Lee Lee's First Haircut

I feel like we are checking things off the list left and right that I hoped to get done before the baby was born.  I really hit my turbo mode right around 36 weeks in fear that the baby could arrive that early (like the twins did).  Then, when the baby doesn't arrive for two, or three, or four more weeks, I'm able to relax a little more and get other projects accomplished.

Four children in church clothes, with fresh haircuts!

I wanted to get Howard, Tracey, and Caroline haircuts... and so Lee Lee got her first haircut over the weekend as well.  She's younger than any other child for her first haircut... but she also has more hair for her age than any of our other children.  And, her hair will probably be healthier for getting just a little trim.

And, we were able to get our three big kids their flu shot yesterday afternoon and they did so well!  The only reason Lee Lee didn't get hers was because the clinic where we got them didn't have the dosage for kiddos under age three.  So, she will get hers at her next doctor's appointment in a few weeks.

Four kiddos with fresh haircuts... and three with flu vaccines!  

Lee Lee kept asking for hers.

Our Little Sweetheart

Tuesday night Hubby and I took Tracey Ann to get her flu shot. 

We were prepared with milk, passie, and her blankie in hand.  Plus she had both Mama and Daddy's undivided attention.

The nurse injected the shot into her leg very swiftly and Tracey Ann began to cry.  Both Mama and Daddy were hugging her and telling her, "It's All Done," not knowing how long the pain and crying would last.

Tracey Ann cried for about three seconds... 

Then, to our extreme surprise, smiled and looked at the nurse and said, "Thank you." 

We were shocked to put it mildly.

The nurse said she has never been thanked by a child for getting a shot, and certainly never by a 22-month old.

We have such a little sweetheart!

The Polio Vaccine

I have written in the past how much I support parents following the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and having their children vaccinated.

Dr. Howard Sanden, my father

One of the reason I fight so firmly on this issue is because, as a pediatrician since the late 1950's my dad already fought the good fight regarding vaccinations.

A friend of mine posted on facebook yesterday the following post (with certain language edited):
Sixty years ago today, Jonas Salk announced the polio vaccine, which saved a bagillion lives. He also refused to seek a patent so that everyone could have cheap access to treatment. Edward R Murrow once asked Salk who held a patent for the vaccine. Solidifying his place in the history of humanitarian awesomeness, Salk replied: "No one. Could you patent the sun?"

The truth is, my father treated children with polio in medical school and watched helplessly as many died from this horrible disease.  When the polio vaccine was discovered and finally made available, he was a young pediatrician new to his community, but he had seen the dangerous and loss of life due to this illness firsthand.  He knew the importance of this vaccination -- not only for those at-risk to be vaccinated, but EVERYONE to be vaccinated in the hopes that polio would become eradicated.  He single-handedly organized the polio drive to get all of Muskegon County (every single person) vaccinated.

When I speak passionately about the importance of childhood vaccinations it is not a fun cause to jump aboard -- it comes from a place of deep-rooted respect.  It comes from a place of learning from our past, and honoring our history while cherishing the medical advancements and protection we have available now.

Trust be told, it blows my mind that I am fighting the same battle about the importance of vaccinations that my father won over fifty years ago.

A Laugh About Vaccines

By now you all have realized how incredibly supportive and passionate I am about vaccinations.  While the pro-vaccination movement is still a very serious issue... this is not a serious post.

I hope this gives you the laugh it gave me:


Have a great Sunday.