In the Episcopal church we say ah men, and when I attend other churches it is with a long A.

lol, we do this. Stockings are a huge thing in my family. But yeah, there are gifts next to/on top of the stocking. That clarifies that it is from Santa, not parents.

thanks, I think we have one at our mall.

I've always been able to get by with "xl" in normal stores, but no longer. Since this last baby was born I'm now quite rotund. And need pants. Winter is here and I have 2 pairs of shorts that kind of fit, but they are maternity, and one pair of really old sweat pants with paint on them. I get the feeling my hubby would like me to have, you know, clothes to wear in public :) So, where to shop? I don't even know my size, but big. Mostly in the waist, sigh. OH, and I'm short. Really short. like, barely over 5 feet short.

I have it in patches on my face (lovely!) and one arm, and one leg. The newer Aveeno lotion for babies, that says Eczema Therapy, is AMAZING. If I get it on really fast out of the shower I don't turn bright red, my skin doesn't hurt, etc. LOVE IT.

lol about the arguing about everything...yeah...that's not going away soon, I'm sorry. But if you remember that he isn't trying to argue, as much as trying to clarify, that can help. As for teaching, assume he knows nothing, and teach step by step. We were shocked when it occurred to us that my son, at the age of 11, didn't know how to knock on a door properly. Kids on the spectrum don't mimic, they don't have the same mirror circutry, so you have to TELL them, step by step, and tell they WHY.

Trifexis, in a heartbeat. (I'm a certified vet tech). Love that stuff. The flea med is really effective. I would NOT NOT NOT do proheart. NOt in a million years. WAY too many side effects, AND it is really painful as far as injections go. No way. Heartgaurd is really safe, if you don't need that flea prevention, and dogs love the taste.

Hugs! I know we've talked about some of the similarities between our boys, and I definitely get the one word answers. In fact, 2 years ago we had almost exactly the same conversation at what is probably the same art museum. Luckily it seems he has moved past that phase, but man it was ugly. Also, luckily, he very much has things he wants to do each afternoon, so I can use that for leverage with him. He isn't doing half as much as I would like, but more than he was, and enough to get by. (what I mean is he reads, but doesn't discuss much, or do papers on what he read, etc.) And yes, it is a fight EVERY day almost. But, with him, I know what he was like when he had another teacher and it was just as bad, so whatever. If this will help, then do it. Hope it works, he is a good kid!

How about Teaching Textooks. they have placement tests to decide which level, but we are LOVING LOVING LOVING the pre-algebra so far.

We all get together (my mom and dad, my sister and her family) Christmas morning. EARLY Christmas morning. Think 7am. So consider yourself lucky, lol. We do rotate whose house it is though. This year we are doing it a bit differently, after a melt down last year (4 days at my parents, early wakening, late bedtimes etc with a kid with Aspergers). So this year we will get up early (6:30-7:00) and do stockings with our own family, and MAYBE all the presents from us here. We've never done that, I've never opened Christmas morning without my mom there (in 36 years, I really am blessed!), but I think my kids need less chaos for opening, maybe. Then we will go to Grandma's 1 hour away and open presents for and from them, my sister, etc. Then have a nice brunch before my son goes to his Father's house. I can't imagine not seeing them at all, if they are in driving distance. But we are pretty close. What's funny is I did not grow up that way. We spent a few years traveling on Christmas, but then my parents stopped, and the grandparents never came to us. So this is not family tradition. But, my kids adore their Grandparents, and I love my parents so much, and my DH loves them so much, that i just can't imagine Christmas without them.

What happens is when the baby is exposed to something then he exposes you, so you can produce antibodies.

Yeah, I had some people tell me I just couldn't hack it. Had one teacher tell me that transferring was the worst mistake of my life. I laughed at him. For heavens sake, it was highschool, not a life or death decision. I'm just not made to be that uptight about stuff. I love to learn, and liked 2 of my classes, but the contstant pressure and atmosphere of fear was killing me. And no, I'm not dumb. I have an IQ over 160. In fact, maybe I was just smart enough to know the program was dumb.

that may be my new favorite stupid assumption! I had a coworker tell me that my long distance boyfriend was probably a porn star because he and I were not having sex. Obviously it was because he was getting so much at his job as a porn star!!! Um, no...we just both were waiting, thank you very much, as neither of us wanted a baby out of wedlock. (he's now my husband, and I can verify, NOT a porn star).

All I can say is I too was enrolld in a soul sucking IB program. I HATED it. And I'm not dumb...think genius level IQ. But HATED it. My parents let me leave after a year, thankfully. Please, pull him out. I did so much better with some AP classes and then doing early enrollment at a university, so I did my senior year of HS and freshman year of college at the same time. (lived on campus and everything). Way better than an IB diploma would have gotten me anyway, and I got to have a social life, read for pleasure, etc.

because what if YOU can't get out? Do you want the kids standing at the stairs, waiting forever for you, and dying because they wouldn't leave without you?

Sounds like stress colitis. Excitement can cause it. Or it could be the hot dogs. Try something yummy and unusual to the dog but easier on the tummy. You can take a can of the EN food and cut open both ends of the can. Push out the food then slice it into small pieces and bake at 200 until mostly dry. It will make "jerky" type treats. Keep them in the fridge as there are no preservatives. This would give him yummy stuff to work for that definitely won't upset his stomach. (for those wondering its a rice based, easy on the tummy food..think BRAT diet for dogs).

Yes, this. I don't think about my due date, I think about the 42 week date. But still...you can't help but wonder. My first was 38 weeks 2 days, so JUST in the window of "could be now), and so the next kid, I assumed, being the second, would be just as early or earlier. Nope. 41 weeks 5 days, a full 4 WEEKS later than the first. That's a LOT more pregnant. The third kid I was nutty, because I knew it could be anywhere from 38-42. And he was 41 5 the same as his sister.

check out this couch/bed/storage thing...we fell in LOVE with it at Ikea. (we bought different stuff because we had different needs, but this thing is awesome, and SOOOOOOO easy to convert to a bed. Seriously, we were in awe). And the added storage is GREAT. You could just store the linens for it in there, or homeschooling stuff, toys, whatever. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30213953/

Most of the time the problem is a skin infection, which you might not notice given all the fur. The rest of the time the problem is either the dog is rolling in something outside, or the dog drooling/licking it's fur and the teeth are rotten.

Grace

I'm mostly sure we are done. I always wanted a much bigger family, but with a 10 year age gap between the first and the second that just wasn't happening. We have 3 now, and that works for us. I don't feel anyone is missing, like i did after my daughter was born. But, I don't feel comfortable saying I am done, as I never thought I would be someone that was done. So I'm getting an IUD tomorrow, but won't do anything permanent in case I change my mind. And part of me does want another, mainly because this last baby is SOOOOOOOOOO easy and sweet and cuddly. If all had been like him I'd have 20! But my oldest gets shortchanged because I can't do things with him because of the littles, in regards to school/field trips/etc. I can't see adding to that. It wouldn't be fair to him. But, he may go to public school for highschool, so who knows. I think we are done. The house won't hold another one (small house), it would make travel harder, etc etc. But those are not the reasons, they are just the things i tell myself to remind myself of the benefits of being done. The reason is i just don't feel the draw to have another one.

Yes, perfect! I've seen them there. I don't need great quality, but Olde Time Pottery will fit the budget I bet, and that's what I need for now. We can replace them later. I just want them nicer asap!

We got the new furniture!!!! But the couches, especially the one in the living room, are crying out for some throw pillows. Our budget is about shot though. Where is the cheapest place to get those, and no, I don't want to sew my own, lol.

Yes, I'd do it in a heartbeat. If money is an issue I'd save until I could do it. I'm a vet tech, and have seen what gum disease and rotten teeth can do to an animal. It really can make them old before their time, cause horrid pain (every had a tooth ache?) that they can't tell you about, and the disease and bacteria can spread to other organs. Get it done. (and yes, I know in the wild they don't get their teeth cleaned, they also don't live real long.)

How about getting him a heart monitor? He can't monitor his peak flow while running, but he can keep an eye on his heart rate. You can program them to alert you when it goes to high. The idea is to run consistently at a lower heart rate, and that will build endurance making running easier over time. If it is easier and his heart rate is lower he won't have to breathe so hard, and that might mean not triggering the asthma. You can google stuff about heart rate and running, some marathoners use it to train as well. (oh, and he should probably use an inhaler before running, but talk to doctor about that.)