Vaccine Research

I just wanted to share some research that my nurse friend gave me.  It was given to her by her midwife (who lives in Fort Collins).  I haven't had the time to sift through it yet, but I thought I'd share it anyway (I know - irresponsible).  Judging from some of the titles, I'm guessing it's more in the "minimal vaccination" camp.

WEB RESOURCES:
http://www.nvic.org/ National Vaccine Information Center
http://www.909shot.com/ same people run this site, gives you history of vaccination in U.S., etc.
http://www.thinktwice.com/ this site has  many links to vaccine-related sites
http://www.gval.com/ Global Vaccine Awareness League
http://www.vaccinationnews.com/ this has many breaking news stories about reactions - She says this is a messy website, but has good info if you want to take the time to navigate it.
http://www.icpa4kids.com/ this is the chiro-pediatrics group - often if you let them know you need some literature, they can provide it (on a side note - this is the website that directed me to a chiropractor that could do the "webster technique", a chiropractic adjustment that helps breech babies get in the right position - Na'arah was breech and turned after doing this technique - Woot! Woot!)
http://www.vaers.hhs.gov/ This is the government website for VAERS (vaccine adverse event reporting service)

My friend also said there is a great book by Dr. Sears about the subject (I didn't get the name of it), but I plan on seeing if the Library has it this afternoon.  Another book that was recommended by the midwife is How to Raise a Healthy Child, in Spite of Your Doctor by Robert S. Mendelsohn, MD.  I'll see if this is at the Library, too and let you know what I find out.  I'll also try to find some that are not recommended by someone with an obvious slant from the beginning.  (I like to get both sides:) 
One other interesting thing of note, today I received the approval letter for Zion to have "religious exemption" for the varicella vaccine booster shots.  The part that made me go "hmmmm" was "Please be advised that since Zion is exempted from Varicella vaccinations, he will be excluded from school and community events in the event of an outbreak of a communicable disease."  I guess I need to call them and get it straight from the horse's mouth what this means, but I was a little confused.  I thought there wouldn't be any chickenpox going around now since everyone (except the few freaks like us) is vaccinated.  Are they worried that he will get sick?  If he is the carrier of the sickness, the other kids shouldn't be able to get sick from him, right?  I'll call them next week and try to figure out what it meant.  Of course, since Zion only goes to the school for orchestra twice a week, I'm not too worried about him being excluded anyway (and I'm not freaked out if he happens to get chickenpox as well.:)

Educate and/or vaccinate...hmmm

Recently I decided to open a can of worms for myself and start looking into routine vaccinations.  I admit I just started learning about this topic.  Up until now, I've put myself in the "ignorance is bliss" category, putting blind faith in the medical world to keep me and my family safe.  I decided to give the matter a second look and try to really figure things out.  I was talking to my chiropractor about the subject and he let me borrow a book called Vaccines: Are They Really Safe and Effective (a Parent's Guide to Childhood Shots) by Neil Z. Miller (C) 1994.  Obviously this book is probably pretty outdated, but it brought up some timeless facts as well.  I've always heard it said that the reason why we don't have a problem with smallpox, polio, measles, etc. is because these diseases were eradicated by vaccines.  Au Contraire!  Actually, the cases for these diseases were starting to decrease on their own when the vaccines were being developed.  There was a "herd" immunity being developed in the population that caused the disease to lose its strength in that area.  Anyway, this is not why I've chosen to blog on this topic. 
The other can of worms that Kirk and I chose to open many years ago was "contraception."  We were educated on how the Pill and other hormonal type methods of birth control work, and decided that these didn't fit with our beliefs.  My whole point with both "worm cans" is how important it is for us to take the time to find out for ourselves if something is good or bad.  I'm over believing my government knows what's best for me and my kids and the fact that vaccines are mandated makes me want to look into it even more!  Right now in Cheyenne's schools if kids don't receive a certain number of Chicken Pox vaccines by January of next year, they will be kicked out of school until they comply or get a religious exemption.  Isn't Chicken Pox the disease that people got as children that made them itch, but got them out of school for a week?  My chiropractor was saying that, especially with the newer vaccines, nobody knows how long this artificial immunity will last.  So, in the case of the Chicken Pox vaccine, kids may not get the disease when they're young, but they may get it as an adult, which is far worse. 
So, my personal conclusion is I'm making a commitment to educate myself about each vaccine.  I don't believe all vaccines are evil.  I'm glad I can travel and not be afraid of dying from some crazy disease.  However, I am going to really assess the risks of not getting the vaccine and weigh it against the risks of getting it.  I'm going to ask questions instead of just taking the stack of paper they give me at the doctor's office that overwhelms me with its medical jargon and unclear information.  I'm not going to be scared into anything or allow others (especially nurses, in my experience) to tell me my kids won't be able to go to school if they don't get  a shot.  (I was told this by a nurse when I questioned the need for my newborn to get a Hepatitis B shot before I left the hospital - this disease is primarily spread by dirty needles and sexual contact!)  I encourage you to take the same steps to decide for yourself.  Also, if you have information and care to share it in the comments, I'd love to read them.

Merry Christmas!

Rohdes

2010 has been a wonderful, fruitful year for the Rohdes.  Things are never dull around here, but we're constantly amazed at God's provision and direction in our lives.  I spent the first 8 months of this year pregnant - I know, most of you are not surprised at this:)  I think since we have school-aged kids, we tend to think of time in school years, so...we finished up our first "official" year of homeschooling this last spring.  Even though homeschooling is a big challenge, and honestly probably the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, I LOVE having my kids with me and sharing our days together.  Who knows how long I'll continue this endeavor, but for now, I'm thankful for the time with my family.  Our days our full and blessed.  Here is a lowdown on each member of our family:

Kirk is still working for the Wyoming Dept. of Transportation as an accountant.  We're thankful for his job.  It's flexible, close, and he doesn't carry the weight of Wyoming's economy on his shoulders when he comes home.  Since he does carry the weight of the Rohde economy on his shoulders, he has part time ventures that make up the slack in our large family.  Thankfully, most everything can be done together as a family (even though there are many groans from the children).  I remind them that all these "errands" give them opportunities to do all the fun stuff they get to do.

Take a deep breath - Here's the "fun stuff" everyone is doing:

Zion is 9 1/2 and in 4th grade.  He is a very eager learner and a delightful student.  Often he is found reading a book and is currently reading through the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy for the third time.  Don't go thinking this is a boy who always has his nose in a book, though.  He is also very much into sports and has had a full plate since baseball started in the spring.  Then it was football in the fall, with basketball getting ready to start very soon.  It makes me laugh, but he also loves any video game of the previously mentioned sports (or actually any video game, really) and Kirk has had to tell him that even though he is amazing at [fill in the blank sport] on the wii, he will need to practice to get good at the sport in real life.  He has been taking piano for about a year now, and just started walking down to the neighborhood school for violin 2 times a week this year.  This fall he and the other 3 oldest learned how to swim, thanks to Grandma.  Not that she taught them, but was nice enough to finance this activity so her grandkids would learn to swim at a young age.  However, Zion is really close to "double-digits."  I can't believe he is almost 10! 

Tekoa is a 2nd grader this year.  She turned 8 in August.  I am so thankful for her help.  She loves to hold the baby and be my "little mommy."  It's been so neat to see her mature over the last year.  She has always been my "strong-willed" child, but I feel like she's tempered it more and things are definitely smoother.  She is a natural leader and loves to line up all the other kids (minus Zion) for playing school, doctor's office, Little House on the Prairie, etc.  Becoming a solid reader has been very exciting to Tekoa (especially for playing school:).  She is in ballet, piano, and getting ready to start basketball for the first time.  We'll see how she does, but I have to say that she seems like an amazing shot on a kid-sized hoop.  Maybe she is going to take after her Auntie Chris?  She loves going to church and taking part in "Prims" each week there.

Toren is 6 years old and currently holding his place as our family clown.  Not that I would want this for him, but I could totally see him as a stand-up comic.  He's just funny!  We are doing kindergarten work this year since his birthday is so late.  It's a tough call because a lot of it seems way too easy for him, yet he seems so young at the same time.  He really does love learning and looks up to his big brother so much.  He also followed in Zion's footsteps and participated in baseball, football, and now basketball.  Even though Toren is ALL boy, he is so sweet and sensitive.  I could tell the first time he held his new baby sister how much he loved her.  Some day this guy will be a great catch!

The budding artist around here is most definitely Micaiah!  She just turned 5 and to celebrate we had an "art" party.  I'm realizing more and more that "artistic" can basically translate to "messy", but I'm doing my best to try to roll with it and give her some space to create.  Micaiah is probably the most like me in her personality (scary, huh?)  She is the most likely to be caught eating candy and getting into my makeup, although I'm sure there are numerous things she doesn't get "caught" at.  Micaiah loves to perform and she participated in the children's theatre with Tekoa last spring as well as "Can-Can Cuties" in the Melodrama with Tekoa and Shiloh this summer.  She is very "at home" in front of a crowd.

Shiloh turned 3 this fall.  When asked if she knows how to spell her name, she holds up 3 fingers.  This age is so cute!  Shiloh is definitely a girly-girl and loves to have her nails painted and any makeup she's allowed to wear (i.e. chapstick...sometimes)  She participated with her sisters in the Melodrama this summer as well, and it was really hard NOT to watch her the whole time because she was so cute and little up on the big stage!  She was the youngest dancer up there and did a great job!



Ezra is going to be 2 in January, and right now he is BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!  I always say that he is lucky he's so cute right now, because otherwise I would go crazy trying to keep up with him.  Praise the Lord for naptime.  Ezra is a good sleeper (and it's no wonder) and I'm so thankful!  Ezra is doing his best to follow after Toren as a comedian.  He makes all of us laugh everyday.  The funniest thing (and scariest) is to see him mimic the other kids in the things they do.  Wow!  He is a little sponge.  

Na'arah (pronounced nay-ar-uh) June Rohde made her fashionably late entrance to the world on August 17, 2010.  She delivered via VBAC (which means a vaginal birth after cesarean).  This type of delivery comes with some risks, but I so felt God's presence and peace during the weeks leading up to her birth and during her delivery.  She was due August 6th, and if I'd had a c-section, she would have probably been delievered a week before this.  I had kind of thought she would come a little early since she was in fact the 7th child, but she had other plans and I was induced a day shy of her being 2 weeks late.  I definitely realized during those 2 weeks that I'm horrible at waiting!  She was worth waiting for though and came in at a whopping 9lb 3.4 oz.  Not quite as big Zion, but a pretty close contender.  Now at 3 1/2 months, I'm totally in love.  She is a delightful baby and will be one tough cookie.

From reading above I hope it's obvious what I do most of the time.  There is never a dull momernt in this family!  I am still leading worship at my church, although my pastor and I are currently doing "tag-team" style worship.  I call it my perpetual maternity leave:)  Right now one of the biggest things we have going is a move to a new house.  I'm working on a blog that tells all about this new venture, but we are very excited about our new casa.  At the latest, we should be in our new house by February 1, 2011, but it could be a little sooner.  I am so amazed at God's abundant provision for our family.  He provides financially, physically (caffeine only goes so far), emotionally (I can run to him with tears in my eyes or a smile on my face at anytime), and spiritually (He truly is the "lover of my soul").  If you haven't experienced this same fullness that only He can give, I invite you to dialogue with me about it.  After all, it IS the whole point of Christmas.  Jesus is the greatest gift you can open!

Merry Christmas from the Rohdes





Today was better...

Again it's later than I had hoped in getting to bed, but for me, anything before midnight is great! This morning, I had my iPad alarm playing worship music to wake me up at 6:50. I really wanted to linger a little bit in bed, but the temptation to go back to sleep can be SO strong! The greatest thing about getting up before the kids is how much I can accomplish before they are up and at 'em. Most importantly, I can make myself breakfast and eat it before 10am! (I'm always up well before 10, it's just that once the snowball effect of children get going, there's A LOT of "activity" going on). This weekend I'm off to a scrap booking retreat. I honestly can't wait! I'm not sure how much scrapping I'll get done, but resting is definitely on the agenda for me (plus my fair share of eating lots of yummy snacks). Here's to a good night's sleep!

Baby steps, right?

I sat down in bed at 11:15; later than I wanted to, but over an hour earlier than last night! Baby Na'arah is fed and I'm going to finish flipping through December's Better Homes & Gardens (my guilty pleasure...mwah,ha,ha). Tomorrow night I want to make it in bed by 10:45. Wish me luck!

Night Owl Reformation

Since I'm starting to work on this blog after midnight, I'm sure it seems I really am not taking this seriously, hmmm....
I have ALWAYS been a night owl. Just ask my mom. She says that when I was little she would head off to bed and say, "Make sure you turn off all the lights when you go to bed!". I honestly can't confirm or deny this, but I certainly do have a knack for staying up. What I have found in mommy land is staying up late is not conducive to being a sweet, happy mommy the following morning. The main thing is I just move SO slow! It takes me most of the day to get revved up, then I get energy after the kids go to bed, and start working on all the things I need to get done, and... Well I'm sure you see where this is going. It is definitely a vicious cycle. So today is my "day one". December 1st seems like a good day to try to change my ways. Who wants to wait until January 1st anyway? So, I need some cyber-accountability. I'm going to try to post my progress as often as possible. Since I'll be a well rested woman, this should be easy!;)