It never fails. With the kids spending their days in the Germ Factory and the adults cooped up inside, 'tis the season for the whole family to share the germs. 
Add to that the injuries from winter sports such as skating, skiing, sledding, basketball and snowboarding, and you've got a recipe for a long winter.
Last winter my daughter made the basketball team but only played about two games before she developed tendonitis after a fall in gym class. She didn't get to go sledding, and she missed the whole rest of the basketball season. Keeping an active preteen from running around was not an easy thing--this is a child who routinely burns off her extra energy by going for a mile run after school.
Fortunately we're all injury-free at the moment, and we've already passed around the stomach virus that seems to be making the rounds. Phone calls from friends' parents in the morning are less likely to be after-school invitations and more likely to be requests for a homework pickup.
Even though they seem healthy, the kids are still coughing and sneezing a bit more than normal. Now would be a good time to stock up on cough drops, vitamins, ginger ale, and the fixings for chicken soup.
If only someone would tell their classmates to aim the other way when they cough or sneeze.
COUPON TIME
Where else can you get your Vitamin C and stocking-stuffers in the same shopping trip? And do you need to refill that contact-lens prescription?
Buy 1 Get 1 Free or 
Buy 2 Get 3 Free at Puritan's Pride
Valid through: February 6, 2009 11:59pm ET
10% off AND Free Shipping on orders over $75 at GNC.com 
Online only. Use this link to activate the coupon.
If necessary, enter promotion code FREE75 in your shopping cart.
Valid through: December 31, 2008 11:59pm ET
20% off entire purchase at Gaiam 
Use the promotion code CHEER in your Shopping Cart.
Valid through: December 19, 2008
Online purchases only. Does not apply to previous purchases. May not be combined with any other offer.
NEW CUSTOMERS: 
$5 off and Free Shipping with a $30+ order
OR
$10 off and Free Shipping with a $50+ order at Drugstore.com
Non-prescription orders only. Can be used once per household.
Use this link to activate the offer. Valid through: December 31, 2008
Free Shipping on any size order at Vision Direct 
Use coupon code FREESHIP08 or VISIONSHIP.
Valid through: December 31, 2008
NEW INTERNET CUSTOMERS: 
$13 off an order of $130 or more at 1800CONTACTS.com
Enter order code UC2100 in your shopping cart and press UPDATE CART. Valid through: December 17, 2008
New Internet customers only. Free shipping and any rebate offers can be combined with this coupon.
