Sbgrace, I was instructed by my dr (my reproductive endocrinologist, who actually discovered the deficiency, not my family dr) to do the following: Get Vitamin 3 supplements over the counter.... take 50,000iu once a week for 8 weeks... recheck vitamin d levels... dose will be adjusted when therapeutic range has been obtained. What is your opinion on this? Specifically, taking 50,000 at a time, once a week (whether that be 10- 5,000iu tablets or 5 - 10,000iu tablets)?

:bigear: I don't have any advice, but I'm very curious as to what others have to say. I just had a lot of lab work done as well. In addition to being diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), I apparently have a severe Vitamin D deficiency too.

In the short term, I would do whatever is best for you and your dd as far as the party goes. (Does your dd want to see her grandmother? Is it going to be uncomfortable for you if your mom comes?) But after the party, i would definitely choose Option 3. Like a previous post said, you can't change your mom. But you absolutely can tell tell her how you've felt throughout your life. She might not change, but at least for me, i would feel so much better finally being honest with her.

:lol: I love this!! (I also love a Starbucks iced chai! )

:grouphug: I understand how you feel! While my DH is very helpful when he is home, he is gone a lot. (He's in the Navy and is constantly on duty, underway, or deployed). Taking care of the kids, pets, and home can definitely feel overwhelming sometimes! FWIW, there are certain things that make me feel better and change my perspective when I am stressed out, overworked, or feeling unappreciated.... First, I remember why I do what I do - I love my DH and kids, I love my God, and I am serving and glorifying HIM by serving my family. He desires to me to do my best in all tasks, big or small, and to do them joyfully with a sense of purpose. Second, what doesn't kill me makes me stronger! :) My DH reminded me the other day of how quickly our kids are growing up and how little time we really have with them. He encouraged me to focus on enjoying them & our time together instead of allowing myself to get irritated over petty things. Do your sons get an allowance? We are starting something new around here to encourage my kids to remember the little things... hanging up their towels after showers, putting their dish in the dishwasher, putting their bikes in the garage before they come inside, etc. They get a set amount of money at the beginning of each week in a jar. So they can see what they'll end up with at the end of the week if they remember to do their chores, clean up after themselves, speak kindly to each other... A certain amount (depending on how much each child gets... say a dime if they got $3) is taken out of the jar with each infraction. I know this totally might not work for you or others, each child is different, but for my kids it is good motivation. And like a previous post mentioned - boundaries!

Thank you for the encouragement!

:iagree:We have both and this is correct. The prehistoric world section is pp.10-pp.103 in Usborne, while I only have to skip 5 in Kingfisher. But I also agree that Usborne is more kid-friendly. We got both at Rainbow Resource for pretty decent prices. The paperback edition of Usborne is $15.25 while the hardback is $29.95. Kingfisher is $22.50. Here are the links, which give good descriptions of each. http://rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?sid=1280249154-788582&subject=14&category=4003 http://rainbowresource.com/product/Kingfisher+History+Encyclopedia+%28revised%29/003618/1280249154-788582

Welcome! :001_smile:

Yes, it would interest me. I would have no reservations in allowing my kids to attend a sports program there.

We live in Intracoastal West, a couple miles away from Atlantic Beach. DH was stationed at NS Mayport when he was on sea duty... so this used to be a convenient place to live! Not so much anymore. We are debating selling here and renting down in Orange Park/Fleming Island for the remainder of DH's tour in Jax. How interesting that you are a piano teacher! I plan on starting my 7 yr old DD in piano (my choice) or violin (her choice) this school year. DS is really wanting to learn guitar. Are you a member of a homeschool group here?

Hi Gen! Welcome! I'm Jenn :) and pretty new here myself. We are in Jacksonville as well - DH is stationed at NAS JAX. Awesome that you have horses!!! We would LOVE to move further outside of town. I can't offer any advice since this our first year homeschooling ourselves, after the last few years in a Christian school here. Just wanted to say hello! :)

I recently read Radical Homemakers and this was basically what I got out of it. We've become such a consumer society... she made the point of being producers instead.

My DH didn't care for it and thought the plot was pretty lame, but my 10 yr old DS really enjoyed it!

Definitely things in pockets... especially when they ruin other clothes! Lipstick, pens, rocks.... ugh I hate finding stuff in there!

We love MOSH and have season passes so we can catch the different exhibits that come through. I think the Chronicles of Narnia exhibit is going on there right now. We also love the Jax Zoo, but since it's so been sooooo hot this summer, MOSH is a better choice! :)

I also recommend Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp! Other books that I've found helpful over the years (I have a 10 yr old son) are Boundaries for Kids by Cloud and Townsend and Bringing up Boys by James Dobson. I just got a book last weekend at the curriculum conference that I've heard good things about, but I haven't started it yet: Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes...in You and Your Kids! by Turansky and Miller

I really enjoyed Butchart Gardens when we visited there several years ago...

I recently got a planner that I love, so now I'm afraid to look up the planner you mentioned for fear that I'd like that one more! I have a bad habit of going through a few planners a year. I always find ones that I like more and "must have it." The goal this year is to stick with just one. :D

So far I really like mine and have used almost all of the extras included in it. It's pretty too, so that's a plus. :) I like the idea of the online planners and PDF's, but for some reason I do much better with pencil and paper!

The WTM has, without a doubt, been my most important resource so far. This is our first year homeschooling, and I used it to choose most of our curriculum (along with reading these boards). It is full of so much valuable information and ideas! I wouldn't feel near as confident going into this first year if i hadn't read it.

My vote is for Pirate - i love that name for a dog!! We tend to pick out names for our dogs depending on their breed. We looked up English names for our Yorkshire Terrier and decided on Oliver. (When he's in trouble, my DH call him by his unofficial middle name too - Oliver Fitzgerald. Ha:)). Our rottweiler needed a stronger name so we went with Koda. Our sweet, lazy lab is named Mattie (named by our son when he was 3).

My DH is on the third and final book in the series right now. He mentioned with the first two how slow it was starting out. I think it might have been dragon tattoo that he showed me how far he was in the book - about 2/3 of the way - and said that it was finally getting interesting.

For my DS entering 4th grade - Lots of reading!! Lang Arts: MP Spelling Workout D Essentials of the Engl Lang Our Mother Tongue IEW Medieval Hist FL: Lively Latin Math: Saxon 5/4 Science: Apologia Astronomy & NB journal w/Usborne Science Encycl History: SOTW 2 (and3&4 as we go through it in CC) supplemented w/ Kingfisher History Encycl & Usborne Encycl of World Hist Bible: Positive Action for Christ: Building Life Castles and... Classical Conversations guitar football (fall) basketball (winter) soccer & baseball (spring) field trips & camping :)

Well after spending way too much time reading this forum the past month, this is my first post. :) I still have a few more decisions to make, but this is what's planned so far for my 2nd grade dd: LOTS of reading!! Language Arts: Mp Spelling Workout B 1st Lang Lessons 1&2 Writing with Ease (still need to figure out something for teaching cursive handwriting) - suggestions?? Math: Saxon 2 Science: Apologia Astronomy & NB Journal History: SOTW 2 (and 3&4 as we get there in CC) w/ Kingfisher Hist Enc & Usborne Ency of World Hist Bible: Positive Action for Christ: Finding God's Promises along w/ Classical Conversations art lessons gymnastics soccer violin field trips!