Disclaimer: As I type this I am fighting with Linsey about math homework and how her teacher’s are idiots and showing her how to solve math problems in the most idiotic way possible. Please excuse any mood swings you may notice during the reading of this post. Thank you…
This morning I got up excited for my work out. WHAT?? 
Yep…
EXCITED!
Because I got this for Christmas.
If you’ve been reading RFM for a while now you know I’m kind of obsessed with my 30 Day Shred DVD. Now that it’s winter (and brutally cold at 6:00 in the morning when I work out) I’ve brought my workouts indoors. I get my ass kicked my Jillian on the regular!
This DVD changed everything!
It’s an ass kicking of epic proportions and I don’t even have a kettlebell yet (but I will soon)! I did the workout exactly like the “advanced” girl did except I used a 5lb hand weight in place of the kettlebell. It was INTENSE and I was SWEATY!
Ask Jason – he watched me! 
After crossing that off my to-do list (cause I totally have one) I got in the shower (that’s on the list too). Then I drug my girls out of bed, got them dressed and drug them out into the cold winter morning to enjoy our “car breakfast”. 
Regan had an early morning doctor appointment and I had to drop Linsey off at a friend’s house by 7:45 and I was already 10 minutes late. 
So I got Linsey dropped off and Regan and I made the drive downtown to Cardinal Glennon for a follow up to our early December visit. She started out happy as a clam…
Reading books can keep her happy for a long time. We read all about the Backyardagins, Dora the Explorer and Winnie the Pooh before the doctor came in.
He asked me the usual line up of questions:
- List of medications? So I rattled of the laundry list.
- Ever been hospitalized for this problem? No.
- How long has this been going on? Off and on for two years.
- Is she up to date on her vaccinations? Yes.
- Has she had her flu shot for the year? She’s NEVER had a flu shot.
Blank stare…
That answer didn’t sit well with him. I knew what was coming next.
“You do know that we advise all children have a flu shot every year. It helps guard them from the influenza virus and the H1N1 vaccine can help keep your child safe from the same strand that was all over the country last year. We can get her a shot now if you’d like.”
“No thank you. I don’t believe in pumping poison into my children if I don’t have to. I make sure they get the required vaccinations, but a flu shot is not going to happen – not today and not tomorrow.”
“Sweet heart – you’ll like her getting the flu even less.” Eyebrows burrowed and stern look can be inserted here.
“I respect your opinion, but sir, I’m not an unintelligent, teenage mother and I will not be allowing anyone to give my child a flu shot. Thank you very much.”
The conversation stopped dead in it’s tracks, but I could tell he thought I was the worst mother on the planet. I get that a lot from older people. Not so much that I’m the worst mother thing, but more along the lines of “that poor young mother with two children already” kind of thing.
Apparently I still look like I’m about 17 years old!
I learned nothing new from today’s follow up other than she needs to see an allergy specialist (NO SHIT!) and that’s not going to happen until at least February 23rd. 
On the drive to take Regan to school I called Jason to give him the details of the appointment and went off on a rampage yelling about the doctor and how rude it was that he try and guilt me into getting Regan a flu shot and make me feel like a bad mother. Then I got to thinking…
Am I the ONLY parent who doesn’t get flu shots or other unrequired vaccinations for their children??
Oh well…
I had a little snack after I got to the deli because my larabar had long worn off by then.
I heart clementines!
The deli was FINALLY hopping so I didn’t have lunch until well past 2:00, but when I did it was the same as yesterday…a garden salad, a cup of soup and a few crackers on the side. 
After work I picked Linsey up from school and took her to dance. I forgot my laptop (the reason I’m doing my post so late tonight) so I snacked on an apple and read more of The G-Free Diet by Elizabeth Hasselbeck.
With every page I get more and more convinced that I have Celiac Disease or at the very least an allergy to gluten. Every symptom she mentions I have or have had.
When we got home (after 6:30) Jason and Regan had already eaten cereal for dinner so Linsey and I were on our own as well. She opted for a bowl of cereal, but I wasn’t in the mood tonight. 
I decided to throw some nonfat greek yogurt in a bowl with a sliced banana and a scoop of almond butter. YUMMMMM!
It was SUPER good…
Then the girls and I finished off the remainder of the pretzel bites from NYE that were stashed in the back of my car. They were nice and cold too.
It’s well passed the girls’ bedtime (and quickly approaching mine) so I better call it a night. Hope that your Tuesday was “totally awesome”!!
What I’m listening to right now…
Just FYI: Linsey got finished with her math homework (and all her other homework as well) and we are BOTH still alive! There are nights when I’m convinced one of us won’t make it out alive.
Nighty Night…
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Hey! I’m a new reader so you probably already know this, but Robb Wolf has a ton ton ton of information about gluten — he has free podcasts that are amazing. His book came out in November — the Paleo Solution. It’s great. I’m not gluten intolerant but feel so much better when I’m not eating it.
Also, we don’t do flu shots — my kiddo and husband are dangerously allergic to eggs, which flu shots and a lot of vaccinations are based on. It’s a challenge with the vaccinations, but we definitely just skip the flu shots.
Heather – Thanks for the info! I will definitely look that up. And the vaccinations/flu shots…I’m right there with you. I would skip them ALL together if I could get away with it and still send my kids to school. I really think it sucks that they are “required” ya know.
The thing is, they don’t even know for sure that they’ve identified the correct viruses for the vaccine. It’s basically a big educated guess as to which viruses will be active during flu season, so there is certainly no guarantee of protection.
It’s not an easy decision, but I feel like doctors and health care workers misrepresent the flu shot and overstate its effectiveness. I’m not a big conspiracy theorist, but you have to wonder how strong a role money plays in this. I mean, just look at the profits these pharmaceutical companies are raking in every year just from selling the flu vaccine. Why not put some fear in people to help boost their bottom line?
Beth – I couldn’t have said it better myself!! You totally get my reasoning!!
I have NEVER had the flu shot. My mom hates the idea of shots and I was only immunized when absolutely necessary. I personally went to the doctor today and was asked if I had been immunized for the flu. I told the Nurse no. She then began giving me a lecture about how I was not taking care of myself and how I need to rethink it and let the doctor give me the shot. I said NO and I did not get the shot. I rarely get sick and I would rather get sick and be able to combat the flu!!
Lindsay – I have to say that the more you comment on my blog the more I am LOVING your mom!!