March 29, 2010

March 27, 2010

Vaccinations, do we really have a choice, and at what cost?

A recent experience in taking my unvaccinated son to the doctor because of a possible ear infection has made me question how much of a choice do we really have when it comes to vaccinating our children?

Our family had been fighting off a cold for about a week when we decided to make a doctors appointment to make sure Kai didn't have an ear infection as we were going to be flying to BC in 6 days. Our family doctor used words like "irresponsible" and my child was referred to as "this patient" to accompany his disrespectful tone, body language, and bedside manner, after we explained to him that Kai had not yet had his first set of vaccinations. We were then told that he was "not comfortable" treating our 4 month old son and were then sent to the emergency room at our local hospital. At the hospital my baby boy had to endure an x-ray of his lungs, a blood draw, and two failed urinary catheters. The ER doctor explained that due to the fact that they could not find where the infection was coming from they could not rule out meningitis caused by meningococcal bacteria. Also due to the fact that there were no pediatric doctors available we would need to be transferred to Halifax via Ambulance. Upon questioning the necessity of this the ER doctor explained that in a case of blood born illnesses our child could be dead before we would have to time to get him the care he needed. The Doctor explained that when we arrived in Halifax they would have the staff required to treat our son. He explained that the blood cultures will take 5 days to mature so we would be staying in the hospital for that time. He also warned us that a lumbar puncture may be required and would assist in a faster diagnosis. When my husband asked if this seemed excessive for a child who most likely simply had a cold the Doctor responded that nothing is too excessive when you are dealing with an unvaccinated child. We were then sent by ambulance to the children's hospital in Halifax where another catheter was done, and we were informed that Kai didn’t actually have a fever (if he were an adult his temperature would have been considered a fever, but in children the temperature is higher before being considered a fever). The nurses and doctors in Halifax appeared to be surprised that we were sent, by ambulance, all the way to the IWK. The results of twelve hours of various doctors, pain and suffering to my baby, and an enormous amount of stress to my entire family was....... a common cold! Both my family doctor and the attending doctor at the ER mentioned meningitis, which upon returning home I discovered is not normally vaccinated for until 12 months anyways!
My point is; while it might be our constitutional right to chose not to vaccinate your kids what will our children have to endure because of overreaction by physicians who do not respect our choices as parents.
I would like to add that the nurses and physicians at the IWK (and a few of the nurses at our local hospital) were not only amazing care givers but generally very considerate of our choices, and I thank them for the only respect I feel I received from medical staff all day.

March 23, 2010

Photo Diary Day 12


Photo Diary Day 11




Quote of the Day

"Mom, I got pee in my pants!"
"Let's go change them then."
"Oh no, it's okay, it keeps me warm!"

Photo Diary Day 10


Photo Diary Day 9


Photo Diary Day 5


"It ain't easy being this cute."

Quote of the Day

"Now we are going home,and our journey ends."

March 20, 2010

Quote of the Day

"Did you know dinasours live in caravans? Caravans are made of ice, they are just like igloos!"

March 10, 2010

Quote of the Day

"I want to live with someone who is not going to boss me around, which is clearly not you!"

Photo Diary Day 4





photo Diary Day 3



Photo Diary Day 2



March 6, 2010

Quote of the Day


"My sister lives in that place with the tigers."
"You mean Africa?"
"No I said tigers not zebras!"

Photo Diary of my Trip Day 1





March 5, 2010

Quote of the day

"Mom, come here (brings me to a wicker chair) a WHOLE chair made of sticks!!!!"

March 2, 2010

Quotes of the Day

"I'm doing right good!"

"...and that my friend....."

A budding artist



I am amazed at the art Ian is turing out. Coming from a kid who use to HATE to colour it's pretty wonderful!

Quote of the Day


"I want 8 brothers and sisters, so I can have lots of kids to play hide-and-seek with!"