I miss our housekeeper. We paid $60 for 5 hours one day a week. It didn't solve the clutter problem, but things were cleaner. I'd love to find someone soon. Karen

If you're not ready to talk to a dr., then at least talk to a few IRL friends who can offer some support (and get you to the dr./counselor) if needed.

I've never seen this catalog. Please, tell me more about it:)

Just a nice card would be my guess. Mardels has ones specifically about ordination.

We've been practicing lately... one nation under (not over) God invisible with liberty and justice for all. Then the question, "why is it invisible?" I guess we better keep practicing. .... Any other funnies like this?

thats a great idea.

fitted t shirt + special/cute jewelry would be my vote:) oh, LL bean sometimes has cute stuff too:)

I was in my sister's wedding at 34 weeks. It was fine:) I was a very matronly matron of honor. ( i offered to serve cake and punch instead, though) It turned out beautifully, and the photographer did a great job helping me look good in the pics.

Donna Young :iagree:

We're going to use Epi Kardia next year for history, memory work, and science. It covers the history of the world in one year and is literature based, Christian, too. I ordered the complete K-2 program and the kindergarten lesson plans so I wouldn't have to plan, but if I want to make it a bit more challenging I'll have the information I need.

you could accelerate through Phonics Road 1. It's $$, but it is excellent:)

our dollar tree has easter hats still....decorating those would be fun, so would simple dress up like scarves, boas, jewelry, and gloves. The girls could bring a doll and decorate a hat for their dolls as well. It sounds like a wonderful party.

Are you doing any 'air writing'. DD likes to do this with her pirate sword, her fairy wand, a birthday streemer taped to a straw, etc. b/c she still switches hands we do both hands together, then say the letter, then I say the letter formation words, then she does it while saying the letter formation words, then, silently, then again with me saying the letter formation words. Then we write on huge handwriting lines w/ dry erase, then in sand, salt, oatmeal, etc. We do the worksheet last:) We also use sidewalk chalk, and water paint on the sidewalk. DD loves the multi sensory stuff and it seems like the formations are sticking better:)

We're going to use the Epi Kardia kindergarten curriculum with our own math (MUS primer) and phonics (PR 1). I am excited about it. It covers the history of the whole world in one year vs. a classical schedule for history. I think it will be fun:)

We're doing the home depot kids build workshop the saturday before father's day. They're building a really cute tool box. Last year we gota 40% off coupon too and bought a few tools for dad. DD took him on a shopping spree with $10.00 and a 40% off coupon. They were so fun to watch shopping together!

If you are breastfeeding, then your accquired immunity should provide some protection for your child. I am so thankful to have a dr. office that will support me and my family. Even though I don't call on them often, I really do that I want to have that support. We don't discuss my stand on vaccines often, although we did at first. When I made DD's well visit appointment for the summer, the receptionist asked 'do we need any vaccines for this visit?' It sounds like she asks everyone that. (She may think I go to the health department for vaccines). Last winter DD broke her leg. My pedi was able to call in xrays which allowed us to avoid the ER and see the orthopedic surgeon in his office that same day. If we had gone through the ER we would have gotten the resident on call instead of the 'Mayo Clinic Pediatric Rotation' Orthopedic Surgeon. My pediatrician helped me decide to see a pediatric specialist for the leg. (The casting techs at the local clinic were not skilled at casting anyone under 10). My local pedi was able to call in a pain prescription refill on the weekend. We could have gotten by with Motrin, but I was so glad to have it just in case for the long road trip to the specialist. I hope you find a doctor who will let you explore the vaccine issue. I am thankful we live in a country where parental rights to make medical decisions for their children are still in place.

The VT seems spot on, and willing to see how DD does. DD is just now reading some, but with a very very short attn span that I think is vision related. I just don't trust the eye doctor. How much does my confidence in the eye doctor matter?

I found instructions on line for a book made of cheapo zip lock baggies. It would be perfect for a nature journal. I'll look for those instructions. Karen

I'd love to hear how it goes:) I'm looking at that for 2012-2013! I dont think DD is ready for it yet.

I finally bought curriculum for the fall. We're going to do the Epi Kardia curriculum. I ordered both the K daily lesson plans and the k-2 complete curriculum to give flexibility. I am excited. Anyone else use these products? Karen

sounds like you're having success:) Awesome!

I would suggest a vision check and doing math on grid paper or notebook paper turned landscape. It sounds like some of it is visual perception.

I love first stroke handwriting's keyboarding and cursive curriculum. You could easily do them simultaneously. They also have a one hour to legiblity kit for print and a pencil gymnastics kit...If pencil grip is a problem, then I would do the gymnasitcs before cursive to get a solid grasp. (no I don't work for them. I do love their products, especially for 'smart' kids. Karen

I just found out you can enlarge the font on a kindle! Maybe that could help you? My DH is delighted and begging for one.

I'm so sorry. Praying for your whole family.