SIDS Death Increases 33% On New Year's Day

Why Do SIDS Deaths Spike on New Year's Day?
-Meredith Melnick, December 30, 2010

Not to be a downer before New Year's Eve, but here's an important fact to consider before your end-of-year festivities begin. The number of babies who die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) rises by 33% on New Year's Day, according to a study published in Addiction. 

Led by sociologist David Phillips of the University of California, San Diego, researchers examined 129,090 SIDS cases from 1973 to 2006 using three multiyear nationwide datasets. While the study could not pinpoint a definitive cause of SIDS, the authors believe caretakers' use of alcohol played a role. According to the study's press release:

Phillips and his coauthors found three types of evidence linking SIDS to alcohol. In addition to rising, just like alcohol consumption, more on New Year's than at any other day of the year, SIDS and alcohol consumption also increase every weekend. And the SIDS death rate is abnormally high for children of alcohol-consuming mothers: Babies of mothers who drink are more than twice as likely to die of SIDS.
The study also found a rise in SIDS just after April 20 (or 4/20), a counterculture celebration of cannabis, and after July 4, which is also known as an inebriated time, though the rise on neither of these dates is as dramatic as on New Year's.
To see if parental sleeping-in might be at fault — rather than intoxication itself — the authors also checked to see what happens during the autumn shift to daylight savings, when many sleep later because an hour has been added to the day. There was no rise in SIDS, Phillips said.

The study authors acknowledge that their data did not provide enough detailed information about each SIDS case for a cause and effect to be drawn. Nevertheless, the findings are a good reminder that precautions should be made before parents go out to celebrate this New Year's Eve: a designated sitter is always a good idea, for example. "We know that when people are under the influence of alcohol their judgments are impaired and they are not as good at performing tasks. This would include caretaking," Phillips said.

Want to help create a safe sleep environment for your infant

Use A Halo SleepSack

Visit The Halo Sleepsack website HERE to learn more

-Target now carries these SleepSacks in their stores!

Shop now at Target.com to get one for yourself or give one to a new mom for a Great Baby Gift!

Also, help reduce the risk of SIDS by 72% by using a fan to keep air moving in the room the baby sleeps in

some experts say a pacifier helps but no studies have shown that they acutally do help to reduce the risk

Read HERE to learn more about using a fan in your babies room.

Happy New Year to all!

New Year's Eve Appetizer Ideas! 12/31



Good (Cheap) Eats

Healthy Spin on Some Great Apps

-Just in Time for your New Year's Eve Party!

Cactus Salsa

Spinach Dip

Onion Dip

Click HERE for these Healthy Recipes

or for more Healthy ways to eat and live on a budget

Visit Good (Cheap) Eats website

Click HERE to Follow Good (Cheap) Eats on Facebook

-I promise you won't be dissapointed!

ABC: Extreme Home Makeover-Moorhead, MN Family this Sunday!

Click HERE to view a clip of the
Moorhead, MN Grommesh-Family

Extreme Home Makeover Episode

that will air on ABC this Sunday Jan. 2nd at 8/7C!

Click HERE to read about the Grommesh Family and their story!

Tanga: Magazine Deals! 12/31



was $29 NOW ONLY $2.99!!

89% OFF

Click HERE to grab this great fitness 1-year subscription

and start your New Year off Right!

was $30 NOW ONLY $3.99!

86% OFF

Click HERE to Get this Details 1-Year Subscription

Offers are good only thru today 12/31 for the next 8 hrs

So Hurry over to Tanga & get your Subscription Deals Today!

Blizzard....and more Blizzard! 12/31



So this is what greeted me today outside our front door-a 6' Snow Drift!

Welcome Blizzard of 2010-glad you found our doorstep and decided to stay put for awhile!

We have already had the first blizzard make its way through yesterday-

I94 was shut down after somewhere around 100 Cars  were involved in an accident
the rescue efforts went on for house-luckily no one was badly injured or killed.

Shortly, we are expected to receive the 2nd round of the 2010 Blizzard-

somewhere around 12 more inches of snow are to hit the Fargo/MN area

The sound of snowblowers is in the constant backround as the kids and I

stay inside in our warm home-waiting for the return of our Daddy to make it safely home from work.

Everyone is trying to get the snow moved as much as possible before the 2nd round comes.

Tonight we will probably spend our New Years Eve together as a family putting together my daughters' doll house they received as a Christmas gift. 

We are thankful this Eve to have a warm place to gather and be together.

Happy New Years Eve to all! Stay Safe & Warm this New Year:)) 

TomTom: $10/10 +Free Shipping! 12/31

Did you get a TomTom for Christmas and now need a case or another accessory??

Spend $10 or more and Save $10+Free Shipping!!

Use Coupon Code (case sensative): Welcome123d

Click HERE to get this Great Offer!

**you should be able to snag a new case for just a couple of dollars!

-remember you need to have $10 or more in your cart for this code to apply

Snapfish: 99- 4x6 Prints for $.7 each shipped! 12/31



Stuck at home today???

Get all those Holiday Pics off your camera

and get 99-4X6 prints for $.7 each!

+tax and shipping est. @ $5.89

New members must sign up

Existing members just log in

Upload your pics

order 99 4X6 Prints

Use Promo Code@ checkout: 2011PENNEY

and get 99 prints shipped for around $6.88 right to your door!

Click HERE to Get Started!

**you cannot ship to a site-it must come to your address for this offer

Amazing Amazon Deals! 12/31

was 29.99 NOW ONLY $9.99!!
Click Toy Story 3 DVD to get this Great Offer!

was $14 NOW ONLY $4.99!!
Click Paper Plate Bugs to grab this Great Deal



was $24.99 NOW ONLY $8.99!
Click Balderdash to grab this Great offer


was $9.99 NOW ONLY $4.99!!
Click Moon Dough Puppies to get this Great Deal!


was $29.99 NOW ONLY $11.99!!

Click Crayola Glow Explosion Spin Magic to get this great offer!


was $24.99 NOW ONLY $11.99!!
Click Playskool Musical Activity Ball and Gear Center to grab this Great Deal!

All items ships FREE with Amazon Prime or Amazon Mom
or Free with $25 or more with Amazon Super Saver

Walmart.com Deal of the Deal-Sno Brum! 12/30



Walmart.com

Deal of the Day!

SnoBrum Auto Snow Pusher

Only $15

++Free Shipping Site to Store

or $.97 ships it to your home!

Get Yours Today Click HERE To Grab this Great Deal!

Mens Fitness Magazine ONLY $3.99! 12/30



Men's Fitness Magazine

1-Year Subscription

was $47.40 NOW ONLY $3.99!!

91% OFF

Click HERE To Get this Great Deal

Shape Magazine

1-Year Subscription

was $35.88 NOW ONLY $3.99!

88% OFF

Click HERE To Grab this Great Deal

***Hurry these offers EXPIRE in 4 HRS!!

Blizzard & Bored-Here are some ideas to help keep you sane!

By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ

Top 7 Things to Do When Snow Keeps You Home
Stuck at Home in the Blizzard? Here are Some Great Snow Day Activities

 Board GamesThere's nothing quite like spending time with your
family. Don't just plop down in front of the TV. Do
something the whole family can join in on: board
games.

Sure, they may be old fashioned and don't come with
as many bells and whistles as that Wii or Blue Ray
player. So what? These games have been around for
decades. There must be something good to them.

Monopoly isn't only fun because it lets you buy real
estate, collect rents, build hotels -- all while you try
not to go broke -- but it also teaches some good
lessons in risk, investing and managing money.

For something a bit less challenging, try Candy Land,
which has been many children's first game for more
than 50 years. Colorful characters and whimsical
places take children through a journey of magic and
fantasy. What better activity for a snowy day?

Some of our other favorites include Bobble, LIFE,
Jenga, checkers, chess, Clue, and Apples to Apples.

Winter Cleaning All right, enough fun. Now it's time to get down to
some work. Have that closet that you have been
meaning to clean out, but just never found the time to
tackle?

This might be the perfect day to clear out those
clothes from last season -- or two waist sizes ago --
that you aren't wearing anymore. But don't throw out
those outfits. Make a pile and when the snow clears,
donate them to a local charity. And, hey, for most
people the donation is a tax deduction.

After you organize your closet, move on down to the
basement or garage. Look, we know it's not going to
be fun, but would you rather do it today or on a
bright, sunny spring day?

Movie, TV MarathonOK, now you deserve some vegging out on the couch.

That show or movie you've been dying to see? Well,
now is the time. You know you have always wanted to
watch "Lost" or "Mad Men" but have missed too many

episodes to keep track of what's going on. This is
your chance: Make a snack, or two, shut off the
phone, pop the DVD into your player and start at the
first season's first episode.

Or maybe today is the day to watch that movie you've
been waiting and waiting to see. Sure, your cable
company might have plenty of picks on-demand, but
check out the American Film Institute, which lists the
top 100 movies.

When you're done with those Netflix wrappers, make
some origami. Yes, that's right, origami. There is of
course a Web site that shows you how. It's aptly
named Netflix Origami.

Spend Time with the One You LoveBirth rates have been rumored to go up nine months
after big blizzards and power blackouts, although
subsequent reports said the supposed bubbles
weren't real. (The urban legend arose from the 1965
Northeast blackout. The New York Times did a series
of stories in which doctors said they noticed an
increased number of births nine months later. The
theory was debunked in 1970 by a University of North
Carolina demographer.)

Now, we're not suggesting that people go out and try
to increase the size of the population. But with
Valentine's Day right around the corner, it might not
be a bad time to curl up with the one you love and
spend some quality time together. And hey, besides
shoveling, it might just be the best way to burn
calories during a blizzard.

Read, Read and Read Some MoreYou know that stack of books on your nightstand that
you say you'll get to one of these days? Well, today is
that day. You don't need any great supplies or
exertion of personal energy to read. You can even do
it in bed.

Maybe it's finally time to tackle that self-help book, or
that romance novel. Why not read more about Wall
Street and the recession, or maybe some fiction about
the secret meanings of all the buildings in
Washington, D.C.?

It might be freezing out, but with a good book you
can easily pretend to be on a warm, tropical beach.

And, of course, if you have run out of some good
books to read, don't worry: There are plenty of other
good stories on ABCNews.com to digest. And while
you might be stranded at home, we are here furiously
typing away for your pleasure.

Cook, Bake and ExperimentYou might not be able to make it out to the grocery
store to pick up that vanilla or chili powder. But don't
let that stop you. Take out the cookbook and start
experimenting. Chocolate chip cookies for the kids? A
new soufflé? Or how about turning that old standby
meatloaf recipe into something with a kick?

Cooking can either be a great solitary escape or a fun
family activity. And nothing is quite as comforting as
a good home-cooked meal on a snowy day.

Just dust off one of your cookbooks and --
depending on how long you are stuck at home -- go
through it page by page.

Do Your TaxesYeah, we don't want to do them either. But before you
know it, April 15 will be here. Plus, if you are getting
a refund, why not get that cash now? Maybe you can
use the extra money to buy a really nice Valentine's
Day gift -- or, perhaps, a new, more-powerful
snow blower.

Just as with cleaning out the garage or your closet,
would you rather do it now – or  in April?

These are just a few ideas to help get you through your snow day
Get creative and take advantage of the time you get to be at
home and lastly make it fun!

I saw an idea on a blog recently where the mom brought out the
face paint and did face painting -pull out the dress up clothes
and have a party! Or if you want a craft idea-look at my earlier
posting on how to make your own crayons and draw on tin foil
and make a festive snowman or pull out the coffee filters and
make some snowflakes for the windows....have fun-stay warm.

Sunday @ 1:00pm Bring your Families out for Snow Angels & a good cause!

Family overcoming cancer helps others in similar situations

By JENNY MICHAEL, Bismarck Tribune | Posted: Wednesday, December 29, 2010 3:44 pm | (0) Comments

TOM STROMME/Tribune Ava, left, and Ella Jacobs demonstrate the art of making a snow angel in the snow outside their grandmother's home in Bismarck.

Loading…

• 
• 

Bravehearts for Kids

Bravehearts for Kids will host a snow angel party on Sunday to raise money for the family of Mia Thinnes, a Bismarck girl diagnosed with a brain tumor.


Where: North Dakota Capitol mall
When: 1 p.m. Sunday.
What: Donations of $1 or more go to Mia Thinnes.

The last time Ava Brae Jacobs was in the spotlight in Bismarck, she was a toddler with a bald head from cancer treatments. At that point, when she was here participating in Relay for Life in 2008, the miracle was that she was still alive, recovering from the tumor that doctors thought would take her life.


Now, Ava’s miracle is being a normal 4½-year-old girl, with curls in her long brown hair and freckles on her happy, mischievous face. Doctors in Houston, where she and her family live, have said she has as few problems for a little girl who went through intense chemotherapy and radiation at such a young and vulnerable age can have.

It will be 2½ more years until doctors can pronounce the bubbly brunette’s cancer in remission. But for now, the Jacobs family is happy that Ava has only minor developmental problems remaining from the cancer treatments.

The family has spent Christmas in Bismarck, where Ava’s dad, Jeremy, and mom, Amy, grew up. While they’re here, they hope to raise some money for another family struggling with a little girl with the same diagnosis as Ava.


Their organization, Bravehearts for Kids, will hold a snow angel party on Sunday afternoon to serve as a fundraiser for 6-year-old Mia Thinnes and her family.

Ava was about a year old when her parents learned she had a brain tumor. Since they live in Houston, they had easy access to several large cancer centers. Even so, Ava’s case was rare. The type of cancer she had typically affects 5- to 9-year-old boys, Jeremy Jacobs said. The doctors conferred with other specialists around the world and charted a course of treatment for such a young child.

The treatment was aggressive. Ava was put under general anesthesia approximately 70 times, many of which were to keep the toddler still during radiation.

“You only get one shot at it,” Amy Jacobs explained about the treatments.

With a few bumps along the road, Ava made it out of treatment. The Jacobs consider themselves lucky that they had access to world renowned medical professionals in Houston.

“We drove down the road 20 minutes to the world’s greatest cancer hospital,” Jeremy Jacobs said.

But they know not everyone is as lucky — during Ava’s hospital stays, they knew of other children dying from their cancers at the rate of about one every other day.

As Ava has recovered, they also have watched other families struggling financially. Often one parent has to quit working to care for the child while medical bills stack up. The Jacobs formed Bravehearts for Kids as a grass-roots not-for-profit organization that has set out to give 100 percent of money raised to families in need. They hope to provide enough for plane tickets to get to treatment or to help with bills. They also have offered their home to families who need to take their children to Houston for treatment.

The Jacobs also hope Ava can be a sign of hope for others. Doctors thought she might end up in a vegetative state or with problems that would keep her from growing normally. However, neuropsychologists have pronounced her healthy and, other than some problems with balance and seizures, at normal developmental levels for her age. As she plays around her grandmother’s house with little sister, Adley, and big sister, Ella, Ava is proof that there is life after a pediatric cancer diagnosis.

On Sunday around 1 p.m., Bravehearts for Kids will host a snow angel party at the North Dakota Capitol mall. They are asking anyone who is interested to give a $1 or more donation and make a snow angel with them.

“Whatever drops in the hat, we’re going to donate to a family in need,” Jeremy Jacobs said.

For more information on Bravehearts for Kids, visit http://www.braveheartsforkids.org/.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@bismarcktribune.com.)

Ava is one brave little girl-she is my sister's (Melanie Bitz Paape) neice-we have followed her since her diagnosis and so happy she is doing well!

JCPenney Wednesday Deals! 12/29



Fire Pit

was $500 NOW ONLY $99.99

++Free Site to Store Shipping!

Worthington Adriana

was $65 NOW ONLY $12.99

++Free Site to Store Shipping!

American Graphic Tee

was $26 NOW ONLY $6.99

++Free Site to Store Shipping!

St. John's Striped Poplin Shirt

was $26 NOW ONLY $5.99

++Free Site to Store Shipping!

Click HERE To View All JCPenney Wednesday Deals

and be sure to check out their Clearance Deals as well!

Children's Place 20%OFF +$5 Ships Everything! 12/29

Children's Place Sale

$2.99 & Up

$5 Ships your entire order!

Use Coupon Code: X3CVQGNC12A

-it will give you 20% Off and $5 Shipping

Good thru Jan. 2nd 2011

**there is a coupon code for 15% off on their site

but the above code I found was for 20% OFF!

Click HERE to Start Shopping and Start Saving!

**I was able to get some sale items for under $3 after the 20% OFF was applied :-))



Express-60% OFF! 12/28



ruffled neck tee

was $24.90 NOW ONLY $9.99!

Zelda-Jean Legging

was $79.90 NOW ONLY $39.99!!

Striped fitted Stretch Shirt

was $59.90 NOW ONLY $19.99!

Graphi Tee

was $29.90 NOW ONLY $9.99!!

Click HERE to View these Great Express Deals & More!

Great Tanga Magazine Subscriptions! 12/28



Clean Eating 1-Year Subscription

was $35.94 NOW ONLY $5.99!!

Click HERE for the Clean Eating Subscription Deal

3 Years of Parents Magazine

was $85 NOW ONLY $5.99!!

Click HERE for this Parenting Magazine Offer

***HURRY these offers don't last long-they are available for the next 6 hrs!

Kohl's Polos $10.66 Shipped! 12/28



Kohls Clearance

Men's Plaid Premium Polo

was $38 NOW ONLY $11.40

+ Use Coupon Code: TWENTY4U for an additional 20% OFF your order!

Shipping is just $.99 per item

Get this Men's Premium Polo for just $10.66 Shipped!


Boys Sonoma 1/4 Zip Sweater
was $30 NOW ONLY $4.80!!
+addtl 20% OFF w/coupon code


Boys Tony Hawk Plaid Shirt
was $26 NOW ONLY $3.90!!
 +addtl 20% OFF w/coupon code


Girls Plaid Shirt
was $24 NOW ONLY $2.16!!
++addtl 20% off w/coupon code



Girls Ruffle Tee
was $18 NOW ONLY $3.24!!
++addtl' 20% OFF w/coupon code

Click HERE to view all Kohl's Clearance Items!

**Kohl's had a Men's Docker Sweater earlier that was marked down to $2.52

but was all sold out by the time I was ready to post it

so keep your eyes peeled for good clearance finds this time of year at all retail stores

Let me know if you find any great deals that just have to be shared!