I thought some of you might be interested: Here's the link: http://www.VeritasPress.com/launchrock.html?lrRef=8tQBj

I just saw this link for a free credit. I thought some of you might use it: http://www.VeritasPress.com/launchrock.html?lrRef=8tQBj

http://ticc.tamu.edu/Response/FireActivity/ I am in east Texas, but one of the roads I use to travel frequently to Tyler, TX is closed right now. This map shows current fires. Perhaps you could plan your route and then see if major areas are closed? I keep praying for rain for TX, it's disheartening to see so much land burned.

I know your son has disabilities, but does he have something that he gets consistent good feedback from that reinforces his positive aspects? You said he was annoying, so it is possible that he's also bored? Perhaps if he had something like chickens to tend or another hobby he would have some mental distraction and enable you to get more done. What about whittling some wooden sticks? Can you trust him with a screwdriver and hammer to take things apart? I don't have kids with disabilities, but I do have three boys. They are regularly annoying, and I have to find things like the aforementioned for them to keep them happy and me somewhat sane. I learned long ago that boys are different creatures with different gifts from God. It takes a special breed of people to be able to tame wilderness, build roads, work horses, etc. Some guys weren't meant to sit at desk, talk early, or read as well as others. But even with limitations there is always a strength. I know that for my boys I'm not going to require college if they can't hack it. Apprenticeship with a plummer, lawn-mowing business, and other working with your hands type things are very much legitimate lines of work. I know I'm going on, but I just wanted to encourage you with your boy, even though he has trials. I think you're doing the right thing in keeping him home and dealing with the issue instead of sending him to school at this point(even though it is tempting). I'll pray that your efforts do not go unrewarded!

I pm'ed you!

PM, I had something that sounds pretty similar to what you've got. I had an ear infection that I didn't realize was really there. I kept having slight dizzy spells, the room would spin a little, but not too much. I remember being at my youngest child's baptism (he was 6 weeks old), and thinking, "Gee, I ought to see the doctor." I was bf exclusively at the time. After two rounds of antibiotics, I went to see an ENT. I had some hearing loss in the ear with the infection. When I was treated with the antibiotics I also had a steroid shot. Apparently I had a pretty bad inner ear infection, and even though it went away with the antibiotics, a lot of inflammation was left. I had waited nearly 2 months before seeing the doctor, so it's not unusual that I had issues with it. I took Allegra D for several months to control the dizziness and to dry up my sinuses, which is what the ENT prescribed. When I first visted him though, he scared me to death about diseases that mess up your balance. I don't think he fully understood that I had 4 small children and a very busy husband. Kind of scary. Anyhow, he brought up something called Meniere's disease, which basically is a disease of the inner ear. If you're pregnant and he mentioned this, be advised that things like coffee, caffeine, salt, and alcohol can make it worse. I gave up coffee and tried to lower my salt intake. It did get better over time, it just took the inflammation a time to go down. My hearing got better, and I only had to take the antihistamine long-term (which I did not mind, esp. as the baby got older).

You don't necessarily have to get rid of a big table just b/c you don't think it will fit in your apartment. Does it have leaves? Take out the leaves and try a smaller table for a while. My table is over 100 years old and it takes 4 leaves. Perhaps if you do end up selling your table you could find something that could expand with leaves and be used in a larger space when you do find a home you like. As for downsizing, set aside one of your extra rooms to start removing things that you, your kids or your husband don't want. For nicer items, try to find a place that will list them on ebay for you. I use an auction house that sells things on proxibid.com. I have made several hundred dollars doing this. Even though they take a 25% cut of things, I don't have to ship it or pack it up. That is worth something to me. Also, perhaps you could recruit some help for your garage sale. Perhaps some other ladies at your church are needing to get rid of stuff too? Good luck! Erin

Keep it coming, ladies (or gents!!). This is what I need to hear. :hurray:

I'm organizationally challenged and I want my school year in the fall to be much more stressfree, etc. Please give me tactics for organizing my school year. Other than just buying curriculum that is... Do you make copies of everything you'll be using during the semester? Do you write all of the lessons down for a quarter or a semester? Master calendar? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Erin :bigear:

I've been in a CC group now for two years, and next year all of my kids will be involved (4 of them---four in Foundations and 2 in Essentials). My youngest is 3 and in the nursery right now. He loves "Conversations," as he calls it, and I couldn't imagine keeping him out of it at such a young age. I see the benefit of maybe waiting until K to start, but my older three have learned so much that I can't imagine not doing it. FWIW, my 3 y.o. (he'll be 4 in June) can skip count, sing a song about the US presidents, and sing history sentences. He's a pretty verbal little guy, and I love seeing him absorb the information. We have found CC to be extremely rewarding, and I drive over an hour to get to our campus.

I'm no shoe expert, but I do like to look at the models in Lands End to see what they are wearing on their feet. Usually that gives me a good idea. Then I wait for a good sale to see what will fit my budget. As long as I have an idea of what it looks like. Erin

The FB coupon for CAP is still valid today, it mentioned that it was only for March 7th and 8th. You'll still be good to order today if you haven't already. Blessings, Erin

Praying for you and your family!:grouphug:

:)It has always been writing down what I eat and cutting out the snacking. I tend to pick at food, so by the time supper roles around I've often times had enough. It's a bad habit, I don't recommend it. Also, weight training seemed to help as well. Perhaps that made me more likely to burn calories.

I grew up in South LA (Baton Rouge), and went to Louisiana Tech for college. My freshman year was culture shock--I went from an area heavily influenced by Catholicism to a much more Protestant area (there are a lot of large Methodist and Baptist/Bible Churches in Ruston). I am/was Presbyterian, so I was a minority on the evangelical spectrum. That said, I adored N. LA. I really found a great niche at Tech. I thought my professors really cared about my development as a student, and I wasn't a nameless student. I agree with the OP's accessment of Shreveport. Seeing that huge horseshoe casino is not the best thing to welcome you to the city, although the area does have its merits. Sometimes it's hard not to judge a city by its interstate. I live in East Texas and the culture is very similar to Ruston. Small college town with a big variety of people. I enjoy it here and I'm thankful that I had the North LA experience. I hope some of my kids go to Louisiana Tech, but mine are a little too young to make that choice now. OP--what does your son want to major in?

Hey Holly, I have a girl who will be 10 in March. She'd love a penpal. She's a 4th grader this year if that makes a difference to you. Her interests are drawing, dolls, her favorite chicken, piano, and crafty type stuff. Thanks, Erin PS If you're interested please PM me your daughter's name and address, my daughter does not mind writing first at all.

Thanks for posting this! I need to make calendars for our families at Christmas, and this is a great deal. Have a great Saturday, Erin :001_smile:

Mama, :grouphug: I so understand about the morning and dirty potties. I have three boys, one of which is a 3 y.o. who just got potty trained, so you can imagine the filth that can accumulate in my bathrooms. I do try to clean, but I so sympathize with that wilting after dinner thing. Maybe you don't have to start with crazy aerobic exercise, maybe just some pilates or relaxing yoga? That won't necessarily get your heart rate up, but it is conditioning of some type. You can lay on the floor and just make sure you don't kick the baby when you're doing some of the faster pilates moves. There are some super easy DVDs available too. I wouldn't beat yourself up about the exercise, just try to do a little something at a time. Baby steps...Rome wasn't built in a day, but you CAN get some exercise to help with the depression even if it's just 15 minutes. My 3 y.o. still doesn't much like to go places without me or one of his siblings, it just gets out of his comfort zone. And since we're together all the time, I know I probably wouldn't let my baby cry if he needed me when I exercise. Best wishes, Erin

that is awesome! You're inspiring me to do 5 on the treadmill tonight. I know that it's not much compared to 18, but it's a start. :) You're food blog looks awesome, BTW! Thanks, Erin

I think that Flannery: A Life of Flannery O'Connor by Brad Gooch was wonderful. I found it the D/FW airport, and I was practically desparate for something. It was a wonderful read, well researched and not too biased. I kept it to read again...it's one I'd read once a year or so. I love Flannery O'connor. How's that for a bone? Erin

well, when your walls are all white anything seems a bit more colorful...I think my fabric is a dark greenish color. Thank-you for the picture. Did you use chalk to write on it?

Well, actually my mom bought it for me. I thought it would be cheaper than a huge white board and better than the paint. I guess I could always buy that huge piece of melamine and have my husband hang it up. The fabric seems a little bit more colorful and unique to me though. Keep the ideas coming!

Has anybody on this list made a blackboard with the fabric? I recently bought three yards of it, and I know that you can use chalk markers on it. Any ideas? Thanks, Erin

No, nothing bad at all--but it can be overwhelming to read. The OP had a comment in her signature about beginning to home school, and I just wondered if she'd encountered that RR catalog. It has some reviews of VP material that might be useful. But...it is so voluminous that it can indeed make your brain numb when you start to read all of those entries, especially if you're at the beginning of your home schooling journey.

Not so much in the elementary years, I would say. You have a hodge podge of material that VP uses, some published by them (book guides) and others like Shurley Grammar and Saxon Math that are staples of home schoolers. I have used their history cards and various other things, but I don't think it's so into Wilson. Most people have issues with VP b/c of their Reformed emphasis on things. At least those are the complaints I've heard. I think you'd be okay using it, but it's not the only catalog out there. Have you gotten a Rainbow Resource catalog yet? That will make your brain spin and fire come out of your mouth.