Let’s hope that spring is truly on the way: Warm weather, sunshine, flowers, bugs, light in the evenings so more outdoor time. More skin uncovered and lighter weight clothing mean more area for burns and bites, so Nurse Mary is sending out her spring time advice.

• Sun block on in the morning and reapplied at least a couple of times a day. If you have your child come to my office, I can put sun block on, but I find I don’t have time to go to the individual children.
• Water, water, water. This age group runs until they drop and often don’t drink enough. They think a couple of sips from the water fountain are enough to drink. Headaches and stomach aches are my most frequent complaints and most resolve with water.
• Insect repellant is important especially for the evening hours.
• Hats and sunglasses also help if they are out for long periods. It is surprising, but our eyes can be damaged by the sun. The lighter the eye color, the more easily damaged.

I hope we all have fun this spring as things warm up and draw us out to enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds us.

Sorry this is separate from my video. I could get my blog to take the writing after the video was posted.

Nurse Mary

I am trying to join all the technically savvy people out there! I have created some video for my blog.  This is the first of monthly video shorts that give quick exercise ideas. Here are some ideas for when they can be used.

• To celebrate the end of a level or game of video.
• To get you started moving after a book or movie.
• Make a game and see how many variations of the exercise you can create.
• Remember, if you sit for 20 minutes you should get up and move, even just a stretch for a minute or so.

Whatever you choose, enjoy and KEEP MOVING!

Welcome to the 2^nd 5 months of the 2012-2013 school year. It is halfway over! I am always amazed at how fast the year goes.

You have sent us amazing children and we enjoy them. The germs they are sharing, not so much fun. I have had at least one case of strep throat almost every week this year! That is a first that I won’t mind if I don’t repeat.

Thanks Kayepants

I thought I would share a couple of healthy snack ideas and recipes for the February vacation. I know you will enjoy the time with your children. I will feel like I am involved by sharing food ideas.

Some things to add to your regular cooking that make it more healthy:

• 1-2 tablespoons wheat germ or bran to any recipes for cookies, cakes, pancakes or waffles. It adds fiber and nutrients and little or no change in taste.
• Use a cup of applesauce and a little less liquid to baking recipes instead of sugar. Mashed banana works also, but has a stronger flavor
• Finely chop or puree vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, etc.) and add to your spaghetti sauce. Again, adding nutrients and fiber without much change in flavor.
• If they don’t like chunks of onion, try grating them. Get the flavor without chunks.
  

  By D. Sharon Pruitt

I love smoothies, even in the winter. Here is a basic recipe which works with almost any fruit. I buy frozen mixed berries and throw as many as look good in, adding more juice if it gets too thick.

• 1 cup juice (whatever is your favorite, I like Cranberry/Pomegranate)
• 1 1/2 cup fruit (I usually use 1/2 cup banana and 1 cup whatever other fruit sounds good. If I use frozen I usually cut back on the ice a little)
• 1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt (I chill it in the freezer to thicken it a bit or use thicker style Greek yogurt)
• 1/2 cup crushed ice (whole cubes don’t work well in blender and kids can have fun pounding the cubes between towels with a hammer.)

Last, but not least is my new favorite for healthier biscuits. I use the white whole wheat flour that is out there now. It is lighter than regular whole wheat, but healthier than white flour. When I am cooking for me I use wheatless flour (King Arthur has a good gluten free mix that bakes well)

Maple-Sweet Potato Biscuits

• 2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1tsp baking powder
• 0 to 3/4 tsp salt (I’m on a low salt diet so I use none)
• 1/2 cup cold butter (I use unsalted if I am being good), cut into small pieces
• 3/4 cup mashed cooked sweet potato
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup milk or as much to make the dough hold together, but not be sticky

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Combine dry ingredients and then add butter, cut with a pastry cutter (or pulse in a food processor) until mixture resembles coarse meal.

Mix remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. Add to the dry mixture and blend until forms soft dough.

Knead the dough 5 times on floured surface. Pat into 1 inch thick round. Cut into biscuits, I do 2″ rounds, but you can be more creative if you like. Place on cookie sheet that has been oiled or lined with parchment paper. If you want them really pretty, brush the tops with beaten egg and then bake for about 20 minutes or until spring back to light touch. Best served hot.

Happy New Year Everyone! Hope you had a wonderful break.

Unfortunately, the break didn’t remove the illnesses from our lovely school. I have had several strep throat diagnosed, there is a stomach bug causing vomiting, sometimes with a high fever and a couple of parents have reported a high fever with no other symptoms.

May your child avoid them all, but if not, remember to push fluids, and our policy 24 hours on antibiotics or 24 hours with no symptoms and no medications before your child returns to school.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,

But exercise is still delightful,

We all have places to go,

Run and play, run and play in the snow.

OK, I won’t win any awards for new song lyrics, but the idea is good. During these holidays with all the extra food, excitement and indoor time, it is truly important to exercise. Even if you don’t celebrate this particular set of holidays, the slushy conditions and biting wind will probably increase your indoor time.

It is hard to always get outside. If you can, great! Run, play, breathe deep! If the outdoors just is too much, try a game of Family Calisthenics – jumping jacks, jogging in place, crunches – who can do the most. If that doesn’t appeal, how about a family game of I Spy – walk a mall or museum and have a list of things to SPY!

Whatever you choose to do this winter break, may you find peace and joy with your family and friends. Take care of yourselves and be safe.

Wahoo! The yearly vision and hearing screenings are finished! Well, the first round is finished. I do rechecks in December. I will send home a letter if your child needs further evaluation, otherwise, your child passed both with flying colors.

by chrismar on Flickr

It’s A New World…..and I am trying to join it.

As a nurse, I know how important communication is, so it is time for me to join the world of electronic sharing, as well as the old fashioned paper format. I have started my BLOG and will hopefully be updating it monthly.

For this month of January 2012, I have several points that I want to get out to parents:

• BE PREPARED FOR COLD: When I first moved to Vermont, I was told if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes, it will change. Always send your student to school with clothes that will protect them if the temperature drops or the sunshine changes to precipitation.
• ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN: A change of clothes is a wonderful thing to have at school. If the milk spills or the slide was wet when the student went down it, the student can use their change of clothes and be ready to learn rather than uncomfortable and focused on their clothing.
• STREP IS STILL WITH US: I was hoping that the break would be enough, but it wasn’t. I have had at 5 new Strep throat cases since we have been back and not all of them have had the classic sore throat. The most common symptoms of strep throat include a sore, red throat often with white patches, fever, chills, headache, rash and stomach ache. Students can have all, some or none of the symptoms.
• STOMACH BUG: Last week several students were out with vomiting and diarrhea. Remember that the stomach needs time to heal. To give it time, feed your child clear liquids until they stop vomiting and feel hungry (usually 24-48 hours). If they can’t keep down clear liquids, call their doctor. After the clear liquids, start with a bland diet for a day or so. The BRATY diet works well: B-bananas, R-plain white rice, A-plain apple sauce, T-dry toast, Y-plain unflavored yogurt. You can mix any of the components, for instance apple sauce on the toast.

I hope to keep our Porters Point family as healthy as possible. If I can be of any help to you, please e-mail me or call me at (802)264-5923.