This and That Around the House

It has been a while since I posted last. I often start a post then realize it is the most boring thing, so I don’t publish it. So here I try again!

Today is the Feast of St. Charles Borromeo and as Pope John Paul II was named Karol Jozef in honor of St. Charles Borromeo, we celebrate this day as one of Karol’s feast days. I am roasting a chicken in the crock pot and we will have chocolate cake with butter cream frosting for dessert. (Or maybe pumpkin pie, I haven’t decided yet.) This morning, after mass, I made the kids oatmeal with chocolate chips sprinkled on top, that went over like a lead balloon. 🙁

Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of St. Martin de Porres by making cupcakes to take to our friend, Martin. Karol also colored a picture for him. Martin in turn shared his Halloween candy with Karol and Margaret.

The kids are getting big, as is expected. Caecilia has been trying to take steps here and there. She loves to stand up in her high chair and do gravity defying stunts while sitting on it. I normally keep her on her Baby Bjorn Potty Chair and put the tray on, then she sits and eats no problem! Today she is 11 months old. One more month until she is One! What happened to the year?

Karol is doing well at home schooling. When I am lazy about it, he asks to do school work. He sits with books often and pretends to read to himself. Yesterday he was reading a dinosaur book that had a picture of a volcano island. There was smoke, fire, water and the sky. He was pointing out words and saying: “Look, Mumma, it says ‘Smoke on the water. Fire in the sky”. (Thanks, ADL)
Margaret has been amazing us with her smarts lately. She has been such a free spirit and doesn’t seem interesting in learning anything but lately she has shown us that she does know how to count to 10 and her colors! Right now she is laying in her bed, reading a book to herself. She will often try to come to the dinner table with books to read and gets upset when we don’t let her read at the table.

We have been doing more home improvements. I have made some curtains for the kitchen and I finally finished the one for the front door. Now I have to do the ones for the dining room.  I have a bit of time as we are getting new windows throughout the whole house (well, save for the addition). This will be a nice update as the windows are original and pretty darn drafty. We have three windows that certainly need to be replaced but figured with the tax credit, that it would make sense to do all of them now. We plan on insulating the attic this winter too. We hope to someday finish the attic and the insulation is one of  the most expensive parts of that project. Next spring we will need to put in a new furnace, then our house will be almost all Energy Star rated.

In January, we are going to split the kids up. C is in her own room right now and K and M share. We are going to put K in his own room and the girls will share. I don’t know how this will work out, but we will have to do it some day and this seems like the time to do it.

So that is what is new from Ohio! What’s new in your neck of the woods?

Filed under: General Stuff

H1N1 Vaccine Information

Here is some information that I have found helpful in my research regarding H1N1.

Below is information from the manufacturer’s inserts for the H1N1 vaccine, which can be found on the package inserts from each company for the vaccines. The links for these package inserts are listed as well.

All manufactured H1N1 vaccines contain thimerosal (ethyl mercury) except the LiveNasal spray manufactured by Medimune, “the safety and effectiveness of which have not been studied in pregnant or nursing mothers”.

Sanofi Pasteur Vaccine
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182404.pdf

“Safety and effectiveness of [the vaccine] have not been established in pregnant women or nursing mothers or children <6 months of age”

Novartis Vaccines
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182242.pdf

“Safety and effectiveness of [the vaccine] have not been established in pregnant women, nursing mothers or children less than 4 years of age.”

CSL Biotherapies
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182401.pdf

“Safety and effectiveness of [the vaccine] have not been established in pregnant women, nursing mothers or in persons less than 18 years of age.”

“Neither Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine nor AFLURIA has been evaluated in children. Safety and effectiveness in the pediatric population have not been established.”

Medimmune, LLC (Live Nasal)
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182406.pdf

“Do not administer [the vaccine] to children <24 months of age because of increased risk of hospitalization and wheezing.”

The Seasonal Influenza Vaccine

In Children:

In a recent master study that analyzed all relevant influenza vaccine studies during the past 40 years, researchers found that in healthy children older than 2 years of age, the live flu vaccine was just 33% effective; the inactivated vaccine was just 36% effective. [The Cochrane Collaboration, 2006]

In a recent master study published in The Lancet, researchers found no evidence that influenza vaccines prevent flu in children younger than 2 years old. [The Lancet, February 2005]

In healthy adults:

In a recent master study that analyzed all relevant influenza vaccines during the past 40 years, researchers found that in healthy adults under 65 years of age, flu vaccination did not affect hospital stay, time off from work, or death from from influenza and its complications. Authors of the master study concluded that “universal immunization of healthy adults is not supported” by data. [The Cochrane Collaboration, 2004].

In the Elderly:

In a recent master study that analyzed all relevant influenza vaccine studies during the past 40 years, researchers found that for elderly people living in the community, influenza vaccines were not effective. For elderly people living in group homes, influenza vaccines were found to be 46% effective against pneumonia, but non-significant against influenza.

In October 2006 the British Medical Journal published a paper that analyzed all pertinent influenza vaccination studies and found that flu vaccines had little or no effect on influenza campaign objectives, such as hospital stay, time off work, or death from influenza and its complications.

[Credit: http://thinktwice.com/flu_show.htm]

Below is information from the manufacturer’s inserts for the H1N1 vaccine, which can be found on the package inserts from each company for the vaccines. The links for these package inserts are listed as well.

All manufactured H1N1 vaccines contain thimerosal (ethyl mercury) except the LiveNasal spray manufactured by Medimune, “the safety and effectiveness of which have not been studied in pregnant or nursing mothers”.

All of the vaccine manufacturer’s inserts state that:

“Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with [the vaccine]. It is also not known whether [the vaccine] can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. [The vaccine] should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.”

Sanofi Pasteur Vaccine
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182404.pdf

The Sanofi Pasteur vaccine contains formaldehyde.

“Safety and effectiveness of [the vaccine] have not been established in pregnant women or nursing mothers or children <6 months of age.”

Note that the “immune response and safety of Fluzone vaccine was evaluated in 31 children between the ages of 6-26 months.”

Novartis Vaccines
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182242.pdf

“Safety and effectiveness of [the vaccine] have not been established in pregnant women, nursing mothers or children less than 4 years of age.”

CSL Biotherapies
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182401.pdf

“Safety and effectiveness of [the vaccine] have not been established in pregnant women, nursing mothers or in persons less than 18 years of age.”

“Neither Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine nor AFLURIA has been evaluated in children. Safety and effectiveness in the pediatric population have not been established.”

“Neither Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine nor AFLURIA has been evaluated for carcinogenic or mutagenic potential or for impairment of fertility.”

Medimmune, LLC (Live Nasal)
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182406.pdf

“Safety and effectiveness of Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine Live, Intranasal have not been studied in pregnant women or nursing mothers.”

“It is not known whether [the vaccine] can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity.”

“Do not administer [the vaccine] to children <24 months of age because of increased risk of hospitalization and wheezing.”

Note: the Sanofi Pasteur H1N1 (injectable) vaccine is the one that is recommended by the manufacturer for children ages 6 months and up. You will note the insert states that the “immune response and safety of Fluzone vaccine was evaluated in 31 children between the ages of 6-26 months.”

The immune response and safety of the four vaccines were evaluated in only a few hundred children and adults for only 1-3 weeks prior to the release of the vaccines for public use. [Source: www.NVIC.org, http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/BloodVaccinesandOtherBiologics/VaccinesandRelatedBiologicalProductsAdvisoryCommittee/UCM172424.pdf]

These studies are not published in the vaccine inserts because the studies had not been completed at the time the inserts were compiled. This is why the only information in the inserts regarding use of the vaccine for “specific populations” is for the H1N1 vaccine’s seasonal influenza likeness. In the case of the Sanofi Pasteur H1N1 vaccine it is the Fluzone seasonal influenza vaccine, which is made by the same process as the H1N1 vaccine.

Filed under: Vaccination Information

A camping we will go…

…and so we went. We just got back from a 9 day camping trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the northern part of the Lower Peninsula. We spent our first two nights at a campground called Lake Michigan campground, oddly enough on Lake Michigan, in the UP of MI. It was WONDERFUL, right on the lake. If the water had been a bit warmer, we would have all taken a splash in the lake.

After our first night, we headed to Sault Sainte Marie, MI to watch the freighters go through the Soo Locks. I enjoyed it, as did Joshua, but the kids were pretty bored. I think that was because the ships go pretty slowly through the locks. We bought some fudge and some souvenirs and had a good time. We went back to the campsite, ate lunch then headed to the Deer Ranch. The kids got to feed a few deer and had a fun time looking at them. We picked up some salmon for dinner and cooked it on the fire with some potatoes, yum. Joshua’s parents joined us that night so we visited with them around the camp fire.

The next day we broke camp and headed to Tahquamenon Falls to take a look at the falls. I highly recommend going to see them if you never have, they are breath taking. After the falls we headed to Joshua’s grandma’s house near Munising, MI. While there we spent time looking at the Pictured Rocks and visiting with family.

On our way back to the LP, we visited the Mystery Spot near St. Ignace. It was as cool as I thought it would be and then some! Before heading over the bridge, we picked up some pasties for dinner, yum!

Once back over the bridge I showed off my stellar map reading skills. We were heading for a campground near Petoskey but missed a turn off so we headed to Fisherman’s Island near Charlevoix for two nights. Our site was again on Lake Michigan, quite beautiful!

We went to Sleeping Bear Dunes and had so much fun just driving around trying to find a place to take the kids to the beach.  Someday we want to hike the mile and a half dune, some day. After a wonderfully beautiful drive down the coast of MI, we ended up at my aunt’s where we spent the night. My aunt ROCKS! She gave me two copies of my grandparent’s wedding pictures. LOVE IT! LOVE HER!

Of course this trip would not have been complete without seeing my family and meeting my newest little niece. She is quite a little joy and very pretty. We were able to go to Mass at the Assumption Grotto this morning and headed home!

Filed under: General Stuff

…a joyful duty our sacrafice of praise…

Today I am joyfully, through tears, praying for a dear friend who is entering the Sisters of Reparation.

Jaime is one of my best friends, if not my best. She was my maid of honor, she is my daughters godmother, she is the one friend I feel totally comfortable cyring in front of. We have been through many things together, both joys and sorrows, gains and losses.

I will have to get out the paper and pencil to write letters to her now. No more email, no more facebook, no more text messages.

So,if you have a moment, please remember Jaime today in your prayers!

Filed under: General Stuff

For my faithful followers

Hello! I am posting again! I am enjoying a nice quiet evening at home. The two older kids are in MI with my parents so Joshua and I are down to one kid this week. Before you start saying anything about romance, let me tell you what we have been doing all week.

Joshua built a wall! We now have a wall sectioning off part of the “middle room” to make more of an office for him. The “middle room” is the room that used to be the kitchen before the addtion was put on. It isn’t big enough to be a dining room and had an awkward layout to be useful for much else, so up a wall went. Now there is room for the desk without it hanging out in the middle of the room.  He has been busy taping, mudding, sanding and soon we will paint the room “Plymoth Blue”.

I have been busy chasing C around AND taking the wall paper down in the kids’ room. Seven layers of wall paper, with a layer of paint to boot. Nice. So the kids will be moved in to the pink room until I get that project done. I didn’t realize it would take this long. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to get the rest of the paper off  then wash the walls. After washing them, Joshua is going to tape and mud them  as well as add a plumbing access for the bathtub. Then to paint. I haven’t totally decided what to do yet with the room. I think I am going to do a dark color for the bottom half of the wall then a lighter color for the top. I would like to do a stencil print across the very top, in Latin.

While I am excited the kids are coming back this weekend, I almost wish my mom would keep them for another week so I could get it all done with out them underfoot!

+JMJ+

Filed under: General Stuff

For the love of….

Andrea Logue, I will update my blog.

Summer is speeding by here in Central Ohio.  The garden is growing, the kids are growing. We have a new roof over our heads, literaly.

C has two bottom teeth and has learned to clap, crawl, climb the stairs and poop only when her diaper is off. M is getting big and has gone TWO WHOLE days without having an accident. 🙂 That is big time stuff. I am going to go shopping with her to pick out a new dress for my sister’s baby shower. K is learning to tinker around the house. He likes to help me in the kitchen (as does M) and likes to quote Star Trek or other various movies.

The Logues went to Ethiopia for a few days to pick up Martin Muse, so we have spent time getting to know him. He is about Karol’s age and they get along swimmingly. I love Martin’s laugh. He looks just like Brian too! 🙂

That is about all for now…more later.

Filed under: General Stuff