There are definitely parasites you can get from the dirt directly through your skin. So if you have been trekking around the globe in sandals I would have a doc look at it, and not just a run of the mill American family practicioner, but an exotic disease specialist. An FP may not be aware of some of the possibilities.

I had the privilege of working with Heifer Project in Bolivia in 1992. They would give a breeding pair of sheep to a family who had already planted sustainable grasses on their land. Once the pair had offspring, the first ewe lamb was given to a neighbor who had also prepared their land in some way. It was great program. My small part in it was painting signs for each family that read "Participante de programa pro oveja".

Learning never stops here. That said...I think I must be a slacker because we have four day weeks (no Fridays unless we need to catch up) and all the dc who have been tested are way above grade level....so it seems good so far:D.

My ds has recently talked me into allowing him to have a corn snake as a pet. (Yet to be acquired) I told him if it EVER gets loose in the house he has exactly ten minutes to find it and then we are moving!:lol:

:iagree:I could have written this post, minus the 14 yr. old. I love PP for blends that 100 EZ lessons did not cover!

:willy_nilly:<<<<<Picture this one Doing this >>>>>>>> :rofl: Personally, I need the jaw-dropping smilie.

My middle dc just turned nine. Happy Birthday, Emily!

You're right. I'm not really a vet, just playing around for the last two years with y'all. So all that medical advice, jargon, yada, yada, yada...it's all fake! Poof! Just like that.:lol::lol::lol: Just kidding. I can still help you with Fido and Fluffy;).

Time.

You got me! I am Blair. In fact, I look just as good now as I did in 1987 even after three kids, years of homeschooling and numerous failed acting experiences.

Nope, besides I am a blond, best known for screen work in the 80's.:lol:

OK, confession time. I am actually a very famous person who is cleverly disguised as a run of the mill homeschool veterinarian mom. Oh, well, the jig is up....but now you will have to figure out who I am!:lol:

Hi! I would start by looking at approaches to education, or education theories, rather than curriculum. Once you know whether you want to educate your child from a classical approach, or Charlotte Mason, or unit studies, or unschool, etc. then it will be easier to pick out your curriculum. I would focus on the basics first: reading, writing, grammar, spelling, and math and then add history and science, etc. as you go. You will get opinions on every curriculum under the sun here if you just ask. Have you read any books on homeschooling? The WTM has a lot of great recommendations and those are the ones I personally go with (Saxon math, R&S grammar, Spelling Workout, loads of reading, chronological history, etc.) Most math curricula will have some type of placement test so you know where to start your child. Some companies offer everything you need in one box, like Abeka or Sonlight and maybe that is the easiest thing to do the first year for you. Do some research, talk to veteran homeschoolers.

It is a documentary exposing man-made global warming as a hoax. I would like to see the evidence they put forth. So I was wondering if anyone had seen it. I think there were going to be screenings across the country tonight.

I was unable to attend a screening of this movie tonight. Did anyone see it? Highlights?

There have been 7 pediatric deaths here in MN. The one I know details about involved a presumably healthy 6 yr. old who was being treated at home. He died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital and was found to have developed myocarditis.

Isn't it the only state where Amtrak will never be allowed to go bankrupt?:lol:

See if the Peabody (PIAT-R) is allowed in PA. It is a nationally norm-referenced test that is completely oral and given by a certified tester usually in their own home. Great test for younger kids or those who freak at the thought of being timed.

:iagree:

Cats are a great idea, but get rid of the Dcon before introducing the cats or you will indirectly kill the cats when they eat the rats that died from Dcon poisoning.

We are attempting to tone down some of our Christmas "practices" this year that are so focused on gift giving by family members to our kids. There is a tension between being thankful for doting grandparents who really want to lavish our kids with gifts and wanting to keep the holiday focused on Christ. I feel like He gets lost in the mound of torn wrapping paper, excess food, etc. even when we do other things with our dc alone to celebrate His birth. This year I've asked the family to not give any gifts to the dc. Gasp. Stocking stuffers are still allowed....:glare:. Within minutes my MIL had come up with an alternative plan which I swiftly thwarted :D. Gotta start somewhere.

Our DNR says to trap in a live trap and then drown them in your recycling container. That said, my mom has trapped over 10 raccoons and shot them because the live trap was too big for the recycling container. Beware of Rabies, skunks can have it.

Sorry, misread, I thought you were doing the party:001_smile:. Memoir is a fantastic WWII board game (think Settlers of Catan) that has an expansion pack for the Pacific Theatre. I think Amazon is cheaper than the original company.

We did a WWII type birthday when ds turned 8 last year. I found dog tags, helmets and camo face paint at the local military surplus store. We borrowed some tires from Tiresplus, built an obstacle course complete with "barbed wire" (decorative shiny garland with stars), rope swing across a "water trap" (blue tarp under our swing set, moved the swings and tied up a knotted rope), balance beam, and they had to drag their "comrade" a 40# pack up into our fort at the end. The boys were all ages 8-11 and had a blast. We also played "medic" so our dds could join in as the army nurses. Two teams would have to evacuate their "wounded" soldier after wrapping up his broken leg and carry him on a beach towel to the medic tent. I found some camo tarps to liven up the back yard and we ate K rations and cake that I decorated with camo frosting complete with ds's army guys raising the flag on Mt. Suribachi.

Hi Denise, I agree with a lot of what has been shared already. Senior feed, check his teeth (including hooks waaaayy in back). You don't necessarily need a blood test for Cushings if he has the classic signs: potbelly, curly hair on his legs (hirsutism), thin, etc. A seasoned vet will tell you it is likely if he looks that way. Low and High dose dex suppression testing to find out come with a risk of foundering in a horse that is going to be prone to that anyway. I don't usually test them but have clients (who want to) try Pergolide and see if there is a response. There are compounding pharmacies that provide cheap Pergolide. As for the chronic diarrhea, horses can get IBD type of problems like eosinophilic or granulomatous colitis, but encysted small strongyles can cause problems and may not show up on a fecal. An older horse can also get lymphosarcoma (number one cancer in horses) in their gut but then the diarrhea would be a newer thing. Stomach ulcers tend to cause inappetance and teeth grinding, as well as mild colic signs, so that may be unlikely, just thought I 'd mention that as someone had brought it up. Another consideration is his good eye. If the first one had moon blindness, does he have flare-ups in the good eye that are an on and off chronic source of pain? Just my two cents.