Immunizations

Last week I took the kids to SuperShot. I was behind on the boys' immunization schedule due to a dilemma. A few years ago, I found out that some of the immunizations came from aborted fetal cells. They grew the viruses in aborted fetal cell tissue. The idea of injecting that into my living children's bloodstream sickened me. They didn't have to use aborted bodies. Many immunizations are grown in chicken or something like that. There are variations throughout the world that have the same immunizations but were grown in something less controversial. Maybe they wanted to push the envelope of science. Maybe they wanted to validate a reason for abortions. You can read the story here (I liked the "Prove It" article on the left sidebar) and on that same website is a link of immunizations that are ethical and those that aren't. I printed off the table of ethical vaccines and made the trip to the local clinic.

The 2 nurses at the desk said that "No" the immunizations weren't derived from aborted fetus. I hurt standing there (I'm a little -er lot pregnant) and I didn't want to argue. This was specifically why I was behind in the boys' immunizations - the idea of arguing with someone I respected who was there to help the community makes my stomach turn. So we disagreed politely a few times back and forth and I kindly, but firmly insisted that I didn't want the immunizations listed on my sheet that were considered unethical. She said she'd contact the head nurse who could explain it to me better (because obviously, I was wrong and wasn't understanding her -it couldn't be that I understood perfectly and disagreed with her). She contritely came back saying I was right and I just needed to sign the form saying I was refusing those particular shots.

The next day I called the pediatrician. The ethical version of most of those vaccines are the ones that are separate, not combination vaccines in the same shot. The pediatrician had them on hand (or I would have had to contact and order them from http://www.cogforlife.org/ and have them shipped to my doctor). Apparently, I'm not the only parent in town with this dilemma. So, 2 days after the first set of shots, and a painful 250 dollars later, the boys were finished up with all the shots I would allow them to have.

It was an emotional hassle dealing with people who think I'm crazy to have this as a priority in my life. It was a physical hassle taking the kids 2 different places to get shots and calling the pediatrician. It was physically painful (for both the boys and myself) to get this done. It was a financial strain to spend that money on shots we could have gotten for free if I would have just lowered my standards.

I'm so glad it's done and that I went through all the hassle I did. Two nurses are more informed than they had been. My doctor has a continued reason to stock the ethical version of the vaccines. (I don't really see a positive side to the $250...) My children are immunized to the best of my ability and I'm secure in the knowledge that I'm protecting them while not participating in any way, shape, or form in the culture of death.

Room Re-do

Dd#2 has been longing for the last year to have her sister move back in with her. She does not like sleeping alone. I offered to allow her to move in with her brothers, who she ends up cuddling either in their room or hers at least half the time, but she didn't want to. With trying to decide where to put the new baby, Dd#2 has decided to move in with her brothers, who have the largest bedroom. Dave, who is in charge of all bedtime rituals in our house, isn't so sure this will work. So, last night the 3 kids slept together to prove how quitetly they could go to sleep. This morning they worked on cleaning the boys' room and reorganizing it for beauty and function in hopes that Dd#2 will be allowed to move in. I thought it was adorable of them to work so hard to get to spend more time together (because it's not like they spend every waking moment together -- er, wait, they do.)

I was too tired this morning to climb back up the stairs to see their work, so Dd#2 took the digital camera up for me.

Quote of the Day

Dd#1 and I were analyzing sentences. I asked her

"Is this word a direct object?"

Dd#1

It's the nice word. The happy word. It's "You look nice, today."

It took me a minute to figure out what she was talking about....

Mama

OHHHH, a subject COMPLIMENT.

Party Central

The kids decided to have a party today...at 4:30am. I don't know who woke up whom, but I know I WAS asleep when I heard the party going on. After a whispered lecture (Dave was still sleeping) and sending them to bed, then I was awake and couldn't sleep. So I got up and went to 6:15am Mass and got home before Dave even got out of bed at 7am. Good morning, Jesus! I always physically feel wiped after morning Mass, but I figure I sure do need the graces. We've gotten a little school done (the kids were up when I got home) and I'm off to bed for a morning nap. I'm sort of thinking this weird schedule my body and my kids are keeping (against my will) won't get better after the baby's born....

Quote of the Day

Our library's annual poetry contest is coming up. If you recall, last year each of the kids wrote poems and I didn't submit them in time ("bad mama, bad mama"). So, when the kids got the flyer in the mail, they wanted to jump on it. They spent part of their Saturday afternoon writing poems. After a flourish of coming in with their poems completed and recitals by many of the kids, Ds#3 sat before his audience.

Ds#3

I need a little help with mine... (long pause as he examins his paper).
All I have so far is ...

"THE..."

Astronomy Game

I've been looking for a way to deepen and extend our Astronomy lessons. We're using Apologia's Astronomy and it's working wonderful for the 4th, 2nd & K -- but Dd#1, 6th grade, has already absorbed most of the information from her independant reading. So, I as we progress through each chapter, I'm making montessori cards for her (and the others) to extend the lesson. She colored 6 cards of a sun and then using a diagram I found online, sketched in corona, core, convection zone, etc. I copied the cards so she has duplicates and she can match the picture with the label and match the label with the definition. I think it'll help!

Heaven Sent

Over the weekend, a wonderful servant of Christ offered to do my shopping for me. I usually buy for the month, so it's a huge job. When I said 'no', this servant of Christ threatened to come beat me up if I didn't allow her to help me. ...ok

After working 9 hours as a nurse, she came and picked up my list. Then at 10:30pm, after 5 hours of shopping, she came back with $530 worth of groceries for our family. She helped cut up the meats and get the perishables taken care of and the kids just had to help put away the pantry items. Then she left so she could go to work in the morning!

It was SUCH a HUGE job and I appreciate all her efforts! It feels so good to have that DONE!

THANK YOU, Jesus, for willing servants -- please bless them.