Speechless

I had a customer come in today for the H1N1 vaccine. Yes I have it in stock and no you can't have it. Unless you are in a priority group.

She was 18 weeks pregnant. Pregnant women are at high risk for complications so are in the priority group for receiving this vaccine. She said she had been going back and forth trying to decide if she should get the vaccine at all but finally decided that having a baby with autism was better than having a miscarriage. WHAT? Okay. Now I was beginning to understand. She was one of those...

Those? The ones who believe that vaccines are the root of all evil. That vaccines cause autism... Even though you can read on the CDC website and the FDA websites that several studies have been conducted and do not show an association between vaccines and autism. The FDA protects people. Keeps them safe from potentially harmful substances. They are not for promoting drugs--but for safety and health. I have a hard time believing that if studies were truly showing that vaccines may be responsible for autism that something wouldn't be done.

I don't want to downplay the importance of autism awareness and how serious autism can be. So, instead of arguing with this patient, I let her express her opinion and kind of kept my mouth shut.

So, as I was starting to give her the shot, she tells me she is afraid of needles. Which is why she had two kids without an epidural. I said, "Good for you! "

She said, "Yes, it was good. Epidurals just slow everything down. It was great!"

I smiled and said that I had had 2 c-sections. She said, "Oh, I'm sorry."

Sorry? Seriously? That was kind of offensive. Just because my labors didn't fall into her "Labor Plan" doesn't mean that they were any less miraculous or wonderful. I said that it didn't matter as long as my kids were healthy. I think she agreed with me. Maybe not...

I was kind of speechless after that.

Toilet Training Tribulations and Triumphs

I think we have done it. We have found the right bribe.

We have been having issues with our stubborn-if -it- isn't- my- idea -it -I -am- not -doing- it- three year old and potty training. He just was refusing. When we took him for his 3 year old well check, the doctor said to give him a little time and try again. She suggested that even though we had tried different incentives maybe we hadn't touched on the right one...Well, I think we found it.

They were going to be discussing pets at preschool so they were asked to bring in a picture of a pet they had or a pet they wanted. Since there are NO pets in my house, my Mom helped Cade pick a pet he would like. Cade decided he wanted a fish. A goldfish like Dorothy, Elmo's fish. **LIGHT BULB!**

Cade was told he was not allowed to go back to school in pull-ups. He was not supposed to be wearing them, so when the teacher noticed them, we got a phone call. But Cade loves school and was doing well. Didn't want to pull him out over potty training--especially when he knew how to do it. So the bribe...the fish.

We bought a fish tank, rocks, plants, and little figures. We bought fish food. Every day that Cade was dry, he got another piece to his tank. He knows that when the tank is all ready, he gets his fish. We have had NO accidents. Amazing. We found the right bribe. We are still working on number two, but, one step at a time... WOO HOO!

Speaking of well check appointments, Cade weighed in at 43 pounds and 41 inches tall! In the 99th% for height and weight. Zane was over 17 pounds. He gained 5 pounds in the last two months. Guess he had some catching up to do! He went from being in the 5th % for weight to the 50th%. Now he is right where he should be. Happy, chubby, healthy. Love it.

Pictures--Cade 3 years, Zane 6 months

I have a blog?

Wow. I almost forgot I had a blog... But, since I did remember, you can now suffer through my long overdue--and possibly long-winded update.

• We were honored with a visit from our friend's the Peterson's for Cade's 3rd birthday. It was so much fun to have them here. Swimming, eating, drinking, card playing...it was wonderful. Cade LOVED having two boys to play with. They hunted dragons and bad guys with a strange assortment of weapons (foam swords, drum sticks, spatulas)... You can check out Jaime's account of their visit here. One of the best things we did was take the boys to Ridemakerz. It is like a grown up version of Build-a-Bear. Instead of making teddy bears, you make cool cars or trucks. Cade and Kole made the same truck--same color. I think the Dads had just as much fun as the little boys!

• Cade turned three on August 17th! I am not sure how my baby boy is three. Is it really possible? Apparently it is. We had a fun party at Peter Piper Pizza. Backyardigan themed. For those of you who don't know who the Backyardigans are, well, no loss there! Cade had a great time and I didn't have a house to clean up! It was a win-win situation!



• The weekend after Cade's birthday, we took a quick trip to California to go to Legoland. My parents came with us and we all piled in their car for the long drive. My two boys did very well considering we were on the road for about 7 hours each way. Cade liked Legoland. He loved driving the cars--but was NOT thrilled that he ended up on a roller coaster with me. It was pretty tame, but he said it was "scary, scary, scary, scary, scary". Most kids think it was fun after the fact, but Cade will NOT say that it was fun. Maybe in a few years...On Sunday we went to Sea Life. Cade loved the fish and Zane enjoyed them, too.

• 


• Cade started preschool. He is doing well--or he did in the first week. He seems to enjoy it!Of course, to be in preschool, he is supposed to be fully potty trained. However, that seems to be an issue for us. Cade understands the concept. He can even execute the concept when forced. But, the key word is forced. It is a full out raging battle to get Cade to go to the bathroom. I actually found an article on line about potty training REFUSAL. It isn't that he isn't capable, it is a power struggle. So, the recommendation was that you make the child in charge. WHAT? That is exactly what he wants. So, Cade is back in pull-ups for now. At least until we come back from vacation and see his pediatrician for his 3 year well check. Maybe we can get some good advice then.
• After our trip, Zane will go for his six month well check. He has grown so much! He actually has rolls on his legs! He was sooo skinny for such a long time, that he has plumped up in like the last 6 weeks. He went from weighing 12 lbs 5 oz on 7/13 to over 16 pounds tonight! He had some catching up to do and he has done it! Zane has mastered rolling over to his tummy--but hasn't quite mastered rolling back over on his back. So, several times a night he cries because he is stuck. Great fun!
• We leave for Hawaii soon! I can NOT wait. The long plane ride with two kids isn't as exciting, but the destination is well worth the travel. Maui here we come!