I'm Catholic so I grew up celebrating the church seasons (to some extent) but I just love how you put this - I never really thought about it that way. So true! :001_smile:

Dh and I love Chuck too. Last year right after our baby was born, dh would take him at night and watch Chuck re-runs online. He said it was their male bonding time. :lol: (the baby's our first boy after 4 girls)

If the 10 month old can't settle, then I'm usually in bed about 9:30-10 nursing him to sleep and catching up on sleep myself. If he goes down easy, I'll slip away and spend time with dh, so then I'm going to bed about 11 or 11:30. I'm up nursing at least twice -- 12, 2, and 5 is typical. Sometimes I stay up at 5 if the 3yo wakes up (she's always been a bad sleeper). Sometimes I blissfully get to sleep in until 6:30. So I'm getting anywhere from 9 interrupted hours (rare) to 5 interrupted hours. Every night is completely different. I love my kids but I will be SO happy when everyone is older and sleeping better (or not needing me when they are up!) I've had three bad sleepers in a row.

:lol: Oh yeah! :D My obsession right now is decluttering - trying to really and truly simplify. We've made so much progress but I still feel like I have far to go. It's spurred on mostly by necessity - 7 homeschooling people in a poorly laid out 1200 sq ft house. I used to have a serious curriculum obsession, but I think my simplyfying needs are winning out.

Oh my goodness you are a woman after my own heart! Rarely do I "meet" another homeschooler willing to give up books for a better life. I thought I was the only one. :lol: So good to see you and the others doing the same! :) WTG!

LOL! That's what I was thinking. It is amazing though! I love the cabinet idea.

We go the the county fair for the next county over (ours is pretty lame). We don't enter anything (yet) but my dh has won the pie eating contest 3 out of the last 4 years. :D It's a speed thing, not # of pies. They just use a little tart sized pie, and my dh has a big mouth! :lol: This year my 8yo entered, and came in 2nd! :001_smile: Maybe someday we'll do something civilized, like enter needlepoint or something, but for now, we are enjoying ourselves. ;)

Me! Me!! I have four girls in row. I'm a former speech pathologist so I taught them to be communicative from a very early age. I regret it every. single. day. :lol: My girls are all talkers. They talk all the time. They talk all over each other (none of this turn taking nonsense). If you interrupt my 3yo, she starts all over again, from the very beginning. I'm an introvert. I would have made a good hermit. I really like my quiet.

This is me now, hopefully without the obnoxious part in your original message, Martha, LOL! :D But it's very hard because I grew up: My parents took us to church every week, but that's about it. And now my family and friends, unfortunately, are mostly: although at least my parents seem to be changing after watching us live out our Catholicism (humbly, LOL) through some difficult situations. Honestly, we didn't start out homeschooling for religious reasons. And there are a huge number of things that more devout Catholics do on a regular basis that we just don't for any number of reasons (family rosary, daily mass, celebrating more than the occasional feast day, etc). But we try, and we're growing. I'm learning from my kids' lesson books - I'm one of those poorly Catechized "Jesus Loves Me" girls. :tongue_smilie: I don't put much stock into the local Catholic schools either, after hearing stories about what passes for OK religious teaching (even in other classes like history) by some other homeschoolers who've gone the "Catholic School for High School" route. It's not so much what they miss, as what they add (i.e. a teacher's non-conservative personal opinions). I could probably go on and on, but I'll spare everyone. :001_huh: Gotta take the gang to the orthodontist! Fun! :lol:

It doesn't seem to help much around here. Half the people don't understand the word "solicitors" and the other half say, "Oh, we're not soliciting anything, we just want to tell you about our FREE offer to have someone come and...sell you some new windows." LOL :banghead: I'd really like a sign that says, "You can only come to my door with an invitation or if you are selling Girl Scout cookies." :D

#1 - Best birth! I was extremely quiet. Contractions hurt a lot but I just went "in my zone" and 2.5 hours later she was out! I'm sure I moaned and groaned more during recovery of a horrible episiotomy and lots of stitches (hurt for months!) Other than the recovery, I would love to have a labor like that again. #2 - back labor, so I caved and got an epi. Was plenty quiet after that. :) #3 - also back labor, but I thought I would tough this one out. I wasn't loud but I was whiny and teary and wimpery the whole time. Finally I was told I was 8 cm and I decided to start trying to push a bit (I didn't tell anyone) - I felt baby blissfully move down and she was born a few minutes later. Kicked myself for not pushing sooner. ;) #4 - back labor again! (what is it with me and back labor?) Thought she would be my last and I wanted a nice calm experience so I got another epi. Nice and quiet even though the epi only worked on one side. I had been studying hypnobirthing so that helped. #5 - labor (back labor! I'm amazed my first wasn't all back labor,after the next four were) was like 45 minutes of being run over by a frieght train. I wasn't screaming but I was panting and grunting loudly, there was just no helping it (I'd rather be quiet). I went from 5 cm to baby born in about 7 cntx. Ugh, that was only 10 months ago. I'm having flashbacks. :lol:

With my first three (all girls) I used the "three year olds don't wear diapers" routine: for a few months before their 3rd birthday I would talk about it often, the fact that 3 year olds "don't wear diapers". For whatever reason, they never doubted that fact even though they had friends who were in diapers who were 3. Each of them decided before the day of their birthday to start going to the bathroom on their own. We definitely had accidents, some more than others. I tried to make it a priority for me to remember to tell them to go now and then. #4 girl just potty trained (for the most part). At around 18 months I started putting her on the potty at regular intervals. She got the hang of it and was almost trained, but then I got pregnant and was so sick I just dropped the whole idea. I think I really missed a window of opportunity there! :tongue_smilie: She's 3y3months now and still has accidents, but she is also an extremely willful and stubborn child, which is interfering in her success at this. I'm trying a verrrry relaxed Diaper Free Baby thing with my 10 month old. Basically all I do is keep him diaper free now and then (rarely, I'm not into mess :lol:), cue him with a signal when I see that he is going to the bathroom (so much easier with #2 than urine) ... and hope that it keeps him "aware" enough of it all that when I try to potty train early it will be easy (er). I really wanted to do full fledged infant potty training/diaper free babying, but I just couldn't get my act together.

FWIW, there are plenty of people out there who *know* what is going on under that blanket and even THAT bothers them. My dad is one of them. Got into a big debate with him at my OBs when a woman fed her baby in the waiting room, fully covered by a blanket. :rolleyes: All my kids hated blankets, and I'd bring much more attention to myself using one than not. And after hearing from my dad that even being discreet isn't good enough, what's the point? :001_huh: Granted, I've heard what their doctors/contemporaries told them when they were in their young childbearing years -"Formula is scientific, it's best!" "Breastfeeding is germy, dirty." "Mother's milk isn't enough for the baby" - I can see why they are brainwashed that there is something wrong with it all around, not just from the n*dity standpoint.

:grouphug: At least 3 out of our 5 kids are egg allergic (jury still out on the baby who hasn't had any). Ranging from severe to relatively mild. I've had many "fun" :001_huh:days like you mentioned! I hope he is feeling better soon. More :grouphug: for you! Everyone has given great advice.

Me too! Although after 10 years of sleep deprivation and post-partum anxiety problems, I feel like I can't even hold a good conversation anymore. But I can sit and listen and enjoy, at least. :tongue_smilie: Around here not Catholic enough for the Catholics, too Catholic for the other Christians, have too many kids for the average "playgroup mom/soccer mom" crowd, not crafty enough for the scrapbookers and too "homesteady" for the neighbors... :lol: (but inside I'm :()

Nothing too horrible here, just mishaps... Power went out at 8 AM as I was trying to get ready. Our neighbor (love her!) called and started ranting that she couldn't get ready for the wedding, then went, "Oh my! Here I am complaining to the bride - you go find yourself some place to finish up!" LOL Drove to my matron of honor's house to blow dry and curl hair, do make up, etc. We found out a few weeks before the wedding that the only real route to the reception was going to be a PARADE ROUTE for some stupid town pride parade that I don't think they had before or since! We called the police/town officials and were assured by the big wigs over and over that we would be let through because the parade wasn't supposed to start until a bit after we would be going through. UMMMM, nope! We ran a bit late, the parade started early, and no one except a few people who lived in that town knew how to get around the parade up to the reception (sneaking down alleys, LOL). 90% of our guests were very late. Dh's friends decorate our car. Not with nice "just married" stuff but with raunchy sayings and drawings. I admit I'm a prude, I just couldn't drive home in that! My one dream of the day, driving home having people honk at us in our wedding outfits with our car nicely decorated, went to heck in a handbasket. Dh and I took stacks of paper towels from the bathroom and cleaned my car in his tux/my dress. The writing didn't really come off, just kind of smeared around so we drove home all hunched over to see through the filthy windshield. :lol: 14 years later we're still soul mates! :D

I turned 39 a few months after having my 5th (who is now 9 months). I definitely think you are NOT too old. But my personal conviction is that I would just let nature take its course, and not use the meds. I would let my body tell me when I was too old or not. And FWIW I have a friend who had her first at 45 and her second at 47! She was on meds for a time *before* she got pregnant, but had stopped before conceiving naturally. :grouphug:

I think these are many of the same reasons I can't stick with flylady: her perceived problems are not MY problems. (well, except having "hotspots" all over, LOL) I'm not sure where I read this, but the concept of "action items" has been helpful here. So instead of saying "I have 15 minutes, I'll start packing for Ethiopia," which is a very *general* statement, having action items means you have a list of the NEXT specific, do-able item of all the millions you have to do. So perhaps "packing for Ethiopia" would have action items in order like "research websites of lists of things I need," "find and print list of things I need," "take out suitcases from storage," "pack travel sized toiletries in clear bags" etc. Or "finish recruiting workers for children's choir" could have "find list of phone #s," "call Mrs. X," "Call Mrs. Y" as action items. That way when you have a minute here or there you can tackle these things, or tackle 15 minutes worth if you can. I personally find that it's easier to prioritize things when they are minutely broken down too. Like "taking suitcases out of storage" is more pressing than "Calling Mrs. X" to me so I know exactly what to do next. Not that I've been living like this lately, LOL! But when I do, during insanely busy seasons, it really helps. I hope this didn't go too off the topic of Flylady! :001_huh:I'm sure there is some way to tie the two together. :D

Congratulaions!! We only had a four girl streak but it was just as exciting. :)

If it helps any, I gave away our Loving Family dollhouse, all the furniture, and van on freecycle. We have a small house and too much stuff. Yeah, I think my kids missed it a bit, but you know what? That's OK! It's also Ok to get rid of things that cost you money. I try to think of it all as a donation to "charity" (even if I just gave it to a stranger from freecycle, LOL) I just try to do better next time - and not buy more *stuff* to find myself in this situation again a year later. (I *try* but don't always succeed LOL) I guess what I'm saying is you could give it all away, and your kids would be OK, and so would you. They are just things. Really. :grouphug: I bet your children would find other things to push around (or whatever they like to do) if those were gone. More :grouphug:, I know this is hard!! ETA: I wouldn't worry too much about future children wanting to play with it - in my experience (and those of many others I know) the more kids you have the fewer toys they need - they all play with each other instead of more "stuff". Plus, there will always be birthdays and holidays for gift giving opportunities if you find there is a lack of something in particular.

Local universities that have speech-language pathology programs often have low(er) cost clinics where the therapy is done by students but supervised by professionals. ASHA has a "locate a professional" page Yellow pages under "speech-language pathologists" or "rehabilitation" (esp any pediatric places) I know a few school based SLPs (I used to be one!) that would do extra therapy in their spare time - maybe call one of the other schools in your area and talk to the SLP? Maybe they have friends or could give you another contact to try.

That's my favorite. Dh and I use it to joke when we are not communicating well (which unfortunately is often, lately! At least we can joke about it.)

Wow, this is *exactly* how I feel. I tell dh the "I've been given an impossible job with no training and all the wrong tools" speech all the time! I am SO sorry you feel this way too -- all of you who do. My parents didn't train me to do much of anything, and if I ever tried it was never good enough (I believe my dad truly has OCD about the house/food/everything, but I didn't realize it at the time - I just thought there was something wrong with ME... I still think that way much of the time). I grew up in a family of four, though (one brother 6 years older), so they just couldn't have trained me (or even imagined LOL) to have five kids under 11 and homeschool them. So that excuses them, but doesn't solve my problem now, does it? :lol: Now, how *does* one do neurosurgery with a toothpick? Let's write the manual! :D :grouphug: to all in this situation. I understand how hard, demoralizing, and anxiety producing it can be!

:iagree: This worked really well for all of my kids.

I voted "some of each" - although I was in PS for high school - I spent two summers taking college courses at a CC in the afternoon and volunteering at a children's rehab hospital in the morning. I think *both* were great for different reasons.