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If you are the parent (or about to be the parent) of a newborn, CONGRATULATIONS! We look forward to meeting you and your family. Don't worry! There is nothing that you have to do regarding contacting our office before the delivery except it is always a good idea to verify that we accept your insurance plan. (please call if you are unsure). We will meet you and your baby(s) at Stamford Hospital usually the morning after you have given birth. If you have identified us as your pediatric practice, the hospital will contact us right after the delivery to let us know you are there. However, please let us know beforehand if there are any special concerns, questions, or medical problems that you may have. If we are aware of these in advance, we can discuss the issues and perhaps prepare you for some of the things to expect. It would be helpful if you downloaded and completed the forms below before your first visit to the office (or if you would like we would be happy to take these completed forms from you in the hospital).
This is an incredibly exciting, exhilarating, and maybe daunting time for the whole family. We are here to help. We can help to guide you through the increasingly confusing flood of information and misinformation about childcare that is available. Hopefully, we can also put it all in perspective and allow you to enjoy being a parent without getting overwhelmed.
Addition of New Baby to Your Insurance Plan
It is extremely important that your baby be added to your insurance policy as soon as he or she is born, and that one of our physicians is chosen as the baby's primary care physician (PCP) if a PCP is required. We accept most commercial insurance plans. For more information see our Insurance Information.
The first year of life can be expensive because of recommended well-care visits and immunizations, so it is important that you understand your insurance benefits. Unfortunately, not all insurance plans cover all well care and immunization costs. Many people are utilizing high deductible plans as well, which means you may be responsible for large amounts (if not all) of the baby's well care. For patients whose insurance does not cover vaccines, the State of CT provides opportunities in the community to receive vaccines at a lower cost. Connecticut's VFC (Vaccines for Children) program provides required vaccines for free or for reduced fees. Please speak to one of us if you have questions about this program. If you have any questions regarding your insurance coverage please contact your health care plan.
Some things we think you should know
What to Expect in the Hospital
In the hospital, one of the pediatricians from the Pediatric Center will come to visit your newborn every day during your stay. The first newborn exam will be a very thorough physical examination and we will certainly bring up and discuss any concerns that we may have. This is the time for you to bring up whatever concerns that you may have as well. Subsequent examinations will focus on feeding, jaundice, evidence of infection, and the cardio-respiratory status.
Additionally, while in the hospital your child will have several tests: a hearing screening, the state-mandated newborn metabolic screen, an initial blood sugar/blood count and possibly a blood test for jaundice. Each infant is also going to receive eye ointment to prevent certain infections and will get a Vitamin K shot to prevent a bleeding disorder. The Hepatitis B vaccination will also be offered. (We recommend it!)
Traditionally infants are discharged to home at approximately 48 hours of life. If your child is healthy, full term, and without risk factors for infection; he or she will likely be discharged home between 24-48 hours of life. After a C-section, the infant will stay in the hospital until mom is ready for discharge (3-5 days usually). On the day of discharge the pediatrician will let you know when you need to be seen for follow up. Routinely your first appointment will be between 2-4 days of life as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. After you have been discharged, please call our office for an appointment.
If you are having a baby at a hospital other than Stamford Hospital, we will not be able to care for your infant at the hospital. We would be happy to start seeing you once you have been discharged. We recommend that you call our office when you are discharged so that we may schedule an appointment for your first visit at an appropriate time. (usually 2-4 days after discharge but often sooner if there are particular concerns such as weight loss or jaundice)
First Newborn Office Visit
The first office visit for your baby is usually 2 to 4 days after discharge from the hospital unless you are told otherwise. Please call our office to schedule this appointment as soon as possible after discharge. If your baby was not born at Stamford Hospital, please bring any information about the baby that you are given from the "delivering" hospital. At this visit the baby's weight will be checked, a physical exam will be performed, and we will answer any questions you may have.
Following this initial visit, we will see your baby regularly until feeding and weight gain are established and again at 2 weeks of age.
Well Baby Visits
Regular well care and immunizations are key to keeping your baby healthy, monitoring development and preventing illness. Please call our office to schedule well-child care visits at the ages shown below (* indicates routine immunizations as of 1-2011). Appointments for well care may be made up to six months in advance, so appointments for your baby's next well care can easily be made while you are in our office for a current visit.
|1st visit
|1 month*
|4 months*
|9 months*
|15 months*
|2 years*
|2 weeks
|2 months*
|6 months*
|12 months*
|18 months*
Lactation Counseling
The providers at The Pediatric Center believe that breastfeeding is the healthiest way to feed your baby, and we are dedicated to helping you and your new little one establish successful breastfeeding. Our providers can all give you information and support on breastfeeding, as well as some helpful tips to get you started. If you need additional assistance, our providers may refer you to Courtney Parker, our certified lactation counselor and APRN. If you have questions regarding breastfeeding, or need assistance please consider one of the following resources:
- Our doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners are available to provide advice during regular office hours. They can help you or help you decide if you need to be seen at the office or need the services of a lactation consultant.
- Courtney Parker, APRN, IBCLC (the certified lactation consultant at TPC)
- Use the services of the lactation consultant that you met at the hospital.
- Get a referral to a community-based lactation consultant from our office.
- Read some of the material that is on our website (see below) or material that is linked to from our website…..but don't go crazy!
Breast Feeding
We encourage breastfeeding as the most natural, satisfying and beneficial way to feed babies. In addition to maintaining a close mother-baby relationship, breastfeeding offers benefits to both mother and infant. Moms experience quicker postpartum recovery, reduced health risks, and psychological benefits.
Breastfeeding provides your baby with the ideal milk, enhanced immunity (protection from disease), and a lesser incidence of allergies. Studies also show psychological, developmental and cognitive benefits for breastfed babies. In addition, breastfeeding is less expensive and often more convenient.
The best rule for breastfeeding is to nurse as frequently as your baby seems interested. We feel that babies often do best on their own schedule. As you feel up to it, nursing about every 1 to 3 hours the first 2 to 3 days brings your milk in more quickly and minimizes the breast engorgement that may accompany the arrival of your milk supply. Most babies feed 10 – 20 minutes per breast, typically longer on the first breast. You will know the infant is done when he or she either "pops off" the breast and doesn't immediately root again or falls asleep with the breast in his or her mouth. Though a baby will typically nurse from both breasts, he or she may occasionally be satisfied after nursing on just one side. After nursing on the first breast, burp the baby, try to reawaken and offer the second breast. When feeding your infant, watch the baby, not the clock. You should see intermittent swallowing and a gentle ear wiggle with nutritive suckling. Begin each new feeding on the breast that was nursed from last or not used at all in the previous feeding. To ensure successful breastfeeding first awaken your baby by fully unwrapping him or her, changing the diaper or briskly rubbing his or her body or feet. Next, if your baby is not already rooting, stimulate the sucking reflex by letting him or her suck on your finger or by stroking the cheeks. If you need to, stimulate your nipple to get it erect. When latching the baby you need to assist the infant with head control; this is easily achieved in the football position. To achieve a good latch, the baby's mouth should be open wide and draw in an inch and a half of breast tissue into his or her mouth.
Nipple tenderness is frequently experienced in the first week of breastfeeding with the initiation of each feeding. Pain that persists the entire feeding is not normal. The very best way to prevent nipple soreness is by making sure the baby is properly positioned on the breast. When properly positioned, the baby's jaws go beyond the nipple to come together on the areola, about an inch and a half in, not on the nipple itself. Babies who take enough of the areola into their mouths massage the breast which causes milk to be released from the ducts. Babies who suck or chew only on the tip of the nipple do not empty the breast effectively and cause sore nipples. You can soothe soreness by expressing breast milk onto your nipples and exposing them to air dry after each nursing. You may also try lubricating sore nipples with lanolin (available at the pharmacy or grocery store) after each nursing. You need only clean your breasts once a day when bathing with warm water. Once you are home from the hospital it is best not to let your baby go more than 2 to 3 hours between daytime feedings. However, once your milk is in you may let him or her sleep one five hour stretch at night. Encouraging your baby to nurse more often during the day may result in the baby sleeping a little longer at night.
After the first few days of nursing, there are signs from both mother and baby that indicate breastfeeding is going well.
For mother these include:
- milk "comes in" about 2 to 5 days after delivery
- nipple tenderness gradually decreases
- breasts feel full before nursing and become softer after feeding
- a "let-down" or tingly, pins and needles sensation including milk dripping and spraying (more typical after 2 to 3 weeks)
For baby these include:
- nursing 8 to 12 times in 24 hours (about every 2 to 3 hours) with at most one 5-hour stretch at night
- seeing/hearing swallowing during nursing
- baby is relaxed and falls asleep after nursing
- bowel movements that look like yellow, seedy cottage cheese or mustard by the 4th or 5th day of life, and come either after every feeding or every other (frequency will decrease with time)
- wet diapers 6 to 8 times a day with pale yellow, odorless urine
It is important that a breastfeeding mother eat regular, balanced meals. You will need about 500 extra calories per day above your normal pre-pregnancy diet and should remain on your prenatal vitamins while nursing. You may eat any food that agrees with you, even spicy foods. Avoid excessive amounts of caffeine and alcohol, but an occasional glass of either is all right. Be sure you get plenty of fluids and drink when you are thirsty.
We recommend that you use a formula with iron and DHA-ARA. Some of the brand name formulas have started to put prebiotics (and soon probiotics) into their formulas. There is growing evidence that this is good for developing infant gastrointestinal systems. There is no good evidence that this is dangerous if your infant is full term and healthy.
Generic formulas meet national standards and may be a less expensive alternative. When bottle-feeding your baby, make sure you are both comfortably settled. Cradle the baby in your arms or hold him or her lengthwise in your lap, so that the baby's head and upper back are several inches higher than the hips. Hold the bottle at an angle to keep the nipple full of formula. Most babies should be burped after every 1 to 2 ounces. Sitting your baby upright with his or her back straight for 20 to 30 seconds is usually long enough to produce a burp if one needs to come up. Drinking more slowly and burping more often may help babies who tend to spit up. After feeding, babies may be held or should be placed on their back.
Bottle-fed babies usually drink one and one half to two ounces per feeding every 3 to 4 hours with a gradual increase to 3 to 4 ounces by the end of the first two weeks. Sucking for 20 to 30 minutes should give the baby all he or she needs. Babies who are feeding frequently and well during the day may sleep as long as they want at night.
When making formula, be sure to follow the instructions to ensure proper concentration of formula. Sterilizing water for the formula is not necessary (unless you use well water). If you make one bottle at a time and use warm tap water, there is no reason to heat the formula. If you make a whole batch of bottles at once, you may refrigerate the bottles and use them up to 48 hours from time of mixing. When heating cold formula it is best to use warm water and avoid microwaves. Microwaves can heat unevenly and have caused burns. After heating, make sure you mix the contents of the bottle to distribute all heat evenly and check the temperature before feeding the baby. Bottles do not need to be sterilized. Automatic dishwasher cleaning of bottles and nipples is adequate (but consider if this is desirable given the information on BPA mentioned in the next paragraph).
Plastic Precautions
baby bottles
There has been a lot of controversies recently regarding the safety of polycarbonate plastic containers containing BPA (bisphenol A), a chemical which helps form the strong bond of these tough, clear plastic containers. The scientific community is divided over the safety of BPA in polycarbonate containers. Without conclusive evidence, The Pediatric Center recommends the following common sense approach to plastic safety:
How can parents protect their children from "potential" risks associated with BPA?
- Most retailers are now selling BPA alternative plastic baby bottles, sippy cups, and water bottles. Look for labels that say "BPA Free".
- Don't microwave – some studies suggest exposure to high heat can dramatically increase leaching of BPA into liquid contents.
- Don't wash in dishwasher or extremely hot water (a concern for sterilization of baby bottles.
- Don't fill with hot drinks (including formula) or boiling water.
- Avoid leaving water bottles in the hot sun.
- Don't clean with bleaches or harsh detergents, which may cause the plastic bond to break down leaching BPA into liquid contents.
- Avoid filling with fatty foods or acidic drinks (may also cause the plastic bond to break down).
- Discard products with visible wear (scratches, cracks, opaque tint).
- Don't reuse single-use plastic products (like water bottles and plastic ware).
- Don't use plastic wrap in the microwave.
- While these precautions are especially important for polycarbonate plastics containing BPA, they are also recommended for BPA alternative plastics.
Vitamin D Supplementation
Due to recent studies showing that many US children are vitamin D deficient, the American Academy of Pediatrics has released revised guidelines on vitamin supplements in infants, children, and adolescents.
According to the AAP, vitamin D deficiency is in epidemic proportions in the US. Research shows that sufficient levels of vitamin D are not only important to bone health but also play an important role in the prevention of diseases, including infection, autoimmune diseases, certain forms of cancer and type 2 diabetes. The Pediatric Center joins the AAP in recommending:
- All breastfed infants (over 2 weeks of age) take 400 IU of vitamin D supplementation daily. This should be continued until the infant is weaned to 1,000 ml (approximately 34 oz) daily of vitamin D fortified formula or whole milk.
- All infants (over 2 weeks of age) /children/adolescents who drink less than 1,000 ml (approximately 34 oz) daily of formula.
Post-Partum Depression
More than 50% of new mothers experience postpartum blues after delivery. Symptoms include tearfulness, tiredness, sadness, and difficulty thinking clearly. This is probably due to a sudden decrease in hormones and usually resolves over one to three weeks as hormone levels return to normal. Some things to try if you are feeling down:
- Make sure you are getting adequate rest.
- Get help with taking care of household chores, cooking, errands, and, if needed, the baby's needs.
- Keep in contact with other people so that you do not feel isolated.
Please discuss your feelings with a medical provider or call our office if these feelings become overwhelming.
Some things you might want to know
Basic Baby Care
Babies are Babies! All Babies…
Sneeze, Cough, and May Sound Congested
Sneezing is how the baby cleans his or her nose of mucus, dust or milk. Coughing is often a baby's way of clearing his or her throat. Your newborn may also sound congested. Mostly this is because infants have to breathe primarily through their noses until about 4 months. (nasal airways are small and soft !)
Hiccups are little spasms of the diaphragm muscle. They often occur after the stomach fills and stimulates the diaphragm.
Are Uncoordinated
Except for sucking, baby's actions are poorly coordinated. Arms and legs twitch, tremble and move without purpose. Breathing is often irregular and noisy. Babies respond to sudden movements or stimulation with jerky arm and leg movements and crying. This gradually becomes less prominent over months.
In most instances crying babies need to be held. They need someone with a soothing touch and voice. During the early months of life, too much holding cannot spoil babies. It is, however, normal for a newborn to cry occasionally without reason. In fact, some babies cry in order to fall asleep. When your baby cries make sure that he or she is not hungry and is dry and comfortable. Then if holding your baby does not console him or her, it is fine to let your baby cry for 10 to 15 minutes to see if he or she will fall asleep.
Bathing Baby and Skin Care
Clearwater sponge baths should be given until the umbilical cord has fallen off and the navel is completely dry. Then you can tub-bathe the baby with water and a mild soap such as "Dove." Frequency is up to you! Many parents (including us) have used a bath as part of a nighttime ritual. Avoid deodorant and highly scented soaps. Most parents wash their baby's hair once or twice a week with a mild baby shampoo.
Normally, a baby's skin does not need any ointments or baby oil. If, however, the skin is dry or cracked, apply a white non-scented lotion or creams such as Aveeno, Aquaphor, Moisturel, Eucerin or Keri once or twice a day to damp skin.
Diapers and Diaper Care
Disposable diapers and cloth diapers are both fine for baby.
The baby's diaper should be changed whenever it gets wet or soiled (although this can be a real challenge at times because a few babies have built-in sensors that tell them it's time to go right after a fresh diaper has been put on… and you do have to save some money for their college). After removing the diaper, rinse baby's bottom with a warm wet washcloth. If the baby had a stool, it is ideal to wash him or her in a tub of warm water using a mild soap to make sure that the baby is clean. Baby wipes are convenient and are ok to try but sensitive bottoms will sometimes do better with just warm water and a soft washcloth.
Fingernails and Toenails
Trim the baby's nails when they bother you or the baby. Use clippers, baby scissors or a nail file. Round off the corners of the fingernails so that baby won't scratch himself or herself. Cut the toenails straight across to prevent ingrown toenails. It is often easiest to trim fingernails and toenails while the baby is asleep.
Umbilical Cord Care
Try to keep the cord dry. It may take from one to three weeks for the cord to fall off. If during this time you smell a foul odor or there is redness surrounding the cord, please call our office. After the cord falls off, there may be some oozing of fluid or blood that is harmless. Clearwater can be used to clean the cord base once the cord has fallen off. If the area continues to ooze or is raw for more than a few days after the cord falls off, please call our office.
Care of the Male Genitalia
If your baby is uncircumcised you do not need to retract the foreskin of the penis any further than it does naturally. Retraction usually occurs gradually over the first years of life.
If your baby was circumcised, gentle washing of the area with warm water when you change the diaper is all that is necessary. We also think it is a good idea to use Vaseline or A and D on the tip of the penis for the first couple of days to keep it from sticking to the baby's diaper. During the healing process, it is normal to see yellowish patches over the head of the penis and tiny spots of blood on the diaper.
Care of the Female Genitalia
Baby girls sometimes have a bloody or mucous discharge from the vagina for the first week or two of life. This is normal. It is also normal to have a thick white substance in the inner labia. Some girls have a hymenal tag, an extra tag of skin in the vaginal area. This is also normal. When changing a diaper or bathing the baby, clean the entire labial folds and creases by wiping from front to back. It is not necessary to remove the thick substance.
Baby's Stools
Baby's stools initially are sticky, dark greenish-black (meconium). After a few days, the stools become yellow-green and seedy (transitional). Formula-fed babies stools become yellowish curdy to semi-solid within a few days. Breastfed babies have mustardy, more liquid stools. The normal number of stools varies a lot from baby to baby; from one every feeding to one large, soft stool every 5-6 days. Most babies strain, cry and become red-faced when passing a stool. This is normal!
Constipation is hard, dried-out pellets of stools. Infrequent stools do not mean that the baby is constipated. If your baby has gone for longer than four to five days with no bowel movement (assuming all else is well), try taking the baby's temperature rectally. This often stimulates a stool. If that stool is hard and dry or if this does not produce a stool, call our office. Breastfed babies may go 7 to 10 days without having a stool.
Diarrhea is a marked increase in both the amount of liquid in the stool and/or the frequency of the stools. A diarrhea stool appears to be mostly fluid that soaks into the diaper. Call our office if true diarrhea persists over several hours or if you see blood in the stool.
Newborns normally sleep 16 to 18 hours per day. Your baby will like to be wrapped snugly for the first two or three weeks when sleeping. Babies are used to this snugness from the previous nine months. If possible, have the baby sleep in his or her own room in a standard-sized crib with a firm mattress. Since your baby will spend much of his or her time in the crib, make certain it is safe. Crib bars should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. (If you are using an older crib, please make sure you check the distance between the crib bars.) All cribs should be checked for loose or defective crib bars before using. The mattress should be the same size as the crib and should be waterproof. Bumper pads and wedges are unnecessary and can even pose a safety threat. Stuffed toys, pillows and other items should be removed from the crib, as they also pose a hazard to a sleeping baby. Co-sleeping (sharing sleep time in bed with your newborn) can also be dangerous, especially in households where there is smoking.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexplained death of an infant under one year of age. SIDS strikes nearly 5,000 babies in the U.S. every year. One of the most important things you can do to decrease the chance of SIDS is to put your baby on his or her back to sleep. Some other suggestions include:
- Avoid soft mattresses, pillows, waterbeds and beanbag furniture. Use a firm mattress in a safety-approved crib.
- Keep the baby's sleeping area clear of clutter, including stuffed toys and soft bedding.
- Avoid smoking during pregnancy and keep your baby's environment as smoke-free as possible.
- Keep the baby's room at a comfortable temperature (65º to 68º), and do not wrap the baby in too many blankets.
- Do not use a hat on a sleeping baby.
- Bed sharing has not been found to protect against SIDS and according to the American Academy of Pediatrics can be hazardous to the baby's health.
Your baby will be comfortable in the same amount of clothing that you require at any particular time of year. An extra ½ layer would not hurt, but remember that babies can just as easily overheat as they can become cold.
A pacifier can be useful for soothing babies. The shield should be at least 1½ inches in diameter and the pacifier should be one single piece. Recent studies have shown that babies who use pacifiers at naptime and bedtime throughout the first year of life may have a reduced risk of SIDS.
Going Outdoors
You may take your newborn outdoors whenever the weather is reasonable…but they should be dressed appropriately for the weather…remembering that they do not regulate their body's temperature as well as they will when they get older. Avoid direct sun — babies sunburn easily and that can be very dangerous. (sunscreen is approved for those of us six months of age and older)
Visitors and Crowds
It is best to keep your baby away from a lot of direct "people" contact, especially in the first two months of life.
If your baby goes with you to crowded places during the first two months of life, a Snugli type carrier is ideal. These carriers keep the baby next to mom or dad and away from other people.
Everyone wants to hold, feed and play with your new baby. Unfortunately, some of these people, especially other children, may have a cold or other infection. Your baby should not be passed around from person to person — you may have to be very firm about this.
If your baby is being held close to you or is in a carriage, is not being picked up or touched by other people, and is not getting a lot of face to face time with people, being in public places is really your choice. The hard part is deciding how to limit direct contact with family and close friends. Everyone draws the line at a different point. Speak to us if you are having a hard time making this call.
When you need a babysitter, a supportive family member or a good friend is often the best solution. Try to avoid leaving the newborn at a place that has older toddler children because of the increased risk of exposure to germs. (Good luck if you have older toddlers at home…..good time to teach them about frequent hand-washing)
Items for you to have at home
Important Items to Have
- Rectal thermometer. In a normal infant and child, the temperature should range from 97.5 to 100. (Not a fever until over 100.5) Ear thermometers are not very accurate in children less than three years of age but particularly not in newborns. Remember, you are not running a hospital so you do not have to take "routine" temperatures.
- Cotton balls and cotton swabs (do not use cotton swabs in ear canals).
- Nasal bulb syringe. A syringe with a soft rubber or plastic blunt tip can be used for cleaning the baby's nose. (often given to you by the hospital)
- Normal saline drops to help clean a stuffy nose.
- Infant Car Seat.
- Smoke detector located near the baby's room.
- Cool mist humidifier (optional)
Helpful Items to Have
- Automatic swing. A swing can be helpful for soothing fussy or crying babies. Be sure the swing has a sturdy base and crossbars.
- Snugli or baby carrier. These carriers keep the baby close to mom and dad and safely away from others. If the baby must go with you to crowded places during the first two months, this is a good item to have.
Unnecessary Items
- Walker. Walkers are not recommended by our practice or by the AAP. Walkers can cause serious injuries and tend to delay infant development (including walking).
- Baby monitors or intercoms. These devices can interfere with the baby setting his or her own sleep patterns. (You can hear too much!)
- Baby scales. These scales tend to be inaccurate and daily weights can drive you crazy!
Car Seats and Car Safety
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for children under the age of fourteen. Ordinarily a parent's arms are a very secure place for a child; this is not so in a car. Even if you are wearing a lap and shoulder belt yourself, your child could be wrenched from your grasp by the violent forces of a collision.
Beginning with the very first car ride — the ride home from the hospital — your baby should be secured in a crash tested safety seat. Research on the effectiveness of child safety seats has found them to reduce fatal injuries by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers. If you do not already own a child safety seat, you can learn more about approved safety seats by using this website to find an appropriate link. Remember, babies must ride in the car-seat facing backwards until they are 24 months old and weigh at least 30 pounds.
How to Tell if Your Infant is Ill
Your infant's behavior is the best way to tell when he or she is ill. If you suspect your infant is ill, please call the office at 203 327-1055.
The following behaviors are consistent indicators of illness in infants:
Poor Feeding
Occasionally your baby may not want to eat as soon as you expect, but the newborn who completely refuses to eat over a period of 6 to 8 hours is concerning. Poor feeding can also mean a decreased interest or sluggish sucking at times when the baby should be hungry. If poor feeding persists for two or more feedings, please call our office.
Droopiness frequently accompanies poor feeding but can occur by itself. Instead of being active or alert, the baby may seem less strong and vigorous. If limpness or lack of alertness occurs over several hours, please call our office.
Although many babies get a slight yellowish tinge to the skin, this ordinarily disappears in the first week of life. Assess the true color of the baby's skin by pressing gently on the baby's chest or back. While the blood is blanched out, note the color of the skin. A truly jaundiced baby will have a noticeable yellow hue. Yellowness in the eyes is not a good indicator of the degree of jaundice. If you are concerned about the baby's color, please call our office.
Babies often have a certain time of day when they are fussier (usually in the evening). It is unusual for a newborn baby to cry continuously for several hours without stopping. Even though fussy, most babies can be temporarily calmed. True irritability occurs when a baby cannot be consoled by rocking or holding or is fussy with any movement. If your baby is irritable, please call our office.
Pimples and Pustules
The baby may have pimples on the face, neck, and shoulders during the first weeks of life. Pimples or blisters in the diaper area, near the base of the umbilical cord, or on arms or legs are not normal. True pimples and pustules are different from erythema toxicum, a normal newborn rash that looks like flea bites and comes and goes. If you see pimples and pustules, please call our office.
If your baby feels hot and is not overdressed, check his or her temperature rectally. If the temperature is over 100 degrees (or less than 97.5 degrees), please call our office. Tell the person you talk to the temperature you measured and how you took that temperature.
Calling Our Office
If you are concerned about your infant exhibiting any signs of illness, please call our office at any time –day or night – 203 327-1055.


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Selfless Love | Four Ways To Achieve it Today
by ChristianCrush Team
There are plenty of things to argue about. Goals, religion, careers, money, chores, friends – the list goes on and on. It's no wonder that it can be so tricky to find unconditional love. Imagine a dinner party where your significant other gets deep into a controversial conversation topic. Then the person you love says something illogical or silly or even awful. "You're bound to feel a certain disappointment in them and, as a result, somewhat alienated from them, too" (Seltzer par. 7). That's why it seems impossible to have perfect, selfless love with another human being.
The reason Dr. Seltzer thinks this type of love doesn't exist is simple. "For whenever a discussion degenerates into squabbling, bickering, or (alas) heated disputation, at a very deep level your partner has just become your enemy" (par. 4). As long as one of you believes herself or himself to be more correct than the other, you are on opposite sides of the argument.
Dr. Seltzer presents an example of a person who needs to be alone and their significant other only wants to be closer to them. Even though it's perfectly normal to desire solitude or company, the fact that you both have differing needs can cause a break in the relationship (Seltzer par. 5). He suggests that the only way to find a love that lasts without qualification is to find self-love (par. 9), because according to him, this is the only way to be fulfilled.
His suggestions are relatively simple: Recognize that you may have flaws but you are doing your best. Appreciate what you are and what you are not without hating any part of yourself (Seltzer par. 11). It's not hard to like the sound of his ideas, even though part of the reason he writes about them is because it's so much easier to love yourself than others (par. 15).
But instead of waking up and saying, "Self, you do your best. Give yourself a break," why not say that about your significant other? Seltzer seems to think that a single argument cancels out love – yet God's love can do more than last into eternity. Anyone can claim it, too.
So today, why not try applying self-love strategies to your dating partner or spouse to facilitate selfless love instead?
1. Give the benefit of the doubt
Relationships are rarely easy because it's complicated stuff to learn to work the goals of two people into synchronized orbit. Trust your life teammate to do their best in everything they do.
2. Accept both strengths and weaknesses
Don't nitpick bad habits or ignore great successes. Experts say that people can't be changed, and this is generally true. Choose to be joyful and to love your significant other even when they mess up.
3. Be an encourager
Athletes aren't the only ones who need cheerleaders, and if you've ever been to a sporting game you know that the cheerleaders don't only cheer when something good is happening. They have a chant for every situation, and they mean every word.
4. Exercise sympathy and empathy every day
Practice putting yourself in the other person's shoes. Understanding where they come from can help you two avoid even the beginning of a conflict.
In Romans 8:35, we learn that God is the only one who can truly love unconditionally, but with his help we can reflect this love on the people around us. Loving yourself is a nice place to start, but it can't bring satisfaction for the rest of your life. Your soul hungers for a completing love that can only come from God.
Luckily God left us with a good idea of what love should look like between us: "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Tim. 1:5). So resist the secular culture's emphasis on self love and strive to selflessly love others instead, starting with your romantic partner.
Please share this post with others and comment below!
Dr. Wyatt Fisher is a licensed psychologist in Denver, CO and founder of a Couples Retreat, a Christian Dating Site for Christian Singles, a Couples Bible Study, and a Porn Addiction Seminar.
What other ways would you promote selfless love?
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subset: commoncrawl


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Indian art world is rich with amazing talents. Some of these talents took paint brush in their hands by sheer chance and some others by design. Take for example, A. Ramachandran, he was designed to be a civil engineer but destiny and his own interests had something else for him. He completed his Master's degree in Malayalam literature in 1957. Initially, plans were laid to see him through his civil engineering but then art world beckoned. He had an avid interest in art since his childhood and that took him to join Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan and thereafter study art. He even completed his doctorate in paintings and his subject was mural paintings of Kerala.
After completing his doctorate, A Ramachandran moved base to Delhi in 1965. He joined Jamia Milia Islamia University as art Lecturer. Soon enough he was promoted to the post of a professor in the same department. He took voluntary retirement in 1992 and thereafter he was appointed as the honorary chairman of the Kerala Lalit Kala Akademi. He is also a winner of Padma Bhushan.
A Ramachandran excelled in expressionistic paintings. He believed in making powerful figurative. His paintings illustrate anger towards urban life and it was well reflected in his early paintings. Later on, his paintings stated to portray a different theme and it was of tribal community. This was a remarkable change in his perspective. He made great efforts to understand ethos of tribal community and this as certainly a great shift from urban life that he earlier loved to paint. He relished making Rajasthani tribes as the object of his artistic interest. In late eighties, he also created several art works on Kerala murals. Ramachandran really excelled at giving his paintings a visual aura. Ramachandran lives and works in New Delhi.


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04 Jun 2015
As of October 2014, Pro-Matrix Pte Ltd entered into a definitive merger agreement with NTT FACILITIES INC (NTT-F), a leading Japanese company specializing in mission-critical telecommunication buildings with vast experience in power supplies.
This merger is expected to bring mutual benefits for both firms. NTT-F will not only be better able to carry out its expansion plan into Southeast Asia, but the collaboration also provides it with the opportunity to accelerate its expansion into the global market. As for Pro-Matrix, by leveraging on NTT-F's expertise in data centre facility design and maintenance, business scope can be enhanced and market share and presence in the data centre industry can be strengthened. In addition, this partnership also provides Pro-Matrix with the foundation for potential future expansion.


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I don't share this story. Ever. Well, that's not 100% accurate, because I do say something when asked "how did you two meet". It's not like we woke up one day and found ourselves married with kids.
Now THAT would be one helluva story, huh?
Our story, however, is anything but a fairy tale. It's not even romantic. Really, the only word that describes it is crazy. Absolutely crazy. So I have a lot of trepidation about posting this and I hope you will be understanding rather than judgmental, because I think I've judged myself enough over the years, and will forever live with the consequences of several of my actions.
After my medical discharge from the Air Force in 2006, I decided to make my stay in San Antonio, TX, permanent. I found myself working at the biggest dump of a hole-in-the-wall bar imaginable on the Riverwalk, and I was damn good at slinging drinks and kicking ass when needed. Trust me, it was needed, thank you military training.
The man who owned the bar also owned three other bars around SA, and thus had two managers, each caring for two bars. A couple of weeks after I began working at the Gulch, my manager took a vacation and Rudy had to care for all four bars. I had no idea who he was when he first walked in and behind the bar, but I definitely gave him the stink eye and was a little less than friendly at his intrusion in my space.
Dood, seriously. Stay outta my space.
We didn't even say anything. He went down to the basement, did whatever he was doing and then left. I asked no questions, he gave no explanations. He came back several hours later and finally introduced himself, and we laughed about our earlier encounter and how he was kind of worried that I would tackle him thinking he was some crazy thief or something. Ha.
He ended up spending pretty much the rest of the evening at the bar, and I ended up working from open to close, which was over 12 hours. During that time I talked to one of the regulars and established that Rudy was single. I also confessed that he was pretty damn hot, and so this regular decided to try to get the sparks flowing. It wasn't long before we were both in the basement and I was shotgunning weed off him. It was so sexy to me, and it was the first time I had done that (not smoke weed, but shotgun it).
But it didn't end there. At one point, a chick I used to work with at Rainforest Cafe walked by the huge window outside and decided to press her butt against it. The window SHATTERED. I'm talking about a 10'x10′ window here. It was a total disaster, because it was already late at night and there was nothing we could do to fix it. Rudy and I both volunteered to stay there the rest of the night and basically "protect" the bar, because there were many bad individuals downtown. Needless to say, we did more than just talk that night.
After that, we would hook up occasionally, but we never considered ourselves a couple, especially since we were mostly doing it in secret. He was seeing other people and I was "seeing" other people. But when we got together, it was always crazy. We partied. Hard. We drank more alcohol than you could imagine and did more drugs than…well…I don't have a good analogy for that, but we did a lot.
I could easily say I was addicted to Rudy, in a way. I pretty much stalked him. I would text him all the time and call him, and follow him around like some silly lovesick puppy. I wanted him all to myself and I was going to do whatever it took to make sure he was mine and only mine.
I was totally crazy.
Things really changed, however, in May of 2007. I was heading to Spokane, WA, to see my brother graduate college when my car started breaking down in Colorado. Scared of being stranded in the middle of nowhere, I cancelled my trip and headed back to SA. During the trip back I talked frequently to Rudy, and once I got back I realized I had all this time off and nothing to do, so Rudy and I made a spontaneous trip to Port Aransas, TX.
We packed a ton of food and alcohol and bought a tent and pitched it right on the beach, and then we spent five days having what was probably the funnest week of my life. It was Memorial Day weekend and the beach was PACKED with people and the coolest group of super rich farmer/bikers were parked right behind us and welcomed us into their group to eat, drink and just plain have a good time. It was during this time that Rudy and I really declared ourselves as a couple.
The happiness didn't last. Rudy had a habit of just disappearing for days at a time. Wouldn't answer his phone and wouldn't be home. It even got so bad that he skipped town when he owed me some money and my electricity was shut off. It was the middle of summer and I lived in an attic apartment that quickly became unlivable, so I ended up having to stay at his mother's place for two days and borrow money from her to get my power turned back on. It was miserable and I was angry. When he finally reappeared we fought like vicious animals. But, long story short, he moved in with me after that and things started to smooth out. At least, temporarily.
It seemed like I was the one who took care of everything. I had a steady gig at a Mom and Pop restaurant where I made pretty good money, but Rudy couldn't hold down a steady job to save his life. I was always lending him money for this, that and the other thing and never getting paid back. He finally took a job as an electrician for a construction company that was working in northern Texas and so he would be gone for weeks at a time.
While he was gone, he would frequently "forget" to call me, or tell me the reception was terrible where he was at, or any number of other excuses when it came time to send me money for rent, utilities or other things he owed me money for. We would constantly fight over the phone and I was on the verge of breaking up with him, but he would always come home at that point with some sob story and I would forgive him.
The cycle continued for a long time. He would disappear, lie and basically take my money, and I would forgive him and take him back. It was a bad cycle. And just when I was getting ready to really cut him loose, I missed my period.
I was pregnant.
I don't think I was ever so scared. I didn't want to be a mom. I was on birth control! This shouldn't be happening, so what did I do wrong?
Telling Rudy was even scarier, because I knew it wasn't going to go over well with him. And although he was justifiably angry, he stuck by my side. He went to appointments with me, asked questions, and was excited when he could feel the baby kicking finally. And he was supportive of my decision to move back to Minnesota to be closer to my family.
Of course, things did not get easier once we got to Minnesota. Rudy had to have emergency surgery on three hernias, and ended up with internal bleeding that nearly killed him. I was put on bed rest shortly after arriving when I developed diabetes and preeclampsia. If it wasn't one thing, it was another.
Afton was born in December 2008, and it was the most amazing experience for both of us.
Seven months after Afton's birth, Rudy and I got married in my mom's backyard.
Now we are on our way to baby #4 and although we do still battle like crazy people, the fights are fewer and farther between. We are committed to working hard to stay together, not just for our kids but for ourselves, because seriously, we made it through so much already…neither of us can fathom a situation that could really pull us apart.
So, like I said, our story is anything but a fairy tale. But that doesn't mean it can't still have a Happily Ever After, right?


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Smooth expressive long-lasting color for the artist in all of us.
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Sep 17, 2018
I enjoyed this course and it helped me to understand the basic parts of American Law. My only suggestion is to provide even more cases as examples to demonstrate the doctrines and statutes. Thank you.
Jul 26, 2019
This is an excellent class, presentations and content from expert professors are well done, I highly recommend this class whether you're studying law or any other discipline this class is essential.
von Michael L B•
Jun 14, 2016
A great concise and comprehensive look into American law.
von William X•
Jun 17, 2017
von Heather N•
Jan 05, 2016
I have not yet finished this course, but I love it. The context is well covered and the professors are visibly knowledgable in the subject. The professors enthusiasm for the topics presented make the lesson interesting and memorable. This course is very easy to understand and follow.
von Natasha W•
Jun 26, 2017
Excellent for individuals looking for a basic understandingi of American law.
von Brian I M C•
Sep 16, 2017
A nice course for learning the basics of the american law system, great teachers and very good and comprehensible explanations.
von Максимов Д М•
Jun 22, 2018
The best way to get acquainted with American Law and find spheres of interest for future education
von Huzaifa B•
Nov 04, 2017
Learning the American Law sitting in the comfort of my home. Being a student of International Relations its something great for expanding my knowledge.
von Alexandra F•
Jun 11, 2018
von Dero D•
Dec 22, 2017
von sumeet s b•
Feb 02, 2018
von lathika d•
Jun 10, 2018
i really like the concept and how they teach it
von Lee J C•
Apr 10, 2018
A very useful introduction to American Law, that was delivered in a professional and appropriate manner.
von Jean Y•
Sep 15, 2017
Very good information and very interesting. It was fun.
von Mercedes V•
Oct 22, 2017
I loved the video lessons taught by professors at Penn University. In only a few minutes for each video, amazingly these teachers explained in a very understandable way each subject, and their topics were very interesting.
von Susan L•
Apr 09, 2018
Enriching and accessible.
von Inggrid S F B N•
Jul 01, 2018
I loved participating and taking this course! I point out to everyone who really has an interest in delving into the subject of American law. I just want to know where I get my certificate.
von Elly O•
Jul 08, 2018
This was a great course. I learned a lot about the basics of American Law.
von Alexander r•
Oct 21, 2017
The course was very informational
von Fernando P•
Mar 15, 2018
Excellent course!
von samuel a•
Jun 28, 2018
Great course its extremely informative and interesting cant wait for next part
von Carlie J H•
May 15, 2018
I enjoyed this course very much so the instruction was easy to follow and understand. The instructors were well spoken. In fact the only negative thing I noticed, which is of no true consequence, is that question 10 of the final exam is missing a "C" option. It goes from A-D sans any "C".
von Alan P d l V•
Sep 16, 2017
is an excelent class the american law
von Matteo F Z•
Apr 09, 2018
A useful tool to understand the basis of american law.
von Álvaro A B F•
Jan 04, 2018
This course is well-above what I expected. It is a very useful tool for people who, like me, work in the translation of legal text from English into other languages. There is no doubt I would recommend it.
von Нина П Б•
Jun 16, 2018
Great course!!! Thank you very much for so interesting and helpful materials!


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Sanicat Rainbow Pink
Decorative cat litter in a soft pink colour.
Decorate your cat's hideaway with colourful litter. The litters in Sanicat's Rainbow collection are produced in various colours to make your favourite pet's space more appealing.
The Rainbow Pink litter is composed of attapulgite in a soft pink shade. The litter is colourfast, so your floors and your kitty's paws will stay clean.
The flat attapulgite granules rapidly absorb liquid and coat solid waste effectively, locking in odours and maintaining hygiene in the litter box.
This litter comes in affordable 20L bags and is also available in green and blue shades. Use the pink litter as-is or experiment with bolder combinations.
Create your own rainbow with a mix of all three colours!


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Browse by field of expertise or by topic.
Executive Director, Social Entrepreneur, Business and Community Leader, Writer
Avi Zimmerman is a much sought after and experienced spokesperson for Judea Samaria and Israel advocacy. A social entrepreneur, he currently serves as the Chairman of the Judea Samaria Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Executive Director of the American Friends of Ariel and the City of Ariel's international representative.
Recent initiatives include the founding of the Judea Samaria Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which coalesces the regional business community to promote economic development for Israeli and Palestinian populations. He also co-founded the Judea-Samaria Speakers Bureau, which provides an accessible interface between the international community and the individuals behind the headlines.
Avi established TALK17 at the start of 2017, with the goal of deepening and broadening the international conversation concerning the Judea-Samaria region. The TED-style format gives a voice to fifty Israeli and Palestinian speakers.
A spokesperson for the City of Ariel, Avi also engages those diplomats, journalists, professors, university students and special interest groups who have a firsthand analysis of Israel's geopolitical issues. In Israel, Avi mobilizes and equips national leadership figures to address ever-developing international and interfaith interest in Israeli society. Organizations consult with Avi to guide their efforts in advancing partnerships with Israel. Both an author and blogger, Avi presents accurate and thought provoking narratives to the global community concerning Israel in general and Judea-Samaria in particular. Several of his opinions and articles can be found in The Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post.
Born and raised in New Jersey, he moved to Israel following high school, earning a Bachelor's of Occupational Therapy from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and an MBA from Ariel University. Avi lives in Ariel with his wife and their four children.


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The Instant Agenda chrome extension makes it easier than ever to achieve better meeting outcomes.
Works with your Outlook (web) Calendar and Google Calendar.
Using this extension, you can link your Outlook or Google Calendar event to an existing Instant Agenda meeting, or create a new meeting right from your Calendar. The Instant Agenda link is automatically added to your Outlook or Google Calendar event, making it easy to get all of your attendees into your Instant Agenda meeting.


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Articles & News
- The Effects of Cell Cycle Deviation on Cancer Development Use Hudson Alpha's Newest Kit to demonstrate chance mutations and randomization in resulting in cancer. View »
- What's the Big Idea? Understanding the Laboratory Experience in the AP* Chemistry Curriculum If you teach AP* Chemistry, you're already aware, or need to be, that changes to the course curriculum are here, which means you'll probably have to change your classroom instruction. To help relieve your anxiety, here's an overview of the course revisions, some important dates to remember, and 2 ways Carolina can help to ensure your success during this transition. View »
- Understanding the Periodic Table Looking for inexpensive ways to help students understand and appreciate how much information the periodic table provides? In these 2 activities, students discover for themselves several trends associated with the elements on the periodic table. View »
- 5 Steps to Teaching Inquiry in Your Science Classroom Worried about the inquiry lab requirement of the College Board's AP lab curriculum? Here are some great tips from an educator who's already done it. View »
- Give Your Students That "A-ha" Moment Carolina is proud to announce its partnership with the educational outreach team of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology to provide educational kits that give students that "aha!" moment. The Institute's educational products focus on addressing common student misconceptions and introducing students to potential career paths in biotechnology. The Institute also provides valuable FREE digital resources for educators. View »
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- How to Use Mathematics and Logical Routines Shed light on your students' aptitude and attitude toward mathematics with these engaging activities. View »
- AP® Chemistry: Graphing Titration Curves Students graph titration data and determine if an acid is monoprotic, diprotic, or triprotic. View »
- Debunking the 4° C Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Myth Do samples need to be refrigerated immediately after PCR? No. You can leave them at room temperature overnight—and much longer! The founders of miniPCR® explore why. View »


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Falling Snow Loop by spc01
Stock Motion Graphics
Item details
This motion graphics video features realistic falling snow on black background. The video loops continuously - allowing for flexibility in your project. It can also be used as a compositing layer. Simply drag and drop it on top of your project and change the blending mode to screen. Available in HD.
- Photo Jpeg
- 1920x1080 (HD)


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Reforming a seed system
Farmers take action to shake up Pakistan's moribund onion seed sector
Onion farmers in Pakistan are fed up with the exorbitant prices and poor quality of onion seed, and they're doing something about it by reforming their seed supplies. Their approach could be a model for improving seed supplies for other smallholder vegetable growers.
Onion is one of the most popular vegetables in Pakistan and no meal is complete without it. Chronic supply problems mean prices often escalate beyond the reach of many consumers, but poor seed means farmers find it hard to increase production.
Semi-arid Baluchistan in southwestern Pakistan borders Afghanistan and has an annual rainfall of only 260 mm—an ideal area for producing onion seed, with few pests and diseases.
It takes two seasons to produce onion seed, but only one to produce a saleable onion bulb. Strong demand for fresh onions prompted professional seed growers to produce bulbs rather than seed, and as a result, over the past 20 years seed production declined precipitously. Farmers might let a crop to go to seed if onion prices were low, but the seed they sold was not true to type. With limited bargaining power, farmers who did produce seed received low prices from traders.
With few options available, farmers purchased onion seed from seed companies. Yet most seed companies in Pakistan import seed rather than sourcing it locally. The seed sold to farmers is often of poor quality due to mixed seed lots, untested varieties, and inadequate storage methods.
Facilitated by AVRDC and with assistance from the Agricultural Research Institute (ARI) in Quetta, a group of ten farmers decided to do something about the problem by setting up a joint venture for onion seed production. They didn't have much competition: as Bashir Ahmad, Director of ARI, said, "There are over 600 seed companies registered in Pakistan, but only one producing seed in Baluchistan."
AVRDC provided the growers with true-to-type onion bulbs of popular open pollinated varieties Sariab Red, Chiltan-89, and Phulkara, and gave training in certified seed production. ARI helped them with harvesting, threshing, grading, certification, and attractive and durable packaging.
"It's very profitable compared to fresh produce, and as the temperatures drop it is easy to keep the seed for up to six months for sale next season," said Arbab Mir Ahmad, one of the seed producers. "It's also much better than buying high priced local seed back from the seed companies. That seed is often adulterated."
AVRDC Vegetable Seed Specialist Mazullah Khan noted that fresh onions sell for 400-800 rupees per 100 kg bag and the gross income per hectare is around 200,000 to 400,000 rupees. "The price of seed doesn't vary as much, and a farmer can produce about 450-500 kg/ha and sell it for 2000-2500 rupees/kg," Mazullah said. "So growing onion seed can return a gross income about three to four times as much as fresh produce."
This year the farmers produced over a tonne of seed. AVRDC introduced 10 traders to the group; they were besieged by buyers wanting to buy their entire crop. "There is a huge demand for high quality seed, and we have access to good land and cheap labor," said Mazullah. "If farmers are trained in seed production then the seed industry will have more confidence to invest in the region. We're expanding the number of growers, crops and production next year."
"This can be a model for improving the vegetable seed industry in other parts of South Asia where farmers can't access good seed and traders have neither the incentive nor the skills to produce quality local seed," said Regional Director Warwick Easdown.
The growers are considering their options: continue to market their own seed, supply traders with a branded and packaged product for national sale, or move into bulk seed sales to traders. However they decide to move forward, the prospects for onion growers and consumers can only get better.
Story and photos: Warwick Easdown, Sreeram Banda, Mansab Ali


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Here you can keep up to date with our latest news, inform us of changes to your project, submit your annual report or ask questions directly to us.
+–Change of Details Form
If you have any significant changes to any areas of your project or activity, please provide details.
+–Monitoring & Evaluation Form
The Brelms Trust monitors and evaluates grants to assure ourselves that our money has been spent in the way intended. But more importantly, we hope that by monitoring and evaluating individual grants, we and those we fund can:
We want to promote effective monitoring and evaluation, and see this as an integral part of our interest in building the capacity and promoting the work of the charitable sector in Yorkshire.
Monitoring is about collecting information and keeping track of what is going on with your work, so that you know, for example, how many people are attending your training courses, how regularly the community building is being used or what kind of progress your beneficiaries are making.
Evaluation is about using the information you collect to make judgements about your activities and whether they have met your aims. It is often done at the end of, but can be done during, a piece of work.
Monitoring and evaluation will therefore, help you to plan your work more effectively and make sure it is responsive to needs; it will give you continuing feedback and allow you to make changes if necessary, particularly if things are not going as planned. It can act as proof that your project is succeeding and so can be used to support future funding applications.
If you complete your activities before the 12 month period has passed (for example if your event has been held or your equipment all purchased), please send in your report on completion.
You are required to send us a report using the Monitoring and Evaluation Form below, usually at the end of every year of your grant. If your grant is for several years it will be paid by yearly instalments.
Each payment is dependent on our receipt of a Monitoring and Evaluation report which is approved by the Trustees. We will not contact you if the report is approved and the next grant payment will be paid on or around the anniversary of the first payment.
Submitting a satisfactory M&E Report on time will ensure continuity of the agreed grant to your project. However, if the final M&E Report is not submitted by 3 months after the end of the funding period, no future applications will be accepted.
It is a condition that we see accounts for each year in which we fund your organisation. Normally these will be audited. We will look at your Report and Accounts posted on The Charities Commission website, so there is no need for you to send a copy of your accounts with this M & E Report. Our grant must be clearly specified in your accounts and please use our full name – The Brelms Trust CIO.
We appreciate that preparation of your accounts may not coincide with submission of your Monitoring and Evaluation report. If this is the case, please forward a copy of your bank statement showing receipt of our grant. This should be sent as an email attachment and not in the post.
If your organisation is small enough to be exempted from having financial records audited or examined independently, then we will accept your own end-of-year financial statement signed by two members of your management committee/Trustees.
The Trust Manager, The Brelms Trust CIO, Metro House, 57 Pepper Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 2RU
In your Monitoring and Evaluation reports you should tell us how your project has progressed against the plans and targets you described in your application.


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It's officially November, and you know what that means. I'm growing a mustache! Technically I was growing one anyway, so that's not the most exciting part. No, actually November means I'm participating in NaNoWriMo -- a world-wide sprint where would-be authors around the globe attempt to write 50,000 words in 30 days. And I'm one of them.
This is not my first NaNoWriMo. Last year I made it to about 15,000 words before giving up (I missed two days of writing and consequently felt too behind for the motivation to catch up). This year, I have beeminder to help keep me on the yellow brick road. Furthermore, I've decided to crowd-source my motivation out to the world. Here's how it works:
If you notice my beeminder is below the yellow brick road (or, disappears in mysterious circumstances), get on my case about it. Write me an email, post a comment, drop me a facebook message, or yell at me in real life. Whenever you do so, your name gets a tick mark beside it. If I fail to complete my novel by the end of November, I will give \$100 to the person with the most tick marks.
At the end of all this, I'll either be an official novelist, or have to watch you laughing all the way to the bank. Sounds like a plan to me.


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Part 2 of 3
Garry Ingraham grew up in a Christian family -- though it was a home without much warmth or love. On top of this, the church the family attended was legalistic. An unplanned, unwanted child, Garry craved affection and relational connection ... the reality was he carried a deep father wound. A realization began to set in: Garry was developing a growing attraction to other guys. He prayed for years, begging God to take away his addictive, homosexual lifestyle.
Catch the first part of our conversation with Garry in episode #55!
Turning Inward:
Garry felt like an exhausted, old man by the age of 21. He cried out, "Jesus, I've made a total disaster of my life. I don't even know if you want what's left of it, but if you do, you can have it!" That was it -- things started to change.
Shame, addiction, and sexual brokenness began to fall away. He found a Christian community where he was both accepted and called to masculinity. Today's he's happily married to Melissa (a one-time lesbian) and they have two sons.
After 12 years of church ministry, Garry founded Love & Truth Network, a ministry that comes alongside Christian leaders to help equip them to create redemptive, compassionate and transformational environments for people experiencing all kinds of relational and sexual brokenness.
Links - Topical
Website: https://www.loveandtruthnetwork.com/
Website: http://transformingcongregations.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loveandtruthnetwork/
Links - Substance TV
Website: https://www.substancetv.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/substancetv/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Substancetv.org/
Financial Support: https://www.patreon.com/substancetv


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'It's crazy how you just never know' - Conor McGregor stunned to discover he visited training partner's sick son in secret hospital visit
MMA fighter Conor McGregor paid tribute to his training partner Ciaran Maher's son after he visited the toddler in hospital.
McGregor met the little boy at Christmas when he made a surprise visit to the hospital. However, it was only this week when he met the little boy with his father that he realised who the toddler was.
The pair met on Monday night when McGregor treated his family and close friends to a night out in Funderland, Dublin.
"Great to meet this little man tonight. My training partner Ciaran Maher, his son and his wife," McGregor wrote on Instagram.
"Ciaran's son was a patient in the cardiac department in Our Ladies hospital before."
"I went in one day on the low a while back and visited all the patients and helped out in my way for the department, and nobody knew about it, I made sure of it, but Ciaran reached out to me out of nowhere thanking me for it and I was like how do you know about that and was blown away as he told me of his son and his journey and that his life was saved by the people in the cardiac department in Our ladies (sic)."
McGregor, who pushed his son Conor Jr around the amusement park in a Bentley tricyle, thanked the Maher family for joining him.
"I done this on the low and it reached right back close to me out of nowhere. Crazy. It's crazy how you just never know."
"I invited the little champion, my brother Ciaran and his wife today and it was great to meet the little man, thank you for coming."
The UFC star shared numerous snaps of his family's visit to Funerland on Instagram.
Online Editors