Last night I suddenly got chilly and ick feeling-took my temp and it was 102. Around that time my right book started hurting. I haven't had a temp since last night (I took tylenol), but I still have a red rash looking thing and a fairly large hard spot. It is really tender. I am nursing my 10mos old who still likes to nurse at night. On Thurs night I left him with DH while I went black friday shopping with my SILs. So, I didn't nurse him for 12 hrs overnight-much longer than I had ever gone before. Now I am wondering if I have mastitis. If it is, do I need to see a dr? We just moved here and I don't have one yet. Thanks!

I would discuss with your doc. It depends on how much risk you are willing to take. If baby is in a frank breech position and you are pretty sure she is that small, then breech birth isn't as risky. From my research an additional 6 out of 1000 babies will die if delivered breech. So, it is riskier, but not so risky that it is ridiculous to try (if you want). Personally, my son was breech at 36 wks and I was planning to have a c-section. At 38 weeks he had flipped, so he was born vaginally (he was almost 9lbs). It is a hard decision and all of my options freaked me out as well. Good luck with your decision!!

Qwirkle Set Dutch Blitz Rook

In my experience, my friends who focus on health and shop at hfs are no healthier than those who do not. I guess I probably don't hang out regularly with many people who eat hamburger helper everyday, so i can't compare to that. We eat adequately-there are no foods that we will not eat, but we eat lots of homemade foods (including cookies) and fruits and veggies. I am not one to stress over food. Only my baby has been sick this calender year (and he was exclusively breastfed). I have never noticed more or less sickness based on what we eat. I do notice that if my kids are around groups of kids a lot or if they don't get enough rest they are more likely to get sick. I think that socioeconomics accounts for a lot more of health than we give it credit for. Also, as far as supplements at hfs, my opinion is that anything that is potent enough to have a beneficial effect is also potentially potent enough to have a harmful effect, so I don't just assume any "natural supplement" from a hfs is safe and healthy.

I have nursed all three of my boys for between 12-14mos each. Two of them never even had a bottle. If I have another one, I may just bottle feed from the beginning. My SIL has 4 kids and bottlefeeds her newborn. Honestly, it looks so great! She is not as tied to him, so she can still spend time with all of her kids and daddy and others get good bonding time with baby. Nursing babies do take lots of time from mom and I really think it would be hard to give all the kids attention while nursing. Also, after nursing for 3 out of 5 years I would want a break. I am all for nursing, but I don't blame people for wanting to be able to share feeding duties.

We were talking about this subject recently. One thing that we thought about was that sometimes 'experience' gifts are more expensive than the 'stuff'. Another thought is that if they see you giving your kids 'stuff' but expect them to give them experience, they might feel you are hogging all the glory. :iagree: I try to not give our kids the stuff, but let grandparents do it instead. Both sets of grandparents LOVE to shop for the kids and watch them open things, so I hate to take that away from them. It really does bring them joy. So, I will get the kids zoo passes for Christmas this year-so not so fun to actually open since you can't play with it right away-and let the grandparents get the "fun to open" gifts.

We do almost every night our whole family is home together. I have great memories of eating apple pie and fresh chocolate chip cookies and milk from my childhood, so I like to do it with my family. I think that since we know that several times a week we will get a good dessert, we are less likely to fill up on junk throughout the day. I rarely buy storebought treats, but I couldn't give up homeade desserts. The house just smells too good! I also think since we know it will be a regular thing, we do pretty well on the portion control...no need to binge.

And here is a great response to the Dr. Sears book that I think everyone who reads his book should also read (by John Snyder): http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=512 I think it does a good job of explaining risks-it gives the known risks for the MMR vaccine, for instance. It really helped me understand why scary sounding things are used in vaccines. I know that I will never be fully informed on the issue because I have never studied graduate level sciences, but this article did help me after looking thru Sears' book.

Sorry, someone already explained it, but I was definately NOT saying that it was unethical for you to not vax your kid. I meant that no human participants board would approve a study that allowed thousands of kids to go unvaccinated (and their parents/doctors/others not know it). That comment was in response to someone saying we need a double blind trial of vaccines.

Some disjointed comments: From the Sept. issue of the American Family Physician journal on overloading the immune system and too many vaccines: The immunologic load has dropped from 3000 components in the 7 vaccines used in 1980 to less than 200 in the 14 vaccines recommended today. Also, Dr. Sears is one person..a pediatrician-not an immunologist. It is awfully egotistical of him to design his own "better" schedule. He didn't do any advanced training or study on it, he just used his opinions. His book is also full of half truths. For instance, he says that tetanus is not a disease of infants. Well, google tetanus in infants and you will find pictures of infants with tetnus. No one is EVER going to do a double blind study on vaxes because no board would approve it-it would be unethical to not vax kids. The bar is always shifting on what makes vaccines dangerous-is it the MMR, thermasil, too many too soon, aluminum. If science finds no relationship between them (like MMR and thermasil), people just find some other component of the vaccine to blame. Hep B is given to newborns because their mother may be a carrier and not know it. 30% of carriers have no risk factors. If someone gets it before 12 mos there is a 90% chance they will have chronic hep b, which has no cure. If a scientist can prove that vaccines cause harm, they will be rich, so there is motivation for someone to do it (they will never have to beg for grants again). It is so silly to believe that there is a huge conspiracy to injure children-so many people from different agencies with differing motivations would have to be involved. There is screening in place-that is why one of the flu vaccines was pulled in Australia and why the old rotavirus got pulled. Finally, I really do not get people who think it would be better for us to still have these diseases around. I know that isn't most anti-vaxers but I know a lot in real life. My niece and nephew had whooping cough this year and it was AWFUL (still not vaxing). None of my vaxed kids got it, thankfully. SIL had to call 911 twice when her toddler's lips were turning blue and the kids coughed till they threw up for 3 months and still have a lingering cough (when they run or choke) 9 mos later. Of course Jenny McCarthy can say she would rather have measles, but measles did kill and cause deafness and brain damage. So she would only rather have the regular measles, not the ones that kill. And chicken pox causes deaths too. And, the Hib has been so successful in reducing meningitis, which used hospitalize young children all the time.

When I lived near my parents I saw them almost every day. And I took the kids to the ILs once a week. DH did work a lot of hours then (like 8a-8p every day). My parents were great-they would take one kid while I worked with another, or watch two while I took one to an activity. They did fun projects and took them places. Since DH worked so much, it was great being able to do things that I would not be able to do on my own (like my dad would take my oldest to the art museum..since we moved we have not been to one). Also, if they stopped by, I would almost always have something for them to do. My dad read aloud a lot and my mom helped my oldest with math. Or I would tell the kids they had a little recess and I would fold clothes and chat with my mom, while she made sure the baby didn't eat paper. My children definately got a better education back then and I do miss it.

I vote rent too. We just moved across the country and we bought because DH's new job paid for the move and with three little kids I did not want to move twice. It has worked out fine...we just chose to be involved where we bought and we got lucky. The house second on our list would have had terrible traffic for DH to get to work. If we have to move again, and we probably will, we will rent first. But, this house has been great the 8 weeks we have been in it. I don't regret our decision, but I wouldn't risk it again.

I don't know Michigan geography very well, but the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is out of Wayne State University. They also have offices in Detroit, Rochester, and Farmington Hills. I have heard great things about their Breast Cancer team. You are in my prayers.

Thanks so much for this thead! This is my first year homeschooling and so far a lot of homeschoolers I have met have been REALLY into healthy eating (as in tell people how to do it and talk about it at every gathering). Today I made the mistake of letting my 2yr old eat lucky charms on the way to an event because he didn't wake up in time for breakfast. Man, I got the comments. Glad to know there are other homeschoolers who allow the occasional lucky charm :)!

Prayers for your sister and family. My nephew was also delivered by c section (but his was a true emergency). He also had to go back to the hospital and was released after 48 hours-it took that long to get the tests back. The nurses would say as soon as all the tests come back negative he can go. He also was given pumped breast milk with formula at the hospital. It took a little bit, but he did nurse like a champ for a little over a year. She did have to work at it for the first few weeks, but once he got it he was good. My sil was not awake during the surgery, so when her second was born (by c section) she had them put a mirror up so she could really be involved. She still talks about how accomodating the staff was, since she completely missed the first one.

I did love the human pacifier phase, until he moved right into the "will not nurse to sleep, has 8 teeth and likes to bite if he isn't hungry, and thinks I am a human jungle gym" phase. I love this phase too, but as much as I would love to cuddle him to sleep and sleep with him, he will not do that (and never has). My DS2 was the cuddliest baby ever-he slept with me for quite a long time and I loved it. Thank you everyone for all the great advice. If anyone else has any to add I am :bigear:. I put the books on hold at the library, so thanks for those recs.

Thanks for this point of view too. If they really all do sleep thru the night eventually then I can probably keep doing what we are doing. I guess after 8 mos with no improvement in his sleeping habits, I am starting to wonder if he will ever sleep more than 3 hrs at once. And since he doesn't nap well I can't ever get a nap to catch up. But, a lot of my tiredness is just frustration. If I had hope that in a few more months he would be sleeping better I would probably not feel so overwhelmed and already defeated when the alarm goes off and I can't pry my eyes open. It really has just been this week that I feel like the lack of sleep is really to show in my life. I do love this stage and I know I will miss it when he is bigger. I also really want to do what is best for him. Im not sure that waking up during the night and catnapping is allowing him to get the sleep he needs

This is pretty much what I have been doing. I am starting to get worried that I will be doing it forever...so nice to know it will eventually end.

This is probably what I needed to hear. I am really on the fence about letting him cry because I am pretty sure he will cry for a long time. But if it works, I'm sure it will be worth it.

Thanks Aime. I'll try that. I had thought about doing it, but I haven't yet had the courage to make him stay in bed the whole nap time (even though I make my other kids even if they complain). I would love sleeping with him too, but no way would it work. He is much more interested in poking my eyes than sleeping.

He goes to bed at 8 and wakes every 3 hours like clockwork. He has woken up every 3 hours since he was born. I have always nursed him and put him back to bed. But now at 8 mos I don't think he needs to eat every 3 hours at night. I nurse him 5-6 times during the day and he is getting better at eating solid food (now that he finger feeds). He crawls and cruises all day, so he should be tired. He is in about the 50th percentile for height and weight. As far as naps, he takes a morning one 2hrs after he wakes up and then an afternoon one when the other boys have quiet time. About 75% of the time he will only sleep for 45 min. I know he needs a longer nap, but am not sure how to get him to do it. Thanks

Hi This is my first year homeschooling and so far my 8month old has given me the most trouble. He is my third, so you would think I would have figured it out by now. Anyway, he is a TERRIBLE sleeper. He still wakes up several times a night and takes two cat naps during the day. I think I am doing everything right, but it isn't working. He puts himself to sleep in his crib with a white noise machine. He still cries himself to sleep..usually for just five minutes but sometimes longer. I try to keep his routine fairly consistent, but with the other kids it doesn't always work. With my others once they put themselves to sleep they learned to sleep. I could handle the first six months of sleep deprivation, but these last few months are really starting to wear me out. Any tips or bits of magic to share? Thanks so much!

I used to complain and tell my mom I hated quiet time. When she finally let me give it up, I really missed it. If you have the budget and inclination, you maybe could let the kids get something new that is only for quiet time to start. My kids love quiet time because it is the only time they get to play with playmobil (too many little pieces for a crawling baby). I try to make it positive- you can build whatever you want and no one will knock it down, etc. Even though I can tell they enjoy it, they sometimes complain or test the limits...those are usually the days they need the time the most. Good luck! In a few weeks you will be glad you did it.

I definately feel this way a lot. My oldest is just in K, but I have to sit with him for everything. The baby is crawling, nursing, and being spoon fed and having diapers changed. So my 2yr old gets hardly any attention. I try to take breaks to do special things with just him, but it is hard. My oldest has definately had much more attention throughout his life. But, the 2yr old LOVES having a big brother. I try not to let the guilt get to me too much. I'm sure not having as much attention has its benefits.

I agree with this. I have a SIL who decided to put her family on a GF diet. She did lose weight really quickly and loves it. However, there was no reason for her kids to go on it (no sickness or developmental or growth issues at all) and nothing about them has changed. She gets really huffy when people don't make special accomodations for their diet. She doesn't bother to bring GF food for everybody at functions but she will complain and complain when others don't bring food their family can eat. Also, she comes across really ungrateful and elitist when people offer the kids food-it isn't good enough for her family and she is a better parent because she actually researches what goes in her kids mouths. I never noticed her being rude before the diet, but she has said some really rude things to people about food since beginning the diet (not blaming the diet at all). I think that if you eliminate something from a kids diet it should be done only if really necessary. Her kids really have missed out on things that they wouldn't have if they could eat "normally." It is really hard to do spontaneous things with them because you can't just give them food that is in your house already or pack a quick snack. At a recent out-of-town funeral in a rural area we spent SO MUCH time trying to find things they could eat instead of visiting/mourning with the rest of the family. The church provided our meals (she complained that no one told them to do GF). If you really are needing to be GF it will be worth it, but it is a hassle. I do think you can learn things from an elimination diet, but it is hard because so many variables affect how you feel and you can't control for the placebo effect. In my area, gluten is blamed for everything. I hear that word at least 20 times a day. However, I do think going GF is lifechanging for some and I am glad it is getting easier for them to follow that lifestyle. But, yes, I do think it is a overhyped in my world. ETA: I do love my SIL and her kids, so I don't mind the hassle. I try to keep GF stuff in the house so they can come over spontaneously. I'm just saying that it is hard to do GF all the time, so I wouldn't do it unnecessarily. -Me, who has lurked here a long time and probably should not start by posting on this thread