It’s surprising to me how many cases of iron deficiency I diagnose. Surprising enough that it compelled me to write about it! The good news…. it’s pretty easy to fix. I recommend starting with a vitamin with iron and dietary changes. Gummy vitamins do not contain iron, so make sure you pick out a liquid or chewable vitamin. The vitamins are the easy half of the fix; the diet can be a little trickier. There are lots of foods fortified with iron, which are helpful, but the body actually absorbs and utilizes iron best from the natural source. Red meat, eggs, green leafy vegetables, dried fruit (like prunes and raisins), soy products and beans are the best sources. In addition, foods rich in vitamin C, like citrus, help the body absorb iron. Dairy and other foods high in calcium can actually bind iron, so make sure not to overdo it.

A typical case of iron-deficiency anemia is a toddler who fills up on milk and dairy, with an otherwise very limited diet. Remember, milk does the body good, but only in moderation. On the bright side, once you limit your child’s dairy intake, they actually eat better! Not filling up their stomachs with milk leaves lots of room to be hungry.

Why is iron deficiency so important to fix? Because iron is very important for growth and cognitive functions. Symptoms of anemia come on gradually, so initially you may not even notice. However, it can eventually lead to generalized weakness, irritability, easy fatigability, headaches, poor feeding, anorexia, poor weight gain, and pica (which is a craving to eat non-food things).

 If your child is picky, as many are, you may need to be a bit creative and sneaky. It may be difficult at first, but remember that persistence pays off. Once corrected you will find that your child is happier, more energetic, and can even fight off infections better.

 Some food for thought…. Iron-deficiency anemia does not discriminate. It is seen most commonly in toddlers because of their picky and limited diet; however, any picky eater at any age is at risk for anemia. Finally, adolescent girls are also at risk for anemia and can definitely benefit from a multi-vitamin with iron.  Have your kids been tested for anemia recently?

Dr. Rosenfeld

Dr. Rosenfeld has been practicing as a pediatrician in private practice for over 17 years. She is Board Certified and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In 1994, Dr. Rosenfeld joined Children’s Medical Group and has remained there as a long-term primary caregiver to her young patients in North San Diego County. Dr. Rosenfeld practices direct patient care in the office and hospital setting, as well as a number of other clinical functions. In addition to her clinical roles, Dr. Rosenfeld has worked extensively with pediatric policy. Through her appointment as Chairman of Pediatrics at Palomar Medical Center (1998 to 2000), to her contributions on the CPMG Quality of Care Committee and her appointment to the CPMG Executive Advisory Board, Dr. Rosenfeld has served as a voice for pediatric patients in San Diego.

Dr. Rosenfeld loves being a mom and remains quite busy outside the office with her husband and two boys, ages 13 and 8.

As a child, I was satisfied to use my imagination to envision just how the Pilgrims set their feet on the Old Plymouth Rock.

It began to take on an aura of the mystical and heroic to me, but I was far from the first person to be caught into these feelings.

As far back as 1835, Mr. Alexis DeJocqueville spoke of the rocks ethereal qualities with far more eloquence than I. “This Rock has become an object of veneration in the United States. I have seen bits of it carefully preserved in several towns in the Union. Does this sufficiently show that all human power and greatness is in the soul of man? Here is a stone which the feet of a few outcasts pressed for an instant; and the stone becomes famous; it is treasured by a great nation; its very dust is shared as a relic.”

As an adult I was more inclined to use my curiosity to discover why the pilgrims came to land on this rock in the first place. The answer would lead me to discover a people driven, not just to a new land, but to a land that was free of all the tyranny and oppression they had know in their own European countries. The Rock became less mystical to me as an adult while the purpose of the pilgrims became a more venerable matter in my thinking.

It is impossible to ponder those brave Pilgrims, our forefathers, risking life and limb and enduring the perils of the sea, the unknown, starvation and deprivation of every sort without wondering about the very strong reasons they were so willing to face these perils and hardships. Discovering their reasons also provided answers to how the first Thanksgiving came about. The Pilgrims gave thanks because they saw the promise of their quest near at hand and in some small way at the harvest time of that first year it looked like their dream had gotten itself underway.

No one knows the exact words that were spoken in that prayer just before the first thanksgiving meal was eaten. But if the collective thoughts of all who sat for that meal could be known, we can be sure they were about things greater than the personal or family gains and safety that many prayers are reduced to today.

Their thankfulness was for the possibilities of religious freedom, taxation with representation, fair hearings before magistrates when charged with crimes, relief from oppressive monarchs and freedom to speak their minds without fear of reprisal. Many of the things taken for granted and rarely mentioned in the thanksgiving prayers of today are what they were thankful for.

It is said that about ninety Indians were present at the feast which lasted about three days. The very sight of these natives with completely unknown and diverse dress and culture eating with our tattered but dignified forefathers in harmony and full acceptance is a picture of America’s original dream, the dream of a place where everyone is welcome and able to work together in a common society. I am sure that they were thankful for that small microcosmic example of the larger dream they all shared for the country’s future.

The pilgrims were thankful for the beginning of their dream. We should be thankful for the fullness of that dream. The pilgrims were people who knew all to well that nobility was not inherent to those born in palaces but it was a state of the soul and a dignity of purpose found in people of higher thought. They were thankful on that first thanksgiving for the visible result of that higher thought.

Happy Thanksgiving Eastlake.

Built upon these everyday tasks are the mental challenges that add just one more layer to our complex lives; lives which feel particularly hard now. We may not be out of work, but we know someone who is or we worry that we’ll be next. We may be working to the bone, trying to manage everything, but feel unappreciated and neglected. We may have middle schoolers who we wish would just act like the “good” kid down the street, not realizing that our neighbors are saying the same thing about us.

Sometimes, in my busy day, there will be a moment when my life, and all the tasks associated with it, suddenly slows down. For me, this moment always begins with a conversation. The conversations I’ve had recently are about both the physical and mental challenges of living in this 21st century. These conversations start abruptly and I quickly find myself thinking…”This is important!” It’s important because sometimes you just need someone to hear you; to really listen to your fears, your insecurities, your hopes, and your dreams. There is nothing that can get you through the day more than just stopping to have a conversation with someone you trust, knowing that they really care about what is going on in your life.  More importantly, it is through these conversations that we come to find out that we are not alone in our frustration, our misery, our optimism, or our feelings that things will get better.

I think a great example of this is watching two new parents manage their three year-old while out to dinner at a “family” restaurant. If you are a people watcher like me, I’m sure you have gone out to dinner and been distracted by the wail of a child. If you turn your head to look, you might have seen a young couple trying desperately to quiet their child down. “Ssh, use your quiet voice,” they’ll say. Or, “Everybody’s watching you.” If you caught their eye, they might have turned away suddenly, ashamed, thinking that you were passing judgment on their lack of parenting skills. If you’re like me, been there, done that. The look is not a look of judgment but a look of understanding – that no matter what you do, that child is going to do what a three year-old child does – talk loudly, laugh loudly, and, of course, be fussy until you decide to leave in exasperation.

I’ve seen this happen so many times, but one time really stands out. A young couple had been struggling all dinner to quiet their child. They were really tag teaming – trying their hardest, to no avail. After dinner, as the dad sat exhausted waiting for his wife to gulp down a few last bits of the meal, an older couple in their late 60s stopped at their table. “Oh great,” I thought, “now they’re going to be lectured about how they shouldn’t bring their child to a restaurant.” Pleasantly surprised, they engaged the couple in a short conversation and I heard “it gets better” as the older couple walked away. The smiles on the younger couples’ faces were priceless.

A simple conversation with profound affects.

Have something that’s really eating at you? Start a conversation!

Our Human Village is a forum on life issues facilitated by educator and writer Lisa Davis. If you would like to share your issue or comment on the current posting, please email Lisa in care of email or make a comment below.
ljdavis@ljdavis.com

The history of veteran’s day dates back to year 1919 when on November 12th American President Woodrow Wilson announced Armistice Day. As per the recent census there are approximately over 24.9 million military veterans in the United States alone. No doubt, solders and military personnel are assets to any country. They are the people who fight for the safety and security of their country and help ensure sovereignty of it.

However, later it was decided that on every 11th November every year will be observed as Veterans Day. Most federal states observe 11th November and if it is Sunday then next working day is to be observed as Veterans Day. And, if it falls on Saturday then either Saturday or Friday is to be observed as Veterans Day.

Other names for Veterans Day are Armistice Day or Remembrance Day. It is also known as Armistice because November 11 was the anniversary of the signing the Armistice which ended World War I. Other countries where 11th November is celebrated as a day for remembrance apart from the U.S. are Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand along with others. However, in the U.S. not just the dead during wartime are honored but everyone who served their country is remembered on this day.

So in U.S. every 11th November is celebrated as Veterans Day and observed as a public holiday in honor for thousands of soldiers who died and millions of people who served their country in the battlefield. Another most important thing associated with Veteran’s Day is that you can either use Veteran’s Day, Veterans’ Day or even Veterans Day (without apostrophe), so it is never treated as a spelling mistake. Officially it’s known as Veterans Day. Other interesting fact associated with Veterans is that most of these Veterans (more than 1 million as on 2007) live in 5 states i.e. California, Florida, Texas, New York and Pennsylvania, where California Tops the list with over 2.1 million veterans in the state.

Another great thing associated with Veterans Day in America is American Flag. Unquestionably for any country its national flag matters a lot. It’s matter of great pride and respect to see their own national flag marching up and above the rest. Let’s see a brief introduction about history of the American flag. The history seems to be interesting and unique. It all started with the time when 13 colonies of British North America at the South Canada became rebellion and declared their independence. So you can clearly see 13 red and white horizontal lines with a British Union Flag in the canton (at the top left corner) with fifty five pointed white stars on the blue background. Creators of this flag were a few congressmen like Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Harrison and Thomas Lynch, who gave birth to the national flag of the U.S.

Sturat is article marketer and enjoys writing and sharing articles on topics like history of veteran’s day and history of the American flag. For more information you can visit us.

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Only a year after voters overwhelmingly defeated a sales-tax hike, Chula Vista City Hall is proposing yet another tax increase.

According to City Hall, Proposition H proposes a simple update to protect the city’s telecommunications tax revenue stream. What the measure does is expand the scope of the tax, thereby increasing revenues. Many wireless subscribers will see a zero to 5 percent increase. The ballot language fails to indicate the possible increases in taxes. It states the opposite.

Proponents say Proposition H is necessary for the utility users tax language to be technology-neutral, allowing the “city to treat all consumers equally.” What this means is that City Hall would like to legally force the tax onto all carriers and therefore consumers under the proposed expanded scope. This also means it is a permanent tax – likely to serve as a slippery slope to affect just about every form of telecommunications as technology progresses.

Proponents say: “It’s OK, 90 to 95 percent of wireless subscribers already pay it.” However, because Proposition H intends to expand the tax to new forms of technology, to say that some Chula Vistans won’t notice a difference on their bill is utterly deceptive.

As for public services, Proposition H contains nothing but rhetoric when it comes to protecting services. Not one cent of this tax is required to go to police, fire or any core city service for that matter. Proposition H allows city politicians to spend this money any way they choose. Aside from budgeting for service and personnel expenses, the city has several obligations that it has legally bound itself to, including pension funding, debt servicing and pay raises.

City politicians, in their ballot argument, say: “It’s OK, Chula Vista’s fiscal health plan requires a balanced budget, adequate reserves and pension benefit reform.” Yet a look at the ballot language reveals no requirements for reform. What proponents are asking voters to do is to put the cart before the horse. Incidentally, they are finally admitting that they are requesting additional revenue before reform.

With an ailing local economy with foreclosures rampant, many families continue to struggle as victims of the recession continue to mount. Proposition H will take more than an extra toll on families. Recent studies illustrate how wireless taxes and fees are regressive in nature. In fact, court rulings have successfully nullified the federal excise tax (the ordinance that the city currently refers to) and has prompted HR 1521, The Cell Tax Fairness Act, which seeks to halt such discriminatory taxes collected at the local level.

If it were not bad enough that City Hall tried to increase the sales tax, it is determined to raise the telecommunications tax on businesses – vital to sales and operation. Unfortunately, Proposition H has unintended consequences that put our businesses, city and local economy at a competitive disadvantage. Any possibility of attracting new industries – specifically in telecommunications, banking, software development, movie studios or high-tech imaging – would be shattered. Small businesses heavily rely on telecommunications. They spend an average of $543 a month on telecommunications.

Local utility tax increases such as Proposition H paired with excessive state costs raise critical economic issues in a larger landscape. In a highly elastic market such as telecommunications, the addition of tax and fee burdens deals black eyes to not only the city, but also the state’s competitive position in the wireless industry. The West Coast is highly dependent on the telecommunications industry. California alone is headquarters to telecommunications giants such as Cisco and Qualcomm and is home to Silicon Valley.

Voters should not be fooled. If City Hall’s primary intention is to protect itself from legal challenges and protect future revenue, then it should have included the newly defined scope of the services while decreasing the tax rate so that the proposed language would be revenue-neutral. However, City Hall chose not to.

Proposition H is a dash for taxpayer cash and its casualties are more than the truth and economics.

For these reasons, the Chula Vista Civic Association, Chula Vista Taxpayers Association, San Diego County Taxpayers Association, Utility Consumers Action Network and others urge Chula Vista voters to vote No on Proposition H.

What the measure does is expand the scope of the tax, thereby increasing revenues. Many wireless subscribers will see a zero to 5 percent increase.

Herrera is CEO of the San Diego South Chamber of Commerce. Galvez is vice president of Fast Blue Communications. Further information about Proposition H is available at http://chulavistataxpayers.org

On March 17, 431AD, when Patrick of Ireland died, a new holiday was born.

Though the celebrations began in the 700′s as a traditional Catholic Holy Day, over the years St. Patrick’s Day has become more a secular holiday which marks the beginning for spring.

The official date for the beginning of spring is March 21, and this also supports the tradition of wearing green.  Green is the color for life and growth and if you desire good luck and on this day, you should “be wearin’ a touch o’ the green!

The spreading of Christianity and Catholicism to the Irish of the 4th and 5th century is mainly attributed to St. Patrick, who received the name of Patrick while in seminary after his captivity in Ireland. Traditions that originated back in the 7th century have changed from being strictly religious to a St. Patrick’s Day where “everybody is Irish for the day”.

Catholics will start the day off at early mass which signifies the beginning of the holiday.  Tradition has it that St. Patrick often used a Shamrock to explain to pagans the concept of the Trinity.  The trinity is the Father, Son and Holy Ghost which Christians know all stem from the same God –  three in one like the Shamrock plant – three leaves from one stem. If you are wearing a shamrock you can claim Good Luck or Blessings!

The tradition of the Shamrock still remains though most don’t know the reason behind it; but it still means Good Luck! to whoever wears it or receives it.

St. Patrick’s Day was first observed as a holiday in the United States in 1737.  The US was still under the authority of the British because the Revolutionary War that gave freedom didn’t even start until 1776.  So even though many of the Irish had not yet arrived to our shores yet, St. Patrick’s Day was still considered a very important holiday.   Queen’s NY started the first parade in honor of St. Patrick and as a result, St. Patrick’s Day parades are popular all across the country.  Parades are a great way to celebrate this day!

If you need a tad bit more good luck to start your season off, invite a Leprechaun to accompany you throughout the day.  They are packed with good luck – and are kind of cute, to boot!

Of course, one of the most popular traditions that goes only with St. Patrick’s Day is the drinking of particularly green ale. Green is the color of the day! For this holiday, there should be no bar or tavern which does not add some green food coloring to a keg of draft beer to serve mugs of tinted beer to its customers.  And of course Irish cream and Irish Whiskey ought to be available too, but make sure the kids get green lemonade or 7UP!

St. Patrick’s Day is a day of fun for all ages.

Whether we see them or not, wildflowers bloom with each passing year. They blanket uninhabited mountainsides with carpets of beautiful color with each season. Our children bloom with new attributes to their personalities with each passing day as well—whether we take notice or not.

Time has a funny way of slipping away from us right under our noses, and we must be careful not to miss out on the beauty of everyday.

Sure, we all have floors to clean, laundry to wash, bills to pay and running around to do day after day. All the chores we do are for the purpose of providing a safe and clean environment for our families, but the more important task at hand is to take notice of our children’s emotional and spiritual needs.

It’s very easy to get into a strict schedule—off to school, do chores in between, home from school, homework, dinner, bath, and then bed. Day after day we stick to our schedules and rely on things remaining the same for the sake of sanity.

Having a schedule is wonderful; in fact it’s a great way to provide stability for our children. However, there are times when we need to break away from our schedules; be free to have fun and spend time sharing in our children’s childlike spirit!

Make time to enjoy your children—play tea party, army men, board games or whatever suits their fancy! Playing with your kids is not only fun for them, but it’s also relaxing for you. For a brief moment in time, you’re not the waitress, disciplinarian, dietician, or taxi driver—you’re just “ma” having a good time with your children.

Just this once, don’t yell at the kids for running down the hall laughing out loud because your favorite television show is on—turn off the T.V. and run down the hall with them and play a game or two of hide and go seek!

Loosen the bun from the back of your head and get some dirt under your fingernails and dig for worms on a hot summer day; and then go rinse off under the sprinkler with them, clothes and all!

I challenge you to have more fun being a parent and interact with your child’s playtime more often.

Although it can be difficult to manage a household, raise kids and take time for yourself on a daily basis; you should enjoy your little wildflowers while you can, for someday they will bloom into adulthood and tend to their own wildflower gardens!

Keep It Exciting!

Use all of the tools that you have to remind yourself of the day.  Set up your palm pilot or your computer to remind you of the day.  And, not just on that day but several weeks before.  This way, you can easily remember to do something for the day.

* Make dinner reservations.

* Buy a new outfit for the day.

* Plan what you will be serving for dinner.

* Find a way to get the kids out of the house for a few hours.

* Head out on the town for several hours.

* Plan out your meal for the night and test new recipes before then.

One of the biggest problems for the evening is with the kids.  Where can they go or do?  Find a sitter for them so that you two will have time on your own.  Make sure to leave them someplace that they will enjoy themselves so that you don’t have to worry about them all evening.  And, doing this will allow you to spend better quality time with your loved one too.

Gifts should be purchased well in advance.  First of all, more and more individuals are turning to the internet to purchase gifts.  If this is your plan, do it well in advance of the day, as it may take several weeks to receive a package.  If you plan to purchase something, make sure that you know the tastes of the individual and their size.  If you visit local department stores, they may even wrap them up for you on this day.

Go For Something Different!

Go ahead and get something more unique this year.  For example a singing telegram is sure to surprise her.  Surprise her with something like this that you purchase through the local florist.

Making Valentine’s Day special is important for each of you to really enjoy the day.  Do something different, set aside a block of time and make it mean something to each of you.  Then, it will be a day to remember even though you are married.

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste … and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.

5. If it snows while you’re out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don’t let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it’s set. That makes it too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom-and your jewelry. It’s not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

8. It’s raining, you’re fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door-understandable. But understand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather.

9. I always knock first. If you answer, I’ll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don’t take me up on it.)

10. Do you really think I won’t look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

11. Here’s a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids’ rooms.

12. You’re right: I won’t have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it’s not bolted down, I’ll take it with me.

13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you’re reluctant to leave your TV on while you’re out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at faketv.com.)

EIGHT MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON’T TELL YOU:
1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

3. I’ll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he’ll stop what he’s doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn’t hear it again, he’ll just go back to what he was doing. It’s human nature.

4. I’m not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

5. I love looking in your windows. I’m looking for signs that you’re home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I’d like. I’ll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It’s easier than you think to look up your address.

7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it’s an invitation.

8. If you don’t answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

Our little world within San Diego, CA made the news in many ways.  From the Chargers up and down playoff performance to the Parkview Little League World Championships, here are some of the highlights of of the year on both a local and national scale.

January 1, 2009.
Comedian Kathy Griffin raises eyebrows with some interesting banter while hosting New Year’s celebration in New York City.

January 3, 2009. Darren Sproles scores 21 yard TD in overtime as San Diego Chargers beat Indianapolis Colts, 23-17 in AFC Wild Card game in San Diego, California.

January 11, 2009 San Diego Chargers’ playoff hopes are lost as they lose to the Steelers.

January 20, 2009, Barack Obama takes the presidential oath becoming the 44th U.S. president, shattering racial barriers as the first black leader of a country gripped by profound economic troubles and at war.

June 15, 2009 General Stanley McChrystal, takes command in Afghanistan.

June 25, 2009 POP icon Michael Jackson dies from a suspected cardiac arrest. He was 50 years old. Jackson, who was due to perform a number of farewell concerts in London later.

July 21, 2009 Historic Navy Plane found in bottom of Otay Lakes

August 2, 2009 Michael Phelps beats rival Milorad Cavic in World Finals despite wetsuit controversy.

August 5, 2009. Eastlaketimes.com opens its doors with its first post about Tony Jefferson signing with UCLA.

August 2009. The movie The Hangover becomes this years Summer Sleaper.

August 30, 2009. Parkview Little League Bombers win Little League World Championship.

September 20, 2009. Cycle Eastlake is huge success.

September 23, 2009 Eastlake Tavern and Bowl Opens In Eastlake

October 2009. Eastlake Tavern and Bowl shakes up the neighborhood with their first Rock and Bowl party.
Eastlake resident parents go trick or treating with plastic red cups. “Hey, mom, what’s in the cup?

November 4, 2009. After nine years, the New York Yankees win the World Series Championship.

November 17,2009. Eastlaketimes.com breaks story on Coyote menace in Eastlake, CA.

November 2009 Eastlake HOA hosts Neighborhood Awareness Meeting with Chula Vista Police Department

December 10, 2009. Task Force Reviews Free Speech Rules at Southwestern College.

December 11, 2009. Eastlake Titans Beat Vista to become CIF champs.

December 19, 2009 Tony Jefferson from Eastlake High School signs with Oklahoma Sooners.

December 2009. Shea Homes to Begin Work on 32 New Homes

December 20, 2009 2009-2010 Chargers team clinch another playoff berth. Could this be the year they go to the show and win it all?

December 21, 2009. Strange Boom Rattles San Diego County

December 22, 2009. Two New Parks to open

Happy New Year, Eastlake!