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Momof3littles

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Everything posted by Momof3littles

  1. If I had to do it, I think I'd opt for a preschooler who could do little Montessori style activities while I worked with the older kids. I found it easier to HS the older kid(s) once the younger child(dren) could sit and work on little things for 10-15 min increments. It might take some work on getting them to stay in their seat or on a mat, finishing an activity, etc. but once you work through that part, I think it would be somewhat more doable than a toddler.
  2. We were there in early Feb 2014, and lines were very manageable. There was one busier park day, but otherwise it was fine. We used crowd calendars, and often ended up riding things without a wait, and then changing our FP to something else (but often not much was available if we changed on the fly). Getting to the parks early was very helpful! We loved the dessert party. I hate crowds, so having a chance to watch without being elbow to elbow with people was really nice. Dessert was just an added bonus.
  3. Strata. Great for using up leftovers, you can add some protein on top of the eggs (breakfast meat or whatever), add cheese for extra satiety, etc. Cook it once and it can be reheated in the days following. If you want to be uber frugal, save heels of the bread in the freezer to make it.
  4. I agree with this. I pack away a lot of what we aren't actively using, but I *still* have a lot out that could be boxed up until it is a better fit with what we are studying. I have the storage space to do so, and it would at least further decrease the visual clutter and streamline cleanup. This is my next big project in fact. Too many resources are sitting out on shelves but rarely used right now.
  5. Also, would it help to put some upcoming rest days on the calendar? Like in 4 weeks, you'll take a Friday and Monday off for a long weekend? Knowing breaks are coming is helpful for sure with burnout IME.
  6. Psyllium and flax didn't help my child at all, so like anything YMMV. I just bring that up to emphasize fiber won't fix every case of constipation. My child ate plenty of fiber and it did nothing for him at all. Cutting dairy, increasing liquids, cutting bananas helped a small amount. If you've been trying fiber for a while and it isn't making a noticeable difference, I'd consider whether you need to add some additional things.
  7. Sometimes it helps me to shake up curriculum a little. Not start over, but buy a new read aloud, change/add/start a morning basket or morning time, pull something different from the shelves (logic workbooks, How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare, bust out some audiobooks, whatever). Just shaking things up a little helps me. I will cycle back around to our regular curriculum, but adding something new or different helps break me out of the doldrums at times. I'm sure my kids feel the same way. Add in some educational games? I'm not saying abandon the core of your school, but adding in some different curriculum or new topics might get you interested again. When I'm really sick of teaching, we spend some time doing read alouds from a whole host of subjects. Breaking away from curriculum helps me a little.
  8. I had one that suffered from major constipation starting after an out of state move. He went on to have issues for 1-2 years with withholding and so forth. A few things. We used Miralax. I was reluctant and didn't want to use it long term really, but at the time, it was the best option. Upping fiber did nothing to help my child. FWIW, I have another child who sometimes gets a little constipated, and in contrast, if we stay on top of it, lots of berries, cut back dairy, etc. he does fine. Anyway, the child that had the worst issues with it did do better if we eliminated bananas and dairy in general, but that wasn't enough. Another thing is to have them attempt several times a day on a schedule, and have them use a stool to support their feet, giving them a more secure base. I still think we stopped the miralax too early. He had lingering encoperesis issues from probably age 3-4 as a result of the ongoing constipation. It really is a long process to bowel retraining, and I wouldn't take it lightly, because the repercussions can last. That said, there was a recent NYT story about ongoing concerns with long term Miralax use. You may want to consult with a GI doctor for some guidance. Fiber isn't a fix all for all cases of constipation. You may need to explore other means. And even when they seem to have normal BMs on a fairly regular basis, it is important to consider whether there are still lingering issues. Kids with chronic constipation often have overstretched bowels that can hold a lot of stool, so sometimes only the soft stuff is eliminated. If it is a chronic problem, it really can take a LONG time for them to return to a true normal. You could ask an MD about a magnesium supplement possibly?
  9. Physical therapist assistant jobs usually require pre-req classes and then the actual program itself, so depending on the time frame, it can take a bit to complete. It is also quite physical. I practiced as a physical therapist in pediatrics,and even in peds, the lifting can still be considerable. As a PT I worked primarily in early intervention, and even in dealing with very little people ;) I had a lot of issues with my thumbs (DeQuervain's tendonitis) from holding babies and small kids on therapy balls, stretching them, etc. PTAs cannot do evaluations, but otherwise the physical part of their job looks very much like what a physical therapist does. In a hospital that means getting people out of bed post-op with an IV pole, catheter, etc. and being prepared in case they fall. In a skilled nursing facility that means getting up older folks and being ready to catch them if they get wobbly. In outpatient orthopedics, you are leaning over tables, getting on tables to stretch someone's leg, using your hands, thumbs, fingers a lot (tendonitis, etc. not uncommon) to massage, palpate, etc. In peds, you may see "kids" who are the size of full grown adults. I mention it only because it is most definitely a physically demanding job. Just know that going in. I have friends in their mid to late 30s who have transitioned to working in administration *solely* because they were starting to feel the toll on their body. It is still rather employable, and one fantastic thing is you can definitely work part time, and in a wide variety of settings. Completing the program would involve several full-time internships.
  10. It goes beyond kegels. Really, often times people need to rebuild their entire core to help with their pelvic floor issues. The American Physical Therapy Association has a "find a PT" feature that will help you find PTs who specialize in women's health. And for PPs who are unfamiliar with this, yes, it is in the scope of practice for PTs in most states. Click on urinary incontinence or women's health to find some options in your area. If none come up, call a few outpatient PT practices and ask if they know of anyone in your area. You might also ask a few midwives and OBs. http://www.womenshealthapta.org/pt-locator/ should get you started with finding someone though. Find someone who does this as a substantial % of their caseload, not someone who only sees a few cases per month or year and took just a one weekend course. Look for someone who does this work as a major part of their caseload. You could also see a urogynecologist, although they often will jump right to a pessary or surgery, so you may want to try conservative management and see if the therapist considers you a good candidate. Your PT may not do women's health (probably they likely do not) but may be able to offer some suggestions. I'd ask them to ask around about who is good in your area for addressing urinary incontinence and women's health issues. My mom had some improvement after seeing a women's health PT. I practiced as a PT pre-kids, but women's health is not my specialty. I helped my mom connect with a practitioner.
  11. Dh dropped off our donations, and I'm trying to fill more bags up. I cleaned out one garbage bag full of additional clothes, towels, nice barely worn uggs that my DD used as slippers before outgrowing. I didn't get much decluttering done, but we had a rockin' day of school and I baked something.
  12. Can't her medical team give you a RX and you can go through a durable medical equipment vendor? They do need to be appropriately fitted,and in certain instances you need different features. You also want to be sure it is used correctly. For example, when getting up from a chair, push off of the chair's arms or seat vs holding onto the walker to stand up.
  13. We worked in some WWS during the first semester of 5th while still reviewing CE vocab, doing a few assignments in W&R, and occasionally reviewing grammar. Now in our 2nd semester of 5th he's mostly focused on WWS lessons. We won't get through all of WWS level 1 this year. I don't know that this combo is ideal in any way; it just is kind of what worked out for us this year since I wanted to hold off on Voyage until next year. He does other writing across the curriculum as well.
  14. I use MCT with WWS. My 5th grader did Town last year, and we reviewed some this year, but did not move on to Voyage. We added in WWS and a little bit of Writing and Rhetoric. DS is a pretty strong writer but doesn't always enjoy the process, to put it mildly.
  15. I use SOTW with a 5th grader (2nd cycle for him), but we add in a lot of supplementary reading appropriate for the logic stage. I think it is on the lighter side for him, but it works for us overall. I would not go that route with a 7th and 5th grader though. My DD (2nd grader) is doing her first trip through SOTW, so for us, integrating the two kids and rounding out their studies with supplementary reading works okay.
  16. I have no interest in CC as it is currently set up. I am part of a small co-op (4-5 families) we built with friends, and we cover some classical academics, including poetry, memorization, art history, etc. It works well for us. Most co-ops don't appeal to me. We do park days with fellow HSers, and then our one day a week of academic co-op with close friends who share a similar educational philosophy.
  17. IMO camping in Virginia in March will be cold. I camped in my early 20s on a climbing trip with just regular gear when it was maybe in the 40s? and it wasn't super pleasant to say the least. At night it was cold and I may have accused (now) DH of trying to kill me ;) I wouldn't opt to do that. Is NC too far? Could you do the Triangle? Indoor water park (not my thing really but something like Great Wolf Lodge)?
  18. Write some of this down if you haven't already so you have a very clear list of what she's dealing with when you head to the concussion clinic. Does she have any photosensitivity? Is she taking any medications? Any chance what you saw was a seizure? They can accompany TBI. You might consider videoing it next time, but I would call the after hrs line to discuss with the MD. I'd also ask if could be an autonomic nervous system issue related to the concussion. I know you are seeing a neurologist very soon, but document this, ask DD how often she's having these shaking episodes, video if you can catch one. I'd call the MD even if it is after hours, TBH.
  19. We adore MCT's materials. They have added so much to our HS experience.
  20. We purged about 8 more large garbage bags out of our closets yesterday. 6 were from DH and my closet (and we've purged several bags over the last month or so already). I need to do our books but am kind of dreading that one.
  21. I would get at least 3 quotes. In our last move, the quotes we got varied a lot. Something like 8 or 9K, 11K and 16K. We used Allied and we were happy, but I think so much really comes down to the individual *crew* that moves you. We had a husband and wife team of packers and then a separate moving crew for the actual move. Some of the pricing also depends on where they can park and so forth. When my husband went back to grad school and we had to do a budget move a number of years ago, we used ABF U-Pack and had a positive experience. For a move from a shorter term rental to a house we bought (local move of 3 miles) we used a team of two guys who were recommended to us by a coworker of DH's. They were bonded and insured, and two older guys who worked smarter not harder :) They were quite excellent too, but that type of operation can be risky if you don't have a recommendation. We moved a lot of boxes and small stuff via multiple trips, but they moved our big stuff, including all of our furniture.
  22. This little mindgame works well for me: I give myself permission to rebuy in the off chance I will need or want it back. And you know, I think that has happened 1-2x maybe (?) in 10 yrs. Just knowing it is an option if I regret it helps me purge. I like the Marie Kondo method mentioned upthread. I haven't done a total purge, but we've been steadily getting rid of a bunch of stuff, and we're not super hoard-y to begin with. The KonMari method just brings a simple perspective to things. The book isn't earth shattering, but a nice, easy, short read that leaves me wanting to streamline. Good luck!
  23. We have to test in certain years, not all, and not until 3rd grade. We've used PIAT-r in the past, administered by our evaluator. What I like is that they go until they get so many in a row wrong and it is all verbal (so no need to spend a lot of time prepping for scantron style testing). For my DS1's first test in third grade, I think it took maybe around a half hr. After that as an intro, we've also had my eldest take the EXPLORE the last two years . That doesn't count as an acceptable grade level standardized test in our state though, so some years he will do both PIAT-r and EXPLORE. PIAT-r was a nice, gentle introduction for him, particularly since he gets a little anxious at times. At the same time, EXPLORE has provided him with an opportunity to complete an out of grade level test in a group testing environment, which has also been a good experience for him. If we didn't do the PIAT-r, we would probably do the CAT online and have them self administer. I would not expect it to be particularly informative, but would go that route for ease of meeting our testing requirements.
  24. Hold Me Tight Getting the Love You Want Gottman's books 5 Love Languages book
  25. My kids are weird and have never preferred to stay in pajamas. My almost 11 yo will not be seen in loungewear even, including sweat pants, and has been like that forever. I always get dressed and ready. Sometimes that involves workout clothes if I'm working out during the morning or daytime, or just a cozy sweater and leggings, but I don't really come downstairs in my pajamas. Just personal preference; I don't feel with the program when I am not dressed. I usually do 5 mins of makeup and brush my hair. My youngest (4yo) prefers to come downstairs dressed, and has been that way for maybe 2 years. He will sometimes wear sweatpants and a tee to bed, and asks me if he can just wear that the next day. So he's okay with that, but he won't come downstairs in his PJs.
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