Hi Lisa, no, this is not my adopted daughter. I was aware of precocious puberty but never heard of it being connected to early malnourishment! I thought it had to do more with guessing the wrong age. I thank you for your reply, because I will have to remember that in a few more years! We dont' eat MSG or corn syrup, but I'm going to check out GABA. Thanks! Denise

I'm going to be calling the dr. about my daughter but wanted to pass this by you all here. She's 9, 3rd grade because of where her b-day falls. She went to ps for 1st and half of 2nd grade and I plan to keep her home through hs. She's obviously going through a growth spurt right now. She's VERY thin but eating like a pig. She's very, very tall and her shoe size went up 3 sizes since 3/9! Anyway, in the midst of all of this she's also gotten 4 severe migraines in 2 - 3 weeks and is having a VERY hard time focusing. She's doing MUS and was doing very well until recently. Now she's getting most problems wrong. I can even see during her syncro class she's having a hard time focusing. Has any of your kids gone through this during a growth spurt? My boys didn't, and I homeschooled them, too. I'll also add that we've had to take of a LOT of time because we brought my mother home to live with us in January, and we're just getting back to a normal schedule in the past 2 - 3 weeks. That said, she's only got 5 weeks of math left, but she's REALLY struggling. She can do multiple digit multiplication well in my presence but not when she's alone. She gets the answers right but is carrying in all the wrong places. Thanks for any help/advice/suggestions, Denise

I am truly sorry! You're absolutely right, I did mix you up with someone else! I just searched my thread and couldn't find a response from you. I'm sorry!:blushing: I really should have been more careful! The other part about being Christian is projecting Jesus through us. I humbly ask for your forgiveness...... and "ignore" others who seek to cause problems. It's so much easier. Again, I'm truly sorry!

HUGE wow factor. We were all speechless at the end.

well you asked, so I'm going to answer. :D LOVE is God's greatest commandment. I can't believe how unloving Christians can act, especially to one another. Turn the other cheek. Be the peacemaker. Don't point out another's sin without recognizing your own. Act loving and kind. Respect others - and place their own best interest above your own. For some reason this was always so important and easy to me. Sometimes I unknowingly stumble but if ever pointed out, by the flesh OR the spirit, I immediately take ownership and apologize. It's just so easy for me but is often not reciprocal. If I remember right, and I don't have the best memory and could be wrong, but I felt verbally attacked by you here over a "remove the shoes before you enter my house" thread. I was quite shocked at many of the responses, yours included. It wasn't very "Christian" at all. I think to act lovingly and kind is the epitome of Christianity. Denise

can anyone tell me the best, hard clumping brands? We have 3 cats, 3 boxes. They each use their own so I won't get the automatic kind. I *loved* Sams brand litter but am now a BJ's member. I don't like theirs. I haven't used any HARD clump litter that I'm happy with. Can anyone recommend that's HARD clumping and controls odors? Thanks, Denise

When we moved out to the country 12.5 years ago, a simple lifestyle was exactly what I wanted. I did NOT want to be running all the time, as when I do I am NOT a good mother. I think my kids crave the same. It was the way they were raised. My oldest 17, all the way down to my youngest, 6, LOVE to spend time at home. They get plenty of time with friends, but they definitely need their amount of time at home living peacefully and enjoying family. Denise

all my cars have had leather and my living room sets were all leather. I loved the ease of it but now I won't buy ANYTHING leather. I hate that body oils change the color of leather. The darker leather is nice, but make sure it's not painted on. The painted on leather will wear. I now believe that we'll never again buy leather furniture. Microfibre is my new favorite and I've had this sectional for 4 years now. Now about cars: I've had nothing but issues with leather. I have four kids, so there may be more wear, but we are NOT hard on things. My Suburban's leather absorbed oils and looked dirty all the time. Also, many jeans have dyes that bleed onto leather. My Honda Pilot is 2 years old and BOTH front seats have tears in them. I have to mention again that I really take care of my stuff so this shocked and disgusted me. My friend has a Honda Odyssey, also 2 years old, and her leather is splitting at the seams. The leather is as thin as a sheet of paper, if not thinner. If cars made microfiber seats, that would be my first choice. I don't know if they do. After 15 years of nothing but leather in cars and home, I can honestly say that I'll never again buy leather. I also hate the kids burning their legs on the leather!

you know, I understand what Nadia is saying, but I also have to admit something publicly here. I do not tend to post much or ask questions since I was flamed and assumptions were made of me just by a few posts on asking whether or not to ask guests to remove shoes before entering my home. I was shocked at how rude people became and shocked that some publicly attacked me and made such awful WRONG assumptions about me. I rarely post now because I just don't have time or energy to deal with the drama. So I can also completely understand the ignore button.

without a doubt, the one with more space and better neighborhood. We chose to move further out for acreage and our Dream Home. My husband commutes 45 miles to work each way, but when he comes home he's arrives at what he calls his "little piece of heaven on earth." We have NO regrets. We moved from an area where we were close to everything, and now we're further away from everything but have absolutely NO regrets. We learned to group errands with appts. and such. And we got lucky. The small town next to ours started an AWESOME homeschool group. Our friends are all local now, but you'll have to consider driving your kids to see their friends. Is that ok with you?

COUNT ME IN!!!!!!!!!!! My sweet boy turned 13.... and some days I dream of the day he turns 18. And then I get mad at myself! I love him, I adore him, he's SO fun to be around, and then he opens his mouth or shows "that" attitude...... and I find myself dreaming again. Someone told me to wait a year, it'll get better then. My oldest son was SO easy!

these are GOOD tears. THANK YOU! :001_smile:

LISTEN TO YOUR GUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We made a new friend through our church that quickly became like family. His wife was in NY and he was in NH and we met her at some church gatherings while she visited, and we pitied the poor lonely man while she was in NY. We invited him over for holidays when he didn't have the money to drive back to NY, and he ate meals with us several times per week, sometimes five. We felt bad for him because he missed his family, and our extended family is TINY so we welcomed him as our "family" My second born considered him family, and closer than his uncle. All was well the first WEEKS, but then I silently questioned. My husband silently questioned. My best friend silently questioned. This man led a BIBLE STUDY AT CHURCH. He seemed humble, loving, lonely. Our family took him in when nobody else did, as we often do. And thank GOD I remain an over protective mom. Had I thrown my kids to chance, I cringe to think of what could have easily happened. He befriended the family initially, but then we found it odd that he kept wanting to take our boys out. We allowed it only once, knowing that our oldest, who was 6'2 and a red belt, would have watched over his younger brother. They were 16 and 12 at the time, and we did NOT suspect anything initially. He churched with us for a year and a half, my husband got to know him through bible study for over a year, our FAMILY befriended him during Soulfest - a HUGE 4 day concert/camp event in which 40 of us spent time together. We felt safe for that ONE time, but then we slowly started to be uncomfortable. I felt bad for distrusting someone so "nice" but dh and I and BF started to openly question him amongst ourselves. God protected OUR family but another boy suffered at his hands. And our family is still scarred. While the man at your church may be completely innocent, TRUST YOUR GUT. I'm SO thankful that God protected us. Initially we were so happy with our new friend, but for over a year we questioned and wondered. Thank GOD for His protection.

yes, I've firmly told him "no!" over and over and over. So when we're in bed at night he goes NUTS getting ALL his digging out. He's such a wonderful dog, but has DEFINITELY got OCD. Seriously. So I think he holds it together all day and then has to get it out at night. :glare:

My dog keeps digging at his bed. We've gone through TONS of blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, quilts, bed spreads, even couch cushions! While the couch cushions lasted the longest, they're a MESS once he breaks through the material. He keeps digging at his bedding which breaks it down. I was at a home where they had three greyhounds and I saw them digging at their bedding, too. I don't know what to do! He really needs a soft bed because we have hardwood floors. Thanks, Denise

if I remember right, Nature's Miracle tells you to completely saturate the carpet AND pad. I'm certain it would work.

I would never recommend buying a Dyson. I never owned one, but when my good friend's husband was dying from cancer, I cleaned her home to help out quite a bit. I couldn't STAND her Dyson, and the plastic parts on it broke within a year and a half of her owning it. It was going to cost over $150 to replace the broken plastic, so she bought a brand new vacuum for $200. I've done through numerous vacuums. So far I have loved my Bissel best. I have one for pets and I love that all I have to do to go from wood floor to carpets is press a button. I also love the stair attachment it came with. Many vacuums charge extra for that. Denise

I've used vinegar many, MANY times successfully. With that many spots, though, you may need something stronger. I had a kitten jump on my daughter's new bed and pee all over the mattress. I never, EVER thought we could save the mattress, it soaked deep into the mattress. I used the Nature's Miracle. I doused the mattress and let it dry completely. Then I doused it again and let it dry completely. NO odor at all. Since your friend has a heavy duty job, I would recomment Nature's Miracle. Denise

I've been getting UTI's since I was 5 years old. It got to a point where I'd have one every year, sometimes twice; more in a bad year. In the 12.5 years we've lived in this home, I've gotten one or two. I drank cranberry faithfully but got sick of it. Two weeks ago I awoke with one and was upset because I felt it was far too advanced for anything natural. I heard raw, organic, unprocessed apple cider vinegar would work on them (I give it to my mother daily who is prone to UTI. She was on maintenance antibiotics just to keep UTI away. Two months and counting with none - this is GOOD!) so I made a strooooooooong glass of vinegar water and the infection went away! I was shocked! I've been drinking it ever since. Try to get your daughter to drink cranberry juice and put some of the vinegar water in. If she'll drink it, the UTI will go away without meds! If you do put her on meds, please get some good probiotics at the health food store to put her on once she's finished her meds. They will replace the good bacteria that the antibiotics kill. They're completely safe. Sorry, not the answer you were looking for, but maybe this will help you in the future!

tsk, tsk, tsk. LADIES! Come on! Tell him you're PREGNANT!!! :D Know what? I went to labor on 4/1 and called everyone when I went into the hospital, NOBODY believed me but my husband and doctor! My son hung on for 28 hours, so he wasn't born until 4/2. Or how about calling him while he's at work and tell him you rear ended someone and you think your car is totalled? That's AWFUL! Know something unbelievable? I once told my husband that when I had the slider open our horse ran into the house. I told him the horse was so spooked that I couldn't get him out, and he crapped all over our brand new sectional! My husband, a brilliant man who could easily become a Mensa member, was absolutely stunned. I never understood how someone so brilliant could have NO common sense. The horse would have had to climb a couple of stairs to get in the house. Not that it couldn't, but my husband should have realized our SLIPPERY wood floors would have been too much for him. :D How about telling your hubby a raccoon ran into the house and pooped all over the place, and you're so freaked out you're hiding out in the bedroom until he comes home? Bat stuck in the hood vent? Dryer vent? Wasp nest in the closet? Or you got a ticket? Speeding some outrageous speed? Arrested for shoplifting but it was an honest mistake, but the police won't listen to you and don't believe you? I'm making myself look bad! I'm going to go now!!! :leaving:

I'd honor your dh's desire to go there - at least for a visit. Check them out, see how you like it. I don't get caught up on denominations. The bible is God's word and as long as they're not straying from it, I don't care where I go to church. Then again....... we're not attending any church right now. We are meeting with other Christians in my home and theirs. We gave up on the institutional church because so much of what goes on there is not biblical - even sinful. Denise

I wish you had friends who were more supportive of you while dh was away! How about having a crowd over for potluck? That way not all the work (and expense!) is on you. Try to invite others with kids around your kids ages, and others who don't! While most of my friends have at least one kid around one of my kids' age, not all do. We mesh if we mesh and if we have kids with similar ages, fine. If not, well that's the way it goes.

too pressed for time to read the other responses, but Trent's Boundaries book/bible study was life changing for me. AND, it actually made my relationship with my parents much, much better. I placed healthy boundaries, they fought them, eventually respected them, and then our relationship flourished for a decade before dad died this past August. Trying to gain approval of mom will only cause failure and insecurity. Learn that if God and your hubby approve, nothing else matters in a way that should interfere with your choices. Denise

this really surprises me. And I have to say, if it's that harmful to an animal, please consider eating gum with sugar. Please know I am NOT being rude in my response. I have chewed sugarless gum for decades but recently switched to gum with sugar because I feel that the sugar in the gum is far less risky than the artificial sweeteners. Also know that I'm a HUGE animal lover (have a farm and house hold with 34 rescues which we pay for ourselves) and have spent a few Christmas days with animals in the hospital - once due to huge amounts of Lindt chocolate ingestion. I'm grateful for your posting the article about xylitol. I've been wanting to rearch sugar alternatives for my diabetic mother, this is one I'll cross of the list. Stevia and blue agave nectar are safe. I hope and pray your pooch is doing fine. I had no idea this could happen.... .and in such a short period of time! PLEASE keep us posted! Denise