Weight: 17lbs. 11oz. (0%)
Height: 29 1/2 inches (8%)
Finally got his 12 month shots. At his 12 mo. check up in august they didn't have any of his needed shots in stock (wierd.) So he was just now getting them. Its kind of an interesting story to me, and I'll share it b/c I'll probably want to look back on it in 20 years and laugh at myself for being so silly. So, its really not my parenting style to freak out over immunizations... at least it wasn't when Ryley was a baby. And still I feel that most immunizations are 100% safe and needed (of course!) I don't get those people who refuse to immunize their children. But after hearing lots of autism parents speak out about the MMR shot it made me concerned. I've researched both sides of the story, as much as I think I possibly can. The doctors all say there is no evidence to prove MMR causes autism and all the parents say something really eerie happened when their child was given the shot. And something Jenny McCarthey has said on a few talk shows has always stuck with me. Its not that she thinks the shots are bad and shouldn't be given, its that they shouldn't be a "one size fits all" kind of thing and that the doctors need to look at all the issues and medical history of that particular child before administering the shot. Anyway... so that stuck w/ me at Jackson's 12 mo. CU and he was only 18 lbs. And with a normal 12 month old being 20lbs. I thought I don't feel so good about giving him the shot. So I elected to hold off until he was 20lbs. The nurse had a little fit and brought me a form w/ a million statements listed that I had to sign or initial, which I thought was crazy. I thought it was even more crazy when at his 18 mo. CU they gave him the MMR shot without ever asking me. Ummm hello, i signed a form about him not getting it? I was going to have him get it anyway, but shouldn't they have asked me if I was ok w/ it now. The thing w/ the MMR shot is that they just have to have it before they turn 5, so what's the big rush anyway? So whatever. That was that. So then came Tate. Little teeny tiny isty bitsy Tate. What to do? What to do? I didn't want to go pyscho mom again. Its embarrassing. But it still freaks me out. Sorry. Just Does. So when they didn't have any of his shots at his 12 mo. CU I was relieved to say the least that I didnt' have to make a decision one way or another. I had been praying for help w/ this decision and I felt like this one day shot shortage was an answer to my prayers. Also at Tate's 1 yr. check up, I asked the dr. (who's my least fav. by the way) if there were any issues with giving Tate any of his shots because of his recent heart surgery and blood transfusions. He said no, everything is fine on his way out the door. Ok, good to know then. So imagine my surprise when I take him in today and the nurse is doing the run down of questions they ask before giving the shots and she asks "has he had any blood transfusions?" I say "not in the last 3 months but on july 2nd he did". She said she wasn't sure but she would go check b/c that might be a problem. I heard her out in the hallway talking to other nurses and then she got on the phone and called "IRIS" for help. Turns out he's just fine to get the vaccines that aren't "live" but the ones that are "live" he can't have until after a whole YEAR since his blood transfusion. She didn't explain why but I didn't even have to ask her b/c I overheard her on the phone w/ IRIS say that it won't hurt him but it just won't do any good, he'd have to get the shots again after the year was up anyway. Sooooo... super long story short... I didn't have to make that decision once again. I didn't have to be the psycho mom I was afraid to be, but felt like I needed to be (being that he's only 17lbs and had one heck of a medical history kinda year). So, who really knows if there's any link btw. autism and MMR (please don't send me articles trying to make me feel silly... I've read them all. thank you.).... I"m just glad I didn't have to make any decisions one way or another. Also, sidenote... isn't it funny how they had a fit when I opted out of the shot for Jackson at 12 mos. but when Tate has had to miss the shot first b/c of them and 2nd because of his blood transfusion they don't think a single thing of it. No forms signed saying i'm a terrible crazy mother or anything. Also, kills me that "least favorite doctor" says Tate's fine to get the shot but then "sweet thoughtful nurse" actually paid attention and did the research before giving him a pointless immunization. ugh.
Anyway, he did NOT enjoy the FOUR shots that he did get today (he can't have the MMR or the chicken pox one until July 3rd 2010) and sure did let us all (in the dr. office) know it. But has been a total doll the rest of the day. His legs don't phase him, he's not sore in the slightest bit. He's got no fever (so far) and he's just as happy and "cheerful" as always (think I picked the right name for our little man... reminder, tate means "cheerful").
Oh and funny thing from the dr. appt. My most favorite doctor in the office (so glad we were lucky enough to see him today) asked me to have Tate walk so he could watch him. He said to put him down in the corner by him and have him walk to me across the room. Well I put him down but he wouldn't come to me, instead he went to the left and made a beeline for the DOOR!! It was so funny. The doctor said "Forget mom, get me out of here!" , I bet thats just what he was thinking. lol. What a funny little boy.
Right before dinner tonight Tate brought me the mask and costume and asked (by handing them to me and trying to get his legs into the costume) to put it on him! It was so funny. I had put this costume on him once before around Halloween but that was my own doing and he didn't keep it on long b/c Jackson wanted it back. But this was Tate's idea and he kept this costume on for almost 45 minutes. I only took it off because he needed to eat his dinner.
He's so funny going down the stairs these days, he's always been good at it, since the first time he started climbing the stairs but now he's soooo fast. He doesn't even stop on a step he just slides down from top to bottom in one movement. I don't know how he does it, if I tried that I think it would hurt like crazy. He treats it like a slide, laughing all the way.
Love him.
Adorable.
Inside and Out.
