Our Hail photos from today!

We experienced a ton of hail today!

Old Navy Stuffed Animal Recall - USA and Canada

This recall was announced this morning. I can attest to the problems of stuffed animal eyes. Emily had a beanie baby eye shoved up her nostril when she was about two years old. She came to us saying her nose hurt. When I looked inside all I saw was something black and shiny. To the ER we went! It took a loooooooooooong time for the doctors to extract that little eye using a long forceps while holding down my screaming toddler. How did she find the little eye? The dog had chewed up the toy and she found the eye and for some reason put it in her nose. Never take a toddler's curiosity for granted and look out for toys that can lose plastic tiny parts.

Name of product: Stuffed Animal and Creature Toys

Units: About 35,500 in the United States and 5,400 in Canada

Retailer: Old Navy LLC, of San Francisco, Calif.Hazard: The stuffed toys have two button eyes that could detach from the toy, posing a choking hazard to young children.Incidents/Injuries: None reported.Description: The stuffed animal and creature toys are made out of cotton and have plastic button eyes. They come in a variety of styles, such as a rabbit, penguin and reindeer. The recalled toys and style numbers are listed below:Type of Stuffed Toy and Style Number:Brown Plaid Creature (Stubby Stuberson) 612756Pink Striped Dove 600571Grey Dog 600572Hot Pink Creature (Lucy Toothy) 612800White Dog (Dr. Poopsie) 612738Brown Penguin 612672Light Pink Rabbit 612671Brown Reindeer 612728Dark Pink Rabbit (Honey O'Bunny) 612806The style number is located on a white label sewn into the side seam of the toy.

Sold at: Old Navy stores and on the Web at www.oldnavy.com from July 2008 through February 2009 for between $6 and $10.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled stuffed toy away from young children and return it to any Old Navy store for a full refund. If purchased online, contact Old Navy for instructions on returning the toy for a full refund. Consumers who return the toy before July 1, 2009 will also receive a $5 coupon toward a future Old Navy purchase.Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Old Navy toll-free at (866) 580-9930 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, visit the firm's Web site at www.oldnavy.com, or e-mail the firm at custserv@oldnavy.comNote: Health Canada's press release can be seen at http://209.217.71.106/PR/recall-retrait-e.jsp?re_id=666

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled products, please go to:http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09134.html

Recall - Evenflo Activity Centers

I have decided to go back to posting child-related recall information on this blog. A lot of people have told me that they read it here and it helped them. So starting today forward, you can keep up with child-related recalls at this site. You can find prior recalls for all products at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

Product Recalled: Evenflo Activity Centers

Units: About 213,000

Manufacturer: Evenflo Co. Inc., of Miamisburg, Ohio

Hazard: When used as an activity table, the cap on one end of the product can loosen and fall off, posing a fall hazard to a young child.

Incidents/Injuries: Evenflo has received 11 reports of dislodged end caps which resulted in nine minor injuries, including bumps and bruises. Evenflo has also received a report of a dislodged end cap that resulted in a child suffering a broken collarbone in Canada.

Description: The recall involves Evenflo ExerSaucer Triple Fun stationary activity centers made between October 2006 and December 2008. The model number is 6231711. Stage 3 position involves converting the product into an activity table. No other ExerSaucer models use end caps and, therefore, no other models are included in this recall.

Sold at: Juvenile product and mass merchandise stores nationwide, including Toys 'R Us and Burlington Baby Depot, from October 2006 through February 2009 for about $120.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: : Consumers should immediately stop using the activity table in Stage 3 and contact Evenflo to receive a free replacement end cap. The product may continue to be used in Stages 1 and 2 without changes.Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Evenflo at (800) 233-5921 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's Web site at www.exersaucertriplefun.comTo see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recall product, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09131.html

Parent Trap Post of the Day

I think we should view our children through the eyes of today .... meaning that we really need to try to get from underneath the lens from which we view the world, usually our own childhood. We are always trying to edit kids, telling them how to do things and trying to tell them how much better our world was "back in the day". Well, this is their day!

Technology has changed, communications has changed, school has changed, clothing has changed, need I go on? But the basic needs of people have not changed at all. We all need love, acceptance, praise and security. How can you do a better job of providing these things in this newer, more modern world? Can you learn about Ipods or visit the Apple store with your kid? Can you read a new story with them? When was the last time you spoke highly of them to someone else? Let's not let their "back in the day" become a homage to our old times - create new times with your child. What do you think about this - how do you do it?

I'm back!

Hi, Thanks to all the new and old readers who keep coming back to read my formerly well-updated blog! I took a bit of a break and now I'm back. I had to update the Thanksgiving Chocolate pie recipe for a reader and now I'm going to write more. Aren't you happy?! We have really been enjoying Fall here in northern Alabama. We've never really ever lived through a real Fall. Well, I haven't nor have the kids. Tim lived in New Hampshire for a year so I guess he did. Anyway, I've posted a few photos here of our street and how it looked last week. Today, the leaves are mostly falling and it's starting to look like Winter.

Why Is This So Hard?

Annie isn't happy with school. She is complaining about being bored in class daily. She was telling me how much happier she was in a full-time gifted classroom, which is not offered here in Alabama public school. We can't afford private school, as we can barely afford to live.

I am enlisting the help of her gifted teacher to try to see what we can do to improve the situation. She tested with Belin-Blank on the EXPLORE ACT test last January, as was working at two to five years ahead of 4th grade in every subject. Being stuck in regular 4th grade must be mind-numbing to her. She needs more than what the school seems to be able to provide. I am frustrated.

Talk Like A Pirate Day- Ye Scalliwags!

Avast! It be talk like a pirate day today, if ye had not heerd. Grab yer sailor or yer lass and revel in all that is pirate! Yer supposed to let out yer inner pirate, what'er that means. Aye, I shall hoist my grog high and drain it to celebrate this vile day! I shall view the reviled pirate king, Johnny Depp, in his arrgggg, dvd videos thru the nite in adulation! Hear ye - raise up yer scabbard, get yer little rugrats to help ye and pass the word to Talk Like A Pirate today!

Haikus by My Daughter

Haikus (done in class for her own amusement) by Annie, Age 9. I think you'll see recurring themes here. Too bad it is not graded :) p.s. Orpheus and Elmo are both hamsters.

Orpheus is cool
He is a cool black hampster
Elmo is now dead

Lunch is real awesome!
I love lunch it is tasty!
It is almost time.

The bathroom stinks bad
The toilet is real dirty
It is real stinky!

God, I am tired!
I want to go to sleep now!
I am real sleepy!

The baby went Poop
He just pooped in his diaper
It is real stinky!

My class is crazy
We are extra superreally loud!
Save me from this place!!!

Math totally stinks!
So does reading and English.
Get me out of here.

Remembering 9/11

The memories are always fresh and I'll always have the memories of the last part of my pregnancy with Emily clouded by the horrors of 9/11. Please take the time to remember everyone who died that day, especially the innocent children on those planes.

My Daughter is Raising Money to Go To Space Camp!

My oldest daughter, Annie, is set on going to Space Camp this summer. She's a bright, motivated girl with interests in science, computer science and engineering for her future. We are fortunate to live right around the corner from Space Camp. We are not fortunate, in that because of our financial situation, we can't afford to send her there for that great opportunity.

Years of layoffs and the resulting excess debt still plague our family and we are digging out now that Tim is fully employed again. I am doing my best to manage being "mom" and working from home so I have time to take care of the needs of the the children. I have tried to get full-time work, but no one is calling me back, despite my years of human resources experience and banking experience. So here we are....

Annie is trying to raise money herself and increase her knowledge of space and general science by creating a blog called Send Me To Space Camp. We told her that she has a chance to work hard, learn more and create awareness about herself and her goals through this blog. It also gives readers a chance to support her and her goals by soliciting sponsorship and/or donations to help her fulfill her goal. Kind of like a virtual lemonade stand.

Take a look and give her feedback. She'll be adding new content weekly, so add her to your favorites list. Thanks for supporting the future scientist!