It’s back-to-school time—yikes! Another crazy, busy summer. How about you? I know that I am a little overwhelmed when I look forward to going to sleep at night. Between you and me, I’ve had a lot of those times this summer. Does anyone have any tips on how to slow things down—just a little? If you do, please share!

On August 22nd, my son, Adam, turns 20. Happy Birthday, Adam! Wow, I no longer am the mother of a teenager. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 20 years since I gave birth to this guy. My late husband, Jim, and I made the decision to have a second child when our daughter, Carissa, was just over 10 years old. We wanted Carissa to have a sibling. I grew up with five siblings, and Jim had two brothers. Even though I know that there is nothing wrong with being an “only,” it felt better to us to have one more.

I remember when I was about five months along, and we had an ultrasound and discovered that we were having a boy. Both Jim and I went into temporary shock. I think that we had talked ourselves into being fine with having another girl. After all, we knew how to raise a girl. We had been there. But a boy? I’m happy that we had several months to adjust to this reality.

When Adam came into this world, he was a screamer. He had terrible colic for his first six weeks of life. We tried everything to help him feel better. He was in so much pain that he would arch his back when we tried to hold him. It was heartbreaking! I tried every formula that was available on the market back then to no avail.

Then I had an inspiration to pull out a book I had by Adelle Davis called How to Have Healthy Children. Inside was a recipe for a homemade formula. Within 24 hours, we had a new baby on our hands. Adam was happy, cooing, and loved to be held. I was so thrilled. To this day, Adam has affectionate memories of “cow juice,” which is what he began calling it as soon as he could talk.

Even though the pediatrician he was going to at that time did not approve, Adam turned out to be healthy as a horse. My “baby” is now 6’2” tall and looks a lot like his dad. I love him with all of my heart, as I do my daughter. My kids are the best thing I’ve ever done!

Autumn is just around the corner, so let’s get out and make the most of it. We’ll talk next month..

Special Notes

Are you looking to have some home remodeling done? Perhaps you would like to add a little curb appeal to your home? No matter what project you are looking to do Dudley Brothers Company can help you do it. They are a local family owned business that has been operating since 1977. For more information on what they can do for you, see their ad on page 11.

Have you heard about the Zerona Laser? It is one of the latest technologies available to help dissolve that stubborn fat. You can find it in Cedar Rapids at Wholistic Wellness. See their ad on page 19 to find out more about this new technology and how it can help you.

How bright are your teeth? Towncrest Dental is offering a special on teeth whitening for readers of Women’s Edition. See their ad on page 19 for details.

Looking for a way to enhance your natural beauty? From Botox to Microdermabrasion, Dolcé Vita Medi Spa offers a full list of services to help you look and feel your best today and everyday. See their ad on page 27 for more information.

We would like to thank the Assisted Living Directory for their help with last month’s Generations column, Help Through Assisted Living. You can visit them at their Web site www.assisted-living-directory.com.

Positive Thought of the Month

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” —Steve Jobs