My screamer (after a very quick, intense delivery) did worlds better after craniosacral therapy too. FWIW, Alimentum and Nutramigen are BOTH casein hydrosylates, which means they are made from broken down milk proteins. Some babies tolerate one more than the other, but it's not because one has milk in it and the other does not - they both do, just broken down. Alimentum ready-to-feed even has the advantage of being corn free which is a problem for some babies. Pregestimil is another similar formula, designed for fat malabsorption problems and also protein allergies. If the baby IS allergic to soy and milk and cannot tolerate even the over the counter hydrosylates, then she may need a prescribed formula like Neocate or Elecare. I wouldn't rush to those though, they have their own issues (constipation, extremely $$$, unpalatable -- although that's not as big a deal with a newborn). Worth it, though, if it is all that will work!

I'd say 90% of the things I've bought that didn't work out were because of my dyslexic dd - several of those things I *did* use with other children, but I would not have spent the money on those expensive programs for the "typical" children in my family, I only used them because I had them already, YKWIM? Let's see, for math we've been through MCP, Singapore, Professor B, Math U See, and Right Start (which worked the best) and now TT (which is working OK). Phonics/Reading we had 100 EZ lessons, MCP Plaids, OPG, Phonics Pathways, WRTR.... Spelling was Seton Spelling, Sequential Spelling, Calvert Spelling , whatever Catholic Heritage Curricula calls their spelling, now AAS (which is working the best). I probably *would* have spent the money on RS - I'm glad we used/are using it. But I would never spend a ton on a spelling program unless the kid needed it. Then there are the things which didn't get used just because they were a subject we kept putting off, like science (Considering God's Creation and God's Design for Life set) or Latin (Prima Latina DVDs, which I keep promising myself we WILL use someday, LOL) At least I'm the local expert among my friends on many different curriculum choices because I've looked at so many things! ;)

I did not grow up saying, "Yes Mom" or "Yes Dad" or anything even remotely like that. I said whatever I felt like saying, even if it was nothing, my parents seemed to know I heard them and I was almost always pleasant and did what I was told. However, I've got 5 kids under 11 now, several of which have attitude issues, one of which has a hearing loss. I feel, I don't know, like a cruel taskmaster demanding them to answer me a certain way (not because it really is cruel, but I guess because I didn't grow up that way or around others who did) -- but I never know when they have heard me or not and I often wind up having to shout around the house or repeat myself ad nauseam. Or think they have heard me give a direction when they really did not, and then that thing doesn't get done. Maybe it's just my pride, but I feel like when a person talks, the other person should answer - just plain "manners" in my book. When my kids don't, I start to get angry. All that to say, what do you have your kids do? Do they answer in a set way all the time? Do they answer in whatever words they want, as long as they respond with words? Do you not even care? Do you think it makes a difference due to family size? (I'm often giving directions to more than one person, i.e. "everyone be quiet" or "please go sit down for dinner") I just feel like things could be done so much better here, by them AND by me, and am wondering what others do. Thanks for humoring me!

We take off, typically even my husband schedules a day off on each birthday. Often we go on a field trip like a previous poster said. It's all probably because of baggage from my childhood :glare:, but I want our kids' birthdays to be a big deal. :)

I go to a twice yearly consignment sale around here and usually do pretty well - although I'm finding it harder and harder to find good things for the oldest dd (in a size 10/12). Yard sales are the same - great finds here for the younger crowd, not so much for the older one. We have pared down outfits significantly though, now that we are a big enough family that I do wash every day. I probably spend about $60 twice a year at those things for all the kids. We do a lot of hand me downs, and have another family that we often trade back and forth with. I'm guessing between hand me downs, consignments, birthday/Christmas, needing new shoes/boots, etc... we probably do $300 per year at the most. We *have* the money to spend more, but dh and I are both big on not creating more waste (and dh on not paying more than he thinks an item is worth to produce) ;) I will admit I do occasionally look at the girls clothes lined up and wish they all looked like cute/matching Hanna Andersson stuff! We find brand names, but I'm not the best at matching/cuteness. :D

I don't know what it's called, but I know my daughter has it, she calls it her "small feeling" LOL. I'm guessing though she actually feels big, because she describes everything else as seeming much smaller than usual. I know there are times when I realize the hugeness of the universe, and all of a sudden feel extremely tiny, but I don't think that's what you are looking for?

Stick people. Even they don't look so hot. :grouphug:

Awww, that's so sweet! :D I've found that bringing home things like that keeps my kids occupied so long I do *better* at decluttering in the long run. ;) WTG on your progress!!!

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

I'd like to: see my children have children learn a new instrument like violin or guitar (I'm actually thinking of doing this one sooner rather than later) have some kind of family business/ministry like performing at the local schools together...except we can't sing, or dance, or anything:lol: become a librarian :D just because if most of us weren't allergic to eggs I'd say raise some chickens! become proficient at knitting Mostly I'm just happy making it through the day without running away. :tongue_smilie:

Personally, we prefer Apologia too - although keep in mind my only experience with it is the Exploring Creation with Astronomy book. We used the God's Design for Science Life Sciences books (plants, animals, human body) and while they were good, they didn't capture my student's attention and interest the way Apologia is. Maybe when they revamp it will be better - more colorful? More engaging for this age group?

Not sure here - #5 turns 1 in a few weeks. I turn 40 in a few months (dh a few months after that). Dh's big worry is that he doesn't want to be old with young kids still around, he doesn't think it's "fair" to them. So the plan is to avoid pg (using NFP). Plus I've had horrible PPD and anxiety issues after every baby...and this last pregnancy brought out some crazy fast growing basal cell skin cancer --right on my nose :cursing:. Well, it was there before I got pg but for some reason it grew faster than it should. I'm still dealing with bad skin there and we are afraid that another pg would do the same thing, leaving me with a major facial defect... :tongue_smilie: (boy do I sound vain...) But despite it all, and the fact that ITA with another poster who said she had lots of trouble with the infant/toddler years, I'm still begging God to take over and give us what He wants, even though we are physically trying to avoid getting pg. My mind is such a mess on this topic, I'm really hoping He'll take control, because I don't know *what* we should do. :001_huh: ETA: I forgot all about adoption - we'd love to do this too, but for the same "dh feels we're old" reasons - a child will most likely have to be dropped right in our lap for us to do it. I'm adopted so I've always wanted to adopt too.

:iagree: When I had 2 under 3 years old, I thought four kids was a large family (one that probably would have put me in the looney bin :lol:). Lo and behold, now that those first two got older and we added three more, 5 doesn't seem so big! Six is pushing big IMHO... I start to think 7-10 is "large".

Just an FYI, Cool Whip is not completely dairy free (if I remember correctly) if the woman has a severe allergy it would be best to avoid that. I just blogged about my new favorite dairy and egg free brownies: Secret Ingredient Brownies . Be sure to use brownie mix free of any dairy. I don't have a ton of recipes up at that blog but everything on the main blog page (of the blog I just linked, not the two in my siggy ;)) should be egg and dairy free. And any vegan recipes should be safe for them too.

Congratulations!!

Here is a link with how to make your own "packet oatmeal" - read the comments too for other ideas. We use a big tupperware with a scoop instead of baggies, and I don't use coffeemate (allergies - we use a powdered rice milk). I do blend some of the oatmeal - I find it does get thick if I don't add enough water that way, though. The dash of salt in each serving is essential for taste, IMHO. :D

Ha - I just asked this same question on another board (the answers were similar). I think what gets me is that they seem to unhealthily crave this stuff over better books. Like my 3 yo will sit and listen the the Dora book she wants me to read 100x, but if I pick up something *I* think is beautiful and "quality" she will literally get up and walk away in the middle. :001_huh: I keep thinking if the twaddle was gone, that she'd at least *listen* to the good books because that's all there would be! :D

:iagree: It's definitely a love/hate relationship here. They can all get along SO well once in a while, but boy oh boy can they be horrible to each other so much of the time. I grew up with only one sibling, 6 years older than me, so I don't understand this sibling relationship stuff, LOL. My dh is the youngest of four, and he says so much of this is normal. I'm trying very hard to see this all "over time" instead of getting caught up in any single incident. They *are* growing and maturing, and ever so EVER so slowly I see improvement in their understanding of being considerate, and acting lovingly towards their siblings. I've started hitting them where it hurts too: with my oldest two when I hear the cruelty/bickering starting I call out, "I charge $2 a minute to listen to your bicker!" LOL, I actually charged them twice, and now when I say it they stop. :D

Would the professional straightenings look like what happens when you take a straightening iron to your hair? I'm thinking I want to try something NOT permanent first. Although I think I would miss what little wave I have - it helps my long thin face look not so long and thin. :tongue_smilie:

Oh good, I just started doing this about 2 weeks ago. I hope it helps! I haven't seen an improvement yet, but I'm hoping to as the hair grows out.

We're studying astronomy this year - my girls will love this -thanks!

:grouphug: I understand too. My oldest is giving me more gray hairs - handwriting and math together take forEVer. I can't do those first or the rest of the family never gets to the subjects we all do together - because the 10yo is still doing math! I'll join you all for some warm cookies and laced whatever. :lol:

Help! I'm tired of my frizzy head. My scalp is pretty oily, but my hair, for as long as I can remember, has seemed dry. Thin and mostly straight with a touch of wave to it...and frizzy. It looks like many of the hairs have broken. Different conditioners haven't seemed to help. I've tried two different anti-friz serums (Fructis Sleek and Shine and another I can't recall) and I think it's just too much for my fine hair - it looks and feels like I'm putting grease on my head :001_huh: :lol: -- then when it dries my hair is STILL poofing out. Has anyone found something they love, particularly someone with hair on the straight-ish, fine side? TIA!

Up nursing ... but I think I would rather have been eating warm chocolate chip cookies! :)

LOL - here too. I'm pretty honest on my blog. Some people like it, others don't. Sometimes I wish I had one of those beautiful, inspiring, always happy and organized blog, but I don't think I could pull it off! If I did, it would all be a lie. :lol: