Chicken Pox or nox?

Well, I'm sorry that I didn't get a post up this week.  I had been working, during my free time, on trying to make a photo book with a coupon code that I had received that expired today.  My idea was to make several to give to family members (who are likely reading this) since they are comprised of pictures of Eric, but in the end I only ended up ordering one.  (Sorry)
Mauri, as practical as he is, pointed out that it would be smartest to try making one book first, to make sure the quality is OK.  It makes sense, especially considering the fact that they aren't as inexpensive as I originally expected once I started adding pages and pages of pictures.  I still wasn't sure what to do, though, because my coupon was for 30% off, and I don't think they give those out that often.  Plus, it's actually a lot of work that goes into making a photo book, if you're picky about how you want to make it look (like I am).  So, after all of that work, you want a lot of people to get joy from it. 
Still, I've noticed that there are a lot more options available in the US, so I may try one of those next time.  Today is actually a strange day to end a compilation book of photos of Eric, anyways.  I ended up calling it "Eric's First Months," but a book of photos through to his first birthday would make a lot more sense.   So, we'll wait to see how this book turns out, and then decide what to do about getting books for family.  OK?
So, why did I call this entry chicken pox or nox?  Well, I decided to get out of the house this Thursday, which happened to be a nice day after several cold, rainy days (like today).  So, I went to the nursery school to have Eric play with the kids there, and give him his breakfast in the company of my friends there.  It all started out OK, but while I was there, they started changing diapers and found that two of the kids (or at least two while I was still there) seemed to be covered in what seemed to be chicken pox.  One seemed to be feeling pretty sick too.
So, they called the parents to have them pick the kids up, but Eric had already been exposed.  From what I've been reading, it seems that I should know in about 2 weeks if he's picked it up or not.  I have mixed feelings about that, too, because, although I'm not looking forward to it, I almost would rather get it over with now when Eric is younger and still breastfeeding. 
From what I've been reading, it looks to me like in the US chicken pox vaccines are now pretty standard, but here (at least in the Valencian Community) they are only administered if a child hasn't had the chicken pox by his 11th birthday since the disease can be more serious after a certain age (I guess, arbitrarily, around 11?).  I know I tend to complain about the health system here, but I have to admit that in this case their idea actually makes more sense to me.  I've read in several places (here, for example: http://www.news-medical.net/news/2005/09/01/12896.aspx ) that the chicken pox vaccine, by removing chances for adults to get a natural "booster" from being exposed to kids with chicken pox, is likely associated with a rise in shingles cases (more serious than chicken pox itself).  If you read the reasoning behind it, I think it makes a lot of sense.  So, while it seems like it's much easier to deal with another vaccine than to deal with the chicken pox, I'm not sure the outcome it really worth it.  Maybe I'll change my mind in another two weeks, though, when I'm dealing with a sick baby.  :)
I know, when reading about vaccines, people get grouped into the "smart, scientific" people who are "pro-vaccines," and the "crazies who are against vaccines."  I think, though, that there is a huge population of people in the middle who think vaccines are important, but who are concerned that maybe some vaccines get thrown out into the market too quickly, without enough study.  It seems to me that it isn't always in the best economic interest of scientists to discover the potential problems with some vaccines, and if there are problems, they are often ignored as "coincidences." 
I feel vaccines are important and inherently good, but to me that doesn't automatically mean that every vaccine will automatically be worthwhile nor necessary.  I think vaccines are especially important for many, more serious diseases, and have vaccinated Eric with all of the recommended vaccines for his age up to this point (although I have to admit that my intuition tempted me to protest when they were going to give him his Hep. B vaccine while we were still in the hospital, but I was in bed, infected at the time, and didn't have enough information yet to be sure about it), but I don't think they are the answer to every disease.  I think that some things are probably better left to our immune systems to work out on their own.  Of course, I'm one of those strange moms that doesn't keep Eric in a germ-free bubble, either, and I let him play in the grass and with the dogs, despite many other people being horrified by that thought.  Unfortunately, in this day and age, it's very difficult to find accurate information, and to know who to believe.  Scientific studies can be skewed to support whatever you want them to support.  So, you can find conflicting results everywhere you look.   I'm not "pro-" nor "anti- vaccines," and I like to keep an open mind to hear what people have to say about each particular vaccine.  In my experience, though, it's the seriously "pro-vaccine" people who ridicule any mention that there might be any problem with any vaccine out there, without even listening to what the reasoning might be.  I don't understand that stance either. 
For me, it would be easier to have Eric get the chicken pox vaccine, than to deal with the illness, but the libertarian in me is glad that Spain doesn't force the vaccine upon everyone, especially after reading about the possible consequences of vaccinating everybody with it. Despite reading quite a bit on the topic, I don't claim to know what's best, and try to keep an open mind to both sides.  So, I hope nobody reads this, and thinks I'm trying to make any specific statement.  I'm just thinking "aloud." 
I just found it interesting that I had a lot of facebook friends last year who were proudly announcing getting their flu shots, or complaining that they couldn't get theirs quickly enough.  We'll just say that after a bit of research, I didn't feel compelled to go running to get one, nor was I recommended one while pregnant.  After reading certain things about studies in Canada and a few other countries, I doubt I would have gotten it even if it had been recommended to me, though.  Here, very few doctors recommended them, and I think even fewer got them themselves. It's just interesting to see how different things like this are viewed on either side of the "charco."  (aka. Atlantic)  Now, after having gotten way off topic, and into something much more contraversial than I would have liked, I'll just say that that is all I have to say about that.
Unfortunately, I don't have any new pictures of Eric for you either.  I was too busy working on fixing up the old ones for my photo book.  The good news, though, is that while doing so, I have finally fixed up all of the baptism pictures, so I'll try to get those uploaded somewhere in the next couple of days, and will post them with a little bit about how that day went.  I was also reminded by a friend ;) that I still have to tell more about the rest of my time in the hospital.  So, no, I haven't forgotten, and will get to that soon too.
Have a great weekend, everyone!!