Vaccine Fight

Celebrities Jenny McCarthy and Amanda Peet are feuding over the safety of vaccinations. Jenny McCarthy says more research needs to be done to make them safer for all kids. According the Chicago Tribune, Peet said, People who don't vaccinate

their kids because of autism fears are "parasites."

I realize the fact that these two celebrities are feuding isn't exactly newsworthy, but the topic is. The end of the article annoys me. It says "Me-Ow." I hope there are other people who read that line and rolled their eyes too!

Former Playboy Playmate Jenny McCarthy and actress Amanda Peet are publicly feuding over the safety of childhood vaccines. Who says there's nothing sexy about inoculations?Their dispute revolves around the belief among some parents of children with autism—including McCarthy —that certain vaccines may trigger the disorder, although scientific research has shown no evidence of any link.Peet, a mother and advocate for childhood vaccinations, said in a recent magazine interview that parents who don't vaccinate their children because of autism fears are "parasites."That made McCarthy very angry, almost as angry as the people who paid to see her recent movie "Witless Protection," in which she starred alongside Larry the Cable Guy.

In an article published Wednesday in Spectrum Magazine, McCarthy said Peet "has a lot of balls to come forward and be on that side, because there is an angry mob on my side. I like the fact that I can say she's completely wrong."Peet apologized for her word choice but called it irresponsible to suggest that groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics are engaged in a massive coverup of harmful vaccines.McCarthy said in the article released Wednesday that the American Academy of Pediatrics "sucks."Too bad the Wall Street bailout debate is devoid of celebrity combatants. Just imagine how spicy it would be if Heidi Klum was ripping Kate Hudson for her stance on credit default swaps.Me-OW!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Thanks for sending this one Billy!

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

The Coldest Place on Earth

Son: "Mom, where is the coldest place on earth?"
Me: "Well, let me think about that for a minute."
Son: "It's the North Pole Silly!"
Me: "How do you know that?" I am very pleased at this point because my five-year-old has started a very inquisitive conversation. He might not have the right answer, but that is a good guess! Then he says:
Son: "I know because that's where Iceman lives!"
Mom: "Great. Everything goes back to super heroes when you're five!"

Antarctica
The lowest temperature ever recorded on earth was -129F recorded in 1983 at the Russian Base Vostok in Antarctica. Antarctica, a continent owned by no one, covers the southern end of our globe. In addition to being the coldest place on earth, Anarctica is also the wettest and the driest place on earth. How is this possible?

The Wettest Place on Earth

Over ninety eight percent of Anarctica is covered by ice. Antactica contains seventy percent of the earth's fresh water and ninety percent of the earth's ice.
The Antarctic Ice Sheet is the largest sheet of ice on earth, with an average depth of 7,200 feet. According to NASA's Cold Facts, "the thickest ice found is in Wilkes Land, where it reaches a depth of 15,669 feet: about as deep as the highest of the Alps is high." If this ice cap were to melt the sea level would rise an average of 230 feet and would inundate most coastal cities, including New York, London, and Hong Kong.

So he had the right idea! The answer is the South Pole!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Which Cereal is Best?

Consumer Reports is taking a second look at some of your favorite cereals to see which ones are actually good for you and which ones have clever marketing. This is some good info!

From ABC:

Many children's breakfast cereals have undergone makeovers in recent years, as manufacturers have removed the word "sugar" from the name and replaced it with claims of "added fiber" on the box. But a new analysis from Consumer Reports finds many cereals still contain staggering amounts of sugar and that kids regularly help themselves to bigger serving sizes than the box suggests.

Sugared breakfast cereals are heavily marketed to children but also beloved by many adults. In fact, an estimated 58% of "children's cereals" are actually consumed by those over age 18, according to a new analysis from Consumer Reports. The magazine has introduced a new ratings guide of popular cereals - and some of them turn out to be no better than a glazed donut.

Among the worst offenders - Post's Golden Crisp and Kellogg's Honey Smacks, both of which are more than 50% sugar. People may be surprised to see Rice Krispies near the bottom of the list as well. Though low in sugar, the cereal has zero fiber, making it a poor nutritional choice.

Cheerios was the winner, with just 1 gram of sugar and 3 grams of fiber per serving. Kix, Life and Honey Nut Cheerios were also rated "very good." But kids also must pay attention to how much they eat - in a test of 91 youngsters, researchers found children poured themselves an average of 50 to 65 per cent more cereal than the recommended amount.

I am not a big fan of cereal, but the kids like it. I did buy them whole wheat enriched Lucky Charms the day. They taste alright, but are high sugar for sure! The only cereal I remember eating growing up is Honey Nut Cheerios. I think I will pick those up next time after reading this story. And there is some sort of Puff's cereal in the organic section that the kids like. I put that stuff in a bag and use it for snacks.

What kind of cereal does your family eat?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Overscheduled this time of year?

Are you getting stressed yet? School has started --all the sporting events and activities, plus work is busy this time of year and all the new fall shows are out! I know I am getting a little overwhelmed!

But some kids thrive when they are over scheduled and don't have much down time. At least, that's the conclusion of a new study. The Washington Post.com takes a look at the study:

A new wave of research into the lives of middle-class children bucks conventional wisdom and concludes they are not the over scheduled, frazzled generation that many believe them to be. It might be only that their parents are on overload, one researcher suggests.

Two studies based on data about how children spend their days show that only a minority are heavily scheduled and that organized activities are linked to positive outcomes in school, emotional development, family life and behavior. The children most at risk have no activities at all, the studies showed.

That research is augmented by several studies that, together, provide a scientific perspective on childhood activities at a time when they have become a way of life and a cause for concern among educators and psychologists. Until recently, over scheduling as a phenomenon has not been widely explored in data-based studies, researchers say.

Many middle-class parents say they feel pressure to give their sons and daughters every opportunity -- violin, soccer, ballet, Scouts -- and then worry that their children are overextended to the point of harm. "I found the opposite of what I expected," said Sandra L. Hofferth, director of the Maryland Population Research Center at the University of Maryland at College Park and lead author of a research paper released this year that will be part of a book.

Hofferth said she had "started out with a pretty solid belief that lots and lots of activities are bad for children." But she said the data showed otherwise: A higher level of activity was not linked to such stress symptoms as depression, anxiety, alienation and fearfulness.
"We just don't find that the children who are more active are more stressed," she said.
Parental stress, on the other hand, might be another matter. "One thing I do think is that parents are having trouble with it, and they're the ones who are having a hard time trying to figure out how to manage children's lives as well as their own," Hofferth said.

Okay, so I am bummed about this. I do get my son involved in activities, but not as many as he wants. He does have down time and I was hoping it was a good balance. This study puts too much pressure on parents in my opinion! I can't imagine having four kids and trying to have all of them involved in different activities. I know a lot of people do it, I just don't know how. Yikes!

I did have someone at work ask me why my son wasn't in t-ball this summer. They jokingly said, he's gonna be behind. He was only 4-years-old!

Are you and your kids overscheduled right now?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Holistic Treatments for Colds

ABC News interviewed some holistic medicine doctors on their beliefs about how to treat the cold and flu. I think it's pretty interesting. The answers are not exactly what the AAP and CDC would say. I am curious to hear if any of you follow this advice.

David Rakel, M.D., director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Integrative Medicine in Madison, Wis.

Cold treatment: At the first sign of symptoms, the goal is to attack the virus early because it replicates the most within the first 48 hours, pointed out Rakel. He might drink more green tea, which appears to have antiviral and antibacterial properties. And he would also drink three big glasses of orange juice to get more vitamin C.

Besides consuming more liquids, Rakel might take 20 to 30 milligrams of zinc acetate lozenges twice a day to improve his immunity. He takes zinc only for the first two or three days of a cold, when he feels it's most effective. He might add andrographis, an herb that's sometimes called "Indian echinacea." He would take 400 milligrams of this immune-stimulating herb three times a day.

Flu prevention: As a family practice physician, Rakel is around a lot of flu, a reason he gets the yearly shot. His main concern is that the vaccine has very small amounts of the preservative thimerosal in it.

Flu treatment: Rakel doesn't recommend Tamiflu, the prescription antiviral drug. "It's the best medication we have in case of a flu pandemic, but it might only shorten flu duration by a day."Instead, he would use a black elderberry extract, a remedy found in a few small studies to help shorten the length and severity of flu. Adults can take one tablespoon, four times a day for the first three days of flu symptoms. Beyond that time frame, he feels it's less beneficial.

Lynne Shinto, N.D., naturopathic physician for the Neurology Wellness Clinic at the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Ore.

Cold treatment: When she gets a cold, her philosophy is to let it run its course. She'll turn to the usual suspects: bed rest, more fluids and chicken soup -- or because she's Japanese-American -- miso soup with shiitake mushrooms, fungi known for their immune-strengthening compounds. These approaches may make the symptoms feel better, she admits, but they likely won't make a cold go away faster.

Flu prevention: Shinto doesn't get the flu shot and neither does her young daughter. "I'm not opposed to it, but we're very healthy people and don't get sick a lot."

Flu treatment: She follows the same treatment advice for a cold. And if Shinto's sinuses are congested, she turns to an "old naturopathic therapy" thought to stimulate the immune system. Called hydrotherapy, she might stick her bare feet in hot water for three minutes then in ice-cold water for 30 seconds, and she repeats this hot-cold sequence three times.

I haven't tried a lot of these methods. My kids did get the thimerasol free version of the flu shot last year. However, they both got the flu. I am assuming it didn't last as long as it would have without the vaccine, but who knows! I have horrible sinus infections and I am wondering about the cold/hot feet thing and whether that works! What are your thoughts about holistic medicine and the cold/flu?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Ecosmart Review (Deet-free bug spray)

A few months ago we talked HERE about finding a bug spray that works, but does not contain deet. We found a few at the local natural food store, but no one wrote in about one they really loved. So, when I got some free samples of a fairly new deet-free bug spray called Ecosmart I thought I would try it. I also gave samples to a few friends (I figure, the more the opinions, the better.)

I use the bug spray a lot and am planning on ordering more. It has a strong floral smell and it seems to work really well. I like that it doesn't have a chemical in it that is harmful to my kids. Maybe there are others like it. I don't know. I don't receive any money for saying I like it and I don't expect you to buy any. I just really do like it.

My friend Laura says she would recommend it too. She says she uses it often at night at it works really well. It seems like there are tons of bugs out there lately!

The two other friends who planned on using Ecosmart have not needed it yet.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Your house is dirty

Here's an ABC video that made me go EWWWW --Just when you thought your house was clean!

I didn't realize how much bacteria and how quickly dangerous bacteria starts lurking in your home. The people in this story truly thought their home was clean, but they found out the opposite. They got a "C." for cleanliness.

We are dealing with a bad stomach virus at our house and I can't help but wonder if it's my fault for not cleaning enough after watching this story! P.S. If you go to the Wal-mart Supercenter on Allen Road in Peoria, watch out for what my toddler left in the parking lot! I have to admit I was happy he didn't get sick in the car or in the store!

The story has some good tips-like setting your kitchen sponge in bleach, using a vacuum that picks up really well (I don't think mine works well) and not using the same sponge to clean the cutting board and the counter. I am sure I have done that one before!

Are you a clean freak? BTW, I do think there's some truth to being so clean we end up getting allergies and asthma later in life. If you are never exposed to germs, you won't build up any immunity. So, how to find the right kind of clean for your family?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Teens abusing prescription drugs

CNN: The Partnership for a Drug Free America reports one in five teenagers abuse prescription medications to get high. There's a new prevention program seeking to change those statistics.

Oklahoma dad Gary Neal is on a mission. He's trying to help stop teenagers from abusing prescription drugs. "They're taking it out of people's drug cabinets. They're not taking bottles. They're taking 2 or 3 pills and trading it with their friends." That's what Gary thinks happened to his son in 2006.

He says a combination of someone else's prescription painkillers and cold medication proved deadly for the 17-year-old. Intentionally abusing prescription drugs is not safer. In fact can be every bit as dangerous as legal street drugs.

Gary has teamed up with the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, to promote "Not in My House". This is unlike any drug issue we've ever dealt with in that supply can be controlled in our own homes. The group says keep an inventory of the drugs you have in the house, store drugs in a safe, secure place, throw away old prescriptions and talk to your teen. Something Gary wishes he could do today. "I've lamented his death every second since he died and will live with it the rest of my life."

I don't know anyone who abused prescription drugs in high school. This story makes me so worried about what my kids will be into when they're in high school. Hopefully nothing this dangerous!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Potty Training Follow-up

Question from NewsAnchorMom.com Reader:

In March it was said, "My co-anchor's wife, Michelle, just bought the 3day potty training down loadable book. They are trying it next weekend! I will let you all know how it goes!"HOW DID IT GO?! : )

Good Question. I forgot about that book. Unfortunately, the response isn't great for the the 3Day Potty Training book, but he has another suggestion that did work--eventually.

Michelle says, "not very good." However we didn't strictly go by the book. We used some techniques from the book and it took about 2 months to get him completely trained. Making a chart and promising things like a toy or a movie after 5 successful days seemed to really do the trick.

I think it took my son a few months too. Three days would be nice, but I haven't heard from anyone who has had success with it. If you are reading this and you have had success potty training in less than a week, please let us know your method! I am getting ready to potty train my second son.

Here's the link to the original potty training blog. There are some useful suggestions from other parents.

MayoClinic.com: Is your child ready?

Ask yourself these questions:
Does your child seem interested in the potty chair or toilet, or in wearing underwear?
Can your child understand and follow basic directions?
Can your child ask simple questions?
Does your child stay dry for periods of two hours or longer during the day? Does he or she wake from naps dry?
Does your child have fairly predictable bowel movements?
Does your child tell you when he or she needs to potty or poop?
Is your child uncomfortable in wet or dirty diapers?
Can your child pull down his or her pants and pull them up again?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Fall crafts for kids

I love the colors of fall and I am feeling inspired to savor them. I saw this kid's craft idea from Full Circle and I think I will try it sometime soon with my five-year-old. It looks like fun and it's easy!

1. Smash up some fall leaves into tiny pieces.

2. If the leaves are soft, throw them in the microwave for a minute or so to make them crunchy.

3. Get black paint that comes with a brush.

4. Paint lines on a piece of paper, sort of in the shape of a tree.

5. Use a straw to blow on the paint and create branches.

6. Put glue on the tree after the paint dries.

7. Toss your crunchy leaves on top of the paper and Hooray! You're done!

Do you have any kids crafts you can share?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.