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    Blog Posts by Katie Dillon

    • I heard third hand that my 3 year old daughter was exposed to whooping cough (pertussis). She was at a play group with a fully vaccinated child, who was diagnosed with the highly contagious infection a few days later. I was totally unprepared for what was to come, because my daughter is also vaccinated against pertussis. Here are 6 things to consider if this happens to you.

      1. Figuring out the symptoms: The child had a very mild cough that the mother dismissed as a common cold. A well exam and test later revealed that it was indeed whooping cough. If this mother missed it, then it's likely that I could. I called our pediatrician to ask what symptoms I should be looking for. If a child is vaccinated and contracts whooping cough, they may not cough with the "whoop" that is characteristic of the illness. It might be a very mild cough with no fever and may behave like a mild common cold.

      2. Exposure = immediate doctor visit: Because of the close contact my daughter had with this

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    • 7 Gum Graft Surgery Survival Tips

      By Katie Dillon | Yahoo Motherboard – Fri, Aug 20, 2010 12:37 AM EDT

      I just had gum graft surgery for recession of gums surrounding two of my back teeth. I didn't realize how common the procedure is, until I started talking about it. Most people delay it, probably because there are people online describing it as pain worse than childbirth. I disagree. If you have a good surgeon, you will be fine.

      What is gum graft surgery: If your gums are receding due to orthodontia, over brushing, genetics or bad luck, you're likely to need a gum graft. I wish I hadn't watched the presentation outlining the procedure as I would have been ok not knowing the details. Basically, they cut tissue off the roof of your mouth (the donor area), cut the gums off around your teeth, peel them down, stitch the donor tissue on and then stitch the gum tissue back over that. *Shiver*

      Now that I've had the surgery, here's what I'd suggest:

      1. Upgrade your drugs: I was given the option of being awake but numb, being consciously sedated with a drug called Halcion, or an

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    • Should parents fly on the same airplane when traveling without kids?

      By Katie Dillon | Yahoo Motherboard – Sat, Jul 17, 2010 7:13 PM EDT

      As parents, we all need the occasional break. Taking a coveted vacation without the kids, however, raises logistical questions. My daughter is now 3 and old enough for an extended stay with her grandparents. As I started researching travel destinations, this hit me like a ton of bricks:

      Do my husband and I fly together or should we book separate flights?

      In the event of a complete disaster, are we better off splitting up so one parent survives to raise our daughter?

      Facts: The odds dying in a car crash are much higher than an airplane. Do you always take a road trip or go to a restaurant in a separate car from your partner? I would guess, probably not.

      According to Wikipedia airplane safety statistics:

      • The odds of dying in a car crash are 40 per 1 billion journeys
      • The odds of dying in a plane crash are 117 per billion journeys
      We drive a lot more than we fly. Think about how many car journeys you take in comparison to plane journeys. For example, I Read More »

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