I, too, had c-sections with all of mine. My first was not planned but my oldest ds' heart rate bottomed out a few times so they needed to get him quickly. My recovery time was a piece of cake for all of mine and I didn't even fill my pain pills for 2 of the 3 births. The recovery time is easy if you follow the instructions from the nurses about getting up and walking around. You will have just had your abdomen cut open so there will be some pain but it won't be unbearable. I also had a pain pump for the night of my surgeries as well. Maybe it's because I never had a vag birth or because I was so euphoric about having my baby, but the birth - to me - was still an amazing experience!

No idea about moving them but when we had puppies, we had a heat lamp or a heating pad hurried under the blankets with the cord hidden (ie putting the heating blanket under the wading pool would work too) to try to keep the puppies warm while momma dog is out getting food. We let our cocker have her pups in a bathroom. It was nice and easy to clean and warm with little interference. Congrats on the puppies!

Please let your cousin know that there are a LOT of people here in Kalamazoo that are praying for them as well! I wish there was more we could do. :grouphug:

I had to comment because I truly had the best mil anyone could ask for. She was the best person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. The biggest thing was that she always respected dh and I as people, as a couple and as parents. If she disapproved of something we did, she didn't let us know and let us make mistakes. She genuinely cared for me and always made me feel like family. Truly she was awesome.

:iagree: not to mention that I went to the public schools here in town. I was unprepared for college, the curriculum is far too concerned with not irritating anyone and the schools are downright violent. The stories my neighbors tell me make me shudder!

this is such a good idea! We aren't going to start for another year but if ds hates to read and write like his daddy, maybe this will help! Thank you!

Has anyone used zoo phonics to teach their preschoolers? I have been looking at phonics programs for my oldest for the summer/fall and this was recommended to me by a friend who used to teach preschoolers. I am researching the program now but I didn't know if anyone had success with it, had heard anything about it or hated it? It is supposed to be helpful for kids as young as 18 months, which would be perfect for me since my ds2 is begging to "do school" with ds1.

OKay I am a total newbie, as seen by my post count, and I am like Margie, I usually have nothing to add. I have more questions than answers because I am SO new to this whole thing. I am honestly just trying to figure things out! But you all have been wonderful with all of your expertise in homeschooling little ones! Thank you for that!

Well, I am very new here and to homeschooling but we have to homeschool to give our kids a good education. The schools here are poorly run and downright violent, even in the elementary schools. The private schools here are more than our mortgage payment is for one child. So we are slowly working our way into homeschooling. If I had your opportunity, I might send my kids to school, but after reading about the tighty knit families here, watching other homeschool kids in the "real world" and reading studies about homeschooling, I am sold on it. I know that it is meant to be for our family.

Thank for the home organization tips too! I hadn't even thought of that sort of thing yet. Fortunately, we have a wonderful support system here in town with my family and DHs family is only about 90 minutes away which is extremely helpful. Between the 2 of us, we get the house cleaned and dinner cooked. DH and I are a really good team (not to toot our own horns or anything) so as soon as we can get on a schedule of some kind, we will be golden. The question is whether we will ever get to the organized, scheduled part! Maybe its better to fly by the seat of our pants? Who knows? I'm just excited to get started! :001_smile:

Bump!

Wow, thank you for the help. I know I am more inclined to do phonics with the kids than doing the whole word reading just because I am more comfortable with that type of approach but my mom did buy my kids your baby can read DVDs for Christmas. I do have the WTM book and LOVED it. I was hooked after reading it the first time. I am checking out some of the curriculums you all suggested and my 3 yr old caught me looking at star fall.com. He wants to do school right now and it's 10pm. LOL. :001_smile: I went to a homeschool conference in town and watched carol barnier speak. Has anyone read her learning styles book? I am thinking about buying the book to get some insight into learning styles, but I am worried that it is going to focus on teaching a child with ADHD. At this point, I am hesitant to label my boys as ADHD because they are so young. If anyone has anymore ideas, I am all ears. Like I said, I am really new to this and slightly overwhelmed at this point. I am trying to be cautious at this point and to take it slow so we don't get burned out.

now that I have gotten past the "what are you thinking?" mentality from my dh and family, I could use some help. My kids are still very young - 3, 2, and 1. Well actually, my little ones are almost 2 and almost 1. Anyway, I am already starting letter of the week with my oldest which he loves and we are doing more reading then we used to. Is there anything else that I should be doing or that you veterans would recommend? I don't really want to push them too hard as they are so young and we all need to ease into this but I am looking for a little guidance. No one in my family or in dh's family homeschools and neither dh or I were home schooled as kids. I am joining a local homeschool group for the social aspect of things here in town but I am really excited about the WTM and giving my kids a classical education. Advice? Help? Anything...? :bigear:

I'm from south west Michigan - Kalamazoo area and very new here! :001_smile: