Ahoy everyone! I’m Roscoe, the Milwaukee Admirals mascot. We may have met at a recent Admirals hockey game or maybe you’ve seen me around town. I have a really cool invitation for you. Come on out to the Admirals game on Sunday, Feb. 13, because we’re teaming up with Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. For every ticket sold for our 5 p.m. game against the Rockford Icehogs, $2 will be donated to Children’s Hospital. We’re even offering special discount ticket prices for this game.

Now I see a lot of folks at the Admirals games every season, but maybe there’s a few of you who haven’t learned yet how fun Admirals hockey can be! The games are always action packed, but there’s more! From the fun bobblehead giveaways and contests, to the human hockey puck event and Merkt’s cheese spread races, you couldn’t ask for a better way to spend time with family and friends.

On Feb. 13, there will be tons of fun things going on: cool videos on the Jumbotron, special giveaways and a really great mid-period event. I‘m not going to tell you too much about it…I think I’ll keep you in suspense!

Get your tickets now for the game on Feb. 13. I’m really excited to help raise money for Children’s Hospital. Hope to see you at the game!

~Roscoe

February 1 is the 10th anniversary of Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin-Fox Valley. I would like to share our experience and let others know what a tremendous impact having the hospital close to our home has meant to us.

My son, Griffin, was born in 2003 with a rare brain abnormality called Lissencephaly (Miller-Dieker syndrome). We knew of his condition while I was pregnant, and though somewhat prepared, had no idea what was to come after his birth. We had been told he may not survive birth and at best live to be 2 years old. Less than one day after we brought him home, we were sent to Children’s Hospital-Fox Valley due to jaundice and feeding difficulties, which led to breathing issues. Having two other small children at home made being away difficult, but it was very manageable with the hospital only two miles from our house.

The staff made us feel so welcome and confident in the ability to care for a special needs newborn. It was decided rather quickly that Griffin would need to have a permanent feeding tube placed. Dr. Georgen, a surgeon from Theda Clark Medical Center, gave Griffin what he truly needed to survive at this point. The procedure seemed somewhat bizarre to us at the time, but a nurse had a son with a feeding tube, and she was very helpful in explaining what this would mean for us on a daily basis. Little did we know that the staff at Children’s Hospital-Fox Valley would become such a big part of our lives.

Griffin suffered from numerous respiratory infections and pneumonias and was hospitalized over and over again. He also started having seizures when he was 6 or 7 months old. At one point, we needed to begin injecting him with steroid called ACTH. Children’s Hospital-Fox Valley had never done this treatment before. I asked if they would be willing to have the treatment started in the Fox Valley with the guidance of the Milwaukee neurologist, and they agreed. They taught me how to give the injections and I was able to take Griffin home within a few days. In addition to providing wonderful care to my son, so many of the nurses have truly become friends.

Thankfully, Griffin has been fairly healthy the past couple of years and he hasn’t been admitted to Children’s Hospital-Fox Valley lately. A few times we have been in the emergency room for respiratory issues, where he has been seen by a hospitalist from Children’s Hospital-Fox Valley. Because we have built a relationship with these doctors through the years, we usually have been able to go home under their guidance with the understanding we will come back if the situation gets worse and I don’t feel comfortable with his care at home.

I am proud to have this great facility in our community. It is never easy when you have a sick child and need to leave the routine of your life. With Children’s Hospital-Fox Valley just minutes from my home, I have been able to balance the needs of my son and still keep some normalcy for my other children.

~ By Connie M. Niemuth, mother of Children’s Hospital-Fox Valley patient

As the 10th anniversary of Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin-Fox Valley approaches, I was asked to share my favorite memory of working here. I am fortunate enough to have seven great years of memories with Children’s Hospital. When I try to think of a single, favorite memory I am flooded with thoughts and stories of patients and co-workers.

Each day I see patients who hold a special place in my heart. Each day, I work with people to whom I would trust the lives of my own children. Each day, I work with leaders who are both motivating and empowering. All of these things are the “everyday” part of my job. This makes it almost impossible to choose one memory to share.

In 2003, I started working in the pediatric inpatient unit. It’s a beautiful unit, both kid friendly and comfortable for families. The nurses and doctors are a great team to work with. In the past 10 years, we’ve grown to be able to care for many kids who previously would have to be cared for at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

A few years later, I took a position in our specialty clinics. There were about four specialties at the time. We added specialties faster than you could imagine. People ask if I get bored in a clinic. I laugh each time I’m asked that question! It’s impossible to get bored when you’re presented with a new challenge every time you walk into work.

Not only are the leaders of Children’s Hospital dedicated to bringing more options to the kids in Northeast Wisconsin, but the entire staff is dedicated to making each experience with our hospital and clinics a positive one. Never before have I seen such a caring group of individuals working toward one common goal. That goal is what sets us apart from other hospitals in the area – not just caring for kids but caring for their families and their extended families. That is what makes our hospital amazing.

Many things will change in the next 10 years, but one thing won’t: our dedication to kids and the community will remain strong. I think the future will be exciting at Children’s Hospital-Fox Valley. Where we’ve come in the past 10 years speaks volumes for where we will be in 2021. Personally, I can’t wait.

~ Amy Evers, BSN, CPN, RN

At the height of this year’s cold and flu season, celebrity mom Angie Harmon is teaming up with the makers of Children’s Advil to launch “Relieve My Fever” — a contest that invites parents and their kids to sing the Children’s Advil rendition of the classic song “Fever” for a chance to win $15,000.  As part of the contest, the makers of Children’s Advil will donate $5 for every entry submitted and $1 for every vote cast at RelieveMyFever.com to Children’s Miracle Network hospitals up to $50,000.

The contest is open to families with children ages 2 to 11 years of age and all entries must be received by 11:59 PM ET on January 31, 2011.

To enter, parents can visit RelieveMyFever.com to find easy-to-follow instructions, lyrics, music and a sample video that will help them create and submit their own little superstar’s video performance.  Family and friends can get into the act as well by casting their vote for the Weekly Fan Favorite.

~ Denise L. Hajos, Fundraising Manager, Children’s Hospital & Health System Foundation

Buying healthy foods and eating well don’t have to break the bank. Eating well is about making sensible choices, watching our serving sizes, checking labels, knowing what foods give us the healthy advantages and even clipping coupons – for the right foods.

Read labels and remember what you’ve learned
Taking time to read and understand food labels will help keep us on the right path to nutrition. Teaching children what to choose will lay the foundation for them to make healthy choices throughout their lives.

Coupon clipping can lead to great savings, but you still need to make healthy choices. Many grocery stores offer great savings on a variety of items, and they even include recipes that help you create filling and nutritious meals your family will enjoy. Still, check the labels. If fruits and vegetables are canned in their own juices or water, you’re in business. Try to avoid vegetables preserved in extra sodium. If you select a product with sodium, make sure the label says low sodium or drain and rinse the product to remove the extra salt. It’s much the same with deli meats and cheeses. Look for a reduced-fat option and pick up the low-sodium pack.

Don’t forget how easy it is to prepare, serve and enjoy frozen vegetables and fruits. If you can, buy frozen veggies in bulk and use a bag of corn, peas or mixed veggies as a side with dinner. Frozen food is just as nutritious as fresh food because it retains most of its nutrients.

Sensible choices make a positive impact
Convenience in snacking always is tempting, but when we turn to the vending machine or packaged treats, we’re paying extra for that convenience. Not only is there an added cost, vending machine items are less likely to provide us with the nutrients our bodies need.

Growing children, especially teenagers, need to snack to meet the demands their bodies put on them. Providing them with easy-to-eat options like nuts, fruits or string cheese not only will give them healthy building blocks for their diets, it also will save money and teach them just how easy it is to turn a healthy choice into a habit early in life.

~Amber Smith, RD, CD, is a clinical dietician at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

If you liked this blog, you may want to read Money saving tips for gluten-free families.