Episode 320: Vaccinations for Infants, Toddlers & During Pregnancy: A COVID-19 Discussion with Dr. Erica Pan

There’s so much information out there when it comes to our children’s health. Throw COVID-19 vaccinations for infants and toddlers into the mix, and it just got a lot more overwhelming. But we’re here to help! This week we sit down with an expert: the Deputy Director of the Center for Infectious Diseases and State Epidemiologist, Dr. Erica Pan. We talk about everything you need to know about COVID-19 vaccinations for infants, toddlers and pregnancy. She answers the questions we’ve all been wondering, like how the vaccine trials for children work, vaccine dosages for our littlest ones, and even getting vaccinated during pregnancy. Dr. Pan is a mom to two teenage daughters, so she understands how some parents may be feeling uneasy with so much new information. We hope this episode helps ease your mind and get your family vaccinated!

This episode is brought to you by the CA Department of Public Health.

#VaccinesSaveLives

More about Dr. Erica Pan: Erica Pan, MD, MPH, FAAP, the Deputy Director of the Center for Infectious Diseases and State Epidemiologist, was sworn in July 13, 2020. Prior to joining CDPH, Pan served in several positions at both the Alameda County Public Health Department since 2011, and the San Francisco Department of Public Health from 2004 – 2011. She is also a Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of California, San Francisco. She maintained her clinical work at San Francisco General Hospital and at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals in San Francisco and Oakland in Infectious Diseases until 2019.

Our Conversation with Dr. Pan

What can you tell us about the latest vaccines now available for infants and toddlers over 6 months?

Are children receiving the same dosage as adults?

What does the vaccine dose schedule look like for kids?

What do the vaccine trials entail? Who are these kids? What are they looking for?

What about super mamas who are listening who are currently pregnant or thinking about conceiving? Is it safe for them to receive the vaccine? As a mom, what tips do you have for them to protect themselves and their babies?

Does it matter when you get vaccinated during your pregnancy? First trimester vs. third?

Is it true women’s periods can change after receiving the vaccine? 

Does the vaccine affect fertility? 

Where can parents take their children to receive their COVID-19 vaccines?

How can we continue to help our family, friends and community receive the best information regarding COVID-19?

Call your pediatrician or health clinic to get your child vaccinated or, for listeners in California, go to MyTurn.ca.gov or call the hotline at 833-422-4255 to find a vaccine near you.

Pick or Tip of the Week

This week Paulina is on vacation in Oaxaca, but she’s been prepping for her trip by looking for a new bug spray! She found this natural bug spray that she’s carrying in her purse and also clipped on to the girls’ backpacks so everyone can be protected at all times! Another tip she learned about keeping the mosquitoes away is that they don’t like yellow lightbulbs. What are some other tips you have for keeping the mosquitoes away?

Bricia’s pick is more of a tip, but it’s to get and use a salad spinner. It might take up a lot of space in your kitchen, but trust her, it’s essential!

Links

Visit https://myturn.ca.gov for more information on COVID-19 and vaccinations.

Follow the California Department of Public Health on Instagram @capublichealth and like their page on Facebook.

Episode 309: Keeping Our Children Healthy During COVID-19 with Dr. Ilan Shapiro

School is almost out for summer and we can feel our children getting more excited as each school week ends! But even though it feels like things have gone back to normal with fewer masks, warmer weather and summer vacation plans of travel & family outings, it doesn’t mean that COVID-19 has left us for good. In honor of Children’s day and in partnership with Juntos Sí Podemos, this week’s episode focuses on how we can continue to protect our children and families from COVID. We interview past guest and great friend of the show, Dr. Ilan Shapiro, about the latest updates in COVID and it’s variants, getting our kids vaccinated and what we can expect in the future with this pandemic. We understand that vaccinations are a personal choice, but Dr. Shapiro says it best during this episode: “I want to be as safe as I can. That’s why I chose to be vaccinated.”
For more information on COVID, vaccinations for your kids and how to keep your family safe & healthy this summer, visit https://wecandothis.hhs.gov/.

More about Dr. Shaps: Dr. Ilan Shapiro joined AltaMed in 2016 as the Chief Health Correspondent and Medical Affairs Officer, where he oversaw an expansion of behavioral health and employee health education services. He was also involved in the creation of programs to prevent and manage chronic disease in children and adults, as well as helping patients facing economic hardship, food insecurity, and mental health challenges. Most recently, Dr. Shapiro has been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic as a leading source of education and information and a trusted media resource on both national and international news outlets, including CNN, NBC, MSNBC, Telemundo, and Univision. He also continues to have a strong social media presence averaging more than one billion unique views per year. 

In his new role, Dr. Shapiro will lead strategy for external health communications, policy, and community relations to advance equity and inclusion and expand community health and wellness initiatives. He will serve as the chief physician spokesperson for AltaMed and work closely with the Public Affairs, Government Relations, and Civic Engagement departments in this capacity.

More about the Juntos Sí Podemos campaign: The HHS COVID-19 public education campaign is a national initiative to increase public confidence in and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines while reinforcing basic prevention measures such as mask wearing and social distancing. For more information, please visit https://juntossipodemos.hhs.gov/.

Our Conversation with Dr. Shapiro

Dr. Shapiro’s pandemic experience

As people are getting ready for summer, many people think the pandemic is over and we’re done with this virus. What do you tell those families about the current status of the pandemic?

What do we need to do to keep our families healthy?

Kids & COVID-19

Are boosters really necessary for children 12 and older if they’ve already been vaccinated 

AND have had COVID? 

If a child has already had COVID, why is it necessary for them to get vaccinated, especially now that rates of infection have been declining steadily?

Medical advice for unvaccinated folks

Why do you think some parents remain hesitant to vaccinate their children?

Should parents be concerned about any long-term side effects of COVID vaccines? 

Should we expect the covid vaccine to be an annual shot like the flu shot?

When will vaccines for children under 5 years old be approved and how will those vaccines be the same or different from the ones for 5 years and older?

Pick or Tip of the Week 

Two pick this week from Bricia! First, Liz Hernandez’s WORDAFUL Kids Affirmation Cards. She’s going to start adding these to the kids’ everyday routine because they’re so beautiful Second, during Bricia’s dinner party this past weekend they guests all played WORDAFUL The Game and it got deep. Highly recommend for your next girls’ night.

Paulina’s pick is also staying in theme with the episode - something for the kids to keep them healthy! If you caught it on our Instagram Stories, Zixta, Paulina’s youngest daughter, got sick and made a trip to urgent care. She used these Vapo Patches on Zixta’s clothes and it helped her feel more comfortable and get a better sleep.

Links

Follow Dr. Shapiro on Instagram and Twitter @dr_shaps

Learn more about the HHS COVID-19 Public Education campaign. Visit WeCanDoThis.hhs.gov to learn about COVID-19 vaccines and more.

Episode 302: Keeping it Real with the Super Mamas: Staying Motivated through Tough Times

Good days and bad days are totally normal, and this vent session will remind you that we all go through it!

First, Paulina starts us off with the story of how she lost her toenail. We’ll give you fair warning: if you’re squeamish, you might want to skip to minute 12 of our episode. 🙈 And that’s not all that’s happened to her lately! Her husband got covid, and so did she! Remember when she and her family first tested positive for covid in 2020? Then Bricia talks about working on her latest cookbook and the stress of creating new recipes on top of work and mom life. She gets busy and realizes that it’s okay to outsource sometimes.

Ultimately we’re still learning that even during some of our toughest days, there is always goodness to look forward to, a light at the end of the tunnel.

Pick or Tip of the Week

Bricia is watching Inventing Anna on Netflix. It’s so good that you’ll want to binge it all in one night.

Paulina just watched Cheer on Netflix. The motivation and determination the athletes have really helped her push through during her injury and covid. Paulina is also obsessed with Coach Monica’s leadership skills and is taking notes from her too.

Links

Paulina mentions having a home birth with her last daughter to avoid needles. Listen to that episode here.

Watch Dopesick on Hulu. An incredible story, but scary reality.

Paulina was riding dirty around her house on a medical scooter like this one.

Remember when Paulina got covid for the first time in 2020?

Lastly, if you don’t have our Oaxaca cookbook then what are you waiting for??

Episode 281: Keeping It Real with the Super Mamas: Living in a Post-Pandemic World with Pandemic Struggles

We’ve on a bit of a hiatus this month and in today’s episode, we explain why. Our family’s restaurant, Guelaguetza, has been extremely busy (in a good way!) as covid restrictions begin to lift. We’re getting back to our roots and putting in work at the restaurant as servers, bussers, bar backs - wherever we need an extra hand. We’re hustling to get things done in the restaurant everyday, but we also realized we need to practice what we preach and take some time for self care when we need it most. So we took some time off for ourselves to celebrate our little sister, Elizabeth, and enjoy her bachelorette party! This is still a crazy pandemic time we’re living in, but we’re taking every opportunity to be thankful and use the wellness tools we have picked up along the way to help ourselves get through the tough times. We’re excited to move forward in 2021, more normalcy and more business!

P.S. BE NICE TO PEOPLE! Especially service industry workers. When you listen to the episode, you’ll know why. 😉

Pick or Tip of the Week

Paulina’s tip - On the days you feel like you want to quit, don’t. Slow down, start small and don’t stop.

Bricia’s pick this week is an electric lighter (you might have caught her Instagram story earlier this week). All you do is charge it with a USB! It’s one of the best new inventions of the 21st century. 😂

Episode 280: Ask Me Anything: A Super Mamas Q&A

Paulina might be out of town this week, but we’re still bringing you a new episode! We love when you submit your questions and ask us for advice, so this entire episode is dedicated to just that. We talk about a lot - relationships with our in laws, choosing schools for our kids, sleep routines and even new rules according to millennials. If you’ve ever wanted advice from us or wanted to ask something about us, this is the time to do it! Send us an email to hello@supermamas.com, a DM on Instagram or give us call on our hotline at 424-326-3707 and we could pick your question next! 

Our Conversation

The New Rules According to Millennials

Are your kids in public or private school? Pros vs. Cons?

I’m 30 weeks pregnant and debating whether I should get my covid vaccine. Thoughts? (Disclaimer: We are NOT medical professionals and therefore cannot give professional advice. Always discuss your best options with your doctor.)

How do you get along with your in-laws?

Tips on how to deal with postpartum depression, virtual learning and covid

Sleep routines for older kids. How do you put down the girls?

Story time - Bricia’s infamous JLo story and Paulina’s high school ditching days

When did you start going out with all your kids? (Like restaurants, etc.) 

How do you keep your weight down? Any specific diet?

Links

We never post… but maybe we should! Follow us on TikTok - @bricialopez and @iampaulinalopez

Episode 275: Keeping It Real with the Super Mamas: Post-Vaccine Travel, Birthdays & the Bulgaro Lady

Are you ready for a sister update? Because we’re ready to spill the tea! Bricia tells us about her first trip post-covid vaccine and while she had a little bit of anxiety getting to her destination, she is really thankful she was able to getaway. Paulina is talking about her new healthy habits and becoming the búlgaro lady. We also talk about Eddie’s second birthday party ever, Bricia’s extra decorations and as always, we’re sharing our picks and tips for the week. #AddToCart 

P.S. Shoutout to our favorite Evelyn from Harlow Planning, balloons from Lotus Party Co. and installation from Preferred Projects for creating this incredible set up for Eduardo’s 6th birthday! Nothing wrong with a little extraness. 😉Check out his backyard party set up in the gallery above and reach out to these amazing vendors for your next party!

Paulina’s Breakfast Smoothie

Spinach

Broccoli

Blueberry

Blackberry

Almond butter

Ginger

Tumeric

Bulgaro milk

Pick or Tip of the Week

Last week, Fernando asked Paulina if she wanted to go to the movies. Some movie theaters are allowing you you rent out the whole room for yourself up to twenty people - your family or whoever is in your bubble. They went to the AMC in Monterey Park and everyone loved it! This is going to spoil the kids because they were able to walk around throughout the movie and yell at each other. It’s a good sign that everything is slowly getting back to a new normal. Check out local theaters in your area to see if they offer this cool opportunity!

Bricia’s pick is a kids’ finance app called Greenlight. It’s a savings + spending app that she found when she was trying to figure out how to pay Eddie from his business since he has to pay for his new iPad (if you missed the story about that, listen to the intro of THIS episode and check out his tie dye shop). Greenlight is a prepaid debit card made just for kids. You can transfer money, send allowances when they complete chores, see their expenses and how much money they have. Eddie used his debit card to pay for his new iPad and his independence even shocked the guy at the Apple store! You have to listen to the episode to hear about the rest of his first big purchase.

Links

Arca restaurant in Tulum - Bricia and her husband, Eduardo, went here during their post-vaccine travels and they loved it! The food was so creative and well executed, blown away by the menu and flavors.

Paulina the búlgaro lady has been referencing this article and this one to learn more about kefir.

Ayara Thai in Westchester, CA

Episode 272: Dealing with Post-Pandemic Anxiety in Children with Dr. Maritza Mikolich, PsyD, LMFT

The world may be getting ready to reopen again, but are our kids ready for in-person school after a year of virtual learning? We speak with therapist Dr. Maritza Mikolich about anxiety issues our children might be facing when going back to post-pandemic life. We talk about behavioral signs to look for and how to listen and validate their feelings. She also offers tips on how to help them get back to normal in-person socialization in a safe & healthy way!

Before the episode, we’re talking about Eddie going back to school! He’s so excited to see his friends and it feels like he grew up overnight (or during quarantine 🤣) because he’s getting ready for school on his own and even packing his school snacks, including the new plant-based Sabra Kids Snack Kits. We dared Eddie, Krista and Sabina to try the snacks and all they talked about was how good they were! The girls love the yummy Brownie Batter flavor and Eddie can’t get enough of the Taco dip, especially the delicious tortilla chips. We’re daring YOU to dare your kids to try these snacks - we know they’ll love it!

More about Dr. Maritza Mikolich: Maritza is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a doctoral degree in psychology. “I come from a traditional Mexican family, raised in the United States and spoke Spanish as my first language. My parents were born and raised in Michoacan, Mexico and moved to the U.S. for the American dream of giving their family better opportunities. It was that dream that highly motivated me to follow my passion by going to college and studying psychology when I discovered it in high school. I was the first college graduate in my extended family to get a college education. I obtained my bachelors degree at the University of San Diego, my masters degree at Saint Thomas University in Florida and my doctorate degree at Alliant International University in San Diego. During my studies, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Guadalajara, Mexico and Madrid, Spain.

“I have therapy experience working in different settings including: youth and parents in foster care, teenagers in group homes, children in schools who struggled with behavioral issues, individuals struggling with co-parenting issues, and crisis intervention with all age groups. During the pandemic, in October 2020, I decided to start my private practice in hopes of giving back to the Hispanic community. I provide psychotherapy primarily to adults in English and Spanish virtually through telephone and video throughout the state of California. I provide individual, family and couples therapy virtually to people struggling with depression, anxiety,  trauma, life stressors, and relational problems.”

For more information on how to contact Dr. Mikolich, check out her site DrMikolich.com and scroll below for more links!

Tips & Resources for Parents from Dr. Mikolich

Parenting During Covid

• Self-care

• Manage your own emotions

• Manage your home environment

• Be more aware of your child’s mental health

• Practice healthy communication skills

• Manage school stress

Suggested Reading

• Children's Books for Anxiety: "Ruby Finds a Worry" by Tom Percival

• Positive Discipline by Jane Nelson (several option depending on child's age)

• 9 Ways to Cope With Anxiety as a Family During the COVID-19 Pandemic via Parents.com

• Parenting in the time of COVID-19 via World Health Organization

• Parenting in a Pandemic: Tips to Keep the Calm at Home via HealthyChildren.org

• NEW RESOURCE PACK: POSITIVE PARENTING IN COVID-19 ISOLATION via end-violence.org

• Helping Children Cope With Changes Resulting From COVID-19 via NASPonline.org

Resources

• National Parent Helpline 855-4APARENT

• Parents Helping Parents: 800-882-1250

• San Diego Crisis & Access Line: 888-724-7240

• Youth Talkline: 877-450-5463

• Resources in San Diego: 211

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

• National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI): 760-722-3754

• Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA): 800-826-3632

• Codependency Anonymous: 888-444-2359

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233

Pick or Tip of the Week

Bricia’s pick is the covid vaccine. She and Paulina are lucky enough to have received their first rounds of the shot and they are very thankful they’re on the road back to normal life. Bricia suggest doing the research, finding reliable sources and talking to your doctor about any questions you might have. If it’s your turn and you can get the vaccine, get it! You can find more information at myturn.ca.gov.

Paulina’s pick is Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty. Her therapist suggested it as a tool for Krista to use to that help ease school stress and use during study time. It’s kind of like slime and it’s relaxing.

LINKS 

Learn more about Dr. Mikolich and her practice at drmikolich.com. Call or email for a free consultation at therapy@drmikolich.com. She is also available for virtual appointments via video or phone.

Try the new Sabra Kids Snack Kits now! Click here to find a grocer near you.

Episode 270: Keeping It Real with the Super Mamás - Post-Pandemic Dreams and Acknowledging Personal Growth

Who else has missed our catch up sessions? We sure did, and this week is a little profound talk between sisters. Not only are we imagining what life is going to be like post-pandemic with family vacations (and maybe trips without them 🤣), going back to school, eating in restaurants and birthday parties, but we’re also getting deep into our feelings. We’re exploring buried emotions and acknowledging that growth from our childhood is just as important now that we’re parents and trying to understand our kids. It’s never too late to grow, sisters! 

P.S. Have you entered our giveaway for the new #TomAndJerryMovie ?! We’re giving TWO movie kits to a lucky random follower and a tagged friend! Check out our Instagram post for all the details on how to enter and watch the official movie trailer below.

Paulina’s Kid Schedules

The pandemic is finally on it’s way to out (we hope 🤞🏽) and Paulina barely started getting the hang of it! She realized that her girls needed to be on a better schedule before and after school, so she used Over to customize the schedules below. When the girls start to bother each other or tell Paulina they’re bored, she just points them to the schedule and asks what they’re supposed to be doing. Whether it’s meal time, school or free time, there’s always something to do.

Pick or Tip of the Week

Bricia and Eduardo tie dyed some shirts this weekend! The tie dye kit was gifted to her by Paulina. It’s a brand called Rit and it came in camel brown color and Bricia ended up buying more colors. She and Eddie went to Joanns for shirts, squeeze bottles and extra dye. Now her $5 shirt now looks like it cost $45 dollars!

Paulina is really into her eyebrows right now. She loves the Microfilling Brow Pen from Benefit. The tip is like three points and it almost feels like micro blading, and gives a much more full look. Elizabeth also recommended a brow gel from Anastasia. Paulina uses the gel first then the pen to fill in. 

Links

Bricia has started working with her life coach Victor Pierantoni again. Check out the episode we recorded with him about staying sane and zen in the pandemic earlier last year!

Episode 264: Keeping it Real with the Super Mamas: How Covid-19 Tried to Steal Our Holiday Cheer

Happy New Year, sisters!

This week’s episode is about our personal experience after Paulina and her family were diagnosed with covid right before Christmas. After months of being so careful and trying our best to stay safe, Paulina, her husband and children, and our parents, . What a way to end 2020, right? 😅 It was a scary, painful and stressful few weeks, but the entire family is on their way to recovery. So many of you not only reached out to send well wishes and covid experiences, but also shared home remedies that helped us fight the virus off even faster. We’ve included some below, which we will absolutely be using in the future for when flu season rolls around again. At the end of the day, we are blessed to have our good health and the support of our family, friends and followers! The year can only get better from here!

*If you’re a covid survivor, please consider donating blood and plasma for research. Learn more at redcrossblood.org.

Coronavirus Remedies

Flu Bomb Recipe

Smash one clove of garlic and one teaspoon of grated ginger.

Mix with 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, one teaspoon raw honey, one lemon and 1/4 cup warm water.

Drink one in the morning and one at night to help with flu-like symptoms.

Pick or Tip of the Week

After Paulina’s Instagram Live, where she let the followers know she had coronavirus, many of you reached out to share remedies that have worked for you and your families who were also recovering coronavirus. Her favorite was a Flu Bomb that she knows she’ll use whenever she’s feeling sick. It helped with a lot of the flu-like symptoms of covid, plus it’s anti-inflammatory and helps with infection. Check out the recipe above and video above for more details.

Everyone is pretty used to virtual learning at this point in the pandemic. Bricia’s pick is Osmo, an app that children can use with their tablets at home. It’s a great gift and another great option for your kids who are learning at home and are craving a different kind of stimulation. Bricia bought it for Eduardo last year and it’s been great while he’s learning at home. He even wants to use it during his free time!

Links

If you’re a covid survivor, please consider donating blood and plasma for research. Learn more at redcrossblood.org.

Daniel Fast - Guide, Food List, Resources and more

Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol by Holly Whitaker

Episode 231: Week #2 in Quarantine: Coronavirus Chat with Dr. Ilan Shapiro

Another week in quarantine, another zoom interview. This week we speak with Dr. Ilan Shapiro, about the coronavirus. There is so much information about COVID-19 out there and it can be overwhelming to continue watching the news. We put together a list of what we felt were the most important questions and Dr. Shaps broke it down for us. Dr. Shaps talks about why it’s important to stay home, the safest way to go to the supermarket, how to protect our families and so much more. The next few weeks of social distancing will be tough, but as long as we’re informed and doing our best to stay safe & healthy, we will get through this! 

Our Conversation with Dr. Ilan Shapiro

What is the Coronavirus?

Why are cities shutting down?

Why is it so important to stay home?

What measures should we take if we need to go out? 

Does wearing masks and goggles work or not?

What is the safest way to go to the supermarket? 

What about vegetables? Can we spray disinfectant on those?

What’s an allergy vs a cold vs coronavirus?

How can we protect our families?

Links

CDC Coronavirus Guidelines

World Health Organization - Coronavirus

The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America

How to Protect Yourself & Others from the Coronavirus (CDC)

How to Wash Your Hands Properly (CDC)