It’s school holidays! Yay! I’m going to ignore the inevitable annoyance that will creep in, perhaps as soon as this afternoon, and make the most of this break.

I’m going to catch up on my assignments, watch some movies, make eat some cake, make some playdough, plan a birthday party, and stay up until midnight every night. What I am NOT going to do is get up at the crack of dawn, even if my kids do. They’re big enough now to go make their own breakfast and turn on the tv. Provided they stay inside, it’s all good.

Getting up for 2 minutes to lock the dog out at 5am doesn’t count. Nor does rolling out of bed to wipe a bum. They aren’t permanent up-ness. I’m in holiday mode, and I’ll sleep if I want to. Be great if this state of unconsciousness was a family activity, but that’s just wistful thinking.

Reaching under the bed for my puffer and noting in my asthma log doesn’t get me up either. A new app called AsthmaSense is letting me do that on autopilot too. It contains everything I need to manage my asthma (minus the actual medication. Apple is holding back on that development). AsthmaSense is a free app – for a limited time only – that allows me to record when I have a dose, of what, and how much – and all I have to do is tap a button. Just one button. Dose, tap. Dose, tap. If I take an emergency dose, I tap a different button. I can record wheeze levels, note shortness of breath, peak flow results, tightness of chest…basically I can pick it up, go tap tap tap, done. Next time my doctor asks I will be able to show her and enjoy her grrs as she says: “I agree with the app. Your asthma is not well controlled”.  Yes, the app has the ability to look at your input and suggest you head to the GP. Fortunately, it doesn’t nag.

Actually, if my kids had a chronic asthma problem they would get their own log, it's multi-user, and when going for sleepovers I could show their Aunty the chart which suggests that if they're going to get wheezy they'll do it at 9pm, starting with shortness of breath, and moving onto a wheeze rating of 7 etc. I'm a visual  person, I need charts and audible med reminders. Hint hint, Aunty-with-asthmatic-boys-who-sleepover.

That said, I'd like the app to include an option to email data, either to my doctor or a family member, in an easy to read format. Other than that, if you're looking for an app to record and monitor your asthma, this is it. Set to your region and it even includes an emergency call button. Free for a limited time, available for iPhone & android.

Disclosure: this was a paid review, though all opinions are honest and my own.