October - South Jersey Mom Magazine by Adam Nichols

October

2009

Don’t miss those SPECIAL MOMENTS! As a mother, I want the best of both worlds. I want to be home to care for my children when they are not feeling well, attend all of their activities, spend quality time with them AND still earn an income. This may seem impossible, but I do it! And, I can help you do the same. If you have desire and motivation, I’ll show you how to have personal time and financial freedom. Best of all, we’ll work around the important things in our lives. If you are like me, we need to talk.

Brenda Regalbuto, mother of five, with youngest daughter, Isabella. Vineland, NJ.

Call me today 856.305.7680

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publisher’s note

October 2009

Table of Contents mom 2 mom 8 Planning Your Family: Large or Small It’s Up to You 10 Children and Divorce 11 Five Important Signs Your Child is Struggling in School

moms R women 2 12 Domestic Abuse in New Jersey 13 Chick Lit: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane 14 The Modern Day Work-At-Home Mom

know 2 grow 15 Bedwetting Trials & Treatments 16 Parents of Preemies Need Extra Support

features 18 Be Aware of Your Breast Care 26 What a Treat!

also in this issue 3 5 6 17 19 20 22 24 28 30 32 34

publisher’s note nana’s 2 sense life sentences ask the ADDvisor business spotlight just born her story her story green mama book review things 2 do resource guide

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Kayden's first day of preschool. He enjoyed every minute of it and told me he never wants to come back home! Way to hurt mommy's feelings, buddy.

Dear Readers, ast month, I mentioned to a friend that my children have never embarrassed me. Boy, did I jinx myself! Since making that statement, my children have embarrassed me three times…in less than a month. The first incident was at the boardwalk in Wildwood. We were there for my husband’s company picnic. We were all in our bathing suits, enjoying the nice weather. Several times throughout the day, we stopped and chatted with my husband’s co-workers and their families. Heading to one of the rides, my husband ran into a friend and started to introduce us. “This is my wife, my son Kayden, and my daughter, Camille.” As we turn to look at Camille, she is squatting, with her legs apart, and urine is running down her leg onto the boardwalk. We all stare at her for a minute. Then I look up and say, ‘She sure knows how to make a first impression, huh?’ What else could I say? The next embarrassing moment took place the very next week while we shopped for some items we needed before leaving for our trip to SeaWorld. Again, it was the kids, my husband and I. My husband is pushing the kids in between the racks of clothes while I pick out some cute little sun dresses for Camille. There is an African-American couple shopping next to us. Kayden blurts out, “Look Dad, there’s your family!” (My husband is bi-racial.) I was so mortified, all I could do was lower my head and laugh. I know my cheeks

were fire red! Luckily, the other couple laughed too. Last, but definitely not least, the final embarrassing moment I have to share with you actually took place in Orlando during our visit to SeaWorld. We were eating dinner, the whole family (noticing a trend here yet?). It was a very expensive restaurant that we had never been to before, so we were not aware of just how pricey it was until we all were seated and looking over the menu. This place was so fancy, they didn’t have children’s menus, no crayons, no cups with bendy straws and, we soon learned, no diaper changing station. The waitress brings out a tray of raw meat selections and with a flashlight begins to educate us on each different type of meat and what’s special about each one. Just as she finishes her presentation, Camille leans to the left, lifts a cheek, and farts! Holy crap! Again, we laugh it off and I whisk her away to the restroom where I find a nice surprise in her diaper…and no changing table! AAAAaggggghhhhhh! I plop her on the potty quickly and she finishes the job there. I’m convinced these incidences are my husband’s fault. They’ve never embarrassed me when he wasn’t around! Hahahaha. Ok, I have to stop writing now. I can’t stop laughing!

Your Friend and Fellow MOM,

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October

MOM 2009

Publisher/Editor: Adrienne Richardson adrienne@southjerseymom.com Editorial Associate: Jeanette Giza jgiza@southjerseymom.com Advertising Inquiries: Orin Jespersen • 856.690.5565 orin@southjerseymom.com Colleen O’Brien-Fleisher • 856.905.5046 colleen@southjerseymom.com Kate Varevice • 609.405.1039 kate@southjerseymom.com Dianne Holland • 856.278.6119 dianne@southjerseymom.com General Advertising Info: ads@southjerseymom.com Copy Editor: Gaily Von Schlichting Production Manager: Lisa Celfo lisa@southjerseymom.com Communications Manager: Nicole Hyde nicole@southjerseymom.com Photographer: ADC Photography www.adc-photography.com Contributing Writers: Linda Arceo, Angela De Groot, Janice Harrell, Linda Karanzalis, Dr. Sherill T. Little, Fran LoBiondo, Keri Mikulski, Kathryn Ross, Merilee Rutolo, Bernadette Smith, Sheila Taney, Kate Varevice Submit Calendar Listing: calendar@southjerseymom.com Letters to the Editor: editor@southjerseymom.com For Any Other General Information: info@southjerseymom.com www.southjerseymom.com South Jersey MOM is published monthly and distributed throughout the region. The publication is available free of charge at select locations. Subscriptions $24.99 per year.

Remembering

the Adventures y children were born in Illinois on the boring plains of the Midwest. Ok, in a hospital. The beach at Lake Michigan, Brookfield Zoo and forest preserves were the highlights of our lives; nothing too exciting about the Midwest. We moved to California and the children were too young to be angry about leaving friends. I wonder if the oldest remembers running from that huge wave in the Pacific Ocean? Does she remember the morning mist at the shore? We moved to New Mexico and they were still too young to be angry about leaving friends. We watched the sun rise and set on the Sandia Mountains. We saw dust devils and prairie dogs and road runners and rattle snakes and hail in July. And the little one bit the neighbor boy and the big one learned how to ride a dirt bike… kind of. I learned to ride a motorcycle and how to make real Sopapillas. We moved to Alaska and the oldest was angry about leaving her friends. The youngest was looking forward to the adventure. She collected her friends’ addresses so she could write and tell them all about Alaska. They had to leave for the school bus through the back door one morning because there was a moose blocking the front door. We ice skated, we skied; well, the youngest skied, the oldest did not want to ski for fear of one of her teen-aged friends seeing her fall down. We stood on the edge of a milky blue glacier. We saw reindeer and whales. We saw the Northern Lights on an evening sledding trip. I would forget to call them

nana’s 2 sense

South Jersey

in from playing during the summer because it’s bright as day at 11pm. We felt an earthquake. We collected volcanic ash from melted snow in our yard when Mt. Redoubt erupted. We moved to Florida in the winter, but it was summer to us because it was 15 degrees when we left Alaska. We marveled at how the white sand looked so much like snow. The natives wore coats. We wore shorts and got sun poisoning that October. We watched the sun rise and set on the Gulf of Mexico. We moved to Ohio and the youngest was sad about leaving her friends. She was determined to gain control of her life by finishing high school a year early and joining the Air Force. She was seventeen and I signed the parental permission. I missed her dearly. While I hope they remember the adventures, I regret the instability created by moving so much. I’ve decided that the best I could do has already been done. Wow, I just heard Dr. Phil say “It is what it is, and the only time is now.” And now is good. Here’s to letting it go. —Nana Jean Nana Jean is a South Jersey grandmother with two daughters and six grandchildren. Enjoy her stories about her 37+ years as a mom and 19 years as a grandmother as she shares her experiences and lessons learned with lots of laughs and tears along the way.

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On the COVER

“Cutest Kid in Town” winners: Brielle and Nicholas are 6-year-old twins from Williamstown. Brielle, the first born, loves to color, draw and play soccer. She was just 2 lbs, 6 ounces at birth and had a rough start. Nicholas loves to ride his bike, color and play soccer and baseball. He weighed only 2 pounds at birth and struggled as well. They are both healthy first graders now! Photo by ADC Photography, www.adc-photography.com

October 2009 | 5

life sentences

Survivor’s Guide to

Family Vacation veryone made it to the mountains for vacation this year – my mother, sister, four brothers and their fami-

lies.

What happened there was a microcosm of my childhood – rife with disarray, fraught with portent, peppered with moments of raucous teasing and humor. The weather was well suited to our goals: sitting on the deck, playing cards, taking daily walks to burn off the full meals plus desserts served by the hotel, tubing down the river, swimming in the pool and hiking to the nearby “Magic” waterfall, so named by one of the young cousins. We are not all joined at the hip; someone suggests a plan and the others join up or beg off. So, one fine morning, everyone decided separately to hike the hills surrounding the hotel. It’s a winding, uphill road with two slim lanes and no shoulder. My youngest brother, the Quaker, tied on

his trainers and took to the hills at a fast clip. His usual motto is “Why run? There’s no fire,” but three days of eating were playing havoc with his inner peace. My sister, in her wide-brimmed sun hat, and I, in my baseball cap, were about to step out over hill and dale when my mother announced she wanted to walk, too, but only for a little way up, then return walking downhill. She just needed to change her shoes. Mom is in her own time zone. Nothing moves fast. On the way up the first hill, we saw my brother Jerry and his bride, Judith, puffing and sweating homeward after a long loop up the mountain. Mom turned back to the hotel and we sisters continued at a snappy pace; up one hill, up another, a hairpin turn with a speeding pickup truck bearing down on us. We tried to identify the flora – especially the poison ivy – we listened to the symphony of birds and we marveled at a small frog’s huge

By Fran LoBiondo

call from a roadside ditch. Suddenly, there was another call of nature… thunder. One minute we had a beautiful morning, the next rolling black clouds, shooting bolts. We started back through drenching rain. Let the record show it was my sister’s idea to step under a tree for protection. From there, I could hear her, snug and warm under nature’s canopy: “Ew, the rain’s running down my back.” “Let’s just walk back,” I say, trying to ignore the hail that was now pelting my head and shoulders. “We can’t get any wetter.” “I’d rather stay here than get hit by a careening truck on a wet road… ack! There’s ice in my bra!” “We should go,” I say. “Someone will come with a car. They know we’re out here,” she says confidently, her straw hat drooping piteously over her eyes as I watched my brother Jerry’s rental car pass by us without stopping. He later said he was not looking under the trees. “That’s not where you go in a thunderstorm.” The rain finally let up and we started walking down hill again, laughing at her ravaged hat. We heard a rebel yell behind us and turned to see the Quaker sprinting toward us, soaked, arms raised like Rocky Balboa, face to the sky. “Jerry stopped for me, but I didn’t get in. I knew you were out here and I thought he’d need room in the car.” That, in a nutshell, is family: good intentions, widely diverging opinions, bungling executions. At least we came back with a story – one we will never live down – as long as the generations return to the mountains! Fran LoBiondo of Vineland has children in grade school, high school and college. A Purdue University graduate with a degree in Journalism, she has written about parenting, food and fun for 25 yrs.

6 | October 2009

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Welcome Back Dr. Barry Berman! Pediatrics 499 Beckett Rd., Suite 202 Logan Twp., NJ 08085 856-241-2090 Board-certified pediatrician Barry M. Berman, M.D., is pleased to announce that he is now seeing patients at The Health Center at Beckett, 499 Beckett Rd., Logan Twp., in addition to his practice at 4 Bypass Rd. in Salem. Well-known to the communities of Woodbury, Pitman, Swedesboro, Mullica Hill and Glassboro, Dr. Berman looks forward to seeing his former patients and meeting new ones. For an appointment, call 856-241-2090. Dr. Berman accepts all major insurances.

Member of the Medical Staff at The Memorial Hospital of Salem County

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October 2009 | 7

mom 2 mom

any things have to be considered when it comes to deciding how big you would like your family to be. The first consideration is almost always the cost of raising children. Can that actually be measured? Ask some parents whose children are old enough to be independent, and they will most likely tell you

depending on you for physical and emotional nurturing. Having four children puts quite a strain on the amount of “me” time you will have. There is never a moment that the children are not in your thoughts and very few moments when they are not clamoring for your attention. Parents who have chosen to have large families often say that, surprisingly, the more kids you have, the more love you find within your heart... there is always

going for a walk or being read to are just a handful of things that children like to do. And never forget that in larger families, between squabbles, brothers and sisters keep each other company and provide a life-long source of love and support. If it’s time to make this decision in your family, please do not think there will ever be enough money or enough time to give to your children. No matter what size family you decide is right for you, there

Planning Your Family:

large It’s Up to You

By Katrina Cramer-Diaz

or small

that the financial connection to your chilenough to go around. dren is infinite. But, believe it or not, chilAnother one of the quandaries you dren from large families do manage to get will face is time management. Just trying fed and perhaps even go to graduate to schedule a few minutes at bedtime is a school. feat. As children get older and begin to be Most of the financial decisions parinvolved in sports and other activities, the ents make depend primarily on schedules get increasingly crazy. With how it will affect their two soccer games at the same time children. Adding to at two different fields, cloning your family may suddenly makes sense. Yet, No matter what mean extra work even this can be worked size family you and planning but, out with the help of other if you enjoy parents, some creative decide is right for your children, it juggling and a video you, there will can be worth camera to catch the the extra effort. goals you missed for always be reasons Next is usreplay later. ually the “me” Let’s switch the point for and against syndrome. Puttof view from adult to child having another ing someone else’s for a moment. Children just needs above your own want to know they are loved. child is not easy to do. Each child interprets love in difBefore you have children, ferent ways but, across the board, chilyou can choose to be in a relationship that dren want to spend time with Mommy or focuses on your own needs. As a parent, Daddy or the special people in their lives. this is not an option. This is clear after the Does the time have to be spent doing first 2 a.m. feeding! some extravagant activity? Children will It’s a simple equation. The larger your most likely say no. Playing tag, hide and family, the more children you have go seek, play wrestling, going to the park,

8 | October 2009

will always be reasons for and against having another child. There will also be plenty of people to tell you what you should do. One eighty-year-old great-grandmother shared some wisdom with me years ago. As a young woman, she always wanted a large family. She had six children while most of her friends had much smaller families. Through all the financial and emotional struggles while the children were growing, she often wondered if she had made the right choice. Now, her friends with small families tell her that if they could change their decision, they would. Her home is the focus of visits from her children, grown grandchildren and growing great-grandchildren. Does she still question her decision to raise six children? Never! When all is said and done, this decision is actually made in your heart. No one else can advise you when it comes to a decision that is this personal. Whether big or small, the key to a healthy, stable family is love… and you can always find plenty of that to go around!

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parenting recipes

Children and Divorce

hildren are the innocent victims of divorce. They become the center of battles over child custody, support and visitation. Worst of all, the lines are drawn between the two people they love the most – Mom and Dad. Divorce affects a child in ways that parents don’t always consider. They face losing the only lifestyle they’ve ever known. In its place are weekend visits with Dad, living with a stressed out Mom and having reduced resources for everything they used to do. You can’t change this fact, but you can give your children unconditional love and support to help ease their adjustments. Raising children is tough, but divorce adds a whole new set of rules for the job. Most important is how can you be there emotionally for your kids, to help them accept and adjust to their new life. When you’re at the end of your rope, realize that you are tougher than you think and, ultimately, you and your children will survive.

Use the following tips to guide you through the divorce experience: The DO’s Stress that the divorce is not the fault of the child(ren) in any way. Reassure them they did nothing to cause it, and there is nothing they can do to prevent it or get you back together. Be very clear that the decision is final and irreversible. Reassure them that you will BOTH continue to co-parent them to the best of your abilities and that they will continue to have a close relationship with both of you. Make it clear that, when they are staying with mom, they are expected to follow the rules of her house; and when they are with dad, they are expected to follow the rules of his house. Arrange regular one-on-one time for each child with each parent and stick to it. Use this time to focus on your relationship with the child and your common interests. 10 | October 2009

Be aware that a transition time may

be necessary to give the child(ren) an opportunity to adjust to the different cultures of the different households. Ask them what sort of ritual they would like to have in place when they come from, or are leaving for, the other parent’s house. Expect questions from the child(ren) and be prepared to provide explanations to the same questions for a period of months. If the divorce severs the relationship between a child and one of his/her parents, secure the participation of a trusted individual (of the same gender as the absent parent) to fill in some of the gender specific adult-child interactions that children need, and that you cannot provide yourself. Strive to keep the children “connected” with both sides of their extended family. Keep in mind your children are only likely to do about as well as you do yourself, so take care of yourself. They need to know you are OK. The DON’Ts Do not provide detailed explanations for the divorce. Children are not mature enough to understand. It will only confuse them and/or make them angry. Don’t force or expect the child to take sides. Kids always love both of their parents, even if they are angry with one or both of them. Do not allow younger children the choice of where they will reside. It’s unfair because it forces them to pick between their parents. [Guidelines: Very young children simply need to be with the parent who has served as their primary care giver. Teenagers, on the other hand, need to be closer to their network of friends. Accordingly, their wants should be taken into consideration when making the decision of where they will reside.] Never speak disrespectfully of, or toward, the other parent in front of the child. It damages the child’s self-esteem. Keep in mind they have

many of the same traits as the person By Bernadette Smith Parent Coach you are “putting down.” Do not ask the child(ren) to “spy” on the other parent; and don’t try to pry information out of them. Do not communicate with the other parent through the children. Do it directly (face-to-face, telephone, voice mail, email, etc.) or have a neutral third party do it. Do not expect the other parent to follow through on sanctions you have imposed. Don’t inflate the child’s status. For example, don’t say, “Now you are the man/woman of the house.” It instills expectations in the child(ren) they can’t meet and often creates little tyrants. Don’t use the child(ren) as your support group. Find the support of other adults. Bernadette Smith is a Dating Coach and works with a variety of people who have been divorced, widowed or out of the dating scene for a long time. Bernadette can be reached at Empowering Enterprises (856) 772-1077 or Email Coach@MpoweringYou.com, www.MpoweringYou.com.

www.southjerseymom.com

FIVE IMPORTANT SIGNS

g n i l g g u Str Your Child is

in School

have been working with children and parents for many years and, despite all my training and teaching experience, I have come to understand that it is moms who are often the first to know when children are having problems in school. And moms know because they see their children doing homework.

to keep it from their parents. One way they may do this is to avoid bringing work home, rather than letting you see that they can’t do it!

These are some of the signs moms may notice: takes too much time every evening. 1. Homework Homework is seldom fun, but it shouldn’t take up too much of your child’s time. If your child is spending hours each night trying to get homework done, the chances are that he or she is having problems learning during class time.

By Dr. Patricia Porter

Books get forgotten or left at school. Instead of letting you think he or she has no homework to do, your child “forgets” books he or she needs to do the homework. You try to get the books, but he or she avoids doing the work altogether. Either way, your child has an ‘excuse’ for not doing the work. You should try to find out why.

Homework agenda never gets written down. This is a version of “forgetting” the books needed. Your child might bring home the necessary books, but forgets which pages have to be done and has either not written them into the homework agenda or has forgotten the agenda completely.

Homework is left until the last minute. I am sure that you have been here. There is a sudden panic when a project is due the next morning and your child hasn’t even started it yet! Chances are, your child has been avoiding doing the work because he or she knows it will be too difficult.

child never seems to have any homework. 2. Your When children are having difficulties in school, they may try

What do you do if you suspect your child is having problems in school? Trust your instincts and tell the teacher about your concerns before it’s too late and lasting damage has been done. Dr. Patricia Porter provides parents with information and advice on helping children reach their full learning potential. Take the first steps to your child’s success absolutely free by downloading ‘Three Steps to Your Child’s Success’ at http://leading-to-learning.com.

www.southjerseymom.com

October 2009 | 11

moms R women 2

More Than 71,000 Women will be Victims of

DOMESTIC ABUSE

This Year in New Jersey Alone By Merilee Rutolo

woman is beaten by her boyfriend or husband every 15 seconds in this country and each day, four women will die as a result of domestic violence. Violence against women is pervasive across all cultures and communities. Anyone can be a victim, regardless of how much money they have, their level of education or the color of their skin. There are more than a million women beaten by their partners each year, with over 71,000 offenses reported in New Jersey alone. Sadly, the real statistics are likely much higher, as there are many more women living in fear. They are unable to call the police or escape the violence they experience in their own homes because they are embarrassed or fear retribution from their abusers and do not know where to turn for help. While many New Jersey residents have felt the harsh impact of our struggling economy, victims of domestic violence are disproportionately affected. According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, during dire economic 12 | October 2009

times, there are significant spikes in requests for services, including hotline calls, relocation assistance, counseling, shelter beds, legal services, transitional housing and childcare. A lack of money and fewer available jobs has created an even bigger barrier for victims who want to leave an abusive relationship. “Many of the women and families who come to us need a safe place to live after they leave our safe house. But with high housing costs in New Jersey and limited affordable housing, many of them continue to struggle and need additional support services,” says Gina Ridge, program director for Services Empowering Rights of Victims (SERV), a program run by Center for Family Services, a nonprofit organization in South Jersey. “We rely on grants and donations from the community to offer many of those services and, without that support, we would be unable to supply some of the basics many of these women need to care for themselves and their families. The economy has definitely made things more difficult for our

clients and for us to deliver services,” says Ridge. Center for Family Services offers the SERV program, which responds to the needs of victims of violence in Camden, Gloucester and Cumberland Counties. It’s the designated domestic violence provider in Gloucester County, offering a safe house specifically for women and their children. Services include a 24-hour live hotline, safe, secure short-term housing, counseling, support groups, education and outreach services, advocacy and accompaniment to hospitals, the police and throughout the court process. Merilee Rutolo has served as a Vice President with Center For Family Services for seven years. Rutolo manages the fundraising, marketing and communications initiatives for Center For Family Services. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism and Government and Politics from the University of Maryland. Rutolo is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and serves on a tri-county prevention coalition to end sexual violence.

www.southjerseymom.com

Domestic violence can be anything that makes a person feel threatened, scared or unsafe. It can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.

Chick Lit

chick lit

What is Domestic Violence?

By Keri Mikulski

Domestic Violence can include: • Physical Assault • Isolation • Sexual Assault • Intimidation • Economic Control • Spying on you • Harassing telephone calls • Child abuse • Destruction of property or pets • Creating disturbances at your place of work • Threats against you or another family member • Verbal abuse or harassment, including disrespectful or demeaning comments No one should be a victim of domestic violence. If someone is abusing you or someone you know, you do not have to accept it. If you need a safe place to go or want to talk to someone about your options, call 1-866-295-SERV (7378). The hotline is answered by a live person 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Get Involved! To learn more about how you can help victims of domestic violence or sexual assault in South Jersey, visit www.centerffs.org.

THE PHYSICK BOOK OF DELIVERANCE DANE By Katherine Howe

o witches exist? Debut author Katherine Howe tackles this age-old question and delivers an October thriller with The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. Connie Goodwin is beginning her Ph.D. dissertation in American History when her eccentric mother calls to request Connie’s assistance to sort through her beloved and deceased grandmother’s deserted house. Connie and her friend, Liz, depart for Marblehead, Massachusetts for what is supposed to be a short getaway. But after Connie discovers an ancient key tucked away in a Bible with the words Deliverance Dane scrawled across an attached piece of paper, Connie sets off on a haunting adventure that connects the 1600 Salem Witch Trials with the present day. Packed full of historical facts, Howe uses a series of alternating chapter flashbacks and her own ancestral witch history to deliver a fascinating Halloween hit. Curl up next to a bag of candy corn with The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. Escape Potential ..................................☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Brain Use ............................................☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ Worth Losing Sleep Over....................For an escape Overall ................................................☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ / 5

Keri Mikulski is a mom, author and college writing instructor. Her young adult novels, SCREWBALL and the sequel CHANGE-UP are now available. Visit her blog and enter to win Chick Lit Pick novels at www.kerimikulski.com. She resides in Cape May County with her family.

www.southjerseymom.com

October 2009 | 13

THE MODERN DAY

Work-At-Home Mom

orking from home brings the best of both worlds together– generating an income for your family while also caring for your children. But, a friend once said, “Working from home is awesome and, at the same time, extremely difficult.” As more and more companies move toward telecommuting, working from home may be a viable option for many. But before you sign on that dotted line saying, “Yes, I want to work from home,” there are several things to consider. The following tips come from three local work-at-home moms (WAHMs) who work 20 to 40+ hours each week. Each WAHM also has two children ages 3 and under.

Benefits All WAHMs agree spending time with your children during the workday is priceless. There is nothing better than stealing a hug from your child when having a rough day at work. You also eliminate the daily commute and save money on gas and vehicle wear and tear. Clothing expenses are cut drastically, since WAHMs are usually dressed in comfortable clothing and bare feet, therefore eliminating the need for expensive business suits and heels. Other advantages to working from home include healthier children. Since your children are in your home, and not in daycare, they are not exposed to as many germs. Eating lunch and having snacks with your children throughout the workday is also an incredible benefit. Consider it your coffee break.

Disadvantages With every up side, there comes a down side. If you are not organized and disciplined, your work from home experience can easily turn into a disastrous situation. First, there is the “cabin fever.” Perhaps it’s because you stay in the same environment 24 hours a day, or maybe it’s the lack of social, face-toface interaction, but any WAHM will tell you that, after several days of working from the house with your children, you can go stir crazy. You might also struggle between wanting to play with your children and working, making the discipline even more important. And, there are times you will 14 | October 2009

By Linda Arceo

work way beyondyour set hours because your work space is in your house, making it readily accessible and, sometimes, difficult to shut off the computer. Another disadvantage is the “out-of-sight, out-of-mind” issue. Be prepared to possibly be overlooked for promotions, disconnected from the office/company, or even laid off because you are not part of the office dynamics and may not establish the same relationships with your supervisor as your work-in-the-office colleagues.

Saving Graces and Advice It’s important to have clear boundaries, expectations and tricks to keep you and your family on track as you venture down the workfrom-home path. It’s best to work in a separate environment from your kids. If you must work in close proximity, engage them in the work experience. Invest in a toy lap top, some file folders and crayons and use your work-from-home-time to give your children a life lesson about work and how Mommy earns money. You should also have a set schedule. Know when you need to work hard and when you have a little more flexibility in your schedule. The WAHM will tell you nap times are the best for conference calls or working on complex projects. Use your schedule as a way to set goals for yourself and check off major accomplishments. Other great tips from WAHMs include: grabbing a sitter and scheduling a lunch meeting once in a while; having Daddy involved with picking up/dropping off at activities so you can steal some extra work time and celebrating your work successes by spending time with your kids. Lastly, when you are feeling unmotivated, make yourself get dressed up. Do your make up, brush your hair and put on your best business clothes – it really helps! Working from home is a unique opportunity. Find balance and the rest will fall into place. Linda Arceo lives in Sewell and has two sons, J. Evan and Nolan Cruz. Arceo holds a Master of Arts degree in Writing and works for an area non-profit which allows her to work from home several days a week.

www.southjerseymom.com

know 2 grow

ou are concerned, frustrated and sick of changing the bed linens on a daily basis. Your child is confused, ashamed and anxious about an upcoming sleepover party. You have been told he or she will grow out of it, but your child is 8 years old and the nighttime accidents are showing no sign of letting up. Take comfort; your child is not alone. Sleep enuresis, the inability to maintain urinary control while sleeping, commonly known as bedwetting, is not a disease but a developmental stage that millions of children and adolescents experience. With time and patience, most children simply outgrow this problem. Interestingly enough, nighttime accidents are more common for boys than girls. Children with a parent who wet the bed have a greater chance of being bedwetters themselves. Bedwetting can be caused by small bladder capacity or a normal-sized bladder with a weak sphincter muscle. Some children may be such deep sleepers that a full bladder does not rouse them in sufficient time to make it to the bathroom. Another possible cause is that the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body is not producing enough antidiuretic hormone (ADH) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a hormone that tells the kidneys to produce less urine at night. By Angela Bedwetting can be detrimental to a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s self-esteem, but there are steps your family can take to help while waiting for your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body to outgrow the problem: Help your child understand this is NOT his or her fault and that lots of kids have the same problem. Explain the possible causes, but do not make a big issue about bedwetting. Be supportive and patient. Enforce a family-wide â&#x20AC;&#x153;no teasingâ&#x20AC;? policy. Protect the mattress with a waterproof cover and have plenty of spare linens on hand. Encourage your child to help change wet linens. This will give the child a sense of responsibility and help minimize embarrassment and shame. Reduce liquid intake at night, especially carbonated or caffeinated beverages, and make a final trip to the toilet just before lights out. Exercises, such as halting urination mid-stream, may help strengthen the sphincter muscle. Wake your child in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.

Praise your child for dry nights, waking up at night to urinate or smaller wet spots. This instills a sense of achievement and motivation. Never punish your child for accidents; children rarely wet the bed on purpose. Consider using a bedwetting alarm. These devices, when triggered by small amounts of moisture, produce a loud sound that wakes the sleeping child so he/she can then finish urinating in the toilet. According to Dr. Howard Bennet, author of Waking Up Dry: A Guide to Help Children Overcome Bedwetting, the alarm â&#x20AC;&#x153;teaches the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brain to pay attention to [the] bladder while sleeping.â&#x20AC;? Your family doctor is the best source of advice about bedwetting, and can help determine the possible causes and suggest treatment. Do not be embarrassed to discuss your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bedwetting issues with your doctor. There are medications available that, while not a cure, may help in social situations such as sleepovers. Your doctor can advise you of possible side effects and whether such medications are right for your De Groot child. In some cases, the sudden onset of enuresis can actually indicate an underlying medical condition such as urinary tract infection or diabetesâ&#x20AC;Ś another reason to consult your family doctor. Bedwetting will not last forever. A loving and supportive environment will help your child cope with this embarrassing and uncomfortable period in life.

BEDWETTING

Trials & Treatments

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October 2009 | 15

Parents of Preemies Need

EXTRA SUPPORT By Kate Varevice

Support for Parents of Preemies www.Inspire.com An online Preemie Support Group

Intensive Caring Unlimited arely does a mom expect or prepare for premature labor and birth. Yet, 1 in 8 babies is born prematurely. Thanks to organizations like The March of Dimes (www.marchofdimes. com), moms and families are not alone. The March of Dimes provides resources to help get through the incredibly challenging periods that arise following the birth of a premature baby. Mothers who give birth to a premature infant go through a very traumatic experience. For nine months, they fantasize about a “dream birth” scenario and, very often, that scenario does not come to fruition. Mothers may find themselves in the throes of emergency cesareans or giving birth to their baby so quickly that the joy and fantasy are lost. And when a baby is taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), mom is deprived of those first precious one-on-one moments. NICU mommies have high rates of Postpartum Depression (PPD) and NICU parents often suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Support systems and emotional safety-nets are an absolute must. Many groups and resources are available to parents, and reaching out for help is essential. To find a PPD support group, check www.njgroups.org for a list

16 | October 2009

of meeting places and times near you. While in the NICU, care of preemies is largely left in the hands of the nurses who are trained to deal with any and all situations. Once a preemie is released from the NICU, caring for the baby can be an incredibly daunting task, whether you are a first-time mother or have other children. It’s all new. Everything you read in the pregnancy books is replaced by instructions from the doctors for accommodating your new baby’s special needs. Having to play “catch up” outside the womb is just one of the many jobs a preemie has in the first year. Comparing a preemie to other children is always a mistake, as full-term babies are not born with the same growth and developmental challenges as a preemie. Preemies’ growth is measured by their gestational age and is adjusted according to how many weeks premature the baby was at birth. Growth, along with most developmental milestones, must be adjusted to give preemies a chance to catch up with themselves. It’s important to remember that a preemie was deprived of vital weeks in utero where many important milestones take place. In the course of a year, preemies

(for Philadelphia area & southern NJ) 215.629.0499 or 215.233.6994

March of Dimes www.marchofdimes.com usually catch up with their peers in terms of growth and major developmental milestones. But getting to that point can be extremely stressful for parents as they watch…and wait. Growth is dependent upon adequate nutrition, but preemies may not always “cry out” for their feedings. You should wake your baby every three to four hours for feeding, even if the baby does not seem hungry. This will ensure baby gets a constant flow of calories and nutrition. Preemies may have higher instances of reflux and feeding intolerances as well. Maintain good communication with your pediatrician to address any and all concerns, should feeding issues arise. Above all, trust your instincts. If you feel something just is not right with your baby, ask your doctor. The biggest responsibility we bear as parents, particularly to a premature infant, is advocating for their health and well-being. www.southjerseymom.com

Last year, it was like pulling teeth to get my child to plan school projects in advance. Can you give me some tips on how to better help him?

Planning ahead is a hard concept for those with AD/HD, as they experience everything in the now. If your child is prescribed medication, check with your physician to see if an afterschool dose is needed, making sure that it will not interfere with sleep. Try to “chunk” out the steps required to complete the project with your child. Write the steps on a large wall calendar or dry erase board to serve as a “visual anchor” to keep your child on track. Write down which tasks will be done each day and the times your child will work on these tasks before the completion due date. You might want to try setting a kitchen timer in increments of 20 minutes. When the bell goes off, he can take a fiveminute break and then get back on task. Make sure you are there to monitor, as he might get interested in something else and lose track of time. Remember, the more structure you provide, the better he will

By Linda Karanzalis, M.S. Learning Specialist/ADD Coach

do. The ultimate goal is for him to learn these skills so he will eventually become more independent.

My child’s kindergarten teacher says my daughter has tantrums, hits others and has trouble getting along with her classmates. Because she has AD/HD, I am not sure if the behavior is due to the AD/HD or if she just misbehaving.

Children with AD/HD often have trouble socializing, especially if they are hyper or impulsive. In other words, their brains do not always let them think before acting. Social skills are learned by observation but, if one cannot focus, they are often unable to read body language and facial expressions. If she has not had a lot of experience playing with other children, the teacher will need to work on building her social skills. This takes time and requires patience. Remember, children with AD/HD can be up to three years behind emotionally and socially. Medication can help with learning social skills. A pill is not a skill, but it helps one to focus so the skill(s) can be learned.

OCTOBER

ask the ADDvisor

Ask the ADDvisor

Our 9-year-old child has AD/HD and we are trying to exhaust every option we can before turning to medication. The biggest problem is during the school day because he is so easily distracted. His teacher is wonderful and we have a reward program in place that connects school performance to home rewards.

The Watchminder is a good tool to use to help your son stay focused during the school day. It’s a small watch that vibrates intermittently to remind children to stay on task. It can be programmed to display messages such as copy homework, pack book bag, etc., according to your child’s schedule. Go to www.watchminder.com for more information. Linda Karanzalis, M.S., founder and owner of ADDvantages Learning Center in Cherry Hill is the coordinator of CHADD of South Jersey, a non-profit organization serving children and adults with attention deficit disorder. Listen to her “Ask the ADDvisor‚” radio show on 92.1 FM. For more info contact Linda Karanzalis at (856) 482-0756 or at www.addvantageslearningcenter.com.

Giveaways!

SpongeBob’s Greatest Hits CD SpongeBob Memory Game I Love Letters Book Embrace Bra Strap Solution Yo Gabba Gabba: Halloween! Toxix Headphones Wubzy Goes Boo DVD Visit www.southjerseymom.com and click on online exclusives to enter to win these prizes. www.southjerseymom.com

October 2009 | 17

Be Aware of Your By Janice Harrell

Breast Care

othing prepares you for the words “breast cancer.” The diagnosis, whether for yourself or for someone you love, is devastating. That is why the month of October is especially important. This month is breast cancer awareness month, dedicated to spreading the message that early detection of breast cancer, followed by prompt treatment, saves lives. Last year, approximately 2.5 million women in the United States survived breast cancer. This survival rate is due to increased awareness, early detection and treatment advances. In the United States, breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths. 211,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are diagnosed each year. And, although the death rate has been decreasing since 1990, 40,480 are still expected to die from the disease this year. Ninety percent of breast cancers are due not to heredity, but to genetic abnormalities that occur as a result of the aging process and life in general. That is why it’s extremely important that all women are aware of the risks, the signs and the symptoms of breast cancer. Are you at risk for breast cancer? If you are at risk, get the facts and diligently follow the recommended steps to decrease your chances of this deadly disease. Even if you do not fall into one of the risk-factor categories (see risk factors to right) it’s important to always be in charge of your breast health. Starting at age 20, all women should begin selfbreast examinations and start looking for signs of changes in their breasts. Nearly 70 percent of all breast cancers are found through self-examination. Did you hear that ladies? It’s worth repeating. Seventy percent of all breast cancers are found through self- exam! So it’s essential you take a few minutes, at least once a month, to do a self-exam. It can save your life. Self breast exams can be done in the shower, while lying in bed, or in front of the mirror after brushing your teeth or blow-drying your hair. If you do not know how to do a breast exam, ask your doctor to show you, go online and watch 18 | October 2009

a video or contact one of the organizations below and they will send you literature to teach you how to do this life saving test. Know what you are looking for while examining your breasts. If you find any signs or have any symptoms listed to the right, contact your doctor immediately. Easy to say, but try not to panic should you find a lump. Eight out of 10 lumps found in women’s breasts are not cancerous. As well as a self-exam, women between 20 and 39 should receive clinical breast exams with their OB/GYNs. A clinical breast exam is a hands-on examination of both breasts provided during your annual visit for a pelvic exam and Pap smear. If your doctor does not do this, ask. By age 40, you should have a baseline mammogram. Your baseline mammogram is your first mammogram. Baseline images are used for comparison to later studies. You should also continue to get a yearly mammogram. Because lifestyle is such a huge factor in developing breast cancer, every woman has the power to minimize her chances of developing this deadly disease. Regardless of your age, you should maintain a healthy weight, follow a low fat diet, reduce stress, get regular exercise, quit smoking and reduce alcohol consumption. It’s also recommended that you record your personal exams, mammograms and doctors appointments, in detail, on your calendar to keep track of your breast care. There are many organizations geared toward helping women deal with breast health and breast cancer. A quick search on the Internet provides all the information you need to find an organization that is right for you. If you need support or local resources, try www.breastcancer.org or www.cancer.org. Organizations specific to South Jersey: The South Jersey Breast Cancer Coalition, www.southjerseybcc.org or Susan G. Komen for the Cure Central and South Jersey, (609) 896-1201 or info@komencsnj.org.

RISK FACTORS: • Age – half of all women diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 65. • Weight – being obese or overweight increases your chances of developing the disease. • Menstrual and Reproductive History – Women who menstruate early or late, who have their first child at a later age, who never give birth and those who take birth control for more than 10 years if under the age of 35 are all at a greater risk of developing breast cancer. • Family and Personal History – You are more likely to develop breast cancer if your mother or sister had the disease. Also, those women who had a personal history of benign (non-cancerous) breast disease are at a greater risk. • Medical and Other Factors – Women who have dense breast tissue, had past radiation to the breast or chest area and women who have a history of hormone treatments such as estrogen and progesterone are at a greater risk to develop breast cancer. • Using Breast Cancer Drugs with Certain Antidepressants – A new study released by Medco Health Solutions, Inc. found that breast cancer patients who are on the widely-used drug Tamoxifen are doubling their chance of a breast cancer recurrence by also taking antidepressants like Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: • Nipple discharge. • Changes in how the breast or nipples feel, such as nipple tenderness, lumps, thickening in or near the breast or underarm area. • Changes in how the breast or nipple looks, such as changes in size or shape, when the skin of the breast, areola or nipple appears scaly, red or swollen, and when you have ridges or pitting that resembles the skin of an orange. • Itchy, scaly sores or rashes on the nipple. • Pulling in of the nipple or other parts of the breast. • Pain in the breast that does not go away. www.southjerseymom.com

By Sherill T. Little, MD

etting your annual mammogram is important for early detection of breast cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends starting annual mammograms at age 40 unless there is an indication you are at high risk, in which case your physician may recommend starting mammograms at an earlier age. Even before the age of 40, you should do monthly breast self-examinations. Ask your physician for instructions on how to perform this exam. It’s important that you be alert for any changes that may occur. Self exams can reveal lumps or changes in appearance that should be brought to your physician’s attention. Even without any symptoms, beginning mammograms by age 40 is important to create a baseline from which all future mammograms will be measured. A mammogram is generally a painless procedure. Each breast is compressed between two x-

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ray plates to spread the tissue flat and to ensure a sharp image. Some women find the compression uncomfortable but it only lasts for a few seconds. The entire procedure takes less than 20 minutes and early detection can save your life. Find an imaging center that specializes in mammograms. When you call for an appointment, ask if the facility does digital mammograms. New digital technology can provide clearer images for radiologists to read than former “film” studies. In addition, digital mammograms can be analyzed by a computer-aided checker system, which can identify suspicious features that may warrant a second review. Also, ask if the facility has radiologists who are fellowship trained in mammography or breast imaging. To make your first mammogram appointment more comfortable: Do not wear a dress. It’s easier just to remove your top for the mammogram.

business spotlight

Mammogram Preparing for Your First

You will be given a wrap that opens in the front, allowing the technologist to position your breasts for the mammogram. Do not wear deodorant or antiperspirant. This can interfere with the mammography image. Schedule your mammogram for the week after your period when your breasts are not tender and swollen. Tell the technician if you are nursing or think you might be pregnant. Make sure you get your mammogram results. Do not assume everything is fine if you do not hear anything. Ask your imaging facility whether they will send you a letter indicating if you need a follow-up exam.

Once you get your first mammogram, you will want to return to the same facility each year because your radiologist will compare previous mammograms to each year’s current mammogram to look for any changes. If you move, or need to change imaging providers due to a change in insurance, get copies of your images to take with you. Having the images compared is a crucial part of your annual mammogram because detecting small changes can help detect cancer earlier. Be sure to make annual mammograms a priority in your life. Early detection can save your life. Sherrill Little, MD is a Fellowship trained physician specializing in mammography. She earned her B.S. in Biology from the University of North Carolina and her medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia. SJ Magazine honored Little as a Top Doc in the field of radiology. Little is a partner at Booth Radiology where she specializes in mammography and breast biopsies. Booth Radiology has locations in Washington Township, West Deptford, Stratford and Woodbury. Little and her husband Patrick are busy raising their three daughters, a 7-year-old and 5-year-old twins.

October 2009 | 19

just born

Looking for the latest gadgets, toys, books or family related products? Look no further! Each month, we highlight the latest and greatest just for you. Take a look at these “just born” products and add them to your list of must haves!

10 5

1 2

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Moonlight Pillows These pillows are made by women for women to help bring soothing comfort after breast cancer surgery. Use this soft pillow as a neck rest, under your arm, under the seatbelt or as a breast cradle. $24.95, www.moonlightpillows.com Confident Clothing Company Move about your world with confidence with these fashionable garments made of wicking material for sensitive skin. Wear after breast cancer surgery. Discreet snap channels manage the tubes to the drain pocket, which is removable. Available in tops, pants and caps. $19.95- 89.95, www.confidentclothingcompany.com

3 7

skin problems such as eczema and much more! $21.50-45, www.jeanscream.com 5

SpongeBob Games Enjoy the classic games of Connect Four and Memory with your favorite character SpongeBob Squarepants! $8.99–18.99, Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, Target

Toxix Headphones Affordable, sturdy and small enough for pint-sized ears the headphones provide clear quality sound with a cushioned ear cup for comfort. Small enough for kids, but adjustable for parents as well! $19.95, www.ifrogz.com

10 Baskin Robbins Espresso ‘n’ Cream Hard Candy Boogie Wipes This yummy sugar free candy is their Saline nose wipes with chamomile, newest flavor. $1.99, Wal-Mart aloe & vitamin E helps sooth kids’ runny, 11 BOOKS rough, red noses and helps kids feel better when they are sick while soothing Someone I Love is Sick chapped, sore noses. $2.99-3.99, WalA customizable book for talking to Mart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Toys R US children ages 2-6 about a parent or grandparent who has cancer. It addresses 7 Embrace Products Cape Clogs all stages of the cancer journey including Three great products every woman Join us in raising awareness and fund diagnosis, treatment, hospitalization, wants. The Bra Strap Solution designed research to fight breast cancer. Made with recurrence & end of life. $21.95, to hide bras straps while adding lift and a leather upper and wood sole, these www.someoneiloveissick.com support. A Fresh Pair is a gentle soap pink clogs are fun & fashionable. $80, leaf designed for hand washing your Chemo Katelyn www.capeclogs.com delicates. In Place are double stick strips A humorous perspective on life before

Jeans Cream Created and developed by a cancer patient to help sooth external beam radiation sites, including head, neck, lung, lower torso & breast; for women, men and children. Also great for other

20 | October 2009

that hold everything in place. $7.508.50, www.iloveembrace.com

cancer and after diagnosis. $15.95, www.amazon.com

Rothchild Coats Stylish coats for infants to ‘tweens; from casual to dressy you are sure to find the perfect coat for your child. $46-230, Macy’s

My Cancer Mommy A book helping children cope with serious illness. $24.99, www.mycancermommy.com

www.southjerseymom.com

Compassionate, Quality OB/GYN Care Here in your community The new Physicians of Southern New Jersey Obstetrics and Gynecology practice offers compassionate, quality obstetric services and gynecological care to women of all ages, right here in your community. Michael Geria, D.O., FACOOG, is a boardcertified OB/GYN with more than 15 years of experience. He received an Outstanding Service Award from the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists in 2001.

Hema Jonnalagadda, M.D. is board eligible in OB/GYN. She completed her residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and comes to POSNJ from Penn OB/GYN and Midwifery Care, at Pennsylvania Hospital, in Philadelphia.

Physicians of Southern New Jersey Obstetrics and Gynecology SJH Elmer Hospital Physician Care Center 525 S. State Street, Suite 6, Elmer, NJ 08318

856-363-1210

Delivering at the home-like birthing suites at SJH Elmer Hospital, this practice now offers a quality choice for families who may have thought they needed to travel a long distance to deliver their babies.

DOES YOUR CHILD STRUGGLE WITH SPEECH? u Therapy by an experienced professional that is

designed specifically for your child u Quicker results with parent involvement u I make learning fun so kids love to come Call me for an appointment

PEARL SPEECH ASSOCIATES Sharon K. Pearl, M.A., C.C.C.-S.L.P. Licensed Speech Language Pathologist 18 Barclay Pavilion East, Cherry Hill, NJ (Located in the Barclay Farms Center on Route 70)

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Fox Learning Center...Because you want the best early education for your child! • • • • • • •

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October 2009 | 21

her story

exercised. I took care of myself. I delivered a full term healthy baby girl. I did not smoke or drink or take drugs or lift heavy objects or miss an appointment or even a single prenatal vitamin. I devoured What to Expect When You’re Expecting, ate right and searched the Internet daily for pictures of the baby’s development. But, I knew the statistics. I watched it happen around me. I believed I was safe. This pregnancy was a light in a very dark time in my life and a miscarriage had already stricken our family once. God would not be this cruel. Lightening does not strike twice. Except it did. On March 1st, 2009 at 11:15 a.m., one contraction ripped through my torso. One single tear rolled

filled the room, we let out a deep breath. The tech smiled, printed out some pictures and excitement filled our hearts. A few minutes later, we consulted with the doctor who did not look nearly as elated as we felt. “The baby isn’t measuring up with your dates.” I felt my husband’s hand clench mine. “I was at a family member’s funeral the day I found out I was pregnant. I’ve been under a lot of stress. Maybe we got the dates mixed up,” I babbled, searching my husband’s face for an answer. “You have less than a 3 percent chance at this point of having a miscarriage since we heard the heart beat and your history.” Her words were encouraging, but her clenched lips told another story. “We want you to come in for another ultrasound in four weeks.”

ultrasound.” “Even if my nausea has pretty much vanished?” I asked. “Every pregnancy is different,” she said, relaxed and cheerful. “And I lost six pounds in two days?” “Possibly caused by stress.” “And the bleeding?” “That’s very common after an ultrasound. It’s caused by a sensitive cervix.” But we never made it to that scheduled check up or to the next ultrasound appointment. Two days later, I lost the baby. “Menstrual-like cramping with bleeding is the most common sign of an impending miscarriage,” states Melle. “But, cramping without bleeding can be normal. Again, if you’re bleeding, call your provider.” Miscarriages are like a secret club

down my cheek. And one tiny baby left my body. “Unfortunately, 20 percent of all known pregnancies end in miscarriage during the first trimester,” says Donna Melle, a Certified Nurse Midwife at Somers Manor Obstetrics and Gynecology in Somers Point. In retrospect, I knew instinctively something was wrong. I just did not feel right. This was my second pregnancy and I remembered what I felt like with my first. But, everyone reassured me, all pregnancies are different and I was lucky my symptoms were less severe the second time around. Melle adds, “Most women report feeling different in hindsight of a miscarriage. But, every pregnancy can feel different and it’s really unnecessary to worry unless there is a problem.” After my prenatal appointment, I was sent for my ultrasound. My husband and I held hands, eyes glued to the black screen. Once the familiar boom, boom, boom,

“Once a pregnancy reaches the second trimester, the chances of a healthy pregnancy jump to 90 percent,” states Melle. “When patients reach this milestone, the risks decrease dramatically. Although seeing and hearing the heartbeat during the first trimester is reassuring and cuts your risk of a miscarriage, it’s not the only indicator of a healthy pregnancy.” According to the book Miscarriage: Why it Happens and How To Best Reduce Your Risks, bleeding and spotting can occur in 20–40 percent of all healthy pregnancies due to a list of different reasons, from implantation to cervical irritation. “Any time during the entire pregnancy, if you’re bleeding, call your provider,” Melle warns. At our next appointment, the nurse practitioner sat across from my husband and me in the same coral consulting room. “The baby is growing and healthy and the heartbeat is even stronger this time. We moved your due date and you don’t have to come back in three weeks for a repeat

with a membership no one wants access to. If you have suffered a miscarriage, do not be afraid to talk about it. If you feel like something isn’t right with your pregnancy, speak up. When I began to discuss my experience, I was shocked by how many women suffer in silence. Each story, every time someone shared, made me feel a little bit better, a little less isolated, a little less depressed. “After a miscarriage, take care of yourself emotionally and physically. If you plan on trying again, treat your body like you’re still pregnant. Take your prenatal vitamins, relax and get your body as healthy as you can,” advises Melle. October is National Baby Loss Month. October was also my due date… Baby Number Two, I will always miss carrying you.

22 | October 2009

Keri Mikulski is the Chick Lit Pick Columnist for South Jersey MOM magazine. She resides in Cape May County with her family.

www.southjerseymom.com

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Private special education schools provide services and options youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d expect from a first-rate, private schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;individualized attention, on-site therapies, vocational training and inclusive social events, to name a few. As the preeminent South Jersey schools for students with disabilities, our schools boast staffs of New Jersey Department of Education certified special education teachers, licensed therapists and counselors, and adhere to the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. Many parents are surprised to find that these unparalleled services are provided at NO TUITION for families. In New Jersey, all special education servicesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;including placement in a private schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;are funded through a combination of federal, state and local tax dollars. Using this funding, your school district pays the costs of tuition and transportation for private special education schools. Our Executive Directors can help answer your questions. To find out more about what programs may be right for your child, call us at

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October 2009 | 23

her story

My Baby Nightmare

By Sheila Taney

his is not a sweet pregnancy story. It’s not about delivering a healthy, happy baby. If I sound bitter, I am. I’m just preparing you for what comes next. My husband and I were married for five years before we decided to start a family. Both of us were working full-time and felt the time was right.

immediately tried to locate the baby’s heart rate on the monitor. She kept moving the Doppler around and around my belly. I was getting angry that she could not find it. As a nurse myself, I knew exactly what she had to do to find it. She left to get my doctor. My OB arrived and did a very painful internal exam. By this time, I was starting to panic and then my OB said, “She’s gone.” What? Is this a dream? I heard loud and clear what she said, but tuned out from reality. “What do you mean she’s gone?” I said to myself. My OB tried to comfort me and told me what would happen next. I was to be induced and vaginally deliver my stillborn daughter. During that night of my induction, I kept envisioning Emily (that’s what we named her) screaming upon delivery. Well, I delivered her at 10:12 a.m. on July 15, 2002 and she was not screaming. She was not moving. She was just still. The nurse took her away to wash her and then presented her to my husband and me. I just remember looking at her and thinking she was so perfect… ten little fingers and ten little toes. I just did not understand why this had happened to me. Then I became numb. ily fam I was in an almost comatose Sheila Taney and state for what seemed like years, I became pregnant in 2001 with our but was really only weeks. I blamed myself first child. It was a wonderful pregnancy. I for my daughter dying. I hardly ate. I had was exercising regularly and felt great. I an empty nursery, piles of new baby was doing all I could to ensure a healthy clothes, a post-partum body and a job to go baby. All my test results were within norback to now. Floral arrangements filled the mal range and my OB visits were perfect. house and it started to feel like a funeral July 30, 2002 could not come fast enough parlor. AND I was having a girl! Slowly, I went back to the gym and to But all the joy, excitement and anticiwork and adjusted to my new “normal.” I pation ended on the evening of July 14, wanted to wear a t-shirt that read, “My 2002 at 38 weeks. I really didn’t feel the baby just died, please leave me alone.” baby move all day. My husband said, “Call Instead, I bought a locket and a necklace the doctor” and she told me to come to the and put a picture of Emily and a lock of her hospital. hair inside. I wear it everyday. After six By this time, I was starting to feel like weeks, I found out my daughter had Downs something was not right. I was taken to a Syndrome. I knew then that there was nothroom in labor and delivery, where the nurse ing I did, or did not do, that caused Emily 24 | October 2009

to be stillborn. I attended a pregnancy loss support group and met a woman who is now one of my closest friends. Our stories were practically identical, except her stillbirth was her third pregnancy. We leaned on each other – no – we clung to each other. We met weekly in the evening at the high school track or the local mall to walk and talk. We talked about statistics and “what-ifs.” Nothing could have ever prepared us for that day. As the months passed, my urge to have a baby and be pregnant again was overwhelming. Miraculously, we were pregnant again in the fall. This pregnancy was full of more doctors’ visits, daily panic attacks and stress. It was not the carefree pregnancy I had the first time around. I did not want to be pregnant. I just wanted a baby in my arms. Fast forward to July 18, 2003 to the loud, screaming, healthy arrival of my son, Patrick, and to July 2, 2006 to the muchanticipated arrival of my daughter, Bridget. Yes, I am in a better place now. But I still miss Emily and her memory lives on with in me every day. For seven years, I have been forming an organization in my head entitled “Emily’s Box” which will provide books and a memento to women and families who experience a pregnancy loss. I am getting closer to my real-life goal with a website and other information coming soon. I now say, “I’m a member of a sorority I never wanted to be a part of.” If you ever meet a woman who has experienced a pregnancy loss of any kind, please do not feel awkward. Talk with her. Yes, it’s one of the worst life-experiences ever. I wish no other woman would go through the experience of a pregnancy loss, but it will continue to happen. October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Month. If you, or someone you know, has gone through a pregnancy loss and does not know where to turn, share this story with her and tell her about the local resources listed. Or, they can email me at simigirl1@gmail.com. I will lend an ear and point you in the right direction.

www.southjerseymom.com

LOCAL SUPPORT FOR GRIEVING PARENTS Virtua Hospital Grief Support Group 1-888-Virtua-3 Meridian Counseling Services (856) 751-0505 Compassionate Friends: Supporting Families After a Child Dies www.compassionatefriends.org Local chapters in Somers Point, Cape May Courthouse, Audubon and Mt. Holly M.I.S.S. Foundation www.missfoundation.org Local meetings in Somers Point

keeping up with regular dental visits equals A’s in oral health for your children... We invite you to visit our friendly and helpful staff. Armstrong Pediatric Dental treats you like family! • Accepts a variety of insurance plans • Expanded office hours to accommodate working parents • New patients welcome

ONLINE BLOGS, MESSAGE BOARDS AND INFORMATION Share: Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support, Inc. www.nationalshare.com Remembering Our Babies www.October15th.com The National Stillbirth Society www.stillnomore.org

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October 2009 | 25

What A Treat! By Linda Arceo

lanning a Halloween party? Who you gonna call? Call on your inner creative genius to help you throw the best Halloween party ever. Ghosts and goblins, creepy crawlies and costumes… Halloween is the perfect outlet for creativity. If you are thinking of throwing a Halloween party, we have some fun ideas for you – far beyond the standard request to arrive in costume. You cannot have a party without decorations. And while decorations help set the atmosphere, you do not need to spend all of your time and budget on them. Use Jack-olanterns as the foundation for your décor. Not only do they contribute to the Halloween theme, they also fill the room with that soft, eerie, haunting glow. In addition to the light from the jack-o-lanterns, consider turning your main lights down low and using candles, strobe lights or dark colored light bulbs to extend the lighting effect. Next, spread cobwebs, made from the stretchable fabric cobweb props, purchased at your local Halloween party store, throughout the party space. Strategically place small spiders in the webs to give off that old, creepy, untouched look. Add faux headstones, a witch’s hat and broom, skulls and bones, insects, bats and rodents, fake body parts, mummies or other fun props. Every party store, and even your local retail store, has a wide variety of decorations to compliment your party.

26 | October 2009

Capitalize on the menu; serve swamp juice or witches brew and do not forget the floating frozen hand. And do not just order pizza. Serve your little monsters horrible delicacies; bloody eyeballs (meatballs in red sauce), maggots and cheese (macaroni and cheese), witches’ fingers (chicken fingers), boogers on a stick (pretzels with Cheeze Wiz), strained eyeballs (deviled eggs), worms on a bun (hot dogs cut into long strips) and graveyard cake. Do not forget to include those traditional Halloween staples: caramel apples, pumpkin pie and candy corn. Add fun twists to holiday parties with a Halloween piñata, a fortune teller and games like Pin the Wart on the Witch’s Nose, a Gourd or Mini Pumpkin Hunt (like an Easter egg hunt), Pumpkin Bowling, Bobbing for Apples, Guess What’s in the Bag (have five plastic-lined, paper bags filled with things like cold, cooked spaghetti for brains and peeled grapes for eye balls) and Musical Chairs using Halloween music. No great party is complete without a party soundtrack. Grab your MP3 player and download these classic Halloween hits: Monster Mash, Thriller, Ghostbusters, Time Warp, Adam’s Family theme song, I’m Your Boogie Man and Nightmare on My Street. The ideas for your party are limitless! Let loose your inner child and have fun planning a monstrous Halloween bash.

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October 2009 | 27

The Center for Autism Research at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is looking for participants for a research study focusing on early brain development.

Who are we looking for? • Infant siblings of typically developing children • Infant siblings of children with autism

for the season

green mama

“FALL”ING By Sheila Taney, RN, MSN

ummer now feels like it was years ago. School and activity class are in full swing. Halloween is upon us. The days are getting shorter and cooler. So, before the cold weather is here to stay and the winter coats are pulled out, let Mother Nature guide you to the outdoors to conserve energy and decrease pollutants.

Open the windows in your home to naturally freshen and deodorize. Carve a pumpkin to be used as a decoration. Use the fresh pumpkin pulp for baking, the seeds for salads and compost the pumpkin after the fall season. Leave the car in the garage and walk to the park, school or the library. Push infants/toddlers in a stroller and let older children ride their bikes or scooters. Collect bugs from your yard. Even babies will enjoy watching the colorful, moving insects.

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Turn off the TV for a day and write a Halloween story with your child(ren). Choose the narrator and have your child(ren) be the illustrator. Spend the time before bed lying on a blanket on the grass and counting the stars or read a story by candlelight (natural, of course!). Attend free town or county farm events. Rake yard leaves into piles and jump in them. Go on nature walks in your neighborhood. Collect different colored leaves and talk about the colors with your child or make a craft project out of them. Take advantage of this wonderful season. The outdoor air is crisp. The scenery is picture-perfect. The food is delicious! Oh, and the kids will probably sleep better after a healthy dose of fresh air! Sheila Taney has two children and resides in Cherry Hill. She is passionate about teaching her children and others how they can participate in saving the environment.

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book review

Tale Spin Stories Read-to-Me Book Reviews By Kathryn Ross, a.k.a. “Miss Kathy”

must admit – I am not a fan of Halloween. It’s not the innocent T HEME : I’m No Scaredy Pants! little dress-up-like-Bugs-Bunny-and-stroll-about-your-neighborhood-filling-a-bag-with-candy-from-the-neighbors-youB OOK : What Was I Scared Of?: see-everyday fall activity it was when I was a little girl. A Glow-in-the-Dark Encounter Today, small children experience about two months of frightA UTHOR /I LLUSTRATOR : Dr. Suess ful shopping expeditions for Halloween costumes and accessories EAN: 9780375853425 while nightmares virtually come to life, hanging on hooks and stacked on shelves. Fear is a booming market enterprise, exploited in great quantity, especially this time of year. Follow-up Activity: Here is a terrific tale to open the doors to Fear is a very real thing in constructive discussion about the concept of fear. Teach that there a child’s life. Movies, T.V. and are healthy fears and unhealthy fears – real and imagined – helpcommercials are full of images that ing your child to tell the difference between the two. Open your are perceived by children and own heart about your childhood fears and you will forge a new processed in very different ways, bond with your child by giving him a glimpse of your tender often misunderstood and unexyears. You will better understand how he perceives things when plained, morphing into the ingrediyou recall your own mindset as a child. May all your fears be ents of nightmares. Some children empty green pants! react so strongly to such images, Kathryn Ross is a professional storyteller celebrating the love of learning and they need the help of a doctor. In literacy with children of all ages. She hosts Tale Spin Stories every Tuesday for such a case, I suggest an initial visit preschoolers at the Cumberland Mall in Vineland. To learn more about Miss Kathy with Dr. Suess. programs from Pageant Wagon Productions, visit www.pwpstorytellers.com. What Was I Scared Of? is a short story that was originally included in the Suess classic The Sneeches and Other Stories. It was released in the ‘90s in a small book format and has been recently re-released in a deluxe large-size format with the added feature of glow-in-the-dark ink. The perfect bedtime read to settle fearful hearts with a dose of silliness in the guise of our young hero and a pair of empty pale green pants. Those eerie pants – showing up here and there – spook the little narrator, running to and fro from such an unfathomable horror, until the Recycle your children’s items moment he comes face to face with his fear and earn extra money! and realizes it’s just a plain old pair of “scaredy-pants” – as afraid of him as he is • Shop our extensive selection of of them! Fall and Winter clothing In typical “Suessian” brilliance, there • Purchase gently hugged and new are associated lessons on prejudice and the top brands all in one location virtue of tolerance. However, if your young one struggles with irrational fears of things Sweetpea’s—A Children’s Shoppe that go bump in the night through his or her $35 or more CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION OR own concrete way of processing informa(excluding already TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT! tion and images, this will send him or her discounted items) off to sleep smiling. With this coupon.

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October 2009 | 31

things 2 do

October Calendar

For a complete list of events, log onto www.southjerseymom.com

To submit your event, send an email to calendar@southjerseymom.com. Entries are due eight weeks prior to the event and are filled on a first come first serve basis. Space is limited.

ATLANTIC COUNTY

Irish Festival October 10 from 10a to 5p The Festival features an Irish Market offering a variety of wares. Plus, music in three locations and a Friendly dance Feis. Historic Smithville, Moss Mill Rd., Smithville. www.smithvillenj.com 5th Annual Movers & Shakers & Difference Makers October 9 at 11:30 a.m. The annual fundraising luncheon and silent auction benefiting Gilda’s Club South Jersey. The Palm Restaurant, 2801 Pacific Ave, Atlantic City. Tickets $125/pp & must purchase in advance. (609) 9262699.

BURLINGTON COUNTY Breast Cancer Support Group October 1 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The group’s mission is to empower through knowledge, encourage through sisterhood, enlighten through faith and to bond through love. Willingboro Public Library, 220 Willingboro Pkwy, Willingboro. Call Dianne Hyman (856) 968-7424 or (800) 826-6737 to RSVP. www.cooperhealth.org/ content/cancer/cancer_sister.htm. Marvin’s Room October 2-4, 9-11, 16 & 17 A lighthearted comedy about dying and family. Bridge Players Theatre Company, United Methodist Church, 36 E. Broad St, Burlington. (856) 303-7620, www.bridgeplayerstheatre.com The Witches Ball October 10 from 6 to 11:30 p.m. (Rain Date 17) The area’s best outdoor costume ball features a huge costume contest with $600 in prizes, live music, fire dancers, psychics, ghost stories & much more!. Mill Race Village, Mt Holly. (609) 518-0077

CAMDEN COUNTY “Girls only” Overnight Encampment on the Battleship October 2 A special program designed for Girl

32 | October 2009

Scouts. The Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial, 62 Battleship Pl, Camden. For reservations, call (856) 966-1652 or (866) 877-6262 www.battleshipnewjersey.org Stratford Fall Festival October 3 from 10a to 4p Join us for crafters, classic car show, entertainment, rides, children’s games, face painting, balloons & food. Samuel S. Yellin School, Stratford. (856) 435-2667, www.shopstratfordnj.org Speakeasy Breast Cancer Support Group October 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. Landow Conference Room, Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County Lourdes Health System, 1600 Haddon Ave, Camden. For registration and program locations call (856) 757-3500, www.lourdesnet.org Goblins in the Garden Family Festival October 24 & 25 from 10a to 5p Have a howling good time and take a haunted train ride; dodge costumed characters in our Haunted Maze, meet the bumbling burglars and have your fortune told. Camden Children’s Garden, 3 Riverside Dr., Camden. $6/adults, $4/children (3-11), free for children 2 & under. (856) 365-8733, www.camdenchildrensgarden.org The Littlest Witch October 28-31 at 10 a.m. An enduring Halloween favorite! Children and parents will be captivated by the story of the littlest witch. She just can’t be scary no matter how hard she tries. The Ritz Theatre Company, 915 White Horse Pk, Haddon Twp. (856) 858-5230, www.ritztheatreco.org Beauty and The Beast October 29 – November 8 Disney’s animated classic is brought to life in this musical stage performance. Haddonfield Plays & Players, 957 East Atlantic Ave, Haddonfield. (856) 429-8139, www.haddonfieldplayers.com.

Pink Ribbon Café Night of Hope II October 16 from 7 to 10 p.m. Silent auctions, card readings, music, massage & much more! Raising funds to help local women pay for medical bills and more due to breast cancer. Serving refreshments, delicious food, beer and wine. Somerdale VFW, located on Kennedy Blvd., Somerdale. (609) 923-3111 or (609)354-2980, www.pinkribboncafe1.com.

CAPE MAY COUNTY The Cape May Wine Festival Oct. 10 & 11 from 12 to 5p.m. Sample the award-winning wines from NJ, live music, crafters & The Kids Zone. Held at Cape May Lewes Ferry Terminal, Cape May. (609)585-0085 Annual Pumpkin Festival & Craft Show October 17& 18th; 10a to 4:30p Music, games, face and pumpkin painting, a haunted barn, hayride & more! Halloween parade at noon. Historic Cold Spring Village, Cape May. Free. (609) 898-2300, ext. 10, www.hcsv.org 63rd Annual Cape May Autumn Weekend Oct 23-25 Enjoy fall at the Migration Mainline with three days of specially led field trips, boat trips, indoor programs & workshops. (609) 884-2736, www.BirdCapeMay.org

CUMBERLAND COUNTY Boo at the Cohanzick Zoo October 24 from 11a to 2p Come in costume to Trick or Treat around the zoo. Fun and prizes! Cohanzick Zoo, 45 Mayor Aitken Dr, Bridgeton (856) 455-3230 ext. 280 Movie Night October 24 at Dusk Bring your chairs and blankets for a movie under the stars. Monsters vs. Aliens. City Park, Sunset Lake, Bridgeton. (856) 455-3230 ext. 280 Harvest Festival October 9-11 Food, crafts, music, fireworks, parade, games & more. FREE. 678 Morton Ave, Bridgeton. (856) 4553200, www.deerfieldtownship.org

GLOUCESTER COUNTY The ECF Annual Fundraising Event October 16; 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Includes dinner, dancing, auction tables and a 50/50. $45/pp, proceeds support South Jersey children and their families. River Winds Community Ctr, 1000 River Winds Dr., Thorofare. (856) 853-4803. Mr. Malcolm’s Children’s Theatre Halloween Spooktacular October 23 & 24 at 10 a.m. A sweet teacher from Nicetown is captured and turned into an evil witch by a band of mean young witches. With the help of werewolves, vampires, ghosts and even a mad scientist, Helga and friends save the day. Broadway Theatre of Pitman, 43 S. Broadway, Pitman. (856) 384-8381 The Masquerade Ball for Homeschooled Teens October 22 from 7 to 11 p.m. Homeschooled teens are invited to don a mask and costume and enjoy an evening of ballroom dancing and festivities. $30/pp. (must purchase by 9/30) Auletto’s Catering, 1849 Cooper St., Almonesson. (856) 4680528, http://homeschoolmasqueradeball.webs.com Powerful You! Women’s Network October 14 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Presenting Conscious Connection Tour, Regional Networking Event; includes open networking, light dinner, discussion topic, door prizes, gifts & more. Wedgwood Country Club, Turnersville. Register at www.powerfulyou.com or call (609) 560-8370.

SALEM COUNTY Junie B. Jones October 3 at 2 p.m. Watch out world, here comes Junie B. Jones, and she’s definitely ready for a new school year. Follow her escapades in this rollicking, one-of-a-kind musical adventure based on the popular books. (Ages 5 and up) Appel Farm Arts and Music Center, 457 Shirley Rd, Elmer. (856) 358-2472

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Rooms For New Arrivals Ask your doctor about delivery at SJH Regional Medical Center or SJH Elmer Hospital. R

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Styles of Yesterday & Today Celebrate the experience of being a girl, whether yesterday or today, through a colorful presentation of historical and contemporary fashions.

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Sunday, October 11, 2009 Shows at 11:00am & 3:00pm

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The Center for Neurological and Neurodevelopmental Health

856.346.0005 or visit www.thecnnh.org October 2009 | 33

resource guide

CLASSES

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

ABRAKADOODLE ARTY PARTIES ART is FUN and ABRAKADOODLE parties are EASY for parents - plus EACH GUEST takes home a FRAMED masterpiece. Call us to learn more! Creative party themes for children 3-12 yrs; (856) 914-0521 or visit www.abrakadoodle.com/nj01 MONEY TIGHT? GO BACK TO BASICS & LEARN TO SEW! Although most schools don’t offer it anymore, sewing has always been a valuable skill, especially now! Small day and evening classes available for ages 5 through adult; machines available. Contact Lori’s Stitching Studio for details at (856) 358-8553 or Lorizstudio@aol.com. (Trained sewing educator) EXERCISE AND FUN FOR YOU & THE KIDS! NOW FORMING: Mommy and Me Music, belly dancing, yoga, hula dancing and Natural Childbirth Classes. The Cafe of Life, 1 N. Valley Ave., Vld. (856) 794-9888, www.thegoodlifefamily.com. ALSO EXCELLENT SPACE FOR RENT! 750 sq ft in our center, 2 sm. rms, parking! Great for health care practitioner.

RAISE YOUR INCOME WHILE RAISING YOUR FAMILY You can make extra money without putting the kids in daycare. You set your own hours. No billing, no collections, no carrying inventory, no large investment. Great local support. Call us today at (856) 305-7680. MONDAY MORNING MOMS® Family Childcare Management consulting with Stay-At-Home Moms who make home-based, full-time childcare their career! We’ll help with the equipment, screening, advertising and support!! (856) 802-0500 or MomsNSoNJ@aol.com

HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING LOOKING FOR A RELIABLE, HONEST, AFFORDABLE HEATING CONTRACTOR? Then you’ve found them! For new construction, including custom homes, upgrades, change outs or renovations call RJ Mechanical for all your HVAC needs. (856) 690-9692.

IS YOUR CHILD ALWAYS RUNNING LATE FOR SCHOOL? If your child is always running late for school no matter what you say and do, help solve this problem by going to www.ParentingMade Easier.com for a free copy of 7 Steps to Responsible Kids Who Get Ready for School on Time or call (856) 816-2916.

CONSIGNMENT SERVICES

PARTIES – ADULT

BRING DOWN THE COST OF GROWING UP AT KIDSTUFF! KIDSTUFF consignment shop specializes in superior pre-owned clothes for kids. Vast selection of high quality & designer brands, all in excellent condition at fraction of original cost. Recycle your child’s “still like-new” clothing back into cash! www.kidstuff.vpweb.com, (856) 589-7171

NOOKIE PARTIES Host a Nookie Party & earn loads of FREE romance products! Cash-n-carry available! Free 2- night vacation for party hostesses! Earn 50% as a Consultant w/no quotas or requirements. Couples

MENTAL HEALTH DEFIANT? OPPOSITIONAL? RESTLESS? INATTENTIVE? DEPRESSED? ANXIOUS? Struggling with your child’s behavior? Then the time to call Dr. Katherine Perez-Rivera is NOW! A licensed psychologist specializing in clinical pediatrics, she offers individual, group, marital and family therapy, behavior modification services, play therapy and more. Call today! (856) 383-0585.

PARENTING TIPS

parties also available. Book your party today! (856) 397-2234 or www.NookieParties.com. Use coupon code SJMOM at checkout for 10% off online orders. Come H.O.M.E. to Tupperware! Let us help you be healthier, organized, make n save money, and better our environment! Ways to bring Tupperware home: In home Parties, book sales, fundraisers or by joining our awesome team! Lisa Orndorf-Adelman @ (609) 941-8545, www.My2.tupperware.com/ lisaadelman or Lisaadelman@ my2.tupperware.com

PARTIES – CHILDREN CARVEL ICE CREAM Custom cake flavors & designs. Made fresh daily. See our in-store catalog. Fat free & no sugar added available. Have your next Party at Carvel! Present this ad for 10% off your order. Open year round. Mullica Hill Plaza, (856) 478-4599

PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY NEED HELP GUIDING YOUR CHILD’S DEVELOPMENTAL JOURNEY? At The Schlinic, happy childhoods are our specialty. Kids come for awesome motor equipment, fun sensory experiences and developmental play. Parents come for answers, professionals who listen, assessments and research-supported intervention. Learn more at www.schlinic.com or call Dr. Jodi and Karen at (856) 692-9292.

WILLS/ESTATE PLANNING WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN? Appointing Guardians for your minor children is one of the most important aspects of Estate Planning. Complimentary initial consultation. Mention this ad and receive 15% discountfor Oct. Contact James F Fahy, Esq., LLC to learn more. Call (856) 287-3107 or email JFahylaw@verizon.net.

GIFT IDEAS GREAT GIFTS FOR ALL AGES At JUST FOR LITTLE PEOPLE (and others, too!) we specialize in New Baby gifts both hand-painted or embroidered. Beautifully wrapped and available for pick-up at our new Gibbsboro location, or we can ship it. Call (856) 627-8901 or check out www.justforlittlepeople.com

HOME DECOR THE HOLIDAYS WILL BE HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT! Lori’s Stitching Studio can help you prepare your home now for a stress-free holiday. Enjoy in-home consultation and fabric selection for custom window treatments, slipcovers, bedding and light upholstery projects. Call now for an appointment (856) 358-8553 or Lorizstudio@aol.com.

34 | October 2009

Join us for the

JBJ Halloween Spooktacular Spooky story and a creepy craft along with a “trick” and a “treat” Oct. 22nd, 29th and 31st at 11:00am Oct. 30th at 6:30pm Space is limited. Registration recommended.

www.southjerseymom.com

Where Learning Meets Caring, One Child at a Time Our Center Offers: • Infant, Toddler & Preschool Programs • Before & After School/ Holiday Care • Full & Part Time Schedules • Meals Included • Vouchers Accepted

For registration information call

856.691.7600 The Children’s Choice Learning Center 1940 SW Blvd. Bldg B, Unit 104, Vineland

24 hours 7 days a week schedule • Serving Children Age 0-13

grand opening Specials! Ballet, Tap, Jazz & Hip Hop • Drama Classes Art Workshops • Mommy & Me for 2-3 yrs Boys Only Hip Hop • Adult Classes REGISTER NOW...856.427.0100 Located inside ts or International Sp son es Kr 0 60 , Center Road, Cherry Hill

Register your child for any dance or drama class and receive UNLIMITED ADULT CLASSES FREE! Must register by 10/31/09; classes must be taken between 9/14/09-6/12/10. *Offer valid for NEW STUDENTS ONLY when space is available *One offer per family. A $480.00 value.

Have your awesome birthday bash at The Little Gym! Register now for Fall rate Semester! Ka in classes now session!

The Little Gym of Millville, NJ tlgmillvillenj@thelittlegym.com www.tlgmillvillenj.com • 856.765.5634

SIBLINGS FREE! Pay for your first child’s class, get your second child’s FREE! For dance & drama classes ONLY; Must register by 10/31/09; classes must be taken between 9/14/09-6/12/10. *Offer valid for NEW STUDENTS ONLY when space is available *One offer per family. A $480.00 value.

Register for any Dance or Drama Class and get one FREE! Must be applied to SAME STUDENT ACCOUNT; Must register by 10/31/09; classes must be taken between 9/14/09-6/12/10. *Offer valid for NEW STUDENTS ONLY when space is available. *One offer per family. A $480.00 value

www.artistsinmotiondancestudio.com www.southjerseymom.com

October 2009 | 35

ACR Certified Breast Imaging Center of Excellence Walk In Mammograms Now Available in our Stratford office.

Call 856-848-4998 for appointments at any of our convenient locations: WashingtonTownship / West Deptford / Stratford / Woodbury

Since 1948

A Legacy of Imaging Excellence www. b o o t h ra d i o l o g y.co m