The importance of Newborn Screening

Lately I have been thinking a lot about how lucky we are to have two healthy girls.  The odds would have been against us in a country without expanded newborn screening, in a state not testing for Classic Galactosemia, or simply refusing the test.  We could have refused the test out of ignorance just because the perceived notion of pain to the infant.  That obviously was never our intent, especially since the first I read about the test was in the hospital after delivering Alena, and because the hospital staff had erroneously not performed the test had I not reminded them.  But here we are - lucky and yet there are too many people still unaware about this amazing test.  Yes, truth is that most likely Alena would not have survived.  Saving her was only Newborn Screen test, not me, not us - there was nothing we could have done.  We knew something was not right - but what?  What saved her was the physician tracking us down, and the physician immediately putting her on antibiotics as soon as the diagnosis came in.  That is what saved her!

Luckily, we never had to experience anything like that with Mia Rose.  The reason for that is also simple - the Newborn Screen test.  For our second child we had also arranged to purchase an additional, supplemental test as Oregon does not screen for all disorders on the panel.  Unlike Alena, she had not had anything but Soy formula so changes for her getting ill were much more remote.

What would have happened if, the test had not been performed on either of my children? -  One thing many people do not know is that the Newborn Screen tests for disorders which are treatable if detected early.  Even so the children may appear health at birth babies with these disorders may decline in health, have irreversible damage, or die. Here is one family story which posted at the Web-site of the Save Babies Through Screening Foundation http://www.savebabies.org/family-stories_nora.html The Newborn Screen prevents just that for these treatable disorders. Please pass this information along.  It could save a babies life! And yes, many people have never heard of any of these disorders, or have any family history.

Here is a fantastic video by the Save Babies Through Screening Foundation it explains what happens and what to expect from the test http://vimeo.com/34898727.  Please watch it and also visit this amazing, resourceful web-site www.savebabies.org

Our happy and healthy girls - health and alive because of Newborn Screening

Biscomerica Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in it's Knott's Berry Farm 12/8/2 Boysenberry Cookies #59680, Blueberry Cookies #59675, Raspberry Cookies #59670 Strawberry Cookies #59695.

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts Biscomerica Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in it's Knott's Berry Farm 12/8/2 Boysenberry Cookies #59680, Bluberry Cookies #59675, Raspberry Cookies #59670 Strawberry Cookies #59695.

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts Food Lion Manufacturer Recalls Store Brand Hard/Soft Taco Dinner Kit Recalled Products Were Produced Under the Food Lion Store Brand Label and Sold at Food Lion, Harveys and Reid’s Stores

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts Food Lion Manufacturer Recalls Store Brand Hard/Soft Taco Dinner Kit Recalled Products Were Produced Under the Food Lion Store Brand Label and Sold at Food Lion, Harveys and Reid’s Stores

May contain undeclared Milk

Ham, roasted asparagus with fresh tarragon, (s)mashed potatoes = Easter Dinner

and yes, there was also a big bowl of mixed green salad, and I made a loaf - not no-knead - of bread. The potatoes are amazing.I am using this recipe by the Family Foodie http://familyfoodie.com/how-to-make-the-perfect-smashed-potatoes-sundaysupper/ and it is amazing. I swapped Earth Balance - or other vegan butter - for the"cow" butter, and today I used Hemp milk instead of the "cow" milk. Truly, these are the creamiest potatoes ever!!!
Everything else is pretty standard, and the fresh tarragon - in the salad and in the oven baked asparagus - gave it just a little more festive, and spring like flavor. I originally wanted to make a raisin sauce to serve with the ham, but we ran out of time. It was such a beautiful day, so we took a nice long walk. Pictures about our day, and dessert to follow tomorrow...

Tortilla Soup for Friday Dinner

is like sunshine and summer in your soup bowl. Garnish ist with lime, avocado, and Tofutti sour cream for a vegan dish. It is also quick and easy. This recipe has been adapted from one I clipped from the Oregonian a few years back. It is quick, easy, and delicious.

You need
- 1 onion diced
- pinch of salt
- 2 garlic cloves diced
- 1 teaspoon - or more - of cumin
- 1 teaspoon - or less - of chili powder
- 1 T of tomato Paste
- 1 Quart Vegetable or Chicken Broth - I like Pacific Foods brand
- 4 T of cilantro chopped
- 1 can of black beans drained
- 1 cup of frozen corn
- 1 large - or small - can of diced tomatoes. I like fire roasted
- 2 avocados - diced
- 1 lime - if serving 4
- good tortilla chips

1. Heat a good splash of olive oil in a stock pot. When hot add onion, and a pinch of salt. Saute
until soft.
2. Add garlic, and after a minute or so add spices as well as tomato paste
3. When fragrant add stock, and two tablespoons of cilantro - bring to a simmer
4. After about 15 minutes add tomatoes, beans, and corn. Bring to a low simmer until ist is hot
5. Adjust salt - serve in soup bowl, garnish soup with tortilla chips, and cilantro

Serve with wedge of lime, diced avocado, and Tofutti sour cream. Oh, and I added cayenne pepper to my bowl...

TWI Foods Inc. Undeclared Milk & Almond in Crispy Brand cookes & rusk bread

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts FDA Press Release

This recall effects the US ad Canada!

Los Olivos LTD Issues Allergy Alert Undeclared Milk Allergens In "Los Olivos LTD Pan de Torta"

Los Olivos LTD Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Milk Allergens In "Los Olivos LTD Pan de Torta"

Pizza Night at

A Pizza Scholl's - house salad to start followed by a sausage-onion pizza of which one half we ordered without cheese. This must be the best Pizza in town, the entire family loved it.

We had a great dinner out. Ron had the great idea to walk to the restaurant. On the way there the girls feasted on chives, and on the way home we stopped at the Albina Press for coffee and hot chocolate. Ok - Mia Rose had a vanilla soy steamer, Alena had the soy hot chocolate (we always double check to make sure that the chocolate used is vegan). I have to say that walking to the restaurant made this dinner even better. Yes, rain and all...

Thai Coconut Curry Soup

This is a completely new recipe for me.  It is actually my very first try at a Thai inspired dish - so here is the result

It is another recipe I found on Pinterest.  The dish I made actually looks nothing like the one in the recipe http://www.sweetspot.ca/SweetHome/recipes/12231/thai_coconut_curry_soup/ One problem - I think - was that I started the soup too early for dinner.  I probably should have just turned off the stove and not kept it on simmer. So, more liquid evaporated than it should have which led to the problem that the rice noodles soaked up most of the liquid.  Ooops, more noodles than soup.  The flavor however was fantastic plus everyone loved it for dinner.  Oh and yes,  I used red curry paste, omitted the fish sauce...I will definitively make it again. Let's just hope that it will be soup then :)

Springbreak at the Oregon Coast

was a lot of fun despite the rain.  There were actually a couple of hours that were dry, and a little blue sky peaked out....We had fun, and only left the house for some adventures along the central Oregon coast. We ended up going out once for lunch at Rogue Brewery on the the Newport Bay http://www.rogue.com/locations/locations.php  Both girlies enjoyed a hot dog, with potato chips, a side of jello served on a frisbee.  Oh, yes they both loved the entire meal and the frisbees are still being enjoyed   Yes, it rained but we actually enjoyed at least a couple of hours without rain so that we could go to the beach and play.  Besides that we ate in.  I am feeling pretty proud that we managed to bring along all of our food, and drinks. I think that was a first - the only thing we had to get before heading to the beach cottage was coffee.  Big oops for me - good thing I remembered in time!!!

beautiful Oregon cost even in the rain...

Below are some pictures from our mini getaway...

Girlies are digging

Digging break

Mia Rose enjoying the sunshine

Alena smiling in the sunshine

Ron and the girlies in the Oregon Aquarium

Running in the rain