Thanks. :001_smile:

I think it's important to go especially since the doctor might help with something not girly-bit related. I went last year after not having gone for 3 yrs and only then because I had a large lump that I was finally scared enough to have checked out. Thankfully the lump was benign, but the ob/gyn was concerned that my thryoid felt larger than before (hypothyroidism and goiter). Ultrasound showed a nodule and biopsy said 90% liklihood of cancer. Post-op biopsy confirmed it was cancer. The nodule was in a spot that couldn't be felt by palpation and who knows how long it may have been before it was found. I can't wait to go to my yearly exam this year just to be able to say to my doctor "thank you for saving my life".

:grouphug:My prayers are with you.

My dh works a similar schedule (4 10hr shifts from 9pm to 7am). Better than it was, he was working 2 12hr shifts and a 16. Hated it. Dh is also a type II diabetic. He had major trouble getting his blood sugar stable, he's now stable and his last A1C was below 7% for the first time since he was diagnosed. Super proud of him. :) First time his doctor didn't chew him out for not getting his act together. ;) The main thing that helped dh was kick-starting better eating habits when we started the South Beach diet. He started noticing his blood sugar FINALLY getting below the max acceptable levels. His doctor was happy, said it was a good diet but to make sure he adds more carbs in or he can get too low. Dh added in carrots and apples and it's all good now. Dh HAS to eat more than 3 meals or his blood sugar spins out of control. He also has to make sure to get no less than 8 hrs of sleep. His job also doesn't permit him to eat as often as he needs too. He's lucky that he can cook some of his meals at work. He eats a lot of chicken salads (will mix it up by making buffalo chicken and bbq chicken and such), fish and veggies, sandwhiches, etc. He learned to get creative doing SB, he also likes to cook. He makes sure to take things that are easy to eat as he goes like cheese sticks, carrots (especially baby carrots), sliced apples, nuts, crackers, etc. He started taking a vitamin pack he found at Walmart that is for diabetics. He's noticed a difference since then. Dh tried keeping the work sleep schedule during his days off but it didn't work for him. Our neighbors are incredibly noisy and we live on a very very VERY busy street. He ended up having to get a prescription for a sleep aid, he doesn't take it often though, he's scared of getting addicted. He makes a point of getting up at least twice to eat something, he found it helps him sleep better and keeps his blood sugars more stable. I don't remember who recommended it to us, but I HIGHLY recommend your dh having his testosterone levels checked. After we were told to do this, dh had his checked and it is too low. He's on testosterone shots and his energy is much better, he sleeps better, feels better, all the way around is better.

nm

Our oldest son has down syndrome, we hope one day to adopt a little girl with down syndrome. Congrats and welcome to the family!!!:001_smile:

Good point from the PP. I had forgotten, we have taught our kids to draw back with the arrow pointing towards the ground, specifically dirt. That way if they accidentally let go the arrow will hit the dirt and not go flying off into the air.

All 3 of our kids have their own bows. My parents have a large enough yard for up to 30 yds of shooting, although the most any of the kids are shooting is only about 15 yds (as a PP stated, most of the lower end kids bows aren't very powerful at all). We keep their equipment at my parents house. Safety rules for us is same as others, nobody even touches a bow unless an adult is with them. No shooting until the shooting lane is clear of people and animals, everybody stands behind the shooter. Do not point your arrow at any people or animals, even pretend. Do not dry fire, this is the best way to destroy your bow and archery equipment is expensive enough as it is. I recommend taking your kiddo to a quality sporting goods store (Cabela's, Bass Pro Shop, Gander Mountain, local archery supply store, local sporting goods store) to have him try out different types of bows until he finds the one he's comfortable with. A good shop will measure him and set the bow up for him so it's the proper draw length and draw weight for him, plus they will cut arrows to the proper length. These are the bows our kids currently have: http://www.beararcheryproducts.com/bows/youth/brave3 http://www.beararcheryproducts.com/bows/youth/scout I wouldn't get anything more than something like these until you know your son is going to stick with it. Once you know if your son is going to stick with it and he's stronger, you can move him up to a more challenging bow. My 11yo uses the Bear Brave 3 and loves archery, once he's strong enough he'll be moving up to my Diamond Razor Edge and I'll be getting a new one in the spring. Don't load yourself up on accesories and stuff for now. The basic bow, arrows and a target setup is all he needs for now. All the suggestions others have given for target setups are great. My dad has a backstop with targets in front of it with the garage behind it all to stop stray arrows. Field tips are the only type the kids are allowed to shoot at this time (aka practice tips, safety tips, etc; they come in different styles from rounded to slightly pointed,). Broadheads (the ones with the razor blades in them) are for hunting purposes only and until the kids are legally able to hunt they are not allowed to use them.

Thanks for all the ideas! I wish we could go see the King Tut exibit but it's too pricey. :(

Thanks ladies!!! Ivar's is a given, dh loves their food, lol! Dh and I have been but the kids have yet to get to go. And yes, Pike Place is a total given. ;) Milovany~Thanks for the tip about Columbia Tower!!!

Dh & I are thinking of going to Seattle for a couple of days next month for a mini-vacation with the kids. We'd really like to go to the aquarium and a couple museums or something like that. We'd be going Sunday-Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. What places would you recommend and on what days to help stretch a small budget. We're a family of 5 (kids are 12yo, 11yo, 4yo). Looking at around $300-400 max. We won't have any hotel expenses. Thanks. :001_smile:

I'm so happy for you that you got some good news today! Prayers that you get more good news next week.

I just went through this last year. :grouphug: I had a 4 inch fibroadenoma, sucker was huge. Dr told me same thing a pp wrote, that rarely do they turn into cancer. We decided to have it removed, tests showed it was benign. I have a lovely little scar now, but everytime I see it I'm reminded that it very well may have saved my life. Prayers that it turns out to be nothing.

Any kids in my car are going to properly secured regardless of who's kids are in the vehicle. If there's an accident or anything, I'm the one responsible and the officer isn't going to care if the kids are mine or not.

We did. Our oldest has down syndrome, our middle has autism and our younger has speech and cognitive delays and we suspect possibly more. Were we stupid to have more kids after our oldest was born? A lot of people probably think so, but for us I can't imagine our lives without them. Yeah, the mulitiple appts with multiple specialists gets annoying and time consuming and homeschooling the 2 oldest gets pretty crazy and frustrating, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I won't lie and say I've never worried that we made a mistake having more kids after our oldest, but I'm glad that we did. :)