Here's How To AVOID Bed Bugs

It's vacation time and many of us are looking forward to enjoying the many amenities hotels offer. 

But they also increase our risk of bringing home an infestation of bed bugs.

I can tell you from personal experience that bed bugs are no laughing matter! Several years back, unbeknownst to us, my late father-in-law had them in his apartment. I remember sleeping in his spare bed one night and feeling itchy, as if a hoard of mosquitoes had attacked me. I looked on the sheets and between the mattress, but saw nothing. The next night, the same thing happened again. 

The itching woke me up and the scratching left me with sore, bleeding legs.


We, of course, brought bed bugs home and the itching continued. I thought maybe my legs were dry, so I moisturized them. It was no help. I looked everywhere – between the mattress, in our clothes, in our luggage – and never did see them. I postulated that my reaction was due to allergies or the new laundry detergent we were using. A decade later, my husband told me that shortly after we'd gotten back from his Dad's and while I was going crazy trying to find the source of my itching, he had found the bed bugs stationed on the side of our mattress. I had seen them, too, but thought they were just dirt since they looked like brown and gray specks. He'd vacuumed the entire room and thrown the vacuum bag out. He'd decided not to tell me because he knew I'd flip out (EXCELLENT CALL).


We were lucky because a bed bug infestation can cause thousands of dollar to eradicate. Most of the statistics I found on the number of reported bed bug cases were quoted by extermination companies which, of course, have a vested interest in their eradication, but municipalities across the United States and world wide agree that bed bugs infestations are on the rise: in some cases, dramatically! 

No, they do not spread disease, but once you've been affected by these critters, you will NEVER forget it! So what can you do?

• Investigate the hotel before you check in. Heck, I even look it up before I make the reservation! My favorite sources for this data are BedBugRegistry.com and Raveable.com  but TripAdvisor  often lists this info as well. Be aware, however, that just because a hotel is flagged as once having bed bugs, does not mean they still have them. And one that has not been flagged may, in fact, have them. These critters are fluid, moving with people and their belongings. Their presence is not an indication of how clean or dirty an establishment is. 
  
  
• Minimize the amount of stuff you pack – You know how your kids always want to take more toys and clothes than they'll ever need? This is the time to say “no.” The less stuff you bring, the fewer items you'll need to worry about later on.
  
  
• Try to pack your items in resealable plastic – There are many manufacturers of resealable bags that are large enough to pack clothes in. Place your clothes, etc., in those and then place the bags inside your luggage. 
  
  
• ALWAYS inspect your hotel room BEFORE you move in - When you enter the room, put your luggage in the bathroom where bugs are less likely to hide, take a flashlight (download the Tesla light from the Google Play Store if you have an Android) and check the perimeter of the bed, between the mattress, around the headboard, etc. Also check chair cushions, drapes, etc. Here's a nice article and checklist with more details on how to conduct a hotel inspection.
  
  
  
  
  
  

When you return home, place all travel materials in a separate space, like the garage. Wash and dry all clothes worn on the trip. If possible, place the luggage in the dryer, which you've set on high, for about 20 minutes. Many stuffed animals which cannot be washed can usually also be put in the dryer for 20 minutes. Leave shoes outside until you've had a chance to inspect them. Yes, this is colossal pain, but preventing a problem and the peace of mind is worth it!
 

“Bed bug proofing” products are becoming more common and easier to find.  Various en casements for mattresses are available at Costco, Amazon, and department stores. You can also buy heaters that you can use to treat non-washable items in case you don't have a dryer or access to one. Although there are a lot of sprays readily available, I haven't seen any convincing evidence that they do much good and , besides, who needs toxins in your environment, especially if you've got kids around? For a list of products that might help keep you safe from bedbugs, click on this article I found on the website brickunderground.com.


For more information, visit:

• Thisoldhouse.com  – This article lists how to prevent and treat a bed bug problem.
  

• Spcweb.org – Yes, this is the site for pest control company, but the checklist is handy if you suspect you may have a problem.
  

• Vdac.virginia.gov – This fact sheet from the Virginia Department Of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences is a nice, calming, source of information on bed bugs.
  

• Dhhs.nh.gov – A less calming, but still informative sheet from the New Hampshire Department Of Health & Human Services serves a reminder of where else you should check for bed bugs, like your car and trains.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Performing due diligence before and while I check into a hotel may be a pain, and may even make you feel silly, but I'm figuring that if I ever do bring bed bugs home again, it won't be due to carelessness.  

Better to make the efforts to prevent an infestation than deal with one. Try these steps, use these resources, and, hopefully, you'll never experience the trauma of bed bugs in your home!

 

THANK YOU FOR READING!!!

10 Non-Tech Travel Games To Make Getting There Fun

The kids and I are in the car a lot during the course of the school year and that time probably triples during the Summer as we go on road trips and I take them here and there around town. Since we're in the car so much, I've compiled a list of games we can play while Mom is driving so that World War III isn't breaking out in my back seat. Here are some of our favorites:

1. The Crazy License Plate Game – Take the license plate in front of you and make up crazy phrases to describe the driver. For example, FCB21M could translate into Five Cute Babies with 21 Moms.
   
   
2. Count The Number Of Fools On Cellphones – Here's a diversion with a message. In my area, many people still, unfortunately, talk on cellphones while they're driving even though it's DANGEROUS and AGAINST THE LAW. The kids know this is wrong and we've talked about why it's so bad, but we can't do anything about it, so we've turned it into a challenge. We try to count how many stupid adults they see driving while talking on cellphones. Another benefit to this game is that it alerts me to which idiots probably do not have their minds on the road. Our highest count so far: 15 people in 30 minutes. Shame on those drivers!
   
   
3. Where's The Alphabet – Use road signs, billboards, shop names — any reading material outside the window qualifies as long as it's spotted on your side of the car. If you're the front-seat passenger, focus on the right. Look for every letter of the alphabet, in alphabetical order, although the letter can be located anywhere in the word. For example, if there's a sign for a farm, there's your A. The exit for the Broad Street Bridge would cover B, Road Closed is C and so on. First one to the letter Z wins. 
   
   
4. What Are They Saying – Some people in traffic are quite animated. Try to figure out what the relationship is between drivers and passengers and what they might be saying. 
   
   
5. Count...Something - Count the number of...whatever. It can be anything: cows, telephone poles, headlights, train cars, blue pickup trucks, etc. All you have to do is shouting out the thing to keep track of the number. 
   
   
6. Car Colors – Pick a time limit, like 10 minutes or 30 minutes, depending on the length of the drive. Have each player guess how many cars of a certain color will be spotted during in that time. The closest guesser wins. You can also do this in “hotseat fashion” by using 3-minute intervals as the time limit. Whoever is closest gets a point for that time segment. The first one to reach 5 points wins.
   
   
   
7. The Picnic Game – In this memory game, one player says, "I went to a picnic Saturday and I brought..." then says a picnic favorite that begins with the letter A, like apples. The next player repeats the opening phrase, and after "...I brought" they repeat the A item then add one that begins with B: "I brought an apple and some bananas." The third player repeats the opener, the A and the B portions, and then adds something that begins with C. Can players get through the alphabet, remembering all the items everyone contributed?
   
   
8. What Are They Doing – Sometimes you can see into people's houses while you're traveling. We try to guess what they're doing and, if they're watching television, what they're watching.
   
   
9. Hold Your Breath – See who can hold their breath the longest while going over a bridge or through a tunnel. Obviously it should not be played by the driver who could get lightheaded, but everyone else can try. 
   
   
10. Odd Or Even – Each rider guesses how many of the next 20 license plates will end with an even number. The closest guess wins.

Getting places can be almost as fun as being there. The challenge is making that car-time entertaining. Try the games above and the time will pass quickly with everyone arriving at your destination in, hopefully, a good mood.

~~

Note:  Image of family in a van provided by ClassroomClipart.com.

How To Find Family-Friendly Trips In Your Area

 

 

Long before we had kids, my husband and I traveled our state looking for frugal stuff to do on weekends. So we researched and found tons of activities to do, many of them little-known even by long-time residents. This knowledge has served us well in the wake of having children and an even smaller budget.


So let me share with you some of the resources I've gathered over the years which will help you find relatively low-cost destinations for you and your family:

• The first place you'll want to search is USA.gov (http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Travel-Tourism/State-Tourism.shtml). It provides tourism websites for all 50 states plus links to historic places, the National Trails System run by the National Park Service, and more.
  
• TripAdvisor (http://www.tripadvisor.com/) is the premier site you visit when you go on vacation, but it's also a fantastic site for “staycations" and day trips. Plug in your state and find out where to go for some fun!
  
• About.com has a Cities And Towns Channel (http://www.about.com/citiestowns/) containing videos by guides that have plenty of ideas on what to see in various cities and towns.
  
• Many factories give tours and they're a great way to show kids how some of the products they use are made. Visit FactoryToursUSA (http://factorytoursusa.com/) for a list.
  
• Camping is a great, relatively low-cost way to spend quality family time. Visit Campgrounds.com (http://www.campgrounds.com/) for a list of some of the best with ratings by actual users. Similarly, ReserveAmerica (http://www.reserveamerica.com/unifSearchResults.do) will not only help you find a campground, but will guide you toward day use and picnic areas as well.
  

Lastly, check some of the kids booklets and magazines your local library most likely has. They can provide even more ideas for tourist spots in your area. Don't be like those people who live their whole lives near a famous landmark and never go! Get to know your own area!


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Thank you for reading! Please come back again soon, won't you?

Bed Bugs - The Game & The Reality (A MUST Read!)

The game is cute - the reality is quite different

Cute, huh?  When I saw this at the store recently, I had to buy it. Even as the title made me cringe (I'll explain below), the game looked as if it would be a lot of fun. Bed Bugs is a motorized game in which you take plastic tweezers and try to capture the “bugs” which are jumping all over the bed. It's a simple concept which would be great for kids with developing motor skills also reinforces math skills. Although the box states that it's for kids ages 4 and up, you might want to think twice if you've got really little ones around the house, because the bugs are tiny. The game sells for $10 on Amazon.com and I saw it on Wal-Mart.com for about $23.


While the game is cute, the reality of bed bugs is far different, as I can tell you from personal experience. Several years back, unbeknownst to us, my late father-in-law had them in his apartment. I remember sleeping in his spare bed one night and feeling itchy, as if a hoard of mosquitoes had attacked me. I looked on the sheets and between the mattress, but saw nothing.


We, of course, brought them home and the itching got much worse. I looked everywhere – between the mattress, in our clothes, in our luggage – and never did see them. I thought my reaction was due to allergies or the new laundry detergent we were using. A decade later, my husband told me that shortly after we'd gotten back from his Dad's and while I was going crazy trying to find the source of my itching, he had found the bugs stationed on the side of our mattress. I had seen them, too, but thought they were just dirt since they looked like brown and gray specks. He'd vacuumed the entire room and thrown the vacuum bag out. He'd decided not to tell me because he knew I'd flip out (good call, Dear).


We were lucky because a bed bug infestation can cause thousands of dollar to eradicate. Most of the statistics I found on the number of reported bed bug cases were quoted by extermination companies which, of course, have a vested interest in their eradication, but municipalities across the United States and world wide agree that bed bugs infestations are on the rise: in some cases, dramatically! No, they do not spread disease, but once you've been affected by these critters, you will be traumatized. So what can you do?


Well, obviously, try not to bring infested materials into your house. That can mean furniture from relatives and friends as well as second-hand items you get off Craiglist. If you do bring materials into the house, even new ones because more and more warehouses are becoming infested, examine tight spaces along seams, buttons, and under cushions. Click here for a fact sheet from the Ohio Department of Health: http://www.odh.ohio.gov/~/media/ODH/ASSETS/Files/dis/vector%20borne/bedbugs.ashx.


What you really need to be concerned about is exposure when you travel. Some years back, were were vacationing in Massachusetts and about to department for a night in a hotel in Hartford, Connecticut. That morning, the Boy and I looked up our hotel on Trip Advisor and were horrified to read one review that said our destination had bed bugs! We dodged that bullet, but ever since, I've made it a priority to try to “bed bug proof” subsequent trips. Although I am not an expert, here's what's worked for me:

• Investigate the hotel before you check in. Heck, I even look it up before I make the reservation! My favorite sources for this data are BedBugRegistry.com (http://bedbugregistry.com) and Raveable.com (http://www.raveable.com), but TripAdvisor.com (http://www.tripadvisor.com) often lists this info as well. Be aware, however, that just because a hotel is flagged as once having bed bugs, does not mean they still have them. And one that has not been flagged may, in fact, have them. These critters are fluid, moving with people and their belongings. Their presence is not an indication of how clean or dirty an establishment is.
  
• Minimize the amount of stuff you pack – You know how your kids always want to take more toys and clothes than they'll ever need? This is the time to say “no.” The less stuff you bring, the fewer items you'll need to worry about later on
  
• Try to pack your items in resealable plastic – There are many manufacturers of resealable bags that are large enough to pack clothes in. Place your clothes, etc., in those and then place the bags inside your luggage.
  
• ALWAYS inspect your hotel room BEFORE you move in - When you enter the room, put your luggage in the bathroom where bugs are less likely to hide, take a flashlight (download the Tesla light from the Google Play Store if you have an Android) and check the perimeter of the bed, between the mattress, around the headboard, etc. Also check chair cushions, drapes, etc. Here's a nice article and checklist with more details on how to conduct a hotel inspection: http://www.badbedbugs.com/bedbug-checklist.
  

When you return home, place all travel materials in a separate space, like the garage. Wash and dry all clothes worn on the trip. If possible, place the luggage in the dryer, which you've set on high, for about 20 minutes. Many stuffed animals which cannot be washed can usually also be put in the dryer for 20 minutes. Leave shoes outside until you've had a chance to inspect them. Yes, this is colossal pain, but preventing a problem and the peace of mind is worth it!

“Bed bug proofing” products are becoming more common and easier to find.  Various en casements for mattresses are available at Costco, Amazon, and department stores. You can also buy heaters that you can use to treat non-washable items in case you don't have a dryer or access to one. Although there are a lot of sprays readily available, I haven't seen any convincing evidence that they do much good and , besides, who needs toxins in your environment, especially if you've got kids around? For a list of products that might help keep you safe from bedbugs, click on this article I found on the website brickunderground.com (http://www.brickunderground.com/blog/2011/03/top_10_bed_bug_products_in_nyc).


For more information, visit:

• Thisoldhouse.com (http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1548906,00.html) – This article lists how to prevent and treat a bed bug problem.

• Spcweb.org (http://www.spcpweb.org/factsheets/Tenants_Checklist.pdf) – Yes, this is the site for pest control company, but the checklist is handy if you suspect you may have a problem.

• Vdac.virginia.gov (http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pesticides/pdffiles/bb-prevention1.pdf) – This fact sheet from the Virginia Department Of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences is a nice, calming, source of information on bed bugs.

• Dhhs.nh.gov (http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/DPHS/holu/documents/hom-bbvisitor.pdf) – A less calming, but still informative sheet from the New Hampshire Department Of Health & Human Services serves a reminder of where else you should check for bed bugs, like your car and trains.

Being paranoid about bed bugs is unhealthy, but being aware of how they travel and what they look like is, I think, prudent. Take steps now to prevent an infestation so that the only bed bugs in your home are the ones in a kids' game!


–


My next blog post will be far more pleasant and less icky – I PROMISE! Thanks for reading!

Our Daughter Comes Home (Plus Recommended Sites For Adoption Gifts)

(Note: This is Post #2 in my series celebrating National Adoption Month. In my 11/1/13 entry, I discussed how my family's journey to international adoption began and how we received the news about my precious daughter.)

Once we got the call announcing our new baby, the weeks leading up to the journey to China flew by. After much discussion, my husband and I had decided that that he would be the one to bring our daughter due to several factors. The trip promised to be a complicated journey involving travel to different, remote areas of China. It would involve a lot of paperwork and require intense concentration. We needed the parent with the clearest head, who would be least tainted by emotion, to meet with government officials and be where our adoption agency needed without fail. There was no doubt that in this matter, Dave was the more focused of the two of us. At the same time, he is very nurturing and, since he was now becoming a dad for the second time, experienced at taking care of a baby. Plus, since I had given birth and, in a way, brought our son into our world, this was his unique opportunity to bring a new family member home. He was excited and ready for action!


Back in 2006, “Survivor” was the big show on television; it involved contestants facing challenges in remote areas of the world. My husband, in hindsight, called his trip to China “Survivor Nanchang” since Nanchang is the capital of the province in China that my daughter is from. The trip proved as arduous as he had anticipated, even though he was accompanied by several other CCAI (our adoption agency) families and the wonderful CCAI staff. Despite appropriate precautions regarding food and water, most of the travelers got sick. Of all the parents on the trip, he was the only one who went alone and he really rose to this Herculean task . But if Dave was stressed, consider my daughter!

Her world had been thrown completely upside down. Gone were the sights and sounds of the orphanage she had spent most of her early life in. Gone was her crib mate and the female caretakers she had known for the first months of her life. Instead, here was a strange man who sounded, looked, smelled, and felt different from anyone she had ever met before taking care of her. I have no doubt that she was in a state of shock. My husband carried this poor, confused little 11-month old from appointment to appointment, from place to place (they went from the town she was born in, to Nanchang, to Guangzhou where the U.S. Consulate in China is based), from hotel room to hotel room, and onto several airplanes before landing in the United States. By the time the twosome landed, they were both physically and emotionally exhausted.


In stark contrast, Junior and I were giddy. We were about to meet the person we had thought about, DREAMED about for three long years! We had missed Daddy so much and couldn't wait to meet our new family member.


Finally, I saw them: my tired, unshaven husband, carrying my 11-month old daughter. My DAUGHTER! She was wide awake and oh, so tiny!  She was wearing an opened onsie which showed her diaper. One sock was hanging off her toes. She clutched the only possession she had in the world, a bottle of formula with Chinese writing on the side. As our eyes locked, an immediate connection was formed. I cried as I kissed her for the first time. “I love you,” I said. “I love you so much!” “Meimei, wo ai ni,” Junior said, which means “I love you” in Mandarin. As I gently placed her in the waiting stroller, my son pushed me away. He had waited a long time to meet his sister. “She's mine now,” he said as he steered her through the airport. Our family, finally, complete, headed home. 

Over the weeks that followed, I was in the unique position of asking my husband for mothering advice since he had taken care of my daughter and I was still learning what she liked and disliked.  He had explained how much music soothed her on the trip, so I had played music for her constantly. My husband had told me that her favorite food in China was rice congee, a porridge that was a staple of her diet, so I made it. Apparently I made it poorly because she picked up the little plastic bowl and threw it at me. I thought it was funny that she liked the orphanage food more than mine. No worries. I held her, kissed her, sang to her, and tried to make up for lost time as mother and daughter bonded in a deep way that proved that:


blood is irrelevant, because when it comes to parenting, it's the love you share that counts.


Did I ever, in my wildest dreams, anticipate adopting a little girl from across the globe? No, but then I had never really wanted children until I was in my late 30s. My children are miracles, with origins as unique as they are. What's the same is how much I love them. There is absolutely NO difference in the amount of love I have for my son and daughter. They are each wired into my heart and soul.

💞💞💞💞💞

Adoption is a wondrous thing that should be, must be celebrated! My son and I had been a part of a playgroup that I found through the group Mothers & More (www.mothersandmore.org) since my son had been one year old. I had started the group 40+ for mothers who were over 40 and experiencing motherhood for the first time.; those amazing women were my best friends and they welcomed my daughter by throwing our whole family a baby shower. The best gift I received from anyone was a child's chair, painted by one of the 40+ members, and signed by all of them. It was hand-printed with my daughter's birth date, place of birth, etc. It was a unique gift from the hearts of women who had waited with me and now loved my new daughter.


The other really cool gift we received was from the airline that carried our adoption travel group back to the United States. It's a Barbie doll with Barbie as a stewardess; she carries a baby doll which looks to be Asian and the box says, “Welcome Home.” I don't know if the airlines still give it out, but it's an unopened keepsake in our house.


Looking for a gift to celebrate adoption is the same as looking for a gift celebrating the arrival of any baby. The twist, if it's an international adoption, is that you might want to look for a gift celebrating the child's country of origin as well. I think just going to a local paint-your-own-pottery place and inscribing the child's place of birth, place of adoption, etc. is really cool. Nevertheless, here are some of my favorite sites for adoption gifts:

• www.chinacharm.org – The non-profit adoption agency that helped bring my daughter home, CCAI, runs this online gift shop and it has a beautiful assortment of unique gifts that are reasonably-priced. The merchandise includes CDs, Chinese musical instruments, home décor items, clothing, and games and toys. I cannot recommend this site enough!
  
• www.adoptiongiftsshop.com – Although the amount of merchandise is limited, this store has some really unique “fun” stuff like mugs, drinking glasses, and water bottles in addition to the standard bumper stickers, jewelry, etc. I especially like their items which read “Love is stronger than blood.”
  
• cafepress.com/adoptionworld – Within the CafePress shop, lies a department called Adoption World which sells products that have been designed, I believe, by a woman who adopted several girls from China. Her merchandise is adorable and features hard-to-find items for those parents who are waiting for word about their adoptions. I love the mugs showing an arrow pointing to the map of China which read “Born in China, growing in my heart, and loved around the world.” They also have some great products which celebrate National Adoption Month.
  
• www.amazon.com – Yeah, I know. What doesn't Amazon sell? I have to mention them here, because when I was looking for Asian baby dolls (I want my daughter to be proud of her uniqueness), this was one of the few sites that carried them. Amazon still has the largest assortment of Asian dolls I've ever seen.

💞💞💞💞💞

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