KTsummers’

        

               I can never forget his face, his smile, his eyes, and his cute little dimple.  It's been days since I have been dreaming about the past love that I have lost.  And I kept thinking and trying to remember what happened between us that made us fall apart.

             I was reminiscing the time we had and it was quite a past.  We had a lot of fun memories together, although we also shared some bad times.  But that is always a part of a relationship.  I

was wondering why we never talked about why we lost each other.  We were too young, I guess.  We were so in love and I thought it was forever, but I was wrong.  I still have love for him but it's not as strong as before.  I can only love him as my friend now.  I loved him with all my heart.  Now that I remember, it was just a petty little thing that we never got to resolve until we just lost it.  We didn't talk it out like we used to, what if that didn't happen?  Would we still be together?  Are we happy together by now?  Some thoughts and questions circled my mind for quite sometime now.  I may not know the answer to that, but what I know right now is I have the new love of my life and I am not going to let go of this one just because of a little petty thing.

            You'll never know when it's going to attack.  Loose Bowel Movement or what we call diarrhea, is the passage of a watery or loose stool occurring more frequently than your usual bowel movement.  This sometimes occurs due to a simple irritation of the bowel.  But there are times that these happen because of an infection.  It is better to be aware of the symptoms and be able to know how to deal with it.  This actually leads to a serious kind of complications.

             The major concern in a child with diarrhea is the risk of being dehydrated, the loss of fluid and electrolytes, and the development of metabolic acidosis that may even lead to death.  It is dangerous because it can cause undernutrition because nutrients can be lost from the body during the frequent passage of stool and sometimes the parents may contribute to the undernutrition due to the lack of knowledge about it.  What the parents don't know is that they should allow the child to eat as much as they want mostly when they have diarrhea.  In that way, the excreted nutrition can be

replaced.

             Here are some pointers that you may observe and can be helpful during the diagnosis of the disease:

·        Character of the stool

      You should observe whether the stool is watery or just plain loose.  You can also check for the color of the stool, odor, and the consistency.

·        Pain and abdominal cramping

      Observe for the frequency of pain, what kind of pain whether it is cramping or twisting.

·        Dehydration

      This occurs when too much nutrients and fluid is lost.  And the main goal is to rehydrate the patient or the child.  The patient can be assessed by pinching the skin, this is for checking the skin turgor, whether the skins elasticity is lost.  Check for drying of the skin, and then this means that the patient has been severely dehydrated.  Other things that can be helpful to check for dehydration is the presence of a sunken eyeball, decreased urine output, cold clammy skin, weight loss, frequent thirst, and absence of tears during crying.

·        Fluid and electrolyte imbalance

      This may result due to too much fluid loss.  It can cause the child to have manifestations of weakness, confusion, and decrease response to stimuli.

·        Metabolic acidosis

      This occurs due to severe dehydration and malnutrition.  It may lead to drowsiness, stupor and even coma.

             The person with diarrhea can lose essential water and salts, so what we do is to prevent the

occurrence of dehydration.  There are 2 phases that can help:

      1.  Rehydration Phase

      This is the replacement of the fluid due to fluid and salt lost in stools and vomitus.

2.   Maintenance Phase

      It is the replacement of lost fluid during the ongoing diarrhea and vomiting.

 Some tips on how to deal with dehydration:

·        Treatment Plan A:  To prevent dehydration

            Explain to the mother on how to treat diarrhea at home.  By just simply following these 3 rules, your child can be prevented from getting dehydrated:

 

1.      Give your child a lot of fluids than the usual.  Give rice water, fruit juices, weak tea, soup, or salt and sugar solutions (ORS).  ORS stands for Oral Rehydrating Salts, you can actually make this at home by mixing 1 tsp of salt to a 8 tsp pf sugar and then add 1 liter of clean drinking water.

2.      Give your child food.  Don't scold the child from eating, at least the lost nutrients and fluids can be replenished, but give those foods that are easy to digest and contains potassium like banana, apple, and coconut juice.

3.      Watch for the signs of dehydration.  Bring your child if you suspect of dehydration, so the child can be treated by the experts.

·        Treatment Plan B:  To treat dehydration with ORS Solutions

            ORS is the standard recommended formula by WHO/UNICEF.  This has 4 constituents and should be discarded within 24 hours.

·        Treatment Plan C:  To treat severe dehydration quickly

            For infants, the mother should be advised to breastfeed or give milk formula in between ORS.

The most important thing to remember to prevent diarrhea is to wash your hands often.

As we all know there are several theories that might have influenced ones development and this sometimes explain of what we have become or what we will be in the future.  The development of human depends upon how we were raised or what has influenced as during the process of growing.  And this all boils down to the beginning of our developmental stages.  As the Psychosocial development theory of Erik Erickson describes the human as a series of eight ego developmental stages from birth to death.  Each stage represents a psychosocial crisis, of which the goal is to integrate physical, maturation, and societal demands.  Erickson says that Ego development is influenced by family, social, and other developmental factors.  In the Psychosocial development, there is a lifelong series of conflicts that is affected by the social and cultural factors.  By which each conflict must be resolved so that the child or adult can progress emotionally.  Unsuccessful resolution of these conflicts may leave the individual emotionally handicapped.

Erik Erickson Stages of development

• Trust vs. Mistrust stage - develops during infant stage; the infant develops the attachment to the mother.  And this will help an individual to have more trust in people, more faith and hope about the environment and the future.  But if this crisis never resolves, there can be general difficulties of the individual relating to people effectively, there will always be suspicions, trust-fear conflict, and fear of the future.  This depends upon the love and care that the mother shows her child.   If she neglects her child during the time of need like for example, when an infant cries and ignores it, of course the child will feel that she is not loved or wanted.  So mistrust develops, resulting to depression, withdrawal and even paranoia. 
• Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt stage - here the child develops some basic control over self and environment.  This explains how an individual develops a sense of self-control and adequacies giving the child the will power that will help us accomplish and build self-esteem during childhood and adolescence.  The parents must guide the child gradually and firmly but letting the child build their own independence, then the child develops ones autonomy.  Independence-fear conflict and severe feelings of self-doubt develops if this stage did not resolve.  Like if the parents are too permissive, harsh or demanding, the child may feel defeated and thus experience shame and doubt.  Since the independence is never developed, the child will embark upon neurotic attempts to regain feelings of control, power, and competency during growing up.  And this can cause the child to have obsessive behaviors.  But if the parents is too loose or the child was not given any limits or guidance then the child now gains to shame and doubt, and causes the child to be impulsive.
• Initiative vs. Guilt stage - develops during the late childhood.  The child here becomes purposeful and directive; there will abilities to initiate one's own activities, developing the sense of purpose.  The parents must be supportive and understanding of the child's efforts to show initiative, to help the child develop the sense of purpose, and sets goals and acts that they may reach it.  But if the child is being punished for showing initiative, leads to the development of guilt and may cause inhibition if done in excess.  The child may then feel the sense of inadequacy or guilt, and aggression-fear conflict may appear.  But of course if the parent allows the child to have too much purpose and no guilt even if the purpose is bad, then this may lead to ruthlessness, as such may achieve their goals without thinking or caring of those people that they may step on or hurt during the process. 
• Industry vs. inferiority stage - occurs during the school age.  This stage develops social, physical and school skills, developing competence and ability to learn and work on the process.  Not only the parents must support the child's effort to develop the sense of competence but also all the adults around him/her such as the teacher.  The child here tames their imagination and impulses, and tries to please others.  If the adults' supervising the child shows no support then the child develops inferiority, then inertia or helplessness occurs, driving the child to be an underachiever.  But too much competency, and the child advances too fast to be an adult, then this can now cause the child to be shallow or histrionic person.
• Identity vs. role confusion stage - develops during the adolescence stage.  The task here now is to develop the sense of identity.  The young adults now try on different identities, this we call identity crisis, using their friends to reflect back to them.  If they are able to resolve this crisis, then they develop fidelity, by which their abilities to gain different kind of friends.  But if an individual fails to resolve, identity diffusion sets in.  Their sense of self will be unstable and threatened.  Too little identity may lead them to join cults or hate groups, but too much of it may show fanaticism. 
• Intimacy vs. Isolation stage - the ability to love deeply and commit oneself now develops during the early adulthood enters.  Intimacy is developed by establishing intimate bonds of love and friendship, the ability to be close, loving, and the vulnerability to romance.  But the failure to develop intimacy brings on emotional isolation, egocentricity, and even promiscuity. 
• Generativity vs. Stagnation stage - middle adulthood, the stage of fulfilling life goals that involves family, career, and society.  This is as simple as the ability to give and care for others, and by having a strong sense of creativity and becoming successful develops generativity.  Stagnation develops if one is self-absorbed, feeling of little connection to others, and offers little to the society.  This may lead to rejectivity and a frustration to feel any sense of meaning or the inability to grow as a person such as those who are having the unresolved mid-life crisis.  But too much generativity may now lead to overextension, such as those people having no time for themselves because of being too busy. 
• Integrity vs. Despair stage -  this is when an individual looks back over one's life and accepting its meaning.  This entails the sense of integrity and fulfillment.  The individual must accept that their life is coming in an end, accepting all the successes and failures, ageing, and loss.  Unresolved crisis may follow dissatisfaction with life.  An individual may gain ego integrity and accept their lives if they succeed and establish a sense of wisdom by accepting death as it come.  But for those who do not feel despair may dread their death.  On the other hand, too much wisdom may lead to presumption, and too much despair leads to detest for life.

This is only one of the Developmental Theories that I used to explain what molds a person to become as such.

            How I wish I was free, how I wish we could be together, and how I wish that I could turn back time and make us meet perfectly.  The perfect time, the perfect place, and perfect for us to fall in love.

             You gave me inspirations, you have awakened my heart from a long and endless sleep, and you have made me feel loved again.  I know so little of you and yet it felt like I knew you forever.

 
            But time can be so cruel; we met too late, wrong time.  How can I give you the love I feel inside when I know that I belong to someone else and so do you.  This big wall between us has blocked us to do so.  Falling in love with you isn't that hard to do but I might have to suppress my feelings from growing to minimize and prevent myself from getting hurt and hurting someone else.  The pain of wanting to be with you, to give and show you the love I feel for you, and the pain of knowing that I can never express this love I have for you.

             The pain of falling in love at the wrong time and the pain of not being loved back.

1. Determine that airway is obstructed - ask the victim, "Are you choking?  Can you speak?"
2. Stand behind the victim, and wrap your arms around his or her waist.  If the victim is obese or
   

   Choking rescue
   pregnant, wrap hands around chest).
3. Make a fist, and place thumb side of fist in the middle of the abdomen just above navel (middle of sternum for obese or pregnant victim).
4. Grasp fist with other hand.
5. Press fist abruptly into victim's abdomen using upward, inward thrust (straight back for obese or pregnant victim).
6. Continue thrusts until object is dislodged or victim loses consciousness.
7. If victim loses consciousness, give first aid for unconscious choking adult or child.

 

Signs and Symptoms of a Choking Adult or Child

 

·        Grabbing at the throat area with one hand

·        High-pitched crowing sounds, and inability to speak or talk

·        There is wheezing, gagging, ineffective coughing

 

If you are not trained to do so, or if you do not know how the procedure works, ask someone in the area that has the proper knowledge to do so.  If not, try to follow the procedure carefully.  And call for help.  Do not be afraid to approach someone that could possibly be able to help.

            Fall is the most common cause of accidental deaths among the elderly and the injury-related visits to emergency room.  5 to 15% of the elderly fall victim suffers from serious injuries like head trauma, soft tissue injuries, fractures and dislocations.  And 90% account to hip injuries in the elderly and the leading cause of an extended hospitalization due to the loss of mobility.  There are these normal physiological changes that accompany aging process and this can lead to decreased balance and increased risk for falls.  Imagine an elderly walking with a walker or cane, most of the elderly lack the upper body strength to effectively support their entire weight on their arms, and walk on the non-weight bearing of affected limb.  There are age related changes that may contribute to the risk of falls

among the elderly.  This includes decreased range of motion (ROM) and flexibility especially on the lower extremities and the spine.  Lower extremities strength can decrease up to 40% from ages 30 to 80 resulting to weakness.  Increased postural sway and thoracic kyphosis may also contribute.  The three sensory systems which coordinate to provide postural control may change and cause an imbalance.  Like if there is a decrease in hair cells in the semicircular canals then it affects the vestibular control, or there is a decrease in the visual acuity, depth perception, cone cells, and accommodation, or if there is an increase in the threshold of excitability for sensory receptors resulting in decreased reaction time of the somatosensory system.  The risks of falls in the elderly are multifactorial and also include the environmental, physiological and psychological factors.  It can be categorized into the intrinsic and extrinsic factors.  Intrinsic factors are those of the person's age, genes, physiological and psychosocial conditions.  It may include a person's postural instability, orthostatic hypotension, sensory deficits, foot problems like toenail length, calluses, bunions, and deformities, limited range of motion, cognitive deficits, and depression, acute illness like syncope and dizziness, and muscle weakness, deconditioning and wasting.  Under the physiological changes are the neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and other systemic changes.  Like in neurological changes, there can be slowed reflexes, tremors and difficulty of movement, and loss of balance.  Some musculoskeletal changes include decreased muscle mass and strength or even muscle atrophy, decreased mobility and stability, change of gait usually shortened and wider base, increased brittleness of the bones, and deterioration of joint capsule components.  For the psychosocial concerns, the elderly usually experiences adjustment to deterioration in physical and mental health and well-being, fear of being a burden to family, loss of skills and competencies, and coping with changes in functions.  While the Extrinsic factors arises from an external force that is acting on an individual, such as environmental hazards, for example cluttered hallways and stairways, loose rugs, poor lighting, wet surfaces, and small pets.  Another extrinsic risk factor is the use of prescription medication, and use of alcohol and mind-altering drugs. 

Fall Prevention

The first thing that is important is to identify the clients who are prone or are at risk for falls, and these usually are

those elderly that already has the history of fall.  When appropriate, one can refer to a physical therapist for strengthening, balance and advanced gait training to assist the prevention of falls.  Some other steps also reduces the risk of falls such as medication modification, family education on risks and fall prevention, home safety inspection and modification if needed like using non-slip mats in tubs and showers, and the use of assistive device.  Maintaining strength and flexibility with a good exercise program will surely help the prevention of falls. 

Here are some tips of how to prevent falls in the health care facility

• Identify and report any unsafe conditions in the facility
• Advise residents to avoid alcohol and sedative use
• Identify residents with unsteady gait or difficulty making transfers; refer to physical therapist for evaluation
  

  Bone health
• Teach residents to use appropriate assistive devices correctly and at all times
• Review medications frequently
• Assess subtle changes in stamina, social interaction, and ability to communicate, which could suggest a functional decline
• Instruct residents how to change body positions gradually
• Encourage residents to perform strength training and range of motion exercises, wear sturdy shoes with thin, non-slip soles, avoid slippers and running shoes with thick soles
• Notify provider in case of change in hearing, vision, or physical abilities, and if medications make them feel ill or
  

  Exercise
  weak, and if over-the-counter remedies are used which usually cause drowsiness and unsteadiness
• Provide a well-lighted facility
• Avoid loose mats or cluttered spaces

            I was cleaning the house when I went thru some of my stuff during childhood.  I remembered my first ever stuffed toy, Mr. Buttons; it was a brown, long and thin teddy bear.  Mr. Buttons was such a good company, he never left me, he was there when I was scared of the boogie monster, when my mom got mad at me and sends me to my room, when I got sick, and when I was alone and lonely.  He became my best friend, and no other stuffed toys could ever replace Mr. Buttons in my life.

            Then I saw my photo album, I went thru it and remembered how happy I am.  I had a great childhood.  My mom and my dad loved me dearly, they gave almost everything.  My mom loves taking care of me, she usually bakes cookies for me, and then brings me to the park with my cousins and we'll play there 'til it was almost dark.  My dad is the one who spoils me with toys, every night when he gets home; he makes sure that he has something for me even if it was just a small gift.  I loved and cherished every gift he gave me and I saved it too.

 

            It was nice looking back at your past, and remembering everything and everyone who loved you.

            It's been quite awhile since my boyfriend and I got to see each other.  He's been away for quite sometime now.  He was sent by his company for a business trip last month.  So right now the only way for us to ease our loneliness and misery of missing each other is to talk on the phone and chat online.  But the thing is, I couldn't hold him, kiss him, or even hug him.  I miss the things we do when we are together.  Like lie down and chat about the things we did the whole day.  I miss eating together with him, going to the park, going out, watching tv, and I even miss arguing with him.

 

            I've been missing him since day one after he left.  I keep waiting for the day that he would be coming back.  I even drowned myself from work, community services and going out with my friends.  But at the end of the day when I am alone at home, I can't prevent myself thinking of him, how's he doing, what is he doing, have he ate, a lot of those stuff.  And I just want to be with him and lie down beside him.

            There are certain things that a woman must have in their bags or purse.  We women can't go anywhere without those certain things.  I, myself have a list of my must have in my bag.

 
1.  Powder or Press Powder

            This my first must have in my bag.  I can't stand having an oily face so I always bring a

powder.  It makes me feel fresh every time I use a powder like fresh out of shower.  Of course, if you bump into someone and you don't want them to see your oily face because it makes you look like you didn't have your bath.

 
2.  Lipstick or Lip Gloss

            I put this in my must have because I want to have luscious, kissable lips.  I always have 3

shades of lipstick in my bag and a neutral lip gloss.  In that way, I can match my lipstick with my mood or with the clothes I am wearing.  I have a shade of an innocent look pink lipstick, a red flirty one, and another one for almost everyday use that is in between red and pink.

 
3.  Liquid blusher or Blush-on

            Liquid blusher that I could use both on my cheeks and on my lips, if I wanted to have a natural looking lips I'd use this.  And I use the liquid blusher on my

cheeks to have a natural looking blush, which I wear almost everyday.  I only use the powdered blush-on just to enhance the liquid blusher if I go to parties or work.

 
4.  Cologne or Perfume

            Everyone wants to be fragrant, don't we?  It boosts up my confidence

if I smell good.  I love a sweet, mild smell.  When someone walks up to you or if you pass by someone at least you leave them with you’re the scent of your perfume.

 
5.  Wallet with money

            Of course all of us need our wallets with us certainly with money.  I always have my wallet with me because I have my ID's in my wallet.  If I get

lost or if I get into an accident at least they will have an idea who I am or who to contact in cases of emergencies.  I keep an identity card in my wallet and persons to call in these cases.  I also have my credit cards, automated machine cards, pictures of my family and my

boyfriend, my identification cards, and of course MONEY.

 
6.  Cellular Phone

            Maybe this isn't a must have for other woman, but for me it is.  I love having to call the people I love.  I always make sure that I have contact with everyone, my friends, family, and my boyfriend.  This is one way that I do tell show them that I love them and I miss them.

 
7.  Mirror and Comb or Hair Brush

            Nobody wants to look like a witch with their hair.  You can't prevent a windy day you know.  I like to brush my hair to keep it neat and clean looking, and yes you use a mirror to see if you look fine.

 
            So that's it, do we have the same must haves?

            I went to the park yesterday afternoon for a picnic.  It was one breezy day, there were lots of kids playing, lovers walking hand in hand, and families having picnic of their own.  And it made me wonder, when am I going to have my own family? 

             It was lovely to look at the family; they were all chatting and playing.  I felt like they get together quite well.  The kids were hanging out by the playground with nothing to worry about.  The lovers talking and romancing as if there is no tomorrow, and made me miss my boyfriend.  I remembered how we met two years ago; it was also at this park.  I was seating by the bench when he suddenly walk up to me and said "Hi.  You seem to be alone, can I join you?"  I was reluctant at first but then I looked up to him again and saw a big smile on his face, and oh man is he cute.  So I let him join me, we talked and talked for hours and hours, it was nice.  I didn't notice the time pass by because I was enjoying our conversation too much and didn't want it to end.  It was as if I knew him all along.  He made me laugh, and damn he is intelligent.  We exchange numbers as we went our separate ways, and then when I got home, he left me a message in my answering machine asking me out.  I confirmed it, and we went on our first date.  A romantic dinner by the lake, candle lit, soothing music, and a starry night.  Right then and then, I knew I want to spend the rest of my life with him.