When will it end?

So far we are not ringing in the new year with bright and shiny bells. We have had the sickness bug going through our house and it shows no signs of leaving.

I had to bring in my 5yo to the ER on Christmas Day. She had bronchitis and STILL had two ear infections. Now she has already been on antibiotics for 10 days. We had to start nebulizer treatments, steroids and MORE antibiotics.
Two days later my 3yo and 8 month old ended up sick with horrible head/chest colds. Three days later the 5yo is better, the 3yo is getting better BUT the 8month old is getting worse - throwing up everything. We ended up going to the ER at 2am on New Year's Day to be told it was viral and there was not much we could do. The next day he started running a 103 fever. I called the on-call pediatrician and they said wait and watch. By this time the poor little guy has bascially been crying for 3 days straight. The next day it is now over 104. Luckily, our pediatrician is open on Saturdays. We brought him in and he had 2 bad ear infections. He is now on antibiotics. My 16yo now has the head cold, ARGH!

Okay, let's go back a bit. We went to my mom's on Christmas Day for dinner. We all knew the my 5yo had a cold (so we thought). At that time it seemed to be no big deal. My mom ended up getting sick two days later and today she is STILL sick and went to her doctor to find out she has a horrible case of bronchitis. I know it was not our fault because how could we know my 5yo would go downhill so fast that day and the give it to my mom but I still feel bad.

So, the only resolution I have is for the sickness bug to leave us alone for a long while. My kids have been getting sick for the last 3 months. We all need a break. Please send some get well prayes out way. We can sure use them.


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Happy New Year to All!

I wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

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Parental Alientation System (PAS)?

Remember about a year ago when Alec Baldwin was caught cussing out his daughter over the phone? Well now it has been attributed to a fairly new disorder called 'Parental Alienation Syndrome'. What is this you ask?

What is Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS)?
This is the definition of PAS as described by R.A. Gardner who discovered the syndrome and has become an expert in dealing with the issue.

Gardner's definition of PAS is: "The parental alienation syndrome (PAS) is a disorder that arises primarily in the context of child-custody disputes. Its primary manifestation is the child's campaign of denigration against a parent, a campaign that has no justification. It results from the combination of a programming (brainwashing) parent's indoctrinations and the child's own contributions to the vilification of the target parent."

(Excerpted from: Gardner, R.A. (1998). The Parental Alienation Syndrome, Second Edition, Cresskill, NJ: Creative Therapeutics, Inc.)

Basically, this means that through verbal and non verbal thoughts, actions and mannerisms, a child is emotionally abused (brainwashed) into thinking the other parent is the enemy. This ranges from bad mouthing the other parent infront of the children, to withholding visits, to pre-arranging the activities for the children while visiting with the other parent.

Don't you find this reaching too much for an excuse? Hasn't this been around since the dawn of time? I would take a bet that anyone and everyone that has been through a divorce, with children, has been plagued with PAS. Wouldn't this 'syndrome' apply to many other areas of our lives? What about when you are fired? You say things about the company/boss. Wouldn't this be a type of brainwashing? Wouldn't letting others know the 'bad' things about the company and thus causing people to have negative thoughts be considered brainwashing? What if you purchase a product and don't like it? You then tell someone about it. Aren't we brainwashing the other person about the product? Right now, my 18yo son is having issues with his best friend (they are no longer friends). Since they are both talking bad about each other - does this qualify as some sort of syndrome and now they both need help? This happens in everyday life all the time.

I have always thought that a syndrome was something more of a medical condition - like Down Syndrome. So I looked up the definition and here is what I found:

1. Pathology, Psychiatry. a group of symptoms that together are characteristic of a specific disorder, disease, or the like.
2. a group of related or coincident things, events, actions, etc.
3. the pattern of symptoms that characterize or indicate a particular social condition.
4. a predictable, characteristic pattern of behavior, action, etc., that tends to occur under certain circumstances

It is amazing the things they can come up with to justify mad-mouthing others. I don't think that feeling bad about a situation causes the right to be called a syndrome. How is it treated? What do you think?



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"A Mother's Promise" by Evenflo

“A Mother’s Promise” is a Facebook community supported by Evenflo, and it’s focused on bringing moms together in a quest to keep children safe while on the road. With so many people traveling for the holidays, it seems like the perfect time to raise awareness. Supporting “A Mother’s Promise” is free, super simple, and only takes a moment.

If you already have a Facebook account, just visit “A Mother’s Promise,” and post on the Wall, pledging to your children to do everything within your power to protect them. (There’s also a really cool video of other moms making their individual promises – it definitely made me a little teary!) If you don’t have a Facebook account yet, now’s the time! Once you’re a member, just search for “A Mother’s Promise” and post your promise.

Then, invite all your friends and family – other moms, dads, grandparents, and neighbors inside and outside the Facebook community – to do the same.

Motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S., but together, we can make a difference.


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Senator Pelosi explains the CPSIA

Senator Pelosi explains the new CPSIA bill - http://www.speaker.gov/issues?id=0054
This article gives some very good info for all of you that make products at home.


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Happy New Year to All!

I hope everyone's Christmas went well. Thanks to others my kids were able to have a great Christmas this year. I have lots of great giveaways coming up and lots of funs things planned.

My New Year's Resolution is to (at least) reduce my debt. What are you New Year's resolutions?


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Tracking Santa!

Check out this site where you can see where Santa has been (with videos and all). It is adorable. My girls flipped when we were watching http://www.noradsanta.org/en/home.html

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Please be aware of new laws regarding sale of items for children! (Nationally)

Most of you will be unaware of the laws currently in affect that will be enforced begining in February, 2009. These laws include clothing, toys, blankets, bibs, beds - basically *anything* that comes in contact with children ages 12 and under. You will no longer be able to sell children's items without having testing for lead, phalates and flammability. To do so will be a felony. Donations to places such as the Salvation Army, etc, will - as it stands - more than likely not be allowed.

Additionally, how this affects YOU as a parent. Because of the testing requirements, many companies will be closing their doors. There will be a reduction in services and products available. The companies that do survive this law and are able to afford the testing, will be forced to raise their pricing to cover the testing costs. As it stands, it is looking to cost approximately $500 per unit. If a company has a number of different items available, they have to test each different unit. Say I make a shirt with long sleeves, and one with short sleeves, and another with a bow on the front. Each shirt HAS to be tested seperately, according the new CPSIA laws. This new law is going to put MANY MANY MANY small business completely out of business. This is going to cause a greater impact on our current recession, as those individuals and businesses who rely on the sales of their product, will now be searching for ways to survive - along with you, me and the rest of the country...then add to the fact that product pricing will then increase. It's all a vicious cycle - all because our country was lacking laws for importing dangerous toys. Please do your homework and read up on the CPSIA laws and how they will affect you as the consumer. Contact your congressman/woman and Senator and ask them to look into the CPSIA and see for themselves the magnitude of devastation this is going to have nation-wide.

http://www.fashion-incubator.com/category/news-and-events/ http://tucsonkids.com/node/390
http://sites.google.com/site/handmadetoyalliance/news---updates http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.html


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Amazon Deals!

Are you looking for some last minute deals for Christmas?

Check out Amazon's Gold Box for some awesome prices!

Last night I saved $60 on two items for my two teens.

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Dyson Domestic Diva (Jan Sign-ups) at Momdot!

Are you a mom blogger? Do you want to review the DC 25 Animal for Dyson? The day I got a Dyson, my life changed for the better. With endless pets in our home, we had a constant need to keep hair off the floors, couches, bedrooms, and into a life we were not embarrassed to live. Worse, our vacuums kept breaking year after year and replacing was costly and expensive.

After recommendations from friends, I settled on a Dyson and never looked back. Recently MomDot.com and Dyson created a partnership for a once in a lifetime opportunity for moms to really get down and dirty with Dysons newest DC 25 Rollarball Animal vacuum, and let you have a chance to tell the world what YOU think.

Every 2 weeks from now till April, we are going to be picking a new mom to spend a full two weeks with our Dyson and then come on as a Dyson Domestic Diva and give everyone the lowdown on it. Comparing it to your current household cleaning, your vacuum that you use on a daily basis, the all around ins and outs of how you feel about the Dyson after spending 2 weeks with it in your home. You will be able to blog during your experience from set up to the day it leaves, posting pictures, videos and sharing your experience with the world.
Please go to Dyson Domestic Divas to see the progress on the new site, which should be fully up and running by January 1st!

How do I get involved?
Look for signups! Every two weeks we will run a sign up and announce the newest Dyson Domestic Diva. We will get your shipping info and get a Dyson to your house ASAP. These will be rolling sign ups, so please come back and let us know your still interested and why. Persistence DOES pay off. We will notice if you are interactive on our blog and with the other Dyson Domestic Divas, leaving comments, talking about the site to others, and it shows us you really want to test the Dyson for yourself.

How are you choosing who gets to use it?
We are going to look for someone who has a genuine need for the Dyson. Do you have a lot of pets? Crazy allergies? A terrible vacuum? Tell us about it! We do ask that you do NOT own a Dyson, nor have ever owned one. We want to get reviews from brand new non owners.

Am I required to post on the Dyson Domestic Diva site?
Yes! We are essentially a moms panel and you are signing up to review this product. You don’t need to blog daily as you are using the Dyson, but are welcome to. We definitely want your first and last impressions, including pictures and videos if you have them (videos not required). You will receive a log in to the Dyson blog and be able to blog about your excitement, impressions, and more. We will help you if you do not know the blog format we use (wordpress).

Can I review this on my own site as well?
Yes, of course. And ask your readers to come watch your progress right on Domestic Divas!

Will I have to pay for shipping?
NO! Dyson will cover the shipping to your house and on to the next person. You just need to clean!

How long will I have it?
2 weeks. We felt this was a great time to really get to know your vacuum and see results.

Will I get to keep it?
Sadly, no. This one is on a very important trip around the blogosphere. But that doesn’t mean you wont see rewards in the future for your participation. Just imagine how clean your house will be and how convinced your husband will be to let you get one after you have proven to him how great it is! Plus, you get to add Dyson Moms Panel to your bloggy press…and how cool is THAT.

APPLICATIONS NOW

To begin, we need two moms to kick off the Dyson Domestic Diva program with us in January 09! So go ahead and put your sign ups below. Let us know who you are, what blog you are a part of, and why you desperately need to test out this Dyson for a few weeks. We are going to pick our first two mommies before January 1st. We do give brownie points if you are a momdot visitor and if you find a creative way to spread the program back on your blog, so tell us about it if you do. Remember, if your not picked for the first round, its going on till April, so every two weeks, you have a chance to be a part of the crew.

We are looking for creative, fun bloggers who are excited and want to be a part of this very special Dyson Review Crew! Please leave info below for January sign up.
~Trisha

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Help a Mama-preneur!

Help a Mama-preneur Help the ASPCA and Win Great Prizes!

Jill over at Cool Photo Ideas is hosting a really neat giveaway! Not only is she giving away great prizes but it's all for a great cause...read on and VOTE and enter to win awesome prizes...

DEADLINE DECEMBER 13, 2008 —-We are doing a giveaway like never before! We are going to be giving away 6 prizes within the next 48 hours! Why you ask? Well, we need your help!

I have been selected as a finalist in a contest sponsored by Hewlett Packard that entails a prize of $6,000 worth of computer equipment. The best part about this contest is that the prize is being donated to my local SPCA located in Eatontown, NJ. I love animals, and always wished I could give them more and now I have this amazing opportunity so I am hoping I can get everyone’s help to win!

So, by helping me you will be helping me help an amazing organization and have the chance to win of these great prizes:

PRIZE #1 GE E1035 Red Digital Camera
PRIZE #2 Pop Up Wedding Album by Goffengel
PRIZE #3 Braggables Photo Insert Purse
PRIZE #4 Tower of Time Handprint Kit - Baby Boy
PRIZE #5 Molly West School Days Journal (Choose Yellow or Blue!)
PRIZE #6 Leapfrog Letter Crazy Game

So there they are! Some great prizes right? So how do you enter you ask? Head over to her site and check it out...click here!

Good luck Jill!! Everyone Go Vote!


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Why Do We Need Healthy Toys?

HealthyToys.org includes test results for more than 1,500 toys and children’s products. This site is a first step in providing parents, grandparents, and others who care about children with the information they need to make better choices when purchasing toys and other children’s products.


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TCM Presents: The Family Classics

Starting on December 7th, and on every Sunday in December, Turner Classic Movies will air classic family films. I have actually seen quite a few of them. I can’t wait to share with my kids!

Below is the full Turner Classic line up:

Sun., Dec 7

• Noon - Treasure Island (1950) – starring Robert Newton and Bobby Driscoll
• 1:45 p.m. - Swiss Family Robinson (1960) – starring John Mills, Dorothy McGuire, Sessue Hayakawa and Tommy Kirk
• 4 p.m. - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) – starring Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas and Peter Lorre
• 6:15 p.m. - Old Yeller (1958) – starring Tommy Kirk, Dorothy McGuire and Fess Parker
• 8 p.m. - The Parent Trap (1961) – starring Hayley Mills, Maureen O’Hara and Brian Keith
• 10:15 p.m. - Pollyanna (1960) – starring Hayley Mills, Jane Wyman, Karl Malden, Adolphe Menjou and Agnes Moorehead
• 12:30 a.m. - The Barefoot Executive (1971) – starring Kurt Russell, Harry Morgan, Wally Cox and John Ritter

Sunday, Dec. 14

• Noon - The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1970) – starring Kurt Russell and Cesar Romero
• 1:45 p.m. - The Strongest Man in the World (1975) – starring Kurt Russell, Cesar Romero and Dick Van Patten
• 3:30 p.m. - The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) – starring Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson and Tommy Kirk
• 5:15 p.m. - Son of Flubber (1963) – starring Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk and Ed Wynn
• 7 p.m. - THE AGE OF BELIEVING: THE DISNEY LIVE-ACTION CLASSICS – narrated by Angela Lansbury
• 8:30 p.m. - The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975) – starring Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Bill Bixby and Susan Clark
• 10:15 p.m. - The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979) – starring Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Tim Matheson, Kenneth Mars and Jack Elam

Sunday, Dec. 21

• Noon - The Black Hole (1979) – starring Maximilian Schell, Anthony Perkins, Robert Forster and Ernest Borgnine
• 2 p.m. - Escape to Witch Mountain (1975) – starring Eddie Albert, Kim Richards, Ike Eisenmann and Donald Pleasance
• 4 p.m. - Return from Witch Mountain (1978) – starring Bette Davis, Christopher Lee, Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann
• 6 p.m. - Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) – starring Angela Lansbury, David Tomlinson and Roddy McDowall
• 8 p.m. - Candleshoe (1977) – starring Jodie Foster, David Niven and Helen Hayes
• 10 p.m. - Freaky Friday (1976) – starring Jodie Foster, Barbara Harris and John Astin
• 11:45 p.m. - THE AGE OF BELIEVING: THE DISNEY LIVE-ACTION CLASSICS (encore)

Sunday, Dec. 28

• Noon - The Shaggy Dog (1959) – starring Fred MacMurray, Jean Hagen and Tommy Kirk.
• 2 p.m. - The Shaggy D.A. (1976) – starring Dean Jones, Tim Conway and Suzanne Pleshette.
• 4 p.m. - The Love Bug (1968) – starring Dean Jones, Michelle Lee and Buddy Hackett.
• 6 p.m. - Herbie Rides Again (1974) – starring Helen Hayes, Ken Berry and Stefanie Powers.
• 8 p.m. - Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977) – starring Dean Jones and Don Knotts.
• 9:45 p.m. - Herbie Goes Bananas (1980) – starring Cloris Leachman and Harvey Korman.
• 11:30 p.m. - The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973) – starring Tim Conway, Jan Michael Vincent, John Amos and Nancy Walker

Here is a link for more information on each movie (including photos and videos) - TCM presents The Family Classics. It is a fun intereactive map!

I hope all of you look forward to watching some memorable classics as I do.

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Delgo - Experience A Little Peace & Goodwill This Holiday Season – Animated Style

Delgo brings messages to life in fantasy action adventure Fast-paced action and adventure, a mystical land, an unlikely hero, a princess and a message of acceptance between different cultures make Delgo the perfect family-friendly movie this holiday season.

Releasing in theaters December 12, Delgo’s impressive voice cast includes Freddie Prinze, Jr. (Delgo), Jennifer Love Hewitt (Princess Kyla), Anne Bancroft (exiled Empress Sedessa) as well as Chris Kattan (Filo), Val Kilmer (Bogardus), Lou Gossett Jr. (Nohrin King), Michael Clarke Duncan (Lockni Stonesage Council), Kelly Ripa (Kurrin), Burt Reynolds (Delgo’s Father) and Sally Kellerman (Narrator).

The story takes place in the magical land of Jhamora which is divided between two cultures – the Nohrin, winged masters of the skies, and the Lockni, the terrestrial tribe who harness the mystical powers of the land. When Delgo (Freddie Prinze, Jr.), a reckless Lockni teenager, forms a forbidden friendship with the spunky Nohrin Princess Kyla (Jennifer Love Hewitt), hostilities between the two peoples escalate, setting the stage for an exiled empress (Anne Bancroft) to exact her revenge and reclaim her rule.

Falsely imprisoned, Delgo and his best friend, Filo (Chris Kattan), must put aside their differences to join forces with a sworn enemy, Bogardus (Val Kilmer), and travel to the mysterious land of Perran to rescue Princess Kyla. Here they encounter fanciful creatures and discover more than just a kidnapped princess, they learn the value of different cultures and the importance of working together.

Recognized in the animated industry as “Best Feature Film” Anima Mundi 2008 and selected for Annecy ( France ) and SICAF ( Korea ), Delgo is rated PG and has a running time of 90 minutes. For more information, please visit http://www.delgo.com/

About Fathom Studios
Atlanta-based Fathom Studios (http://www.fathomstudios.com/) has been creating award-winning computer animation since 1991. A division of the interactive agency Macquarium Intelligent Communications, the studio focuses on developing original content for television, film and the Internet through passion and creativity. Delgo is an independent movie and Fathom Studios’ first animated feature. The film was recently awarded “Best Feature Film” at Anima Mundi 2008 by an audience of approximately 100,000. Delgo is rated PG and has a running time of 90 minutes.

My Opinion:

Delgo is an amazing beautiful computer animated movie due to be release on December 12th. The story line is wonderful! It is a fast-paced action and adventure that should keep anyones attention. I would say that this is a must see movie this season. I know I plan to see it when it is released. I do need to say one thing in that this movie is definitely not for little kids. There is a bit of violence. I would suggest no child under age 9-10 should see this movie. Watch the trailes on the Delgo site and decide for yourself as each child is different.

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Share Something Sweet

Share Something Sweet is a partnership between chocolate company Ferrero and Share Our Strength, a leading hunger-relief organization. “Ferrero’s "Share Something Sweet" campaign helps raise awareness of the critical problem of childhood hunger in the United States while raising funds to solve it," said Bill Shore, co-founder of Share Our Strength. "We are pleased to continue to work with such a committed partner in the fight against childhood hunger.”

You can learn more about this at: http://www.sharesomethingsweet.com/

This partnership is in its second year, and this year Ferrero has donated $150,000 to Share Our Strength and is giving others a chance to add to that donation. Right now, if you log on to Share Something Sweet and use it to "send something sweet" (that is, a customizable e-card), Ferrero will donate another $1 per e-card sent, up to $10,000.

And for every person that joins the Ferrero Facebook page, "Ferrero Lovers Unite," Ferrero will donate another $1 to Share Our Strength (up to $1,000): http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/FerreroR-Lovers-Unite/26098488476.

There's also a chocolate personality quiz, product offers and event news.

This great info was made possible by the Family Review Network!

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Robeez - Season of Giving!

I love Robeez! I discovered them with my 4th child. I so wish I would have found them sooner. So I'm excited to announce this new cause they are sponsoring. Read more to see how you can participate!

Robeez is launching its fourth annual Season of Giving campaign, a charitable initiative to donate shoes to infants in-need during the holiday season.

Here’s how it works: For every e-card sent from the Season of Giving website, Robeez will make a $5 product donation via its charitable partner, Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.). It’s easy: one card = $5 worth of Robeez footwear; 10 cards = $50 worth of Robeez footwear, and on and on!

A little bonus: For taking the time to send an e-card, Robeez is also offering senders a chance to win one of seven new Shoes and Socks Gift Sets. (They’re a great holiday gift idea too!)

A bigger bonus FOR BLOGGERS: For bloggers who share the Season of Giving campaign with their readers and send a link to their post to heartandsole@robeez.com, Robeez will make a $25 product donation via K.I.D.S.

The goal: To send a $250,000 product donation this holiday season.The campaign starts November 10 and ends December 20. You can send an e-card from seasonofgiving.robeez.com.

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Love That Smile!

Momdot is having a contest for the coolest toy and Mitchell could definitely use it since has has only 2 toys!! It's a One Step Ahead playmat and we want it! Mitchell is my fifth child, which is a blessed accident after getting rid of ALL our baby stuff, so I thought it would be fun to try to win! Wish us luck and go check them out!

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Tackle It Tuesday - Bathroom Grout

Okay...here is my long rant short. I am so sick of redoing our bathroom grout. We redo it at least ever 6 months. We have tried EVERYTHING and I mean everything (at least that I know of). Either it never dries right or it cracks and then water gets through. I am at a loss. So I am asking for your help. Please comment on any ideas that you may have for me.

Hugs,
Toni

You can visit Tackle It Tuesday at 5 Minutes for Mom
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