Hasbro’s Elefun and Friends just came out with a new game called Scatterpillar Scramble. The makers of Elefun, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Gator Golf, and Giraffalaff Limbo have another winner on their hands. This game would make an excellent Christmas gift for a preschooler. Keep reading for a chance to win this game!
Scatterpillar Scramble is a cute dancing caterpillar with four sets of hands. The game is for 2-4 players, ages 4 and up. Each player has a color coded set of tongs and marbles. The goal of the game is for each player to place all of their marbles into the caterpillar’s hands before their opponents.
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The swine flu vaccine has thimerosal / mercury in it, yet will be recommended for all pregnant women and children over 6 months old. I’m not sure yet if my family will get vaccinated. What are you planning to do?
I recently posted this on my facebook page along with a link to USA Today’s article “H1N1 and seasonal flu: Multiple doses, many questions“.
An overwhelming majority of my fb responders were NOT planning to vaccinate themselves or their families against the potentially deadly H1N1 virus. Some believe that they could survive the swine flu just like they would any other flu. Many feel that the vaccine is just too new and has too many unknowns. Several feel that the thimerosal component of the vaccine cannot be overlooked due to it’s association with autism.
A nurse practitioner friend posted that she has had some experience with the anti-viral drug Tamiflu believes it is very effective against the H1N1 virus. She believes that contracting and treating swine flu outweighs the risk of the vaccine itself because the previous round of the swine flu vaccine was associated with Guianne Barre Syndrome.
Guianne Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a paralyzing illness that at worse can cause death, and at best has a long, painful recovery with lingering paralysis or weakness. My friend Cricel’s husband Khalil was diagnosed with GBS last year. She documented Khalil’s struggles and his miraculous progress in order to share her family’s experiences with GBS. Cricel e-mailed me, “We are not sure what caused Khalil’s GBS, so we cannot really make a link between his case and a flu vaccine. But I did know that the old swine flu vaccine was linked to an increase in GBS incidence. Scary…”
USA Today reports:
“The government’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) … recommended that (the H1N1 vaccine) be given to pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months old, health care workers, people ages 6 months to 24 years and people 25 to 64 who have chronic illnesses or immune problems.”
When I asked my pediatrician’s office last month what their recommendations were regarding the swine flu pandemic vaccine, they said they were waiting for the American Academy of Pediatrics to make a statement before finalizing their medical group’s opinion. I plan to ask them again soon for their recommendation. My children usually get the seasonal flu vaccine, but I request the thimerosal-free vaccine that is normally reserved for smaller children. If the H1N1 vaccine does not come in a thimerosal-free version, we will most likely NOT get the swine flu pandemic vaccine.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says:
“The H1N1 virus is a hybrid, with genetic elements of swine influenza, avian influenza, and human influenza…Because this is a new strain, seasonal flu shots do not protect people, so good hygiene is important to help prevent the spread of germs. The influenza is spread by coughing, sneezing and unclean hands.” They continue, “If you suspect your child has influenza, call your pediatrician. Antiviral medication, if taken soon after infection, can shorten the duration of the illness. These medications are effective against swine flu.”
My husband and I will carefully weigh the pediatrician’s recommendation along with pros and cons of the H1N1 vaccine before making a final decision about vaccinating my preschool daughter, my kindergarten son, my husband, and myself against the expected swine flu pandemic.
What are you planning to do to protect yourself and your family?
This fall, my son will be starting Kindergerten and my daughter will attend pre-school for the first time. No more leisurely mornings and long breakfasts for us. It’s back to fruit, bagels, toaster pastries, or cold cereal. Luckily, MyBlogSpark sent us a Honey Kix promotional pack to review on our site. 
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We recently joined MyBlogSpark to sample and review new products here on our blog. The first products sent us were Nature Valley Nut Clusters. These are new snacks that remind me of those crunchy nutty granola bars, only bite sized. We tried all four varieties: Nut Lovers, Roasted Almond, Roasted Cashew and Honey Roasted Peanut. They were all crunchy and sweet with just the right amount of salt added in. My kids and I really enjoyed them. My favorite was the Roasted Almond while my kids liked the Roasted Cashew best.
I am trying to steer my children away from the gummy, sticky snacks that can cause cavities, so these Nature Valley Nut Clusters are the perfect alternative. They are 100% natural and great for healthy snacking. They come in zip-top bags that are convenient for picnics, etc. I often leave a bag in my car for the inevitable, “Mom, I’m hungry!”
Stay tuned for more MyBlogSpark product reviews!
I first tasted this delicious salsa at a friend’s house during a playdate. It was so tasty and refreshing! And since it is healthy, no one felt guilty for snacking on it all day long.
Ingredients:
1 (15 or 16 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can corn, drained OR 1 cup frozen corn kernels OR 2-3 ears of fresh cooked corn
1 can black olives, drained and sliced
1 large tomato, diced OR 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cucumber, peeled and cubed (seeds removed)
2 avocados, cubed
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1/2 of a medium red onion, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup prepared italian dressing (reduced fat or regular)
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