DS4 is running a low grade fever (for four days) and just woke up complaining that his stomach is really hurting (screaming and rolling around). I put him back in bed while I got dressed and he went to sleep. DH is really worried that he has appendicitis, but I don't think he could sleep thru the pain if it was that. Anyone know? The pain is right around his belly button, which is where the pain starts according to online sources but I had never heard that. He said he didn't have to go to the bathroom and he shouldnt be too hungry or too full. Is it ok for me to go back to sleep? That is my plan and i'll just take him to the ER if he wakes back up and acts like he is in dire pain again.

I watched it and totally bawled. Deployments are awful, but the coming home part is amazing. Its been 7 mos since DH came home from his last one and I kind of don't remember how bad the deployment was, but I do remember the joy of him coming home...not that I want to repeat it.

We really like the I Can Do That Games http://www.icandothatgames.com/games/ Especially the Busytown Eye found it and Green Eggs and Ham Diner and I Can Do that Cat in the Hat. Also, the Melissa and Doug get up and go games are fun. Plus, we really like lots of the other games that have already been suggested.

When DS was one his lymph nodes on his neck were so big people at a museum stopped me to make sure I had seen them. I was out of town, called the ped and they weren't concerned. I brought him to the ped when we got back and he said they were shotty lymph nodes or something like that-no big deal.

Thanks for the great info. I only wore my first two little guys for about a year, but now that I have more kids than hands I really NEED to wear this one more (even though he is my most adament walker). Dh is just a little skittish of spending lots of money on another baby carrier. It will be our fifth purchase, but it took me a few buys before I found the moby. Maybe I can sell those and have a little extra cash to persuade him. DH will be fine (not trying to make him sound bad)-he just sees the pile of discarded carriers in the basement and sees a walking baby and doesn't see the need for a new carrier. Anyway, I want to make sure I buy what I really want the first time this time.

Does anyone have recommendations for a carrier I can use to wear my 13mos old on my back-without help. I currently have a moby and love it, but he is kinda outgrowing the front position and I can't get him on my back by myself. I really don't want to spend a ton of money since he is probably my last and he really likes to walk. I can't sew at all, so I need to buy one. I am mostly interested for wearing him during his cranky 5:00 hour while I try to get dinner (or other times he just wants to be held) and also for when we go places that aren't good for strollers. I also have a 2yr old, so we have a good double stroller. And, if the carrier could be used for my 30lb 2yr old that would be a bonus-he is my cuddler. Thanks!

Here is a review of Taubes book (for anyone interested): http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=9841#more-9841 I haven't read through all the replies, but I think that "science" has not answered the nutrition question yet. So, the dr is correct. If someone claims to have "THE ANSWER," they are lying. Lots of people have different theories and one of them may turn out to be correct, but none have gone through the scientific process and yet. Thats why if you go to the library and check out 10 weight loss books they will all say something different.

I really like Ellyn Satter's approach. http://www.ellynsatter.com/ She basically says that you are in charge of offering the food (the what and when) and the child is in charge of how much. So, you have set times to eat, you provide the food, and the child chooses how much to eat. No grazing or eating in front of the tv. The goal is for a child to have a healthy weight for her (which might be heavier than "average") and to learn to trust her body's hunger cues. Also, she is very insistent on family meal times. Everyone eats together (the same food) and you model good food habits. She suggests offering 3-4 foods per meal. Drinks are milk and water (for everyone). Also, offer desserts with the meal. Everyone can have as much as they want from any food-but just one portion of dessert. She emphasizes offering a variety of foods-including "forbidden" ones. Pair foods that the child likes with new foods. Snacks are "small meals" and are eaten at the table. Don't draw attention to her weight. My youngest BIL was really overweight as a child. I don't think his parents did anything really, but he is now over 6 feet tall-stocky, but not overweight. A very handsome high school senior.

I think every adult has people they prefer to other people. As long as they are treating my family fine, I don't worry about what they do with the others. My ILs definately help out other siblings more than us. Some of them really do need more help and others they are just closer to-its true. It doesn't mean they don't love us, but our personalities and priorities are just different than theirs. My mom was really given a bashing by my SIL last year and it hurt her deeply. My SIL accused her of favoritism because she spent more time with my kids than hers. That is a true statement, but my mom spends tons of time with her kids too and her kids adore my mom. We lived closer and sought them out more. Plus, DH was deployed so my mom helped me a couple nights a week (when he left I had 3yr, 1yr, and newborn). Also, my mom knew that after the deployment we were moving, so she was trying to create special memories with my kids. The other grands still live 30 minutes away so she sees them regularly. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. I think *most* parents love their kids equally, but they may "click" with some more than others for various reasons.

Well, I live in the city so 40 minutes would seem too long for me, unless I really couldn't find anyone else. Because of moves we have had 3 different peds, and they have all been fantastic. The first time I moved I thought we could never replace our ped, but then we did and I liked him just as well. Maybe you could get some recs from some friends if you want something closer.

My current baby loves all the Annie Kubler board books. We have loved the Karen Katz lift the flap books (Where is baby's bellybutton and others). I also really like the Usborne Thats not my... Wheels on the bus by Zelinsky is another favorite. I also like cloth books, bath books, and other fun pop-up, touch and feel, and lift the flap type books. Those are the kinds that you can't get at a library. You have gotten lots of great suggestions!

I think "normal" is between 9 and 21 mos. My first DS dropped to one at 9mos, but since he was my only one it was from 11-2. I wasn't trying to cooridinate nap schedules. My second didn't drop his morning nap till 20mos. My current 13 month old still does 2 naps. I think he could get away with one, but making it till 1:00 is just too hard for him. He gets really clingy and fussy. There have been times that I thought he was ready to drop it because he would take a short nap or he would fight the nap. Then a few days later he was back to a real morning nap. I would go by his mood. If he can make it till afternoon nap without being a major grump, you could have him transition if you want. I personally like the morning nap-even if it is just 20 minutes. I do think that age when they need 1.5 naps is hard.

Here are some good articles written by a breast cancer surgeon. http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=6940 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=1926

Qwirkle Forbidden Island (you work together to try to beat the game-we like it)

We have almost the same scenario at our house. My problem is that DH doesnt get home till 7 on a normal night, so it is sometimes later. The 5yr old really craves time without the littler kids around, so I have let him stay up later. However, I think he does better with the same bedtime every night. I am trying to figure out a way to have more dad time with still a decent bedtime, but it hasn't worked out yet. Pretty much all sleep experts say that everyone does better with the same sleep schedule every day-but I still would like to find a way around that

My kids are 5, 2, and 1 and we have major meltdowns when they dont have a snack. We have scheduled meals and snacks, and like others have said the snack is a small meal-or part of a meal. We dont just graze all day or eat because we are bored, etc. I think sometimes if you get too hungry you end up overeating at the next meal.

I spend $100 on everything for their birthdays-including party, gift, outing, etc. They tend to get more for Christmas because I find so many good deals. I should be better at holding some things for birthdays. I buy the stuff that never seems to go on sale for birthdays-like playmobil or sports equipment.

Actually, you can only get shingles if you have had the chicken pox. I think the theory is that shingles cases have been going up because people, who had the chicken pox, aren't being routinely re-exposed to the chicken pox virus.

Unless someone has a very low immune system (due to chemo or something), the chances of getting chicken pox from someone else's vaccination are really really low. I would get it (for the boys) while you are still pregnant.

Our library is open too. We are getting ready to go to storytime right now. They made the decision to stay open *most* federal holidays, so people who otherwise can't go, may be able to on a federal holiday. And, they picked up our trash today. I told DH not to put it out, because they wouldn't pick it up. I was wrong.

I always tell people I feed my family processed foods because I am not that great of a cook. My friend asked me today why I say that because, according to her, I don't give them processed foods. I actually don't really know what people are talking about when they say processed foods. So, here are some things I regularly feed my famly for dinner. Will you please tell me if you consider them processed? Chicken pot pie- frozen crust and I cook chicken, canned veggies, butter, flour, and thyme and pepper for filling Lasagna: made with noodles, tomato sauce, tomato paste, canned diced tomatoes, etc Chili: canned kidney beans, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, etc Tacos: storbought tortillas, store taco seasoning, canned black beans, etc pizza: homeade dough (in bread machine) pizza sauce from can, assorted toppings (olives from can) and cheese I also bake cookies at least once a month and I just use a recipe off the back of a bag-like the nestle oatmeal butterscotch cookies or hershey chocolate chip cookies. I guess since a lot of the stuff comes from the middle store aisles or is in cans, bags, or boxes I assumed it was processed. I like to think I balance it out with the tons of fresh produce we eat (well, honestly, the kids mostly eat the fresh fruit-still working on the veggies)

I think a storybook party sounds fun. I was kinda thinking the same thing. You can get some good dollar books.

I had a friend who did a very hungry caterpillar bday party for her son's first birthday. It was realy cute. She made a caterpillar out of cupcakes and had lots of the food that was in the book. My son turns one next month too so I am :bigear:

People who do live GF get used to it and seem to not miss it. However, for *me*, I would only do it if I was really, really sure there was a gluten problem. If DH and DS have always been thin and they have no other symptoms, it may just be in their genes to be thin. I come from a very thin family. My SIL decided to put their family on a GF diet because her kids are very thin and short (not even on growth chart). They have been on the diet for a year now and they are just as short and thin as they were before. I think it is really hard on their family to do the diet, but she woudn't admit it. If we decide to go somewhere spontaneously they usually can't go because they don't have food to bring. Or, even worse, they come with us and have no food for hours. She will leave them for playdates with just lunchmeat and cheese-to eat all day (the host will usually have fruit and veggies). They eat a LOT of lunchmeat and cheese and eggs. When they are home they eat a balanced diet, but it is really hard for them to get good nutrition if they aren't home to cook for the day (from my perspective). Not impossible-but much more work. ETA: I don't mean to make it sound like they starve-it is just really hard for them to be spontaneous if the event involves food or if it is during a meal or snack time (like an afternoon at the pool, a day at the amusement park, a sporting event, etc). Good luck with your decisions!

Honestly, I would love to know how you keep it that low. I have 3 very young boys and spend more than that every month. I went to the store yesterday and spent $250 for just 2 weeks and then I will probably have to buy millk, eggs, bread, and fruit again to last the whole 2 weeks. It is really frustrating. I just quit working (part-time) after our last baby was born, so i am still new to having to be really careful with our pennies-I may just need more practice.