Ask Bonnie

TORTICOLLIS

What is torticollis?

Torticollis (wry neck) is a congenital or acquired condition of limited neck motion in which the child will hold the head to one side with the chin pointing to the opposite side. It is the result of the shortening of the sternocleidomastoid (neck) muscle. In early infancy, a firm, non-tender mass may be felt in the midportion of the muscle. The mass will go away and be replaced with fibrous tissue. If untreated, there can be permanent limitation of neck movement. There may be flattening of the head and face on the affected side.

How is torticollis treated?

Treatment consists of gentle stretching exercises. The face is turned away from the affected muscle while the head is tilted in the opposite direction with the neck extended. This position is held for a count of 5 and repeated 10 times twice daily. The baby can be placed in the crib or playpen in a way that encourages turning the head away from the deformity in order to observe activities and interesting or favorite toys. When placed in a car seat, padding may be placed on the affected side forcing the head to turn in the opposite direction. Follow up may be necessary in six months with pediatric surgery to assess for the necessity for head molding.

Where can a parent get help and talk with other parents about torticollis?

TorticollisKids www.torticolliskids.org is an organization of parents who have or have had infants with torticollis. The web site has explanations of torticollis and its treatment options, helpful hints on dealing with the condition, and links to obtain support from those who have really “been there”. Interested parents can join an email support group and participate in forums on the condition with other parents.

Long term follow up is important to assess for abnormal head shape.
Torticollis may cause head flattening and asymmetry.This condition can be much worse on one side if a child preferentially sleeps with that side down. Positional (or deformational) plagiocephaly, also known as flattened head syndrome, results from preferentially lying on one side of the head. Deformational brachycephaly is a flattening across the back of the head. The two conditions (plagiocephaly and brachycephaly) often occur together.
If the flattening gets worse anywhere on the child’s head, some parents may opt for further treatment like a cranial helmet that they would seek from a specialist to prevent the baby from sleeping on the flat part of his head.
If you have questions about your child’s head shape you can visit www.plagiocephaly.org

America’s five most expensive markets to own a home have something in common. They’re all located in California.

The San Francisco-Oakland area is saddled with the nation’s costliest housing, according to a new Bizjournals study. And the situation is nearly as bad in Los Angeles, San Diego, Oxnard-Thousand Oaks and San Jose.

“California has a lot of strengths, but even so, we’re seeing more of our young people relocate out of state,” says Leslie Appleton-Young, chief economist of the California Association of Realtors. “And more and more, their decisions are based on housing prices. How can you even imagine a starter condo at $600,000?”

Bizjournals compared housing costs and income levels in the 95 U.S. metros with populations above 500,000. The study used statistics from the 2005 American Community Survey, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. From our study, bizjournals identifies the 10 most affordable markets to own a home and the 10 costliest markets to own a home.

The median owner-occupied home in the San Francisco-Oakland area was valued at $655,300 in 2005. A 6-percent mortgage on such a house, with a 10 percent down payment, would run $3,536 per month. Taxes would drive total expenses up to $3,815.

Such a bill would consume 70 percent of the San Francisco-Oakland area’s median household income of $5,449 per month. (Median is a midpoint, with half of all households being higher and half lower.) That’s more than two and a half times the national average of 27 percent.

Cost pressures have forced lenders and purchasers to take unusual steps. Fifty-year mortgages are now available in some California markets. One-fifth of the state’s home buyers last year took out mortgages with no down payment, and two-fifths relied on a second mortgage, according to the California Association of Realtors.

“Everyone talks about housing prices,” says Appleton-Young. “People who don’t own, they wonder if they should buy now, and whether they can afford it. On the other side of the divide, many homeowners are seeing great gains. They’re benefiting from high prices.”

Los Angeles and San Diego — where housing expenses respectively consume 69.8 percent and 67.8 percent of monthly income — were nearly as bad as San Francisco-Oakland. Even Bakersfield, the cheapest of the 10 California markets in the study, was 10 points above the U.S. average at 37 percent.

Housing prices at these high levels could act as a drag on the state’s business climate, says Stephen Levy, director of the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy.

“So far, we’ve been able to weather these great disparities, but I think that era is coming to an end,” he says. “Our analysis shows that high housing prices are increasingly going to be a competitive disadvantage.”

Housing costs in 16 U.S. markets — including nine in California — ran higher than 40 percent of the median household incomes for those areas, according to the study. To view the cost of home ownership in all metros in the study, click here. The study’s methodology is available here.

Prominent non-California metros in that expensive group were New York City (57.5 percent), Honolulu (50.7 percent), Boston (46.9 percent), Miami (42.8 percent) and Las Vegas (40.8 percent). All but Vegas are located along the Atlantic or Pacific oceans.

The housing picture is much brighter in Augusta, Ga., a manufacturing, military and health-care hub of half a million people located about 150 miles east of Atlanta. It easily took first place as the most affordable metro to own a home.

The typical house in the Augusta market was valued at $103,300. Mortgage and property-tax payments for such a home, based on Bizjournals’ estimates, would be $613 per month.

Those expenses would consume just 17.4 percent of the monthly income for the area’s typical household. No other major market had housing costs below 18 percent of income. Only 12 of the 95 metropolitan areas in the study group did better than 20 percent.

The study found that reasonably priced homes are concentrated in inland regions of the South, Midwest and the industrial Northeast. Joining Augusta in the top five were Wichita, Kan.; Little Rock, Ark.; Baton Rouge, La.; and Birmingham, Ala.

Bizjournals estimated that the nation’s average tab for a mortgage and property taxes would run $1,039 per month. That would eat up slightly more than one-quarter — 27 percent — of America’s median household income of $3,854 per month.

source:Bizjournals

Showtime parties are scheduled for 2 hours of fun and excitement which includes the theme party, food, fun and presents! Every Showtime Party Includes:

Private party room for 2 hours
(includes set up and clean up time)
Custom invitations
Games and activities according to party theme
T-shirt for celebrant
Party favors compliments of the SHOWTIME Staff
Pizza, beverages, paper goods (plates, cups, table cloths, utensils) ($5.00 per child additional)

Party Prices:
$350 for up to 15 children
$15 for each additional child

Choose from these FIVE great party ideas:
#1 Dance Party
This package can be modified for any age group and with requests for any music. With our special effects lighting, disco ball and professional state-of-the-art sound system, we at SHOWTIME will host a party for you and your guests that will be the talk of the town! Our mainstage room will become a miniature disco-nightclub. Our DJ will play one hour of your child’s favorite music and lead group participation activities, dance moves (including your favorites such as the chicken dance, cha cha slide, limbo rock, YMCA, the peppermint twist, freeze dance, and the conga line). Our party emcee will get everyone dancing and will host a dance contest with prizes for the winners!!!!! Our most popular party, we also include surprise dance party favors for each guest……this is sure to be a great time for all and will be long remembered!!!
#2 Karaoke Dance Party
As with our dance parties, SHOWTIME’S mainstage room will become a miniature disco-nightclub with special effects lighting, disco ball and professional state-of-the-art sound system. In addition to showing off their dance moves, children can sing in groups or solo. Our Karaoke leader will provide the words on Karaoke monitors with thousands of songs from all styles of music from which to chose. Sure to be a great time for family and friends!
#3 Dance Instruction Party
Let one of our skilled instructors teach your party some dance moves, then practice them to today’s latest hits from the DJ. Styles include:

Hip Hop
Street Dance
Latin Dance

#4 Party with the Stars
Watch an afternoon play performed by our talented acting troupe on the SHOWTIME mainstage for you and your guests, then enjoy meeting with the actors on a backstage tour. Have your cake and birthday celebration following the performance with some of the cast!!!

*Only available when Showtime productions are being performed.
#5 Tumble, Twist and Play
Designed for ages 3-7, this party includes tumbling, movement games, musical games, parachute and dance choreography fun!!!
#6 High School Musical Party
SHOWTIME’S mainstage room will be decorated in the theme of the High School Musical. Guests will be asked to wear red and white, the school colors of East High School. Showtime’s staff will lead the birthday child and guests through the High School Musical’s dance moves learning the choreography from the song We’re All In This Together and will sing karaoke hits such as Start of Something New, What I’ve Been Looking For, We’re All In This Together and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there personalized parties available?
Yes. At SHOWTIME we are happy to customize a unique party personalized to fit your child and their interest. Parties can be tailored to accommodate different ages and preferences.

How long does the party last?
Showtime parties are scheduled for 2 hours of fun and excitement which includes the theme party, food, fun and presents!

Will there be a staff on hand to help with the party?
Of course! Our professional staff is here to make sure your party runs smoothly. Not only will the party staff lead organized activities, they will be happy to assist you in all your party needs, from setting up to cleaning up.

What about decorating and setting up for the party?
Decorations help to add pizzazz and character to your party. In some cases, there may be a party finishing before your party is scheduled to begin. Your party room will be available to you 15 minutes before your party for decorating and set up. We are happy to assist you in the set up of your decorations.

How to I reserve a party at Showtime?
Call us at 561-394-2626 or email showtimeboca@aol.com
Located in Boca Raton, FL

As a wife and mom of two children, ages two and five, there are so many joys that we face. However, sometimes we may encounter some bumps along the way.

When my son, “Matt” was 23 months old he had an anaphylactic reaction from ingesting a tiny piece of a peanut butter cracker. Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe, potentially fatal systemic allergic reaction that can involve various areas of the body (such as skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system). Symptoms occur within minutes to two hours after contact. An anaphylactic reaction can be mild to life threatening.

Common symptoms includes a tingling sensation in the mouth, swelling of the tongue and throat, difficulty breathing, hives, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, to death. Jett had some of the above symptoms and had to be rushed to the emergency room and was given a shot of epinephrine (adrenaline) to stop the reaction. It could have affected his breathing. We were very lucky that he was fine after he was treated. However, it could happen again and worse if we are not careful.

A few days later a blood test was given by an allergist; we found out that “Matt” was indeed allergic to not only peanuts, but also cashews.

How can this be? We wondered…No one in our family is allergic to any foods. You just never know—-it can happen to anyone at anytime.

Now our lives had to change—- food shopping, the food we kept at home, restaurants, going to friends’ homes, birthday parties, carrying Epi-pens (epinephrine) and Benadryl, and school responsibilities. My husband and I had to be trained in how to administer an Epi-pen in case there was an emergency and we had to train others. The doctor said he had to refrain from eating not only peanuts (legumes) and cashews (tree nuts) but all other nuts and seeds in case of cross-contamination.

We had to learn how to read food labels and learn what ingredients he can and cannot have. It is now a law that all manufacturers label their packages with any food allergens it may contain. For example, under the ingredients on a package of cookies it may state, “allergy information- may contain traces of peanuts or tree nuts” or it may state, “manufactured on equipment that processes tree nuts, sesame, peanuts.” “Matt” has to stay away from all of that. Other highly allergic foods that people might be allergic to are eggs, milk, soy, wheat which would also be written on different foods if they contained those ingredients.

There is no cure right now for food allergies. The best treatment is strict avoidance of the allergy-causing food. If a product doesn’t have a label, allergic individuals should not eat that food. There is so much information on food allergies. I could go on for hours.

In regards to school, we just want to mention how wonderful the teachers and administration were at Congregation B’nai Israel(CBI) in Boca Raton, Florida in regards to “Matt’s” allergy. When he began the two’s I was so nervous to leave him because he was my first, but also to leave him with a deadly food allergy. As the days and years went on at CBI my trust and confidence with the teachers and office staff grew tremendously. “Matt’s” classrooms became peanut-free, his teacher’s wore fanny packs with his emergency medications wherever they went with him. Eventually, CBI did away with offering peanut butter sandwiches as a substitute for lunch. Everyone was so understanding and accommodating to us.

We want to personally thank Linda Harris (Director) and Rebeca Rosenblatt and all of “Matt’s” teachers and the staff members who came in contact with him daily. Thank you for keeping him safe and for putting our minds at ease for the past four years.

Now “Matt” is off to Kindergarten in a brand new school with new faces. We have to start all over again to gain trust, but at least we can say we started off with a great first experience at CBI.

If anyone has any further questions about food allergies you can contact The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network at 800-929-4040 or visit their website at www.foodallergy.org.