I didn't know there was a difference in the level of dangerous side-effects when taking newer vs older birth control pills. I assumed newer pills would be safer. I was wrong.A Danish study published in the British Medical Journal in 2011 (as reported by France 24) found newer pills were twice as likely to cause venous thromboembolism (blood clots). If you choose to take a 3rd or 4th generation pill instead of using a birth control method like condoms, you are three to six times more likely to get a potentially lethal blood clot.There are four generations of birth control pills. Pills … [Read more...]
Jan 11, 2013
Who is Pére Noel?
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Since we were spending Christmas with my husband's family, I wanted to know how his sister handles gifts from Pére Noël (Father Christmas aka Santa Claus).I hope to do the same for Juliana as my parents did for me - I have such wonderful memories of growing up believing in Santa. I picture baking cookies on Christmas Eve with the kids and leaving them on the fireplace with hot chocolate for a tired Santa, as well as carrots for the reindeer. My younger sister and I used to draw maps of how we would catch him leaving us presents. One year, we hid behind the living room TV (it was … [Read more...]
Jan 8, 2013
My Baby Fell Down the Stairs and onto Her Head!
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We don't have stairs in our house, only outside on the balcony. The stairs leading down from the balcony doesn't allow for a normal barrier, so we had to purchase one with 5 sides so we could wrap it in an L shape (BabyDan barrière de sécuritie Flex 5 - we love it!). Last time we visited my mother-in-law, Juliana was learning to crawl, so the stairs weren't a safety hazard. This time, we weren't so lucky.Juliana learned to walk by herself only a few days before arriving in Normandy. On Christmas morning while we were making orange juice (and right before opening gifts), Juliana … [Read more...]
Nov 11, 2012
President Hollande : No More Homework for French Children!
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President François Hollande promised homework will be abolished and he'll reduce the number of students who must repeat school years. He has also pledged schools will be more welcoming for children with less stressful days and the number of teachers will increase.Getting rid of homework is excellent news for children and parents, however, it's a tougher sell on teachers and some parents. It's comforting for them, plus there are certain tasks which are easier to do out of the classroom. The purpose is to provide children who do not have support at home a fair chance against other students. … [Read more...]
Nov 9, 2012
Baby as Fragile as Butterfly Wings – A Family’s Struggle
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Through a friend on Facebook, I heard about Easton Friedel. This boy was born two months ago and has known more pain and suffering than most of us will ever experience. He was born with a rare condition known as Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). Have you heard of it? I surely didn't know a thing about it. But one look at his picture scared it to my memory.His story makes me especially thankful to be living in France. The parents of Easton not only have to worry about their son, but also how to pay for the expensive treatments. They live in the US. Bandages alone cost upwards of $4,000/month! … [Read more...]
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