Don't be stupid, get vaccinated

I find myself thinking this over and over again when I hear about people, including those in "high risk" groups, who tell me they aren't sure if they are going to get vaccinated against H1N1.
It's harsh, I know, and I had to come out and say it out loud (in print) because I don't say it out loud to anyone, as I try and be supportive of other people's decision making. But last night I received an email from a friend with more anti-vaccine BS that I had to debunk (it fell on deaf ears, does no one believe in SCIENCE anymore? Why would you believe your friend who heard it from a friend before SCIENCE?), and I realized I may have had enough. No more Ms Nice Guy. Just call me ProVaccine Woman.
WHY?
Hear's why (and maybe since someone reads this, they too will vaccineated because I said so. SHEESH. Instead of actually looking into it for yourself!).

- In Canada and the US, 2-5% of confirmed H1N1 cases have caused hospitalization (according to the WHO). Since August 30, 2009, about 4% of confirmed H1N1 cases have resulted in hospitalization in Canada.
- There have been 17 deaths in Canada during this period (92 since the beginning of the pandemic), which is about 0.3% of those infected. Four of the 92 deaths reported were children under the age of 16.
- Since the beginning of the pandemic, about 60% of those hospitilized had underlying health conditions, 26% were pregnant and 80% of those who died also had underlying conditions.
 - The risk from having an adverse reaction to the H1N1 vaccine is 1 in 1 million.
- The current risk in Canada of dying from H1N1 is 3 in 1 million**, 3 times as high as any possible vaccine risk. (But our flu season isn't over. In Australia, the risk of death was 8 per 1 million people).
- The risk of hospitalization is much higher at 52 per 1 million people.

Primary Reference here.

It isn't just about you. One study estimated that vaccinating up to 70% of the population would limit an epidemic of H1N1. What does that mean? It means that because you got the vaccine you are not going to be passing to flu on to someone who might die from it. Such as your pregnant friend who didn't get vaccinated. Or your relative with diabetes. And you lessen the burden on the health system!


The bottom line as I see it: The risk of severe complications and death is not high, but it is a preventable risk. As one blogger pointed out, the risk of death from a car accident is higher than the risk of death from H1N1 (you will see I don't agree with his math because our flu season has only started). However I say this: You wear your seatbelt EVERY TIME you get in the car, a vaccination is like a seat belt since it reduces your risk of death.

Go ahead my small section of readers. Take me to task. But I am getting my son vaccinated as soon as possible. I don't see it as a worthy risk to take to not to.


** Calculated as: 92 deaths / Population of Canada 33,832,410 / 1 million

Freecations

I have a new blogger friend unpcmumma who is also one of my real life most awesomist closest I-don't-know-how-I-would-get-through-week-without-you friend and neighbour (which makes it better). Oh and our boys are exactly 2 months apart in age so that is even cooler. The peer pressure to get pregnant in 2007 was immense, hence the 5 boys all born within months of each other (you know who you are baby encouragers!!!).

Anyway, long way to say that unpcmumma was mentioning that she returned from vacation housesitting at a friends place in the big city, which reminded me of my wonderful freecations this summer.

Freecations are vacations that are free (so simple I know). The key is that they have to feel like a vacation though, it can't be going somewhere for free but feeling just the same as you would were you at home. Something has to loosen the responsibility, allow you to relax, get a different perspective on life, find new mental stimulations (granparents work well for this) and/or sensory experiences (eating sand on a beach you haven't been to before for example) for your child etc.

The boy and I have had many great freecations this summer. So voila, 3 example freecations in print and picture:
1. Trips to Vancouver when Mr W. was working over there. Involved visiting twin cousins, seeing the local beaches and outdoor pool, window shopping in the big city, eating cheap and good sushi, walking the seawall, and visiting Stanley Park.
2. Visiting my parents up in Qualicum when they were staying (for free) at my aunt and uncle's beachfront cottage. The afternoon we arrived the sun came out, first time in days, and all we did was relax on the deck watching people on the beach and the tide come in. It is a magical place, we were lucky to have the chance to visit thanks to v. cool relatives.
3. Lake adventures up on Mara Lake in the Okanagan when Mr W's sister and family rented a condo on the lake and took us out in their boat. Now the trip up was not free, but the day at the lake was all due to the generosity of family. We didn't stay with them, but stayed with Mr W's parents in Vernon (free!).

Clearly freecations of this nature are reliant on the kind nature of other people. I know that there are freecations (camping!!) that are not, and I have enjoyed these in my time as well. I once took 6 weeks to canoe down the coast of Vancouver Island, staying entirely free along the way, purchsing only food and alcohol along the way. I hitchhiked from Jasper to Inuvik once too, rarely paying for a campground, even hopping a train.But I am older, have a kid, like some comforts.
The key is to return the generosity when you can. Pass it on.

Birthstory

Dear Baby,

I am starting this tonight, a few weeks before your first birthday. I am feeling surprisingly sad tonight realizing how quickly you are growing! I just put you to bed in your own room for the first time and this is making me sentimental. It is bittersweet- tonight your dad and I have our room back for the first time since July 2, but it also means you are getting to be a big boy.

On the night you were almost born...
It was hot. The day had been about 30 degrees Celsius; the night wasn't much cooler despite all the fans blowing.
There were lights on everywhere in the house. We thought you were going to be born at home, but you had other plans.
There was a swimming pool in our dining room, but it was too hot and I didn't want to stay too long in the warm water.
Your dad was everywhere and always by my side at the same time. He was strong, yet scared. Me too.

Two days before you were born...
July 28th, at 7 pm, while lying in bed watching tv, my water broke. I panicked- did this mean I was in labour?
Your dad called Jane the midwife. She calmed us down. She said Relax, Sleep, it could be awhile before things started to happen.
We slept. At least I did, your dad said later he couldn't sleep much at all.

The day before you were born...
July 29th, around 730 am, Jane called to check on us. We discussed inducing, but I said no.
She said walk, drink some castor oil, start thinking of babies being born.
In the sweltering heat we took the dogs for a walk in Cowichan Bay. I waddled 2 kms, very uncomfortable. It was so bright my eyes hurt. It all felt very surreal knowing we would see you soon.
Mahone swam and swam in the water.
Later that day I drank the drink and it made me feel weird.
I mowed the lawn in the heat.
Still no sign of you.
We waited.
Around 4 pm you decided it was time to start arriving.
I watched more tv. Breathed through the pain. Started my hypnobirthing. We called the midwife. She came.

On the night you were almost born...
I listened. To hypnobirthing music. To midwives. To pain. To my strength.
I dealt with it. I kept going. I held on. I took breaks when I needed them. I resisted moving.
I walked down the driveway and back to shift you. So long. So painful. Each fence post a crutch through the surges. Your dad's hand.
Trying to be quiet in the dark.
Hoping for progress. None to be made. Using aaallllll my energy to make you budge. You didn't.

On the morning you were born,
Dawn, pale blue, pale gray, pale rose.
Driving through town. Not stopping at lights. Your dad controlled but fast. Jane right behind.
Hospital. Can't sit in the chair- who makes wheelchairs without padding????
Slowly walking to delivery ward. Stopping. Starting. Straining.
Arrive. Bed. First IV ever. It is ok.
Nurses, doctor, new faces.
Same old same old no progress only the same old same old
EPIDURAL.
Afraid of needles.
Scared.
But what could be worse? Pain is BLACK WALL. Harder to get through.
Tried to rip you from me, NOT RIGHT.
Kind man, anesthetist. Gentle. It is ok, needles. needles. needles.
What is this? Where is the pain?
I cry. Why? No pain. Black wall, black wall......... goooonnnnne.
Go ahead, get my baby!!!
Cheerful, happy, relieved.
Your dad? Happy, there again (disappeared for a bit while I was in my head). Woozy, seeing things I can't.
Fourth? time lucky, you are HERE. In my arms, slippery. Blonder. My boy, my boy, first glimpse. Dad it is our boy!
I love you I love you I love you

Mom

Walking around the house

The baby is independently walking around the house now- has started only over the past few days. Has gone from standing up at a table to navigating from table to chair to couch to....door, oh my gosh almost out the screen!!!! Yep, have to suddenly watch very closely and have started to move ANYTHING that he shouldn't be into. Electrical cords, computers, papers, any non-board books (he eats the paper pages).

Baby's first birthday is fast approaching and we are having a big hoopla. Mostly family and a few friends, big and small. We hope it will be a nice day and are planning to go to the beach and have a bbq.

Mr W is still working 5 days a week in Vancouver. He has been there almost 3 months! We are surviving on both sides. Makes it harder now that the baby can quite clearly say "Hi Dada!" (and to the right person!). Baby was playing with the cell phone this morning saying "Dada! Dada!" when Mr W phoned. I answered and I think the baby was just too overwhelmed by it all and sat down and started crying. Good thing Mr W comes home tonight :)

I have been busy looking for bits of work. It is tough, I seem to get extra stressed about work right now. I have no plans on how I would work if I got any- i.e. no daycare lined up. I don't even want daycare. Mom says she will help out, so I think I will also look for a nanny. Of course I say that but have made no move in that direction. I feel he is too little to be in daycare a few mornings a week, but lots of kids are in daycare at that age. If I have a choice, I think I will try and find an alternative in the meantime.

On the creative side, I made a book for baby's first birthday, based on a song we sing. I also am still knitting up a summer top in the hopes I might get to wear it soon! Will post pics if I do.

Baby Talk

The baby seems to go through talking phases. One week he is screeching loudly, pleased with how loud he is. The next he is content to babble away to me, his favourite words being Dadada dada and Bababa. When I point to myself and say Mama he occasionally will make a sound that a mother might think is "mama" but I am not sure he gets it yet. Sometimes when he sees the dogs though he says something that sounds truly like "Dogggssssss!"
He also sings. He has been singing since he was only a few months old. The first time was when his Grandma was rocking him to sleep singing "Hushabye Hushabye Baby" and he started quietly saying "heh heh heh" along with her. These days he turns on the music on one of his toys and does something similar but with a lot more confidence.
I didn't teach him sign language. Partly because I think we communicate pretty well. If he is really thirsty he moves his mouth a certain way (or grabs my breasts for milk... not so cool). If he is tired he rubs his eyes. If he is bored he starts hollering at me and looking at me pointedly (Mom my toys are sooooo boring!!). If he is hungry he lets me know too. We communicate. He understands what I am telling him more each day. Pretty cool :)

Shhhhhhhh, the baby is sleeping!

Yes, there have been some changes around here. But only recently. Up until two days ago I was wandering around half crazed from lack of sleep, at times found staring off into space as I thought "So THIS is what being a little insane feels like", trying just to get through each day without too much stress and/or tears. Chocolate was my coping mechanism, amongst, of course, the support of my husband, friends and family. I knew things were bad when my friend phoned "just to check in" after a long chat about how little sleep I had been getting.

But not to jinx anything, I am not saying things have gotten all perfect around here, and I fully realize that I could once again have sleepless nights. I am just saying, things might be getting better (touch wood).

I was all ready to let the baby start to cry it out at night. I was shocked to realize that since I hadn't been doing that, I was actually parenting in a style I hadn't intended. Now there is nothing wrong with attachment parenting, I just hadn't intended to be following this method. But I was, and it was wearing on me.

Fortunately I got a very good book out of the library which outlined several reasons why a baby might not sleep at night, and one of them was because they are "Snackers" who are used to eating frequently throughout the day. The book suggested that I could try to spread meals out a bit during the day, with the result that the baby would want to eat less at night as well. Magic. Day one, I did this with no protest at all from baby, and the night was... better. He still woke up but I was able to pat him back to sleep very quickly in his crib. I fed him twice at night (rather than 4-6 times!). Day 2, last night, I only got up twice to soothe/feed. Oh my that is ok!

I have also stopped feeding him to sleep during the day. And what I thought would be a battle is really quite painless. He sometimes cries a bit, but not for very long at all.

This is all good timing because Mr W starts a job in Vancouver next week for the next couple of months. Meaning he will be away 5 days a week. Tough for him to do, but necessary financially. We are looking a for a place which won't mind baby and dogs visiting from time to time though so we can spend more time together than just weekends.

But yes, baby is sleeping so I think I will go catch up on my reading- I purchased Twilight the other day, and I am hooked!

Sleep

The past few months I have learned a few things about sleep. I CAN survive on much less of it than I ever imagined. That 3 hours at a time seems like luxury. That I can't nap during the day (I kind of knew that but I managed to sleep when pregnant). That babies sometimes sleep better as infants than when they are teething.

And that there is an emotional response to lack of sleep, which borders on insanity.

The baby is up an average of every two hours every single night. When much smaller he slept through the night, or at least for 4 hours at a time. Then his teeth erupted. Two on the bottom. Two on the top. Then two more on the top. Probably two more on the bottom too, but I am not sure. Comfort for him is nursing close to me at night. How do I deny this? How do I change this? Lots of advice on the internet, from moms who have gone through this before, but mostly just sympathy and reminders that "This too, will pass."

Mr W was away for a week, but now he is home and takes on some of the earlier evening feeds, which helps me. It is nice to only get up 2-3 times instead of 5 or 6.

So we are hanging in there, but sometimes I think barely. Good thing spring is on the way and I can mentally plan my garden in the wee hours!