Totts Magazine

Worth the Wait

By Elizabeth McMunn-Tetangco At 18 weeks pregnant, Julie Duwe is radiant. Her brown hair gleams, and her smile is natural and open. She has a warm and cheerful demeanor and a quietly confident air that befit her job as an elementary school vice-principal. She is the kind of pregnant woman who might have inspired that whole cliché about the pregnancy glow. But 18 weeks ago, Julie Duwe believed that she wouldn’t be able to get pregnant at all. “They couldn’t say why,” Julie says, “but they had done a blood test, and the doctor said that with my numbers and my age,” ...

Keeping the Faiths

By Jennifer Avila-Allen High school sweethearts Manuel and Debbie Aquino knew when they got married more than 14 years ago that life would present them with some tough decisions. They had already navigated their share of challenges, but one decision in particular – in what religion to raise their children – ended up bringing them even closer together. The couple met in high school, became friends, began dating and later married. The only issue was that their relationship had to be kept a secret from Debbie’s family. The reason: Debbie is Sikh and Manuel is Catholic. They were members of two different ...

Breast Augmentation

By Lisa Lieberman Most women who have gone through the hard work of pregnancy, giving birth and months of breastfeeding know that the body doesn’t always bounce back to exactly where it was before pregnancy. Yes, you can diet, exercise and lose weight, but some women—no matter how hard they try—cannot regain the pre-baby shape and fullness of their breasts. Many women experience sagging or loss of perkiness after breastfeeding, while others may feel that their breasts have changed shape or are disproportionate to their bodies. “Some women will find that six to 12 months after breastfeeding, their breasts will go back to ...

Family Fun in the Snow

Winter is here and your little snow bunnies are itching to get hoppin’… Family Fun in the Snow Check List: Thermals….check mark Warm socks….check mark Sweaters….check mark Snow beanies….check mark Gloves….check mark Sun glasses….check mark Sun screen….check mark Chap stick….check mark Change of clothes….check mark Snow shoes….check mark Lots of snacks….check mark And…a great snow adventure for you and the entire family. To read more, please subscribe to Totts Magazine. Click here.

Beating Holiday Bulge

Gaining weight over the holidays has almost become an American tradition in itself. No one wants to deprive herself when a box of her favorite candies is sitting right there, waiting to be opened. Then there are the parties and the family dinners. How can you not overeat at those? But it is possible to avoid that five extra pounds, to enjoy holiday food without overdoing it, say Selma family physician Dr. Jessica Craig and registered dietician Rebecca Goodstein, M.P.H., director of nutritional services for Adventist Health in the Central Valley. “Eating smart over the holidays is not that hard if you plan ahead,” Dr. ...