Flu vaccine causing seizures in children

This angers me beyond belief...
Today the FDA announced they are investigating the reports of 42 American children who have suffered seizures within a day of receiving the flu vaccine.  This is subsequent to the fact that in western Australia within a month of starting their flu vaccine program 63 children were admitted to the hospital with convulsions within 12 hours of receiving it.  Aside from these reported convulsions there is also another undisclosed number of children who suffered fever and vomitting within 12 hours of the shot. This all happened in April 2010. (Their flu season is before ours). This is a quote from one of the parent's of the Australian child, "He couldn't cry - his head was hanging down in the car seat and he couldn't move. I was petrified, it was one of the worst experiences of my life."  Could you imagine?! Australia's chief medical officer told doctors to stop giving children the shot while they did further investigations. The FDA advised we continue to give the vaccine while they "investigate."  The FDA even admits that each year 9 out of 10,000 children age 6 months to 23 months are hospitalized for the flu.  Translation - less than 1%. 

When I took the kids to their doctor a few weeks ago as always I was offered the flu vaccine for them which I always politely refuse.  What angered me about the visit this time was that when I asked him about the Australian cases he laughed it off and said he "researched that and did not find a thing."  I guarantee you if you do a google search for flu vaccine Australia children you will find 453,000 results in .22 seconds.  In the article on the FDA investigation I read today it said "At this point no correlation between influenza vaccine and febrile seizures has been established. Adverse events after vaccination may be causally related to vaccine or may be coincidental," Sanofi-Aventis said in a written statement.  Does anyone find this statement gives them relief?? Sanofi-Aventis, the maker of this vaccine is a for profit corporation that supports it's stockholders and has an obligation to them.  They are not a non profit organization looking out for the best for your children.  Don't follow the status quo do your research and think for yourself.  I would love to hear what you think about this...

FDA probing seizures reported after flu shot

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41176091/ns/health-cold_and_flu/

"Flu vaccination ban goes national after fever, convulsions in children"
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/flu-vaccination-ban-goes-national-after-fever-convulsions-in-children-20100423-tglp.html

Flu vaccine causing infant seizures; FDA to investigate

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/031075_vaccines_seizures.html#ixzz1BhHVzdYI

 

Natural Ways to Prevent the Flu

Simple Tips to Avoid the Seasonal Flu Virus

Read more at Suite101: Natural Ways to Prevent the Flu: Simple Tips to Avoid the Seasonal Flu Virus http://www.suite101.com/content/natural-ways-to-prevent-the-flu-a169162#ixzz1BhIW91pu

Recipes

As a (mostly) stay at home mom one of my "responsibilities" is meal planning and cooking healthy and tasty meals for my family.  I love cooking and eating and nutritious food is extremely important to me.  My goal is to stay within our budget while making a variety of mostly organic nutritious meals.  I am always looking for new recipes so I thought I would share some of my "go to" recipes with you.  These meals I have made many times for my family and for friends.  Oh and the most important of my goals with meal planning is that whatever I am making is easy!  I really don't have a lot of time for cooking these days with a baby and a toddler so easy peasy is a necessity.  I tend to make a lot of vegetarian meals as well.  Not only is this type of food so nutritious but it really helps us stay on budget so it's good for mind and body! Even though I have spent countless hours cooking I still feel like I am just beginning to learn so please share your recipes and tips with me!  And so, here are some of my faves....

Quiche
This is probably my top go to recipe.  It is so easy and so versatile!
I make my own crust which sounds complicated but trust me it's not.
Crust
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp white sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
2 Tbsp milk
Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix together until just combined.  Then press with fingers into a 9 inch pie plate.
Filling
1 cup your choice vegetables (I have used mushrooms, or broccoli)
1 onion chopped
a few handfuls of spinach - sorry to be vague here with the measurements but some of my cooking is a bit free spirited
4 eggs
1/3 cup milk
1/3 cup mayo
1 cup shredded cheese ( I usually use mozzarella)
You can also add some meat to this if you want but isn't always necessary.  I have used crumbled bacon, ground turkey, cubed ham, vegan sausage.  Just make sure you cook it first.  As far as a measurement for this I would say a cup or two maybe less for the bacon (unless you are making this for my brother then you probably want to add at least 2 cups of bacon)
Spices - have fun with this.  Add garlic powder, salt and pepper and whatever else you may like.  Just a few shakes is all you need.
Cook mushrooms (if using frozen broccoli you don't need to cook it first) and onions in skillet until onions start to turn translucent.  Remove from heat and stir in spinach.  Beat eggs, milk and mayo in medium bowl with whisk until well blended.  Add spinach mixture, cheese, meat and pour into pie crust you have made.  Bake 50 minutes at 375 degrees.

I consider this quiche recipe so versatile because many of the ingredient can be eliminated or substituted.  This makes it one of my favorites!

Lentil Soup
I love lentils so much!  Lentils are full of fiber which makes them great for your digestive system and helps keep a healthy heart by keeping your cholesterol in check.  Remember that song your mom used to sing "Beans, Beans their good for your heart, the more you eat, the more you..." She wasn't kidding!  Lentils are also full of protein and iron making them a must have staple in every vegetarians kitchen.  As a side note legumes must always be eaten with a whole grain to make them a complete protein.  A piece of whole grain bread or some whole grain rice goes great with this soup.

1 onion chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
2 carrots diced
2 stalks celery chopped
2 cloves garlic minced (if you don't have garlic on hand can substitute garlic powder)
1 tsp dried oregano
1 bay leaf
1 tsp dried basil
1 (14.5 oz) can of crushed tomatoes
2 cups dried lentils rinsed
8 cups vegetable or chicken stock
1/2 cup spinach rinsed and thinly sliced
2 Tbsp vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
Heat oil in large pot over medium heat.  Add onions, carrots and celery.  Cook and stir until onion is tender.  Stir in garlic bay leaf, oregano and basil and cook for about 2 minutes.  Stir in lentils and add stock and tomatoes.  Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for at least 1 hour.  When ready to serve stir in spinach and cook until it wilts.  Stir in vinegar, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Pumpkin Curry Soup
All I can say about this soup is YUMMMMMY!!!
6 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp flour
2 Tbsp curry powder (I use a curry spice blend)
4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1 (29 oz) can pumpkin
1 1/2 cups half and half cream
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp sugar
salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in large pot over medium heat.  Stir in flour and curry powder until smooth.  Cook stirring until mixture begins to bubble.  Gradually whisk in broth and cook until thickened.  Stir in pumpkin and half and half.  Season with soy sauce, sugar, salt and pepper.  Bring just to a boil and remove from heat.  Enjoy!

I have many more but will leave you with this for now.  Mostly because this is making me very hungry!  Please share your recipes with me and let me know if you try any of these.

Hydraulic Fracturing

Watch this movie...
Here is the trailer

Then do something...write a letter, volunteer, share this information with others etc.
Here is my letter to the President.  It may not make a difference but I couldn't watch this movie and do nothing.

Dear Mr President, I am writing to you over my concerns for the threat of our water systems due to hydrualic fracturing.  I live in Pennsylvania and at my father's house in Jersey Shore PA there has been an overwhelming surge of activity for gas drilling.  So, this topic is closely affecting my family.  The fact that the EPA has no ability at this point to monitor this process is incomprehensible! I reviewed the EPA's website and see that there is some progress being made and I hope that this is being looked at as an urgent priority!  Without clean water in our country we have nothing!  This is the basis of life.  I hope that these technical workshops being scheduled with the EPA are fair and well represented.  The corruption in this area of gas drilling breaks my heart.  The path we are currently on to leave a toxic wasteland for our children is beyond sinful.  I will be praying for guidance for you Mr. President in this urgent matter.  May God bless you and give you the wisdom and stamina to make this right.  Thank you for your attention to this.

If you didn't already know there is a massive amount of drilling going on in Pennsylvania.  It will effect you and it will effect your children.

Websites to help you take action

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/

http://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/index.aspx

http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/take-action/contact-elected-officials