tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9948237223372191282024-03-12T23:10:31.325-04:00Who? Me?Things you might want to know.kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-68433430080554299912022-06-22T11:57:00.002-04:002022-06-29T10:49:51.375-04:00Evolution of BabyOver the last several days I, along with his grandmother, have been watching with wonder Sebastian's developmental achievements. From day to day it is possible to witness the improvements in dexterity and control of his hands, experiences the wrath of his mood swings as his personality develops and he begins to better understand his world and as he learns that his actions have a direct effect on the world. It is a wonder of nature that an entire human being has it beginnings with just 2 cells and is able to develop from an seemingly boneless blob at birth to the joy that I am confronted with today and the many that are to come.
<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/flatcoatedlover/Baby/evol3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/flatcoatedlover/Baby/evol3.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>
As if she was reading my mind, a friend (Kate) sent the above photographic study of Sebastian. The first picture is at 1 week old, the second picture is at 2 months and the final one is at about 5 1/2 months. It is amazing.kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-16759623516975059012013-03-01T10:24:00.001-05:002013-03-01T10:24:13.589-05:00Fear, Poor Communications and the Nebulas 'Community Benefit'<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
With the boys 5th birthday approaching, I have spent a substantial amount of
time reflecting on the choices I made and taking the time to review my
decisions and revise my positions particularly on vaccinations and other
preventative health measures. I have been mulling over the whys and how I came
to the decision to delay vaccinating my son.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main reason was fear. I was
scared that I would allow something to be done to my child, it would cause him
irreparable harm, and I would have no one to blame but myself. There was
nothing in the 10 years of premedical and medical training that calmed these
fears. I knew all the facts and statistics. I knew about incidence rates,
relative risk, community immunity but none of these things meant shit if there
was even a miniscule chance of it harming my precious baby. There were some
things that I was able to justify with some credibility but for the rest I
allowed my fear to run roughshod over my intellectual integrity.<br />
<br />
The fear was compounded by the seeming inability for the public health
community to effectively communicate with me. All public health publication I
saw was written to communicate complicated ideas to people without much
scientific literacy. Often these publications come off as condescending and seem
to have the expectation that people will follow their paternalistic edicts
without any discussion or inquiry. On the flip side, when you try to
research these things you either go to scientific papers that, even with an
advanced science degree, take many hours to read, parse and understand or you
stumble upon pseudo or nonscientific sources that reflect and feed your fears.<br />
<br />
Fear is a huge motivator. It is one of the things that allowed our species
to survive. New channels, politicians, advertisers, religious leaders, parents,
and swindlers all use it to their benefit. It is our job, however as ever
evolving beings to recognize when our fear is overwhelming our reason and
better judgment and do what we can to overcome it. We can only use the
information we have to make the best decisions we can. If you try to base your
decisions based on everything you don’t know you will forever be paralyzed with
indecision.<br />
Below are my initial thoughts on some vaccines/preventative treatment
and reasoned revisions of those opinions.<br />
<br />
<b>Vitamin K</b><br />
<div style="margin-left: 20.25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Facts</b></div>
<div style="margin-left: 56.25pt; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>In the US, this is given shortly after birth
(usually within 6 hours) to prevent Hemorrhagic Disease of the Newborn (HDN)
which causes bleeding in the brain.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 56.25pt; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Without the injection the incidence is between
2.5 and 17 per 1000 newborns while when it is given the rate falls to near
zero.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 56.25pt; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>In the countries where it is not routine the
incidence can be as high as 30 per 1000.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 56.25pt; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The risk is higher in newborns who are sick,
premature or whose mothers take certain medication which inhibit Vitamin K
absorption (anti-seizure meds and anticoagulants) or have certain mal-absorptive
diseases.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 20.25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Previous
opinion</b></div>
<div style="margin-left: 56.25pt; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>When the boy was born I felt that this was unnecessary
because I did not have any of the risk factors and there were was some hints in
the literature that it increased the risk of a certain type of leukemia.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 20.25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reasoned
Revision/Current Opinion</b></div>
<div style="margin-left: 56.25pt; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>HDN can be very severe if not caught and treated
early. The symptoms can also be fairly insidious initially so it can be missed.
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 56.25pt; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The link to childhood cancer has been studied
extensively and no one has been able to replicate the findings of increased
risk. </div>
<div style="margin-left: 56.25pt; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>This single shot gives almost 100% protection
and is the best measure to prevent HDN until researchers are able to pinpoint a
more precise way to determine which newborns are likely develop this condition</div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Erythromycin Eye Ointment</b><br />
<div style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Facts</b></div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Used to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum (ON) which
causes blindness in 3% of effected newborns.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Caused by chlamydia or gonorrhea infections that
is passed to the newborn during vaginal delivery.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>A woman can have chlamydia or gonorrhea without
any symptoms.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Risk is increased if you have had multiple
sexual partners, are under 25 or live in an area where infection rates are
high.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Previous
Opinion</b></div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I tested negative for Chlamydia and gonorrhea
during pregnancy, was in a mutually monogamous relations and had no other so I
declined this intervention.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reasoned
Revision/Current Opinion</b></div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I believed then and still do that there are many
criteria that should indicate that you make sure that your child receives this
intervention</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>If you have ever tested positive for chlamydia
or gonorrhea.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>If you have never been tested for chlamydia or
gonorrhea.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>If you are not in a mutually monogamous
relationship with an uninfected partner.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>If you live in an area with a high rate of
infection with gonorrhea and chlamydia.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Or if there is any unknown/uncertainty about the
above.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The recent emersion of antibiotic resistant
gonorrhea may in the near future necessitate the use of the equally effective
silver nitrate or povidone iodine drops, which are more effective for treating
gonorrhea and equally effective in treating chlamydia (<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20630358">Darling and McDonald, 2010</a>)
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but do not have an approve formulation
in the US.</div>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hepatitis B</b><br />
<div style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Facts</b></div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Since the introduction of the vaccine infection
rates have decreased by 75-95%</div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Children who become infected usually have no
acute symptoms but can be contagious </div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Children have an increased risk of developing
chronic infection resulting in liver damage and cancer.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Previous
Opinion</b></div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I decided to decline this vaccine when he was
born.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I was fully vaccinated and was planning on
exclusively breastfeeding and not sending him to daycare so I felt that he was
not at risk and would still be protected if he got it at a later time.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I delayed this vaccine until he was 2.5 years
old and was beginning to spend time with adult and children other than family</div>
<div style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reasoned
Revision/Current Opinion</b></div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>While my intentions were good it is possible
that things may not have worked out as we planned and he may have been put at
unnecessary risk.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I would have this vaccine given at the first
office visit after hospital release and then on the recommended schedule (2<sup>nd</sup>
– 1-2 months old and 3<sup>rd</sup> – 6-18 months) </div>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Flu Shot</b><br />
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Facts</b></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Can present with mild upper respiratory symptoms
to severe illness and death depending on the specific virus, when and who gets
vaccinated and how well vaccine matches circulating virus</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Complications (pneumonia, ear and sinus
infections, dehydration and worsening of chronic conditions) from the flu are
more common if you are older (over 65), young children (especially those who
are too young to be vaccinated), pregnant women, and people with other
conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart disease.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Since 1976 there have been between 3,000 to
49,000 deaths attributed to the flu each year.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Spread by doplets from coughs, sneezes or
speaking in the air or on surfaces</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>It is possible to spread about 1 day prior to
symptoms and for 5-7 days after symptoms appear. Young children and immune
compromised people may be infectious for longer.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The only absolute contraindication is severe
allergy to chicken eggs or had severe reaction to flu vaccine in the past</div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Previous
Opinion</b></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I was very ambivalent about this vaccine for a
long time. I was young and healthy and thought the flu was just uncomfortable
and not a big deal.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I got it some years when it was free and offered
somewhere convenient but other skipped it.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I avoiding it for the boy until he was 2.5 years
old</div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reasoned
Revision/Current Opinion</b></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Getting a flu shot protects more than just me
(though this is true for all vaccines)<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, </b>it
helps keeps all those people who are too young or too sick to be vaccinated or
mount a full immune response healthy.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Now I make sure that all members of my immediate
family get the flu vaccine as soon and as long as they can.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>This is doubly important if you have friends or
family who cannot receive the vaccine (under 6 months, immune compromised or severely
allergic to eggs)</div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Current Childhood Vaccination
Schedule</b><br />
<div style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Facts</b></div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>All vaccines are subject to large randomized
controlled trials to determine efficacy and safety. These are powerful enough
to detect common adverse events.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>All vaccines are subject to post-marketing
monitoring to detect any rare adverse events.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The US has an extensive monitoring of adverse
events through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), Vaccine
Safety Datalink (VSD) and Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment Network
sponsored by the CDC and the Post-licensure Rapid Immunization Safety
Monitoring System (PRISM) funded by the FDA to capture even the most uncommon of
adverse events caused by vaccines.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>There is no evidence that the entire current
vaccine schedule or any part of it responsible for any serious or long term
adverse reactions.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Despite the greater number of diseases that are
being vaccinated against there are fewer chemicals and antigens in the current </div>
<div style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Previous
Opinion</b></div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>In my effort to assuage my fears I took to the
internet to research. Rather than finding well reasoned, scientific information
explained in easy to understand but non-condescending language I came across
websites written in seemingly scientific language by people claiming expertise
that fed my fears.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I thought that by exclusively breastfeeding and
avoiding daycare and other intuitional settings he would be protected until he
was fully vaccinated at some later time.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Despite the mountains of evidence to the
contrary I was swayed by the emotional and fear laced claims of people like Dr.
Mercola, Jenny McCarthy and other of that ilk.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I avoided all vaccines until the boy was nearly
a year old and then I spaced them out, getting only a single vaccine at a time.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reasoned
Revision/Current Opinion</b></div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>With any future children I have every intention
of getting all vaccines on the prescribed schedule.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The benefits of vaccines go way beyond keeping
an individual from contracting an illness<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.</b></div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Population wide prevention of vaccine preventable
diseases (community immunity) is an important benefit of the current vaccine
programs. When uptake of vaccinations diminishes the risk of outbreaks
increases.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Since the vaccine campaigns have been so
successful the current generation has no experience with the ravages of
illnesses that they prevent and so tend to place more weight on the possibility
of rare side effects than on the more common effects of the illnesses
themselves.</div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The vaccines are placed in the vaccination
schedule at particular points in time to ensure that children are protected
from illnesses when they are most susceptible. Delaying them puts them at risk
when they are most vulnerable. </div>
<br />
TL:DR: I didn’t vaccinate my son out of fear of the unknown but now I do
because of an understanding of what I (we) do know. (We can only do the best
with what we know. When we know better we will do better) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-36060520448611272952011-03-28T17:18:00.000-04:002011-03-28T17:18:29.259-04:00Bonus Weekly Recipe - Buttery Yellow CakeThis is a delicious all purpose yellow cake<br />
<br />
<u>Ingredients</u><br />
12 3/8 oz Cake flour<br />
2 1/2 tsp Baking powder<br />
3/4 tsp Salt<br />
16 tbsp unsalted butter<br />
11 2/3 oz granulated sugar<br />
4 large eggs (room temperature)<br />
1 tbsp vanilla extract<br />
1 1/2 cup whole mile (room temperature)<br />
<br />
<u>Equipment</u><br />
2 8" or 9" round cake pans (or a 9"x13" cake pan)<br />
Vegetable cooking spray<br />
Parchment paper<br />
Electric mixer<br />
Rubber spatula <br />
<br />
<u>Directions</u><br />
<ol><li>Heat over to 350 degrees</li>
<li>Coat pans with cooking spray and place parchment over the bottom</li>
<li>Whisk flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl and set aside</li>
<li>Beat the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy (usually 3-6 minutes)</li>
<li>Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until incorporated, scraping down the bowl and beaters as needed.</li>
<li>Beat in the vanilla</li>
<li>Reduce mixer speed to low and beat in 1/3 of flour mixture until combined</li>
<li>Add 1/2 of the milk and beat until combines</li>
<li>Add second 1/3 of flour mixture and beat until combined</li>
<li>Add second 1/2 of the milk and beat until combined</li>
<li> Add the final portion of the flour and beat until combined</li>
<li>Give the batter a final stir with a rubber spatula to make sure that it is thoroughly combined</li>
<li>Pour the batter into the prepared pans and shake to level and smooth the top</li>
<li>Bake about 20-25 minutes until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out with only a few crumbs (rotate the pans half way through cooking)</li>
<li>Let the cakes cool in the pans for ten minutes on wire racks</li>
<li>Run a knife around the edge and then flip out onto the racks, remove parchment and flip the cakes upright</li>
<li>Cool 1 to 2 hours before icing</li>
</ol>kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-50558749518727894932011-03-28T16:45:00.000-04:002011-03-28T16:45:38.674-04:00Weekly Recipe - Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies<span id="goog_1313227956"></span><span id="goog_1313227957"></span>These cookies are so easy to make that a 3 year old can do most of the work.<br />
<br />
<u>Ingredients</u><br />
14 tbsp Butter<br />
1/2 cup Sugar<br />
3/4 cup Brown Sugar<br />
2 tbsp Vanilla Extract<br />
8 3/4 oz AP Flour<br />
1 tsp Salt<br />
1 Eggs<br />
1 Egg Yolk<br />
1/2 tsp Baking soda<br />
8.5 oz Ghirardelli bitter sweet chips<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>Equipment</u><br />
Small light colored skillet<br />
2 glass bowls<br />
kitchen scale<br />
whisk<br />
#24 scoop<br />
measuring cups and spoons<br />
1/2 sheet pan<br />
Cooling racks<br />
Parchment paper<u></u><br />
<u><br />
</u><br />
<u> </u><br />
<u> </u><br />
<u>Directions</u><br />
<br />
<ol><li>Preheat oven to 375 degrees</li>
<li>Melt 10 tbsp of butter is the light colored skillet and continue to cook for 1-3 minutes until lightly browned.<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--S10L6m9KAM/TYAGYog8lcI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/_BC-_HmlTv8/s1600/DSCF0683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--S10L6m9KAM/TYAGYog8lcI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/_BC-_HmlTv8/s200/DSCF0683.JPG" width="200" /></a> </li>
<li> Place remaining 4 tbsp of butter into a heat resistant bowl, pour in hot melted butter and whisk until melted.</li>
<li> Add sugars to butter mixture and whisk <a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yoNLfscjCz4/TYAILqURsHI/AAAAAAAAAJg/Vnhxfcg4HLQ/s1600/DSCF0687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yoNLfscjCz4/TYAILqURsHI/AAAAAAAAAJg/Vnhxfcg4HLQ/s200/DSCF0687.JPG" width="150" /> </a></li>
<li>Add salt, vanilla extract and eggs. Whisk until combined.</li>
<li>Allow mixture to sit for three minutes and whisk again (repeat three more times)</li>
<li>In a separate bowl combine flour and baking soda</li>
<li>Slowly add flour mixture to butter mixture and stir to combine.<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nSnGf-RT67o/TYAIUEKhypI/AAAAAAAAAJk/GrkhUGpRI0I/s1600/DSCF0689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nSnGf-RT67o/TYAIUEKhypI/AAAAAAAAAJk/GrkhUGpRI0I/s200/DSCF0689.JPG" width="150" /> </a></li>
<li>Add chocolate chips and mix to distribute evenly through dough.<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Uo_PFQxuidM/TYAIdnatsHI/AAAAAAAAAJo/IqveIonwcKo/s1600/DSCF0693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Uo_PFQxuidM/TYAIdnatsHI/AAAAAAAAAJo/IqveIonwcKo/s200/DSCF0693.JPG" width="150" /> </a></li>
<li>Scoop eight 3 tbsp cookies (#24 scoop) onto half sheet pan lines with parchment paper</li>
<li>Bake for roughly 11-14 minutes until the cookies are just brown on the edges.</li>
<li>Allow to sit on sheet pan for 2 minutes and then transfer to cooling rack.</li>
</ol>kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-82181172654175784032011-03-14T14:58:00.008-04:002011-03-14T17:29:00.575-04:00Weekly Recipe - Crème Brûlée<span style="font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">I thought I would start something new on my blog so I am going to try and post one of my favorite recipes along with some of the background on how it evolved to what it is. Many of the recipes that I use regularly started out pretty different from their current form. Often I start with something out of my library of cookbooks and I make little changes over time (either by necessity because I didn't have an ingredient on hand, or on a whim because I think it will make it better). Others I happened upon and loved so much that I kept making them.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
I absolutely LOVE Crème Brûlée. It is hands down my favorite dessert. Too often I will order it at a restaurant only to be utterly disappointed. Usually it is because the chef doesn't actually know what a Crème Brûlée is and ends up serving a Creme Carmel/Flan or just did a really poor job making the custard.<br />
<br />
The first time I made it I was so scared that I was going to mess it up but it turns out that it is really easy to make. So easy that I can make it with my 3 year old 'helping.'<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Ingredients</span><br />
4 cups heavy cream<br />
2/3 cup granulated sugar<br />
1 pinch salt<br />
1 Vanilla bean*<br />
10 Large egg yolks<br />
1/4 cup turbinado sugar (i.e. sugar in the raw)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Equipment</span><br />
Large roasting pan<br />
Dish towel<br />
8 six oz ramekins<br />
Kettle of boiling water<br />
Medium non-stick saucepan<br />
Silicone whisk<br />
Large measuring cup or pitcher<br />
Tong with rubber bands wrapped around the tips<br />
Cooling rack<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Directions</span><br />
<ol><li>Adjust oven rack to the lower middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.</li>
<li>Cover the bottom of a roasting pan with dish towel.</li>
<li>Arrange eight 6oz ramekins in the pan making sure they don’t touch.</li>
<li>Bring kettle of water to a boil.</li>
<li>Combine 2 cups of cream, granulated sugar and salt in a medium saucepan </li>
<li>Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean and add it to the pan along with the pod.</li>
<li>Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.</li>
<li>Remove from heat, cover and let steep for 15 minutes.</li>
<li>Place egg yolks in a large bowl and whisk. </li>
<li>Stir the remaining 2 cups of cream into the hot mixture.</li>
<li>Slowly add in 1 cup of the cream mixture whisking constantly until smooth.</li>
<li>Whisk in the remaining cream until thoroughly combined.</li>
<li>Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a large measuring cup or pitcher.</li>
<li>Pour the custard evenly into the ramekins</li>
<li>Put pan in the oven and pour boiling water to 2/3 up the sides of the ramekins.</li>
<li>Bake until the custards are barely set and are no longer sloshy (30-35 minutes or 25-30 for shallow or fluted dishes).</li>
<li>Transfer the ramekins to a wire rack and allow to cool for 2 hours.</li>
<li>Set on baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap & refrigerate for at least 4 hours.</li>
<li>Just before serving uncover the ramekin and blot the top dry with a paper towel.</li>
<li>Sprinkle the top with turbinado sugar and shake to distribute evenly.</li>
<li>Ignite torch and caramelize the sugar. (Keep flame 2in above ramekin move in a sweeping motion from the perimeter to towards the middle until the sugar is bubbling and deep golden brown.</li>
</ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Sy3mB6gfWw0/TX6Hd7AZ8ZI/AAAAAAAAAI4/B2xGSRP19pY/s1600/creme+brulee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Sy3mB6gfWw0/TX6Hd7AZ8ZI/AAAAAAAAAI4/B2xGSRP19pY/s320/creme+brulee.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Helpful Hints #1: You have to use heavy cream. There is no way to make this dish low or lower fat.<br />
Helpful Hint #2: You really need to use a vanilla bean. It is impossible to get the wonderful vanilla flavor with the extract. If you plan ahead there are great places to get vanilla beans <a href="http://myspicesage.com/">online</a> for way cheaper than $5 each that you pay at the grocery.<br />
Helpful Hint #3: If you get the packets of turbinado a single one is the perfect amount for the top of one ramekin.<br />
Helpful Hint #4: I am a big fan of Oxo tongs. The large rubber bands that come on fresh broccoli work great to help the tips grip the ramekins. All other methods I have tried of extracting the ramekins from the water bath have failed miserably.<br />
Helpful Hint #5: Don't spend the extra money on one of the specialty kitchen torches. Just get a butane torch from your local hardware store or at a garage sale for a $1 like I did.</span>kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-49267269043365839572011-03-08T15:02:00.002-05:002011-03-08T15:46:56.316-05:00So Much MoreIt has been just over a week since my grandmother died and only I have spent a lot of time reflecting on how she impacted my life and how things will be different now that she is gone.<br /><br />From her I learned the joys of being woken up by a song.<br /><iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Z3jmMoImXeo?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe><br /><br />I learned the importance of telling, and more importantly showing, people that you love and care for them and that hugs and kisses are important even when you are angry.<br /> <br />I learned to love the awesomeness of nature. She made everything interesting, from the tiniest detail on a flower petal to the vastness of an old gnarly oak. She taught me to love the fierceness of torrential rain, the harshness of rolling thunder and the beauty of the jagged bolts of lightning all while snuggling together on a screened porch in a hammock.<br /><br />She was the person who taught me to be adventurous and that is okay to take the long way or even the wrong way just to see something new.<br /><br />She was a gateway into world of creation. Mostly through painting and photography but she also helped me to see how I could used my more orderly mind to be creative as well.<br /><br />She transformed by hatred of writing and horrid penmanship by teaching me to draw my letter. I loved to watch her write using calligraphy pens and my love of fountain pens grew from that.<br /><br />She was my cheerleader, my teacher, my sounding board, a comfort when the world was harsh and a dear friend.<br /><br />She was my grandmother, but also so much more.kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-59019057921763928042010-09-11T09:56:00.002-04:002010-09-11T10:21:57.645-04:00Shopping RantAbout a year ago, we purchased a compact, portable booster seat to use at the grandparents house or when we travel other places. It was a generic kind of seat, it was made by a recognizable but smaller brand but it had all the features we were looking for. We paid about $15 for it.<br /><br />Fast forward to yesterday. Brian and I decided that we wanted to put away the highchair and get a booster chair for the house. Since the other one worked so well and had really held up to the abuse I went back to ToysRUs to buy another one. I was browsing the selection and found the exact same seat, no changes or upgrades of any kind, but with a Fisher Price label slapped on it and the price tag was jacked up to $25.<br /><br />It totally sucks that Fisher Price thinks that their name means so much that they can buy someone's product, make no changes except putting their tag on it, and price it for 66% more.kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-87554351731689906252010-09-03T22:34:00.002-04:002010-09-03T23:49:23.709-04:00I took the time to read the recent New Yorker article on the head of the NIH, Dr. Francis Collins. It was very interesting to learn of his unusual upbringing and his progression from, as he puts it, a fundamentalist atheist to a devotee of the Christian faith. The path started with an encounter with an dying patient who asked what he believed in. He felt uncomfortable that he did not have an answer and decided to research to "affirm his atheism." Part of this quest involved a discussion over a golf game with the pastor of the church is wife attended which ended with Collins writing on the score card - <br /><br /><blockquote>"When God knocks on my door, in a way that I—not my wife or pastor, but I—know that it’s God who’s knocking on my door, I will then accept Jesus Christ."</blockquote><br /><br />He then gave it to the pastor and who signed it and the contract was sealed. <br /><br />After the passage of several months and a hike in the Cascades in which<br /><br /><blockquote>"...he turned a corner and saw a frozen waterfall, perfectly formed into three separate parts. He took it as a revelation of Trinitarian truth, the sign that he’d contracted for on Sam McMillan’s golf card. The next morning, he vowed to devote his life to the Christian faith."</blockquote><br /><br />This seems rather coincidental that he spoke to a Protestant minister and saw what he perceived as sign of the Christian triumvirate. Would he have seen a crescent moon and star if the contract had been with an imam or a star of David if the contract had been with a Rabi? Those would certainly be more spectacular to see a waterfall frozen in the shape of but that probably would have been written off as being created by man and rightly so. Could the symbol of three be the Triple Goddess (Maiden, Mother and Crone) of the Wiccan religion or the Hindu triumvirate of Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu? It is only because of his upbringing and immersion in American society which follows, predominantly, the Abrahamic traditions that he can makes the assumption that the beautiful display of nature is a sign of the Christian God.<br /><br />The paragraph above is really just an aside, I am more <strike>amazed</strike> <strike>frustrated</strike> <strike>concerned</strike> dismayed that an individual who is so well educated in the scientific method can jump to such a wild conclusion with regards to an easily observable, testable and repeatable natural phenomenon. He seems to think that an appropriate response to a spectacular and seemingly miraculous occurrence, such as water freezing, is to attribute it to a supernatural cause (a la 'God did it') rather than taking the time to research (or even think about for a few minutes) the possible natural ways it could have occurred. <br /><br />I recognize and applaud all the positive steps he has made in improving the standing of science in the US most importantly his work towards repealing the ban on stem cell research. I continue to give him the benefit of the doubt because he has shown himself a staunch defender of the scientific method in all public domains within his control and of the research that has received funding from the NIH that has drawn criticism because of the oddity of the explanation of the research and the fact that lay people do not understanding its value. But I can help but have the smallest amount of apprehension that the unscientific conclusion jumping will rear it head again but in a way that will effects others and not just what Dr. Collins does with his Sunday mornings. <br /><br />Read <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/09/06/100906fa_fact_boyer?currentPage=all#ixzz0yWZXpRyf">more</a> about Francis Collins in the article in the New Yorker.kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-14330876454631678342010-08-27T15:56:00.003-04:002010-08-27T16:08:36.761-04:00Todays disapointmentSince I was old enough I have given blood and/or platelets with the red cross or other blood services. Some time in my early 20s I had to stop donating whole blood because it totally wiped me out and I took ages to get all my red cells back. After that I started donating platelets as often as 2 times a month. I viewed it was a way to give of myself that would not only help others but could save someone life.<br /><br />When I got pregnant with my son I had to stop donating platelets. It has been over three years since my last donation and I have been preparing myself to start again as my son has been slowly weaning himself. A new hurdle to jump, for anyone who has been pregnant, is an HLA antibody test. They instituted this test because the Red Cross found that there were more transfusion reactions with blood from donors who were HLA positive. <br /><br />So on Monday I went into the donation center and had them draw a vial of blood for the test. Today I called for the results and, unfortunately, I am positive for the HLA antibody and can no longer donate platelets. I am unable to express how hugely disappointed I am.kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-46660414292572690242010-08-04T20:57:00.002-04:002010-08-04T21:46:39.533-04:00Might Does Not Make RightI was happy to hear that Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that voter approved Proposition 8 was unconstitutional and that it<br /><br /><blockquote>"fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples"</blockquote><br /><br />Although nothing will actually change in California based on this ruling, the judge has also granted a stay until appeals can be completed, this is just another step in removing another form of institutionalized discrimination from our country.<br /><br />The comments that I see repeatedly from the supporters of Prop 8 have to do with the judge (who stands as a symbol of the elite who are out of touch with the common man) ignoring the voice of the citizens. They seem to think that if they get enough votes then they can ignore the constitution. They want to pretend that "majority rules" is a covenant of our republic. They conveniently ignore the fact that convincing a majority of registered voters to cast a particular vote on a particular issue has nothing to do with the legality or constitutionality of that issue. The Constitution and its amendments are designed to protect the rights of the citizenry from the whims of the majority.<br /><br />Throughout history of the United States, the voting majority of each time has sought to propagate discrimination on many fronts including denying women and blacks the right to vote and prohibiting the marriage of interracial couples. In turn, each of these were revealed to have no rational basis and that continued support of those ideas were based solely on animus. The same applies to the continued prohibition of same-sex marriages. At its most basic a marriage is a legal contract between two consenting adults. There is no rational or reasonable excuse that two men or two women should not be able to enter in to this contract and receive all the federal, state and local benefits afforded to a male and female entering into the exact same contract.kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-86517007648197991682010-04-21T22:22:00.002-04:002010-04-21T22:52:20.985-04:00Shopping FrustrationThis past weekend I spent some time looking at clothes and shoes for my 2 year old son. I encountered the same three problems at each store.<br /><br />1. The toddler boys section is about a quarter the size of the toddler girl section.<br /><br />2. The sales in the girls section were significantly better than in the boys section (Huge clearance section with 80-90% off in the girls section and the most off in the boys section was 50%).<br /><br />3. There are very few shirts and shoes that don't have some kind of print or logo. Everything from the cutesy 'little slugger' type things to huge brand logos and TV characters to ridiculous plaids and strips.<br /><br />I would like some nice quality solid color shirts, tennis shoes without mass marketed characters on them and some cute summer waterproof sandals but I guess that is just too much to ask for.kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-44033266356175667412010-01-03T22:33:00.003-05:002010-01-03T23:09:00.840-05:00"Never-Out" my a**About 3 years ago, Brian and I purchased a pre-lit artificial Christmas tree. We decided on getting an artificial tree because we decided that we did not want to continue killing a tree every year to celebrate this holiday. The choice of a pre-lit tree was done for convenience. However, even with our extensive research to ensure that we got the best tree that we could (75-A Martha Stewart), it has turned out to be anything but convenient. <br /><br />The first year we had the tree it worked beautifully until the a couple of days after Christmas when a single strand of lights on the very bottom when out. Since it was after Christmas and we were about to take it down we decided to deal with the lights when we put it up next year. It was not put up last year because of space constraints but when we put it up this year we discovered that nearly the entire bottom section was out along with a small portion of the middle section. For several days we made multiple attempts to repair the sections that were not lit. We even bought a Light Keeper Pro which helped us to repair several other stands of lights but would/could not fix any of those on the tree. <br /><br />Eventually we started going bulb by bulb to find the problem. What we discovered was that in each section of lights that were about 99 lights that could be replace and a single bulb that could not. In ever strand that was out this 'keystone' bulb was blown and there was nothing that could be done to revive that strand. This type of planned obsolesence really pisses me off. So finally out of desperation I purchased several new strands of lights and strung them on the unlit portions of the tree and commenced with decorating. Over the 2 weeks leading to Christmas the the remaining strands on the bottom and middle sections failed and the day after Christmas the entire top section when out.<br /><br />So utterly frustrated, today I proceeded to removed 600 lights the three sections of our tree. This task took the better part of 5 hours to complete and made the tips of my fingers raw from removing the clips that held each one of those 600 lights to the branches. We purchased some LED lights to string on it next year and hopefully we will have better luck with these.<br /><br />My advice to anyone thinking about purchasing a pre-lit tree is...DON'T. Find a nice looking artificial tree, several good quality strings of lights and clips to hold the lights to the branches and hang the lights on each section independently so that you can pack it away with the lights on. So the first year you will have to do a little more work but hopefully the lights you put on will hold up better and you will have your pre-lit tree for many year hence.kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-87031930160622891852009-11-03T22:35:00.001-05:002009-11-03T22:37:39.348-05:00Language Lesson #2Let me clarify there, their and they're for the people who are constantly using the wrong version.<br /><br />There is a place - "The book is over there."<br />Their is a possessive pronoun - "It is their book"<br />They're is a contraction of they are - "They're going to buy a book"<br /><br />Piece de resistance<br /><br /><b>They're going over there to get their book.</b>kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-10863509402696247922009-11-02T21:57:00.004-05:002009-11-02T22:54:44.832-05:00Tense Lanuage LessionOkay, so there are several words to which I have a chronic difficultly applying the correct tense or conjugation. One afternoon I, who apparently had nothing better to do, asked a friend, who happens to be an English major, to review the correct usage of the following words: lie, lay, lain, laid, who and whom (Thank you Ashley – and if you or the Trussian whore, you know who you are, can correct that last sentence or any other glaring mistakes I have made it would be much appreciated). I will post it here to enrich the lives of others and to make it easier for me to reference later.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Word:</span> Who<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Part of Speech:</span> Subject<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Example of proper usage:</span> Who is the woman in the red dress? <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Word:</span> Whom<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Part of Speech:</span> Object<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Example of proper usage:</span> With whom am I speaking?<br /><br />*When trying to determine which to use try substituting he/she or him/her. If he/she is correct then use who (She is in the red dress.), use whom with him/her (You are speaking to her.)<br /><br />So that is the easy one. The others are a little more complicated<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Word:</span> Lie<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verb Tense:</span> Simple present<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Example of proper usage:</span> I am going to lie down.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Word:</span> Lay<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verb Tense:</span> Simple past<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Example of proper usage:</span> I went to lay down.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Word:</span> Lain <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verb Tense:</span> Past participle <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Example of proper usage:</span> I have lain on the bed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Word:</span> Laying<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verb Tense:</span> Present participle<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Example of proper usage:</span> I am laying on the bed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Word:</span> Lay<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verb Tense:</span> Simple present<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Example of proper usage:</span> I will lay the book on the table.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Word:</span> Laid<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verb Tense:</span> Simple past<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Example of proper usage:</span> I laid the book on the table.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Word:</span> Laid <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verb Tense:</span> Past participle<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Example of proper usage:</span> I have laid books there before.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Word:</span> Laying <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verb Tense:</span> Present participle<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Example of proper usage:</span> I am laying the book on the table now.<br /><br /><br />Well, I hope that clears things up for everyone. I know that it is clear as mud for me. I am sure that I will continue to use all of these words incorrectly at least half the time but you have got to give me credit for tryingkelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-82777588870145371072009-08-30T22:25:00.000-04:002009-08-30T22:26:02.553-04:00I’m sorry Miss, but we can’t let you do that.As I am preparing for the transition from student to physician it has become more important for me to address the actualities of patient care versus the ideals that are discussed when we are being taught. After being away from clinical medicine for about a year and now being immersed in it again, something that I had contemplated as a medical student has come back to the foreground of my thoughts.<br /><br />What do physicians and hospitals mean when they say “we don’t allow a patient to do X” or “a patient must do X.” I have heard this most often when discussing obstetrics as in the examples below.<br /><br /> “We don’t allow patients to go past 42 weeks.”<br /> “The hospital does not allow VBACs (Vaginal Birth After C-section).”<br /><br />Realistically, a physician can discuss these issues with a patient, present the risks and benefits, use strong language like “we don’t allow” and “you must”, but, in the end, it is the patient’s decision and they have the right to refuse. Many, maybe even most patients will take the advice of their physician and do whatever they recommend. However, there is going to be a segment of the population that does not agree with conclusions that the physician and/or hospital has reached and decline.<br /><br />In reality, what does a physician who says “we don’t attend VBACs” do when a patient, who they have seen for nearly 9 months, refuses to schedule a repeat c-section and shows up at the hospital in labor? Will they refuse to admit the patient or admit them and then annoy the patient during the entire labor until either they give in and allow the c-section or the baby is born vaginally. What about a patient who is at 41 weeks gestation and refuses to schedule an induction for 42 weeks? Will they discharge the patient from their care when labor is imminent and refuse to attend the birth when labor finally begins. Will some go so far as to perform the procedure without their consent? Or try to obtain a court order to force them?<br /><br />This place is where the theory we learn in school and the reality of patient care meet in direct opposition.kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-63236468835300884162009-06-04T22:37:00.005-04:002009-06-04T22:56:24.545-04:00Rusted Root ConcertIt has been a while since my husband and I last went to a concert (The last one was just after Christmas in 2007 and I was 7 months pregnant at the time). Last last night we talked some friends into watching the little scream machine that is currently masquerading as our son and headed off to <a href="http://www.handlebar-online.com/index.asp">The Handle Bar</a> to see <a href="http://www.rustedroot.com/">Rusted Root</a>.<br /><br />The concert was amazing. The Handle Bar is a small venue with an intimate feel. We were right up next to the stage for the entire show.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uHv_CQrL_WI/SiiHvd0lInI/AAAAAAAAAGg/aUybjVx497U/s1600-h/Liz+RR.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uHv_CQrL_WI/SiiHvd0lInI/AAAAAAAAAGg/aUybjVx497U/s200/Liz+RR.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343670207403860594" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uHv_CQrL_WI/SiiH5EcNCOI/AAAAAAAAAGo/KpbPYZyx6bA/s1600-h/Michael+RR.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uHv_CQrL_WI/SiiH5EcNCOI/AAAAAAAAAGo/KpbPYZyx6bA/s200/Michael+RR.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343670372389423330" /></a><br /><br />At the end of the show some of the players from STOMP joined them on stage and jammed for a little while as part of the Encore. When the show was over Michael, Patrick and Liz came down to meet with fans and sign autographs. Being the dork that I am, I purchased a t-shirt and a copy of their new album and had them signed. I also managed to get a picture with Michael but unfortunately it was with a camera phone so it is not all that great but here it is.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uHv_CQrL_WI/SiiJBEA4_TI/AAAAAAAAAGw/59QI2voevrE/s1600-h/Me+and+Michael+RR.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uHv_CQrL_WI/SiiJBEA4_TI/AAAAAAAAAGw/59QI2voevrE/s200/Me+and+Michael+RR.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343671609225444658" /></a>kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-81194334265381117852009-05-21T22:57:00.003-04:002009-05-23T22:33:16.356-04:00Conscience ClauseThere exists a contingent of people, I assume mostly evangelical christians and catholics, who think that providers of medical care should be able to not only refuse to perform or provide a particular treatment (which they can already legally do) but to also refuse to educate their patients about the same or even refer them to a provider who will provide that treatment. They are under the mistaken impression that the current laws force health care providers to do anything other than give their patients all of the information and allow them to choose for themselves what the best path is.<br /><br />What the individuals and groups pushing this law want is for the government to force employers to hire and/or keep employees who refuse to perform all the duties in their job descriptions. I agree that any medical practitioner should be able to choose what procedures they want or don't want to perform, what medication they will and will not prescribe or any other decision they want to make about their practicing of medicine. And as private physicians and nurses they have the ability to do that. However, it is just as important to preserve the rights patients to informed refusal/consent.<br /><br />The owners of hospitals and clinics also have the right to decide what procedures and treatments will be available within their facilities and have the proper staff available to provide those services. When these employers are looking to hire physician, nurses or other health care providers it is reasonable to expect potential employees to reveal if they are willing to perform all the duties of the job. It is also reasonable for a hospital or clinic to require a potential employee to reveal if there is any part of the job that they refuse to take part in for any reason and to use that information to decide if they want to hire them. Physicians and nurses also have a choice to search out employers who do not offer those treatments or who are okay employing individuals who won't perform them.<br /><br />The other problem with this issue is a lack of transparency. Medical care is expensive and patients should be able to acquire a full list of the things that a physician will not do or offer referrals for before choosing them as a care provider. No one should have to spend hundreds of dollars and many hours in appointments with doctors to question them about every every possible treatment or procedure they might ever need or end up with a doctor who will not provide the necessary care, regardless of the reason. Patients should have all the information about a providers ability to care for them so they can make informed decisions on which provider to see. <br /><br />I for one would not want to see an OB/GYN who would refuse to operate on an ectopic pregnancy because of the infinitesimal chance that it could survive to viability rather than rupture and kill me. Or a family medicine doctor who would refuse to prescribe an OCP to a woman with PCOS because of the possibility it might stop the implantation of a fertilized egg. Or a psychiatrist who refuses to write prescriptions for antidepressants. I am all for them making the choice they feel is appropriate for their conscience/soul/morals/ethics/religion or whatever but patients should have a choice as well. Health care providers should be open, honest and upfront with their patients (or potential patients) about their self imposed limitations and allow the consumers of medical care to make their choice as well.<br /><br />In the end it comes down to balancing the right of one group against the rights of another. Personal beliefs are just that and should never be forced on others, this is doubly wrong when done without giving them a choice. When faith becomes motive and not a private matter we are no longer a country where people receive the best care, but one where care is given only when it suits the personal choices of the medical staff on hand.kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-83737059984120996702009-05-11T11:28:00.002-04:002009-05-11T11:37:44.548-04:00Clipping post for RSS feedsI use Google reader to keep up with the blogs that I read the most often. It has worked pretty well except for a couple of little quirks. I wish I would get a notification when someone updates an older post and I wish I could get them to show up in chronological order rather than reverse chronology. Those thing aside I have been very happy with it.<br /><br />Lately though, it is a decision that my favorite bloggers are making that is driving me up the wall. I really appreciate those bloggers that allow the entire post to show up on the reader and I ofter click on to the page to read the comments when I have the time. I am even ok with those who put up one or two paragraphs with a 'click here' to read below the fold. What I can't stand is the 10-15 word truncations that rarely even give me a clue as to what the post is actually about. I get that you want people to go to the actual blog page because it brings in revenue (i guess) but mostly it just make me not want to read your blog at all.kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-46575551069949204672009-04-09T22:39:00.002-04:002009-04-09T23:08:33.200-04:00I am hugging my munchkin a little tighter todayWhen I first became pregnant I started reading books and articles about pregnancy and child rearing and eventually I looked on the internet for women who were or had experienced it. It was during this search that I can across the website of <a href="http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/">Heather Spore</a>. She was due near the time I was but was having some complications. I sat with baited breath as I waited for updates and was scared for her when little Maddie was born very early weighing just a little over 3 pounds. Over the last year and half I have read as Maddie passed all the normal milestones and enjoyed looking at the pictures of her shinning smile.<br /><br />After being off the internet for several days I was giving a horrible shock upon logging on to the news that this adorable, happy little child had died. My heart aches for Heather, Mike and their whole family and I will continue to have them in my thoughts. Even though I never met her in person I will miss her and her smiles. I will be hugging my sweet baby boy (and all my loved ones) closer as I am reminded of the frailty of the human condition and our ultimate mortality.kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-49194070756832627682009-03-10T21:56:00.002-04:002009-03-10T22:54:50.047-04:00The Death March of Evangelical ChristianityI was directed this evening to a <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20090310/cm_csm/yspencer">opinion piece</a> published in the Christian Science Monitor written by Michael Spencer (an evangelical). The following quote sums up the article nicely.<br /><blockquote>We are on the verge – within 10 years – of a major collapse of evangelical Christianity. This breakdown will follow the deterioration of the mainline Protestant world and it will fundamentally alter the religious and cultural environment in the West.<br /><br />Within two generations, evangelicalism will be a house deserted of half its occupants. (Between 25 and 35 percent of Americans today are Evangelicals.) In the "Protestant" 20th century, Evangelicals flourished. But they will soon be living in a very secular and religiously antagonistic 21st century.<br /><br />This collapse will herald the arrival of an anti-Christian chapter of the post-Christian West. Intolerance of Christianity will rise to levels many of us have not believed possible in our lifetimes, and public policy will become hostile toward evangelical Christianity, seeing it as the opponent of the common good.</blockquote><br />These few sentences give me hope that this group will lose their strangle hold over the American democratic system. Throughout most of my life, Evangelicals and other Christians have attempted to impose their beliefs on everyone else through legislation and judicial challenges. Hopeful this is the first whispers of an impending lose of power.<br /><br />Spencer describes the reasons he thinks the dissolution will occur and many are the precise things that I had previously recognized.<br /><blockquote>Evangelicals will increasingly be seen as a threat to cultural progress. Public leaders will consider us bad for America, bad for education, bad for children, and bad for society...massive majorities of Evangelicals can't articulate the Gospel with any coherence.</blockquote><br />I am glad that others are or soon will be catching up.<br /><br />The author describes that he thinks currently religious people will take one of two paths. They will either leave religion behind or shift into the more orthodox and dogmatic forms like Catholicism. This will widen the gap between the religious and the non-religious by removing much of what is considered 'mainline' Christianity. This stark contrast will result in many moderates choosing a more secular path rather than the more fundamentalist ideologies.<br /><br />I see this as a precursor to the death of Christianity as a whole as it will inevitably continue to follow the same path that past religions have. Initially, the religion is concentrated with its single set of dogma and orthodoxy. As time progresses the religion becomes fractured, as happened when the Protestants split from the Catholic Church, the Church of England split from the Roman Catholic Church, when the Protestant church fractured into it many denominations and most recently with the advent of the emerging church and mega churches. As the divisions occur the message becomes watered down and loses its power. As this occurs, the stories of God and Jesus will turn into myths and hold the same power as stories of Zeus and Thor.<br /><br />Spencer, M. (2009, March 10). Title:The coming evangelical collapse [Editorial].<br /> The Christian Science Monitor, 9. Retrieved March 10, 2009, from<br /> http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20090310/cm_csm/yspencerkelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-30865176142031090862009-03-09T22:00:00.003-04:002009-03-09T23:09:49.949-04:00Our First Trip to the Emergency RoomI had visions of our first trip to the ER with Sebastian being one of a broken limb from falling out of a tree or needing stitches after falling off his bike. I did not expect it to be due to him smearing food on his face. Here is what happened (Sebastian's view of the events can be found <a href="http://sebastianhamilton.blogspot.com/2009/03/new-york-reuters-health-november-7-2008.html">here</a>).<br /><br />Our family was sitting down for a lunch of mostly leftovers. I decided to have a peanut butter sandwich and gave a small piece to Sebastian. He ate the first couple of bites normally and then began to play with and mush the pieces. About 10-15 minutes later he started his usual "I'm ready for a nap" motions including rubbing his hands and whatever is on them all over his face. I proceeded to wipe him clean and then go lay down for a nap. I noticed that his face was a little red at this point but figured it was just from the washing. We had been lying down for about 5 minutes when I noticed that he had developed hives all over his face and the backs of his hands. I quickly sent Brian to the store for some Benadryl and more thoroughly washed him off and eventually put him in the tub. When Brian got back we got him out of the bath and dosed him up with the Benadryl. The reaction was limited to the skin that had come in contact with the peanut butter and he never developed any respiratory symptoms. Even though the reaction seemed to be taken care of by the Benadryl we decided to go to the hospital just in case.<br /><br />When we arrived at the ER the swelling had gone done considerably but it was still very noticeable and red. We were checked in and triaged fairly quickly and sent to the waiting room. About 20-30 minutes later his face was started to get redder and the swelling increased so we went back to the triage nurse who got him in to a room. The nurse came in and checked him out and a few minutes later the doctor came in to examine him and get the history of the event. He was given a dose of steroids to further manage the reaction and finally the swelling started to diminish and redness started to fade. We were discharged with instructions to continue to give the Benadryl and steroids for 3 days, to avoid all products containing peanuts and carry and EpiPen at all times.<br /><br />This was the last thing I ever expected to happen. Neither Brian nor I have any history of food allergies or any other allergies except poison ivy and hay fever. The most current research indicates that early exposure is protective against allergic reactions.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Questions</span><br />1. He is actually allergic to peanuts or to some other substance in the peanut butter (Smart Balance)? I guess we won't know the answer to this until we take him to an allergist.<br />2. Why did he only react once he 'applied' it to his skin? He had been fine for while after ingesting and only broke out where he had speared it. He had no swelling of his mouth (except bottom lip) or throat. <br />3. Is it possible that he has only a topical allergy and ingesting it would not pose problems? I have heard anecdotes from people who report getting rashes and/or hives when getting other foods (tomatoes, mangoes, some meats) on their skin but they are able to consume them without any problems. Are stories like this not common with peanuts because it doesn't happen or because people freak out with the skin rash that ingestion is never attempted again?<br /><br />With the diagnosis of 'peanut allergy' there comes a lot of decisions that have to be made. Do we have to take this to the extreme of avoiding anything that was manufactured in the same place as something that contains peanuts? After he stops nursing do I have to continue to avoid peanut products as well? Do we need to be a peanut free house? Will he need to sit at a peanut free table at school? Can we take him to the circus or baseball games where others will probably be eating peanuts? How do we proceed with this without it taking over every decision we make? Right now it is easy because at only 1 year old we control everything he eats but as he gets older how do we make him aware of it without making him scared?<br /><br />These are only a fraction of the questions and thoughts churning through my mind right now and the information out there is either purely speculation or inconclusive at best. What is a mom to do?kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-63636660564118469572009-02-28T19:31:00.001-05:002009-02-28T19:41:39.623-05:00I think he is missing the point.One of the presents that Sebastian got for his 1st birthday was a Shape Sorter. You know, the toy with the different shaped blocked that are supposed to go in the same shaped holes on the top.<br /><br />Well today, we were playing with the toy and I was attempting to show him how the different shaped blocked went in the same shaped holes. After watching me do a couple he looked at me with a confused look. He then proceeded to remove the lid from the box and put the rest of the blocks in.<br /><br />I think he is missing the point of the toy.kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-39844779207756156922009-02-19T18:41:00.005-05:002009-02-19T22:46:00.827-05:00Birthday BuddiesGrowing up, I envied my friends who shared birthday with siblings or friends. It seemed like such a special things to share with someone so I always wanted a birthday buddy. <br /><br />One year ago today I got my wish when this precious little boy was born.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q190/everyone89/Sebastian/2hoursold1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q190/everyone89/Sebastian/2hoursold1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> (2/19/08 9:57am)<br /><br />I can't believe how quickly this year has flown by. It seems like only yesterday I was pregnant anxiously waiting for him to make his appearance. It is amazing, that in such a short period of time, he has changed from a tiny baby who depended on us for everything to a little boy striving for independence.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q190/everyone89/Sebastian/IMG_9178.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q190/everyone89/Sebastian/IMG_9178.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> (2/19/09)<br /><br />After having my birthday to myself for so long, I was unsure how I would like sharing it now. It has had one unexpected consequence, it is nearly impossible to fret about getting older on your birthday, when watching your ecstatic child run around playing with friends and family, devouring cake and opening presents. So while some of my friends lamented this year's birthday and the continuing march of time, I rejoiced in the excitement of my son's first birthday instead.kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-36100881541976202622009-02-14T12:44:00.005-05:002009-02-14T13:01:32.935-05:00My son. The traiter!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q190/everyone89/Sebastian/IMG_8831.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 533px; height: 400px;" src="http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q190/everyone89/Sebastian/IMG_8831.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />This adorable, precious, sweet and innocent baby is actually a vile traitor who has forsaken the women who birthed him.<br /><br />For about 6 weeks Sebastian has been regularly saying 'dada' and will readily point to him out if asked. Hoever, he has yet to utter the word 'mama' and if you ask him "Where is mama?" he will give you a blank stare as if to say "Who?"<br /><br />Well, last evening while we were all standing around the kitchen, he looks at my mother-in-law and says clear as day "gran-ma". My own son, that I carried around for nine months, labored and birthed with no drugs, feed from my body and love with my whole heart, says gran-ma before mama. How horribly unfair.<br /><br /><br />Signed,<br />NOT the Mamakelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-994823722337219128.post-7087063478623670902008-11-03T18:36:00.000-05:002008-11-03T18:37:42.311-05:00VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!The Day Before Election<br /><br />'Twas the day before the election, when all through the news<br />The pundits and pollsters were spouting their views.<br /><br />The candidates were running around all the states,<br />Praying like hell there would be no mistakes.<br /><br />Sarah Palin was crying about the media and elite,<br />While John McCain was busy throwing out red meat.<br /><br />And no matter how hard they seem to try,<br />Everyone saw right through their lies.<br /><br />I think Sarah Palin needs to buy herself a clue,<br />In addition to her brand new expensive suit.<br /><br />John McCain will regret choosing Palin one day,<br />I do believe that is what the history books will say.<br /><br />The Republicans it seems might be in a big jam,<br />Losing seats left and right and losing their fans.<br /><br />The pundits believe Obama just might win,<br />The country can't deal with another Bush again,<br /><br />Virginia and Florida might see the light,<br />And for the first time ever do something right.<br /><br />It is crazy to me the states are either red or blue,<br />When purple would make a beautiful hue.<br /><br />The war rages on and the country is in a mess,<br />Many believe Obama and Biden can handle it best.<br /><br />"Now, Viginia! Now, Montana and Now, Indiana and Colorado!<br />On, Florida! on Nevada! on, Missouri and Ohio!<br /><br />Please get off your ass, get dressed and put down the remote!"<br />To the end of the drive, on down the street! To the place where you vote!<br /><br />The decision is big and there is too much at stake<br />Probably the biggest one you will ever make.<br /><br />When the dust has settled and the count is all in<br />Will we have a new direction or the same song again?<br /><br />So up, up out of your chair and get onto your feet,<br />The ability to vote, just can't be beat.<br /><br />You might be a fan of McCain and Palin, that is OK<br />I know if you vote for them it will really ruin my damn day.<br /><br />We deserve better than just Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb<br />As to who is who, you know which is which one.<br /><br />Seeing "Russia from your house" is not good enough<br />We need a helluva lot more when times get tough<br /><br />The world is watching to see what will be done<br />The last eight years have not been that much fun<br /><br />Try something new, step out of the box<br />Prove to the world that America rocks.<br /><br />Leave the bias behind on the color of skin<br />Vote for Obama and restore our national dignity again<br /><br />He has the right stuff, from his head to his toes,<br />And his head can barely contain all he knows.<br /><br />He is sharp as can be and his values are sound<br />And he wants to turn this damn country around.<br /><br />Palin has proven power can be abused!<br />I for one am not very amused!<br /><br />McCain truly lost his way!<br />I don't believe a thing he has to say!<br /><br />No one is perfect, we all agree to that,<br />But Obama and Biden are better, and that is a fact!<br /><br />So, that is it... all I've got! I hope it brings a chuckle or two today, the day before the biggest election in our collective history.<br /><br />Vote!<br /><br />VOTE!<br /><br />VOTE FOR Obama and Biden!kelahamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15387189232935913422noreply@blogger.com0