Search Results for: blog preparing for a sudden death

Baby Blog Month in Review: October 2008

If you had an October baby, congratulations! I hope that you will spend some time with us here at Families.com, as we bring you the latest news and tips for you and your family. Here is the Baby Blog month in review for October. October 1st Insect Repellent and Young Children Protecting my children is the number one priority, but one thing that I tend to avoid is insect repellent. I figure that putting additional chemicals on my kids is not the best idea, that is until now. These days, a mosquito bite is not just an annoyance, but it … Continue reading →

Preparing for Shots

No one thinks going to the pediatrician is fun, whether it is for a sick visit or a well visit. If you are prepared, though, things can go a bit more smoothly, especially when it comes to your child getting shots. You’ll also be able to bring up topics of concern and get your questions answered, despite holding on to a squirming baby, toddler or preschooler. Here are some ways to be prepared for the pediatrician when it comes to shots. Dress your child appropriately. This will make the visit so much easier. Forget about impressing the staff or the … Continue reading →

Can They Sense Death’s Presence?

In previous blogs I wrote how I suspected both Mackie and Budly knew their time was up when they died. Both acted differently than normal, broke their routines, seemed as if they were trying to savor their last moments as well as communicate with their humans that it was time to part ways. But can other animals also sense when the Angel of Death is hovering near? Do Cats Have More Than Good Night Vision? Something I don’t believe I’ve previously shared about Budly’s passing was that he wasn’t the only one acting strange –so was Mr. Meow. The night … Continue reading →

Do You Have a Living Will?

Many people don’t like to think about — or talk about — death. But it may be wise to think about the shape you’d like the end of your life to take now… before someone else has to make the decision for you. In the summer of 2001, my paternal grandmother passed away. It was somewhat unexpected — she had been living with Parkinson’s disease, but was largely stable. It was my paternal grandfather who had been very sick that same summer, and he was the one we were worried about. When Gramma died, we started making plans for her … Continue reading →

The Widow’s Email

The other day I received an email from a very displeased reader in regards to an article I wrote last September called The Widows of 9/11: Already Remarrying? Her name was Ms. Fisher and her subject line immediately caught my attention. It read “Who do you think you are?” Here’s what Ms. Fisher had to say: I am furious after reading your post about a 9/11 widow remarrying. First of all, since you aren’t a widow you have NO BUSINESS even writing on this subject. Second, you should do a tiny bit of research before you write my dear. Remember: … Continue reading →

Do You Ever Dream About Your Spouse’s Family?

The other night I had a really tender dream about Wayne’s dad. He passed away several years ago rather unexpectedly. He was still young too. Only 60 and as feisty as ever. As you might expect, it was a huge blow to Wayne. He was really close to his dad and was shocked by the sudden loss. However, only six days prior we had spent a wonderful week with him. Tom (Wayne’s dad), Grandma Pryor (Tom’s mom), Keith (Wayne’s brother), Peach (Wayne’s aunt), and Kevin and Jerry Jr. (Wayne’s cousins) had all flown out to Florida so we could go … Continue reading →

It’s Never Enough: Cherishing Each Married Moment

What a week. My husband called his grandmother this past Sunday night to say hello. She informed him Helen’s husband, Vernon, had passed away and the funeral would be Tuesday. Helen is a very dear woman who’s one of Grandma’s cousins. She’s one of those always smiling, upbeat sorts who showers warmth and kindness on everyone she comes into contact with. Since she’s also older, closer to Wayne’s grandma’s age (mid-80s), I was under the impression she and Vernon had been married decades. Well, technically they had, 20 years, but I thought it was closer to 60+ like Grandma and … Continue reading →

Britney Spears’ Obit is Already Written

In the wake of the recent, sudden and tragic deaths of young actors Brad Renfro and Heath Ledger much is being made of the obituary that The Associated Press has prepared for Britney Spears. I’m sure you have noticed that whenever a famous person dies after living a long and distinguished life, major news organizations almost instantaneously come out with detailed obituaries highlighting all aspects of their lives. What you might not know is that many of those stories are produced well in advance of a star’s passing. This was not the case in the deaths of Brad Renfro and … Continue reading →

Turtles in the ‘Hood Part 3

If it wasn’t too long, I would’ve entitled this blog, “What I Learned From Buying Two Turtles Off the Street from a Street Vendor.“ If you’ve been following the pet blog today, you’ve probably already seen my first two blogs on buying a turtle from a street vendor. It has definitely been a learning experience and while my first two articles covered why on earth I would buy a turtle, and how it is we came to own two turtles, this blog is all about the lessons I learned from buying our impulse pets. Unlike the examples in Aimee’s blog … Continue reading →

When a Stay-at-Home Mom Must Go to Work

If you are a mother (or father) who stays home with the children, you may not consider how important it might be to have a plan for having to provide for the family in the event of an emergency. However uncomfortable the topic may seem, it is important to consider what your family would do in the event of the death, disability, or job loss of the breadwinner. Stay-at-home parents must make sure to have a fall-back plan in the event that they must go to work. Be educated. Some women who get married and have children young do not … Continue reading →