Im actually afraid to,he is so little and has so many tubes and wires attached to him.However I will be so happy once I can.
Thank you, I wanted his name to be powerfull, and unique and honor my Native heritage.However Im Cherokee and to name him after my family tribe didn't have the ring that I was looking for.(actually if he would have been a girl CheroKee Skyy-Rayne is the name I picked.) I kept looking for names and finally one night in my dreams I kept hearing the Lakotah Prayer, and I thought that was the sign I needed to guide me to a name for my son,when I looked at him after he was born I knew it was the right name for him. And Madrox I got from a musician/rap-artist James Spaniolo,I met and really liked him.James's stage name is Jamie Madrox, and I thought Madrox was just really unique and went well with LaKota.

FCC is an amazing non profit organization, I am collecting old,unwanted,or brokend cell phones and small electronics to help support FCC. If anyone would like to help support FCC by donating please contact me. FCC really needs the help in order to help all those in need that are members on there site.

Well my son was born last night. LaKota Madrox is finally here, but he came too early! God is testing me, and I need to stay strong for my son so please keep us in your prayers.LaKota was born at 27 weeks. I started haveing contractions March 10th, and dialated to 3cm before the doctors stopped the contractions. LaKota's heart rate was very low, so low the doctors almost thought they couldn't find it. My amniotic fluid was runing low too, and my health was hindering too.I didn't care too much about my health my main concern was my son & his health.My neighbor friend Di has helped me out alot, she picked me up from my family doctor's office and drove me to the hospital.(thank goodness too the helicopter was on a 2-3 hour delay because of a snow storm and the ambulances were all dispatched with an hour wait.---Di got to me within 15minutes of calling her, and she had already aranged a police esscort out of town. She got me to the hospital safely in 20min. and it is an hour and 15 min trip doing the speed limit.--at least I know Di can get me to the hospital ALOT faster than the ambulance can.) I am thankfull for my friend Di she kept my family and my special friend Sherry from here posted on my health and LaKota's. Di came to visit me after work and brought the laptop so I could try to update everyone, but Im now getting time to do so.Shortly after Di left I went back into labor at 8pm the doctor tried to stop it again but at 9:15pm my son insisted he had to come out & contractions started all over again. The Nurse said she called Di to come back, but she didnt get back in time,because at 10:53pm on March 11th my son LaKota Madrox was born. LaKota's heart stopped 3 times, and is still very slow. LaKota is 17.5 inches long 3lbs 11oz. I am being told he is a miricale, but a bigger miricale will be if he can pull thru.The doctors said the next 72 hours are very critical for him, and if he can make it his survival chances will be closer to 45% chance of survival. Di showed up as they were rushing LK to the NICU.She is going to stay by my side and help me contact friends and family.Please keep my son in your prayers. We (but mostly HE) needs all your prayers.My angel needs all the prayers he can get, his life has been left in Gods hands now, the doctors said there isnt much more they can do for him. Please keep my son in your prayers,please. I haven't even been able to hold LK yet, he is in an incubater hooked to many monitors, and tubes. I start to cry every time I havve to look at my son. I feel like its my fault some how. The Doctors and nurses keep reassuring me that it isn't my fault but, as a mother a part of me still feels some how it is my fault.

I will keep everyone informed and updated as often as I can. I am being told that this will be a long process...mostly alot of waiting and praying.I am trying to be optimistic,it is just very hard, seeing my son in the incubater.Please pray for my family.

Thank you for reading this, thanks in advance for prayers for LK, he really really needs them.

Do you like getting free things? Do you like getting coupons? Well if you can says yes to these things then you have come to the right post. I am sharring a few places I have been useing to get free samples, and coupons, as well as sweepstakes for chances to win prizes. Most of these sites can be used a few times so remember to hold on to them and check back often.

Join "Friends of Krispy Kreme" and Krispy Kreme will mail you coupons and coupons for FREE samples and gifts.Click this link, then follow directions on the page to get enrolled in Krispy Kreme's progam,its easy and its FREE and you will save ALOT: http://www.freeflys.com/Free_Samples/ff_box.php?OL=37&Sample=Free_Original_Glazed_doughnut_from_Krispy_Kreme&Category=Food 

Yoplait is giving away 1 FREE cup of yogurt to 1 million people who request a FREE cup. Fill out the forum and in a couple weeks you will get a coupon for 1 FREE cup of Yoplait yogurt: http://www.freeflys.com/Free_Samples/ff_box.php?OL=34&Sample=Free_cup_of_Yoplait_yogurt&Category=Food 

If you have a toddler, you can get coupons, and samples for Beech-Nut stage 4, just fill out the forum with your valid information,wait a couple weeks and then your welcom package will arrive: http://www.freeflys.com/Free_Samples/ff_box.php?OL=26&Sample=Free_sample_of_BeechNut_Stage_4_Toddler_Welcome_Kit&Category=Children 

SC Johnson has weekly offers that usually are for the FIRST 3,000 people to requst them, this weeks free offers from SC Johnson are from Pledge(microfiber cleaning cloth) and Scrubby Bubbles 2-n-1 sponge,Sign up BEFORE March 14th, freebies will be shipped March 15th to the FIRST 3,000 people. Here is the link,hold on to it and check the site weekly for new offers and coupons (coupons are generally found on the bottom of the page): https://www.rightathome.com/Offers/Pages/default.aspx 

Jiffy has a new cook book they are offering it for FREE, just sign up with your valid address.It is a very nice cook book full of neat recipies,and its 100% FREE from Jiffy. http://www.jiffymix.com/bookorder.php 

If you like gardening,or want to give gardening a try, or even a fun activity to do with your kids,grandkids, youth group,ect. Red Robin is offering free sample of seeds on their Kids page. While supplies last you can get FREE Heinz tomatoe seeds to grow with your kids,(or yourself).You can request them while supplies last.(So far they still have them.) Just go to this site:http://www.redrobin.com/kids/ 

Have you ever tried Quest Protien bars? Well now you can for FREE. just request them at this link and they will send you 2 Quest Protein bars for FREE. http://www.questproteinbar.com/sampleoffer/index.asp 

Do you like parties?You can get Free stuff for hosting a party at your house. Sign up for chances to host a house party and get free samples coupons and prizes. Check often they add new party chances often. Go to http://housparty.com

Got a baby on the way?Graco is offering one pair of clippers for free.Sign up to recieve your FREE pair of Graco LiteUp clippers while supplies last.These are very nice.Just fill out the forum with a valid address and in a couple weeks you'll have these nice clippers: http://www.freeflys.com/Free_Samples/ff_box.php?OL=56&Sample=Free_Graco_LiteUp_clippers&Category=Children 

Do you like Mirical Whip?Wanna try it? Kraft will send you 2 free samples of Mirical Whip after you fill out the forum with valid information.You also have the opption to give them feedback after you try it.(it is opptional) http://www.startsampling.com/sm/mw101655/captureAddress.iphtml?item=101655&source=ba%2DYouTube&ss_id=&key=574f5a14c77beb4688de028cf470a437 

Keep checking here, I will update this post as I confirm how legit offers I find are. (*I will not post any site that offers Freebies UNLESS I personally or a trustworthy friend or family member can cotest to the offers being legit.)

Enjoy your FREE samples,coupons and prizes!!!

 in response to char6...   thank you, it made me feel good knowing my oppinion was actually going to be used to help kids out. in high school i dispised english class but i loved the writting part. I wlaso did very well with writting persausive and informative essays,it was easier for me when the toppics were on something that mattered to me. I am glad I was able to help! And I totally agree with you it is fun and interesting seeing others oppinions on the same toppic. I enjoyed reading them so far...and it has almost inspired me to write my own paper.lol

 in response to char6...   hello char,I think this essay project should be fun for your students, I like how you are helping them by asking for inputs and feelings from the public (and a wide range of areas are covered on aidpage), you have a wide verity of ages,backgrounds all in one place.great idea to bring this question to aidpage.

 in response to char6...   Well in this day in age I think all children need a cell phone for emergancies. Just about any cell phone can have parental controle opptions and any child under 17 I would incourage a parent to use them. But specific to a 3rd grader the parents can and in my oppinion should block all incomeing and out going calls except the parental set allowed numbers.(i.e: like mom's work #, Mom's cell #, Dad's cell #, Grandma's house, police) same can go for texting too.(personally I dont think a 3rd grader really needs to be texting but emergancy calls are VERY important in my oppinion.)The way I see it the 3rd grader's parents should not alllow the phone to be a "toy" it should be monitored, not just with parental controle, but the parents shoule give the child the phone in the morning before school (or leaving the house to go to the store,or even a friend or relatives house) then the parent should take the phone from the child as soon as the parent gets home (or child). I feel that a cell phone is a great way to protect our kids of all ages, it also helps to teach them responsibilites. I feel this way because I personally have had a cell phone be a life saver for a family member.My 8 year old cousin and her brother who was 10 were kidnapped and their cell phones saved their lifes and helped us locate them.Their mother had parental controls and GPS on the phone, and I witnessed with my own eyes that a cell phone can save a child. So I am 100% for 3rd graders having cell phones. However I do realise that there are some downfalls, but with good parenting and the help of parental controle opptions you can just about trumph the cons.

We all must eat to survive, and we all enjoy differant types of foods.Some of us love to cook, some of us dispise cooking, or maybe even some don't know how. I sm working on creating my own online cook book that I want to share with everyone who enjoys cooking, or is tired of the same meals every week. Thru out 2011 I intend to create online cook books to share, and even create How To, online books, that will teach those whom are unfamiliar with cooking to take a chance and try and test ideas to teach themself to learn how to cook.Are you looking for new ideas for dinner? lunch? breakfast? or even snacks & appitizers? If you can answer YES to any of those questions then CLICK HERE   to view the first part of my online cook book. I also started the second part of my online cook book and you can view it when you CLICK HERE  .

I hope you all enjoy!

 in response to Starshine...   I hate having doctors tell me diets and how to live my life, personally i think it is all easy to say but Im sure if the doctor was made to live like they tell their paitentes they couldnt do it either. I have special diets Im suppose to stick to til the day I die, but it is hard, I do my best but therre are somethings Im not suppose to have that I LOVE...like ranch dressing I have to have ranch when I eat a salad I dont like oil & vinigar like my doctor told me to use instead.
Yea my sister got screwed over by her ex, long story short right before they split up she told him she wanted to move here, then when he left her he made it so she couldnt...and that angers me everything he did to her and my nephews, and Im afraid if she stays out there he might hurt them.He has been calling her phone and threatning her sense she got in a shelter, and I guess its so bad that they wont let her leave the shelter without the police.She's my big sis but I feel its my job to do everything I can to help her.I hope I will be able to,I wouldnt be able to deal with myself if anything happened to her or my nephews.