Akron Zoo is making it easy for us to find something to do with our Monday off school. The zoo is giving us FREE admission on President’s Day. The McKinley Presidential Library and Museum will be at the Zoo with a presidential activity for all the kids to enjoy. With a day off school and this amazing weather we’re having here in Ohio it’s the perfect time to stop by for a quick visit or make a day out of it.
While you’re there, be sure to stop and visit the new Akron Zoo residents:
Scruffy, a Sun Bear from Cleveland
two Humboldt penguins, Rocky and Armando from Seattle
Recently, my 6 month old had an MRI at Akron Children’s hospital. I know preparing for something like this can be stressful so I wanted to share our experience and let you know (almost) exactly what you can plan on.
Food Restrictions
My son was 6 months old at the time and these were the instructions for his eating.
No baby food after midnight.
No formula after 2am.
Only water or pedialyte until 6am.
Day of the MRI
We arrived an hour before the scheduled MRI. The first step was having baby’s vitals checked to be sure he was okay to proceed. Baby was changed and wore just a diaper and t-shirt. I also had to change in to scrubs. (It’s now our hospital’s policy but it may differ for you.)
About thirty minutes before the doctor arrived, the sedation nurses prepared baby with his IV and wrapped his arm so that he couldn’t rip anything out.
In the midst of this hour of prep, there were papers to sign to consent to the treatment. I was also told about the medicine and what to expect from it.
Younger children have a higher metabolism and therefore they sometimes require more medicine for sedation. I was told up front that they would try one, but would possibly need to use a second. He only ended up needing the first.
In the MRI room
I was able to stay with my baby the entire time. I will say, that may be too difficult for some. I laid him on the table of the MRI and the nurses went to work. As I was warned, he did experience some discomfort once the medicine went in the IV. He was uncomfortable. He went through a ‘restless stage’ during which he was moving around, was clearly uncomfortable, and eventually his eyes started to glaze over and roll. They rolled a lot. I personally thought I’d be fine but had to walk away. So just be warned it’s not a great thing to see with your little one.
Once he was all set, they gave him oxygen, plugged his earns, wrapped him, and in he went. I was able to sit in the room the whole time while they did the test. It was about 45 minutes. That is the average time to expect as long as your child holds still and the tech does not need to redo any part of the MRI test.
Recovery/Release/Results
Once the test was over, I was told to get baby’s bottle ready while the sedation nurses took him back to his room. It was less than five minutes and when I got to him he was awake and having fun. He was clearly very tired. The medicine was also still wearing off and he did not have full control of his body. I did have to hold him a little extra tight so he wouldn’t flop over. It typically takes up to an hour for babies to be back to themselves. He was very tired, but he was very much his happy self within that time frame.
My baby had his bottle right away and was discharged as soon as he finished.
Our hospital was wonderful and the nurses could not have been any nicer. One of them called the next morning to check on my baby. I know that’s protocol but it felt great that they care enough to do that.
I do not know the average time for results, but we had an appointment with baby’s neurologist that afternoon after his other test and we received the results then.
Get ready! Monster Jam® Triple Threat Series™ is on the way! This series will be showcasing the best lineup of Monster Jam vehicles that deliver what fans want to see most…more trucks, more racing, more freestyle, more donuts, more wheelies, more action!
My big kids and I are excited to attend this fun event with some of our family joining us. I love how they get excited to see the trucks! Their favorite has been Grave Digger, but I think Zombie is going to catch their attention this time.
This Triple Threat series will be testing the versatility of the athletes as they go head-to-head in seven different competitions driving three different vehicles — Monster Jam trucks, Monster Jam Speedsters and Monster Jam ATVs. These athletes battle for points in challenging racing and freestyle events that push themselves and their machines to the limit. The point leader from the series will receive an automatic bid to the prestigious Monster Jam World Finals® to compete for the title of World Champion.
Pit Party
The Monster Jam® Pit Party gives you access to the Monster Jam trucks and drivers – take pictures, talk to the drivers, and get autographs. The Pit Party takes place from 10:30AM-12:00PM before the Saturday and Sunday matinee performances. You must have a matinee event ticket in order to obtain a pit pass.
Triple Threat will be featuring Max-D, Scooby-Doo, El Toro Loco, NEA, Monster Mutt Rottweiler, Grave Digger, and Zombie. Zombie will be driven by Bari Musawwir, an athlete born and raised in Cleveland! Hear how he got started in this video:
Performance Times
Saturday, February 18- 1pm & 7pm
Sunday, February 19- 1pm & 6:30pm
Tickets
Kids tickets start at just $15.00 with a coupon from MetroPCS participating locations. Ages 2-12. Restrictions, exclusions and additional charges may apply. Must have coupon in order to redeem offer at theQarena.com, 888-894-9424 or the Quicken Loans Arena box office.
ENTER TO WIN a Family 4 pack to Monster Jam in Cleveland, OH. (Tickets are for Saturday, February 18th at 7pm.)
Be sure to do the mandatory entry listed below. After that, feel free to do any of the extra entries for more chances to win. Entries will be accepted until 9pm, Monday, February 13, 2017. Onewinner will then be chosen via random.org and will be announced on Facebook and on our giveaway winners post. The winner will also receive an e-mail and will have *24 hours* to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
MANDATORY ENTRIES: You must do at least ONE of the mandatory entries. Feel free to do both if you’d like.
Follow your heart straight to adventure at Disney On Ice! Just keep swimming with Dory and new pal Hank from Disney Pixar’s Finding Dory as they set out to find her parents and discover the devotion of family.
Cheer with Joy, Sadness, and the rest of the Emotions from Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out as they work together to boost Riley’s spirit and win the big hockey game.
Venture to wintery Arendelle where Olaf and Kristoff help reunite royal sisters Anna and Elsa from Disney’s Frozen and learn love is the most powerful magic of all. See Cinderella, Rapunzel, Ariel and the Disney Princesses make their dreams possible through virtues of bravery, kindness and perseverance. And celebrate true friendship with Buzz Lightyear, Woody and The Toy Story gang. Make unforgettable memories with Mickey, Minnie and all your Disney friends when Disney On Ice presents Follow Your Heart skates into Cleveland!
Show Times:
Friday, January 6 7PM
Saturday, January 7 11AM 3PM 7PM
Sunday, January 8 1PM 5PM
Thursday, January 12 7PM
Friday, January 13 7PM
Saturday, January 14 11AM 3PM 7PM
Sunday, January 15 11AM 3PM 7PM
Kids Weekday pricing starts at $12 and all tickets start at $17 for all shows. Purchase your tickets now at www.theqarena.com
ENTER TO WIN a Family 4 pack to Follow Your Heart in Cleveland, OH. (Tickets will be good for opening night, Friday, January 6th at 7pm.)
Be sure to do the mandatory entry listed below. After that, feel free to do any of the extra entries for more chances to win. Entries will be accepted until 10pm, Saturday, December 31, 2016. Onewinner will then be chosen via random.org and will be announced on Facebook and on our giveaway winners post. The winner will also receive an e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
MANDATORY ENTRIES: You must do at least ONE of the mandatory entries. Feel free to do both if you’d like.
We all see the commercials and advertisements around with celebrities endorsing various products and companies. But have you ever thought about the celebrities who actually OWN their own franchise? Many places we visit from day to day may have a celebrity owner behind the scenes. Or not so much behind the scenes. I heard about one who visits his stores and takes on deliveries himself.
Here’s a fun quiz that you’re sure to learn from! I had no idea there were so many celebrities who owned franchises of these popular brands. Check it out and see how well you do. I’d love to hear how well you do, so come on back and let me know. Don’t worry if you don’t have great results, I sure didn’t as you can see here…
Have you ever thought about or just been curious about what it takes to be a franchise owner? I know I have and it sounds like an interesting career choice. If you’d like more information, it’s available at the end of the quiz too. Go ahead, check it out. Just click the image below.
We just had a great time recently at the circus in Cleveland, Ohio and we’re super excited to share that those of you in the area can attend ANOTHER tour by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey in Youngstown!
Circus XTREME is taking place at the Covelli Center in Youngstown, Ohio in November. Here’s a quick peek at what you can expect to see.
Recently I had the privilege to visit Wadsworth’s new GetGo Cafe + Market and I was majorly impressed! My family is on the go a LOT with after school programs, church, shopping, and more. Often times we are out right around a meal time and it’s so easy to just go through a drive thru. Now with the new GetGo Cafe + Market locations nearby, we have better options to choose from.
Whether you are looking for a snack or a full on meal, GetGo Cafe+Market has something for you.
While visiting the Wadsworth location, I was able to try a variety of items from the menu.
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I was impressed with my first bite! The Chicka Biscuit was delicious. Ordering chicken from a gas station is usually not enjoyable but this chicken was the real deal, and not some generic fake stuff. Even their bacon is great! (And those who know me personally know that I usually HATE bacon.)
After trying out the breakfast items, each of us in attendance were able to special order our own sub and we all tried a little of each along with the tasty appetizers and salads.
I love that the subs are made to order with MY specific tastes being satisfied. Personally I ordered a sub that was just overflowing with veggies. I used to be a vegetarian and I still enjoy a good veggie sub from time to time. The Pilgrim sub is just like Thanksgiving dinner on bread. From the bun to each individual ingredient, it all comes together to give you that delicious taste of dinner you enjoy with family. When I go back again, I know I’ll be trying another one of the signature subs with just a little tweak to make it perfectly my own.
GetGo Cafe + Market’s have a wonderful selection of beverages. Of course they have the typical bottled drinks available but you really need to check out their special order options as well as the wide variety of coffee, tea, pop, and my family’s favorite – milkshakes and slushies. I ended my visit to Wadsworth’s GetGo Cafe + Market with a cup of iced Pumpkin Spice coffee. It was just the boost I needed to finish up my evening.
My children LOVE to get milkshakes and slushies as special treats after school or as we’re heading out on a long drive. I took them to visit this new GetGo Cafe + Market and they loved it! My son chose his favorite F’Real milkshake and continued on to putting it in the cup holder and making the selections to have it prepared the way he wanted it. I really like that the milkshake machine is something my five year old can use. It’s not only helpful, but it makes him feel good about making his own. My daughter went right to the slushies. I was excited to show her the option to get a mix of a variety of flavors. She was excited to pick her own mixture and I believe she ended up with five flavors mixed in and she loved it.
Not only is the GetGo Cafe + Market a great place for a meal, the market area is wonderfully stocked with many necessities. Sometimes I need to run to the store for just an item or two. With a baby, it can get tiresome going in a large grocery store for just an item or two which usually end up being in the farthest corner of the store. And to be honest, I never get out with JUST the one or two items. Now with GetGo’s Market, I can stop in to grab a gallon of milk or ice cream, or a frozen dinner. I can even pick up a gift card of two for my personal shopping at other stores or for gifts! Check out their selection in this picture. This was only on half of their gift card aisle!
As if you need another reason to stop by, just remember you earn fuelperks on each purchase and some specially marked items help you earn more. You won’t feel so bad grabbing that snack in the checkout line when you know it saves you a little more on gas. 😉
The new GetGo Cafe + Market’s are popping up all over the place. Be sure to check out one near you soon and let us know your thoughts below!
I took baby to the doctor yesterday and he was prescribed some eye cream. The nurse told me applying it would be a two person job. I said something like, “Oh crap. I’m a single parent.”
When I got home I read the directions and even searched for any tips for putting something IN a BABY’S eye.
I was nervous starting off and it was a breeze! A second person is NOT required to give my baby his medicine.
A second person is actually not required for a lot of things.
Last night my family had a great time traveling #OutofthisWorld with the newest circus tour by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.
This was the first MAJOR event since my baby has arrived. With an 8 year old, 5 year old, and 12 week old, I knew I’d be crazy to go alone so my parents joined us for a fun evening at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. We are all big fans of the circus so we were very excited to be there.
Going in to the evening, I was very curious about the space theme for this year’s event. They nailed it from the first minute of the show and kept it up throughout the night. We were instantly taken away from our normal lives in NE Ohio and entered the Space world where we met two ringmasters fighting to create THE BEST circus around. After spending years performing in Space, they’re battling to get back to Earth. I believe it’s safe to say that this was the BEST circus we’ve been to yet!
As always, we were entertained the entire evening as we enjoyed performances with the acrobats, animal trainers, and clowns as they all traveled through space and showed why they should be part of the best circus in the universe.
I love the diversity that is always present with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. This year’s Out of this World tour has 105 performers representing 23 countries! There’s even an amazing 79 animals.
I don’t think anyone would disagree that these daredevils deserve a space to perform with the other greats on Earth. I’m in shock every time I see them!
There are still plenty of performance times left to enjoy yourself or to take your family and friends. You can go Out of this World this weekend on Saturday (11am, 3pm, 7pm) or Sunday (1pm, 5pm). Tickets start at just $12!
Prepare to blast off on an intergalactic adventure for space-age family fun as the ultimate circus experience launches into the future with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Out Of This World™. Audiences will take the helm to join the Circus Space Fleet on a heroic quest of good versus evil that will let imaginations run wild with unexpected surprises and thrills at every turn.
Through the lens of a magic telescope, Out Of This World transports your entire family on an unforgettable journey as the circus Star Seeker battles to bring the most spectacular and talented performers back to Earth after years in outer space. Children Of All Ages will be amazed by the cosmic voyage as you discover the wonders of gravity-defying acrobats, orbital aerialists, majestic animals, fearless daredevils and humorous clowns. Starseeker’s Early Access
5…4…3…2…1…BLAST OFF with Ringling Bros.® one hour before the show launch at the Starseeker’s Early Access — FREE with your ticket. You will be immersed from the moment you enter the arena! During the Early Access show you’ll get a chance to see performers up-close and get their autographs!
Get an incredible sneak peek through exclusive content from backstage at The Greatest Show On Earth®. Jump in and have fun at the Ringling Bros. interstellar dance party. Clown around with the cosmically hilarious Ringling Bros. Clown Alley. And travel from planet to planet in an immersive concourse experience that will prepare you for intergalactic fun that is truly Out Of This World!
As part of your preparation for intergalactic travel, download the FREE Ringling Bros. app where your family can unlock exclusive content from circus stars during the Starseeker’s Early Access. Intercept special messages from the Space Fleet via the Circus Command Center that allow you to become part of the Out Of This World circus experience. Take a “circus selfie” with one of our world-renowned performers, and you might just see your photo appear larger than life on the big screen above the arena floor! It’s your chance to be a Circus Star — so get ready to shine!
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Out of this World is coming to The Q this month. Check out this video and then choose a date and time to plan on taking your family and friends to experience this wonderful show. Just a reminder, if you purchase a ticket to the Friday evening show before October 18th, $1 from each ticket will be donated to the CMSD Giveback Night.
Showtimes
Thursday, October 20 7PM
Friday, October 21 7PM
Saturday, October 22 11AM, 3PM, 7PM
Sunday, October 23 1PM, 5PM
Tickets
Ticket prices range from $12 to $95. Kid’s tickets are $15.
Tickets are available online via www.theqarena.com.
ENTER TO WIN a Family 4 packs to Out of This World in Cleveland, OH. (Tickets will be good for opening night, Thursday, October 20th at 7pm.)
Be sure to do the mandatory entry listed below. After that, feel free to do any of the extra entries for more chances to win. Entries will be accepted until 10pm, Sunday, October 16, 2014. Onewinner will then be chosen via random.org and will be announced on Facebook and on our giveaway winners post. The winner will also receive an e-mail and will have 24hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
MANDATORY ENTRIES: You must do at least ONE of the mandatory entries. Feel free to do both if you’d like.
Last night my family had a great time traveling #OutofthisWorld with the newest circus tour by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.
Boy Meets Girl 