As you all know by reading my info section on my blog, I have an amazing little boy.  He is the greatest part of my life.  He is only 3 years old, yet he thinks he is much bigger.  He proceeded to tell me over spring break that he "wants" a Xbox 360 for his birthday.  I about feel over, when he was telling me this.  I am thinking to myself you are only going to be 4 on your birthday and you really do not need this.  We have a Wii and he can play some of the games, but they are really hard for little hands to play, especially when you have to use two controllers on a game.  So I was telling my husband about this huge request that our son had made for his birthday.  Unknowning that this is what I fixing to tell him, he said that he had been looking at getting and Xbox 360 so that he and Brayden could play more games together.  So I told him what Brayden had said and Dad is planning on getting this for him for his birthday. 
I am still on the fence more or less about this.  Getting a four year old and Xbox for his birthday seems a little to much.  I understand that today some games are aimed towards toddlers and younger kids.  I just do not really want my son to be one of those kids that is stuck to a video game or to the tv all the time.  I know that the Xbox kinnect is supposed to be good for helping kids stay in shape and they have to be up and moving around to play certain games.  So we will see how this truns out and how my little boy reacts when he gets this for his birthday!

FDA and BPA in baby bottles!

I know that when I found out that I was pregnant with my son. I researched all the new and organic top of the line baby stuff.  When it came to bottles I only wanted the best.  The new BPA bottles had just came out on the market, I really did not know much about them.  Yet, I wanted the best for my son.  So all of his baby bottles and pacifiers were all BPA free.  The bottles were a little more expensive than the regular bottles that have been on the market for years.  I do not know really what the difference is supposed to be, I just knew that it was supposed to be a healthier choice for my baby. 
 

"BPA is a toxic chemical that has no place in our food supply," said a statement from Dr. Sarah Janssen, a senior scientist in the council's public health program.

"The agency has failed to protect our health and safety in the face of scientific studies that continue to raise disturbing questions about the long-term effects of BPA exposures, especially in fetuses, babies and young children," the statement said.

"The FDA is out of step with scientific and medical research. This illustrates the need for a major overhaul of how the government protects us against dangerous chemicals."

The Natural Resources Defense Council says the FDA's approval of BPA for use in packaging food "results in human exposure" to the chemical and is "dangerous to those who use the products."

It says studies have linked BPA exposure to a number of dangerous side effects, including defects in newborns, harm to the central nervous system, increased rates of prostate and breast cancer, and metabolic changes in the body that lead to obesity and insulin resistance, which are the main causes of diabetes."

Also, a growing body of research looking at subtle effects of low levels of BPA exposure has led the National Toxicology Program at the National Institutes of Health and the FDA to announce it has "some concern" about the potential effects of BPA "on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants and young children."

When I saw this article and saw the report on the news,  I went through all of my sons sippy cups and the ones that said BPA free went in the trash.  So when you are buying baby things for yourself or for someone that is expecting it is not always the best to go with the newest and supposed "best" product on the market until you know for sure that it is safe for you new little one or someone else's new little one.

Mega Millions Craze!!!

Did you get your lottery ticket bought today? I know I did! I know some people that went crazy buying their Mega Millions Lottery Tickets! Some people spent a couple dollars while others spent thousands of dollars on these tickets. I understand that it is every ones wish to be rich or even hit the lottery. I understand that the odds are quit huge. Seriously, though, people spending their entire weeks pay on these tickets are taking it a little over board!

If there is now winner of this $640 million prize, the jackpot will end up being worth an estimated $975 million. This jackpot has people from Juarez, Mexico crossing in to the United States just to buy these tickets for this jackpot.

"Mexicans from Ciudad Juarez were crossing the Rio Grande on Friday to buy tickets in El Paso, Texas.”I would divide the money among my children and buy them a house here in El Paso, and we would come from Juarez (to) here to live in peace," said one man.

The odds of winning the jackpot are about one in 176 million, which means a person would have a better chance of being struck by lightning.

Richard Lustig, a seven-time lottery winner who has written a book about lottery strategies, said it is good to buy tickets as part of a group, to increase "buying power." In addition, while the urge to take a chance on such a big jackpot may be alluring, Lustig said to guard against getting too enthusiastic.

"Don't go crazy with this," he said. "Don't get what's called lottery fever. Do not spend grocery money. Do not spend rent money."

Therefore, to all my fellow classmates, if you bought one of these tickets, Good Luck!

The World's Richest Pets!!!!! Seriously!!!

When you think of your pets I bet you never thought about leaving them your savings?  I umderstand that pets are your freinds and that they are comforting to have around.  But to leave your dog $5 million when you die, that is just crazy! Your dog is not going to be able to spend it.  Yes, I know that you can have someone that is responsible for taking care of you beloved pet when you pass on.  Seriously, leaving millions of dollars to your pet seems a little crazy. BettyWhite's dog is the one pet that is going to inherit $5 million when she passes.  I know from articles that she loves her dog very much and he is a constant companion to her.  I love my dog and cat just as much as any other animal lover.  I am not going to leave them my savings when I pass on. 
Pet: PontiacTo inherit: $5 million
Owner: Betty White

At 90, actress Betty White is busier than ever. When she's not shooting her TV Land sitcom, "Hot in Cleveland," or promoting her latest memoir, "If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)," you'll find her kicking back at her Los Angeles home with her beloved golden retriever, Pontiac. White has reportedly set up a $5 million trust fund to care for Pontiac and her other pets.




Pet: TommasoNet worth: $13 million
Owner: The late Maria Assunta

This 4-year-old stray alley cat was rescued from the streets of Rome by Maria Assunta, the wealthy, childless widow of an Italian property tycoon. When she died in December 2011, Tommaso inherited her entire estate, including cash and real estate in Rome, Milan and Calabria, Italy.

When to say Goodbye!

This post is not about any famous actor or actress, its about an amazing man that I call Uncle!  Today, my family had to make the hardest decision in our entire lives.  We had to tell the doctors to let my Uncle Ray go.  He has been on a respirator for the last week and under heavy sedation.  Two weeks ago he had surgery to have three stints put in his heart or valves and a pump to keep him alive.  Last friday he was rushed to the hospital in major pain, only to find out that two of the three stints had not held.  It is astonishing to watch someone that has played such an important role in your life fade away.  He was in the Navy for over twenty years, worked for a major eletronic company for the last twenty years.  Has an amazing family and life.  Now as we have all gathered to be around him to make this horrible decision, we all know that it is in the best interest for him to allow him to be free of all the machines keeping him alive.  But my question still is, how do you know when to say goodbye to someone that has been such an important part of you life?  My Uncle Ray helped me through this very ordeal with my Daddy 7 years ago and now we are at the same place with him.  I think that having to make the choice to let a loved one go is the hardest most devastating decision anyone ever has to make.  We as a family we all know that he does not want to be hooked up to machines that are breathing for him, and that is the only way he is staying alive.   So today, we have all made the decision to let him go home.  He will be greatly missed from so many people.  He has touched so many peoples lives.  So today as you look around at your family, hug them and let them know just how very much you love them.  Call your family and let them know your thinking of them and love them.  Because you never know what tomorrow will bring.....

A life cut short!

Trayvon Martin's murder has been in the headlines all over the world.  This young man had done nothing wrong, yet the man accused of killing him thought otherwise.  The only reason was that he was a young teenage black male.  He was shot down in cold blood by the neighborhood watch captain.  You can not tell me that this man did not know that Trayvon lived is this neighborhood.  That he had not seen this young man around.  For God sake, this kid had a bag of candy and a cup of tea or soda.  What was he going to do spit the candy at George Zimmerman? I just do not understand how someone could do this to another human being!  This has caused a new fear in the hearts of black teenagers and their families. 
There was a Justice For Trayvon Rally that drew members of all different organizations.   Al Sharpton, Among others joining them at the rally were": activist and comedian Dick Gregory; Martin Luther King III, eldest son of the late civil rights leader; radio talk-show hosts Michael Baisden, Joe Madison and Mark Thompson; NAACP national President Benjamin Jealous; former New York governor David Patterson; television's Judge Greg Mathis; relatives of the late civil rights icon Rosa Parks, and Trayvon's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin. "
As you read the articles that surround this case, it is beyond heartbreaking.  Why should any parent have to live in fear that their child will end up in harms way just because of the color of their skin?  I guess I was just raised differently.  I was raised to see the person, not their color!  I think that this young man's parents deserve justice for what has happened to their son.  This man murdered their son in cold blood.  Plain and simple.  Trayvon Martin's life was cut short for what reason?  Because of a man that did not see that he was a human being, someones son, brother, grandson and friend.  I pray that Trayvon's family gets the justice that the deserve for their sons murder.

Amazed!

For christmas this last year I purchased a Vtech Innotab for my 3 year old son!  For those of you that do not have children, it is a learning tablet for little kids ages 3 to 7.  At first, I did not think that he would be able to do some of the games  that they have available for them.  I bought him games that help him with learning the alphabet and numbers, one has simple math like addition and subtraction.  On the Vtech website you can register their tablet and you can track their progress on the games by simply plugging the usb cord into you computer.  I hadn't checked his progress on any of his games since the middle of January.  I checked it this week, and I was totally amazed with his progress!  He can spell words at a beginning first grader.  I was pretty impressed!  I have worked with him off and on with spelling, never thought that this little tablet would help him so much.  He can add 2+2, and 3+3, easy addition.  But for a 3 year old, I thought this was pretty amazing!

Feds Grant permit Native American tribe to kill Bald Eagles for religous purposes!

Bald Eagles being our national bird and supposedly protected from being killed for sport, yet it is OK to permit them being hunted for religious purposes!  I think this is outrageous!  The Feds gave this tribe a permit to hunt our national bird, the symbol of our country, because they said it was their religious right!  This is very disappointing!  I understand that Native Americans have several animals and amongst other things that they consider a part of their religous practices.  Yet, if you or I as an everyday American citizen filed for a permit like this it would get denied in an instance.  This tribe has been granted this permit until February 2013, they are responsible for notifying the U.S. Fish and Wildlife department within 24 hours of them killing a bald eagle.  I may be over thinking this or being overly dramatic about this, but I think this is totally WRONG!  If some everyday person went out and killed this "federally protected" bird, they would end up in jail and be fined an outrageous amount.  I just think that this is total crap! Just because someone says it is a part of their religious practices doesn't mean that they should be allowed to break a law that was put in to place for the simple fact to protect this species from being extinction!

Fat the new ugly on the Playground!!!

I stumbled across this article and found it sad that little kids that do not even know what the word "fat" means are calling other little kids fat!  In today's society and world, if your not a size 2 or 4 then your considered FAT!  The way children see themselves now, is because of how their parents talk about weight or what they see on TV.  In this article it said children as young as 5 years- old are worrying about their weight and what they look like.  This is just down right sad!  Children should not have to worry about going to school and being called names of any kind.  Unfortunately, the society we live in today is all wrapped up in what we look like, if we are thin enough!  I know that I am not a skinny mini and I never will be.  I wish that we could all just be happy with how we are and how we look.  But I know this will never happen.  It is sad that our children are learning at very young ages that it is not normal for you to have a healthy body, that your not going to amount to anything if your not skinny like the girls on the magazine cover or the girls on TV.  Children should not have to worry about their weight at the age of 5, coming home and telling their siblings that if they eat that they will get fat.  This should not even be anywhere near their little worlds or minds.  They are children that are learning from everything that they are seeing around them and some of the things that they are seeing is going to affect their lives for years to come.

Talent!

Last weekend I had the great opportunity to watch my niece Cassie in her High School musical GUYS and DOLLS!  I am not one to go to plays or musicals at all!  I have to say though to my amazement this was a great show.  The kids in this musical were amazing.  The singing in this show was amazing.  These kids have put in months of hard work. The orchestra was kids from the ages of 13 to 18, the talent in this school is extraordinary.  This school has won numerous awards for their music department, the orchestra teacher won the national title for Outstanding Orchestra Conductor.  My niece Cassie who was one of the Hot Box Dolls, has won numerous awards for her involvement in the Arts.  I think that it is great that kids still find it "cool" to be in drama or musicals.  I am glad that my niece is at a school were the music department is this amazing.  She has had voice lessons, dance lessons all given by the school.  I know that in some schools that kids have lost their music departments due to funding.  This musical that Cassie was in was amazingly done. The costumes, sets, music, singing, you could tell that the whole cast had put their hearts and souls into this production.  My niece, I know had put in over 100 hours of dance rehearsals, on top of her soccer practices and games, and being a straight A student.  Kids now days, I think do not realize that there is more to life than watching tv or playing video games! I am so thankful that my niece has opportunities like this, and that she takes advantage of them!

Snooki is having a baby!!! YIKES!

Snooki is having a baby! I have to sadly admit that I have watched Jersey Shore one time to many! I think that it caused irreversible brain damage from watching it! Yet this show has millions of fans world wide.  Hopefully this baby will help Snooki grow up and be a responsible person.  Her family is ecstatic about the future Snooki or Snookette!  She is obviously going to use her pregnancy to the fullest and get everything out of it that she can.  While she is pregnant she" will not be filming anymore Jersey Shore this summer,"  but she might visit!  Her and her fiancee did not find out she was expecting until after one of their wild nights out on the town.  She won't be walking down the aisle for at least a year, because she wants to lose all of her baby weight before she gets married. 
I really do not know what to think about today's celebrities!  I know that growing up I was taught that you get married first then have kids!  Or if by chance you do get pregnant, you get married before hand.  I guess I am just a little old fashioned still!  I understand that in today's world it is acceptable to do it backwards! I wish Snooki all the best and hope she has a great pregnancy!

Nick Cannon on the fight of his life!

We all know Nick Cannon as a happy go lucky kind of guy!  He is married to one of the most talented singers of all time Mariah Carey, they have beautiful twins a boy and a girl. His life is pretty much perfect, until now.  Recently he thought that he was just suffering from a horrible cold, and was over doing it at work(He is the co host to America's got Talent).  He finally went to the doctor and was immediately admitted to the hospital for exhaustion.  It wasn't until the doctors ran tests that they found out what was actually going on with Cannon. His kidneys were shutting down, the reason was he has lupus nephritis,  a rare form  that is a very serious condition.  His lupus is only attacking his kidneys and makes him more prone to blood clots.  
This was a very saddening article to read.  Here is a guy that is living a healthy happy life, and wham! Gets slammed!  Even with all the technology today, these rare diseases affect thousands of people daily. Some are fortunate enough to be able to afford the medicines to control the symptoms, while there are others that can not!  According to Cannon his doctors told him that he has to get at least 6 hours of sleep a night, eat healthy and take all his medications and he should be able to keep this under control!

Great Imaginations!!!

If any of you have read my profile, I have an amazing three year old little boy named Brayden.  Everyday with him is a adventure in itself!  Just to be able to watch him take in the world around him is amazing.  He loves books and I love reading to him.  Today, as I was sitting in the recliner in our den reading my geography homework , I hear him reading out loud to himself.  He has one of his Thomas the Train books, just talking up a storm.  Unfortunately I know the book that he his "reading" by heart because I have read it a thousand times to him.  He is telling the trains about his day, he asks Thomas how is your day? Of course Thomas replied I am a busy train today.  This conversation with the "Trains"  went on for at least thirty minutes.  I guess my whole point to this, is that it is amazing that even at three years old, my son has an amazing imagination and makes up stories to his books.  I think today most kids are so wrapped up in cartoons and video games, that they don't use their imaginations anymore. 

Sugar makes up 16% of kids' daily diet

That is a lot of sugar when you think about it! " By sugar the report means sugars in processed foods like soda, cakes and ice cream. It also includes sweet substitutes like corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, malt syrup, fructose sweetener, honey, molasses, anhydrous dextrose, crystal dextrose and dextrin." All these ingredients can be found in almost everything your child eats or drinks.  Soda, juice, cookies, snack paks, you name it.  "Boys consumed about 362 calories from added sugars compared to 282 calories for girls. The sugary consumption increased with age, beginning at 218 calories for boys between the age of two and five, which increased to 442 calories for teens ages 12 through 19.
White males were more likely to consume the largest percent of sugar, compared with black or Hispanic males. The same trend was true for white females, although the differences in the percentages were lesser than those seen among boys."
This was oustounding to to me.  I try and watch how much sugar intake my son gets. If he gets too much he bounces off the walls.  He does not really eat sweet stuff very often though, he love his chocolate milk though.  Guess I better start paying closer attention to what is in the snacks that I buy for him.

School Shooter Suspect charged with murder as victims' parents speak out!

T.J. Lane the 17 year old shooting suspect is being charged with murder,  the charges state that the teenager "purposely and with prior calculation and design" fatally shot three people while at Chardon High School. In addition to this charge he faces two counts of aggravated murder and one count of felonious assault.  This is Lane's first run in with the law other than juvenile troubles. This young man fatally took three innocent boys life's for absolutely no reason.  These young men will never graduate from high school, or college, get married have children.  He took these three boys from their families in a rampage of hate, dislike? No one really knows why!  T.J. Lane had issues with assault before, his own aunt called the police on him after he started a fight with his uncle. On another occasion she called the police again because of him assaulting her husband again, when the police arrived her husband was knocked out on the floor bleeding from his mouth.  According to the article Lanes' friends said that he had a troubled childhood.  His father and mother both had been in trouble with the law. His father served prison time for assaulting a law enforcement officer, and also charge with felonious restraint for holding a woman against her will holding her under running water and bashing her head in to a wall. 
All I can think of is WOW!  There are several kids out there that have "troubled" childhoods, and have parents that have or are doing time, but they don't go ballistic on  there school.  His grandparents had custody of him, they should have been able to see that this kid was having issues. Either that or they just turned their head the other way and didn't want to worry about it.  Because they did not take the time to notice that this kid was having issues, three families lost their sons this week.  Three boys lost their futures, and why?  I think as a parent or grandparent regardless of the situation, pay attention to what  is going on with your kids. " One of the victims Danny Parmertos brother Dominic said that his brother was going to change the world!  He always smiled and my brother was the happiest kid on the earth." 
For some reason this article really struck me.  I can not imagine losing my son like this, or at all.  As parents we send our children to school thinking that this is a "safe" place for them.  Phyllis Ferguson whose son Demetrius lost his life also stated:  "No matter what you're going through ... you grab your children, you kiss them and tell them you love them."