Memorial Day is celebrated in many ways but let’s not forget what the meaning of the holiday is about. It’s a day to honor service members who gave their lives for our country, that means you and me. As you enjoy the long weekend, please remember the service members who gave their all.
Memorial Day honors fallen military personnel while celebrating their legacy.
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the U.S. dedicated to honoring military personnel who lost their lives in service to the country
The holiday originated after the Civil War, evolving to encompass all U.S. wars, and is observed on the last Monday of May each year
While often associated with barbecues and gatherings, the true essence of Memorial Day lies in remembrance and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice
A disturbing issue for US service members
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Memorial Day is a U.S. holiday that’s supposed to be about mourning the nation’s fallen service members, but it’s come to anchor the unofficial start of summer and a long weekend of travel and discounts on anything from mattresses to lawn mowers.
Iraq War veteran Edmundo Eugenio Martinez Jr. said the day has lost so much meaning that many Americans “conflate and mix up Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, July Fourth.” Social media posts pay tribute to “everyone” who has served, when Memorial Day is about those who died.
For him, it’s about honoring 17 U.S. service members he knew who lost their lives.
“I was either there when they died or they were soldiers of mine, buddies of mine,” said Martinez, 48, an Army veteran who lives in Katy, Texas, west of Houston. “Some of them lost the battle after the war.”
From what I’ve seen over the past 20 years, he is correct.
The freedoms we enjoy today are because of the brave men and women who made a commitment to fight for our country through thick and thin and died defending us.
Boy, it’s interesting how age can make a difference in how you answer this question. To me having it all is not in material things however nice they are, it’s about loving ourselves and others, having a balanced life and finding joy each day.
Is it attainable?
You might not find joy every day but the foundation guides us through. God never said life was easy.
Children love being outdoors, and allowing them to do that promotes a wide range of skills they can use later in life such as gardening, appreciating nature, and also roleplay. Your children mean everything to you and as a parent, you want to do everything in your power to protect them. So when it comes to creating a safe space in your garden, you’ll want to rest assured that if you need to nip to the bathroom or cook their dinner that they aren’t doing to hurt themselves. This dread can be made worse by things in your garden that they could potentially hurt themselves on.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at how you can make sure your garden is child-friendly so they can continue to learn and thrive – without you being constantly worried.
Put up safety fences
A parent’s worst nightmare is the thought of their child wandering off out of the safety of the garden. If you don’t already, put up some safety fences with a lockable gate to ensure their safety.
This doesn’t just mean the perimeter of your property either, put up safety fences around ponds and flower beds to prevent them from falling in and hurting themselves.
Remove anything dangerous they may pick up
Whether you’ve just moved in and noticed a lot of animal muck, or your pets have had free reign for a while, the last thing you want is for your children to accidentally pick them up or even worse, get it anywhere near their faces. Using a company like Swoop Scoop not only prevents you from the nasty job of clearing this up but also ensures that nothing is missed. While a bit of dirt never did anyone any harm, children shouldn’t pick feces up.
Switch to rounded furniture
If your kids run wild when they’re in the garden, you’re probably constantly flinching when they go anywhere near any sharp-cornered furniture. To avoid this issue altogether, switch to rounded garden furniture.
If this isn’t an expense you can afford, you can add corner protectors to your furniture to prevent any serious damage. And of course, you could ban that area of the garden, but we know what kids are like!
Have a large grassed area
All kids love rolling around outside, but if your garden is paved or has lots of stones, you may be worried your children might hurt themselves. Consider contacting a turf company to create a grassed area for your children to enjoy and eliminate this worry.
Lock all harmful things away
Finally, while this may seem obvious if you have items in your garden that you still want to enjoy but may be harmful, buy a shed to lock them away when the children are playing. These could be items like garden ornaments, BBQs, potentially dangerous garden furniture, or even garden tools. Locking them away will give you the peace of mind that when your children are playing, they’re going to be as safe as possible.
I would love to talk with my granny for hours, asking all the questions that have come to mind after her death. I do talk with her but it’s a one-sided conversation for now but I know we’ll be together again.
NSAIDs can pose a risk to your kidney health. But while acetaminophen may be safer, all pain medications should be taken with a doctor’s supervision if you have kidney disease.
It’s almost a reflex: You have an ache or pain, so you reach for an over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication. But as routine as this behavior is, not everyone should casually take pain medications, as there can be potential negative interactions.
For example, people with kidney damage or reduced kidney function might not be able to use every OTC pain medication. Let’s look at why and what you can safely do for pain relief.
Before taking any pain medication, you should speak with your physician or a health professional to determine any possible interactions or risks that you might encounter.
For people with kidney disease, aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding. And in those with reduced kidney function, aspirin is not recommended unless prescribed by a physician. The recommended alternative can vary depending on the type and severity of kidney problems that you have.
Often, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the preferred alternative. But it’s encouraged that you use the lowest dose possible that still manages pain or fever symptoms, decreasing doses gradually. And likewise, you should not exceed more than 3,000 milligrams per day.
Alternatively, if an OTC acetaminophen drug doesn’t control pain symptoms, a physician may suggest a temporary prescription alternative like tramadol. In its immediate release form, tramadol can be used in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end stage renal disease (ESRD).
However, extended release dosing for tramadol is not recommended for people with advanced CKD or ESRD.
Which pain medication is safe for kidney transplant patients?
Similar to people with kidney disease, transplant recipients should only consider acetaminophen to manage post-operative pain symptoms. Again, best practices include using the lowest dose possible and never exceeding 3,000 milligrams per day.
Which pain medication is safe for kidney stones?
The short answer to this question is, it depends. If a patient has kidney stones with no underlying renal issues, then any OTC pain medication can be used to manage the pain symptoms associated with passing a kidney stone.
This includes ibuprofen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and acetaminophen. Multiple studies and reviews have consistently shown positive patient outcomes when using OTC medications of all types to treat pain associated with renal colic or passing a kidney stone.
However, if someone also has impaired kidney function and kidney stones, NSAIDs are not recommended. A physician will provide the best guidance, but typically, sticking with acetaminophen is the best choiceTrusted Source for managing kidney stone pain when you have kidney disease or impaired kidney function.
Misusing any pain medication can increase your risk of kidney damage. This includes aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and of course, prescription opioid medications. The most common risks center around consuming too high a dose or taking medications for longer than recommended.
But of all the OTC pain medication categories, NSAIDs pose the greatest risk of continuous kidney damage. Specifically, these medications can increase the risk of progressive kidney damage or sudden kidney failure.
A 2019 studyTrusted Source involving over 764,000 U.S. Army officers found that participants who were prescribed more than seven daily doses of NSAIDs per month had an increase in the potential for an acute or chronic kidney disease diagnosis.
Regardless of whether you have a diagnosed kidney disorder or have healthy kidney function, OTC medications should be used with care.
Excessive use by consuming too high a dose or for prolonged periods can lead to a variety of health problems throughout your body — including damage to the kidneys.
For people with kidney disease or impaired kidney function, avoiding NSAIDs unless directed by a physician is the safest way to avoid further harm. Instead, opt for acetaminophen and be sure to use the lowest dose for the shortest period to control pain symptoms.
And when in doubt, speak with a physician or health professional before taking an OTC pain medication.
I have many sentimental items placed around the house that would sting if they were lost in a fire but the most dear items I have are the photos of my grandparents, their parents, and those of me and my husband. Losing those would be devastating yet in the big picture items are not what we need to survive.
I’m glad you joined me for another edition of Weekend Music Share this week.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
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