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  • A second chance at fulfilling a dream: Jillian’s story

    What started as a childhood dream is now becoming a reality for Jillian in her lifelong pursuit of becoming a gymnast. She began gymnastics at just 3 years old, and began competing at age 6. Fast forward a few years and Jillian is in high school, dreaming of taking her gymnastics career to the next level and becoming a collegiate athlete. She was having the time of her life- spending countless hours practicing and competing in a sport she loved, surrounded by encouraging friends and family. She was starting to be pursued by various colleges and felt more confident than ever, knowing nothing could get in the way of her dream of becoming a collegiate gymnast.

  • Putting the "thanks" into Thanksgiving

    What are you thankful for this holiday season? This should be a question that all parents ask their kids, not only around the holidays, but year-round too. Studies show that adults who have an attitude of gratitude have more energy, more optimism, more social connections, and are all-around happier than those who do not. And researchers are finding that this same theory holds true for children and adolescents too. Kids who show signs of gratefulness typically have higher GPAs and are less materialistic.

  • The morning after pill: what every parent of a teenager should know

    In the United States, recent news about teenage sexuality is promising. Fewer teens are having sex, and less than half of girls have sex before they graduate high school according to data from the Florida Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Teen pregnancy rates are also falling, probably due to a combination of fewer teens having sex, better long-acting birth control options such as Depo-Provera, and condom use by teens. In spite of this great news, the U.S still has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy among developed countries. Nearly 80% of teen pregnancies are unplanned, a result of birth control failure or nonuse, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

  • Caring for bumps, bruises and boo-boos

    Kids are invincible- or at least they think they are! They fearlessly jump into the air, ride a little too fast on their bikes, and like to play roughly with friends or siblings. It’s all fun and games, until someone gets hurt. Cuts, scrapes, and bruises are a regular occurrence in many family homes and it is important to be prepared when accidents do happen. Minor injuries are inevitable and can be cared for properly with the right tools and education.

    The ingredients of a first-aid kit

    Walking through the aisles at the pharmacy can be overwhelming and confusing when trying to decide what to include in your family’s at-home first-aid kit. Here are some basic essentials to help care for those future bumps and bruises: Adhesive tape Gauze pads Disposable gloves- for protection or to use as an ice pack Disposable instant cold packs Polysporin antibiotic cream Nonadhesive pads Adhesive bandages in different sizes Tweezers to get debris, dirt and grass out of open woundsKeep these items in a storage box that is easily accessible in case of an emergency. If an item is used, be sure to replace it to be prepared for the next accident.

    How to treat minor cuts and scrapes

    Not only is it important to have the necessities in your first-aid kit, it’s also important to know how to use them! Let’s use this scenario- your child has fallen off his/her bike and you hear screaming and crying outside- now what?

  • Why I gave up red meat

    I am a native of the South. I was born and raised in Central Florida with a family who enjoys its share of sweet tea, mashed potatoes and gravy, and holiday barbecues. My grandfather even used to dry his own beef jerky in the backyard. So you can imagine the quizzical looks and questions I received when I – abruptly – decided to stop eating red meat. Why would you do such a thing? Are you a vegan now? How long will you keep it up? It’s been two and a half years since my last taste of beef, and now I can look back with greater clarity to answer why I made such a snap decision.

  • Feeling the warmth of a furry friend

     A few times a week, a special (furry) friend visits Arnold Palmer Hospital to brighten the day of our children who are receiving care. Pets have been a healing part of our hospital for over 20 years, bringing hope, joy, and comfort to our patients. Thought of as the “softer” side of treatment, man’s (and kids’) best friend provides physical and emotional healing to sick children who are fighting to get better everyday.

  • Despite Recent Infant Infections, Powdered Formula is Safe to Use

    Are you concerned about your infant’s formula?

    In recent weeks, there have been four reported cases of Cronobacter infection in infants (in Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma and Florida), two of which were fatal. The first of these to be reported was an infant in Missouri who was known to have consumed Enfamil Newborn formula prior to the illness, and as a precaution on December 22, 2011, Wal-Mart stores pulled certain batches of this formula from their shelves.

  • Fighting Birth Defects with Folic Acid

    Did you know there are things you can do even before you become pregnant that can help give your child a healthy start in life? Making sure your body has enough folic acid is one of the most important ways to protect your baby from birth defects.

  • Preparing for Baby's Arrival

    Deciding to have a baby is probably one of the most exciting decisions that you will make in your life.  In addition to those feelings, it is perfectly normal to also feel a bit nervous.  Your body will experience changes during pregnancy that you have never felt before, and you might worry about what it will be like to take care of your new baby.  You may wander down the aisles of the baby store and wonder if you really do need all of this stuff to take care of the newest and smallest member of your family.  Pregnancy is a time of excitement and anticipation as well as uncertainty.

  • The Sticker Solution to a Sticky Situation

    Most people remember sitting at the dinner table as a child and working around their dinner plate, making sure to get every last piece of the good stuff, yet conveniently ignoring all of the vegetables. With crossed fingers, they hope their parents won’t notice and they would get by without having to touch the colored foods, but that never seems to work. Go figure!