Alaska chat for August

[brightonwoman]

oh my word, where did the summer go!

: for me, I'm flying back home (to our new home in Homer!) in just 4 more days. I can't wait to get out of this hot desert and back to a climate that's actually human-compatable.


So, brief re-intro to me, since I'm kinda newer here still...
I'm Jenni, married to a school teacher, sons ages 9, 2.5, and one due in November. We all started out in the lower 48 but in 2007 we came up to AK and realized it was the home we'd never known we were missing, so we're here to stay. DH taught in Pelican (southeast) for the last two years, but we decided that we wanted to have some more opportunities than a town of 70 could afford, so this year we sought jobs on the road system, and have ended up in Homer. Neither of us has ever been there, so when we get there next week I guess we shall see what we shall see! We're really excited though about having that coastal southeast-ish feel (and the more southerly latitude) while still having a road out of town

[Pinoikoi]

Brightonwoman! I can't believe you started the new August thread! Aren't you usually the one that says you forgot to look for the new thread?

Awesome!

[brightonwoman]

Originally Posted by Pinoikoi

Brightonwoman! I can't believe you started the new August thread! Aren't you usually the one that says you forgot to look for the new thread?

Awesome!

mmm, yup, that would be me.
But I was just goign along responding on the July thread and it hit me "duh, it's august" so (Being OCD like I am) I made a new thread.

[Icequeen_in_ak]

Wow... August... already? I should have realized it though... Hubby has been working on the Christmas display for the last month

Hubby is taking my kiddo to California for TEN DAYS on Wednesday. I'm sick to my stomach I've never been away from her even CLOSE to that long. I will just repeat to myself... I will get through this, I will get through this

[~PurityLake~]

Well, I guess I can't quote from the old thread and continue the posts in this thread. At least I tried.

Where do I get an exemption form? My daughters have seen Dr. Penman at Providence. I can't say I'm thrilled. He's sweet with the kids, but 'talked' me into a flu vaccine that I was adamantly against the last time I took my girls in for a well child exam. I like the location because they're close to where I live. If we change doctors, I'd need a recommendation from one of you wise mamas, and they'd have to take Denali Kid Care. We are applying for renewal at the moment. We plan to take the girls in after Sophia turns 3 at the end of this month so that would be a good time to establish a new doctor for them. A family doctor would be fine for me, although my husband and I don't have insurance and try to never go to the doctor to avoid the $$$. He still has an unpaid hospital stay hanging over our heads cause he won't get off his butt and take care of it. They said they'd send a form in the mail, but we haven't received it yet. He said he'd call again, but he didn't, and now the hospital is sending us bills again instead of the charity application form. :sigh

[Icequeen_in_ak]

Katreena, I think there was a link to the state website where you can download the exemption forms. For the religious one, you just sign it and have it notorized.

[brightonwoman]

Here is what was posted before about exemption forms

Originally Posted by roadfamily6now

http://www.epi.alaska.gov/pubs/Immun...Manual_v03.pdf


page 37 for a medical exemption
page 38 for a religious exemption

[rabrog]

We don't vaccinate at all. I file a religious exemption each year for DD. We're LCMS-Lutheran so there's nothing religious about not vaxing for us, but it's the only thing available and no one is going to tell me I have to give my kids anything.

As for flu vax, it's too much a crapshoot. I had it one year when I was pregnant with DD and I've never been so sick in my life as I was that winter so we'll never get one again. Swine flu vax, no way. I refuse to have anything to do with something that is rushed to market.

I have oil of oregano and will start DD on a small daily dose the week before school starts. I need to research how much to give her.

Jenn

[dislocator3972]

Brightonwoman, the one less/fewer thing drives me crazy too! Incorrect grammar an a commercial is so distracting from whatever the commercial is trying to say!!

Well, hubby and I are pretty much falling in love with Alaska and Fairbanks. I'm a little disappointed with all the smoke, and disappointed in how sensitive I am to it while preggo. But everything else is wonderful. People are great, we're FINALLY in family housing on campus (::::: and getting settled, the birth center midwives are wonderful, and Alaska is more beautiful every day.

So glad to be here!

[1stimestar]

Oh Sarah, I am so sorry it is so smoky for you. Stay inside when at all possible. This stuff is at dangerous levels. Oh that reminds me, I need to call my doula client and make sure she is staying out of it too. I'm glad you are liking Fairbanks. Just wait till it clears up. It gets so much better!

[mtn.mama]

I get the feeling that fall is just around the corner, since my strawberry leaves are turning color rapidly. Anyone else think we might be in for an early winter?

[elvispupy]

trees in our yard starting to turn, makes me kind of sad. I hope it's not too early!

[mtn.mama]

I dunno. I had a pulse of that winter nesting thing going on today... feeling like I should run around picking things up and tucking things in... It seems AWFULLY early!

[liza-s]

Originally Posted by ~Purity♥Lake~

If we change doctors, I'd need a recommendation from one of you wise mamas, and they'd have to take Denali Kid Care.

I've taken DS to see Stephen Baker at the Children's Clinic twice (once for illness once for a well child). I really really liked him. We were with him for the well child visit for nearly an hour. When DS was sick with the runs, he spent nearly an hour as well reviewing diet, a really detailed symptom history etc. He also never batted an eye when I said we were doing delayed/select vax. At the well child, he basically said "let me tell you what he could get and you tell me which ones you want today." No idea how he'd handle a no vax parent - but this is at least a good start in my book. He did ask if I had any specific concerns about a vax and was open to questions. The clinic is at Dale & 40th - so just behind Providence. I don't know about DKC.

[brightonwoman]

wow, I just updated my signature (going into the third trimester this week so I had to change the icon) and looking at that squished little baby in the pic, yeah, that's probably why I'm feeling smooshed all the time and not sleeping so well anymore, huh. It's amazing how easily one forgets those little details.

[Icequeen_in_ak]

our ped out in Wasilla is very supportive of non vaxing. She asks at well child exams, when I say no thank you, she says "no problem". No attitude, no judging, no nothing. And she takes DKC (not that you want to drive all the way out to Wasilla) Our ND in Anchorage is a definite no vax supporter, but he doesn't take any insurance

[dislocator3972]

Oh, we should probably find a pediatrician before I have the baby huh?

On that note, anyone recommend someone in Fairbanks? This is our first, so we're still working out our position on selective/no vax, but we're skipping some of the initial stuff (eye goop, vit k) so we seem to be heading down that path. We're on DKC too, and I've heard good things about a free clinic here in Fairbanks that's funded through some state grants or something??

My preggo brain is really clogging up my thoughts here. How do we go about looking for a pediatrician? Do we just call around and see who is on board with our vax preferences, taking DKC, and taking new patients?

[~PurityLake~]

Originally Posted by Icequeen_in_ak

Katreena, I think there was a link to the state website where you can download the exemption forms. For the religious one, you just sign it and have it notorized.

Originally Posted by brightonwoman

Here is what was posted before about exemption forms

oh thanks, I will look at that link. My computer is taking forever to open it...

[1stimestar]

Originally Posted by dislocator3972

Oh, we should probably find a pediatrician before I have the baby huh?

On that note, anyone recommend someone in Fairbanks? This is our first, so we're still working out our position on selective/no vax, but we're skipping some of the initial stuff (eye goop, vit k) so we seem to be heading down that path. We're on DKC too, and I've heard good things about a free clinic here in Fairbanks that's funded through some state grants or something??

My preggo brain is really clogging up my thoughts here. How do we go about looking for a pediatrician? Do we just call around and see who is on board with our vax preferences, taking DKC, and taking new patients?

Most of my doula clients use either Dr. Foote or Dr. Shihadeh. Some of them vaccinate and some of them don't. It'll give you a starting place anyways.

[liza-s]

Originally Posted by dislocator3972

How do we go about looking for a pediatrician? Do we just call around and see who is on board with our vax preferences, taking DKC, and taking new patients?

I'd start with 1strimesters recommendations (Dr. Foote or Dr. Shihadeh) and call them to set up an interview. I met with a few in Anchorage - they all did initial parent interviews for no charge. I'd assume its standard practice for docs. I then asked for recommendations of other pediatricians or family practice docs from the one I was meeting with - "If you weren't available, who would you recommend in town." I also googled to find lists of questions for interviewing a pediatrician. Good luck. (If your baby is born at a hospital, they'll probably ask for your pediatrician so they can contact him/her once the baby is born for the 1st check-up in the hospital.)