Delayed vaccine schedule

Because a few people have asked, here is the delayed vaccine schedule we developed. We tried to minimize the mercury Sadie gets, eliminate ones that we felt were too new, too risky, or unnecessary, and still meet all of her kindergarten entry requirements. Obviously, this is somewhat contentious and not everyone will agree with us. But for what it's worth, here's our schedule in all its glory.

Here's my schedule:

2 months – DtaP
4 months – DtaP
5 months – HIB/Pc
6 months – DtaP
7 months – HIB/Pc
9 months – HIB/Pc
12 months – DtaP
15 months – Polio
18 months – HIB/Pc
24 months – Polio
36 months – Hep B, Polio (Can be done at the same visit, or Hep B can be given earlier to avoid two-at-a-time)
39 months – Hep B
48 months – Varicella AND Hep B, Polio, DTaP (These three are all boosters – do them one-at-a-time over the course of the year so they’re all complete before kindergarten entry.)

What’s not listed here is MMR. Currently, Merck is not producing them separately. IF they do not resume production, I will do MMR at 42 months and a booster at 5 years old. My reasoning is that autism is always diagnosed by age 3, so if I wait until my child is 3-1/2, I’ll be less concerned about that. IF Merck does go back to producing them separately, I will do the following:
Mumps – 12 months (separate visit from the DTaP)
Measles – 27 months
Rubella – 42 months

I used a few things as references - Dr. Sears' Vaccine Book, the AAP's delayed vaccine schedule, and a great blog I found. If you have questions about how or why we did what we did, please email me or leave a comment and I will answer as best I can.

If you use a delayed schedule, you have to be completely responsible for staying on top of it! My doctor's office didn't double check one of my appointment dates and we got a Hep B shot two weeks too early - now Josh has to repeat that one :(

I learned my lesson, and now I keep my printed schedule in my diaper bag and set up reminders on my Google Calendar w/ each vax date and what we need.

Good luck!

So long, Sasha...

We have to put our dog to sleep tomorrow. It's really, truly one of the saddest things I've ever done. I have had pets my whole life, but I was never particularly attached to any of them - Sasha is different. She was my dog - I picked her out and brought her home, an 8 lb teeny little runt that was smaller than the bone we bought for her to chew.

Only six years later, she's 85 lbs and just as energetic. She's happy, sweet-tempered, and an absolutely wonderful companion for Josh. And she's going to die tomrrow. It's absolutely gut-wrenching...but unavoidable. She's started to develop symptoms of a congenital problem that all her littermates had...every one of them died pretty horribly, and they were fairly dangerous while sick. It's a risk to the kids, and selfish to put Sasha through it.

I'm so very sad for us, but much, much sadder for Josh. We've not told him yet - I was just fondly remembering when we took his binky away and he never even noticed. I don't think this will be a similar experience...life is going to be rough around here for a while. Pray for us if you think of it - she may be furry, but she is still very much a part of our family, and going to be very much missed.

Clark Kent reporting...

Entertaining Sadie

Video 22
Originally uploaded by sjross

This is my good friend Daedra's new business. If you're around Wednesday night, check it out!

Black churches are full of awesome

Seriously. FULL of awesome. You just don't see this in white churches. Bummer.

Weekly free grocery roundup

I've turned into a coupon clipping fool lately...I'm so competitive that it's become a rather fun challenge for me. I'm relying mainly on this blog to find deals.

This is what I got completely free this week:

• (1) Crest toothpaste - regular price $2.29
• (3) Coffee-Mate flavored creamers - regular price $1.50/each
• (8) Johnson's Buddies soaps - regular price $1
• (1) Irish Spring shower gel - regular price $4.49
• (3) Betty Crocker Warm Delights - regular price $1
• (1) Cascade rinse agent - regular price $3.94
  

Total value of free stuff = $25.28!

6 months old

16 lbs, 15 oz. (70th percentile)
26.5" (75th)
And I can't remember the head measurement, but it was in the 97th percentile!)

Blogging is so last year...

Ugh. I'm sorry. Facebook is so distracting and close enough to blogging...I'm afraid this is falling by the wayside. I owe some pics, but first I need to TAKE some pics...

Josh is 6 months into preschool, and having a grand old time. Over-the-moon crazy about superheroes, can't go a day without some sort of costume, spelling and reading like crazy, and begging to play t-ball. How do they get so old so fast? Hard to believe. He's so interesting...his brain works so differently from mine...I thoroughly enjoy talking to him and the convoluted ways he thinks. Such fun.

Sadie is 6 months old already! It's hard to even believe...She's traveling across the room in a strange hybrid rolling/pushing with her toes/worm scoot. She sits in a tripod, eats cereal, veggies & fruit, and umm, doesn't sleep. I shouldn't say doesn't, but compared to her brother, woooh, boy! She's a power napper and a midnight snacker. Not so much fun. And she USED to sleep at night, people. So what's up with that? Actually, come to think of it, she might have slept through last night. Now I can't remember...I am getting to the point of being somewhat delirious from the sleep deprivation, and maybe blocking out some events so I don't get a grudge. At any rate, sleep or no, she's perfectly wonderful. Remarkably good natured, and loves loves LOVES her brother and dad. Me too, but I'm definitely #3 around here. And I'm okay with that.

Photos to come...hope all is well with you. We're watching for Spring with great anticipation, looking forward to leaving our cocoon soon!