Feeding and giving your body the nutrients it needs when you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or a young mother is crucial and will affect your body for years to come. You are what you eat,” is a fact, whether you look skinny on the outside or not. Your insides tell the truth and reveal the opposite of health when you eat junk. “But, I haven’t put on a pound?” When people say this, the first thing I ask is, “What does your daily diet look like?” The answers vary, but the results are, they don’t eat healthily.

How you look on the outside is part of health, but not the whole picture. I can put on five pounds from my healthy weight and feel like crap. People compliment me because five pounds isn’t noticeable on the outside, but for me, it’s like gaining 15 pounds on the inside. I don’t feel healthy, and my energy level drops.

When a woman gets pregnant, she is excited and starts planning immediately. She plans a nursery, she and her husband pick out a name, decide on the best car seat, choose whether to breastfeed or not, etc. You pick all these items and make decisions ahead of time because they are a necessity before the baby arrives. So, in all this planning, why is it we don’t plan our meals, track our health, use vitamins, exercise, and what we should be doing with our body? Sure, you will gain weight but is it baby weight, healthy weight, or I don’t care I’m eating for two weight?

The phrase, “You need to eat for two,” is a total misconception and one that drives me crazy when people say. YES, you are carrying a beautiful little person so NO, you do not need to eat like you’re carrying an adult. You should eat when you’re hungry the same as when you’re not carrying a child.

Eating whatever you want when you’re hungry is also a WRONG thought process. Your body and the baby do not need empty or garbage calories, they need vitamins, minerals, proteins, etc. If you eat healthy from the beginning, it won’t take you a year or five to lose your baby weight.

I see multiple mothers all the time who are still carrying their baby weight years after they’ve had a child. I feel bad for them because I know they don’t want to look like they just had a baby. They want to look and feel amazing and have the energy to take care of their infant or child.

Women want to feel sexy, loved, and unique. Carrying around ten plus pounds doesn’t do that. Guys also don’t want the women they’ve married to pack on pounds and keep them, whether they’ve had a child or not.

You get pregnant, gain healthy weight, lose the weight, and boom your body loves you. That’s the perfect cycle anyways, but usually not how it happens. I think women and men should take health classes or do their research before they get pregnant. This way, you are giving your body and your baby the best information and nutrients to be a Rock Back Mama.

If you are over your desired weight before you get pregnant, then why not start exercising and eating healthy to lose the weight before you start trying for a baby? That’s not selfish; it’s thinking about what’s best for you AND your baby’s health. Babies, we know, are greatly affected by alcohol and drugs. So, why would you assume that sugars and fats won’t affect them? They are what you eat. That’s a fact.

Some experts say the baby, once born, is not affected by what a mother eats. I can tell you from experience this is not true. I have had four children, and two of them were colicky. They reacted to what I ate. For instance, things that were high acidic or would make an average person gassy bothered them.

Tomatoes,cucumbers,broccoli,cauliflower,mushrooms,chocolate (because of the caffeine),

Snow and cold don't need to come with a frown. Why not enjoy this Winter by being prepared?

Just like Spring, Winter brings its own time-related challenges. In other words, it doesn't wait for us to be ready. Mother nature is going to come when she is ready and not when we have our house and yard ready.

Making a list and schedule to accomplish the task of Winterizing your house and yard might seem like overkill to some, but not to me. It never fails, if we don't schedule in things like cutting the daylilies down, rolling up hoses, or bringing out the winter clothes more times than not, it doesn't get done!

Just think of it as a sports schedule. Each year of football, basketball, volleyball, etc., start at the same time. You schedule to take your kids to practices/games or watch your favorite team play on tv. It's not a chore because you're prepared ahead of time. Winter can actually be a lot of fun when you're ready. If you prepare ahead of time, when game time/Winter hits, you are not surprised and can relax when the first snow falls. The mental aspect of it is something totally different and we will get into that.

So, what kind of Winter list are we talking about? Although each person and family have different ways they need to prepare, there are general things to do which we will go over. That covers the list. What about scheduling? We will also go through ways to incorporate that into your busy day and life. Are you ready?

Making a List

You know the lyrics, "He's making a list and checking it twice; gonna find out Who's naughty and nice. Santa Claus is coming to town." Although, this is a list and song about Santa it is the same idea of what we are going to do for Winter. "Making a list and checking it twice; gonna find out Who's ready or not. Winter time is coming to town." With that here is our top ten list.

COVER THE AIR CONDITIONER- To protect your unit get a tarp, cover your air conditioner and use bungee straps to wrap around and secure it.

PREP YOUR VEHICLES- Add antifreeze if it's low, windshield wiper fluid and check your oil. Learn how much pressure your tires need and keep them properly inflated. Have an emergency kit in every vehicle.

CUT DOWN PLANTS, SHRUBS, AND FLOWERS- To keep the nutrients in plants, trim them down according to climate and plant type. This will also help with snow drifts if you live in the country.

ROLL UP HOSES - Drain your hoses, roll them loosely and hang them in a garage or store them in a shed.

ROTATE FROM SUMMER CLOTHES TO WINTER CLOTHES- Store your Summer clothes in a container or extra closet; pull out your Winter clothes.

MAKE SURE YOUR COATS, HATS, GLOVES, AND SNOW BOOTS FIT- Try on your Winter gear so you can get your shopping done before the snow falls.

CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS- Leaves and other materials can get trapped in your gutters during the year. Be sure to clean them out, allowing for clear passage.

CHECK YOUR FURNACE, CUT & STACK FIREWOOD- Make sure your air ducts and the furnace is working properly. Also, change your filters on a regular basis. If you have a stove, cut and stack your firewood. Also, make sure your stove pipes have been cleaned.

CHECK WINDOWS AND SCREENS- Clean out the debris in window sills and remove screens if necessary.

STORE PICNIC TABLES, OR OUTSIDE YARD FURNITURE- To prevent drifts and unnecessary wear on your furniture, be sure to store furniture in a dry place.

You can add more to this list or take some away, but at least you have a starter list you can print and hang on your fridge.

Scheduling

When you really want to do something, it becomes a priority. When you don't, it usually becomes something you do last minute if at all. Regardless of how you feel about Winter, it comes every year. Preparing and scheduling will not only allow you to get everything done,

They're fast, easy to make and pair well with soup and stew. You can also put a wonderful jelly on top and serve them with eggs. Or, for a snack just dab a little homemade butter, honey and enjoy.

Before you can enjoy them you need to make them, so let's get started.

Kitchen items needed:

Cookie sheet (the size depends on the batch).

Spatula

Wooden spoon

Large Bowl

A pastry cutter or knives

Measuring cups

Measuring spoons

Ingredients needed for a single batch:

Flour, 2 cups

Buttermilk, 3/4 cup

Baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon

Baking powder, 2 teaspoons

Sugar, 1 Tablespoon

Salt , 1 teaspoon

Lard, 1/2 cup

Step 1:

With your bowl ready, measure your flour and dump it in.

Step 2:

Add your salt.

Step 3:

Now your baking powder.

Step 4:

Add baking soda.

Step 5:

Add your sugar and then mix all of the ingredients.

Step 6:

Cut in lard/shortening with a pastry cutter or knives until you have little pea size or smaller chunks.

Step 7:

Measure and pour in your buttermilk.

Step 8:

Mix the batter with a wooden spoon until you have a sticky consistency.

Step 9:

Pull your pan out and evenly distribute the dough. Do NOT spray the pan.

Step 10:

Preheat your oven to 450 F.

Step 11:

When the oven is ready, place your pan of biscuits in and set the timer for 15 minutes. You may have to bake them a little longer depending on what size batch you're making. The top should have a slight golden color when they are finished.

Step 12:

After the timer goes off, make sure your biscuits are done and take them out of the oven. Let cool a bit and serve.

That's all there is to it folks! You now have an easy, moist, baking powder biscuit recipe.

ENJOY!

-Heather Earles

Schools are in and sports are going which means a lice outbreak is more likely to happen than not. These insects are disgusting as they love the hair and use their mandible (jaw) to pierce the skin and suck a small amount of blood out of your scalp.

Parents despise them as they are intrusive and hard to get rid of. In fact, you may see an adult cry like a baby if their child is found to have louse.

They spread easily and although they aren't harmful they can cause infections if a child is not treated due to the exposed skin from scratching.

Lice are extremely contagious and move from child to child. Adults can also get them, it's just more common in children as they are in a larger group setting day to day. Schools will send a note home with your child warning there has been a lice outbreak, but by the time the note arrives home it can be too late.

If you do receive a note be sure to check your child immediately so you can catch the lice in the beginning stages before a hatching takes place.

How do you prevent lice?

Although there is no way to put a force field around your child or yourself there are things you can do to prevent the dirty buggers from reaching your home. Since lice spread through close personal contact or from kids sharing belongings I would strongly suggest taking to heart the suggestions below.

Talk to your child about lice each year and preferably before school or sports start.

As some kids learn visually, show them pictures of lice in a library book or online.

Explain how lice are contracted and have them practice good habits like NOT using someone's hairbrush, hair ties, headphones, pillows, stuffed toys and don't set gym bags so they are touching.

You should also explain to them the signs and symptoms, so they can be aware of what to look for.

Don't exchange clothing items.

"Sexual contact. Pubic lice usually spread through sexual contact and most commonly affect adults. Pubic lice found on children may be a sign of sexual exposure or abuse. -Mayo Clinic"

Signs and Symptoms

Just like any outbreak or disease you may experience a few or all of the signs and symptoms.

"There are three types of lice, states Mayo Clinic:

Head lice. These lice are found on your scalp. They're easiest to see at the nape of your neck and over your ears.

Body lice. These lice live in clothing and on bedding and move onto your skin to feed. Body lice most often affect people who aren't able to bathe or launder clothing regularly, such as homeless or transient individuals.

Pubic lice. Commonly called crabs, these lice occur on the skin and hair of your pubic area and, less frequently, on coarse body hair, such as chest hair, eyebrows or eyelashes.

People can have good personal hygiene and still get lice. Unless treated properly, this condition can become a recurring problem."

We will talk about treatments in a minute but let's focus for now on the signs.

Itching

Lice bites can cause incessant itching on your scalp due to an allergic reaction from the insects’ saliva or feces. As each child has a different level of sensitivity the amount of itching varies for each person. In some cases, it can take up to a few weeks for your child to start scratching.

Irritated and Red Scalp

With the lice chewing away, your scalp can become inflamed and sensitive to the touch. If not treated, you can leave yourself open to infection.

Lice eggs (nits)

Lice eggs (nits) cling on hair shafts. Nits appear as very small brown, yellow, or tan specks in the hair. You may think you have dandruff, but unlike dandruff, nits are not very easy to brush off or out of hair.

Adult lice lay their tiny eggs on hair shafts, close to the scalp because it is a ripe temperature for hatching.

There's something unique about each season.

Take Fall.  The weather begins to cool, leaves turn colors on the trees, harvest time is here and so is football.

The National Football League was founded August 20th, 1920, but football started way before this time.

Football was played in small and large towns across America. Kids would get done with school and find a piece of grass, field or dirt road and throw their football back and forth until enough friends came along to make a team. They didn't need a coach or ref to tackle each other or to cheer as they made another touchdown. Football was and is an American past time where all you needed was a little pigskin and a good spiral.

Since then rain or shine, teams have made their way onto the green where chalk lines indicate how many yards they need to go. The tall yellow goal posts stand straight and true waiting for the next field goal or extra point to be kicked. The fans in the stands also wait in anticipation. Will it make it? Will the final kick win the game? As the football reaches the upright it hits and bounces flying end over end. The refs stand on each side and put their hands in the air indicating it's a goal. The crowd goes wild, jumping, screaming and shaking their beverage all over the person next to them. Yes, this is football.

For the NFL, people paint sayings and numbers on their bare chests showing their support even in freezing weather. Vikings horns, cheese heads and costumes representing the teams are worn at every game. For college and high school level, the locals wear jerseys and buttons with their son's picture or number on them, establishing who the proud parent or family member is.

TV packages are upgraded to get the local and NFL channels indicating another year of football has commenced. Gyms see an uprise in memberships as the athlete's train and beef up for the season and girls ooh and ahh as their boys run out onto the field. Who said football wasn't for everyone?

Yes, there is something unique about every season and Fall wouldn't be what it is without this beloved game. Some women cringe as the tv is now taken over until January and talks always involve a score, but there are those of us who can't wait for it to start.

As a girl, I can remember my dad refereeing the high schoolers as I stood on the side a part of the chain gang. The smell of the grass sweat and the sound of helmets and pads crashing against each other was and are music to my ears. It was innocent, active, and good old-fashioned entertainment.

Speaking of entertainment, for halftime besides the local band and cheerleaders performing, we still had streakers go across the field ha ha. The cops would wait for them every year but to their avail rarely caught them. I admit the first time I saw them I was a little in shock. I asked my parents why on earth someone would run across the field almost naked.

As my dad and mom giggled I realized no one really knew, but one thing was for certain people were sure entertained and cheered as the not so in shape cops ran after the athletes.

Tailgating, eating hot dogs, and burgers added to the fun of the game and brought together like-minded people. After it was all over families went home, tired from the fresh air and screaming they did for their team. Jerseys are hung back in the closet waiting until the next game.

Whether you are a person who likes football or not everyone likes food, so to start your next game off here is a recipe for:

Jalapeno Poppers

Items needed:

Latex gloves

Perry knife

Cutting board

Pan

Oven

Ingredients needed:

Jalapenos

Cheese of choice

Bacon

Directions:

Put your gloves on and get the desired number of Jalapenos you want.

There is more to a Red pepper than just adding a little color to your dishes.

Also known as a sweet pepper, bell pepper, and capsicum. These peppers are incredibly crisp, sweet with a large variety of health benefits.

Did you know red peppers are just ripened green peppers? Green peppers, although great, have a bitter aftertaste. They also have half the benefits of vitamin C and just a portion of their orange or red sibling's vitamin A.

Red peppers have a small amount of iron and are a good source of potassium. The best way to consume them is raw like in a salad.

Properties

Stimulates digestion

Tonic

Warms circulations

Uses

Acts as a tonic for people who suffer from tiredness and cold.

Helps eliminate toxins from the body.

Can be used in the treatment of asthma, digestive complaints, and varicose veins.

Top 5 Benefits

Burn More Calories. Red bell peppers do not contain capsaicin, which is the ingredient that makes peppers hot and causes us to break out into a sweat. They do, however, have a mild thermogenic action that helps increase our metabolism without increasing our blood pressure and heart rate like hot peppers do.

 Red Peppers help support healthy skin. Vitamin A and C are well known in the world of skin. They help restore and give your skin a youthful look by helping your skin build new collagen.

Boost your immune system. Vitamin C is a powerhouse of antioxidants. It also helps the proper absorption of iron. If you, like me, are iron deficient, combine red peppers with your iron source for maximum absorption and results.

Cancer fighters. Red peppers are ranked as one of the highest veggies in lycopene. Lycopene is the ingredient that makes peppers and tomatoes red. Add the sulfur content in Red/bell peppers and you have a veggie that has been shown to prevent and aid certain types of cancers like lung and prostate.

Protect your eyes. Lutein in bell peppers protects the eyes from cataracts and macular degeneration. Vitamin A in red peppers also helps with night vision.

Although raw is the best way to get the highest amount of benefits from your peppers you can also eat them cooked.

Red Pepper Soup

by Judi

Ingredients

55 minutes - 5 servings - 188 calories

2 tablespoons butter

4 red bell peppers, chopped

1 onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

24 fluid ounces chicken broth

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Add all ingredients to list

Directions

Prep 15 minute

Cook time, 40 minutes

Ready In 55 minutes

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Place the red bell pepper, onion and garlic in the saucepan and saute for 5 to 10 minutes, or until tender.

Pour in the chicken broth, stirring well, reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth.

Run the soup through a strainer and return the liquid to the saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in the heavy cream and the ground black pepper and allow to heat through about 5 to 10 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving: 188 calories; 14.6 g fat; 9.8 g carbohydrates; 4.8 g protein; 45 mg cholesterol; 505 mg sodium.

Spinach and Red Pepper Salad

by CANDUS_P

Ingredients

1 (6 ounce) package baby spinach

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

It's that time of year when your beets are ready to pick and can. Does that mean you fill your garbage with the beat leaves? No. A lot of people just throw away the leaves, but not anymore.

Beet Leaf Soup is so easy, and the flavor is amazing! You don't waste any part of your beet plant and you gain an extra soup recipe for you and your family.

Let's get started!

Kitchen items needed:

Large cooking pot or pot of choice

Chopping board

Knife

Stovetop

Food items needed:

Beet Leaves- 10 plus

Onions- 1 large or 2 small

Dill sprigs- 10-15

Water

Lawry's Seasoned Salt - to taste

Milk or Cream

Potatoes- 5 large

Step One:

Wash, cube 5 large potatoes, and place in your pot.

Step Two:

Chop 1 large or 2 small onions. Add to pot.

Step Three:

Chop your dill sprigs and set aside. Do not use the head of the dill. Use the green stems.

Step Four:

Wash and cut your beet leaves into a 1-inch length. Set aside.

Step Five:

Fill your pot with water, but only enough to cover your potatoes and onions. Turn on your burner to medium-high heat and cook until they have about ten minutes left.

Step Six:

Add your beet leaves and your dill. Stir.

Step Seven:

Put enough milk/cream to cover the beet leaves, dill and make a full pot of soup. 

Step Eight:

Add your Lawry's Seasoned Salt to taste.

Step Nine:

Serve and enjoy!

This soup is easy and can be paired with a bread or served just as it is.

-Heather Earles

Note: This recipe is a family one from a Bohemian grandmother.

 

Having a remedy handy and ready is the number one key to eliminating painful cramps as soon as possible.

Regardless of your age you have or will experience cramps in your lifetime. From growing cramps, you get as a child, to cramps you get while playing sports or working out.

Here is how Merriam Webster describes a cramp:

"1: a painful involuntary spasmodic contraction of a muscle

2: a temporary paralysis of muscles from overuse"

When our bodies relax at night, that is usually when we feel a cramp coming on.

Here is a piece by Cleveland Clinic, answering the question;

What are nocturnal leg cramps?

"Nocturnal leg cramps are pains that occur in the legs during the night. They usually cause awakenings from sleep, but they may also occur while awake at night during periods of inactivity. These cramps mostly happen in the calf muscles but can also occur in the thighs or feet. Nocturnal leg cramps are quite painful and cause the affected muscles to feel tight or knotted. Symptoms may last from several seconds up to several minutes. There might also be muscle soreness after the cramp goes away. Nocturnal leg cramps are more common in adults over age 50, but they also do occur in younger adults and children. Both men and women seem to be equally affected."

As I've stated there are cramps that involve younger children and teens known as "Growing Pains." Here is what WebMD says about those:

What are growing pains?

"Growing pains are cramping, achy muscle pains that some preschoolers and preteens feel in both legs. The pain usually occurs in the late afternoon or evenings. But it may cause your child to wake up in the middle of the night.

Growing pains usually start in early childhood, around age 3 or 4."

Why do we get cramps during sports and other physical activities?

Muscle cramps may occur when the concentration of sodium in the blood decreases. When we work out or do other physical activities such as sports or labor-intensive work throughout the day, our bodies sweat. This produces the loss of sodium and water that our bodies need.

To prevent muscle cramps, sodium should be consumed with fluids. This is extremely useful for cramp-prone individuals. High sodium sports drinks or tonic water can delay muscle cramps in those who cramp often. Sodium may be consumed from salty foods or drinks.

Active.com had this to say about cramping and fluids:

How would dehydration cause muscle cramps?

"Fluids in the body are either inside the cell or outside of the cell. When we become dehydrated, the fluid outside of the cells decreases. Reductions in fluids cause nerve endings to be squished together, overexcited and spontaneously discharge. That spontaneous discharge is a muscle twitch, which can lead to a muscle cramp. By maintaining proper hydration, you can prevent dramatic shifts in fluids that contribute to abnormal muscle contractions."

Are you getting enough fluids?

Studies on fluids and cramps have produced mixed results. Some studies find no associations, while others show that consuming fluids and electrolytes to avoid dehydration will prevent, or at least delay, muscle cramps. The benefits of avoiding dehydration are widespread, so even if it’s not 100 percent guaranteed that you won’t cramp, consuming adequate fluids during exercise will still improve performance."

Prevention and Cures

Essential oil mixture

Although this oil mixture works for anyone and their cramps, I use it when my younger children and teens get growing pains.

In a glass bowl mix 4 Tablespoons of olive oil and 8-10 drops of young livings PanAway essential oil.

Mix and apply with fingers to the area that's cramping. If your child or teen is old enough,

I guess I'm just an old-fashioned kind of gal. I don't see the need for shelves upon shelves of kitchen and other type cleaners when a simple White Vinegar solution will do.

One of the things I love is to explore amazing ways to use common household items. This saves money and does a perfect job without you breathing in toxic cleaners.

Vinegar is cheap and can be used in multiple rooms and for a variety of things as a cleaner.

White vinegar is comprised of acetic acid (about 5-10%) and water (about 90-95%), which yields a vinegar with an incredibly clean, crisp, strong taste.

With germs and high traffic areas in your home, you need an ingredient that will disinfect and one that's also safe to use on a regular basis.

Kitchen

Here are my top 13 ways to keep your kitchen disinfected, shiny and clean.

Mix 1/4 vinegar with 1 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for about 3-5 minutes. Once the mixture cools a tad, dip a washcloth in the solution and then wipe clean the inside of your microwave to remove the explosions of food.

Clean your coffee pot by using 1-part vinegar to 1-part water. pour the mixture into your water bay and brew half of the pot, turn off your machine and let sit for two hours and then finish brewing. Run two pots of plain water before making coffee.

 Protect and clean wood floors by rubbing them with half a mixture of white vinegar and vegetable oil.

For clogged sink heads fill a bag with vinegar a tie it around the faucet. Leave until all of the scales have flaked off or dissolved.

To disinfect your cutting boards and butcher blocks use full strength vinegar after every use. The acetic acid in the vinegar is effective against E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus.

Let your ceramic tile floors become squeaky clean by mixing 1/4 cup vinegar in a bucket of warm water and mopping them.

Wash the inside and outside of your fridge with 1-part water to 1-part vinegar to disinfect. To prevent mildew use full strength on your gaskets, inside walls, drawers, and trays.

Add 3 cups of vinegar to your tea kettle and bring to a full boil for 5 minutes. After your timer goes off, turn off your stove top and let the pot sit overnight. Rinse the next day with cold water. This removes mineral and lime buildup from the inside of your pot.

Eliminate grease with equal parts water and vinegar. This will clean and deodorize your countertops, kitchen table, stove, broiler and more.

Add 3-4 Tablespoons of white vinegar to your dish liquid and give your bottle a shake. This will help fight grease and save you money because less dish soap will be needed.

Work and school lunch boxes can smell like tuna in a can. To remove the smell, place a vinegar-soaked piece of white bread in your sealed lunch box and let it sit overnight. Wipe clean in the morning and the smell should be gone.

To keep the film off your dishes, add 1/4 cup vinegar to your dishwasher's rinse cycle.

Office

Clean your computer mouse with 1-part vinegar to 1-part water. Remove the ball from underneath. Dip a washcloth in the solution. Make sure your washcloth has been wrung out well. Wipe the ball itself, the chamber and the top of the mouse. Let air dry for a couple of hours before placing the ball back inside.

To erase pen from your walls or desk get a cloth and dip it in full strength vinegar. Dab on the pen mark and repeat the process until the work of art is gone.

Computer keypads can become filthy. To clean use equal parts of warm water and vinegar. Place a washcloth in the mixture and wring out really well. Make sure your machine is turned off. Wipe the keys and surface area clean. Use cue tips between keys.

The mixture in #3 is also great for wiping off your printer and fax machine. Again, be sure to turn off your machines.

As a mother who has just recently gone through hand foot and mouth with her children, I would encourage you to keep a positive attitude. It may look bad, but in time it will go away.

I have personally used these natural treatments with incredible results. The pictures shown have not been altered in any way, displaying an accurate transformation in my son.

Because I had the oils on hand, I was prepared for the virus and prevented its long-term duration.

 

What is Hand Foot and Mouth Disease?

According to Webmd.com “Hand-foot-and-mouth disease, or HFMD, is caused by a virus. Symptoms include ulcers, or sores, inside or around the mouth, and a rash or blisters on the hands, feet, legs, or buttocks. And while it's not pleasant, it also isn't serious.

Anyone can get the disease, but children under age 10 are most likely to catch it. You can take steps to ease the symptoms while it runs its course, though.”

What Causes It?

“The viruses that usually cause hand-foot-and-mouth are named coxsackievirus a16 and enterovirus 71. In fact, you might hear your child’s doctor refer to it as the coxsackie virus.”

The viruses can be found in an infected person’s:

nose and throat secretions (such as saliva, sputum, or nasal mucus),

blister fluid, and

feces (stool).

Hand-foot-and-mouth is highly contagious not only in the United States but across the Globe.

How Does it Spread?

An infected person may spread the viruses to another person through:

Close personal contact,

The air (through coughing or sneezing),

Contact with feces,

Contact with contaminated objects and surfaces,

Fluid from blisters,

Nasal secretion

Examples being; when you kiss someone who has HFMD disease. Touching a doorknob or other surface area that has been contaminated with the viruses and then touching your eyes, mouth or nose. Changing a diaper or touching the sores of an infected person.

It’s also possible to get infected with hand-foot-and-mouth disease if you swallow recreational water, such as water in swimming pools. Although this is not very common, it is how, during swimming lessons, my son caught it.

In general, this is more likely to happen if the water becomes contaminated with feces from a person who has HFAM disease and the pool is not properly treated.

Daycare centers are also a breeding ground for the disease as little hands are constantly touching each other and shared toys. Multiple diaper changes and potty training add to the chances of spreading the disease.

The disease is most common during Summer and Autumn months.

How Do I Avoid Getting the Disease?

Keep bleach wipes handy using them to wipe off handles, toilets, light switches and surfaces at least once a day.

Washing your hands and your child’s with soap and water when you’re in public or around a crowd is a healthy way to avoid getting the infectious HFAM disease.

How Long Is a Person Contagious?

Generally, a person with HFAM is most contagious during the first week of illness. People can sometimes be contagious for days or weeks after symptoms go away. Some people, especially adults, may not develop any symptoms, but they can still spread the virus to others. This is why people should always try to maintain good hygiene (e.g. hand washing) so they can minimize their chance of spreading or getting infections.

You should stay home while you are sick with hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Talk with your healthcare provider if you are not sure when you should return to work or school. The same applies to children returning to daycare.  The worst of the symptoms can last around 10 days.

Results after using oil treatment.

Signs and Symptoms