Friday, August 28, 2009
Favorite Foto Friday
I just love this! It came home in Callan's folder last week. His instructions, "Draw a picture of yourself interviewing a classmate at school." It must be someone he is smitten with!!! You notice he is armed with candy and a flower.
Monday, August 24, 2009
2 month Dr. visit
Cruz's visit went well today. I went in armed with lots of information, but was given a lot of information too. She spent 30 minutes with me talking about it all (sorry people after me) and we talked through an alternative schedule for vaccines. It is not way out there and I did walk away having given him more than I had planned on when I went in, but felt better after we talked and I had a good melt down in the office. I will take a little stance here and say that I have decided on a few things.
1. If given the choice, I would not do the Hep B in the hospital. I could go into reasons but let's just say for my blog population, there is no need (and I wish that would have been shared more with me).
2. I did do the DTaP and HIB today, but did not do Prevnar, Hep B, or Roto. I will be honest and say that I also did Polio today. I really did not plan to, but in my nervous, on the spot panic, agreed to a one dose shot of it in with the DTaP. I am regretting that only because that was not my plan and I got nervous and the nurse drew it up before I could go back on my decision. I know I could have said no after she drew it up, but my non-confrontational, do what people tell you to, don't rock the boat, she would have to throw it away conscious appeared and I quickly rationalized that the Polio was not on my radar of concerns and that everyone has been okay with it in the past. I think I will ask at next visit if I can put it off some or if we have to keep forging ahead because we started it. My plan ( I think) is to go back next month to get the Prevnar but I do not plan on doing the Hep B or Roto anymore at all. I am not sure totally about that. I do not think that Prevnar is a school required vaccine, but Hep B is (Hep A is not). As you can see I am working on a visit to visit basis here. I would love to say that I decided that my child would receive no vaccines just to have my own little study group of kids, but in my heart I do believe in their purpose, and would never forgive myself if my child contracted a preventable disease.
3. I plan on holding off on the MMR. My research led me to the fact that they hope to have the MMR split back up in the next year or so. Usually they do not get the vaccine until they are one, and it is the most controversial one. I am almost certain I am going to delay this vaccine as much as possible until school starts for him and hopefully they will have split the vaccine back up and it can be given separately.
All that being said, thank you to those of you who were praying for this suddenly crazed mommy. It was hard, and I did have to explain to Silas and Eliza (who wiped at my tears) that mommy was not crying because she was sad or scared, but because I loved them so much I wanted to do the best possible thing for them. (The tears are going to come back to bite me soon because Silas has to go get Kindergarten shots). It was a good visit. Cruz weighed 12 lbs 13 oz (which is the smallest of my boys at 2 months) and was 23 inches long. She listened to me about the reflux, and gave me a prescription for Tagamet to try out and see if it helps. She also said he has a issue with his trachea being a little soft and collapseable but should resolve itself by 2 years (He is a squeaker). He made a liar out of me when I told her that he had only smiled at us a few times and was not cooing much. He about fell apart smiling at her when she picked him up and talked to him. And tonight he had all of us in stitches as he "A-goo"ed every time Brent did. I wish I had video.
If you have read all of this you probably need a vaccine for your brain, but I want Cruz to see someday that I did think through it all and what it meant to me. I want him to know that I was advocating for him and making sure I was doing what was best for him. And I want to say that just because this is what I chose does not mean it is the best way or the right way. I just had to do what I was comfortable with.
1. If given the choice, I would not do the Hep B in the hospital. I could go into reasons but let's just say for my blog population, there is no need (and I wish that would have been shared more with me).
2. I did do the DTaP and HIB today, but did not do Prevnar, Hep B, or Roto. I will be honest and say that I also did Polio today. I really did not plan to, but in my nervous, on the spot panic, agreed to a one dose shot of it in with the DTaP. I am regretting that only because that was not my plan and I got nervous and the nurse drew it up before I could go back on my decision. I know I could have said no after she drew it up, but my non-confrontational, do what people tell you to, don't rock the boat, she would have to throw it away conscious appeared and I quickly rationalized that the Polio was not on my radar of concerns and that everyone has been okay with it in the past. I think I will ask at next visit if I can put it off some or if we have to keep forging ahead because we started it. My plan ( I think) is to go back next month to get the Prevnar but I do not plan on doing the Hep B or Roto anymore at all. I am not sure totally about that. I do not think that Prevnar is a school required vaccine, but Hep B is (Hep A is not). As you can see I am working on a visit to visit basis here. I would love to say that I decided that my child would receive no vaccines just to have my own little study group of kids, but in my heart I do believe in their purpose, and would never forgive myself if my child contracted a preventable disease.
3. I plan on holding off on the MMR. My research led me to the fact that they hope to have the MMR split back up in the next year or so. Usually they do not get the vaccine until they are one, and it is the most controversial one. I am almost certain I am going to delay this vaccine as much as possible until school starts for him and hopefully they will have split the vaccine back up and it can be given separately.
All that being said, thank you to those of you who were praying for this suddenly crazed mommy. It was hard, and I did have to explain to Silas and Eliza (who wiped at my tears) that mommy was not crying because she was sad or scared, but because I loved them so much I wanted to do the best possible thing for them. (The tears are going to come back to bite me soon because Silas has to go get Kindergarten shots). It was a good visit. Cruz weighed 12 lbs 13 oz (which is the smallest of my boys at 2 months) and was 23 inches long. She listened to me about the reflux, and gave me a prescription for Tagamet to try out and see if it helps. She also said he has a issue with his trachea being a little soft and collapseable but should resolve itself by 2 years (He is a squeaker). He made a liar out of me when I told her that he had only smiled at us a few times and was not cooing much. He about fell apart smiling at her when she picked him up and talked to him. And tonight he had all of us in stitches as he "A-goo"ed every time Brent did. I wish I had video.
If you have read all of this you probably need a vaccine for your brain, but I want Cruz to see someday that I did think through it all and what it meant to me. I want him to know that I was advocating for him and making sure I was doing what was best for him. And I want to say that just because this is what I chose does not mean it is the best way or the right way. I just had to do what I was comfortable with.
Friday, August 21, 2009
WHY TODAY? WHY AT 10 PM?
Okay, this little bloggy of mine is here to document or scrapbook our lives. I am not a person to go into deep thought on my blog, nor do I rock the boat with controversial topics. But tonight, I was minding my own business checking out a few friends blogs, and a few clicks later it slaps me in the face ***SMACK*** it was a post on a blog I have never visited before about vaccines. Most days, that would not matter at all, but today it does. Because Monday at 10AM, I take my baby boy in to begin his vaccine schedule. In the past years with my boys, I have had a few freak out moments where people have confronted me and told me not to vaccinate my child because he was a boy and it would make him @utistic, I also had a melt down in my doctors office and made her tell me why I had to do it. Eliza is still working on getting all of hers because they made me start some of hers over and I refused to let them give her 8 at one visit. For the most part, I have just prayed over my child and asked for protection. But this time, I am even more scared. Lots of things are beginning to cause me to stop and think, and it scares me.
As I have sat here the past hour or so researching these are the things that bother me. Cruz has been the only one of my children that they asked to have a vaccine before leaving the hospital. I have never been asked that before, I was this time. I did it because I do what your "supposed to do", not to mention the whole shock factor of asking a laboring woman if they are going to protect their child from Hep B before leaving the hospital.
BUT...I have never had a child that has required me to go dairy free... it made me think so I went to look up it's side effects. I was blown away!!! Yep, dyspepsia or basically indigestion from gastric reflux. Also, Cruz has been congested since birth. He also had a "runny eye" from birth until just the last week or so. Cruz also sounds like he has a trachea malfunction and squeaks sometimes as he sleeps and throughout the day. All of those things are side effects of the vaccine he had (and honestly that wasn't all, I could say a few more that I suspect but one of the main side effects is loss of appetite... WHY would you do that to a newborn when you are trying to get them to eat/nurse). And I even said to someone just the other day (when I was talking about my giving up dairy to see if it helped some of Cruz's tummy issues)that I did not understand why kids had so many more allergy issues these days (I cannot send in snacks or lunch with Peanut Butter at all) and I found somewhere tonight that they suspect that it may have to do with the vaccines (I do not remember what exactly it said but it referenced them being up 120% for children under 2).
What is a mom to do? As I sit here in tears wondering how I am supposed to know what is best for him when people train for years on end tell me that giving the vaccines is the best thing for him. I love my doctor, I think she is great, but I know what she is going to tell me on Monday. But in light of what has occurred and what I have just been shown, how can I do this to my child any more than I already have . AND I only have a few days to figure this all out. When I go in on Monday they are going to want to give him 6 to 8 shots. Look at what (I believe) just one did to him. I feel so dumb and at such a loss. I spent 9 months eating healthy, avoiding caffeine, medications, too much junk and within hours of birth I let them inject him with a foreign substance that seems to have rocked his world. I want so bad to take it back and see if there is truly a difference.
My brain is spinning... I have to stop here because my brain and heart are about to explode. If you know me you know my heart and know that I am not trying to be controversial I am just a mom who is at a loss for what she is supposed to do... and sad for what I have possibly done to my baby...
How are we to know? Who do we trust? Why is it so hard?
As I have sat here the past hour or so researching these are the things that bother me. Cruz has been the only one of my children that they asked to have a vaccine before leaving the hospital. I have never been asked that before, I was this time. I did it because I do what your "supposed to do", not to mention the whole shock factor of asking a laboring woman if they are going to protect their child from Hep B before leaving the hospital.
BUT...I have never had a child that has required me to go dairy free... it made me think so I went to look up it's side effects. I was blown away!!! Yep, dyspepsia or basically indigestion from gastric reflux. Also, Cruz has been congested since birth. He also had a "runny eye" from birth until just the last week or so. Cruz also sounds like he has a trachea malfunction and squeaks sometimes as he sleeps and throughout the day. All of those things are side effects of the vaccine he had (and honestly that wasn't all, I could say a few more that I suspect but one of the main side effects is loss of appetite... WHY would you do that to a newborn when you are trying to get them to eat/nurse). And I even said to someone just the other day (when I was talking about my giving up dairy to see if it helped some of Cruz's tummy issues)that I did not understand why kids had so many more allergy issues these days (I cannot send in snacks or lunch with Peanut Butter at all) and I found somewhere tonight that they suspect that it may have to do with the vaccines (I do not remember what exactly it said but it referenced them being up 120% for children under 2).
What is a mom to do? As I sit here in tears wondering how I am supposed to know what is best for him when people train for years on end tell me that giving the vaccines is the best thing for him. I love my doctor, I think she is great, but I know what she is going to tell me on Monday. But in light of what has occurred and what I have just been shown, how can I do this to my child any more than I already have . AND I only have a few days to figure this all out. When I go in on Monday they are going to want to give him 6 to 8 shots. Look at what (I believe) just one did to him. I feel so dumb and at such a loss. I spent 9 months eating healthy, avoiding caffeine, medications, too much junk and within hours of birth I let them inject him with a foreign substance that seems to have rocked his world. I want so bad to take it back and see if there is truly a difference.
My brain is spinning... I have to stop here because my brain and heart are about to explode. If you know me you know my heart and know that I am not trying to be controversial I am just a mom who is at a loss for what she is supposed to do... and sad for what I have possibly done to my baby...
How are we to know? Who do we trust? Why is it so hard?
WOW
I had to add this today because I wanted to respond. Most ALL of you got them right. I was really surprised. I mean Bay was a giveaway... but the rest could be questionable. What is really funny is that to most of you think they look alike (from what you tell me) but to me the look so different. Sure they have some common stuff, but they each have their own look. I love my little boys!
They were
Callan, Baylor, Cruz and Silas.
And just to be fair... here is my 8 week old Sissy! This was from the visit where I took mom with me in November of 2006.
They were
Callan, Baylor, Cruz and Silas.
And just to be fair... here is my 8 week old Sissy! This was from the visit where I took mom with me in November of 2006.
Favorite Foto Friday
I have been working with Silas all summer trying to get him to write his name. He either refused or would'nt even try because he said he couldn't. We had a breakthrough this week!!! My little lefty...and I never realized how hard S's are.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Who's my brother?
Somehow, this onesie has survived all the boys. I could never seem to part with it when the first 3 all had their lives documented in it. So I decided to take one with Cruz in it too. Funny enough, they are all right at 8 weeks old when their picture is taken (Silas may have been 6 weeks). Can you guess who is who?
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
First Day of School
I know it is almost a week later, but here are pics of the boys on thier first days back to school. Baylor is a big 3rd grader (which blows my mind because that is what I was teaching when I was preggo with him and stopped teaching) and Callan is a big 1st grader. I think it is going to be an AWESOME year.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Have you heard the blonde joke?
The other day, I pulled the sheets and bedspread off of Eliza's bed to wash. I noticed that her little fancy embroidered throw pillow had a spot on it too, so I peeled off the pillow case and threw it in with the rest. A few hours later after getting the sheets back on the bed and leaving the fancy pillow for later, Eliza brings it to me distraught. I really can't follow what she is trying to tell me about the pillow but I tell her that it is okay and that "mommy will fix it at bed time". She proceeds to grab it, put the corner of it in her mouth and try to blow, and blow, and blow. Evidently we have spent too much time with blow up floats lately... she thought it had just deflated.
Tonight after dinner we let the kids have some Big Wheel ice cream sandwich cookies. We only gave Eliza and Silas half of one, but let the big boys have a full one. Callan was certain he could eat it all. About half way through his he decided it was too much, he could not eat it all, that he should have only gotten half, and gave that full sick looking face. We told him that was fine and the he could put it back in the container and save it for another time, which he did. Eliza also communicated that she did not want hers either after just a lick or two. After just putting his away, Callan came and grabbed hers and announced "I'll eat it". We stopped looked at each other and asked why he wanted it because he could not eat all of his to which he replied "Yeah, but hers is only half... I told you I thought I could eat a half" (Uh yeah Callan, you already did... if you eat that it makes a whole and it was pointless for you to give up the other half of YOURS). He did not follow us when we tried to explain... I about peed my pants laughing so hard. And he ate it all!
I thought I would never have to worry about blonde moments...
Tonight after dinner we let the kids have some Big Wheel ice cream sandwich cookies. We only gave Eliza and Silas half of one, but let the big boys have a full one. Callan was certain he could eat it all. About half way through his he decided it was too much, he could not eat it all, that he should have only gotten half, and gave that full sick looking face. We told him that was fine and the he could put it back in the container and save it for another time, which he did. Eliza also communicated that she did not want hers either after just a lick or two. After just putting his away, Callan came and grabbed hers and announced "I'll eat it". We stopped looked at each other and asked why he wanted it because he could not eat all of his to which he replied "Yeah, but hers is only half... I told you I thought I could eat a half" (Uh yeah Callan, you already did... if you eat that it makes a whole and it was pointless for you to give up the other half of YOURS). He did not follow us when we tried to explain... I about peed my pants laughing so hard. And he ate it all!
I thought I would never have to worry about blonde moments...
Friday, August 14, 2009
Favorite Fotos Friday
Yesterday I picked up some new photos from my new photographer friend. Her son was in Eliza's class at Mom's Day Out and I saw some of her work and really liked it. I wanted some newborn pictures of Cruz made, so we gave her a call. If you live in the area and want to check her out, go here. Tell her I sent you. (The dirt and fuzziness on the pics is from my scanner... not the pics)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Baylor
Today is a day all about Baylor. Today my first baby boy turns 9 years old. I remember everything about his pregnancy, birth and infancy like it was just yesterday. He was not the easiest baby, but I was the inexperienced mom. He was my learning curve. He came into the world large (9lbs 14 oz) and in charge. Still to this day his personality is one that takes control, leads, and has in "in charge" tone to it. He does not meet a stranger and gives life everything he has. Oh, what this boy has taught me. I love how passionate he is about the things he enjoys and how easy things are for him. My prayer is that he will always be the leader he is (never the follower), and that he will continue to teach me and his dad lessons daily. I am so thankful I did not ruin him or damage him severely during his 2 and 3 year old years when I was not sure we would make it through, and I am thankful that when he does have that time of testing the waters, that we are to the point that we can discuss the issues openly and find a solution together. I love (though it breaks my heart some) that this spring and summer he became even more of a Daddy's Boy and the two of them bonded in ways I am not allowed to know about.
Baylor I love you more than words can describe. I thank God for sending me you, and I thank you... for being you!
On another exciting note, Baylor's baseball team made the local paper. See the article here. It was a great group of boys (and families) that we enjoy being a part of.
P.S. I am sorry that your birthday always seems to fall on the first day back to school. I hope the excitement of a new school year, new teacher, and new friends made it a WONDERFUL day.
*******
Edited to add... Baylor and what he woke up to on his Birthday morning.
Baylor I love you more than words can describe. I thank God for sending me you, and I thank you... for being you!
On another exciting note, Baylor's baseball team made the local paper. See the article here. It was a great group of boys (and families) that we enjoy being a part of.
P.S. I am sorry that your birthday always seems to fall on the first day back to school. I hope the excitement of a new school year, new teacher, and new friends made it a WONDERFUL day.
*******
Edited to add... Baylor and what he woke up to on his Birthday morning.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Jackson Falls
Here in the Jones house, our summer has slipped away quickly. When you have a baby smack dab in the middle of it, it sure seems to take away some of the fun. I know that I squeezed a lot into June, but once Cruz arrived we seem to have hit major slow down. Daddy thought it would be a good idea to take the day off of work and take the kiddos to a little creek and natural waterfall off of the Natchez Trace.
We started off the morning with a rare trip to Cracker Barrell and headed up the Trace. Daddy's idea was a great one and the kids loved it. I wish we could have stayed longer, and the kids thought it was the best thing ever! Callan decided he wanted to live there. I highly recommend it. First of all it was free... second, there was no one around. We saw a few people on our way down (900 yards down a concrete trail) but other than that it was ours to explore. They lifted every rock, tried to slide down part of the falls, climbed around and even saw a little wildlife. It was beautiful and I cannot imagine what it would look like with even more water flowing.
I know he is far off, but I wanted to show how big they really were.
Silas letting it run on his head (and then screaming... IT'S FREEZING)
Callan loving every minute of it.
Daddy and Sister watching the boys.
Climbing around a little.
Our little frog friend.
Sister getting brave and venturing out on her own to check out a few things.
Attempting to slide on the rocks in the water. Maybe next time there will be a little more water.
Proof that Momma and Cruz did make the journey.
We started off the morning with a rare trip to Cracker Barrell and headed up the Trace. Daddy's idea was a great one and the kids loved it. I wish we could have stayed longer, and the kids thought it was the best thing ever! Callan decided he wanted to live there. I highly recommend it. First of all it was free... second, there was no one around. We saw a few people on our way down (900 yards down a concrete trail) but other than that it was ours to explore. They lifted every rock, tried to slide down part of the falls, climbed around and even saw a little wildlife. It was beautiful and I cannot imagine what it would look like with even more water flowing.
I know he is far off, but I wanted to show how big they really were.
Silas letting it run on his head (and then screaming... IT'S FREEZING)
Callan loving every minute of it.
Daddy and Sister watching the boys.
Climbing around a little.
Our little frog friend.
Sister getting brave and venturing out on her own to check out a few things.
Attempting to slide on the rocks in the water. Maybe next time there will be a little more water.
Proof that Momma and Cruz did make the journey.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Cute
I have nothing witty, nothing funny, just pictures. What is a mom to do when her cute little baby boy has his huge eyes open, and is being big trying to hold his head up? Take some pictures of course...
Okay so maybe our head gets tired after a photo or two...
And this one, this one is just funny. Everytime Bay and I look at it we just giggle. I don't know if it is the Eddie Munster hair, or the expression on his face, but we giggle.
Okay so maybe our head gets tired after a photo or two...
And this one, this one is just funny. Everytime Bay and I look at it we just giggle. I don't know if it is the Eddie Munster hair, or the expression on his face, but we giggle.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
