This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sprint for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

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I didn’t watch the Super Bowl on Sunday, I didn’t really care who won.  I used to tape it every year just to fast forward through the games so I could watch the commercials.  With You Tube around I don’t even have to do that anymore.  Honestly, I don’t really much care about them either.  But sometimes 1 or 2 catch my eye.

This one made me cry.  I don’t know if it hits me because I am a Detroiter or because I am an American, but it doesn’t matter.  It hits me.  I hope it hits you too.

This is a guest post by Shalini Wittstruck the mother of Kieran who has been named the March of Dimes National Ambassador.  the Walk for Babies is coming soon.  Although I will not be able to walk again this year, there are plenty of chances for you to walk or to donate to a team.  The grand twins were 8 weeks premature and are now flourishing.  March of Dimes does all they can to help every child flourish.

When my husband Shane and I were told our baby would be born more than two months premature, we were forced to face the fact that he might die or suffer lifelong health complications. But against all odds, our beautiful son, Kieran, has grown into a healthy 5-year-old boy who is now the March of Dimes 2012 National Ambassador. Never did we imagine pregnancy as a life or death event. Then, one day, our lives and our expectations changed.

When Kieran was born, we were given worst-case scenarios – doctors warned me that he might not survive and I thought I would never hear him. Amazingly however, Kieran was born crying. The sound of that faint cry is etched in my memory forever. As a newborn, Kieran frequently stopped breathing while he slept and fell asleep while eating, which made it difficult for him to gain the weight he needed to safely leave the newborn intensive care unit (NICU). A heart murmur was found, as was a cyst in his brain. After an emotional 31 days in the hospital, Kieran was finally able to go home weighing almost five pounds.

Despite his premature birth and initial health complications, Kieran is now a healthy and very energetic kindergartner. He is a leader among his friends, and frequently invents games and machines. Kieran has great aspirations, and thinks that one day he would like to be an engineer or a pilot….or perhaps build robots. I suppose only time will tell!

As the 2012 March of Dimes National Ambassador, Kieran (with Shane and I in tow, of course!) will travel the country, representing thousands of families around the United States whose children have survived prematurity.  The National Ambassador Program is an annual campaign, started in 1946, that puts a face on the March of Dimes mission.  United Airlines, which recently joined with Continental Airlines to create the world’s leading airline, is the program’s official airline sponsor for seven consecutive years.

Already, we have visited New York, Florida, Arizona, and Illinois. We are sharing Kieran’s amazing story to help raise awareness of premature birth. We’ve met people from all walks of life who share the common bond of worrying abut their preemie baby. Some are like Kieran – they barely show any signs of their early birth, while others must overcome the health consequences daily. It has been therapeutic for us to meet other parents who have gone through similar experiences and be able to share stories. It’s so good to know that by telling our story, we’re helping other people cope too.

Kieran, who will be six in March, was born after 31 weeks of pregnancy, weighing only three pounds, one ounce. Our story has a happy ending, but we know that not all premature babies are as fortunate as Kieran.  Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death, and 1 in 8 babies in the United States is born too soon. Babies who survive an early birth often have breathing problems, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities and other health challenges. Even babies born just a few weeks early have higher rates of hospitalization and illness compared to full-term infants. Many important organs, including the brain and lungs, are not completely developed until a baby is full-term. We don’t know why Kieran was born too soon, but we hope the research and work of the March of Dimes continues so that one day more babies will get a healthy start in life.

We believe the research funded by the March of Dimes resulted in our son’s well-being and significantly improved his odds of survival. We are encouraging everyone to participate in the March of Dimes signature fundraising event March for Babies®. This year, more than 7 million people will join their family, friends and colleagues in 900 communities to March for Babies® across the nation. The money raised by March for Babies supports community-based programs that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies, and research to find answers to the problems that threaten babies lives.  As the National Ambassador family we will participate in many walks around the country.  I have been walking with my employer, Cigna Insurance, a national sponsor of March for Babies, since Kieran’s birth.  Kieran started “walking” in March for Babies in 2007 while still in a stroller.  Over the years he has graduated to dad’s shoulders to riding in a wagon to now practically running the whole thing!

We are blessed for all we have been given and are excited to be able to give back in 2012. Hope to see you at a March for Babies (or two)!

Until next time,

Shalini (Kieran’s mom)

February 17: THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY

I have a screening of this later this week.  Can’t wait, it looks adorable!

I can’t wait for this movie.  I know this is one the grands are going to love as much as I do.

Check out the fun activities below to get ready for the February 7 release!  Just in time for my birthday, hint hint!

Today I am over at Moms LA talking about teaching to the test.  I would love to have you join me over there and give your two cents.

“We have all heard about visual vs. tactical learners.  Some take direction better than others and some need to be more hands on to learn.  Think of how difficult it is having 35 totally different personalities and learning styles and trying to teach them all the same thing.  It is virtually impossible.”

To read more go to Testing, Testing, 1. 2. 3.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Santa Clara County’s 80% Home Energy Assessment Rebate for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

A home energy assessment determines how much energy your home consumes and suggests ways you can make your home more energy efficient. An assessment will show you problems that may, when corrected, save you significant amounts of energy – and money – over time. During the assessment, your contractor can pinpoint where your house is losing energy. Energy assessments also determine the efficiency of your home’s heating and cooling systems. Most homes lose up to 30% of their heating through faulty ducts and poor. A participating contractor uses a variety of techniques and equipment to determine the energy efficiency of a structure. Thorough assessments by a participating contractor will use equipment such as blower doors, which measure the extent of leaks in the building envelope, and infrared cameras, which reveal hard-to-detect areas of air infiltration and missing insulation. After the tests, your contractor will discuss the results of the assessment with you as well as explain the upgrade available to make your home more energy efficient. If you complete the improvements suggested by the assessment results and your participating contractor, you may be eligible for additional rebates up to $4,000.

You can find out more information and a listing of participating contractors by visiting the Santa Clara County Energy Upgrades Facebook page.

A silent movie in 2011?  Who’d have thunk?  Not me that’s for sure, but I am certainly glad that someone did.

A silent film star faces the reality that “talkies” are coming but can’t bring himself to lower to that level.  Amazing acting, although kinda cheesy in this day and age because of the “overacting’ and “mugging” nature of silent films.

It was a little hard to watch at home on DVD because you have to pay attention.  I don’t pay attention well at home with the computer and magazines, and toys needing to be picked up distracting me.

I definitely recommend you run out and see this in a theater while you still have a chance.

Would I vote for it to be Best Picture?  No.  But it is still a really good film.

Three Diet Cokes

I have made no secret of my dislike for 3D.  But something about the way the Disney cartoons have been done make me lean the other way.  I really enjoyed the Cars 2 in 3D and when we saw Beauty and the Beast last week, Caitlyn exclaimed that she felt like she was a part of the movie.  That is how to do 3D RIGHT!

A couple of weeks ago I was watching Finding Nemo with the twins and as soon as the dad went searching for Nemo with DOri I thought, now this one should be in 3D.  Lo and behold what shows up in my email inbox this week?  A press kit for Finding Nemo 3D!  I can’t wait.

Part of what makes Disney a step above others in 3D is that they provide child size glasses, that really makes a difference for Caity.  Now if I can find prescription 3D glasses I will be happy as well!

Enjoy this little blast from the past.

The Aquarium of the Pacific here in Long Beach invited MomsLA (and other press) to go on a whale watching cruise last week.  No way was I passing up this awesome opportunity.  I bundled up in my sweater and leather coat, borrowed a scarf and gloves from my friend and off I went.

Unfortunately I have a crap camera (my blackberry) for video and the good video I took (with my iPod Touch) in no way holds a candle to what my colleague Sarah Auerswald was able to capture.

We saw two pods of dolphins, one of which was bottle-nosed.  And at least 11 Fin Whale. And 1 lonely sea lion.  All in all a really good sighting day.  A few days earlier and on the cruise after ours they had ORCA sightings!  I can’t believe we missed that!

Take a look at Sarah’s video, see if you can spot the baby dolphin swimming with it’s momma.  Then scroll down to win 2 tickets to the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific.

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