Getting Down With The Sickness

alex-sicknessIt wasn’t my plan, but it happened anyway. Over the last several days my kids have been coughing and running fevers and puking at the most inconvenient times. When they are sick it makes me feel so horrible for them and I just wish I could take their sickness away. Typically when they get sick the countdown begins as to when either mom or dad will be starting to feel some symptoms. I thought I was in the clear. Several days passed and I felt pretty good. I was thinking that maybe I was immune to whatever they had, boy was I wrong. All of the coughing in my face, the snotty hands touching everything in my house, no matter how much I or my wife cleaned it got me. It took some time to get me but it got me.

Kids are great but when they get sick and then pass it on to you it is brutal. What makes it even worse is that when you start getting down with the sickness the kids are usually on the rebound and are feeling better. So any chances of sitting still so you can tame this cold is not happening. Being a parent you have to roll with the punches and fight against the viruses hell bent on bringing you down. Taking medicine definitely helps make you feel better but some medicines can make you absent minded and not fully focused on all of the details. So what your kids may have mismatched clothes, but at least you’re recovering right?

Now I am in recovery mode. I was able to get out of bed and get ready for work. My voice sounds like I’ve hit puberty for the second time and my head feels like I am balancing some weights up top, but all in all I am feeling pretty good. I hope to make a nutritious dinner tonight for the family and hopefully get some much needed rest. So tell me, how do you get down with the sickness?

My Little Picasso

everyartistSo if Alex is my little stuntman then Abby is my little artist. Each and everyday Abby is wanting to make something. More often than not she settles for drawing. She makes cards, little books, and other drawings for everyone in the family. Each drawing gets better than the last and when she doesn’t know how to make something she will ask and get help from wherever she can. Most of the time it is mom or dad, but sometimes she has been known to even ask YouTube for ideas. One night I heard her asking YouTube how to draw a house, and then a few minutes later she brings out a drawing of a house complete with windows, chimney, and front door!

abby art 2My little artist has been producing artwork for several years now. We started documenting some of the pieces before we pitch them. We feel bad tossing her work but there is just so much it’s impossible to keep it all. So we just save the best stuff and photograph the rest. We currently have a few hundred photos of Abby’s artwork. It is pretty cool to look back on her progress and see just how far she has come with her creativity.

abby artAs time marches on I really want to encourage Abby’s artist abilities more and more. I want to put new materials in her hands that she can explore and just create whatever she wants to create. It doesn’t matter if it’s a story or a sculpture I just want her to use that imagination of hers and just create.

Another piece of creativity that we have been experimenting with over the last year or so is Abby’s YouTube show called Abby Doodles TV. The last few months have not been the best for us in terms of making videos but we are working on a new season with a new format that we hope will really be exciting. We have just a few more episodes for season one so be on the lookout for those coming down the pipe.

IMG_3236I encourage all parents to get creative with their children. You do not need to have the best paints, markers, crayons, etc… You can use dirt, oil, or whatever! Get creative! Turn an egg carton into a bus, or a box into a house. The possibilities are endless, just let your child take the reigns of the project and help facilitate their needs. Cut a square if that’s what they need, let them direct you! Most importantly, do not tell them they are doing something wrong in regards to creating art, there is no wrong or right way to create. When you bring in negativity and rules then you start to tear down the creative process and it becomes more instructional based. If you want your child to follow instructions you need to start off with instructions, not bring them in after you are already knee deep in glue.

IMG_3237  IMG_0190  IMG_0164 (Medium)

Ask your child what it is they are making and how they are making it. Have them describe the steps used to get from point A to point B. Just don’t forget to have fun with your projects. Don’t stress over the mess, it can be cleaned later, and don’t forget to take pictures!

Do you have an awesome art project your child has created? Share below or send us a message on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

National Pet Oral Health Care Month

chewy.comDid you know that caring for your pet’s dental hygiene is just as important as caring for your own? For your pets though it’s a bit easier than having them brush twice a day. Chewy is doing their part by spreading awareness for National Pet Oral Health Care Month. This month they have sent over a great product to try out with Clark and Miss Lady’s dental health.

IMG_3213Greenies Veterinary Dental Chews Large Dental Dog Treats have been a big hit with both of the dogs and us humans. Their breath usually is pretty stinky after they eat, so we gave them one of these after they ate and immediately I didn’t mind them breathing on me. I wouldn’t recommend it for long periods of time because their breath is still hot and slobbery. I love my dogs but I don’t love them breathing in my face. These Greenies make it just a little easier.

IMG_3009One thing you want to make sure with these kinds of treats is that your pups do not gulp them down. You will want to make sure they chew them up instead of eating them whole. Dog’s should never eat treats whole. They need to chew them up. If they are prone to gulping down treats you should probably talk to your vet about what your options are.

We like the Greenies brand, but really any brand that can help with your pet’s oral health is okay in my book. There are plenty of different treats that can easily help your pet. Just search Chewy.com for oral health!

From Chewy’s website.

Greenies Veterinary Large Dental Dog Treats help protect dogs from oral health issues and promote their overall health and wellness. These veterinary treats have a chewy texture that works with your large dog’s natural chewing action for optimal plaque and tartar reduction, and a unique shape that can be chewed at different angles for maximum tooth contact. Greenies Veterinary Dental Chews also feature a blend of highly soluble proteins, vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and chelated minerals, making them nutritionally complete for adult dogs.

Chewy.com provided St. Louis Dad with these products as compensation in exchange for an honest review. Please visit Chewy.com for more toys, treats, and other items needed for your pets!

 

Get a Jump Start This Winter

JUMP START YOUR VEHICLEHave you ever woken up in a good mood, gotten ready for work only to find out your car won’t start. Something might be up with the battery… Maybe it’s too cold or maybe you need a jump. But your car is in the garage? Or in the driveway and there is just no way for you to have another car help jump your car (which may not be safe in the first place).

This is where 1byOne comes through with an amazing little piece of tech that can really get you out of a jam if you are ever in one. Their Multi-Function Jump Starter comes with a cool case with the power bank, jumper cables, and the adapter to charge the power bank indoors and in your car. The power bank itself has an additional USB port so you can charge your phone or other USB device. It also has a flash light that is very bright and can also be set to blink in case of distress.

IMG_3068 You can jump start a car around 200 times off a full charge or you can charge your phone about 4 times off a full charge. The power bank will keep a charge for 6-12 months, but it is suggested to recharge every 6 months. That is a long time to be able to just keep this in your trunk in case you ever need a jump and are alone, or which is more common these days, nobody has cables, or wants to loan you theirs.

IMG_3070The power bank has so many uses outside of just jump starting a vehicle. The ability to charge your phone or other device several times is awesome. A lot of the other portable battery chargers that I have used in the past only get me one good charge but four in this 1byOne power bank is awesome.

For the relatively low price this device is, it is worth the investment for your car. Or even your teenagers car. I don’t think I would want my kids asking strangers for help. I would rather have them try something like this out after giving me a call. I admit I am not the best mechanic but I do know good tech products and this definitely gets my approval. With winter here I can ease my mind a little more knowing that I have this ready to go in case I need it.

You can purchase a 1byOne Multi-Function Portable Powerbank on Amazon US or Amazon UK. Also be sure to follow all of 1byOne’s social media accounts to stay up to date on their latest product offerings as well as other cool info!

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1byone.com provided St. Louis Dad with this product as compensation in exchange for an honest review. Please visit 1byone.com for more awesome products that can help make your life better!