This gallery is for the folks in Cookstown that may or may not be willing to create a pantry for us. Here are some of the pictures we found that we like.
0 Comments
I'm going to have to switch blog providers because Weebly has gone the route of Google in not listening to customers and instead making everything tiny little non-labeled icons that only 19 year olds understand (I assume someone must understand them or they wouldn't get used). I can barely figure out how to make a post anymore. So silly! Not going to renew my paid website subscription with them unless they fix it up again.
Anyhow, now that I've figured out how to put a text box up I can type stuff. Calvin is in love with pumpkins. It comes at a good time, because he's been in a phase where he dislikes a whole bunch of things. His stuffed Hobbes, the toy beaver, an owl toy, a bunch of pictures and fun things he used to like to do. He is acting fearful of things, and is now able to verbalise it all. We are working through all these new fears, which we think are to do with upheaval and changes that happened that confused him. Which means new things and change can be sources of more scary things. Fall is here and with it a bunch of different decorations everywhere (fall type and Hallowe'en type). He's been unsure of some things so far but not outright afraid yet. However the great thing is him finding something he really really enjoys: pumpkins! He sees them everywhere and points them out constantly. Today we painted a pumpkin craft and he was so excited and proud of it; he had to show a visitor where they were when we had them hanging to dry, then he couldn't wait to show Daddy when he got home. After they were dry he was excited to hang them up in the front living room window (facing in, so we can see them, at his insistence) and he gave me a happy hug and said they were beautiful. It was a nice way to end a day. Calvin has eaten avocado since his first solid foods. I love that he eats it because of all the awesome goodness in them. He goes through stages, like we all do, where he is off of a certain food for a while. We just gave up avocados for a while and I thought it was time to bring them back into rotation.
I've been trying for two days to get him to agree to an avocado for a meal. It makes me feel alot better when he will eat one after he has refused all fruits and veggies and only lives on oatmeal and peanut butter sandwiches. Today I tried to encourage him to eat an avocado again and again I was told 'No!'. However, as we finished his bedtime routine, just before climbing into bed and after brushing his teeth, he declared he was ready to consume an avocado. I've told him that there are only two things I will postpone naps or bedtime for: broccoli or avocado. So, he laid in his bed and had avocado and a glass of water before his book and bed. Not a post for others (unless you heavily into the vaccine debate), this is just for me to have access to some quick links to studies on vaccines that are showing vaccines neurological damages (and autism). This information was taken from https://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/07/07/courts-rule-mmr-thimerosal-containing-vaccines-caused-autism-brain-damage/. His site also lists three court cases from the US vaccines courts that have paid out to families of children with brain damage that were directly caused by vaccines, as per the ruling from the vaccine court.
Viral / Immune studies: Abnormal measles-mumps-rubella antibodies and CNS autoimmunity in children with autism Autoimmunity to the central nervous system (CNS), especially to myelin basic protein (MBP), may play a causal role in autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder. Because many autistic children harbor elevated levels of measles antibodies, we conducted a serological study of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and MBP autoantibodies. ….over 90% of MMR antibody-positive autistic sera were also positive for MBP autoantibodies, suggesting a strong association between MMR and CNS autoimmunity in autism. Stemming from this evidence, we suggest that an inappropriate antibody response to MMR, specifically the measles component thereof, might be related to pathogenesis of autism. Serological association of measles virus and human herpes virus-6 with brain auto-antibodies in autism This study is the first to report an association between virus serology and brain autoantibody in autism; it supports the hypothesis that a virus-induced autoimmune response may play a causal role in autism Hypothesis: conjugate vaccines may predispose children to autism spectrum disorders Conjugate vaccines fundamentally change the manner in which the immune systems of infants and young children function by deviating their immune responses to the targeted carbohydrate antigens from a state of hypo-responsiveness to a robust B2 B cell mediated response. This period of hypo-responsiveness to carbohydrate antigens coincides with the intense myelination process in infants and young children, and conjugate vaccines may have disrupted evolutionary forces that favored early brain development over the need to protect infants and young children from capsular bacteria. Effects of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis or tetanus vaccination on allergies and allergy-related respiratory symptoms among children and adolescents in the United States. The odds of having a history of asthma was twice as great among vaccinated subjects than among unvaccinated subjects The odds of having had any allergy-related respiratory symptom in the past 12 months was 63% greater among vaccinated subjects than unvaccinated subjects The associations between vaccination and subsequent allergies and symptoms were greatest among children aged 5 through 10 years. Neurological Complications of Pertussis Immunization Review is made of 107 cases of neurological complications of pertussis inoculation reported in the literature. The early onset of neurological symptoms was characteristic, with changes of consciousness and convulsions as the most striking features. The question of aetiology is considered and contraindications are discussed….as is the grave danger of further inoculations when a previous one has produced any suggestion of a neurological reaction. Hepatitis B vaccination of male neonates and autism diagnosis, NHIS 1997-2002. Findings suggest that U.S. male neonates vaccinated with the hepatitis B vaccine prior to 1999 (from vaccination record) had a threefold higher risk for parental report of autism diagnosis compared to boys not vaccinated as neonates during that same time period. Nonwhite boys bore a greater risk. Aluminum Studies: Do aluminum vaccine adjuvants contribute to the rising prevalence of autism? Our results show that: (i) children from countries with the highest ASD prevalence appear to have the highest exposure to Al from vaccines; (ii) the increase in exposure to Al adjuvants significantly correlates with the increase in ASD prevalence in the United States observed over the last two decades; and (iii) a significant correlation exists between the amounts of Al administered to preschool children and the current prevalence of ASD in seven Western countries, particularly at 3-4 months of age. Aluminum hydroxide injections lead to motor deficits and motor neuron degeneration. …A second series of experiments was conducted on mice injected with six doses of aluminum hydroxide. Behavioural analyses in these mice revealed significant impairments in a number of motor functions as well as diminished spatial memory capacity. Aluminum Vaccine Adjuvants: Are they Safe? Experimental research, clearly shows that aluminum adjuvants have a potential to induce serious immunological disorders in humans. In particular, aluminum in adjuvant form carries a risk for autoimmunity, long-term brain inflammation and associated neurological complications and may thus have profound and widespread adverse health consequences. click for entire study Thimerosal studies: Integrating experimental (in vitro and in vivo) neurotoxicity studies of low-dose thimerosal relevant to vaccines. There is a need to interpret neurotoxic studies to help deal with uncertainties surrounding pregnant mothers, newborns and young children who must receive repeated doses of Thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs). Information extracted from studies indicates that: (a) activity of low doses of Thimerosal against isolated human and animal brain cells was found in all studies and is consistent with Hg neurotoxicity; (b) the neurotoxic effect of ethylmercury has not been studied with co-occurring adjuvant-Al in TCVs; (c) animal studies have shown that exposure to Thimerosal-Hg can lead to accumulation of inorganic Hg in brain, and that (d) doses relevant to TCV exposure possess the potential to affect human neuro-development. Neurodevelopmental disorders following thimerosal-containing childhood immunizations: a follow-up analysis. “The present study provides additional epidemiological evidence supporting previous epidemiological, clinical and experimental evidence that administration of thimerosal-containing vaccines in the United States resulted in a significant number of children developing NDs.” Neonatal administration of thimerosal causes persistent changes in mu opioid receptors in the rat brain “These data document that exposure to thimerosal during early postnatal life produces lasting alterations in the densities of brain opioid receptors along with other neuropathological changes, which may disturb brain development.” Persistent behavioral impairments and alterations of brain dopamine system after early postnatal administration of thimerosal in rats. “These data document that early postnatal THIM administration causes lasting neurobehavioral impairments and neurochemical alterations in the brain, dependent on dose and sex. If similar changes occur in THIM/mercurial-exposed children, they could contribute do neurodevelopmental disorders.” Maternal Thimerosal Exposure Results in Aberrant Cerebellar Oxidative Stress, Thyroid Hormone Metabolism, and Motor Behavior in Rat Pups; Sex- and Strain-Dependent Effects. Thimerosal exposure also resulted in a significant increase in cerebellar levels of the oxidative stress marker 3-nitrotyrosine…. This coincided with an increased (47.0%) expression of a gene negatively regulated by T3,… Our data thus demonstrate a negative neurodevelopmental impact of perinatal thimerosal exposure. Administration of thimerosal to infant rats increases overflow of glutamate and aspartate in the prefrontal cortex: protective role of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. Thimerosal, a mercury-containing vaccine preservative, is a suspected factor in the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. We previously showed that its administration to infant rats causes behavioral, neurochemical and neuropathological abnormalities similar to those present in autism. This past weekend we attended the Robin In The Hood event in Elmira. It was great fun! Next time we want to go in costume. Can you picture a little mini Calvin in a full suit of mail? Too cute. Most of you already know that I was pretty sick for a bit there, and continue to have some questionable medical issues, and that explains my long absence from updating here.
Tonight we removed the crib and the McQueen toddler bed from Calvin's room. This week we introduced a twin bed and got some McQueen bed sheets, so he has taken well to the new bed. The first night he fell out of the bed, a big huge bang, I raced upstairs as fast as I could waiting for the crying/screaming to start. I stopped at his door when I didn't hear any of that, then I heard him sigh and grumble a bit, his little feet moved about, then he climbed back into bed and went to sleep. I was so proud of him! The next morning he had rug burn on his forehead, which made me giggle. Second night there were no falling out episodes, so cross your fingers he's got it figured out. So tonight is the test night - can he sleep in the new bed with no other bed options to switch to? I think he can. He also showed us what a grown up boy he is by allowing me to cut his hair with the electric razor, just stood there letting me do it with great detail. Half way through he folded his hands, put them to his lips, closed his eyes and said 'Dear God'. He didn't share the rest of the prayer with us, but I imagine it was something to do with hoping I'd be done his haircut soon. He then let me use the scissors to trim around the ears and the front and back, never moving or protesting. Sean and I were speechless, but very happy for seeing such great cooperation. Then after brushing him off, he asked to have a shower instead of a bath. He is 2 years, 4 and a half months old and requested a shower. I couldn't believe it! So he had a shower and I stretched my arms in to wash him and help him rinse. Calvin went for his second visit to the dentist yesterday. After having given up the binky, we noticed this past week that two things occured. First his crooked front teeth began to pull back in to the correct spot within 8 days. Second, he had some discolouration on the front of his bottom teeth that seemed to come on suddenly. So off we went to visit the dentist (who used to be a client of mine, so it's nice to 'know' him and like him). He was great with Calvin, having two kids of his own just slightly older than Calvin. Turns out teeth can correct from soother use that quickly (yay!) and the discolouration is nothing serious (yay!) but is tartar build up. WHAT? Apparently it happens, and its genes. One of the dentist's kids has the same issue. Calvin sat in the dentist chair and let him scrape his teeth, wipe them up, then polish with the spinning polisher. Just opened wide and laid back in the chair as if he'd be doing it forever. I was very proud of him, what a good little boy! Sadly, if he's prone to this, we have to keep coming back in every six months or sooner to keep his teeth in check. Glad he likes the dentist cause we are going to be going early and often. Turns out that he has his final molars in as well - the top ones. One is completely through and one is just starting to poke out. That explains why he's been saying 'ouch' in reference to his mouth lately. These are the final teeth, no more suffering for anyone! In my panic to make sure he has the best possible chance at everything good in life, I've been pretty upset at his lack of willingness to eat vegetables. He has however a new fascination with hamburgers, so we tried out a store bought veggie burger. He ate them no problem. Soy protein turned into some strange half soy thing isn't my idea of vegetables so I made 2/3 veggie burgers mixed with 1/3 meat to hold it all together. He ate it and I was happy. Sweet potato, carrot and green beans, with some egg and hamburger meat. That's how you get a kid to get veggies apparently. They don't look half bad, but I haven't tried them yet. To add insult to the lack of bad-for-you-ness in this burger, and since we had run out of buns, I served it on a 12 grain sprout bread that is all healthy goodness. Everyone won - Calvin was happy with his burger and us not fighting to get him to eat veggies and I was happy cause he ate veggies! We received our Easter photo session pictures today. I've included them below in a little gallery of photos. Getting ready to go out the other morning, I was in the kitchen getting stuff ready and Calvin was pushing his big mega blocks truck around and around the kitchen and living room, like he does every day. He stops in the living room and loudly and very clearly says 'ouch'. I pause and wait to hear what will be next. He repeats 'ouch'. So I go in and see him standing by the front window, holding the truck, looking at me. I say to him 'are you okay?', he says yes, and off he goes. I shrug and go back to getting stuff ready in the kitchen. A minute later he zooms into the kitchen and I see his hand is all bloody! Of course I run over saying what happened, oh my gosh, are you okay, look at the blood! He's being a trooper and nods seriously saying ‘boo boo’. We wash it off and there is a small gash in his hand, his first bandage worthy boo boo. We were heading out to a play group (our first since the dreaded pneumonia hit the house), so I don’t want open cuts exposed to new germs. I got out the Polysporin and a band aid. He was fascinated with the band aid but refused to bend or close his fingers with it on. He held his hand splayed open until we were inside the play center and he had to bend his fingers to hold a toy train. As soon as the train had to be put down his fingers splayed open again. He wouldn’t even close them to hold my hand and instructed me to switch sides to hold his other hand! Funny little guy. Went out today to Ikea with a girlfriend, and we totally forgot that it's March break. You want to bet we'll remember once they are in school but for now that kind of stuff escapes us. While at Ikea, they had some staff doing face painting in the kids area, because it was March break. Calvin thought it looked interesting and agreed to try it out. He sat very patiently after having picked what he wanted from a bunch of pictures (big surprise, he selected a car). While the fellow was painting his face Calvin proceeded to point out all the colours of paint to him. And he got them all right. Way to go Calvin! You can click the above photos to enlarge, then click the left or right side of the enlarged photo to go to the next one.
Tomorrow is indoor Beach Day at the Early Years Center. That should make for interesting photos too. Calvin and I go to play groups fairly regularly. It's not the equivalent exposure of going to daycare daily, but pretty close. A lot of the groups we go to are attended by daycare providers and all the daycare kids. So, we get exposed to daycare germs as well as just the regular play group germs. Not to mention what is probably on the handle of the shopping cart at the grocery store, or the door handle during flu season to a store. I freak myself out just thinking about it. I also wear gloves a lot and wipe down handles of shopping carts. But you can't stop a two year old from touching toys at a play group and then occasionally rubbing his eye or whatever. Plus, people bring sick kids to play groups. I can understand why - after a couple days stuck in the house everyone is going insane. But I still do my best to keep my kid home so I don't further the spread, and hope others will be as aware too. Karma and all that. The point of course is that we get sick a lot. After our illness round this past Christmas (and the Christmas before that), we really needed a break. And we got it! Calvin and I were healthy for almost eight continuous weeks. Then another cold hit. I thought it was going to be no big deal, just another cold. But as of Tuesday night listening to Calvin cough, get distressed and point at his mouth while he is coughing and can't breath, I figured things had gotten out of hand. He was wheezy, not eating, but didn't seem in immediate distress so we opted to see how he was in the morning. Morning came around and he was worse. Not eating, barely drinking, and the most telling of all - hardly talking! Very unusual for him to be quiet (he is my son after all). His lungs were full and breathing was a chore, so the chatter was kept to a minimum. We managed to get in to see our regular Nurse Practitioner (NP) later that day. I went in prepared to have to bully my way into getting some relief for my son, but everything was smooth and the staff were very helpful. They used an oxygen meter to set my mind at ease that he was getting enough oxygen, but agreed he was doing some heavy abdominal breathing. When we saw the NP she said yes, he's got some crackle in his lungs. Pneumonia! Scary for me to hear those words about my little guy. We got a prescription for antibiotics and an inhaler. Since starting the inhaler things have been much better. I don't doubt that Calvin's body could have fought this off on its own. But the discomfort would have been worse and needless. This is why I love a mixture of holistic and western medicine. Best of both worlds if you are willing to learn about both. Thanks to the inhaler Calvin has been breathing very well while he recovers. While he was being checked out at the doctors office (first by the intake nurse, then the NP) both women said he was a stellar patient. Taking big breathes like Daddy and opening up to say 'ahhh' when asked. Letting them look in his ears, take him temperature. He really is a good patient. We practice playing those things at home so it is no big deal when it needs to be done at the doctor. For being such a good boy, and because the NP said get fluids in however you have to, we decided to reward him and got our first big smile of the day by stopping for a winter ice cream. Now since we know he's snotty and not well, I couldn't take him out to play groups. We were getting pretty bored at home since we had skipped all those days of play days. Daddy suggested we go out on Thursday to the fish store and get a goldfish (we had already been talking about this). Great idea! Go look at fish, it will be quiet and less chance of sick people being around, helps Calvin to have fun and see new things, but not infect or get infected. Off we went to the fish store. Where I was promptly upsold on a 20 gallon tank for tropical fish. I am still a bit in shock of how it all went down. I planned on buying a feeder gold fish and a big bowl. I came home with a 20 gallon tank, instructions to prep it for 24 hours before coming back to buy the tropical fish, AND a betta fish so that at least Calvin had a fish to bring home. So now we are the proud new owners of Hank the blue betta, along with two Micky Mouse Sunset platys and two black phantom tetras. Assuming all goes well with the new residents, there will be some additional friends joining them next weekend. |