Well, I'm not saying this is the best, but we used the SOS DVD program for high school health. We discuss health and healthy choices a lot in our family, and so I didn't feel a need to put a lot of time into a health curriculum just for the sake of showing we used a standard health text. The DVD was pretty much independently used with little input needed from me. Also, you are able to go into the program and take out certain lessons, quizzes, projects, etc., if you choose.

Hope your son is doing better. A neurological doc is my recommendation too. Now. I know that migraines, seizures, and strokes can cause those symptoms.

Our insurance offers discounts too. Really, they don't care if it's official or not! For years, I've simply put: child's name, grade, and "Homeschool Transcripts" as the title, listed their present courses and grades, and printed it off. It has always been accepted, no questions asked. I believe I've signed it at the bottom.

A few minutes at bedtime, before I close my eyes. Also, when I'm eating a meal IF I happen to be eating alone.

I recommend you stream this station: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/services/cms/

About $150 per child, although that does tend to change from year to year, depending on other things.

My mother and I have always had a great relationship. Growing up, she was gentle, giving, always there to listen, encouraging, smart, had a cute sense of humor. It was not important to her that we (the kids) "fit in," or have boyfriends, or dress a certain way. She was not materialistic. She would bend over backwards for each of us, and made each of us feel special. She rarely complained. I don't remember her ever raising her voice, in fact!

Up to a certain age, we pretty much did Christmas Day the same every year, but once our youngest was about 10 we tended to shake it up a little -- doing it differently. This year we are spending all of Christmas Day on an airplane! Maybe talk to your kids about it ahead of time, and open just one present each in the morning?

I do feel sharp still at 51, so far. But, the main thing I want to say is that I have the hands-on experience of watching an adult my age -- my husband -- REGAIN his intellectual abilities. Apart from the horrible-ness of it all, it is very fascinating. My husband suffered the exact same detriments as Senator Gabby Giffords from his stroke a year and a half ago. He is working extremely hard to rebuild paths in his brain and get back to at least close to where he was. These are things that we have found to be helpful: Work at it. We all challenge his brain constantly. When he wasn't at a point where he could do it himself yet, we did all the challenging. He spends hours each day working on mental activities. Exercise. We walk every day, at least a mile, often two. For my husband -- walking a mile is probably like walking four miles. Every step he takes requires a ton of work. Plenty of sleep. Sleep is probably the most important part of his recovery, and building up new paths in his brain. EVERYTHING depends on his getting enough sleep. Time to relax. Time to sit every day and just relax is important too! A positive mood. When my husband is depressed, it has an immediate affect on his fragile thinking ability. Protein. His body requires much more energy these days, and protein seems to help. Vitamin D. Omega 3 fish oil. Classical music in the background. Studies have shown that this can be helpful in promoting cognitive ability. He's making amazing progress, and if he can make intellectual progress despite the damage, it seems like it gives all the rest of us hope, too!

Recently I had a postage-paid return, and it was supposed to be shipped via UPS. I accidentally brought to our local post office, and they said that's okay -- they now have an agreement with UPS so they can accept UPS packages. I didn't understand but didn't have time to think about it! Someone mentioned this may be more prevalent in small towns, perhaps?

I edit all the time. But, I am a Scandinavian in the Midwest, and that is what we do.

Too bad it doesn't fit the bill -- it's a really nice smaller Christian school, building up its academic reputation, and just the right distance from a major metropolitan area. We pass it about twice a week!

Daughter flies home from her semester abroad in Senegal, West Africa this aft! She missed her first connection so will be a few hours later... So excited to see her in person instead of just Skype. :)

For the baby, I'd probably try and take out enough diapers, etc., to make it through a full day and night. For older kids, I'd make sure to have anything they might need that night (PJ's, a book to read, etc.) and a change of clothes for the next morning -- mainly so guests would not need to be disturbed while sleeping, in case they go to bed early or sleep in late.

Yes, it is real. Sometimes when a person (most likely a child, I believe) goes through a terrible ordeal, it is their coping mechanism. They "become" someone else so they don't have to face the terrible reality around them. I've never known anyone who has had this disorder personally, but I've read about it.

I like the scarf idea for her. There are such lovely ones nowadays, and one more never hurts! For him, maybe some really quality tea, from a tea shop? There are lots of interesting things at tea shops, in fact. There's a type of tea that comes in a block. You break off a little piece every time you want to brew some. There are also balls of flowering tea that -- as they brew in the hot water -- slowly open up and let loose the tea flavor. (I can't remember exactly how it works, but I remember thinking it would be a neat gift for the person who has everything!) Oh, here are some examples: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GB7RAE/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0000EWXQA&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0H7XPKC0W5E6F2ATN3PJ http://thesoapcafe.blogspot.com/2010/07/flower-tea-great-gift.html

I wonder if you were reading things wrong? It seems too odd to me.

I like the watch, or other quality clothing item idea. Fossil has beautiful products. In fact, we got one of our daughters a Fossil watch this year as her main gift, and our son a Fossil wool sweater. Or, how about a quilt made from cloths that hold memories for her. This is what one of our daughters has asked for, although we probably won't do it until next year. I have a friend in town who makes quilts, and has offered to make one for me after I've gathered various fabrics from my daughter. Material from special clothes that she's outgrown, childhood blankets that are now tattered, fabric that she has collected on her travels/studying abroad, etc. (Of course the quilt wouldn't be ready in time for Christmas, but you could give her a certificate for one, or as a gift down the road...)

This all sounds a little bizarre to me, really! Of course I don't have all the details and certainly have no background in medicine, but it sure seems like going down a never-ending path. I think I'd get back to focusing on the knee pain alone. Both my daughter and a friend of my daughter's had severe knee pain during middle school years. It lasted two-three years for both. We never brought our daughter in to have it checked (in hind site, I don't really know why!), but her friend's pain was even more severe, so her parents did begin doctoring her for it. They were told that there is a common knee condition that hits kids at about that age, esp. when they are going through a growth spurt. It has a name -- I can't remember what it is. Over time it grew less, and over perhaps a two-year period, it eventually diminished entirely. During the peak of the pain, it was so severe that our daughter would have to sit while the rest of us were out on a walk. I remember my husband giving her piggy-back rides. I don't know if it could be something like that or not. Just a thought. Perhaps a second opinion from a general practitioner would be in line?

At that age, we often got our children a nice luggage set, or a backpack like this: http://www.rei.com/product/809154/rei-tech-tour-60-travel-pack-womens I can't tell you how many times a backpack like that has come in handy for their travels. Other than that, at this age we've also invested in a nice article of clothing that will last, such as a real quality coat or jacket, etc.

This is a favorite that you can make in your slow cooker: EASY BEANS AND FRANK SOUP 1 can (28 ounces) baked beans, undrained 1 can (11 1/2 ounces) eight-vegetable juice 6 franks or hot dogs, cut into 1-inch slices (We use nitrate-free chicken or turkey dogs) 3 medium carrots, chopped (1 1/2 cups) 1 large onion, chopped (1 cup) 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce Cover and cook on low heat setting 6 to 8 hours (or high heat setting 3 to 4 hours) or until carrots are tender.

As I understand, you usually cannot formally list a used mattress to sell anymore. However, we know people who have sold one informally, word-of-mouth, to friends or friends of friends. Maybe amongst "friends" -- at an agreed-on price, and from someone who somehow knows the buyer personally (so they can trust the state of the mattress) -- it's okay? But even in that case, I really don't think you could ask more than $50, and if the buyer came and carried it out, they'd be doing you a favor. :) We just brought an old mattress to the dump and it cost $20 just to dump it! I'd guess that most new mattress delivery places will pick up your old mattress. Also, I do know of shelters, group homes, etc., that have been able to take used mattresses. You could perhaps donate it to a place like that.

I don't have many answers for you, but we spent about a month in Budapest several years ago and loved it. It's one of my favorite cities. It was beautiful, quite inexpensive, and the people there were in general friendly (though not overly-friendly, but definitely not unfriendly). There were several fresh food markets, with many more choices of breads, cheeses, meats, fruits and veggies than we have in our own town. In Budapest, young people (30's and younger) usually spoke some English. I'm not sure about towns outside of Budapest. My daughter was a penpal to a homeschooler in Budapest for several years before going there, and we were able to get together with that family while there. It was a lovely family. They indicated that there are not many homeschoolers in Hungary; most homeschoolers seemed to be involved with a church community there, as was this family. They were a strong, very close-knit Christian family.

No answer for you but I'd have the same question!

My first four were either average or big (they kept getting better, the 4th being 9 pounds 10 ounces!). Then the 5th one...well, they figured I must have my dates wrong. She was so much smaller. I KNEW my dates were correct; I knew the exact day I had ovulated. So, she was born full term, and was barely 6 pounds. Her bones were very petite, and for the first year, she was at the 3rd percentile or less in everything. At one year, she weighed only 14 pounds. We did test after test to figure out why she was so small; she was eating fine, and happy. Nothing was every found, and she is just that way. She is petite, but has actually grown to 5'5". Still very petite-boned. My mother is quite petite too.