Vaccinations

I hate the vaccination debate.  I hate that there is this weird peer pressure out there to prove you are a proactive educated parent by ignoring 200 years of science in favor of your own 200 hours on Google.  I hate that the way the "make your own decision" statements are worded imply that if you choose to vaccinate, you obviously aren't didn't research well enough.  I hate the implication that "good parents" don't follow their doctors advice, and that is how you prove you are good.  I hate that people say "read the package inserts" but don't actually understand what they are reading.  I hate that people don't trust their own doctors (If you can't trust your doctor, find one you can trust).  I hate that the anti-vax movement sneers at herd immunity while depending upon it to protect their own children.  I hate bad science and shoddy studies.

Vaccinations save lives.  Herd immunity means that preventable illnesses don't spread like wildfire through a population. Why do I worry about your unvaccinated child playing with my vaccinated one? Because vaccination doesn't guarantee immunity on an individual level, a group of vaccinated people prevent an epidemic.  When you don't vaccinate, you increase the chances an epidemic can occur in a given population.  Vaccination isn't an individual decision, it is a community protection.

If you are out there wondering whether you should vaccinate yourself or your kids, the answer is talk to your doctor.  Explore your medical history and that of your child with your educated medical professional.  If your doctor, after assessing your specific medical situation says "Yes, you should receive this vaccination" then, yes, you should vaccinate.

Education is an economic program, not a social program

Education is the foundation of solid economic policy. It is not a social program, though it is treated as one in the United States. Countries that emphasize creating a skilled workforce have a more agile, better performing economy. Kansas is on track to gut our entire education program. These policies threaten our state for generations to come.

Yesterday's vote to defund Parents as Teachers is yet another example of Kansas's short sighted devaulation of education.  The Parents as Teachers program provides invaluable community outreach helping to ensure the academic success of at risk populations. The program is a vital part of the safety net that ensures a strong foundation for our future generations.  Infant and Toddler Services and the Early Childhood Special Education programs help mitigate long term costs of providing a Free and Appropriate Public Education.  

 

An overall value on education with an innovative and appropriately funded public education program will ensure a robust, versatile and flexible workforce that will do more to lure businesses to our state than any tax incentive we can offer.  

Our Governer and respected Representatives need to reconsider their education policies in light of all the studies that show funding education pays an overall net gain in our economic future. Kansas is on a dangerous path of income inequality and injustice.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/03/business/economy/closing-education-gap-will-lift-economy-study-finds.html

NICU Graduate - Baby Girl's Gone Wireless!

Baby Girl had her second NICU follow up today and she looks great!  Everything from head shape to weight gain is fantastic.  She seems like a typical 7 week baby, which is amazing considering where we started.  She's beautiful and so much fun to cuddle.

Mama is a bit nervous to be going wireless, we'll be using a Snuza monitor for the forseeable future.  We're working on adding more tummy time now that we are wire free.  Baby Girl gets OT through Infant and Toddler Services - a wonderful and very awesome organization (they are a 501(c)3, I think you can donate to them if you'd like).  We also receive support and help with early childhood development from Parents as Teachers.  Or at least, we do for now. Apparently, the committe that manages Parents As Teachers budget has decided to defund it, ending the program.  This would be a huge loss for families across Kansas.

We're so grateful for everything the St. Luke's NICU has done for us.  The doctors, nurses and support staff are top notch.  An amazing group of people who work tirelessly to care for a very vulnerable group.  We're so thankful we were in the right place at the right time.  We know our story could have gone very differently.

Baby Girl was 22 weeks old on the 22nd of this month.  She's a NICU Graduate!