Here It Comes, Another Hot Topic!

*Preface*

The following post is a sensitive subject to many, please keep an open mind.

The debate over vaccines is often a bitter fight. Both sides are passionate and both sides claim to be educated on their decisions to either vaccinate or not vaccinate their children. I am writing about my side today.

Point blank, we do not vaccinate. As I continue with this post, I will share the journey to this decision, but for now let me say that I am not aiming to convince people to vaccinate, delay, or completely forego vaccines. I just want people to make informed decisions and decide what is best for their family. Get ready, I have a ton of info in here for you to read!

How I Started Learning About Vaccines

My journey started when I lost my first pregnancy. That's when I began questioning everything and realizing I knew nothing. I only knew what society conditioned me to know and do. Just as I questioned "conventional" hospital birth and circumcision and began my research, vaccines popped into my head.

Now, I was raised by a nurse. I was one of the first children in my state to receive the chicken pox vaccine when it came out. I believe I received most of my shots through childhood. However, by my teen years, my mom began having a more holistic approach to life. I can honestly say I was rarely taken to the doctor and only remember a tetanus shot and a steroid shot for pneumonia.

I remember my mother refusing a hepatitis shot, and I remember her refusing the Gardasil shot. Which, knowing what I now know about Gardasil (sterilization and death, among other things), I am incredibly thankful for. (Read more about Gardasil HERE)

So I began reading up on vaccines, especially the ingredients. Take a look at the ingredients for various vaccines below, chart courtesy of Informed Choice.

Vaccine	Manufacturer	Microbes	Antibiotics	Chemicals / Heavy Metals	Animal ByProducts
Acel-Immune DTaP diphtheria - tetanus - pertussis	Wyeth-Ayerst 800.934.5556	diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis adsorbed		formaldehyde, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate, thimerosal, and polysorbate 80 (Tween-80)	gelatin
Act HIB Haemophilus influenza Type B	Connaught Laboratories 800.822.2463	Haemophilus influenza Type B, polyribosylribitol phosphate		ammonium sulfate, formalin, and sucrose
Attenuvax measles	Merck & Co., Inc. 800-672-6372	measles live virus	neomycin	sorbitol	hydrolized gelatin, chick embryo
Biavax rubella	Merck & Co., Inc. 800-672-6372	rubella live virus	neomycin	sorbitol	hydrolized gelatin, human diploid cells from aborted fetal tissue
BioThrax anthrax adsorbed	BioPort Corporation517.327.1500	nonencapsulated strain of Bacillus anthracis		aluminum hydroxide, benzethonium chloride, and formaldehyde
DPT diphtheria - tetanus - pertussis	GlaxoSmithKline 800.366.8900 X 5231	diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis adsorbed		formaldehyde, aluminum phosphate, ammonium sulfate, and thimerosal	washed sheep RBCs
Dryvax smallpox (not licensed d/t expiration)	Wyeth-Ayerst 800.934.5556	live vaccinia virus, with "some microbial contaminants," according to the Working Group on Civilian Biodefense	polymyxcin B sulfate, streptomycin sulfate, chlortetracycline hydrochloride, and neomycin sulfate	glycerin, and phenol -a compound obtained by distillation of coal tar	vesicle fluid from calf skins
Engerix-B recombinant hepatitis B	GlaxoSmithKline 800.366.8900 X 5231	genetic sequence of the hepatitis B virus that codes for the surface antigen (HbSAg), cloned into GMO yeast		aluminum hydroxide, and thimerosal
Fluvirin	Medeva Pharmaceuticals888.MEDEVA 716.274.5300	influenza virus	neomycin, polymyxin	beta-propiolactone	chick embryonic fluid
FluShield	Wyeth-Ayerst 800.934.5556	trivalent influenza virus, types A&B	gentamicin sulphate	formadehyde, thimerosal, and polysorbate 80 (Tween-80)	chick embryonic fluid
Havrix hepatitis A	GlaxoSmithKline 800.366.8900 X 5231	hepatitis A virus		formalin, aluminum hydroxide, 2-phenoxyethanol, and polysorbate 20	residual MRC5 proteins -human diploid cells from aborted fetal tissue
HiB Titer Haemophilus influenza Type B	Wyeth-Ayerst 800.934.5556	Haemophilus influenza Type B, polyribosylribitol phosphate, yeast		ammonium sulfate, thimerosal, and chemically defined yeast-based medium
Imovax	Connaught Laboratories800.822.2463	rabies virus adsorbed	neomycin sulfate	phenol red indicator	human albumin, human diploid cells from aborted fetal tissue
IPOL	Connaught Laboratories800.822.2463	3 types of polio viruses	neomycin, streptomycin, and polymyxin B	formaldehyde, and 2-phenoxyethenol	continuous line of monkey kidney cells
JE-VAX Japanese encephalitis	Aventis Pasteur USA 800.VACCINE	Nakayama-NIH strain of Japanese encephalitis virus, inactivated		formaldehyde, polysorbate 80 (Tween-80), and thimerosal	mouse serum proteins, and gelatin
LYMErix lyme	GlaxoSmithKline 888-825-5249	recombinant protein (OspA) from the outer surface of the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi	kanamycin	aluminum hydroxide, 2-phenoxyethenol, phosphate buffered saline
MMR measles - mumps - rubella	Merck & Co., Inc. 800.672.6372	measles, mumps, rubella live virus	neomycin	sorbitol	hydrolized gelatin, chick embryonic fluid, and human diploid cells from aborted fetal tissue
M-R-Vax measles - rubella	Merck & Co., Inc. 800.672.6372	measles, rubella live virus	neomycin	sorbitol	hydrolized gelatin, chick embryonic fluid, and human diploid cells from aborted fetal tissue
Menomune meningococcal	Connaught Laboratories800.822.2463	freeze-dried polysaccharide antigens from Neisseria meningitidis bacteria		thimerosal	lactose
Meruvax I mumps	Merck & Co., Inc. 800.672.6372	mumps live virus	neomycin	sorbitol	hydrolized gelatin
NYVAC (new smallpox batch, not licensed)	Aventis Pasteur USA 800.VACCINE	highly attenuated vaccinia virus	polymyxcin B sulfate, streptomycin sulfate, chlortetracycline hydrochloride, and neomycin sulfate	glycerin, and phenol -a compound obtained by distillation of coal tar	vesicle fluid from calf skins
Orimune oral polio	Wyeth-Ayerst 800.934.5556	3 types of polio viruses, attenuated	neomycin, streptomycin	sorbitol	monkey kidney cells and calf serum
Pneumovax Streptococcus pneumoniae	Merck & Co., Inc. 800.672.6372	capsular polysaccharides from polyvalent (23 types) pneumococcal bacteria		phenol
Prevnar Pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine	Wyeth Lederle 800.934.5556	saccharides from capsular Streptococcus pneumoniae antigens (7 serotypes) individually conjugated to diphtheria CRM 197 protein		aluminum phosphate, ammonium sulfate, soy protein, yeast
ProQuad measles, mumps, rubella and varicella	Merck & Co., Inc. 800.672.6372	live measles (Enders' attenuated Edmonston), mumps (Jeryl LynnTM), rubella (Wistar RA 27/3), and varicella (oka/Merck) strains of viruses	neomycin	monosodium L-glutamate (MSG), potassium chloride, potassium phosphate monobasic, potassium phosphate dibasic, sodium bicarbonate, sodium phosphate dibasic, sorbitol, and sucrose	human albumin, human diploid cells, residual components of MRC-5 cells including DNA and proteins, bovine serum, hydrolized gelatin, and chicken embryo
RabAvert rabies	Chiron Behring GmbH & Company 510.655.8729	fixed-virus strain Flury LEP	neomycin, chlortetracycline, and amphotericin B	potassium glutamate, and sucrose	human albumin, bovine gelatin and serum "from source countries known to be free of bovine spongioform encephalopathy," and chicken protein
Rabies Vaccine Adsorbed	GlaxoSmithKline 800.366.8900 X 5231	rabies virus adsorbed		beta-propiolactone, aluminum phosphate, thimerosal, and phenol red	rhesus monkey fetal lung cells
Recombivax recombinant hepatitis B	Merck & Co., Inc. 800.672.6372	genetic sequence of the hepatitis B virus that codes for the surface antigen (HbSAg), cloned into GMO yeast		aluminum hydroxide, and thimerosal
RotaShield oral tetravalent rotavirus (recalled)	Wyeth-Ayerst 800.934.5556	1 rhesus monkey rotavirus, 3 rhesus-human reassortant live viruses	neomycin sulfate, amphotericin B	potassium monophosphate, potassium diphosphate, sucrose, and monosodium glutamate (MSG)	rhesus monkey fetal diploid cells, and bovine fetal serum
smallpox (not licensed due to expiration) 40-yr old stuff "found" in Swiftwater, PA freezer	Aventis Pasteur USA 800.VACCINE	live vaccinia virus, with "some microbial contaminants," according to the Working Group on Civilian Biodefense	polymyxcin B sulfate, streptomycin sulfate, chlortetracycline hydrochloride, and neomycin sulfate	glycerin, and phenol -a compound obtained by distillation of coal tar	vesicle fluid from calf skins
smallpox (new, not licensed)	Acambis, Inc. 617.494.1339 in partnership with Baxter BioScience	highly attenuated vaccinia virus	polymyxcin B sulfate, streptomycin sulfate, chlortetracycline hydrochloride, and neomycin sulfate	glycerin, and phenol -a compound obtained by distillation of coal tar	vesicle fluid from calf skins
TheraCys BCG (intravesicle -not licensed in US for tuberculosis)	Aventis Pasteur USA USA 800.VACCINE	live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis		monosodium glutamate (MSG), and polysorbate 80 (Tween-80)
Tripedia diphtheria - tetanus - pertussis	Aventis Pasteur USA 800.VACCINE	Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Clostridium tetani toxoids and acellular Bordetella pertussis adsorbed		aluminum potassium sulfate, formaldehyde, thimerosal, and polysorbate 80 (Tween-80)	gelatin, bovine extract US sourced
Typhim Vi typhoid	Aventis Pasteur USA SA 800.VACCINE	cell surface Vi polysaccharide from Salmonella typhi Ty2 strain		aspartame, phenol, and polydimethylsiloxane (silicone)
Varivax chickenpox	Merck & Co., Inc. 800.672.6372	varicella live virus	neomycin	phosphate, sucrose, and monosodium glutamate (MSG)	processed gelatin, fetal bovine serum, guinea pig embryo cells, albumin from human blood, and human diploid cells from aborted fetal tissue
YF-VAX yellow fever	Aventis Pasteur USA 800.VACCINE	17D strain of yellow fever virus		sorbitol	chick embryo, and gelatin

____________________________________________________________________________

These ingredients alone swayed me, and others I know, to not vaccinate. Aborted fetal cells, aluminum, mercury.... It caused a pit in my stomach. I had an instinctual feeling we shouldn't do vaccines, and this table really confirmed in my heart what I was feeling.

In this fabulous link, "Why We Didn't Vaccinate Baby Noor, the writer states

"I think it’s very important to carefully consider possible harm vs. probable benefits before subjecting your child to something.  When we did that, we concluded that the vaccination regimen that is prescribed in the U.S. today is clearly much more likely to do harm to our child than to help her, even just using statistics provided by the Center for Disease Control itself."

This dad's view is very similar to mine, and why we are not vaccinating our daughter. I encourage you to read it!

Most of the diseases children are vaccinated for began declining before the introduction of vaccination anyway. Vaccines are not what caused the diseases and viruses to fade, proper sanitation practices, clean water, and hand washing did.

Reasons We Made This Decision

As I continued with my research I came across a book, The Vaccine Manual For Concerned Families and Health Practitioners, which I highly recommend reading before making any vaccine decision. It lists ingredients, adverse reactions, probability of disease, defines the different diseases and viruses and what they truly entail, and the probability of bad reactions from the disease as opposed to the scare tactics we are taught in our society. For instance, did you know that 95% of people exposed to polio will show no symptoms, 5% of infected people exhibit mild symptoms, and paralysis (the biggest scare of polio) is 1 in a thousand. Plus, the disease is statistically low in the US, and began declining before the vaccine came out. This book has scientific data, charts, and tables, and has great resources. It also has an informative foreward by Dr. Russell Blaylock, a retired neuroscientist and current professor who talks about the affect of vaccines and possible harm they can cause, and goes into great detail about the various ingredients and the affect they have on the brain.

For me, after viewing the real statistics and data, and the rarity of the respective diseases and the fact that they are easily treated, I saw no reason to inject my daughter with all the toxins and heavy metals. There is not ONE study showing the safety of all the combined doses of vaccines and the affect they could have on someone's system. That's too big of a risk for me.

Another thing that got me thinking was the Hep B vaccine given after birth. For a person without an STD, why would you give this to a child? Its for a sexually transmitted virus! My child won't be sharing needles or having sex, so why give this shot, especially after birth when they are so new, before they have an immune system built? It doesn't make sense.

Here, Dr. Sears talks about the aluminum in vaccines...

Aluminum can cause neurologic harm.

A study from 30 years ago showed that human adults will increase their urine excretion of aluminum when exposed to higher levels (suggesting adults can clear out excess aluminum).

Adults taking aluminum-containing antacids don't build up high levels in their body.

There have been reports of infants with healthy kidneys showing elevated blood levels of aluminum from taking antacids.

The AAP found that people with kidney disease who build up levels of aluminum greater than 100 micrograms per liter in their bloodstream are at risk of toxicity.

The AAP also states that the toxic threshold may be lower than this.

The paper states that aluminum loading (meaning tissue build up) has been seen even in patients with healthy kidneys who receive IV solutions containing aluminum over extended periods.

In "V is for Vaccines" this mother explains why she doesn't vaccinate and gives some great links/resources that helped her reach her decision. "At the start of my research, several diseases/illnesses really scared me. I mention which ones they are as I go along. When I say I "almost got" a vaccine for one of the diseases, I mean that it scared me enough to seriously consider a vaccine. At this time, those diseases still scare me, but I have done much research to know that, at this time, I still think it is best to not vaccinate."

In this link, 10 Things I Wish The Mainstream Media Would Get Right About Parents Who Don't Vaccinate, the writer makes some valid points:

"If you are a parent who doesn't follow the recommended vaccine schedule, you have probably read the same articles I have (I don't mean the PubMed journals, which of course you have read.  I mean the ones in parenting magazines or newspapers).  You know the ones.  It is almost enough to make you suspect that they are all quoting from a really old article--circa 2004, perhaps?--because they all make these same 10 mistakes.  

1. Basic info/terminology. Virus vs bacteria. Antigen vs adjuvant.  Live virus.  When you talk about the pertussis virus or removing thimerosol from the MMR it is hard to take you seriously. 

2. The autism angle.  Autism is a big concern for some parents.  I get that.  But contrary to popular opinion, it isn't the only or even primary concern of many parents.  Auto-immune issues in general, fetal tissue in vaccines and other things influence many of us as much or more than a fear of autism. 

3. Herd immunity.  There is always the suggestion that non-vaxers are the ones who put others at risk by derailing herd immunity.  The truth is that herd immunity is largely a myth.  How many adults do you know that are fully up to date on all boosters?  Um, yeah.  Furthermore, not all diseases or vaccines are created equal (some are not even designed to prevent transmission, let alone the varying rates of efficacy) and while herd immunity might be plausible for a few, it isn't for most.   All the non-vaxers that I know are fully aware of this--one reason why we study MMWRs, and educate ourselves on the symptoms and treatment options for many VPDs.  We certainly don't rely on herd immunity in most cases.  

4. Remembering how bad the diseases are.  We are told with ineffable condescension that vaccines are a victim of their own success. If we could only remember a few decades ago...  Aside from the fact that hygiene, improved medical care, nutrition and other things are at least as responsible for declining rates of mortality, the perception has changed significantly. Nobody was scared I would die when I got chicken pox.  Even measles was not considered to be a big deal in most cases (and there is mounting evidence that we are trading a week of illness there for chronic allergies, asthma and other diseases).  Some diseases are very serious, but so are the vaccine reactions.  

5. Equality of diseases and vaccines.  All diseases and vaccines are not created equal.  My four month old is not at risk for Hep B or tetanus.  Pertussis scares me.  Mumps?  Not really.  The fact that my children are exclusively breastfed for a year, and continue to breastfeed after that affects my decision on Hib. I could go on and on.  The risks vary according to age, family history, geography and many other things.  Similarly, some vaccines are more reactive than others.  Some are very effective, others are not. 

6. The obsession with thimerosol.   This still gets trotted out every time along with experts patiently explaining that thimerosol was removed from most vaccines years ago.  While it was more removed from some than others, thimerosol isn't the over-riding concern for most of us.  Aluminum, which is present in very dangerous amounts, concerns  me more.  There is a whole cocktail of nasty stuff in most vaccines (varies according to brand and type). 

7.  Fear of antigen overload.  The same person talking about thimerosol sweetly pats us on the head as s/he explains that worries over too many vaccines at once are unfounded because the antigens are so weak. After all, we are exposed to far more bacteria or viruses at any given time than the ones injected in a vaccine.  Well, yeah. The problem is all the adjuvants.  The antigens are too weak to provoke an immune response on their own, so they are made into a threat with adjuvants like aluminum and other toxic substances.  Forget about the antigens.  Explain how levels that greatly exceed the FDA limits for toxic adjuvants aren't a problem.

8.  Environmental exposure.  You are exposed to these toxins in the environment, anyway.  Yes, we are, and while that isn't a good thing there, either, in most cases, our bodies' natural defense systems help excrete them.  Being injected into your muscle tissue bypasses a lot of that, and when you are talking about babies whose blood-brain barrier isn't developed, that is concerning. 

9. Vaccine side effects are redness and soreness at the injection site and a fever.  In rare cases, anaphylaxis may result.  True. The implication is that fever isn't a big deal, and anaphylaxis is so rare that we shouldn't worry.  Fine. What about the other side effects?  Read the safety inserts, please.  There are many serious side effects, including respiratory illness, arthritis, paralysis, an assortment of auto-immune disorders, and more.

10.  Concerns about vaccines are based solely on the anecdotes of so and so who posted a story on vaccinesRthedevil.com.  Most of us started questioning because of reactions we saw in our own children.  But we didn't stop there. We spend countless hours poring over medical journals, researching the diseases, ingredients, the immune system, etc., learning all we can.  Some are immunologists, neuroscientists and other medical professionals. We are educated and informed about vaccines.  Talk to us. And if you are going to write about us, learn a little more first."

Most of the people I know who don't vaccinate chose to stop vaccinating or to not do it at all because of the severe reactions they've seen and the ingredients that are so toxic. Why is it okay to inject these toxins into our bloodstream when a HazMat team has to come in and close down a school to clean up a syringe that fell to the ground and broke, spilling the contents on the floor? Again, doesn't make sense to me.

The Autism Factor

I'm still now sure what to believe about autism and vaccines right now. One thing I do believe is that it isn't good to mess with our bodies, especially with chemicals and toxins, and this is why I try to raise my daughter as naturally as possible. Chemicals and toxins are definitely linked with autism and the brain. Irish scientists have found a link between gut bacteria and autism, and two recent studies suspect that induction of labor may have an effect on autism and the brain. Science Based Medicine says 

"Compared with children born to mothers who received neither labor induction nor augmentation, children born to mothers who were induced and augmented, induced only, or augmented only experienced increased odds of autism after controlling for potential confounders related to socioeconomic status, maternal health, pregnancy-related events and conditions, and birth year. The observed associations between labor induction/augmentation were particularly pronounced in male children."

I do think there is a link between vaccines and autism. I cannot say that every case is caused by vaccines, and not every vaccinated child will become autistic. But I do know the government believes there is a link. Otherwise why would the government's vaccine injury court grant two families millions of dollars because of their childrens' autism and encephalopathy they believed were caused by vaccines. The government did not admit in court that vaccinations were the definitive cause, but they must have seen something that these cases were won. The vaccine court has had a LOT of cases like these, but it isn't something you hear about in the news often.

More info on the vaccine injury compensation program HERE.
Studies Showing Link To Autism and Vaccines - downloadable document
Scientists identify way to test autism in one-year-olds using blood test... for those who say it only appears around/after two. I really believe it has to do with environmental factors.

Hard pro-vaxxers like to argue that vaccines cannot possibly cause autism or developmental disorders, that the problems simply arise around the general time of vaccination. That just isn't a satisfactory answer for me. Something causes it. And the toxins and heavy metals absolutely can penetrate the brain barrier. Studies have shown victims of Alzheimer's have mercury in their brain, and it affects the progression of the disease. The thimerosal (mercury) in vaccines never leaves the brain. And I don't like that, personally. Perhaps its a genetic issue and is overwhelmed by the sudden flood of heavy metals... maybe the heavy metals cause it... I really do not know, and I will continue to learn about that as I find information about it. However, at famous Ina May Gaskin's The Farm, out of alllll the births they've seen since the seventies, no medical inductions or vaccinations, they've never seen a case of autism. Food for thought.

30 Scientific Studies Show The Link Between Autism & Vaccines
http://www.fourteenstudies.org/ - "I think that the government or certain public officials in the government have been too quick to dismiss the concerns of these families without studying the population that got sick. I think public health officials have been too quick to dismiss the hypothesis as irrational without sufficient studies of causation."
- Dr. Bernadine Healy, former Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), largest U.S. federal agency responsible for conducting and supporting medical research. Dr. Healy has no known conflicts of interest in the vaccine-autism debate.

- No real world studies of the vaccine schedule have ever been done. Of the 11 separate vaccines given to American children (many given multiple times), only one vaccine -- the MMR -- has ever been studied for its relationship to autism. Yet, American children get 6 or 7 different vaccines simultaneously at 2, 4, 6, and 12 month doctor appointments.

- Not one study compares vaccinated children to unvaccinated children -- every study only looks at children who have received vaccines. This is like comparing smokers who smoke one pack a day to those who smoke two packs a day, seeing no difference in cancer rates, and saying cigarettes don’t cause cancer.

- The studies are rife with conflicts including authors who have been paid by vaccine companies and federal agencies and foreign governments charged with administering vaccines.

- Many of the studies reach false conclusions or conclusions that have nothing to do with the simple question: do vaccines cause autism? They are simply being misrepresented in the press by public health officials taking advantage of a docile media that is heavily dependent on advertising from pharma companies.

This link here will take you to Dr. Tenpenny, a doctor who promotes healthy living and prevention and not vaccinations as a way to prevent illness, and an informative video you can feel free to watch about info on vaccines and reactions.

In THIS LINK a medical chemist explains why he doesn't vaccinate.

What Doctors Know/Are Taught About Vaccines

Questions To Ask & Claims VS. Facts About Vaccines

Read HERE about the scary world of vaccine additives.

Miscellaneous Info

HERE you can find info on the normal childhood disease and how to treat them.
Adverse Effects of Vaccine Injury Table pdf
HERE are exemption forms for all states and state requirements if you are delaying/not vaccinating and sending your child to daycare or school. Most states offer medical and religious exemptions, some also offer philosophical, and others only have medical.
The Value of Your Child's Life According To Those Promoting Vaccines
http://www.childhoodshots.com/
If You Vaccinate, Ask Eight... Questions For Your Doctor About Vaccines
Australian Vaccination Network - American, Aussie, or wherever else you may be from, this site has lots of great info!
Hep B Vaccine Pulled From Vietnam After Three Newborns Die
CDC Says MMR & Pertussis Vaccine Can Cause Brain Damage
Does Vaccination Cause Autism? Here's What They Know...
Package Inserts For Vaccines
Thimerosal (mercury) Info
Want To Vaccinate My Child? Sign This Form First - a downloadable form for physicians to sign before vaccinating... "It's been over a year since hundreds of parents have downloaded this form and there are still no reports of any signatures. Many physicians won't even look at the form while they dismiss a parent's anti-vaccination stance as ridiculous. The behavior is a clear indication of a very misinformed Physician who does not have his or her patient's best interests at heart. They are not willing to inform their patients of the risks, only the benefits they feel are acceptable. They are not open-minded to any other side of the debate except their own biased view passed down through the medical system."
http://www.westonaprice.org/
Seven Reasons To Delay or Refuse Vaccines
The Healthy Unvaccinated
FDA Recalls Flu Vaccine
9 Arguments For The Vaccine Debate
NBC News: Shot May Boost Superbug

Pages on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/VaxTruth
www.facebook.com/motherwiselove
https://www.facebook.com/national.vaccine.information.center
https://www.facebook.com/doctor.health
https://www.facebook.com/GMAOQV
https://www.facebook.com/vaccinationcouncil

I have also included more links on my Resources page and my parenting board on Pinterest.

In writing this, I hope that I may have opened your eyes to something you may not have known before. That is my goal for this blog, raising awareness about topics that aren't commonly known about/talked about in the mainstream. If this has raised any questions for you, I highly recommend delaying vaccinations until you can read more and come to a decision for yourself and children. You can always start them again, but you can never undo what's been done.

Ultimately, we do not vaccinate because the benefits do not outweigh the risks in our book. The viruses and illnesses are not frequent, and in the event of such an illness, they are easily remedied. (Of course there is the rare serious event, that will happen whether you vaccinate or not.)

Our daughter was exclusively breastfed until seven months and is currently still breastfed, an added protection against illness and building a healthy immune system. To us, breastfeeding, a healthy diet and good sun exposure, and vitamin supplementation if necessary, are great alternatives for prevention. As Christians, we also heartily believe in our protection and divine healing. In comparison to other children her age, our daughter has never been sick and has a very strong immune system, and we believe it is our job to protect her from harm, toxins and unnecessary heavy metals included.

If you leave a comment, please leave only kind and considerate ones. Remember that parents like me read what we do and make the decisions we do out of best interest for our children, and most with beliefs similar to mine will not be swayed. Thank you for reading! Until next time...

~The Cruncy Mama

Parenting: The Hardest Best Job Ever

Motherhood can be hectic. It can be super hard, yet the most amazing thing ever. I've had days where I just want to go hide under the covers and not come out for three days (hey, I'd get caught up on sleep too). I've also had days that are so amazingly close to perfect, I'm in awe.

Moms (and dads) have the best job ever. Parenting is also the most challenging job ever. You are raising a human. A soul that will one day be a functioning part of society. The morals you instill in them, the example you lead, the things you say, mold and form them. Your words of encouragement or discouragement become a part of who they are. That's a pretty big deal.

And this child, is so so wonderful.  They are a part of you, whether they grew in your belly or they grew in your heart til they could come to you. You have more connection to this "job" than any other you could work for.

I look at my daughter this morning and I have so much love for her. My heart swells and aches inside me with the love I have for her. She is so sweet and lovely. Her huge grins, her baby giggles. I love being her mom.

In the morning she is the happiest baby ever. Well, she is usually pretty smiley and happy, but when she's well rested more-so than ever. On the days that are especially long, or the days she just refuses to nap, but supper time I am totally frazzled. I cannot wait for her to go to bed. And then when she is, I miss her wrinkly eyes and toothy grins, and her adorable smell, and I feel crazy cause I miss her and want to squeeze her.

Internally, Exhausted Alyssa is saying "What's wrong with you?! Go have some tea and go to bed! Or read a book, you never get to do that anymore."

And then Crazy-In-Love Mom Alyssa says back "But she smells so good, and I want to cuddle."

It's an inner battle haha. Cause moms are just crazy about their kids.

Right now, Bree is in her Bumbo seat  playing with a stuffed pig, periodically looking up to see if I'm paying attention; whining if I'm not, grinning if she catches my eye.

It's been a good day so far. She has watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (second favorite after Tangled) while I brewed some coffee. I listened to her squeals as I poured my creamer into my mug, which soon turned to a cry when she realized I wasn't enjoying Mickey with her.

So, I enjoyed my coffee with a nursing baby who was extremely happy her mommy was holding her, with Mickey Mouse in the background.

I loved it.

A few days ago, I had a fussy teether who wouldn't let me put her down to pee, let alone unpack the tons of boxes we still have around the house. I didn't get to eat til my husband came home from work, she didn't nap, cried all day, the house was a mess, and I wanted to pull my hair out. I tried going on the computer and she ripped the space bar off the keyboard (Justin, if you read this, I promptly fixed it!)

I yelled in exasperation. I felt like a horrible mom. But, that happens sometimes, and it's okay. We can't beat ourselves up for mistakes or frustration. When Bree looked at me in shock I immediately picked her up (I was crying this time) and we cuddled in bed with boobie milk and Once Upon A Time til Daddy came home.

I am a new mom, but what I am learning in my current season of parenthood, is this. The house will not always be perfect. The house will rarely be perfect. Or never, you know. And it is OKAY.

I get extremely frustrated with myself when I don't get enough done at home. But in retrospect, I'd rather have held my baby when she needed me, than folded all the laundry in one sitting with a screaming infant who is wondering why mommy isn't helping her.

Being a mommy is really hard some days, easier on others, but is always wonderful. Even on days when the baby won't stop crying, or you didn't get anything done, all that matters is the baby knew her/his mommy was there to comfort him. (for more on my take on Cry It Out click here).

When I was pregnant everyone told me their horror stories of birth and parenting. Why do people do that?! So frustrating. Let me say this, and can be hard. Some days are the hardest you'll know, but... it's totally worth it, because it's for this tiny being you love more than words can express.

I gave birth, at home, without drugs. Hardest thing I have ever done, but so rewarding. I was determined to breastfeed; it was hard not going to lie. But we pressed on, got through it, and now it's a breeze, we love it, and its a totally blessing (health wise, emotion wise, bond wise) for both of us. The days before "sleeping through the night" (which ps, they'll do in their own time, every baby is different, don't rush!) were super hard. But so worth it.

As our children get older, we teach them about the world, how to love others, how to love themselves. It starts early. I'm definitely still working on that. I need to lead by example. And it is a definite challenge. But I do it for her. This amazing sweetheart I love more than myself.

When I hear 14 year olds say how much they want to have a baby, I totally am that person that tells them how hard it is. It changes your lifestyle, and it's a delusion to think it won't. I want kids to be able to enjoy their childhood/teen years. Yet, if a 14 year old came to me telling me she was pregnant, I'd support her, inform her, and tell her the challenges are worth it. Just love, educate yourself, don't be yourself up if you've done something wrong. Make it right, do better next time. And remember, you can NEVER hold them too much.

Tattoos, Faith, and Parenting

I've decided to get a tattoo. While this has nothing to do with parenting directly, what I've decided to get relates to it for me.

Everyone in my husband's immediate family has tattoos. He has some, his sister, one brother, and mom do, and his dad and oldest brother have sleeves. I've always been a fan of people with tattoos, I think they look great, but while I would have liked to get one, I never really had anything I wanted on my body permanently.

This week something in me changed. I suddenly very much want a tattoo. I was torn between getting "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine" or "The Lord will fight for you, you need only be still," and I may still get those some day. But while I was trying to choose between the two something dawned on me. A verse came to mind that means a lot to me, and that has helped me get through a lot, and I honestly couldn't believe I hadn't thought of it yet.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the world runs after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25-34

Read that verse helped me survive an abusive and isolated childhood and get through my teen years. It encouraged me when I wanted to move but didn't have a job, when I had a not-so-ideal living situation, when I eloped and had rocky family ties and little money, when I found out I was pregnant and didn't know how we could support a child.... Time and time again this verse has been incredibly encouraging to me. It still is. It reminds me to rely on God in my parenting journey, to remember that He continually blesses us and our income, and leads us down the many paths we venture in life. We are important to Him and we shouldn't waste time worrying when He is going to take care of us. He knows our needs and supplies them! And sure enough, in all of those situations, God took care of me and provided.

In one way or another, my needs have always been met. Perhaps not necessarily when or how I wanted, but Christ has never let me down. Rent is made, groceries are bought, we are warm and have a cozy apartment, Bree is healthy and growing and fed as well. I am so thankful for my life, my husband, my child, and my home. I owe it all to the Lord, and this verse will always remind me of that.

Naturally I will not be getting that entire passage on my body, I will be putting "Therefore I tell you, do not worry..." and the address "Matthew 6:25" on my forearm, just as a reminder to have faith that God will always take care of me and my family, and will continue to bless us with not only our needs, but the strength and wisdom to parent our child (and future children) as well.