Day 83...Vaccination information

Apr 12

I did not get up with Eli this morning, and I'm so glad I didn't. I feel SO much better than I have for the last few days and I think it had a lot to do with just sleeping in a couple extra hours today, and doing a steam pot last night. I don't know how much the steam pot helped my congestion, but it really relaxed me, which helped me get to sleep and stay asleep until Martyn woke me up.

I got up and nursed the boy....he's so happy in the morning when he wakes up on his own, it's just amazing. I sure am going to miss getting up with him easy like this. I'll just have to savor my weekends all the more.

I keep thinking about how he's going to be with the nanny lady, when she has him from early in the morning. I imagine he'll probably fall back asleep in the car on the way over to her house in the morning, and probably stay sleeping for a while (at least I hope that's what he'll do) and then wake up hungry and confused because he's in a new place and mama is no where to be found....oh man that makes me want to cry.

I think he'll do ok actually...I don't know how I'm going to do...I can't say that I'm likely to be all that productive at work the first week back. We shall see. Perhaps it will be busy enough for me to remain distracted through out the day, except for when I'll have to pump, and I won't be missing Martyn soooo much as I think I will be.

I think I need to really focus my thoughts on the positive, which is that me going to work is going to help us get to a better financial place, which means better living situation for us down the road...not that our living situation is bad by any means right now...but it could be better, and will be because I'm going back to work right now.

I finally went to the Vaccination Seminar I've been putting off since the middle of my pregnancy. I wish Eli could have come too, but it's ok that he didn't. It was a lot of information packed into a two hour session, with Dr. Edwin Hofman-Smith, and Naturopath Pediatrician in Portland, whom I find to be highly respectable. He did our ultra-sound for Martyn and I was very pleasantly surprised and impressed with him. So during my pregnancy class when my midwife recommended his vaccine seminar, I knew I would be attending at some point....he does it ever second Tuesday of the month, and I've slacked on going until now.

Actually I'm glad I went last night. Another couple from my pregnancy class was there too, which was cool. It was a very comfortable environment, and 4 other couples had their babies with them as well.

The whole atmosphere made me feel like I wanted to have my own Midwifery practice, and welcome people in and keep them informed and educated on childbirth and children's health, in a safe environment.

I got a lot of handouts that I need to read, and had to kind of take mental notes since I had Martyn to take care of and no spouse to either hold him or take notes for me. I think I remembered all the good points to talk over with Eli though....maybe I should write them down though just in case, ha!

The conclusion I came to afterwards, is that we will get Martyn vaccinated, but not with all of the 'recommended' vaccines and certainly not on the 'recommended' schedule....no no, they will be much further spread out. One at a time basically, except for the ones that are lumped together into one vaccine, and those will NOT be until he's closer to two years old. I had been leaning toward that idea in the first place, but I got more information to back up that thought tonight.

It's funny to me how far I've come in life, as far as "liberal" thinking goes. I don't even really think it's all that liberal, it makes perfect sense to me that people be informed about the decisions they make about their own health, and the health, and raising of their children. 10 years ago, I never would have even considered that I shouldn't follow the recommended vaccine schedule for any kids I may have. Even just 3 years ago, when I first moved to Oregon. Although, at that point I did have at least some experience with the idea (from Jon and Song).

I made an appointment for Martyn's first check up, this coming Thursday. While I was making the appointment, and getting set up as a new patient, one of the questions they asked about him was if he's been vaccinated yet and I said no. So I'm wondering if they are planning on starting that at this appointment. They are going to have a big surprise when I decline starting the vaccine series for him until he's a little older....just a few more weeks, but still, according to the recommended schedule, he's already a month behind....Why in the world would you vaccinate a little 2 month old baby, with any thing?

There was a lady at the seminar last night who had a two month old, and she held her up for the whole room to see....she's so little! It just doesn't seem logical to inject a baby that little, who's brain development is at a critical stage at that point of life, with anything at all. I just don't get it.

Or maybe I do, and that's the difference.