Hi all... It's been a really busy and tough week at work and today was no exception. In addition to a full schedule of meetings and rushing from thing to thing today, I was 20 minutes late picking Ty up. Then went back to work because I had to mediate a fight between my graduate intern and one of my undergraduate student workers. That and a few other issues that popped up kept me at work an extra 2 hours tonight, and I am just mentally and physically exhausted.
Oh, and to top off an already crazy day, when I was picking Ty up I asked for some information regarding the child who bit him yesterday as our pediatrician wanted information regarding the immunization status and any recent illnesses that we might need to take extra precautions for. The school director and AD, who I have always had a great relationship with before, were pretty defensive in reminding me that they could not share information about who bit my child but were at least willing to look at the child's file and give me general info. And, of course, it turns out that my kid was bit by a child whose parents have filed a religious exemption against vaccinations and thus has received no immunizations whatsoever.
I know that it's somewhat irrational and that perhaps the parents really do have a religious belief that prevents them from vaccinating but I have heard so many stories of parents using this as a cop out to get around the vaccination laws in states like NV that only allow for religious exemptions and not personal belief exemptions that I can't help but jump to the conclusion that these parents are somehow skirting the system.
I am so mad right now, as I feel like Ty is being unneccessarily exposed to potential harm by a classmate. Part of me feels stupid for not realizing earlier that there were probably kids in the school who were not vaccinated, and part of me understands that it should be a parents right to choose. However, just last month there was a Hib outbreak in Minnesota where a child died because they had not completed their vaccinations yet. And it seems like you read other stories all the time about outbreaks in communities where parents are choosing not to vaccinate, and I am personally having a hard time reconciling this with the potential danger not only to the kids themselves but also to other children like my son who is not old enough yet to have finished his vaccines.
So, I have a call into our ped's office but of course I have not heard back from them yet. And, I am freaking out--researching and worrying about what he has potentially been exposed to. And, of course, Dave thinks I'm overreacting. He's a great husband and dad and the fact that he is more grounded and mellow than I am is a good thing 99% of the time, but tonight it's pissing me off!
Thanks for listening and for providing the only amusements of my day. Particularly I would like to thank Dawn for making me laugh out loud while picturing the visual of baby jesus teaching a troop of brownies to make caramel delights!!!
That's such great news! 
Just shameful! 
Your Dave sounds like my Dave. I guess that is the way a man thinks. Sometimes it is a good thing in times like this. Take care, and I am sure that everything will be OK!
