This morning's kitten alarm clock was a bit more subtle than yesterday's. I woke up to the sensation of a cold, wet nose pressed up against the corner of my eye, followed by a large amount of licking. His purr is also getting louder - either that, or the fact that he was pressed up against my face purring only made it seem louder.

He's got an incredible little personality. Last night as he was outstretched on the floor, I put out my hand to him. Using only his front paws to drag himself closer to my hand and remaining outstretched ... he brought himself close and reached out to touch my hand.

What a character. He's got to be the coolest little kitten I have ever met.

I think it's wrong for me to bounce between the clean food thread and the junk food thread. It is making me feel very Sybil.

I go to the junk food thread and just cringe. Not that I am holier than thou because I've loved me some junk food in my day, but because I know that to stay alive I cannot partake in the drumstick, whopper and flaming cheeto wonderments.

The craziest I can get is pineapple.

*raises my hand*


Hi....My name is Tuff and I'm a FTM trans...

That is all I have for now.


More news to be announced at an undisclosed time and location.

Does anyone have any good tips for helping children learn to swallow pills?

I have a 12 year old son who could wolf down half a hamburger without chewing, but when it comes to swallowing medicine he gets a hyperactive gag reflex and can't get the pill down.

Since he's on a 3 week course of antibiotics right now, this is a bit of :seeingstars:

The most successful thing so far is putting the pill inside a smallish bite of banana, which he can then kind of mush around in his mouth and swallow...but it's still problematic.

Any advice or tricks would be most appreciated!

Hi Jo,

Sorry to hear you're both having a tough time. When I worked in healthcare and we had to adminstor meds, one trick was with applesauce or pudding ... if the meds are in pill form you might want to invest in a pill crusher.. if not try liquid first then the pudding or applesauce behind it with the pill and some liquid.. the water might add aggravation to his gag reflexes so try something like juice ..good luck sweetie. :rrose:

PS: Lol.. I forgot . Call your pharmacy or doctor and tell them what's happening many meds come in oral form....

if you squeeze your left thumb inside the fingers of your left hand, it help suppress the gag reflex. like clinching your fist with the thumb folded in. give it a shot?

i will do my super bear happy good luck dance for you!!!!!!!!

@

:ohm:

Diva,

Your interviewing for my dream job!!! Good luck hun!! I will be lighting a candle for you as well.

hi Jo :)

Just a bit more advice...because though crushing pills and liquid meds are great, knowing how to swallow actual pills will be helpful all his life.

-Try to help him relax before trying to take the pill (and try to remain calm & relaxed yourself). Anxiety will make his throat close. Make sure he knows that about half of us have the same problem, and it's no big deal.

-go slow. Have him hold the pill on his tongue for a just a second or 2 while he breathes deeply & slowly (this wont work if the pill is uncoated and tastes nasty...trust me!)

-make sure his mouth is moist before putting the pill in it, and encourage him to continue drinking after he has swallowed the pill

-Have him try using a straw to drink down the pill. Also, use something he likes to drink instead of water. Or, sans straw, use a carbonated drink with lots of fizz (distracts from the feel of the pill in his mouth)

-Or, try a water bottle with a tip that you have to squeeze the bottle to get the water to come out (that's the technical jargon for that type of top...hopefully you know what i'm talking about), and have him be forceful with the water

-After he has the pill in his mouth, have him tilt his chin down toward his chest just a bit, which will open his throat

i sure hope between all of us, something helps! Y'all could try practicing without an actual pill, so that he already knows the steps before he's in the middle of panicking.

rhonda

I love robot chicken
 

try practicing all these things with m&m's or skittles. they taste good so even if it doesn't get swallowed right away there won't be any panicking cause of the bad taste. and the coatings on them make them a little slippery so they will go down easier.
i learned to swallow pills using m&m's when i was around your sons age.

Good Luck Diva. Doing all of the above hoping you get the gig.

:candle: :praying: :vigil: :canadian:

Tell Rob that until you move in with him? He can have a nice big cup of STFU.

Good suggestion.

And, if the kid is just having too hard of a time with the pills right now and they need to be taken NOW, crush them up with syrup in a table spoon. If they are horrid-tasting, it won't mask the ickyness totally, but it will cover enough of it to get the stuff down. Can be used with sugar free syrup if diabetic also.

Good news, indeed! He looks like he's got a lot to say too, in the first photo.

((((((((((((SF))))))))))))) This is just one of many reasons why you rawk :)

Do you ever notice that when you DO put on your blinker, the car you want to get in front of suddenly speeds up? Doesn't matter that he's been crawling for the past 20 miles or so, but the moment he sees a blinker, he's Mario Andretti??

I call it the "you're not getting in front of me" syndrome.

THIS is precious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*laughing* True dat.
I'm pretty courteous in terms of letting someone in front of me, unless I deem them a jerk (ie, they raced down a lane that was closing and then at the last minute want me to let them in. I'm like heck no, I sat here and waited. LOL)

And I've done my fair share of jumping in like he did, so I was just grousing in general until he gave me the "suck it" sign. LOL Then it was on!

Bad Day At Hallmark...
 

The moment lightning struck twice in the same place at the same time: Stunning images as storm breaks over Chicago (June 23)

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/...37_468x675.jpg
Bolt from the blue: Seen from the Hancock Tower, lighting strikes both the Willis Tower, right, and the Trump Tower in downtown Chicago as a severe storm rolls through the region last night

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/...76_468x478.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/...62_468x320.jpg
Not again: Lightning appears to strike the spire of Trump Tower a second time as storms broke over the city last night

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/...59_468x367.jpg
Webs of electricity streak across the sky last night. Though 450 'tree emergencies' were reported, no one was injured in the storms

I finally felt hungry and made some breakfast: I sauteed sweet onions and roast beef first; then I added scrambled egg mixture and cheese. I even made a piece of toast to go with it.

I've had a headache for almost two days off and on. :(

I feel you on that. I've had mine going on 2 weeks off and on...Sucks

Hope yours subsides soon.

:princess: :flying: :theisland::tanning::tanning: :snooker::cheer: no more :phonegab::phonegab: and no more :missu:

my oldest headache is 24.