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In Finland, there is a popular candy called Marianne, and this picture reminds me of the wrapper. Smallsteps has never had the candy, but at least, she is home for now <3 

![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/tarazkp/23w386bi64GUMXCPWJVzkWp7NkTX8FSFffwL49DyTBPurHQJSPTUYgw6KRBhWuLcMoUdm.png)

It has been a long and rough week for the family, with so many things going on already and then, several days in hospital. The first night she was misdiagnosed, the second day there was some confusion, but finally that night, they found she has pneumonia - which is inflammation in the lungs. However, they don't know the cause of it, which is another concern. 

Treatment is relatively easy with antibiotics though and once it was started, her fever receded and she has been okay. Now home, rather than the canula in the hand, she can have a liquid instead for the next week or so - even returning to school if things go well by Monday.  

>It is good to have her home. 

*And all the well-wishes are appreciated.*

She has avoided antibiotics for most of her life, but it was necessary this time. As she has food allergies already, ever since she was a baby we have been giving her a high quality probiotic supplement to build a healthy gut flora. Other than the allergies, she has a cast-iron stomach. 

They say that in after the first few years, the baseline flora is set and won't change much. Even with supplementation which will affect it, once the supplements are stopped, it will return to the mean again over time. The goal for us was to set her up for the future. Antibiotics wreak havoc on gut flora though and it can take almost a year for it to return to normal in some cases. Because of this, we are supplementing again to make sure that the recovery process is as fast as possible and she won't be too affected. 

Our stomachs do a lot of the thinking for us, which a lot of people don't necessarily realize, but often feel. It isn't only that we get angry when hungry though, as poor gut flora has quite profound effects on the way we think and feel, and I am sure that one day there will be more focus put on maintaining a good balance and better tools to evaluate. 

Just think, you don't hear many people complain about stomach ulcers anymore and "stress" is no longer the cause - because it is a bacteria in the gut that causes it and it requires an antibiotic to fix. Most likely, there are a lot of illnesses that are affected by gut flora similarly. Working out what does what and which conditions in combination with all other environmental variables however, is not an easy task. 

But, gut bacteria is definitely not a sexy topic, so not many spend much time thinking about it, let alone talking about it. Yet, as it affects us in quite profound ways, it would likely be good if we did think about it a little more than we do, especially for children.

As I have stomach issues myself, I saw it as on my mind to give Smallsteps the best chance to not have the same kinds of issues. We have done a pretty good job in this area and I dread to think how bad things might have been the last few years if instead of taking care of what she eats, we just stuffed her full of junk food instead. I see so many young children with the body shapes of 40-year olds who let themselves go, it saddens me. The physical future for so many of them is bleak at best.

>Oh well.... that is someone else's problem.

*Kick the can down the road.*

It isn't - the physical health of society impacts on us all.

But, for tonight, I am just glad Smallsteps is home again and asleep in her own bed. She is going to go a bit stir-crazy, as she can't go outside for the weekend and has already spent since last weekend inside, but it is better than the hospital. 

*She even said she would help me with the kitchen tomorrow.*

I suspect, she won't last long before bored, but it is the thought that counts.


Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]


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