Infant CPR

Recently I've been thinking about the CPR class J and I had to take before she was discharged home after having Abi and before leaving cardiac unit after Abi first surgery. This triggered some memories and pushed my imagination a bit, so I looked at this again.

I remember when couple years ago J and I where spending some time with a friend of ours and her little girl, Oliwia, choked, swallowing a toy or something. We were all sitting on the floor talking and playing with Oliwia and she was just too fast for us. Her mom totally froze. And to be honest, we all can dream and imagine how we would react in different situations, but when they come our way, it's instinct or learned and practiced reactions that will take over.

Another friend of ours visited me this week with her little baby boy and we talked about it too. Since her and her husband have a little bit different approach to feeding and introducing foods than J and I have, the boy happens to choke on things a bit more often than Abi did at his age. So we talked about the proper techniques and how to react in such situations and then I understood that every parent should be required to take the CPR class before leaving the hospital with their newborn. I believe it doesn't matter if a baby has a heart condition, any other medical condition, or is absolutely healthy. Children choke and knowing what to do then can save their lives.

I thought I would share this short instructional video with you and, since we live in Smart Phones and Tablets era, this app for iPhone/iPad and Android that can teach you what to do when your or somebody else's child is choking or needs CPR.


CPR instructions
http://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/infantcpr.html

Instructional video
http://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/videodemo/infant-cpr-video.html

Android and iPhone apps

iPhone app
http://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/cpr-iphone.html


Android app
http://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/cpr-android.html

Here are couple screenshots from the iPad2 app. It looks the same for your iPhone and since I don't have access to any Android devices I don't have any screenshots (I will be happy to put them here if you can send me some) [Update: I have just received a confirmation from a friend of mine that this app looks the same on Android devices ;-) ]













I hope you never need to know any of it, and hope if you do this helps.

Art


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Cardiac Catheterization Explained

One of the groups we are following, 1in100 shared this interesting video today. Our little girl had her cath done couple times and we know there are many parents out there often wondering what a cath (catheterization) is and what happens during the procedure.

I post this here hoping others find it helpful.

http://tinyurl.com/3eroqh6

Art


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Crosswords Over Cartoons

Yes, this morning Abi watched some cartoons when she woke up. She usually does that while drinking her milk, but then she got on the big comfy chair, picked grandma's crosswords and..... worked on them for quite a while hehehe.

I sure hope her love for books will stick to her for years ;-)







Art

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

New On The Blog

We have added 3 new sections to Abi's blog.

One is the slideshow you can watch at the top of the site with all the pictures from Abigail's Picassa Album, another is 5 the most popular posts and then there is a Videos sections with some videos we would like to share with others.

If you have any good videos you think others would enjoy, please shoot us an email and we will be happy to review them and add to this section.

Hope you have a great day,


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

2nd Birthday Party

Thank you to all of the friends who could come and celebrate Abi's second birthday with us! We all had fun and Abi loved it! We need to sing her Happy Birthday at least couple times a day on behalf of every Teddy bear, bunny, doggy and kitty she has in her room ;-). She keeps singing with "them" Happy Birthday To Me ;-)

Even though the grill died and we could not grill for the adults, we had fun and good food and the kids seemed to have a blast.

Below are couple pictures from Sunday's party.















































































It is such an incredible experience to see her grow, change, develop her own personality. See her think on her own, being fascinated with things we take for granted, talk, find joy and laugh at things we no longer notice.

Being a parent is not easy at all. Being a parent of a CHD child is so much more difficult, but it is the most amazing thing I could have ever had the privilege to experience.

I have 2 absolutely wonderful girls in my life and I wouldn't trade them for anything else!

Art

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

7/24/2009 @ 7:27am

... Abi was born





1st bday:




2nd bday:

Turning Two!!

My little Abi is two in 30 minutes. She's the ray of sunshine in my life, well she's like a sun to say the least!! Abi is such a remarkable little person.

Abi - happy birthday to you!!
I love you so much!!!

Kocham cie!!!

Mama.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone