Do vaccines cause autism?

Disclaimer: due to the comments I have recieved I must not have made it clear that I do 100% believe in getting your child vaccinated. My confusion is when is the best time to do it.

Whilst waiting in line at Target today I was flipping through a magazine when I came across an article about Jenny McCarthy and how she helped her son beat autism. It was a very interesting article about the things she did (such as drastically changing his diet) to help him overcome his autism. And it got me to thinking... do vaccines really cause autism, or do they not? The whole thing is very confusing to me, and I often don't know what to believe. I have done a lot of reading on the subject and what I have found is that almost all mothers ( I have read about) with autistic children have said that yes, after their child recieved their vaccination is when the signs of autism began to show. But most doctors (including my pediatrican) say that no, there has been no link found between vaccines and autism. I have also read that although vaccines dont cause autism, they can make it manifest itself in children that are genetically susceptible. I am no scientist, but just by looking at the numbers it is very convincing that vaccines do have something to do with it, being that 15 yrs ago it was like 1 in 10000 children will be diagnosed with autism, and now its around 1 in 150.
Being a mom you learn to trust your instincts. You can tell when something is wrong with your child, even when no one else can. That is why I tend to believe every mother out there who has said that vaccines had something to do with it. They have nothing to gain from saying that, while drug companies have lots of money to gain by saying that vaccinations do not cause autism.
I wish I would have researched this better before I allowed Chase to recieve her vaccinations, but all I really did was ask my pediatrician and a few other young moms, who all basically said that nothing has been proven. I know that getting your child immunized is very important, and should definatly be done, but quit honestly I am really confused about when is the best time to do it. Is it best to start when they are brand new babys (like my doctor told me), or is it best to wait until they are 2 (like many moms say they wish they would've done when there child was diagnosed with autism)?

http://specialchildren.about.com/od/autismandvaccines/i/vaccines.htm

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/03/06/vaccines.autism/index.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/03/AR2008090303396.html

High School Tag

1. Did you date someone from your highschool?
Yes, but no one seriously

2. What kind of car did you drive?
Nissan stanza (big brown), and a Nissan Sentra

3.Were you a party animal?
I was not

4.Were you considered a flirt?
No, I was shy

5.Where you in band, orchestra, or choir?
No

6.What was your most embarrassing moment in highschool?
Probably when I passed out infront of lots of people, and some kid had to go get my friends to help me.

7.Were you a nerd?
No. I "thought" I was pretty cool

8.Were you on varsity teams?
No

9.Did you ever get suspended/expelled?
No

10.Can you still sing the fight song?
No, and I never could. Didnt even know we had a fight song.

11.Who were your favorite teachers?
Never had favorites, and now that I think about it, I can't remember any names except for Mrs. Liddle.

12.What was your school full name?
Cottonwood Highschool

13.School mascot?
Colt

14.Did you go to the Homecoming dance and with who?
I think I went to Homecomeing with Otis, and that was the only time.

15.If you could go back, would you?
no

16.What do you remember most about graduation?
Chelsea and I running out of the school, ripping off our robes and changing in my car, driving to 311 concert, going home and showering , going to all night party, losing the cash I got as a graduation present, panicing, finding cash, leaving for Laguna Beach the next morning.

17.Where did you go senior skip day?
I dont think we had a senior skip day....but I did skip a lot of school

18.Were you in a club?
colt news...is that a club?

19.Have you gained some weight since then?
i suppose

20.Who was your prom date?
cody jensen (i went to judge prom my senior year..or was it junior?)

21.Are you planning on going to your 10 yr reunion?
no. everyone I care about I am still in touch with

22.Looking back, what advice would you give yourself?
probably the same as chels. dont be so insecure.

I tag everyone I went to highschool with

love it!

I found these papercut prints via this etsy shop, and I can totally picture them in Chase's room. The only problem is the ballerina prints are sold as a series and I am thinking we can't afford them, but I also love the one of the girl on the swing and am so tempted to buy it.

I wish I was talented enough to make something like this myself. Sometimes I envy crafty people.

time thieves, peeping toms, and smiles

Chase woke up very early this morning. (5:00am). So I put her in bed with me hoping she would fall back to sleep. She did not. I then decided to stick her infront of the T.V. (gotta love the Disney channel) hoping it would relax her into maybe just a few more hours of sleep.Am I a bad mother for this? Maybe. But I cherish my sleep. While she is watching T.V I hop on the internet to do the usual.....check the blog...facebook...myspace...ksl....etc etc etc and before I know it a lot of time has passed, time I spent on the internet, time Chase spent watching T.V. I didnt realize all the time that had passed until Chase came in and grabbed my hand, led me to the couch and snuggled up to me, which led me to think "I should have been doing this all along. Its so much more fun!" Ah, the things our children will teach us.

That is the tender part of the story, this is the creepy part.

We are snuggled on the couch enjoying Mickey Mouse Club House, when I see a face in our living room window. What the?? To say the least it scared me to death. You see, the window in our living room is very close to our front door, and for some unknown reason people get the urge to look right in our living room window to see if we are home and what we are doing before they actually ring the door bell (keep in mind you dont walk past this window to get to the front door, if you wanted to look in the window you would have to go out of your way to do so). This bothers me to no end. Its makes me wish I would have got blinds, instead of my lovely curtains (which apparently when are opened people see as an invitation to just look right in). So, it turns out I actually knew the peeping tom, and I guess they were just seeing if we were home (said with extreme annoyance), instead of just ringing the door bell. So please, if you come to my home, knock on the door or ring the doorbell. I can no longer be responsible for my actions if I see another random face in my window.

What do the above pics have to do with anything? They don't.They are just my latest attempts at capturing a smile on camra from Chase. She has this funny habit of turning away or screaming whenever a camra is pointed at her and someone says "smile!", or anything else that could possibly be said or done to get a child to smile for a pic. She actually really likes doing just the opposite of what anyone tells her to do.
Smile or no smile, she is still the cutest thing I have ever laid eyes on.

Take me away from here.

I found this via this is my heart it is a good heart. I quit like it.

Eagle Eye

This movie was very good. I highly recommend seeing it. Why?It is totally intense , the story line is good (if a little far fetched), but Shia Lebeouf.......oh Shia..... how have I not noticed how amazingly good looking he is before?

Hello Winter.

This morning we woke up to lots of snow falling. Chase was totally mesmerized by it so we took her outside to play and she loved it (even more so when she realized she could eat it). Not sure if I'm ready for winter. Kindof wishing we lived in Hawaii right now.

Tim Burton + Alice in Wonderland= It will be amazing

I am so excited for this!!! Its not coming out for a while, but I think it will be brilliant. And the best part? Johnny Depp playing the mad hatter.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/sep/25/johnnydepp.timburton

My favorite time of year

I love love love the fall. I love the colors, I love the weather, and all the fun traditions that come with fall and Halloween. Last week I busted out The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, and Chase has insisted on watching it everyday since. I have been dieing to watch the old Sleepy Hollow cartoon, but I cant find it anywhere. The Johnny Depp version will have to do. I love me some Johnny Depp.

Anyways, back on topic here...some other things I love about fall....carmel apples, homemade donuts, my grandmas homemade chili, taking Chase to the pumpkin patch, Halloween movies(only the not to scary ones) etc, etc.

There is a house just down the street from us that goes ALL OUT for Halloween. I have always thought that excessive holiday decor was tacky, but I love this house. We walk Chase down there every night. A few years ago they started doing a pirate theme, and play the pirates of the carribean theme song (from the ride). If you are in the area and want to get in the Halloween spirit, take a stroll past this house .You will love it .

(my picture doesn't do it justice)

And with the new season comes a new Jamie (dont you love my transition). After 4 years of wearing glasses I have finally come to terms with the fact that I have horrible vision and contacts would just make more sense. You see, this way I can actually wear the cute hats I buy without my glasses getting in the way. I have the urge to run my glasses over with my car, but I will refrain because I am sure they will come in handy when the contacts get old.

Confession

I idolize Gwen. Well maybe not her so much as her style. I wish I could pull off the red lipstick. And not just pull it off but be able to go everywhere and anywhere wearing it and look as amazing as her.Looking at her hair makes me want to die mine platinum blond again. I kindof miss the old school Gwen. From the No Doubt days. In Junior High I wanted to be just like her, and 13 years later I still kindof do.

I have said it before, and I will say it again. I LOVE this show.

Today I vowed

to never take Chase to the grocery store with me again. She threw a tantrum (whats new?) because I wouldn't let her out of the cart. I made the mistake of putting a jar of salsa within her reach. She picked up the jar of salsa and threw it to the ground, and I watched helplessly as it shattered everywhere in the aisle. The flood gates opened. I was at my wits end. I just wanted to disappear. I was beyond grateful for the incredibly kind woman in the aisle with me who looked at me with the look of understanding in her eyes and told me not to worry, she would go get someone to clean it up. Lesson learned? No.

Mall, today, Chase in stroller, another tantrum. I let her get out of the stoller to walk, and she bolts. I am chasing her down the mall (I guess her name is appropriate...). I finally get it under control, and the oh so nice lady behind me in line gives Chase a sticker (because of course the millions of treats I packed to bribe her into obedience are of no use). So this blog is a thank you to those nice people for not looking judgingly, but with understanding and helping me out. I am so very grateful.

Oh yes, and I can't end this without mentioning her new love of putting all things on her head. She will take off her pants and put them on her head. She will literally drape a blanket over her face and walk around the house until she smacks into something, and then laugh hysterically. Its awesome.

Suburban Heresy

If you haven't already checked it out, you must do so now. My friend Chelsea is an amazing makeup artist who has started a blog dedicated to all things makeup. So, if your like me and could use some good tips and want to keep up on the latest trends check it out!

suburban heresy

You strike me as a person people would enjoy. I on the other hand, do not.

What have I learned this past week you may wonder.....Well let me share:)

I learned all about how revenues and expenses affect retained earning. How did I learn that? I learned it by reading about it everyday in the shower. My husband likes to tape his laminated study guides up in our shower, so that yes, even while he is showering he is learning. BRILLIANT!

I also learned that you should never speed on foothill drive or you will get a speeding ticket that no matter what you say the stupid cop will not let you go with a warning.

Also, Chase loves watermelon more than life itself. If there is a cut up watermelon within her reach she will attempt to eat the whole entire thing, and if after her eating about 7 pieces you try and get her to stop, an amazing physical strength will manifest itself. A strength that no 1 yr old should have.

I also learned that looking hot in glasses must run in the darby family because look how studly Gage, Chase's cousin, looks. Lucky for Chase since she will probably need them.

Also, whilst at work I learned a few things. I learned that I no longer want to be the confidante of someone whos husband had a gay love affair.

And I miss having good friends. The kind that always have your back. Because this week especially, I learned you always need good friends.

oh yeah! I also learned today that if your dvd (namely sex and the city) is scratched, the old tried and true boob rub still works.

Chase face

I realized I havent blogged about the munchkin lately, which is suprising because she is a major hand full. I used to be one of those silly people that would look at other peoples children misbehaving and would think to myself "I will make sure my children never act like that."

HA!

Thats before I had the wild child who is the best at throwing herself to the ground screaming at the top of her lungs, kicking, biting, throwing things, and pulling my hair.

But despite it all I love her more than life itself, and in some wierd way I kindof like that she is rebellious, and likes to do her own thing.

Speaking of which ,lately whenever I try to take her pic and tell her to "smile!", she makes this funny face (see above pic where shes holding the hamburger), which kindof bugs being that she has the best little smile with the cutest dimples, so I have to catch her unawares, but it never works. oh well.

What are your beauty secrets?

Yesteday me and few of the girls I work with were talking about beauty secrets and some of our favorite products. I learned some interesting things. For example, one of the girls I work with has amazing skin so I was asking her what she uses, and she told me she actually rubs ice all over her face every night and uses baby wash to wash it. I actually had a room mate in college that did the ice thing, but I have never heard of using baby wash for your face. Interesting... but it must work because she has amazing skin.

So, I dont really have any good beauty secrets, but I do have some products that I love and could not live with out that I thought I would share with you:)

For my hair I LOVE Bumble and Bumble products. Especially their styling cream and their color support shampoo. I swear if you color your hair frequently (like me) you should definatly invest in this and use it once a week. It works wonders. I could probably list about 10 other Bumble and Bumble products that are amazing but I will spare you and just say it is my favorite when it come to hair care.

I also could not live without my cetephil moisturizing cream. Its the only face moisturizer I have found that doesnt make me break out. I also love the cetephil gentle skin cleanser and body lotion. If you have sensitive skin like me it works great.

When it comes to makeup I love MAC. Maybe I am byassed because I have some friends that work for them (Chelsea and Sophia), but when I go the the MAC counter I kindof feel like a kid in a candy store. I just bought the tempting pallet and I love it. I also love there plush lash mascara.

As for delicious smelling lotion, I just got Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin from Bath and Body works, and it smells so yummy. I want to eat it. And it reminds me of fall.

If you are like me and don't really feel comfortable having a stranger wax your.....well you know what I mean, I found GiGi wax. I like it because it pretty much only takes one time, instead of other wax I have used where you have to reapply and rip it off a few times for it to actually get all the hair.

Anyways, those are just a few of the things I love:) Now I would love to know your beauty secrets and favorite products, so do share!!!

P.S. My friend Chelsea (who is an amazing makeup artist) just started a blog devoted to all things makeup, so if you need some good tips definatly check it out. www.suburbanheresy.blogspot.com

Opinions please!

The last 2 times I have got my hair colored I have had Molly (my hair dresser), put this slice of red in the front right side of my hair. The reason being I really want to go all the way red but I dont have the guts. So, please tell me what you think. Should I just keep doing the small portion of red, should I go back to all blond, or should I go for it and just do all red next time???

Bear river lodge

This past weekend we went up to Bear River Lodge, and it was so much fun!!! I did not want to come home! I love vacations. I love being out of the loop. I love it when my only worry is, "what fun thing are we going to do today?" We had so much fun, in fact, that my parentals have decided to buy a cabin there:) For this I thank you bear river lodge. I Thank you.

Chase and Hailey torturing Grandpa

Throwing rocks into Mirror Lake

My crazy Mom deciding to take a break from the 4 wheelers and ride a dirt bike.

Good times in the river

Crown making

Joy riding

Zach showing off and getting stuck

Chase and Sawyer. She loves him, he tolerates her.

Chase and Dad on the 4-wheeler

It was cold.

Just a few more weeks......

and one of my favorite shows is back! I went and bought season 4 today, and I plan on staying up late tonight to watch and enjoy.
Speaking of which, this is one of my favorite clips from The Office. Oh how I love this show....

Not so "Super Woman"

It is common knowledge in my family that I am probably the most indesicive person in the entire world. I can rarely make my mind up about anything, and I am constantly changing my mind (to Jamisons annoyance). A great example of this is that in the 3 yrs we have been married I have pretty much redecorated our home about 5 times. HOW ANNOYING! I KNOW! I get tired of things so quickly, things that 2 weeks ago I absolutly loved. Because of this I have learned (and basically been told I must do by Jamison), if I see something expensive I love and I "must have", I have to wait a few days to buy it. The funny thing is that its usually a really good thing I do this, because after a few days of thinking about it, I usually decide I dont like what ever the item is as much as I thought I did.
Well, since Chase is 19 months, and incredibly tall for her age, we have decided we are going to start looking for her a bed to replace the crib. When I was pregnant with her I was working at Pottery Barn Kids, and was able to get a great deal on some cute antique white furniture thats in her room now. So I have always kept my eyes open for a bed that would match this stuff that wasnt to expensive ( I dont want to buy her a 2000 dollar bed from PB kids, nor can we afford it). So about a week ago I was at Cosco and saw this awesome twin bed, antique white, so adorable, that I thought would match her stuff.....and of course I told Jamison we "had to have it" and then I bought it. I hauled it home had Jamison haul it out of the car and into our storage, and then I got that sick feeling, that feeling of "maybe I dont like this bed as much as I thought I did, this bed I just spent a fair amount of money on, this bed I thought I loved". To make a long story short I returned the stupid bed. And the funny thing is I felt so bad about buying it and having everyone go to the trouble of helping me haul it home that I some how hauled it out of storage all by myself (it was in 4 boxes, probably about 200 lbs each) and into our car. It took me almost 45 min to do it, and while doing so I dropped a box on my foot, and am now missing a toe nail, and hurt my back so badly it still pains me to walk. I thought I was stronger than I actually am.
So the moral of this story is, I need to freaking learn my lesson already!!!