You're A CF Mom...

You know you're a CF Mom when....

• You judge your kid's nutrition based on what's found in a diaper
• You have permission to "beat" your child multiple times a day
• You conversate with other CF parents and doctors about stool consistancy on a regular basis
• You ENCOURAGE your child to eat salt and fat laden foods
• You ADD extra salt and fat to your child's foods
• You're excited when your child gains weight
• You ENCOURGE your child to gain weight!!!
• When you're grocery shopping, you look for foods with higher calories and fat content
• You teach your child to dip his potato chips in melted butter
• You're not worried when your kid goes into a coughing fit - you encourage him to keep on coughing
• You make chocolate pudding using half & half or heavy cream and whole milk
• You ADD half & half or heavy cream AND Carnation Instant Breakfast to each glass of whole milk
• You get your AC fixed and check to see if you can write it off as a medical expense
• You know the importance of different colors of mucus
• YOU have to explain to the idiots in the ER exactly WHAT CF is to get the proper treatment!!
• You get excited when a medication only costs $100.00
• Your medical equipments costs 5 times the value of all 3 of your vehicles combined!! (Recently got his vest - retail price: $16,500!)
• The cash price of prescriptions for your CFer, for one year, is more than twice your annual salary!! (VERY thankful for insurance!!)  And that's not including anyone else's meds!
• You know the value of tying dirty diapers up in plastic bags EVERY TIME!!
• You get excited every WEEK your CFer is NOT on antibiotics!! (none since the end of March - knock on wood!!)
• Your doctor tells you to buy a stethoscope
• Your doctor has a standing order for antibiotics for your CFer - all you have to do is call and say "I need antibiotics, these are the symptoms" and they're automatically sent
• You have your doctor's cell phone number
• You meet a TON of doctors in specialties you've never heard of
• You feel like a hospital is your second home
• You know all the shortcuts through the hospital
• You can recommend to others what to order and what not to order from the hospital cafeterial
• You plan your vacations based on the location of specialized Centers and travel with an envelope of medical records

Stay tuned for Part 2 of "You're A CF Mom" coming soon!!