Hygiene and Allergies

Vidhya Nagarajan for NPR

There is a theory out there called the hygiene hypothesis that claims that skyrocketing cases of allergies and autoimmune disorders are attributable to developed societies' obsession with hygiene and eliminating microbes in our environment. I've heard this idea before and it makes perfect sense to me. It relates to the whole immunization discussion happening right now. In the same way that immunizations train a body's immune system to recognize harmful microbes, non-harmful microbes are thought to help train or calibrate our immune systems. Without that calibration the immune system can misbehave.

Recently I heard a news story about a Swedish study that found that children who lived in homes where their families washed their dishes by hand instead of with a dishwasher (i.e., eating surfaces were not as sterile) were 50% less likely to develop allergies.

That is huge.

It gives definite credibility to the hygiene hypothesis, and something we should consider. I plan to keep my dishwasher, but maybe I will lay off bleach mopping and trying to sterilize so much all the time. But then, I probably don't have anything to worry about; in a household with 6 kids (and many other children coming and going on a daily basis), and dog and a cat, kids in the barn with horses...we probably have enough exposure to the kind of microbial life that will train my children's immune systems really well. ha ha...

It's something we should all think about. Read or listen to the news story here. 

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/02/23/387553285/kids-allergies-and-a-possible-downside-to-squeaky-clean-dishes?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&fb_ref=Default#

Putting Out Fires...And Starting Them SPECTACULARLY

Being a mom you get to contend with a lot of crazy scenarios. Take today. Right after I got off the phone with Poison Control (The little boys had managed to get into a bottle of Children's Tylenol while I was cleaning. No worries. I found out they could have safely downed twice as much as they did. Good to know for next time. Plus I am now on the radar of DCFS again. It's been a few years, but they know me. ha ha ha.) I had to break out the steam cleaner (best investment I ever made) to sterilize the rug in the little boys' room because Sully has a thing lately with peeing in random spots. I discovered this latest deposit while wrestling with the boys in their room, and I rolled face-first into urine-dampened carpet. That was awesome. Earlier this week he used the garage as his personal latrine, and then the bathroom garbage can. He doesn't seem to have a preference, except that it NOT be a toilet.

Then there was yesterday.

As the kids piled into the car after school, Noble launched into a casual story from the back seat about how their Science teacher had mentioned that it was possible to make PLASMA - the cosmic, state of matter kind - with a grape and a microwave. To which I responded in disbelief, "Whatever. No way."

Turns out it's a real thing.

** I have to say right here, that telling a pack of 6th Grade boys how to create plasma in a microwave is about as responsible as telling them how to build a bomb with household chemicals. They will be compelled to try it...especially when they have lunch immediately after, where someone is bound to have grapes in their lunch box,  in a room with microwave ovens.**

Apparently, Noble and his friends gave it a shot, with great success and peer-adulation....... and then spent the remainder of their lunch period in the office with the Principal. I am glad she took it so well, and refrained from calling HAZMAT (creating plasma like that produces toxic fumes). She told them she could understand their innocent curiosity,  but expected them to never do it again.

So, I can't say I didn't learn something new yesterday. We all did. This video will give you an idea of the type of fireworks Noble & Co. created in the school lunch room yesterday.
Pretty impressive.

Flashback Friday

A couple of items today, taking me back in time...

#1. The news of the passing of MCA, of Beastie Boys fame. Mitch-darling will likely be firing up his collection this weekend in memorial.
#2.  My good friend from high school/college days, Tadd Truscott (the one and only), was featured on NPR's Science Friday (my favorite radio program!) today. He is a hydro-dynamics engineer at BYU these days. Very cool. Have a look:

I have thoughts

So - the postings have been sparse. Everyone needs a break. I have just been doing other stuff. Not depressed or in crisis or anything. (I think Noble tried to post something on his blog about 3 times and you may have received a bunch of updates - sorry about that.)

I finally got to watch Julie and Julia. For some reason I had an itch to see that movie. (thanks Beth for bringing it to me on my birthday) -

It was alright. But my favorite line -  "I could have a blog. I have thoughts."

That's hilarious.

Random items of inspiration lately:

* This cUUUUUUmfy memory foam bath mat I gave to Mitch-darling for Valentines day.

* "Dust to Glory" - one of those adventure documentaries that makes you excited about living and all it's possibilities.

*Our commitment to get out of debt in the next 2 years. Some hard, focused work ahead.

*Sully has been throwing down some great quotes of late. Like:

"Robots are cool. And them have POWERS. And them have a beefy arm."

* For FHE last night we pulled out the telescope to look at Venus and Jupiter at dusk. They were about 3 degrees apart in the western sky. Venus was at about 3/4 gibbous. We looked at Jupiter's moons and cloud bands. (As usual - I wanted to hang out forever looking through the telescope while everyone else took a quick look, said, "cool" - and moved on.) Then Mike finished up with this YouTube on the tube.

Amazing.

Laser Jello

Noble. Science.

 This is Noble's Science Fair project. The way gelatin effects a light beam traveling through it. Lenses. Etc.

We threw down the experiment portion last night.

It was fun. And pretty cool aesthetically.

I only wish that Noble would plan better and procrastinate less. My life would be easier. EVERY parent wishes for this.