My 10-year-old son has suffered from chapped lips since he was 6. Not just the chapped lips we all get once in a while: he looks like a clown from October to March. Once the dentist actually stopped working on his filling, stood up, and asked me: "What are you going to do about his lips? They're getting infected." Talk about embarrassing... after trying every lip balm around (and having to chase after him with the dreaded stick as soon as he saw it), I brought him to the doctor. His diagnosis: "lip licking." All I had to do was get him to stop. Okaaaay...I needed another solution.

I found it: Neosporin Overnight Renewal Therapy. It really did work overnight. And he doesn't mind putting it on -- it's light, creamy without being greasy, doesn't burn, and has no smell. It'll be the first Thanksgiving in years my mother-in-law doesn't walk in and announce: "What's wrong with his face? Don't you take care of him?"

They also have a daytime product that I think you're supposed to use with the nighttime one, but to be honest, the nighttime worked so well, I didn't even use the daytime one. Just wanted to share this find in case any of you are dealing with the same thing! It costs around five bucks and you can find it in most drugstores and supermarkets.

Here's a roundup of recent H1N1 news stories. And tell us: Have you encountered Swine Flu in your community? Did you get your family vaccinated? Did you get the shot, or the mist? Let us know!

In Iowa, the first case of a family pet with H1N1. The cat most likely got it from the family members recently suffering from swine flu. (Time) 

How did Wall Street bankers score the swine flu vaccine ahead of millions of others? (Associated Press)

Going sanitizer-happy? An unusually high demand for Purell could lead to limited supplies in some areas. (CNN) 

Seven members of an endangered Amazonian tribe have died from H1N1. (BBC)

A new bill in the House of Reps would guarantee paid sick leave to workers if their employer asks them to stay home with swine flu. (Associated Press) 

To put it in perspective, here's an interesting history of the swine flu, from 1889 to today. (New Scientist)  

Plus:

Our no-freak-out swine flu guide for parents

Swine flu know-how for moms-to-be

 

Wouldn't it be awesome if the sugar-coated cereals our kids beg us to serve boosted their immune systems and helped them fight off sickness? (And did the laundry and dishes?) That's what Kelloggs was claiming on their cereal boxes (minus the laundry and dishes part), by slapping a huge banner on their Cocoa Krispie box that read "NOW HELPS SUPPORT YOUR CHILD'S IMMUNITY." The FDA supported the claim because vitamins A, C and E technically can boost your immune system, but health experts were (duh) skeptical and several lawsuits were filed.

Now, Kellogg's has scrapped the whole claim. So though the erroroneous boxes will still be on shelves for a few months while supply runs out, there won't be any more printed. (Maybe you should buy a box -- it might be a collector's item someday. Hello, e-bay!)

Check your freezers! Fairbank Farms (NY) has recalled 545,699 pounds of ground beef that is already past its sell-by date.

Read New York Firm Recalls Fresh Ground Beef Products Due To Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination (USDA) 

"Each package bears the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the nutrition label. These products were packaged on September 15 and 16, 2009, and may have been labeled at the retail stores with a sell-by date from September 19 through 28, 2009, unless otherwise noted [below]. Consumers should ask at their point of purchase if the products they have are subject to recall. The products were sent to distribution centers, intended for further distribution to retail establishments in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Consumer questions should be directed to the company's Consumer Hotline at (877) 546-0122."

Here's a list of the recalled ground beef products, and where they were sold:

Trader Joe's
• 1-pound packages of "TRADER JOE'S BUTCHER SHOP FINE QUALITY MEATS GROUND BEEF 85/15."
• 1-pound packages of "TRADER JOE'S BUTCHER SHOP FINE QUALITY MEATS GROUND BEEF 80/20."
(NOTE: The sell-by dates for the above two products may be October 6 or 7, 2009.)
• 1-pound trays of "TRADER JOE'S BUTCHER SHOP FINE QUALITY MEATS GROUND BEEF PATTIES 96/4 EXTRA LEAN."
• 1-pound trays of "TRADER JOE'S BUTCHER SHOP FINE QUALITY MEATS GROUND BEEF PATTIES 85/15."

Price Chopper
• 1- and 2.5-pound trays of "PRICE CHOPPER MEATLOAF & MEATBALL MIX."
• 1-pound trays of "PRICE CHOPPER EXTRA LEAN GROUND BEEF 96/4."
• 1-pound trays of "PRICE CHOPPER FRESH GROUND BEEF CHUCK FOR CHILI 80% LEAN 20% FAT."

Lancaster and Wild Harvest
• 1-pound trays of "LANCASTER BRAND 96/4 EXTRA LEAN GROUND BEEF."
• 1- and 2-pound trays of "LANCASTER BRAND 90/10 GROUND BEEF."
• 1-pound trays of "WILD HARVEST NATURAL 85/15 ANGUS GROUND BEEF."

Shaw's
• 1- and 2-pound trays of "SHAW'S FRESH GROUND BEEF 93/7."
• 1-, 2- and 3-pound trays of "SHAW'S FRESH GROUND BEEF 80/20."
• 1- and 3-pound trays of "SHAW'S FRESH GROUND BEEF 75/25."
• 1.3-pound trays of "SHAW'S FRESH GROUND SIRLOIN BEEF PATTIES 90/10."
• 1.3-pound trays of "SHAW'S FRESH GROUND ROUND BEEF PATTIES 85/15."
• 1.3-pound trays of "SHAW'S FRESH GROUND BEEF PATTIES 80/20."
• 3-pound trays of "SHAW'S FRESH GROUND BEEF PATTIES FAMILY PACK 80/20."
• 1-pound trays of "SHAW'S ANGUS GROUND BEEF 85/15."
• 1-, 2- and 3-pound trays of "SHAW'S FRESH GROUND ROUND BEEF 85/15."
• 1-pound trays of "SHAW'S 90% NATURAL GROUND BEEF."
• 1-pound trays of "SHAW'S 85% NATURAL GROUND BEEF."
• 1-, 2- and 3-pound trays of "SHAW'S FRESH GROUND SIRLOIN 90/10."
• 1-pound trays of "MEATLOAF & MEATBALL MIX."

BJ's
• 5-pound trays of "FRESH GROUND BEEF, CONTAINS 15 % FAT" patties.
• 3- and 5-pound trays of "LEAN GROUND BEEF, CONTAINS 7% FAT."
• 2.5-pound trays of "MEATLOAF & MEATBALL MIX." Ford Brothers
• 3-pound trays of "FRESH GROUND BEEF, CONTAINS 20% FAT" patties.

Giant
• 1-pound trays of "GIANT EXTRA LEAN GROUND BEEF 96/4."
• 1-pound trays of "GIANT MEATLOAF & MEATBALL MIX."
• 1-pound trays of "GIANT NATURE'S PROMISE GROUND BEEF."
• 1-pound trays of "GIANT NATURE'S PROMISE GROUND BEEF PATTIES."

And, products for further processing:
• Cases of 10-pound "FAIRBANK FARMS FRESH GROUND BEEF CHUBS."

A Florida couple has been arrested after taking their daughter to the hospital. Her issue? Her throat and mouth were swollen from an allergic reaction she had after being forced to chew on some soap for 10 minutes. (Apparently, she said a bad word.)

Read Pair Charged with Making Girl Eat Soap

I'm about to throw a fit. Why haven't people realized that force feeding someone lye, sodium silicate (a.k.a. liquid glass), and fragrance is completely NOT cool?

Makes me wonder what other, outdated punishments are still in use. Are there any punishments that your parents or grandparents used that you wouldn't?