Check out our April newsletter!
TexanENT.com
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APRIL 2021
Main Office:
Satellite Office:
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1009 W. San Antonio Street Lockhart, TX 78644 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month
‘EAR, NEWS, AND THROAT’
KIDS IN OUTER SPACE AND A CAT IN WHITE SHOES What We’re Reading at the Evans House
T his month kicks off with across the world — especially children in developing countries — have access to books. It’s pretty easy for me to get on board with that mission. I’ve always been a big reader, and that’s undoubtedly related to my parents reading me bedtime stories each night when I was a kid and fostering my love of reading. They were both big readers as well, and one thing that helped this habit stick for me was that my parents always let me choose books I was interested in. In the second grade, that was the entire “Hardy Boys” series, and by the end of elementary school, it included more adult books like Stephen King novels. What can I say? My friends and I were nerdy, and being cool in my friend group meant you were reading the thickest book. International Children’s Book Day on April 2. It’s a really neat holiday sponsored by the Swiss nonprofit International Board of Books for Young People. The group’s main goal is to make sure children
It’ll come as no surprise then that I am passing this tradition on to my girls. I typically do the bedtime routine in our house, and that includes reading three books to the girls. I started this with Audrey when she was about 3 months old. Clare is now at an age where I can read some of the same stories to her that Audrey enjoyed when she was much younger. “Goodnight Moon” is a current favorite. The colors and pictures in that book are great for really young “readers.” I know Clare likes looking at the red and green colors in the book. One of Audrey’s current favorite reads is called “There’s No Place Like Space.” It’s by Tish Rabe, but it’s part of the Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library, which you might have been able to tell from the title’s rhyme scheme. I’ve mentioned before that Audrey is really into outer space — it was the theme of her recent third birthday party. Renee’s mom gave Audrey “There’s No Place Like Space,” and it’s perfect because it features the solar system, constellations, and astronauts going to the moon. She also loves the “Pete the Cat” books, which also have little songs that go with each book. If you know the tune “I Love My White
Shoes,” you’re probably a parent to a young child. A final favorite these days is “The Scarecrow” by Beth Ferry and Terry and Eric Fan. It features great artwork and it’s written in a very poetic way. My hope is that by having this bedtime reading routine with my girls, I can foster the same enjoyment of reading my parents fostered in me. By learning to enjoy reading at a young age, I think they’ll be more likely to enjoy it once they learn to read on their own. That will give them a lot of advantages when it comes time for school, but it also means the many worlds available to readers will be open to them. And with strong reading skills, they’ll be better equipped to be lifelong learners. Once you can read, you can really learn anything.
Hope you can find the time to sink into a great book this month. Enjoy!
–Dr. Seth Evans
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With the development of accessible, affordable technologies and home products, improving the energy efficiency of your home is easier than ever. On top of that, many of these products give you more options for home automation, so you can save money and stay comfortable without even thinking about it. Here are three investments that will boost your energy efficiency right now. A Smart Thermostat The great thing about smart thermostats is that they offer more programmable options than traditional thermostats. For example, you can buy a thermostat that connects to your home’s Wi-Fi and is controlled by an accompanying smartphone app, no matter where you are. Another awesome feature is that smart thermostats will turn on and off based on your schedule and temperature preferences. In the long run, this feature can save you money and energy. Next-Generation Insulation While you might be familiar with fiberglass insulation, an industry standard, there are much better options that help you maintain the temperature in your home. For existing homes, spray foam insulation is the best option, as it is the easiest to install and can still save energy. It’s also ideal for insulating attics, basements, and hard-to-reach spots. For new homes or more involved renovations, insulating concrete forms are the most energy-efficient option. A Smart Water Heater Generally, water heaters are not the most energy efficient — especially if you’re in a household where hot water is in constant demand. But with a smart water heater, you can change that. Much like the previously mentioned thermostat, you can control a smart water heater remotely or set it to heat water according to a specific schedule. This way, the heating elements aren’t running all day, every day. They come in tank and tankless varieties, though tankless is the way to go to maximize energy efficiency without taking up much space.
Sprout Your Kids’ Imagination
With 3 Fun Earth Day Projects
With spring officially underway, April showers starting to bring May flowers, and Earth Day on April 22, now is a great time for outdoor family activities.
One for the Birds Making a pine cone bird feeder is a fun and inexpensive project. In addition to creating and hanging your bird feeder, you’ll get hours of extra entertainment from watching the birds it will attract to your yard. If your kids are older, take photos of the birds or note their colors and features and look them up in a field guide or online. This craft just requires a pine cone (the bigger the better), peanut butter, and some twine or string. Top the peanut butter with “sprinkles” of mixed birdseed or small pieces of nuts and fruit to appeal to even more birds. For full instructions, visit TheSpruce.com and search “pine cone bird feeder.” An Egg-cellent Planter Save those eggshells from breakfast (and the paper carton, too!) and use them to start a garden! Your little ones will enjoy planting some seeds, watering them, and watching them sprout and grow into something new. When the sprouts are big enough and it’s warm enough outside, you can plant the shell and carton directly into the ground! This easy project just requires rinsed eggshell halves, some lightly moistened potting soil, and seeds of your choosing. Note that smaller seeds, like those for herbs, lettuces, peppers, or tomatoes, work best for this project. For full instructions, visit GardenBetty.com and search “starting seeds in eggshells.” Stick With Magic Nature is a magical place. Many kids know this instinctively and often point out things adults take for granted or overlook, like bright-colored leaves, fun-shaped rocks, and acorn “hats.” Making a nature wand is a great way to let your kids explore their environment, whether that’s in your backyard, on a neighborhood walk, or in your favorite park. Let their imaginations run wild with what their magic wand can do! This simple project starts with a stick and masking tape. Your kids add all the extra flair by hunting for natural treasures and sticking them onto their wand. Complete instructions can be found at LaughingKidsLearn.com/nature- wands-outdoor-play.
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A Primer on Pollen (andTreatment Options!) Homegrown Allergies
Y ou may recall that last fall we began offering allergy testing here at Texan ENT. Allergies are more than just a nuisance; they can drain your energy and leave you feeling horrible for days or weeks at a time. One big culprit of seasonal allergies is a yellow, powdery substance you’re probably familiar with: pollen. Here in Central Texas, cedars are colloquially known to allergy sufferers as a major trigger. However, as biologist Robert Edmonson with the Texas A&M Forest Service explains, the cedars aren’t really the culprit. “In the central part of the state, we deal with Ashe juniper. That’s what everyone calls cedar,” Edmonson told KXAN recently.
He went on to explain that this species of juniper is gendered and each gender produces something different. The female trees produce little blue berries and the male trees produce “copious amounts of pollen.” That’s right, it’s the male trees that are responsible for your sneeze. This isn’t unique to Central Texas, though. Recent research has shown that in communities across the U.S. and the world, planners select for male trees in local landscaping because unlike their female counterparts, they don’t produce or shed fruit, seeds, or pods, which subsequently have to be cleaned up. The good news is that we’re at the tail end of peak pollen from Ashe junipers in Central Texas, but the bad news is that our climate means something is blooming or growing that may trigger allergies
year-round. Over-the-counter nasal sprays and antihistamines bring relief to many, but if you find your allergy symptoms are severe enough to affect your daily life and they don’t respond to medications, then allergy testing and treatment at Texan ENT is a great option for you. Through testing, we can identify which of 60 different allergens are triggering your symptoms. Then we talk you through ways to decrease your exposure to these allergens. If appropriate, we may also offer sublingual allergy drops as a form of treatment. This treatment is individualized to each patient and has been shown to improve symptoms for 85%–90% of patients. If you want to learn more about our allergy testing and treatment options, visit TexanENT.com/allergy or give our office a call. HAVE A LAUGH
SPRING VEGETABLE AND CHICKEN PASTA BAKE
Inspired by TheSeasonedMom.com
Ingredients
• •
1 cup cooked chicken, diced
•
1/2 cup fresh chives, chopped and divided
1 14-oz can artichokes, drained and quartered
• • • •
1 cup fresh asparagus pieces
• • • •
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped and divided
1/2 cup carrots, grated
2 tsp minced garlic
1 1/2 cups uncooked penne pasta
1/4 tsp salt
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 425 F and grease an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. 2. In the prepared dish, stir together cooked chicken, artichokes, asparagus, carrots, uncooked pasta, chicken broth, half the chives, half the parsley, garlic, salt, and 2 tbsp Parmesan. 3. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes. 4. Uncover and stir. At this point, check the pasta to make sure it is al dente. If it’s undercooked, cover the dish and return to the oven until pasta is tender. 5. Remove from oven and garnish with remaining Parmesan, chives, and parsley.
If you love spaghetti, you’ll love these zucchini noodles!
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1180 SETON PARKWAY, SUITE 330 KYLE, TX 78640
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Page 1 What We’re Reading at the Evans House
Page 2 3 Home Products That Can Slash Your Energy Bill
3 Fun Earth Day Projects for Families
Page 3 Pollen Allergy Primer
Spring Vegetable and Chicken Pasta Bake
Page 4 An Easter Egg Hunt for the Dogs
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
An Easter Egg Hunt for the Dogs WEWANT TO HUNT, TOO!
Hi everyone! Are you excited for Easter? We’re both ready for a fun holiday event again. Sure, Valentine’s Day was not that long ago, but it’s so easy for humans to forget about us dogs on that holiday. Maybe it’s for the better since we can’t have chocolate, but still, you could throw us a bone. Easter might be the most appealing holiday for dogs because it includes something many of us were bred to do: hunt. Of course, not all of our furry friends were bred with an instinct to hunt, but Westies were! Did you know that we’re especially good at hunting rodents? I guess we’re like barn cats in that way. And that sure explains Izzy’s obsession with squirrels! As the American Kennel Club (AKC) says, we’ll “chase anything that moves.” The AKC is also what gave us some ideas for how our humans can include us pups in this year’s Easter egg hunt. We love watching the little humans look for eggs in the yard, but it’s always fun to participate, too!
But some of the things that are perfect for Audrey and Clare aren’t great for dogs.
We should really keep our paws off any chocolate or candy that includes xylitol. You’re probably already aware that both of those are dangerous to dogs. It’s also not great for us to chomp down on plastic eggs, so if you’re using those in your egg hunt, make sure to supervise any canine friends that are around. When it comes to an egg hunt for dogs, we’re really simple! Forget the egg entirely and just hide some treats for us. Or, if you really want to make us work, put some of our favorite treats in a Kong or a similar toy. Remember to keep your hiding places accessible. The last thing we’d want to do is to knock something over or trample your new spring flowers. And if you’re trying to teach your pup not to jump up or to avoid a certain part of the yard, definitely don’t put any treats in places that would encourage them
to do just that. We learn quickly, and you don’t want to reinforce the wrong behavior. We knowwe're cute, but we don’t want to have to come to you with guilty puppy dog eyes.
Have a great Easter and enjoy the hunt!
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