I had 3 "days off" in January, when I had the flu and pneumonia. After I came home from the hospital, I was quarantined in my room for three days. Thankfully my mom came and took over for me. It wasn't the type of vacation I would have chosen though.

We have a bichon frise crossed with a shitzu. She is calm, loving, loyal dog who never met any person or animal she didn't like. She is always the submissive one, so she doesn't cause fights and usually plays well with every dog she meets. Doesn't bark either, unless she's playing. She's about 17-20 pounds, but can still go on the plane. Hair grows long, so grooming is required. I have no idea what breed is coming across in her personality, though. She's the first little dog we've had. Perhaps it's the bichon frise?

Thanks! Great suggestions on the Depends and the "padsicles" - I hadn't heard that before. Is miralax considered a stool softner, or is there another type that is better? What about food during labor, or for afterward? If I birth at the birthing center, we will need to provide snacks/food for during labor, and a good, hearty meal for afterwards. I'm not sure how to provide a good hearty meal when we aren't at home, and have no idea how long labor will last. They have a small kitchen with a microwave. We have a slow cooker, and an instant pot that we haven't used much. I thought maybe if it is daytime, someone could bring us a meal, but if it's the middle of the night, I'm stumped. I am surely not going to be thinking of cooking!

We are planning on a birth center birth (others were at hospitals), and I have a pretty good idea of what to take there, but the average release time is 4-6 hours after birth, so I need to have some supplies on hand at home. If you have experience with this, what were your must-have items to take? What to have at home for postpartum care?

Well, since you asked...😠So they can fish out any 💩 if you labor in the bathtub. ETA: information

Little late to the party, but yesterday I learned that if you are planning a water birth at the birthing center, you have to pack along an aquarium fish net. :-o

I've been taking Floradix for an iron supplement, and have also had an itchy, bumpy rash on my chest. Dh suggested maybe the two were connected, so I haven't taken the Floradix for two days, and the "break-out" area seems to be better - not gone, but not as red or itchy. The midwives suggested liquid, as it would be absorbed better and not cause as much constipation. Has anyone taken another brand of liquid iron that has suited them? I'd like to get one without xylitol/sorbitol/stevia (sensitive stomach), and without herbs.

We are intermittently using PullUps here. Ds is 3.5 and he just. doesn't. care. We been trying to train him before number 4 arrives, so maybe for a month? He doesn't like to be wet, but he shows almost no connection with making himself wet/dirty and running to the potty yet. We make sure to take him at regular times. But if he has to poop, he still runs to a corner, or under a table, and by the time I get him out, the deed is done. We've done just underwear at home, and naked, and bribing. He still has no motivation to take himself to the potty, and half the time that I take him he will throw a fit. So I have resorted to PullUps when dh isn't home to save my sanity, and my very pregnant body. It's not the best solution, but I don't have to wash him 3-4 times a day, or wash poopy underwear, or 3-6 pair of wet pants. And when we have to leave the house, he is always in a PullUp. My oldest was a pain to potty train, too. She was very stubborn and it took months and months to break through. I was pregnant with our second then, and oldest finally gave in when #2 was 7 weeks old (we had to tell her our new city didn't sell diapers). Thankfully #2 taught herself! Hopefully #4 will follow her example! Ha!

Thanks for this information!! That sounds much easier than the metro. I'll look for that app.

Update: We went car seat shopping at the baby stores near us, and ended up liking the Graco 4Ever convertible seat the best. Texas mama, I did double check Amazon, and with the baby registry 15% off, we saved a lot of money. Thanks for the reminder! Thanks for all the input, everyone! I'm a tad nervous about not having the infant seat (and I thought I wouldn't be), but it will be nice to not have to buy another seat in a year or two. :-)

Thanks for all the great information, advice, and commiseration. I didn't know about the LATCH changes, I will definitely be looking at that. We went to Target and briefly looked over the options today. Dh really liked the Graco Pace travel system, it comes with the Snugride 30. The stroller is really light and easy to carry. I'd rather get the Graco 40 if we are going to buy an infant seat - might as well be able to use it longer! Tomorrow we plan to go across town to Babies R Us and BuyBuy Baby. Babies R Us has a trade-in deal until Monday - they give you 25% off for bringing in your old gear. We have an umbrella-like stroller - I'm not sure of the name, but the seat is higher than most umbrellas. Cons are no cup holders/trays for either parent or child and a tiny basket. We also have an old Combi double stroller, also without trays. Like this: http://www.combiusa.com/product-p/7720.htm I don't want to push around a double though, since the 3 year old can walk in most situations. I love wearing my babies, btw. The car seat/stroller wouldn't always be in use. I have a Moby Wrap and an Ergo. Another thing I'm thinking about is that we are moving across country this summer and will be living near D.C. - hopefully using the Metro to see all the sights. So I'm also trying to imagine schelpping 4 kids through the city, and what that will require. Maybe the double stroller would be best for all those museums? I would think it'd be hard to get up an escalator if the elevator is broken. Or a restraining harness on the 3/4 year old with the baby being worn? My babies tend to be chubby, though, so I'm not sure my back could take a whole day of baby-wearing, lol. Still, car seat shopping is the worst.

WWYD? Buy an infant seat that doesn't snap in/out of current stroller? Buy a new stroller/seat combo? Buy a convertible car seat? Please comment with favorites, too, if you have one. We had a Graco Snugride 35 with stroller for #3. Come to find out it expired Dec '16. I really loved that combo, and the stroller has the wear and tear to prove it (still functions, but handle pads are coming off, cup holder was cloth and it has some tears). Our new baby girl is due in a month, and now I have to choose another seat. Easy, I thought, I'll just buy another Graco and then I can snap it in/out of the stroller. Nope. Graco switched the connections, so the new "Click Connect" is not compatible. Next thought was to buy a convertible car seat and skip the infant seat. But dh really wants/likes the infant seat - he likes that it cradles more, and he likes taking it in/out. Pricing on Graco seats is $100-150...and the convertible car seat we always move are kids to eventually is the Diono Radian brand...it's over $200. Not the kind of money we wanted to spend right now, because baby girl needed a lot of things. (We sold most baby gear in May and had to re-buy.) So, now I can't decide. And if I do buy another Graco, which one? 30, 30LX, 35, 35 LX, 40? Too many choices are driving me crazy!

I commiserate. I've had pneumonia in the last two weeks and still have the lingering cough, which produces unwanted consequences...31 weeks pregnant doesn't help. But I have avoided trampolines since having baby #3.

Yes, I know. Typical incubation is 1-4 days, and mine started 7 days ago. So I think they may be safe from this strain, but adding protection for all the other ones is still a good idea. A nurse told me the shot offers some protection only 24 hours afterwards. Fullest protection is two weeks, but I wonder if she was right, and you get partia protection earlier?

Thanks! Yes, I have help. It's a good thing, too, since I have to stay isolated during all this.

No, I haven't had the flu shot. We went away for Christmas, and were supposed to all get it when we returned home. But between weather and other circumstances, it just hadn't happened yet. Apparently the flu is widespread here, so my dh is taking everyone to have the shot today. I hope the shot is protective for you!

Thanks all. I was released with strict instructions to return if anything changes. Turns out I have Influenza A, too. 🙄 Now I'm hoping the kids don't get it either....due to a series of events, they haven't had the shot yet.

So, if you would pray for me and baby girl, I would appreciate it. (30 weeks along tomorrow).

Bumping up!

I am looking at the primary level for dd7, and the intermediate level for dd10. I'd like to switch to American history soon; we are moving near D.C. this year and they need some context for all the neat things to see/do there. If you have used BF, could you help me out? How easy would it be for them to accomplish some assignments on their own? (Baby #4 due in 7-9 weeks) Would any of the studies from the different levels overlap? For the primary level, are there any hands-on suggestions? Dd7 loves activities and she dislikes coloring and paper only work. In the intermediate level, would the Homeschool in the Woods timeline coordinate? We have that already. Would the 2nd year of the intermediate American history be too difficult/boring for dd7 (who would be 8 at that point) to follow along with? I noticed BF doesn't offer a 2nd year for the primary level. Thanks!

My oldest dd is a slow grower and was found to have hypothyroidism at 5. They did a bone x-ray at 7 and found her to be 2 years behind, but did not recommend any treatment like HGH. (We discussed it, though.) Now at 10 she is finally reaching the same-size clothing as her age, though on the very slender side. Her ped endo is pleased with her growth curve - it's normal for her, though still a couple of years behind her peers. With her thyroid properly treated, her endo dr's have always felt she will reach whatever adult hieght she's meant to get to - they estimate it at 5'3 currently. Younger dd was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism this past year - age 7. She has had a normal growth pattern (in the past the two have been assumed twins). They suspected her thyroid issue when they felt it enlarged during a routine exam. My dh's family runs strong with hypothyroidism. He has it, his mother has it, his grandmother had it, and his sister has it. My dh is 5'10, but all the women are/were much shorter.

Horse barns. Between poop and shavings and leather and horses' coats, I'm right back at 9 or 10, hanging around the barn, riding next to my mom. Those were the best times.

She tested negative for celiac. Food allergy tests came back negative. Next step is to talk to GI doc. Edited: for privacy. Thanks for the ideas.

17* F, windy, light snow. Expecting an ice storm this weekend.

http://susanwisebauer.com/blog/publicity/the-4th-edition-of-the-well-trained-mind-whats-new/ Have you read SWB's comparison?