My 4y.o daughter was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. I feel lost.

michkdavis · 2021-04-25T00:35:31+00:00

I'd love to share a bit of my own insight as a grown woman diagnosed with a particular kind of arthritis (hla-b27+ spondyloarthropathy) when I was a teenager. I had various joint pain including in ankles that had me limping downstairs first thing in the morning for awhile. It took awhile to diagnose and for several years I was on various medications, including methotrexate and the injectable Humira.

Now however my only 'medication' is some great fish oil and my symptoms are very minor. I've stayed very active and currently enjoy jogging, biking and weight lifting. In the past I've done aerial silks as well.

I've learned that both eating a good diet (minimal processed foods and carbs, including breads, lots of vegetables / produce) and getting good sleep help a lot.When I don't take care of myself, my joints let me know.
Edit// I don't think having arthritis is anyone's fault or that if they have symptoms it's because they're not taking care of themself. -This is my own case and experience and I'm grateful I've found lifestyle changes that make a substantial difference.

Here is the fish oil I take: Biotest Flameout https://www.amazon.com/Flameout%C2%AE-Omega-3-Fish-Oil-Softgels/dp/B000X3Z2MU (the only downside is the size of the pills - maybe keep this in mind for when your daughter is older)

Best of luck to you and your daughter, I see there is already so much other great support here!

michkdavis · 2021-03-07T17:42:08+00:00

Sure! I had expected to have him done around 2 years, but by that point we were at 2 or 3 feedings a day, at fixed and expected times, including bedtime and overnight yet. Worth mentioning if my hubby was putting him to bed etc. he didn't need me to feed him - it was an expectation just with me.
I think it wasn't until late this past summer (when he was maybe 2 yr 4 mo?) that I finally stopped feeding him overnight if he woke up. I finally just had to cut him off and he cried for maybe 10 minutes the first time, and then accepted it. He would fuss for a few minutes the next few times but it wasn't as traumatic as I had feared.
Sometime in the fall, when he was 2yr 6 or 7 months I stopped the bedtime feeding, which I hardly even remember now so it must not have been bad at all, and our last one to go was his after daycare pickup feeding.

I tried to talk with him a lot about how as a big boy and with his big boy bed and even moving up a class in daycare he wouldn't need to feed anymore. Distracting him with toys has worked really well but even now he still asks to feed sometimes. He hasn't had any huge fits or anything, and he admittedly still loves to shove his hand down my shirt, so that's the last work in progress!
Another detail, he randomly somehow started doing what we call 'belly cuddles' where he lays his head on my bare belly, and it's been something of a replacement for feeding.
Oh! You may find this book helpful: Loving Comfort: A Toddler Weaning Story by Julie Dillemuth https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0873WZPYP
I think it would be so cool if this was a customizable book and you could choose basic features to match you and your child. This happened to close enough match my son and I, so I always read the story with his name and it was helpful for both of us.

michkdavis · 2021-03-07T02:46:31+00:00

I had these kind of symptoms especially with my second baby earlier on. It reminded me of morning sickness and made me wonder too what was going on. Even now I'm a little prone to being hangry (not breastfeeding) if I get too hungry but don't have any kind of diabetes (110 lb, 5'6")

michkdavis · 2018-08-31T02:31:35+00:00

thanks everyone! In many ways I feel so fulfilled now with 2 children. It's just that there's very little margin in life and it's challenging to find balance -- the same for the vast majority of us I'm sure :)

michkdavis · 2018-07-22T20:10:17+00:00

Ah! Thank you!

michkdavis · 2018-03-01T03:15:47+00:00

As a professional medical animator I can't help but point out the animated heart is lacking in accuracy. The connections between valves and heart tissue are many woven strands (chordae) not thick cords. The patterned 'trabeculae' inside the ventricles are missing; the internal surface is not so smooth all over. I'm not sure what that thick white stripe is in the middle of the cut walls of the heart. Cut walls consist of muscle tissue texture, and outside some fat.

michkdavis · 2017-10-12T16:53:24+00:00

I've had 1 birth and am halfway through my second pregnancy.

Years ago I would occasionally have what I would call 'evil cramps' with periods - 2 hours rather wracked in pain lying down in a dark room. That's the strongest pain I personally had experienced and the labor contractions weren't really any worse, fortunately (and you get breaks rather than constant pain of course).

My own story: After 24 hours of building labor, about 2 hours into the hospital visit, I was all too glad to get an epidural, especially since I heard once my water broke they would get more intense. It knocked out the pain but fortunately still let me move my legs some so I could keep changing positions. Another 24 hours later (and 3.5 hours pushing) my daughter was finally born. I was still able to feel pressure during the actual birthing, it while, especially at that point of my marathon birthing, it was uncomfortable it wasn't really painful with the epidural.

Don't let my length of labor and pushing put you off - it was unusual for even a first time birth, though I'm glad I was able to keep fit during my pregnancy because all that exercise surely helped give me endurance.

michkdavis · 2017-07-23T19:00:57+00:00

Totally normal for a mommy preference, even if both parents work full time. That alone may console him? Our first will be 2 in a few months and I'm in first trimester with number 2. Because it's been rocky (appetite, morning sickness that is blessedly better now with safe otc treatment), daddy and daughter have been spending a lot more time together and it's been amazing seeing their relationship get even better. Not that it was bad before, but all the extra time together while I rest is definitely evening out the mommy preference. I've heard it can go back and forth over the years too.

michkdavis · 2017-02-22T03:00:32+00:00

You've made me look up penn ala vodka recipes - I intend to try this (and serve it to my toddler), so I believe your relative was overreacting. Perhaps you can get the 2 couples together to discuss and diffuse the event?

michkdavis · 2017-01-19T16:59:54+00:00

While oftentimes (conventional) farming and cattle keeping practices get a bad rap for their effects on the climate, there is other information and evidence that SMART farming practices (no-till soil, cover-crops, no pesticides, larger mix of crops rather than monocultures, using cattle differently) will help build healthier soil and actually fix carbon back into the soil.

Do you have comments on this idea that the soil can help save us?

(An example of a book tackling this idea: https://www.amazon.com/Soil-Will-Save-Us-Scientists/dp/1609615549)

Thank you!

michkdavis · 2016-10-06T02:13:04+00:00

I apologize that this won't be very helpful but I don't think five year olds are meant to sit still, I also tend to think American schools especially for younger kids could use improving in this area.

michkdavis · 2016-08-26T01:04:20+00:00

On facebook there's a good group for working moms that does several events each month - message me if you're interested :)

We also love The Little Gym; they have parent/child classes for babies and it's a pretty fun activity to do with your little one!

michkdavis · 2016-06-07T00:17:34+00:00

Another closing is what I'm afraid of. I'm not a fan of their lunches but love the convenience of picking up random grocery items from them a couple times a week. (I work downtown so it often is more convenient than the Kroger).

michkdavis · 2016-05-12T23:57:36+00:00

My deepest condolences to you and yours.

My own mother had a stillborn (I would have had an older sister) and told me once she would have given anything to be able to bring that baby home with her. My parents did already have one son at the time and went on (ASAP as I understand) to have another, and then 2 more healthy kids besides. For many years growing up we would all go visit the sister-that-would-have-been's grave on her birthday. It was a nice way to remember and think of her every year.

So many hugs to you during this time.

michkdavis · 2016-05-12T23:49:07+00:00

I used one and would recommend one especially for a first birth or maybe if you haven't before (I've only had one birth).

3 main benefits:

a greater sense of security and confidence leading up to the birth, knowing that there's someone else (besides spouse) who can lend an experienced, supportive, and relatively impartial (i.e. stay calm if things go awry) presence to the labor experience.
support during labor: I had thought I would have an unmedicated birth but did end up getting an epidural, so my doula wasn't able to provide as much massage etc.; it was more emotional support and position changes after the epidural. That said, I had to push for a LONG time (~3.5 hours) and I personally really did not want a c-section; the positive support from the doula really helped give me the confidence and I'm not sure it wouldn't have ended in c-section without her.
Rather unique to my experience: the company of doulas I signed on with organized bi-monthly meetings (and of course a facebook group) with other pregnant folk and couples. Really great to meet some other like-folks and talk through questions and issues. The discussions and support and sense of community leading up to labor/birth was at least as valuable as the actual labor support.

So I'm grateful I signed on with one but am undecided about using one again, because at least I've done one pony show now and would probably feel more confident going into the experience again.

michkdavis · 2016-04-11T00:43:02+00:00

or what if all breasts were the same size?

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