We have 4 kids, 9th grade and 4th grade triplets ~ I home schooled my 9th grader through 6th grade and the triplets have always been home schooled (well, except for the year I started the job I have now and my husband had serious health issues, that year all four went full-time public and it was okay.) Here's the thing! I teach a home school support class at a small private school two days a week {it's 1-3) combined and the Trio was in my class last year. We have them all set to move up to the 4-6 class (with a different teacher) and our 9th grader is full-time at the same school and was last year also. The problem?! This school is amazing and it's almost like home schooling at school (most of the time better than I feel I do at home!) The curriculum is VERY unique, like nothing I've ever seen (I taught public before kids and have a master's in education) and we've always said we wish we could afford to send all 4 full-time. Well, we just found out today about some funding which would enable us to do it this year and school starts Wednesday. I've home schooled so long, I'm not sure I'm ready to give it up, but this financial opportunity is a "use it or lose it" thing for this year. The same money could be there next year, but it's not guaranteed. The 9th grader is right where she belongs ~ she's staying full-time, so it's the Trio I'm trying to figure out. They are 2 boys and a girl. Girl would LOVE the opportunity and would do really well. Boy 1 would like full-time, but would be happy to stay in the home school program (2 days a week) and be home with me the other 3 also. Boy 2 wants to remain home schooled and would have NO problem with the other 2 going full-time. Ack! There are so many angles to consider with 3 the same age! There are other factors to consider, the big one is my husband is still struggling with his health and to have all 4 in school with everything else going on in our lives would relieve a lot of stress for us, but on the other hand, I love home schooling and my kids are such a wonderful age and I know it's going to get tougher very soon, so shall I keep them home while I can?! I'm honestly conflicted and would so appreciate your perspectives! Thanks for reading this far and this much. Julie

I am and my name is Julie too! :-) How old are yours? Mine just turned 9. We use Math U See (Gamma,) SOTW, and a cool science experiment kit. They are also in a home school class 2 full days a week at the Christian school their big sister attends full-time. Those 2 days are a lot of work with a huge emphasis on writing. It truly is the best of both worlds. It is a primary class (grades 1-3) and I teach it, so right now I school them full-time. :-) It's always fun to chat with a fellow triplet home schooling mom!

Congratulations on your sweet new one ~ love his name! We have four and it's wonderful for us, now. It was a long time coming for me to get here though. Our struggle was infertility. Although I am thankful daily for each of my four children, for they are a miracle to me ~ there were YEARS I thought we'd have none, I still grieve the natural process of having them one at a time and deciding when to welcome another one and all the fun I imagine goes into the announcement, a normal pregnancy, and the time alone with each new one. Our oldest is adopted and we couldn't be more grateful ~ she's 14 and still a gift. :laugh: Our next 3 came all at once in a very intense pregnancy and then early years. Pheeewww, they are 8 now and I still get exhausted thinking of those first years. I wouldn't trade them though and I got to be pregnant. Amazing. I think it got harder again for a while when the triplets were three. We got pregnant ~ on our own ~ after 18 years of marriage and no b/c, but I miscarried early, before I truly wrapped my mind around it. It made me more sad than I thought it would and I still think about how old he'd be now (I think it was a boy.) I'm 44 now and I'm done, we're done, but if some crazy thing happened and I got pregnant right now, I'd be a bit horrified, but not undone. Go figure. Thanks for "listening" and I hope all the different stories and perspectives help somehow. The best to you and your family!

I love these................. Sadie Sophie Shiloh

Trader Joes has a wonderful peppermint green tea seasonally ~ it should be in the stores soon. I didn't buy enough last year!

Oh my goodness, how very scary, I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Maybe your letter to your doctor should include, "Do you think if I cut out the carbs, my CANCER would go away?" My thoughts and continued prayers are with you and your family. Warmly, Julie

Hi! I have triplets too! They are in 3rd grade now and we love the free time. When they were in first grade we did field trips, spent time with family and friends in the afternoons, and had lots of time to just be and play. They were in public school last year and although they did well, all of us were happy to be back home this year. Even with all the "free time", all three read and write well, love learning, and are best buddies (most of the time!) I thought K and 1st were a blast to home school ~ enjoy! Julie

Hello, Our triplets were born at 35 weeks (they weighed 5lb. 14oz, 5lbs., and 4lb. 5oz.) didn't go to the NICU. Their preemie issues were: SLOW eating and difficulty nursing, LOTS of spit-up, slept more than full-term newborns, needed to be swaddled tightly to sleep, and were just so tiny they didn't fit in newborn clothes or diapers for a little while. We had to be very careful with visitors and couldn't have them around kids at first. They didn't have any weight to spare, so I was nervous about how much they were eating. They did great, grew super quickly, and had no preemie issues (health or developmental) at all, for which we are grateful. They just turned 8 1/2! The very best to you and your sweet new one, Julie

:grouphug: I'm so sorry. Our oldest is almost 14 and she is a fiery personality and is adopted from birth and we have younger bio. kids. These teen years have been challenging and I think it is a combo. of her issues with being the only one adopted in our family, hormones, and personality. You are so not alone. This parenting gig is not for the faint of heart. MamaT ~ thank you so very much for the hope and encouragement!

Thank you all for your very kind responses and taking the time to offer stories and suggestions. He has had the testing for blood clotting disorders (tons of blood taken) and so far, nothing. We do need to continue and Mayo and Cleveland Clinic are excellent suggestions. He is quite amazing and although I know he may suffer some days from depression, overall his attitude is inspiring ~ much better than mine would be. Again, thanks so much. Warmly, Julie

So, I think I'm looking for some ideas, motivation, consensus, something...... My DH has a "special" medical history. He's 44 and otherwise active, hard-working, and in okay shape (he could stand more exercise, when he's not almost-dying, that is, but he's always been slender.) 1997 rare form of iris melanoma, loses L eye (thankfully, caught early enough, no radiation/chemo. necessary) 2005 kidney infarct ~ loss of 2/3 L kidney ~ unknown cause, completely stumps the myriad of specialists he sees 2006 heart ablation for SVT (rapid/weird heart beat) March 2012 ~ heart attack! Again, very atypical ~ many different opinions from several different cardiologists ~ most likely caused by a blood clot, but of unknown origin. No hardening of arteries, blockages, etc. ~ absolutely nothing typical of a "normal" heart attack candidate. He was hospitalized 4 times in 3 months with related (they think, but still unexplained) issues, including 2 outpatient procedures. He also has an implantable heart monitor ~ one cardiologist thinks it could be an electrical impulse issue. It's not a pace maker or anything corrective, just a long-term diagnostic tool. It has been a looonnnggg few months. He's on all the major cardiac drugs and Coumadin (serious blood thinner.) He functions fairly close to normal more than 60% of the time, but he's still having pain, weird feeling heart "events", he's lost about 15 pounds and is having trouble gaining it back, upper L quadrant "stomach" pain, fatigue, and generally not being 100% himself (much more tired, irritable, crabby.) I feel like we need to continue to pursue what caused the heart attack in the first place (and we've done some of this,) but he is done. Doctors never have answers for him and at a point start to dismiss/discount his continued vague symptoms. I don't know whether to just go along and cross my fingers that nothing else happens or to push him harder to do what it takes to figure this out ~ and we've had more than one doctor tell us we may never know. I'm having a hard time being "settled" with moving on, even though I very much want our "normal" (whatever that is, right?!) life back. If you've read all this, thank you so much. Maybe it helps simply to type it out and not feel alone tonight. Julie dd, 13 bgb, triplets, 8

Angie, Do you have the dosage/brand on the D3 mini-gels? Thanks! Julie

My dd13 uses tea tree face wash and face cleansing pads from Trader Joes and they have worked well so far. Hope you find what works! Julie

Benefits.......not so much, but least restrictions.....Arizona! File a form when they are six and you're good to go. That's it! We love it. We lived in IA for a couple of years and after being in AZ, their regulations felt restrictive. I had to be supervised by someone less qualified than I am ~ didn't make much sense. Julie

I saw it with my BFF and we're usually on the same page with movies ~ this one, not so much. :001_smile: She LOVED it and I really, um, didn't. It is pretty funny, but raunchy. I'm not a huge Tom Cruise fan, but he was hysterical and he has a big role in the movie. The music was the best part ~ made me feel young again. I'll be interested to hear what others thought. Julie