Reason's to Reconsider the Flu Vaccination especially for Children

For everyone who has children and are concerned about the Swine Flu this year, I have been reading so much about the negative aspects and unknown outcomes of receiving the Swine Flu vaccination and encourage you to do the same before deciding to allow your children to be vaccinated.  The flu is usually not deadly and only those with compromised immune systems or an underlying health issue such as asthma should be concerned for any complications if they become ill.  So many toxic substances are added to vaccines in general and the Swine Flu vaccine is no exception.

Please do your research before any vaccination!  Is every vaccine necessary (29 vaccinations before age 2)?  Could the vaccine do more harm than good (especially the Swine Flu vaccination).  Here is a link to one interesting article I read "Do NOT Let Your Child Get Flu Vaccine -- 9 Reasons Why". 

1. This flu is simply another flu. It is not unusually deadly.
   
2. This is the first time both season and pandemic flu vaccines will be administered. Both seasonal flu and
   swine flu vaccines will require two inoculations. This is because single inoculations have failed to produce sufficient antibodies. This is an admission that prior flu vaccines were virtually useless. Can you trust them this time?
   
3. Adjuvants are added to vaccines to boost production of antibodies but may trigger autoimmune
   reactions. Some adjuvants are mercury (thimerosal), aluminum and squalene. Why would you sign a consent form for your children to be injected with mercury, which is even more brain-toxic than lead?
   
4. This is the first year mock vaccines have been used to gain FDA approval. The vaccines that have been
   tested are not the same vaccines your children will be given.
   
5. Over-vaccination is a common practice now in America. American children are subjected to 29 vaccines by the age of two. Meanwhile, veterinarians have backed off of repeat vaccination in dogs because of observed side effects.
   
6. Modern medicine has no explanation for autism, despite its continued rise in prevalence. Yet autism is
   not reported among Amish children who go unvaccinated.
   
7. Researchers are warning that over-use of the flu vaccine and anti-flu drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza can
   apply genetic pressure on flu viruses and then they are more likely to mutate into a more deadly strain.
   
8. Most seasonal influenza A (H1N1) virus strains tested from the United States and other countries are now resistant to Tamiflu (oseltamivir). Tamiflu has become a nearly worthless drug against seasonal flu.
   
9. Public health officials are irresponsible in their omission of any ways to strengthen immunity against the
   flu. No options outside of problematic vaccines and anti-flu drugs are offered, despite the fact there is strong evidence that vitamins C and D activate the immune system and the trace mineral selenium prevents the worst form of the disease.
   

Following the article Dr. Mercola discusses ways you can protect yourself and children without vaccinations.  One of which includes vitamin D as I had referenced in a previous post.  He goes on to list the different aspects of living a healthy lifestyle that so many other doctors and health care workers keep preaching for avoiding everything from cancer to diabetes.  I will summarize Dr. Mercola's list below however, for more detailed information please read his article.

1. Avoid sugar and processed foods: Decreases immune system

2. Adequate rest: Helps immune system work properly

3. Stress Management:  Have an action plan to control your stress

4. Exercise: Boosts immune system

5. Omega-3 fats:

6. Wash hands regularly

7. Garlic

8. Avoid hospitals and vaccines

Mercola, Dr. Joseph. "Why You Should NOT Vaccinate Your Children Against the Flu This Season." Merocla.com. Dr. Joseph Mercola, 28 Sept. 2009. Web. Retrieved 16 Oct. 2009. <http://www.mercola.com>.

The Day After

Saturday was as cold as they predicted with a new record low of 17 (old record 24) degrees in Denver.  Oddly, the high of only 25 degrees on Saturday was about the same as the old record low and it was 56 degrees in Aspen when it was 25 in Denver?  Weird! Barely any snow feel only a dusting however, the extreme cold weather resulted in a postponement of the Rockies/Phillies Playoff game.

Scott and I headed out to Park Meadows Mall to window shop and enjoy a warm coffee.  The dogs wanted to go on a walk but I was not feeling like walking in the ice cold. 

Sunday Scott and I woke up early to hit the early show at AMC where you can see a movie before noon for $6.  We decided to see Paranormal Activity because of all the hype.  I usually do not go to scary movies because I have bad nightmares but I compromised.  The movie was different in many ways like the quietness, lack of action or gore (all good with me).  My biggest complaint was the motion sickness I experienced as a result of the constant camera movement.

After the movie we headed home to see the kickoff of the Broncos game (Go Broncos 5-0!) and during half time we decided to take the dogs on a walk since the temperature was up to a warm 35 degrees.  The entire walk we felt like we were in a ghost town.  We never see the park and trails so empty.  I'm not sure if the vacancy was a result of the extremely cold day or Broncos Game? Maybe a little of both? Either way the dogs were happy to get out of the house and have the trails to themselves.

The weather is so unseasonably cold the leaves are just giving up and falling off the trees while they are still green.  Well all I can say is at least we live in Colorado and know a couple days of freezing in early October does not mean winter is coming early.  By Wednesday back in the 60's and next weekend forecast is in the 70's.

Taking Advantage of the Calm Before the Storm

After yesterday's super cold day with temperatures at only 1/2 the average (35 instead of 70), today was a pleasant 50 degrees and the news channels warned we will hit record lows starting tonight and through the weekend with snow in the forecast as well.  This is a big deal for Denver this weekend as the Rockies are hosting playoff games on Saturday and Sunday (in risk of being delayed or canceled) and the Broncos (4-0) host the Patriots on Sunday.  The news predicts the Rockies Saturday night game will be the coldest in history (below 28 degrees).  Scott and I were looking forward to exploring more of Colorado this weekend but I guess we will not even be comfortable going on a walk with the dogs according to the forecast.  So we grabbed the leashes and enjoyed a nice long walk with the dogs tonight and took a few pictures before everything freezes. 

Calm before the storm!

Cold Day = Sweet Warm Chili

When I woke up today and felt the chill in the house I decided it would be a great day for a crockpot of Chili.  I usually make too much food since I am used to cooking for a large family and still haven't figured how to scale back.  However, when I make certain entrees such as chili, soup, spaghetti and enchiladas I still cook big and Scott and I eat left overs for days, lunch and dinner, never getting sick of it.  Sean on the other hand will it once maybe twice and then forget it.  We just tell him too bad make a sandwich or heat up a pot pie, easy mac or something.  Today I scrounged through the fridge and spices cabinet and through in this and that since I did not plan on making chili.  Apparently I had everything I needed and boy did it turn out good.  I can try to share the recipe, but like I said I just kind of added as I went.

First I added olive oil to a warm frying pan and browned 1lb of hamburger with half of a chopped up onion, I added about 1 teaspoon of chili powder while I browned. Meanwhile I added the other ingredients into the crockpot and turned to slow cook (8 hrs although it was ready in 6).

2 cans diced tomatoes

2 cans tomato sauce

1 can corn

3 can's Bush's Chili Beans

4 stalks of celery chopped

1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

2 tablespoons minced garlic

Once the hamburger and onion where browned I added to the crock pot and stirred it all up.

About 6 hours later it was ready and wow what a nice warm meal it turned out to be.

First Snowfall of the Year

Click to enlarge the picture and see the snowflakes

The snow is falling in our green back yard as I sit down to share this craziness.  Yesterday was 70 degrees and today snow and they say next week is back to 70?  Okay.  I think it is quite bizarre to see snow falling when many trees are still green and the grass is green.  Although I am an Arizona girl, so fall and snow are both new concepts to me.  Both are beauties of nature I have been missing all these years.

Top Ten Things I Don't Miss About Arizona

1. Being burnt by the seat belt, steering wheel and anything else in my car (one time I left my debit card in the car and I had to order a new one because the heat deformed it)
2. Not being able to breathe for ten minutes after getting into my 130 degree car and by the time it cooled down I was at my destination and my back was wet with sweat.
3. A breeze feels like a blow dryer in your face and shade does not feel cooler
4. On a nice day heading to the Zoo to find everyone else had the same idea
5. Expensive car insurance (Car thefts, red light runners and grouchy irritated hot drivers)
6. Air conditioning bills (running the air conditioner from Easter to Thanksgiving)
7. Snow birds (when the weather becomes nice the traffic gets worse, restaurants, shopping and other fun things to do are too crowded)
8. Flat (In the Valley and west to California)
9. Getting home from the grocery store as quickly as possible so my ice cream wouldn't melt and other items would not go bad
10. Jumping into a warm pool on a hot summer day

Top Ten Things I Miss About Arizona

1. Family Get Togethers

 

 

2. Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
3. Ikea
4. The beautiful drive from Mesa to Forest Lakes
5. Tie: Good Mexican food and Saguaro Cacti
6. Weekend Trips to: Las Vegas, San Diego, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Mexico
7. Day Trips to: Sedona, Jerome, Tucson, Forest Lakes and Saguaro Lake
8. Arizona State University, "Go Sun Devils!!!" and TEMPE
9. Swimming Pools
10. Never having to drive in or shovel snow

Fall Please Don't Go Away Already!

 (In the upper right hand corner, I think Millie wanted to take Sparky for a walk because Scott was taking to long to get ready)

Fall arrived with much colder temperatures than last year and for those who love to ski or snowboard this is good news.  Today Loveland Ski are opened, the earliest opening in 40 years and I believe Arapahoe Basin is opening later this week as well.  For us just outside the mountains we enjoyed a beautiful 70 degree day today and are expecting the cold to move in tomorrow bringing snow to the Denver area.  Everyday we take the dogs out for their walk and worry about the cold coming and Sparky's arthritis.  She has done a great job getting in shape since we started taking her out in April.  I don't want the leaves to fall so soon!  All the pictures I included are from our daily walk right outside our front door.  I sure love living in Highlands Ranch!

Where to Live? Colorado!

Sean standing outside Invesco Field with Downtown Denver behind him.

Anyone who reads my blog or talks to me knows I love living in Colorado.  Scott and I are always asking people we meet, work with or live by how they like living in Colorado and almost everyone excitedly exclaims "I love it!" "Would not want to live anywhere else!"  The morning news program I watch was talking about how much people love to live here and how many "best of" lists Colorado and Denver consistently make (If you read my blog regularly I have included many of these lists before).  New polls I learned about today that list Denver at or near the top for 2009 include  Forbes Americas Most Popular Cities from data gathered from a Pew Survey and the Harris Poll more recently revealed Denver tied for second with San Francisco after number one New York City for America's Most Popular Places to Live.  The popularity could come from the many reasons Denver and Colorado rank at or near the top of other lists such as The Fittest Cities, Best Places to Live, Smartest Cities, Most Likely to Rebound and so on.

Downtown Denver September 2009

I feel guilty living here sometimes because my family is not here to enjoy it with me.  When Scott and I take our beautiful daily walks, or go on a weekend day trip to a cool mountain town we always talk about what a shame it is that none of our family is here to enjoy this (Don't tell Scott I said anything but he gets real sad sometimes because none of his family has visited us in the two and a half years we lived here). My daughters Whitney and Chelsea have visited so many times they have earned free frequent flier flights and both consider moving here someday when they settle.  My Grandma came out the first year we moved here and my dad came out this spring and says he is coming back next year and considers retiring here.  Sean's friend Austin has visited a few times and plans on moving to Denver after high school.  My plan is to keep posting more and more Colorado love stories so any of our family or fiends looking for a great vacation spot or even a relocation for a fresh start will consider Colorado. More so, by sharing our experiences on the blog we can feel good about enjoying this awesome place we live in and stop feeling guilty.

Worried about Swine Flu?

Nobody likes being sick and the flu is the worst.  I hate having to miss school or work to lay in bed with a fever, coughing, sneezing and being so stuffy I can't fall asleep or stay asleep if I do but too sick to get out of bed and clean house, do laundry or even watch TV. I personally have been fortunate enough not to have been this sick for at least five years and I never get flu shots.  Scott and I refuse flu shots every year and manage to make it through the season much better than those who do.  Many health experts have been talking recently about the many benefits of Vitamin D3 including Swine Flu prevention and recovery.  This weekend I was at Costco and they were sampling a liquid formula of Vitamin D3, they also carry a Kirkland brand of the vitamin in a pill form form.  Please consider 20 minutes of direct sun exposure every day or taking a daily supplement of Vitamin D3.  Please Google the vitamin if you want to learn about the numerous benefits (Depression, Bone Health, Immune System, Back Pain and Cancer Prevention for a few.)  I found this article on Three Easy Steps to Prevent or Cure a Swine Flu infection using Vitamin D3.  I am adding this supplement starting today in addition to vitamin C, 7-8 hours of sleep, healthy diet, a daily walk and a stress outlet.  I hope you will do the same.