A few more from Tahoe...

I love these pictures because I just find it hilarious to see us all bundled up in snow gear! And the funny thing is it wasn't truly that cold...upper 40's I think! But anyone who knows Jason or me knows that we are definitely not cold weather people, especially Jas...so to have spent 4 days playing in the snow together for the first time and having so much fun together really was a big deal and just such a wonderful experience for us as a family. It is these "firsts" that Jason and I continue to really enjoy with T!

Thanks Jenn for the new pictures...can't wait to see the rest!

76 in Santa Cruz

More pictures from our 2 days at the beach last week

North Shore

We were lucky enough to have been invited by some friends and family to spend the last 4 days at an amazing cabin in North Shore, Lake Tahoe. It was ideal weather for 4 little boys under 5, mild temperatures and sunny skies, they had a blast sledding, throwing snowballs, and just being rambunctious...to start the weekend, T got a black eye withing 5 minutes of walking into the cabin when we first arrived...only boys!! To add to the fun times I also took T to the beach twice last week before we left....gorgeous! More pictures to come soon!

The Rut is Over...

Jason was given a "big" job over at Facebook for at least the next 2 or 3 months!!!!!!...big being actually quite small given Air Systems previous assignments but he is taking what he can get! We are sighing with deep relief and hopefulness that the work will be consistent and plentiful as this new year begins. The last several months have been tight to say the least so this news is really wonderful for Jason...he spent the last 4 months barely knowing if he would have a job to go to each day, waiting for a call every morning to give him a measly 1 or 2 day gig, there was a lot of generalized unrest around here. Just taking a lay-off to go to another company wasn't an appealing option as the waiting list for Local 393 plumbers union is near 600 which would take up to a year to get through. Nevertheless hopefully that won't have to be considered after the Facebook job is complete. Today we are thankful that this rut is over for now...

It frightens me to think...

I spoke to a parent the other day who was told his 8 month old baby's daycare provider's son was just diagnosed with mumps...............MUMPS!! This poor father was out-of-his-mind freaked out because of course his little baby hasn't had the MMR(measles/mumps/rubella) vaccine yet since it is scheduled after 1 years of age. In general babies under 1 have the antibodies and immunity from mom still providing their protection. At the time of the call the baby had a runny nose for the last week, no fever, eating and drinking well and very active so I got the physician involved and let him handle the issue from there.

The issue.....that this daycare provider's own child had not been vaccinated! How irresponsible to say the least, I will hold myself back a little, but yes, to say the least. This women is responsible for caring for children, specifically, infants, who when exposed to what might be considered a mild viral illness, can become life-threateningly ill. The baby's father said he thought when they applied she had said her entire family had all necessary vaccines....obviously not...otherwise her son wouldn't have gotten MUMPS.

The following information is from http://www.mayoclinic.org/, a reference I use often at work. I hope this encourages some deeper thought and consideration about getting a child vaccinated. In regards to Jenny McCarthy, I will say this much...she is not a doctor, she is not the expert when it comes to autism and vaccines. Although she may have done extensive research in the search to help her own child, and is an expert in her own personal experience, she should not influence every parents decision on immunizations. When I listen to her story of a very sick little boy who has frequent seizures and shows no level of emotion or loving interaction, of course I am saddened and am compassionate to her desire for answers. No parent can understand that level of fear and frustration unless they too have gone through something similar. And her intense involvement in finding a cure for autism is commendable and should continue. BUT, to say that her son was injured by vaccines and that the medical research found by the American Academy of Pediatrics among others is just a cover up...don't get me started. I am a proponent of a parent spacing out vaccines to give fewer at a time if that is what makes them feel in control and comfortable. But to recommend to consider not giving vaccines to children is irresponsible to a child and to the community. The reason these illnesses have either been completely eradicated in this country or are very rare is because the vaccines are successful. Unfortunately because of much of the autism controversy over the years and a large community who believe vaccines are chemicals that have no relevance to protecting the health of their child, we are again seeing a rise in such communicable diseases as measles, mumps, whooping cough/pertussis, and chickenpox. My fear is the return of polio.

Here is the info directly from Mayo Clinic:

Mumps is a disease caused by a virus that usually spreads through saliva and can infect many parts of the body, especially the parotid salivary glands, which typically swell and become painful.

Mumps was common until the mumps vaccine was licensed in 1967. Before the vaccine, more than 200,000 cases occurred each year in the United States. Since then the number of cases has dropped to fewer than 1,000 a year, and epidemics have become fairly rare. As in the pre-vaccine era, most cases of mumps are still in children ages 5 to 14, but the proportion of young adults who become infected has been rising slowly over the last two decades. Mumps infections are uncommon in children younger than 1 year old.
After a case of mumps it is very unusual to have a second because one attack of mumps almost always gives lifelong protection against another. However, other infections can also cause swelling in the salivary glands, which might lead a parent to mistakenly think a child has had mumps more than once.

Signs and Symptoms
Cases of mumps may start with a fever of up to 103° Fahrenheit (39.4° Celsius), as well as a headache and loss of appetite. The well-known hallmark of mumps is swelling and pain in the parotid glands, making the child look like a hamster with food in its cheeks. The glands usually become increasingly swollen and painful over a period of 1 to 3 days. The pain gets worse when the child swallows, talks, chews, or drinks acidic juices.
Both the left and right parotid glands may be affected, with one side swelling a few days before the other, or only one side may swell. In rare cases, mumps will attack other groups of salivary glands instead of the parotids. If this happens, swelling may be noticed under the tongue, under the jaw, or all the way down to the front of the chest.

Complications
Mumps can lead to inflammation and swelling of the brain and other organs, although this is not common. Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) are both rare complications of mumps. Symptoms appear in the first week after the parotid glands begin to swell and may include: high fever, stiff neck, headache, nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, convulsions, and other signs of brain involvement.
Mumps in adolescent and adult males may also result in the development of orchitis, an inflammation of the testicles. Usually one testicle becomes swollen and painful about 7 to 10 days after the parotids swell. This is accompanied by a high fever, shaking chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain that can sometimes be mistaken for appendicitis if the right testicle is affected.

Contagiousness
The mumps virus is contagious and spreads in tiny drops of fluid from the mouth and nose of someone who is infected. It can be passed to others through sneezing, coughing, or even laughing. The virus can also spread to other people through direct contact, such as picking up tissues or using drinking glasses that have been used by the infected person.
People who have mumps are most contagious from 2 days before symptoms begin to 6 days after they end. The virus can also spread from people who are infected but have no symptoms.

Prevention
Mumps can be prevented by vaccination. The vaccine can be given alone or as part of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) immunization, which is usually given to children at 12 to 15 months of age. A second dose of MMR is generally given at 4 to 6 years of age. As is the case with all immunization schedules, there are important exceptions and special circumstances.
If they haven't already received them, students who are attending colleges and other post-high school institutions should be sure they have had two doses of the MMR vaccine.
During a measles outbreak, your doctor may recommend additional shots of the vaccine, if your child is 1 to 4 years old. Your doctor will have the most current information.

Professional Treatment
If you think that your child has mumps, call your doctor, who can confirm the diagnosis and work with you to monitor your child's progress and watch for any complications. The doctor can also notify the health authorities who keep track of childhood immunization programs and mumps outbreaks.
Because mumps is caused by a virus, it cannot be treated with antibiotics.
At home, monitor and keep track of your child's temperature. You can use non-aspirin fever medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to bring down a fever. These medicines will also help relieve pain in the swollen parotid glands. Unless instructed by your child's doctor, aspirin should not be used in children with viral illnesses because the use of aspirin in such cases has been associated with the development of Reye syndrome, which can lead to liver failure and death.

Do you need the MMR vaccine?

You don't need a vaccine if you:
Had two doses of the MMR vaccine after 12 months of age or one dose of the MMR vaccine plus a second dose of measles vaccine
Had one dose of MMR and you're not at high risk of measles or mumps exposure
Have blood tests that demonstrate you're immune to measles, mumps and rubella
Are a man who was born before 1957
Are a woman who was born before 1957 and you don't plan to have any more children, you already had the rubella vaccine or you have a positive rubella test

You should get a vaccine if you don't fit the criteria listed above and you:
Are a nonpregnant woman of childbearing age
Attend college, trade school or postsecondary school
Work in a hospital, medical facility, child care center or school
Plan to travel overseas or take a cruise

The vaccine isn't recommended for:
Pregnant women or women who plan to get pregnant within the next four weeks
People who have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin or the antibiotic neomycin
People with severely compromised immune systems, unless the benefits of the vaccine exceed the risks
If you have cancer, a blood disorder or another disease that affects your immune system, talk to your doctor before getting an MMR vaccine.

Side effects of the vaccine:

You can't get mumps from the MMR vaccine, and most people experience no side effects from the vaccine. A few may experience a mild fever or rash, and some people (mostly adults) have achy joints afterward for a short time. Less than one out of a million doses causes a serious allergic reaction.
Although concerns have been raised about a connection between the MMR vaccine and autism, extensive reports from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Institute of Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conclude that there's no scientifically proven link between the MMR vaccine and autism. In addition, there's no scientific benefit in separating these vaccines. These organizations note that autism (autism spectrum disorder) is often identified in toddlers between the ages of 18 and 30 months, which happens to be about the time children are given their first MMR vaccine. But this coincidence in timing shouldn't be mistaken for a cause-and-effect relationship.

Other Complications from mumps:

Pancreatitis. This is swelling of the pancreas. Signs and symptoms of pancreatitis include pain in the upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting.
Encephalitis. A viral infection, such as mumps, can lead to inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). Encephalitis can lead to neurological problems and become life-threatening. Although it's serious, encephalitis is a rare complication of mumps.
Meningitis. Meningitis is infection and inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord. It can occur if the mumps virus spreads through your bloodstream to infect your central nervous system. Like encephalitis, meningitis is a rare complication of mumps.
Inflammation of the ovaries. Pain in the lower abdomen in women may be a symptom of this problem. Fertility doesn't seem to be affected.
Hearing loss. In rare cases, mumps can cause hearing loss, usually permanent, in one or both ears.
Miscarriage. Contracting mumps while you're pregnant, especially early on, can lead to miscarriage.

Childhood vaccines protect children from a range of serious diseases. Yet you may wonder about the benefits and risks of childhood vaccines. Consider common myths about childhood vaccines — and the facts behind the myths.

Myth: Vaccines aren't necessary
Fact: Childhood vaccines offer protection from a variety of serious or potentially fatal diseases, including diphtheria, measles, meningitis, polio, tetanus and whooping cough. If these diseases seem uncommon — or even unheard of — it simply means that vaccines are doing their job. If immunization rates drop, vaccine-preventable diseases may once again become common threats.

Myth: Vaccine side effects are dangerous
Fact: Any vaccine can cause side effects. Usually, these side effects are minor — low-grade fever, and soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site. Some vaccines cause temporary headache, dizziness, fatigue or loss of appetite. Rarely, a child may experience a severe allergic reaction or a neurological side effect, such as a seizure. Although these rare side effects are a concern, vaccines are much safer than the diseases they prevent.
Of course, vaccines aren't given to children who have known allergies to specific vaccine components. Likewise, if your child develops a life-threatening reaction to a particular vaccine, further doses of that vaccine won't be given.

Myth: Vaccines cause autism
Fact: Despite much controversy on the topic, researchers haven't found a clear connection between autism and childhood vaccines. Although signs of autism may appear at about the same time children receive certain vaccines — such as the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine — this appears to be simply a coincidence. One of the greatest controversies in autism centers on whether a link exists between autism and certain childhood vaccines, particularly the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and vaccines with thimerosal, a preservative that contains a small amount of mercury. Though most children's vaccines have been free of thimerosal since 2001, the controversy continues. To date, extensive studies have found no link between autism and vaccines.

Myth: Vaccines are given too early
Fact: Childhood vaccines offer protection from a variety of serious or potentially fatal diseases. Early vaccination — sometimes beginning shortly after birth — is essential because these diseases are most likely to occur when a child is very young and the risk of complications is greatest. If you postpone vaccines until a child is older, it may be too late.

Myth: It's OK to skip certain vaccines if you have safety concerns
Fact: In general, skipping vaccines isn't a good idea. This can leave your child vulnerable to potentially serious diseases that could otherwise be avoided. And consider this: For some children — including those who can't receive certain vaccines for medical reasons or those who don't seem to respond to certain vaccines — the only protection from vaccine-preventable diseases is the immunity of the people around them.
If you have reservations about particular vaccines, discuss your concerns with your child's doctor. If your child falls behind the standard vaccines schedule, catch-up vaccinations are typically available. It usually isn't necessary to repeat earlier doses of a particular vaccine.

No more...

No whining, or complaining on this blog anymore...I sound like a whiny baby so I've put my foot down! From now on...I'll be more...ummm...upbeat!

Ammend..
No more Brad, little too myspacey I think

Did I just say that

"Please do not keep ramming your head into my spine"



"Put the meat tenderizer away"



"It has been almost an hour, how much longer do you want to play FETCH"



"Fishes don't like hugs"



"You can't snort like a pig and chew at the same time"



"Where is pee supposed to go?"


These are a few of the crazy statements that I make regularly to T...I can smile and laugh about this, it's what makes being a parent such an adventure!

However, it seems that T turning 3 years old has flipped on some hyperactive switch that I wasn't aware of actually existing. Throw in his big birthday party, Thanksgiving, several other birthday parties, playdates, 5 days of Christmas, botched nap routines, and bed wetting, all of which I feel have magnified his behavior for Jas and me over the last month. From the moment he wakes up, T is a ball of crazy energy,with his constant questions (many of which are repeated at least 5 times each), curiosity, and a natural desire to jump/climb/pull/knock over/pound on/run into/get inside/crawl through/or pour out everything. I find myself losing patience entirely too soon and enforcing time outs or reprimanding him too often...this is becoming a struggle for me as I don't want to be a mean mom ALL THE TIME, to put it plainly. I am human, I have only a certain threshold for tolerating a child who....found a new sound, humming, often, for long stretches of time...who asks 8 more times after all of my other simple explanations or distractions, "mommy can I ride my bike outside" while it's raining....who is ever so subtly tapping the window blinds with his toes while hanging his head upside down on the couch...who every night asks to go potty 5 more times after he has been put to bed, just so he can stay awake longer. Each of these activities among so many others throughout the day, they are often subtle as I described, but constant, repetitive, occur every day. It gets old, and I hate that I feel annoyed. T is cute, I adore him, it really just feels annoying sometimes.

Are all of these new attributes so awful that I am actually writing about them? Well, to me, yes at least for now. The issue for me is not that T is acting out in these ways... this is what most 3 year old boys do at this developmental stage, at least that is what I am finding out now. It is figuring out the best way to deal with it. Major issues...no. He is not acting out in mean ways, he is not hitting, biting, being rude, defiant, bratty or bossy. He is just a boy that is curious and has a lot of energy, and he is trying to be this way while learning to live in a world with tons of rules, restrictions, and routines. Jas and I just have to figure out the best way to be his parents I think. It's easy to be an outsider and say "Well that's easy, just spank him, just put him on time out, just show him who is boss." But that is the exact issue - T's behavior is not what would be considered bad by most people and that would warrant such discipline, it is more...what's the best word besides annoying?...button-pushing behavior, I don't know, but just enough of an issue to require putting it in check. We discipline him, he knows we are the bosses, we have the final say, he is well aware. But now that he is more verbal, he suddenly has developed a need to negotiate, he now has an opinion, he is testing the boundaries all day long. As parents, our role is not just for discipline, but to educate him, teach him the importance of respect, how to conduct himself with good manners, and to hone and encourage his spirit and his interests.

I think I am just as usual, over thinking, over speculating. I remember when I found out we were having a boy, thinking to myself, "Ohmigosh, I am so freaking out about this! I come from a family with only daughters, I was a dancer and spent the majority of my childhood, teen, and young adult life doing girly activities with girly girls. It's what I am used to. I don't know how to play with boy toys, or how to be as adventurous like boys, imaginative in boy ways and get dirty like boys do. Can I keep up with a boy's energy and need for the outdoors?" I also have this simply lame but true fear - I don't want T to fall into that stereotypical teenage boy - disrespectful, distant, experiment, defiant. And that is why I have this constant need to make sure that we are raising him properly, disciplining him effectively, loving him enough, for fear that I will have done something wrong to result in having a defiant teenager. I know I know if we raise him well, teach him well, love him, and just genuinely care for him, he will become a respectable young man. But is it that simple, because even so, a teenage boy is still influenced by so much more, and we as parents can only control so much of their environment. (I've been reading a book called Boys Will Be Boys) and statistics and studies find that boys have a natural tendency to be impulsive, which is probably testosterone driven, and they at a younger age then girls experiment with drugs and alcohol sooner, and tend to push beyond boundaries earlier. Statistics I realize are just that, but uggghh, freaks me out! And then I worry that I will be too overbearing, overzealous with discipline and rules that it will happen anyway. My mom says we just need to do what feels right at the time, that is the best we all can do as parents, and know that it will all work itself out in the end.
And I will repeat myself again...I am a new mom, I am new at doing this myself, I am still adapting to the ways of little boys, and all things are easier spoken and taught, then done. I am learning and searching for ways to better myself as a caring mom, a disciplinarian mom, and a playful mom. I have missteps, I over think often, I regret, I worry.

Facts- 1. I only have one child, I get that 2. Yes I am home with him most of the day until I go to work 3. He is a wonderfully social, bright, happy, adventurous child, and I am thankful every day that I can share these joys with him 4. Overwhelmed, certain days I am. Could it be worse? Of course I could have 5 kids under the age of 8, or a child with special needs, or child with a chronic medical condition

I am just spewing these thoughts out to express my new mom frustration...it never ends, no matter what age.

Christmas just keeps on giving

Katie turned 23! I'm little overwhelmed and amazed at this event...I can still recall as a 6 year old going to my Mom's ultrasound appointments, seeing Katie as a newborn and wondering if we had to keep her, pushing her around as a toddler in a laundry basket with our blankies, or watching her as an independent 4 year old pack a My Little Pony suitcase and stomp out of the house in anger that nobody paid attention to her.

Marble Maze, YEEESSS! I'm not sure who is more excited about this, Kate and me or T...Kate was given her first maze from her 3rd birthday too!

Funny thing...this is the first time my parents have filled our stockings, that explained our giddiness!

The Robinson's

T made up a hilarious dance routine to one of his holiday stuffed animals that played the Nutcracker Suite...this is his finale pose!

Mid routine...

Cousin Mitch choking T with love!

Cousins!

Cousins and James' very lovely girlfriend Jessica