I believe the research is that women who get epidurals end up getting induced- not exactly induced, but end up needing pharmaceutical help to regain pattern or speed them along because of infection risk. The research study was huge, produced by the NIH, and I was one of the many nurses who reviewed hundreds and hundreds of charts for the researchers to come to this conclusion. I just wanted to clarify that inductions have no direct correlation to women choosing epidurals (pain control). Anecdotally, None of my 5 inductions involved an epidural. Jo

Well we have had five of our babies "scheduled". My dh has been able to attend all births so far and only because he was able to put the day on the calendar. He has a job that does not allow him to just call in and take the day off---:D---I wish! It's easy for some people to "let things fall where and as they will" but it would have been tragic for my dh. I think there is nothing immoral about the practice. All inductions were on or around the actual due date, my mid-wives and doctors have made sure my cervix was ripe (naturally) before inducing. As for being more intrusive- this will obviously depend. I've induced using Misoprostil inserts, only get heplocks (and haven't needed IVs), and have refused any suggestion of water breaking. I think you can have a relatively natural birth even with the induction- as long as you aren't on pitocin. Having said that, my one non-induction labor (baby three) stalled out and they needed to use pitocin after 12 hrs because my water broke naturally at the start and they were concerned of infection. I would rather go naturally, but for our family it has been a blessing that induction was an option. Jo

Emma! Who knew? I have to say however that I've lived life more like Marianne Dashwood- started out impetuous, naive, insensibly romantic, and later discovered what real love is with the perfect gentleman and friend (although I was fortunate to find a handsome man as well as a gentleman). Jo

You may find it hard to find any homeschooler without at least some relative who is anti-homeschooling, or at the very least suspicious of it. I wouldn't put much energy into bringing anybody on board to your decision. Work hard to raise intelligent, well-rounded children and let them "speak" for you. I'm not a big fan of changing the subject when directly challenged. I would have a short list of fact based reasons why homeschooling is the right decision for your family. Have a few non-threatening statistics ready if necessary. I think homeschoolers should be able to articulate the reasons they are homeschooling, but don't expect to win anybody over. Jo

Oh dear...the tears...I've roused the recently settled children out of their beds to see why I burst out laughing. Oh Pam. Thanks for those.. Jo

I still remember a post by "boybarians and 1 princess" that told the exact conversation from her school table that day. It was about how every serious fact was somehow twisted into boy humor----I still think of that post and smile, especially now that I know the feeling. And although my post wasn't particularly funny the "event" of walking into the liquor store waaaaaay too pregnant with five kids in tow to buy cheap vodka (to make vanilla extract of course) is still a funny memory due to this board! Jo

In regards to your specific example- An entire semester on Botany in the elementary years was waaaaaay too much for us. My kids loved observing, collecting, looking at plants under the microscope etc. at that age so I thought, "a course in botany...what a great idea".....NOT. They hated every minute of it. I'm referring to my two oldest in 4th and 2nd grade. We never made it past the second chapter. And I started it twice- because I owned the book and they WILL like it dagummit (anyone else irrational like me?). Now my oldest has just begun Apologia General Science. It's a lot more work than he's used to but he loves it, he was ready, it was time. Now to address your specific question. I think science in the younger years ought to be a bit more "interest directed"- although that term grates at me in general, it seems the only appropriate one in this situation. It's better to "ignite the fire" of learning at those younger years, rather than "fill the bucket" so to speak. That is someone's quote, but I can't remember who coined the phrase. Jo

I'm a little less organized than angela [okay MUCH less organized, or would it be formalized]. I decide on our subjects. I decide on the curriculum. I pre-read and survey the curriculum the best I can before the year begins. Then I plan in two weeks blocks at a time. More than two weeks and I end up rescheduling because someone was sick, or someone needed more review, or someone is too advanced in that topic and we just skip sections all together. What I have found the most helpful is to decide on what courses I want my children to have completed by their senior year (Calculus etc...) then I work backward to see where we should be each year. For example my non-mathy son really needs to push it in seventh and eighth to meet the Calculus goal. I think it helps to start out with a package curriculum if you really can't guage how much work should be getting done in a day. I remember going from loosey goosey in Kindergarten to Sonlight in first with my oldest---I was surprised at how much they did. It was a good eye opener. Sorry this was long. It's late. It's quiet in the house. I have time to ramble. ;) Jo

Chiming in to say a great big, "Thanks!" for these sites. I had no idea. Now I need to be brave enough to use them.... Jo

I buy the cheapest vodka they sell for my homemade vanilla extract. I have had good results with the extract I produce, but I don't know how it would compare. Jo

I didn't know about that story, so sad. But if CBS news or any other reputable media outlet had wanted to uncover eugenics in America they should be speaking up about Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood. The current form of Planned Parenthood is absolutely not participating in eugenics of the sort on which it is founded...but then the Fernald School in the article you link isn't anymore either and they are still reporting their horrible history. Please know this is a factual reply, not political in it's intent. Do believe my desire not to offend anyone currently supportive of planned parenthood- it can be such a touchy subject. Jo

From what I understand the shortages are real and attributed to two main reasons: 1. The dollar is currently weak so foreign buyers are swooping in to buy up grains. 2. The threat of future higher costs have people stockpiling- not apocolyptic fears, just avoiding future higher prices. I'm tempted to stock up on certain items for price purposes, but my teeny tiny fridge/freezer and bity pantry can't hold much. Jo

{{{{Jenne}}}} My heart is breaking for you. I'm crying. I'm off to pray for you right now. I'm so sorry. Jo

We have a queen. I'm 5'10" and dh is 6'2", we're not little people but we have never felt cramped in our queen bed. We don't snuggle all night, but the option is always there without too much movement.;) Honestly, I would never get a king because we move so often and it is a pain in the patooey to get king mattresses in some houses. That and it just seems like a waste of space for us. I'd much rather have a nice comfy reading chair next to the bed than unneeded sleeping surface. Having said that, I don't think I move around a lot in my sleep and neither does dh. If we had other sleep interruption issues, we might feel differently. Jo

It has been my personal experience that I don't really start to unwind AND get the Hitch in my giddayup until I've spent two nights away. It *has* to be at least two nights. When I went away alone recently my mom sent birthday money for me to go get a massage but I decided I really didn't want that and put the money towards the hotel. I didn't miss it a bit. I finished/read seven books in my time away and not only did I feel rested but I was able to take a mental step back and allow my mind to release. I journaled wonderful "big picture" ideas and I came home to have some deep and meaningful conversation with my dh about life. He was blessed because of this time too. I posted before going on this time away about how guilty I felt. Everyone encouraged me to go, and they were right. Go sweetie. You won't regret it. Jo

Florence, SC. And there is a real gap between Florence and another major hotel stop. If you really pushed it you could to Lumberton or Fayatteville, NC. Our extended family lives in Orlando, so I've made that drive between Orlando and VA many times. HTH Jo

You're sweet. The event is...um...tonight. I don't like to rush into these decisions. ;) I think I will have my hair done, but I have no idea what to tell them. My hair doesn't like to stay "up" in up-dos. I don't want to give them free reign or I'll come out with a bouffant (sp?). As for make-up, I just pulled together everything I have and with the free samples I recently acquired I should have enough. Oh phooey. I'm sure no one except my dh will care anyway. :001_smile: and he likes these occassions when I get gussied up. Jo

I just wanted to chime in and say that article cracked me up. I read it to dh last night. My favorite dry beans to use are lentils. I like the lentil soup recipe out of this cookbook: http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Months-Monastery-Victor-DAvila-Latourrette/dp/0767901800/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208631982&sr=1-1 Jo

And you must be my fairy god-mothers- Please :D? How does one do formal hair with medium length (shoulder) hair. I have thick strait hair that is mostly one length so I can flip it on either side. I have the dress- gorgeous, but simple, vintage french silk with an empire waist (think bulging pregnant belly below). It is a beautiful dress but not exactly glam. All the accessories are vintage shiny black, except the purse which is a subtle silver clutch. I obviously need to go a little fancy on hair and make-up to make this get-up formal enough. I'm so ignorant about make-up. :001_huh: I have wasted nearly 30 minutes looking online at hair-dos. My brain is shriveling... help. Ideas? Jo

What an uplifting post Colleen. I'm so glad you Hans got some time together- I have wanted that for you both. I hope your fracture heals well and quickly. :001_smile: Jo

Don't you dare be embarrassed. My dh is a submariner who has been present at all *six* of his dc's births! It's been a miracle he hasn't missed one by now. ;) It's never easy, but we know what we sign up for in this life. So in late August or early September when I come to the boards in tears missing my dh and overwhelmed you can return the favor and give me a good kick...but go easy on me. ;) Jo

oH Shelly. I'm sorry. Yes, you can ask for prayer. And yes you have mine. Jo

Oh sweetie...like being overdue isn't maddening enough! I'm sure you are both on edge. The ticking bomb syndrome- let's give it a name shall we? ;) It sounds like he has to go to work. If it was an optional boondoggle I'm sure he'd ditch in a heartbeat. Here's the easier said then done statement: why stress over what you can't change? Sorry. :grouphug: What are the chances that Tuesday would be THE day, after all you've gone through? It's just too bizarre to think about. Take it one day at a time. Tonight may be the night and you would have been ticked for nothing. When it comes right down to it, DC to PA isn't that far. I bet he would make it back. This really is easy to say. Dh will miss the birth of this little one for sure because he'll be deployed. It's much harder for me to think of him not getting to hold his newborn than not being there for the actual birth. The baby will be nearly 1/2 a yr before he holds him. I'm not sure I'm any help. I do understand that overdue pregnancy underlying stress in the home. But it will hardly be remembered when the blessed day arrives. I wish you aaaallllll the best for this delivery that it turns out just as you hope. [hugs] JO

A perfectly lovely session in cork rocketry with all the neighbor kids turns into a "danger competition".... Apparently the slight hill of our street is perfect for Jr. Hi age kids to ride in strollers down. :glare: I like our neighbors, so I'm only joking about them being bad :D, but this is socialization I could have done without. Kids!! Jo

This quote made me laugh: "It was my understanding that Western Precision was paying roughly $50,000 a week into the coffers of the church," former sect member Richard Holm said. "It would have been close to $200,000 a month." duh. This quote explains why the bid was considered and awarded: "The Department of Defense awards contracts on the basis of who can most effectively meet our requirements for supplies or services at the most reasonable cost to the taxpayer," he said. "We do not consider religious affiliation or marital status when selecting vendors, but illegal activity is certainly cause for termination of a contract and perhaps even debarment, which could prevent a contractor from doing business with department ever again." He added, "However, DoD is not aware of any criminal allegations against anyone managing the companies in question." Bob Maginnis, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who now works with a contractor for the Pentagon, said the department does background checks before signing contracts. "The DoD is obviously abiding by the law, and if we want them to look deeper and discriminate on religious or other activities we need to tell them." They probably have a secure wall of separation between the company and the sect. They can't discriminate. If we are squeamish about this close connection to companies run by members of the FDLS then why haven't we raided these compounds for years and enforced the law of one man, one wife? I don't think we can hold a "live and let live" policy and then scream when there is a faint connection between tax payer money going to legitimate companies run by men who live in polygamist marriages. We have to chose whether they have a right to live this way or not. Jo