™

February 2015 + March 2015

A Stay-at-Home Dad p.12

Bed Sharing & Baby p.24

Beating the Odds p.20

Jennifer Blanc-Biehn talks baby & futureprojects p.30

CONTENTS

Editor’s Picks p.26

Letter from the Publisher

As we commence the new year, we prepare to celebrate our 5th anniversary!

We are going to celebrate all year long and bring to you an array of exciting editorial pieces and an exclusive collection of products via our popular editor's pick!

With this issue you will notice our transformation and how we are incorporating a selection of family friendly articles, as well as editorial pieces geared towards parenting, the everyday life, health & beauty and much more!

This is a very exciting issue for Sprinkles Magazine and our staff as we bring to you, Jennifer Blanc-Biehn, showing off her bump on our cover and a fabulous interview filled with amazing Q&A.

Go ahead and browse through our first 2015 issue and send us your feedback. You can write to me at:miglesias@sprinklesmagazine.com

Follow us:

Although it can be frightening when a child's temperature rises, fever itself causes no harm and can actually be a good thing — it's often the body's way of fighting infections. Signs and Symptoms

Fussy, uncomfortable, warm to the touch, flushed, sweaty.A child may have a fever if he or she is:

What to DoIt's best to keep a child home from school or childcare until the temperature has been normal for at least 24 hours. If your child is uncomfortable, here are some ways to relieve symptoms:

•Offer plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.•Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen based on package recommendations. Do not give aspirin.•Never use rubbing alcohol or cold baths to bring the fever down.•Dress your child in lightweight clothing and cover with a light sheet or blanket.•Let your child eat what he or she wants, and don't force eating if your child doesn't feel like it.•If your child also is vomiting and/or has diarrhea, ask the doctor if you should give a children's electrolyte (rehydration) solution.•Make sure your child gets plenty of rest.

Seek Medical CareIf an infant is younger than 3 months old and has a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher

If an older child has a fever and:•appears sick•develops a rash•has persistent diarrhea or repeated vomiting•has signs of dehydration (peeing less than usual, not having tears when crying, less alert and less active than usual)•has recurring fever for 5 days•has a chronic medical problem like sickle cell disease, heart problems, cancer, or lupus

Think Prevention!

Fevers are often unavoidable. The key is to make your child as comfortable as possible until the fever passes, and get medical treatment when necessary.

FEVER AND WHAT TO DO

How to Burp Your BabyWhen burping your baby, repeated gentle patting on your baby's back should do the trick — there's no need to pound hard. To prevent messy cleanups when your baby spits up or has a "wet burp," you might want to place a towel or bib under your baby's chin or on your shoulder.

Many parents prefer to use one of these three methods:

Lay your baby on your lap on his or her belly. Support your baby's head and make sure it's higher than his or her chest. Gently pat your baby's back.

Try experimenting with different positions for burping that are

comfortable for you and your baby.

1. Sit upright and hold your baby against your chest. Your baby's chin should rest on your shoulder as you support the baby with one hand. With the other hand, gently pat your baby's back. Sitting in a rocking chair and gently rocking with your baby while you do this may also help.

Hold your baby sitting up, in your lap or across your knee. Support your baby's chest and head with one hand by cradling your baby's chin in the palm of your hand and resting the heel of your hand on your baby's chest (but be careful to grip your baby's chin, not throat). Use the other hand to pat your baby's back gently.

Feeding a baby is an exciting experience for any new parent. It can also be a little intimidating, especially if you don't know what to expect. So here's a quick guide to an important aspect of feeding — burping.

Baby Basics:

2.

3.

Burping helps to get rid of some of the air that babies tend to

swallow during feeding. In some babies, not

being burped frequently and too much swallowed

air can lead to spitting up, crankiness, and gassiness.

www.kidshealth.org

If your baby seems fussy while feeding, stop the session, burp your baby, and then beginfeeding again. Try burping your baby every 2 to 3 ounces (60 to 90 milliliters) if you bottle-feed and each time you switch breasts if you breastfeed.

As spring approaches and the seams in my jeans are staging a revolt, I pine for my years before children. I went to the gym whenever I wasn't working, on vacation, or sitting around with absolutely nothing to do because I had no idea how truly little responsibility I had. After kids, I considered myself doing well if I ate my own dinner and didn't polish off thei r remaining, s l ight ly mushy chicken nuggets.

I am a stay-at-home dad and have never had a more demanding job than being a full-time parent of two young boys.

I have lost forty pounds since I started staying home two years ago. I could tell you that I feel better. I could say they get tired before I do, but nothing drives home the point like a story about cleaning liquid feces out of a variety of surfaces in the wee hours of the morning.

Teething is the devil.

Teething is funny.

I recoiled from the blinding light my wife switched on and whisked my child to the bath tub, all the while leaving a modest trickle of "teething diaper" on the carpet, wood, tile, closet door, and bath mat. My wife and I stared at each other in the bathroom with half closed eyes, both silently realizing there was no way out of this one. You cannot just throw a towel over, it was a full clean job. My wife bathed my son, while I scrubbed and fumigated ground zero.

By my third shower I got the smell down to an acceptable level for sleep. I was exhausted, my wife was exhausted, and someone had to get up in an hour to take care of our oldest son. For pre-kids me, that would have put me out of commission the whole next day. As a parent, that kind of night happens more often than not.

If you have young ones you know what tired equates to. For me it ’s coffee, yelling, and threatening countdowns that never make it to “3.” At some point, I had to ask myself, "How can I take care of others if I do not take care of myself?" I started exercising like everyone else on January 5th. In the past I would have tailed off by Februar y, but this time, the motivation was different. I'm not tr ying to advocate a Bow Flex commercial here. I like beer too much to get painted on abs. The point is not to look like an Adonis, but to take care of yourself. Get some rest, eat a little less, and get out a little more. My kids run, jump, play, make messes and memories. They are going to do all of those things whether I can keep up with them or not. I owe it to them to take care of myself, so I can be there for them as long as I possibly can.

David Kepley is an at-home dad of two young boys in Waxahachie, TX. While his wife flies the friendly skies, he is a Co-Organizer for Dallas Dads Group and blogs at Just a Dad 247. This article first appeared on http://justadad247.com

What I do know is that my youngest child had a whole grain mustard explosion in his diaper that found its way into his hair. Take a moment to truly appreciate that. Bleary eyes at three a.m. Fumbling around your child's bedroom while they cry hysterically. Getting the distinct waft of excrement whi le s imultaneously wondering what is all over your child and wet ? You will never be the same.

As far as I can tell, teething seems to consist of fevers, not eating, and "teething diapers".What are teething diapers you ask? I have no idea.

Endurance is a requirement, not an option.

It's so funny I forgot to laugh.

Written by: David Kepley

a Major Factorfor Children Falling at Home

16 www.SprinklesMagazine.com February 2015 + March 2015

By: Heather Johnson

PARENTING

TO CLIMB! CHILDREN LOVE My own daughter quickly and easily scales the furniture in my home. However, with climbing comes the risk of falling. And, according to a new study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, parenting plays a major factor for falls at home: Parents of children who fall from furniture are less likely to use safety gates around the house and not to have taught children rules about not climbing in the kitchen.

Researchers from the University of Nottingham in Nottingham, England sought to estimate associations for risk and protective factors for falls from furniture in children between the ages of 0 and 4 years old.

Using a multicenter case-control study at hospitals, minor injury units, and general practices in and around four study centers in the United Kingdom between June 14, 2010 and April 27, 2012, the researchers compared 672 children with falls from furniture to 2,648 control participants matched on age, sex, calendar time, and study center.

In 86 percent of the falls, the children sustained single injuries including bangs on the head (59 percent), cuts or grazes that did not require stitches (19 percent), and fractures (14 percent).

In 60 percent of the falls, treatment was not required after examination. In the other 40 percent, children were treated in the emergency department (29 percent), treated and given follow-up appointments (7 percent), or admitted to the hospital (4 percent).

In addition to analyzing the falls and associated injuries, the researchers also looked at safety practices, safety equipment use, and home hazards and took into consideration compounding factors such as the health of the child and quality of life through the use of parent-completed questionnaires specific to the age of the child.

According to the study, children under the age of 1 were more likely to have been left on, had their diapers changed on, and placed in car or bouncing seats on raised surfaces. Children over the age of 3 were more likely to have fallen after climbing or playing on furniture.

Additionally, the researchers found that parents of children who fell were less likely to use safety gates or teach children rules about climbing on objects in the kitchen compared to the parents in the control group.

In other words, parenting decisions significantly affected the risk of children falling in the home.

The researchers do acknowledge limitations of the present study including the self-reports from parents of safety practices, safety equipment use, and home hazards. Additional studies are needed to assess the association of specific forms of furniture such as baby walkers and playpens with falls.

Conclude the researchers, "If our estimated associations are causal, some falls from furniture may be prevented by incorporating fall-prevention advice into child health surveillance programs, personal child health records, home safety assessments and other child health contracts."

Parents can help prevent falls in the

home by using safety gates and by

teaching children not to climb on furniture

especially in the kitchen.

Parenting a Major Factor in falls at Home for Children: http://www.medicalnewstod-ay.com/articles/286259.php Risk and Protective Factors for falls from Furniture in Young Children: Multicenter Case-Control Study: http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1939058

References

February 2015 + March 2015 www.SprinklesMagazine.com 17

http://www.parentingpatch.com

Four years ago Elizabeth was an athlet-ically fit, healthy woman. Working out 4-5 times a week with less than 20% body fat, she never smoked and never drank; an epitome of great health.

Her blood pressure was always 100/60, along with her cholesterol and triglyceride levels being excellent. Suddenly without warning, her health quickly spiraled downhill battling a life threatening condition. Elizabeth began feeling her heart beating irregularly with mild chest pain but when she went to see her primary care doctor, nothing warranted any concern. She tried resuming her normal activities, but her health started quickly failing. Her heart was pounding out of beat, she was losing strength, and the pain in the center of her chest was getting worse. She was becoming housebound and her life as she knew it was quickly fading as trips to the hospital started becoming more and more numerous over the next 11 months. How-ever, each trip resulted in being told there was nothing to worry about. Elizabeth maintained something was wrong with her heart; however, her doctors could not find anything abnormal. They began a series of tests for other ailments but still no answers. Elizabeth had now been homebound for 11 months and questioned what the future held. In between hospital visits she spent her time sewing handbags as gifts and never felt so deflated in her life. She maintained there was something seriously wrong with her heart, but as each

test showed nothing abnomal, she was beginning to doubt herself.

On one occasion, she decided to run a quick errand but instead she woke up being rushed to the hospital, fighting for her life, as paramedics told her that she had fainted, her heart was not beating prop-erly, and her blood glucose had dropped dangerously low, but once again nothing was found. It was then Elizabeth knew she needed to fight for her health and luckily a friend just told her about the world renowned Mayo Clinic. Her first visit proved to be a success as her appointed doctor spent several hours listening and reviewing the past 11 months with her. During her first exam, Elizabeth started going into cardiac arrest, which according to the American Heart Association (AHA), occurs when the heart “electrically” malfunc-tions and stops beating. They quickly had to stabilize her as Elizabeth felt herself slipping out of conscious-ness. She began praying to God to help her hang on and visions of her husband and four sons ran through her mind when a sign on the Mayo Clinic’s wall caught her eye. It read, “One in thirty women will die of all cancers combined, but 1 in 3 women will die of Heart disease. It’s a woman’s Number One Killer.” Fearful-ly, she wondered if that would be her. The words she heard next forever changed her life. “Did you know that you were born with a very fatal electric heart con-dition? This condition is very hard to detect and you are only 1 of 2 in the nation I have ever seen live past the age of 20 with this condition. It’s a miracle you survived.”

It has been three years since that diagnosis and with routine trips to the Mayo Clinic and proper heart medicine, not only is Elizabeth stable, she dis-covered her mission during this winning battle with living with heart disease. During this time that tested her strength, but willed herself into her newly found

STITCH BY STITCH

Passion —making an impact through fashion and de-sign. During her recovery, she continued to sew purs-es as holiday gifts to keep her mind positive. While finding her way through the design and construction of the purses, a larger idea began to take shape. An idea that begun when she read that sign on the wall at the Mayo Clinic, “….ONE in THREE will die of Heart disease.” An idea she would not only use her talent for sewing and love to create beautiful handmade purses—she would use the products as a vehicle for educating women about heart disease. Each hand-bag bares a hangtag with the warning signs of heart disease for women, as well as donating a percentage of the proceeds to Go Red For Women, where she is currently a member of the Passion Committee of the Orlando Chapter.

She then took to Facebook, where the de-mand exponentially grew outside of her homegrown atmosphere into a higher echelon of bright tropical handbags. She now has her own facility that houses offices, a boutique, and a manufacturing facility for the bustling brand. The phrase “Made in America” has become a rare sight these days, but Elizabeth is ded-icated to keeping that promise alive.

Her bags carry much more than material appeal for the owner—they carry hope and awareness. They are symbols of not just the owner’s personality, but a re-minder of the fight so many women around the world are having every day with heart disease.

Elizabeth wants to share her story to give hope and inspire other women in testing times. Her mes-sage goes beyond the beautiful collection of products that she creates. She is a frequent keynote speaker at conferences and events across her home state and the country, inspiring women to believe, to hope, to dream. If you would like to have her speak at your next event or if you would also like to get information about selling Elizabeth’s handbags in your store, she can be reached at the following:

407-947-5006.

escovil@cfl.rr.com

Elizabeth@ElizabethScovil.com ,

www.facebook.com/ElizabethScovilHandbags,

www.ElizabethScovil.com

Express YOUR Style….. Proclaim YOUR Support!

Warning signs of a FEMALE Heart Attack

Heart Attack Signs in Women

-Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.-Pain or discomfort in back, neck, jaw or stomach.-Shortness of breath with or without chest dis-comfort.-nausea or lightheadedness.

For more info see: American Heart Associa-tion website:http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/WarningSignsofaHeartAttack/Heart-Attack-Symptoms-in-Women_UCM_436448_Ar-ticle.jsp

Is Bed-Sharing Ok for My Baby?

24 www.SprinklesMagazine.com February 2015 + March 2015

www.kidshealth.org

Experts recommend room-sharing without bed-sharing to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths in infants.

Most experts agree that co-sleeping (sleeping near your baby) is a good thing to do, but people often disagree on bed-sharing. Fans of bed-sharing say it helps a baby fall asleep, is easier on nursing mothers, and promotes the bond between parent and child.

But besides making a baby dependent on being with his or her parents to fall asleep, bed-sharing can be dangerous. Adult beds can be unsafe for babies. Parents can roll over onto the baby, the baby can be suffocated in the bedding, or the baby could get trapped between the mattress and a wall or headboard. An infant could even fall off the bed entirely. Studies show that bed-sharing may increase the risk of SIDS, especially for babies whose mothers smoke.

Instead, enjoy the benefits of sleeping close to your baby by room-sharing, which means having your infant's sleep space near your bed, but not in your bed. You can keep your baby near you by having him or her sleep in a bassinet, crib, or play yard. And products are available that attach to the side of the bed so that babies are within reach of their parents but still in their own safe space.

If you do choose to bed-share, be sure to:

•never bed-share with other children in the bed

DO NOT BED-SHARE IF YOU ARE A SMOKER OR HAVE TAKEN ANY DRUGS, ALCOHOL, OR OTHER SUBSTANCES THAT COULD MAKE YOU GROGGY AND LESS RESPONSIVE TO YOUR BABY

•never bed-share during your infant's first 4 months of life, when the risk of SIDS is greatest

•always put your baby to sleep on his or her back

•never bed-share on a soft surface, such as a waterbed, couch, or armchair

•make sure the bed's headboard and footboard do not have openings or cutouts that could trap your baby's head

•check that the mattress fits snugly in the bed frame so that your baby will not become trapped

•use only minimal amounts of bedding and avoid pillows, blankets, bumper pads, and toys

•make sure your baby's head will not be covered by any bedding

(such as nighttime cough medicines, certain pain medications, antidepressants, or sleep aids).

Bed-sharing — letting your baby sleep in the same bed with you — is one type of co-sleeping, which is when parents sleep near their baby so that their little one can detect their presence by seeing, smelling, or otherwise sensing that they're nearby.

It's not the safest option for your family.

February 2015 + March 2015 www.SprinklesMagazine.com 25

Actress, producer and director, Jennifer Blanc-Biehn has been involved in show business from a very young age. She studied Drama at NYC’s Professional Children’s School and at the age of thirteen, the New York native landed her breakout role in Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs. Jennifer has appeared in many television shows and movies such as Dark Angel, Party of Five, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and CSI. Jennifer also runs her production company, Blanc/Biehn Productions, with her husband, actor Michael Biehn.

Jennifer Blanc-Biehn

Jennifer is expecting her first child with husband Michael Biehnand we were honored and excited of having the opportunity of asking her a few questions about her pregnancy, future projects and what this experience has meant for her.

SMHave you had a good pregnancy?JBBYes. We have been very blessed and lucky. He has been such a good boy.

SMAre you concerned about weight gain during pregnancy?JBBWell, I am carrying all in the front, so its kind of cool, but I think the important factor is the health of both my baby and I. I always check with my doctor and if she feels good about the weight and measurements, then I am good.

SMWhat surprised you about your pregnancy?JBBWell, lots of things for sure! How much I love having this big baby bump belly.

SMHave you changed the way you eat?JBB A bit more than usual but not too much. From time to time I crave more sweets but not too much. Also, no more soda allowed. I limit my caffeinated drinks. I have acid reflux and that needs to be watched.

SMWhat foods are you craving?JBBIt changes a lot but Ice cream. Haha

SMWho will be with you in the delivery room?JBBMichael, my husband, my mom and Dashiells’ god mother, Caitlin.

SMHow has pregnancy changed you?JBB It has made me more conscious of taking the rest I need which is awesome!

SMWho will be helping you with the baby?JBBMichael for sure. Also my mom and then we will see from there.

SMAre there any themes or special colors you have chosen for the nursery?JBBYes. Mint green and light brown with red and white. He has a Tree of Life on his wall and Miracle above his window.

SMDid you have any help in choosing the baby gear?JBBYes. My friends and also looking and then some cool things that were sponsored such as our Urban Jungle Mountain Buggy.

SMHave you baby-proofed your home?JBBYes. We have begun.

SMWill you be bringing baby to work?JBBYes. I will at some point but the first few months I want bonding at home with us.

SMHow does your agenda look for this year? Do you have any special projects you want to share with us?JBBWe have some wonderful things happening at Blanc Biehn Production in june. Two new films and some wonderful ones in post. See us on Twitter and Facebook and at www.blancbiehnproductions.com and www.thebbbasement.com. You can also see me in The Weinstein Company/Radius film, Everly in theaters February 27th. Joe Lynch directs this “wild ride” action flick staring Salma Hayek and I. I play Dena her friend gone wrong.

SMWhat advice would you like to give expecting moms?JBBTake prenatal yoga. I so love it! Two Hearts in Sherman Oaks is awesome! It’s a great place!

SMIs this the first baby for you and Michael?JBBYes. Michael has four sons but this is our first together.

SMWhat family traditions will you and Michael like to continue with your new bundle of joy?JBBLove, compassion, acceptance, laughter and fun is what we hope to share.

SMWill Michael be helping with feedings and taking turns at night?JBBYes, but I plan to breastfeed, so if all goes well, he will help as much as he can.

SMIn these pictures, your mom looks like she’s very close to you. What role do you think that she will play besides being a grandmother?JBBMy mom lives about 30 minutes away, believe me she will be an active help and definitely have lots of gransma time. She also meditates and can provide that knowledge.

SMIf there is one thing you would like to pass along to your baby that you have learned from you mom, what would that be?JBBYes. Love and fierce protection for your child.

SMHow will you be spending your first Mother’s Day?JBBI don’t know yet, grateful for sure!

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dreaming of a unique

It is amazing to bring a life into this world, and celebrating your baby shower should be fun for the parents-to-be and their guests. Get creative with your décor, food and drinks and make it a memorable event!

• Choose a color scheme that is traditional and gender-neutral with popping color accents in blue or pink according to the baby’s sex; • Use prints on napkins, walls and tablecloths; • Use funky inflatable balloons; • Use different heights on your tables by stacking cookies or doughnuts on glass plates;

Are you planning and

Baby Shower?

Non-Alcohol Mojito:

3 cups water1 cup of lime juice1 ½ cup of white sugar2 cups of mint leaves, chopped8 cups club soda2 cups lime sherbet, so�enedLime slices for garnishes

Ingredients:

Start by mixing two cups of water and the sugar in a microwave safe bowl and put on high for 5 minutes; stir the crushed mint leaves into the mix and then let them soak for a few minutes; strain the mint leaves from the syrup and toss them; stir the sherbet, lime juice and the last cup of water in a large pitcher; stir for a little bit to ensure that everything is mixed well; pour in the syrup and stir until it is mixed; add in the club soda and stir; Serve in cute glasses over ice with a lime garnish on the side.

February 2015 + March 2015 www.SprinklesMagazine.com 33

Foods that are sure to be loved by your

guests such as: Cookies, Cupcakes

Empanadas, Danishes Cold cuts, Sandwiches

Pastas, Salads Carved Meats

dreaming of a unique

It is amazing to bring a life into this world, and celebrating your baby shower should be fun for the parents-to-be and their guests. Get creative with your décor, food and drinks and make it a memorable event!

• Choose a color scheme that is traditional and gender-neutral with popping color accents in blue or pink according to the baby’s sex; • Use prints on napkins, walls and tablecloths; • Use funky inflatable balloons; • Use different heights on your tables by stacking cookies or doughnuts on glass plates;

Are you planning and

Baby Shower?

Non-Alcohol Mojito:

3 cups water1 cup of lime juice1 ½ cup of white sugar2 cups of mint leaves, chopped8 cups club soda2 cups lime sherbet, so�enedLime slices for garnishes

Ingredients:

Start by mixing two cups of water and the sugar in a microwave safe bowl and put on high for 5 minutes; stir the crushed mint leaves into the mix and then let them soak for a few minutes; strain the mint leaves from the syrup and toss them; stir the sherbet, lime juice and the last cup of water in a large pitcher; stir for a little bit to ensure that everything is mixed well; pour in the syrup and stir until it is mixed; add in the club soda and stir; Serve in cute glasses over ice with a lime garnish on the side.

February 2015 + March 2015 www.SprinklesMagazine.com 33

Foods that are sure to be loved by your

guests such as: Cookies, Cupcakes

Empanadas, Danishes Cold cuts, Sandwiches

Pastas, Salads Carved Meats