I'm so appreciating everyone's input! Ok, so perhaps this is an unusual Kansas winter. Talk to me about summer. How hot is hot? Is it dry hot or wet hot? Do you get cool breezes? Are the nights cool? Are there lakes where you can swim and fish? Or rivers for tubing, etc...? Heather, I'm sorry the posts are making you homesick. I'm originally from the Northwest and I feel the same way when people get talking about that area. Most of my family and some good friends are still back there and I miss them greatly. Being so far away makes visits home few and far between. Hope the shorter distance makes it easier for you to get back.

When my twins were born, we had a 12 yo, 5 yo and a 2.8 yo. I learned to do everything two at a time - nurse, change, feed, etc...I also learned to make good use of the time whenever the twins were sleeping - because when they were awake, they were busy. I also appreciated my older dc, even the 2yo, for the help they offered - they were great runners for whatever I needed, diapers, wipes, toys, clothing etc...and good playmates and entertainers. The sling, swing, johnny jump up, and sit-in activity center were my friends, and occasionally, the playpen as well. For a time when they were very little, we were also blessed with an older recently widowed friend of ours who would come over once or twice a week in the afternoon and just do whatever was helpful. She'd put some laundry through or do a bit of pick up, play with the babies or the bigger kids, or just sit with a cup of tea and visit with me. At first I felt a bit odd about it, but I came to look forward to her arrivals. It was a blessed time for both of us. The other help was my dh. He couldn't offer much assistance in the nursing department, which meant the feeding shifts were all mine, but when he was around he willingly jumped right in with whatever was helpful or needed. For the first several weeks after they were born, they had troubles going to sleep at night, even in snuggle mode. My dh would load them up in the van and drive them around until they crashed! It was a busy time for sure but you know, you just do what's in front of you, pray for strength, keep plugging, include everyone else in the adventure, and it will all come out good! The time will fly by so fast. Hey, you might even find yourself saying, "I'd do that again!" But just in case, I won't tell you some of my twins toddler stories!

TXMom, I can imagine it would be cold in KS coming from TX! Coming from NY, however, I didn't think it would be the same! We have 23 degrees and blowing snow at the moment. I just took a look at McPherson's weather and they have 22 degrees with snow falling. I don't know why, but I didn't think Kansas would be quite so cold as here. Perhaps the winter there is shorter at least? Ours often starts early and goes on into April! One time I found myself driving in a white-out in May! Where are you in Kansas? Was it a big landscape change for you? My dh wonders how it would be to go from from hills and mountains to flat land all around. Remudamom, Wichita looks like it is about 60 miles south of McPherson, a nice day-trip location. I would love a good library system. Ours is a mostly rural four-country system with only a couple of cities of decent size, so it is often difficult to find the resources I'm in need of. Thanks for sharing ladies. It's kinda fun thinking about the possibilities! :)

Thanks for the good report, farmmom! :) If we progress to where things look like a go, I'll probably have more questions for you. Blessings, Sandy

My dh is considering applying for a job there. We're in NY and know nothing of the area. Can anyone tell me about the community, homeschool environment/activities, cost of living, etc... Thanks! Sandy

Anita, My sons took dual enrollment courses as seniors, but I do have friends here whose children have started in their junior year without any hassle at all. My 10th grade dd would have liked to try it this year, but we're opting for next year. The homeschool liason at the SUNY school down the road from us has been great to work with. My impression is that, if the student could do the work, she would go to bat for them. Perhaps there are special exceptions made for younger students; what would they do with a young but advanced public school student? And, beyond the official regulations, it might even depend on how homeschool friendly the liason is. Perhaps the thing for you to do is identify the SUNY school your twins would be attending and begin making inquiries now. Other options could be to have your dc take online college courses or CLEP or DANTE tests next year and then try for dual enrollment at a SUNY school as juniors. Don't worry about getting a GED. The laws were changed a few years back. I've listed the new requirements below as they are shown on the http://www.suny.edu website. You only need to meet ONE of these requirements to be matriculated in a SUNY school. You can take courses without being matriculated (which is how you gain the 24 credits referred to in #3). Home schooled students beyond the age of compulsory attendance (16 prior to July 1 of the current school year) will be eligible for conferral of the earned degree by a University campus if they can provide either: 1. a letter from the superintendent of the school district in which the student resides, attesting to the student’s completion of a program of home instruction that is the substantial equivalent of a four year high school course; 2. the High School Equivalency Diploma; a passing score on the general comprehensive examination for the state high school equivalency diploma (GED) (and the diploma itself when available). [When the student has reached the maximum compulsory school attendance age, he or she is eligible to take the GED test. A student may not take the GED test until July 1st of the year in which he or she turned 16.]; 3. successful completion as verified by the degree-granting institution of 24 semester hours as a recognized candidate for a college-level degree distributed in accordance with 8 NYCRR Section 3.47(a)(2)(ii)(d); 4. a previous college-level degree from an accredited degree-granting institution; or 5. evidence of having passed five Regents examinations in the subjects listed in 8 NYCRR Section 3.47(a)(2)(ii)(f). The preferred option by those I know whose dc are taking dual enrollment is #3, to accumulate 24 semester hours prior to matriculating. This is easy to do when you consider how many general ed requirements are needed regardless of what major your dc choose. So while they can opt for a GED, they certainly don't need to. The Regents mentioned in #5 are the state exams public school students are required to take. If you wanted to go that route, you would work with your school district to make arrangements for your dc to test at the school during the designated Regents weeks. So I think the only real issue that needs further investigation is what college level study options are available to your son given his young age.

Hi Anita, Don't let the restrictions scare you! We started homeschooling in KY and had no regulations. We moved here in 1997, have homeschooled in four different school districts, and have had two dc dual enrolled, all with no significant troubles. The trick is to just know the minimum of what you have to do in terms of filing, do exactly that, and keep copies of your documents (and for extra measure, dates submitted, etc...) If you go to LEAH.org there should be a place to order a $15 copy of the NY's homeschool regulations, which you will find very helpful. This is what I did when I was still in KY, so by the time I got here I had a pretty good understanding of what I had to do and when. The packet also comes with Q & A's for everything and samples of a letter of intent, IHIPs (your overview school plan for the year) and quarterly reports. Normally, the letter of intent is due July 1 and the IHIP by August 15. Being that you wouldn't be here until August, you would just file your letter of intent when you get here and settled. The school district has 10 days to respond. They usually send you the regs and their version of IHIP and quarterly report forms, along with a in-house district worksheet, which you aren't required to turn in. After you receive their notice of receipt, you have four weeks to turn in your IHIPs and then the district has 10 days to let you know if your IHIPs are in compliance. Compliance means you give a brief description of what you plan to cover in each subject or the textbook name and perhaps the table of contents you plan to use, if that's easier. You do not have to submit your textbooks for approval or meet with a district official for review or your materials, etc...You only have to make sure what your students study fall under the subject requirments (ie history, math, English...) that are listed for each grade. These are also listed in the handbook and are, for the most part, just your basic subject categories. You also set your own quarterly report turn-in dates and they are sent in with your IHIP. The only requirements are that they are relatively equal in the number of days they cover and that they be contained within a July 1-June 30 school year. You maintain your own attendance records for a 180 day school year. You don't need to submit this (you do note the number of absences, if any, on your quarterly reports) but do need to have it available should the district want to see it. This has never happened to me. The packet also includes information on end-of-the-year assessments. We have to turn in standardized test results at least every other year between grades 4-8 and every year in high school. For 1-3 grades and on the off years in the upper grades, you can file a narrative assessment put together either you or a group of homeschooling peers, with superintendent approval. Or you can just choose to submit copeis of PASS, CAT, IOWA, or Stanford results (there are also a few others that are accepted, but I can't recall them at the moment). In order to be accepted, test results must show a composite (not individual subject) score of 33% or above. There is nothing special you need to do with your twins at the high school level. The only change at the upper levels is in total number of school hours required (990). No need to show any records to anyone. No need to enroll in an online program, unless you'd like to. I can't speak to every place concerning dual enrollment, but we have had no problems with the two schools are oldest dc have worked with. We just contacted the schools' homeschool liasons and made arrangements from there. The only other thing I can think of, which wouldn't come into play for you next year, is that you are only have to continue to report to the district through your child's 16th year. If they turn 16 before July 1, you do not have to report any longer, though you can if you want to have them take Regents, or have a superintendent certify that your child's high school courses were equal to those of public school for the purpose of "easier" entry to a state college or university. There are other ways of gaining admittance, however, and I haven't actually heard of superintendents being too willing to do this, even if we actually wanted them to! If you have any more questions, I'd be glad to help. Blessings on your potential move!

Thanks for your ideas, Chris and Faithr! I know it's impossible to cover very much with so little time and so many choices. I appreciate your input. :-)

My son has one semester left before graduating. We've not covered 19th and 20th century American or British literature. I'd like him to have at least a sampling of the works from these periods but recognize we don't have a lot of time. What would be your favorite selections that might be doable in a semester? What ones have your dc particularly enjoyed? Thanks!

Does anyone know of any study guides or teaching helps for Paul Johnson's A History of the American People and/or Modern Times? I saw in an old post where Tina in Ouray had an outline she used and was willing to email to people. I emailed her earlier in the school year but didn't hear back. It doesn't look like she's been active on the forum for a while. TIA! Sandy

For those of you who have used Abeka Consumer Math, did your dc just work through the textbook or did you have them do the accompanying Skills and Review Exercises as well. If the latter, did you have them do all the problems or did you pick and choose. Thanks, Sandy

What does it look like at your house?

I've not done a formal vocab program with my 10th grader. She is a reader in general and has read a lot of good literature. She even loves to read the dictionary and thesaurus! She is also a strong writer. She hasn't had any specific studies in Latin or Greek roots, nor has she taken Latin (she's studying Japanese). I'm not sure if it's necessary, but I'm contemplating adding in a Latin and Greek roots study this year. My oldest went through VCR several years ago but started earlier; my senior didn't study roots but did take two years of Latin. Would you start a 10th grader in A and try to work through two books a year or start in C or D and continue from there? Or not pursue it at all and focus her energies elsewhere? Sandy

Any Auralog language users out there? My dd is working through lesson one of Japanese and is frustrated by the lack of clear order and direction in how to proceed. Can someone share how they have used Auralog? Can this be done as a stand alone or do I need to use something else with it for more structure? My dd is 14 and in 9th grade. This is our first try at this type of language program. My oldest ds used Powerglide for Spanish and my next oldest is doing Latin online through Memoria Press. The progression and grading in both of those was/is pretty easily understood but Auralog is not so clearly defined. TIA! Sandy

Hi Emily, Don't know where the Kim came from - sorry about that! Yes, I have seen the "Gifts" book at Woodbine but I haven't yet read it. How cool that you were able to share your story in it! I just jumped over to your blog and got a glimpse of your boys - what a handsome bunch you have! And those pictures at the farm would have my village-dwelling dc downright jealous. I also watched the video of Logan and his new favorite word. I can see he has learned to use it well! :) Thanks for the kind words about my words and about Isaac. I think you are plenty eloquent and I enjoyed reading about Logan! It has been fun to watch Isaac grow and learn. When he was a baby I would look at all the charts and take all the measurements and gauge where he was in everything compared to "typical" children and to other children with DS. I think it was like some sort of security blanket. But like the child growing up, somewhere along the way I found I no longer needed the blanket. It was so freeing when I let it go. I still sometimes fret when life gets in the way and I feel I'm not doing all I can, but Isaac is developing on a timetable that is best for Isaac. My job is to assist him in the process and join him in the daily celebrations of his many and varied accomplishments. And, of course, to freely accept hugs and kisses for no particular reason at all. So much more fun! Thanks again for sharing Emily -- and for adding another book to my reading list! :)

Thanks for starting this thread! I also have a sweet little boy with DS who has both blessed our family and changed our outlook on so many things. Isaac is 5 years old (how quickly time has flown!). He is #7 of our 8 children. We also did not know he had Downs prior to his birth. We did not take the tests as they would not have changed anything for us. We did have high level ultrasounds done for other reasons but, although he was born with a heart defect, no markers were indicated. The news was a shock at first (I found out alone, at night, after my dh had left to make the hour drive home), yet I have to say knowing that this was something the Lord allowed, and knowing His ways are always good, made the transition to acceptance and than joy a much shorter journey. Isaac had feeding issues at the start and the initial focus was to resolve those in order to prepare him for open heart surgery, which the doctors said he had to have by 8 weeks as the huge whole in his heart was too big to close on its own. We went in at 5 weeks for a pre-op meeting to find that God had begun to heal that huge whole and surgery would no longer be necessary! When we queried the cardiac doctor, one well respected in his field, concerning his earlier diagnosis, he just smiled and said, “Well, I’ve changed my mind.†He may have changed his mind but it was a miracle that prompted it! I will tell you that to watch my son struggling for every breath and then to see him made whole with his life before him really put the DS in perspective. To have him alive with DS was far better than to be without him at all. After that hurdle came other tests, doctor appts., and decisions, all of which felt very overwhelming and even intrusive at first. But they also turned me into a strong advocate for my child. I read and researched everything I could get my hands on. And my dh and I prayed for wisdom and guidance for Isaac and for our family. Before too long we had peace and a new normal (but not so very different from the old normal) that was right for our family. It has been so good to see life through Isaac’s eyes. He never seems to miss the simple joys we have so often become oblivious to. Yesterday, he was standing on a hillside where the sun cast a long shadow of his body. He began to wave his arms and legs and watch his shadow dance. It brought giggles to his face and a smile to mine. Seeing life through Isaac’s eyes also has helped our family view other people with greater understanding and genuine interest, rather than uncertainty and fear. When we are out and about, we truly enjoy the opportunity to interact with those with special needs and to encourage those who love and care for them. My dd, almost 14, has said that if Isaac is not able to live independently when he is older, she wants him to live with her. In fact, she’d like to have a home big enough to have mini-apartments for people with DS. Now that’s not too say the sunshine doesn’t get clouded over sometimes. In many ways, Isaac is just like any other little boy. He can and does drive any or all of his seven siblings crazy at times. Like when he feels the need to completely dismantle one of their rooms and experience the thrill of watching things fly through the room. His brothers and sisters do love him for who he is but they do get plenty of chances to exercise mercy and grace…or not. But than all is not peace and harmony with them day in and day out either. I have hopes and dreams for Isaac just as I do for all my children. I hope with all my heart he will continue to be a reflection and reminder of God’s amazing love for all of us. I hope he will be able independently or semi-independently. I hope he will be able to enjoy the fruits of his labor in a job suited to him. If the Lord wills it, I hope he will be able to share his love with a special someone one day. But with all these hopes, I also remember what a wise woman said back at the beginning of this journey: “So you might have a child who wants to be with you and love you forever -- how bad is that?†Not bad at all. Melissa asked Kim about schooling and resources. I can speak a little to that. For us, we are continuing to home school Isaac using a neurodevelopment program that addresses and integrates all of his needs. We see his ND every four months and she puts together a program which we (try) do with him each day. My dc and I divide up the activities and take turns working/playing with him throughout the day. We have seen wonderful growth over time with speech, motor skills, sensory issues, processing, etc…At the moment he can read about 200 words on flashcards and is just starting the Dick and Jane readers. He knows all his abc’s and can count to 16 on his own. Kids with DS do learn, just more slowly and through slightly different means. As an example, with my other dc we’ve focused on phonics over sight reading. With Isaac, sight reading comes first; his visual memory is better than his audio memory. So we make use of his strengths while working on his weaker areas. To date, we haven’t used individual specialists with Isaac, though we will if the need arises. As far as resources, there are lots of them out there. When Isaac was just a baby I found Woodbine House books and they have been very helpful, along with others. I scoured the internet for information. I joined email lists geared toward DS with various foci such nutrition, development, alternative medicine, home schooling, research, etc…and these have proven very helpful. Through them I’ve learned lots from the real specialists - moms in the trenches who have gone before me. They’ve also been a great help in knowing what to look for and where to go when I’ve needed to see doctors or other professionals. So life is different and in some ways harder that it was before Isaac, but we are so much deeper in character and broader in love for his coming. Thanks for celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month with us - there is much to celebrate! Blessings, Sandy

Thanks Kelsy! This should make it much more doable! :) Sandy

Thanks for your reply. If I don't sign in then is it possible to keep track of what they are doing using just the workbook? I do like the fact that the dvds keep a record of their performance on the practice problems and quizzes. We have used the upper level TTs but I have no experience (nor one in hand) of the lower levels No, we don't yet have a second computer though we are saving for one.

I'm considering TT 6 or 7 for my twins but I am unsure if it would be possible for them both to use the same set of DVDs since their scores would be maintained on the program. Would I actually have to have two sets? I hope not.

Hi Emily, We have eight children ages 23 to 2. Our 5yo, Isaac, has DS. I'm up way too late and need to get to bed but I'll post more later. Blessings, Sandy

We need to get a new water heater and we're also looking to cut down on our ever increasing electric/natural gas bills. My dh was reading about tankless water heaters last night and ask me to inquire if any of you are using these and what your experience has been with them. He was looking at the Titan brand. The tank heats up 3 gallons at a time. We wondering how much energy would be used in the periodic spurts of heat needed versus the continuous heat used with a conventional water heater. We have a large family (10) so the number of showers/baths and laundry cycles are pretty high. Any insights you can offer would be appreciated. Thanks! Sandy

We have a little guy with DS who just turned 5 on Monday! :) He was also having problems with teeth grinding, during both the day and night. One of the causes of grinding can be a calcium/magnesium deficiency. We began supplementing him with Rhino Calcium Chewables (each chewable has 250 mg calcium and 125 mg magnesium) with good results. His night time grinding has pretty much ceased. He will still occasionally grind during the day but that usually occurs when he is over tired. A lack of pantothentic acid can also cause grinding but if you are supplementing with a multivitamin this should be covered. I read online that parasites such as pinworms can also bring on grinding. A stool test can reveal this and the site I was reading recommended an herbal parasite cleanse for treatment. The same site also mentioned using Valerian or Lavender as a stress reliever since stress and anger are also a associated with grinding. You mix 3-4 drops Valerian or Lavender with a tsp. of olive or almond oil and rub on the jaw and neck. Both can also be taken internally in tea or other forms. I have used several of the Herbs for Kids brand herbs and have found them very helpful. I haven't used their Valerian but I see they do carry it. Might be worth a try. Many children do grind in their younger years but outgrow it before it becomes a real problem. Perhaps one of these remedies might work for your daughter. If you are seeing actual damage to the teeth it would probably be wise to see a professional and consider the mouth guard. HTH! Sandy

My grandmothers were Elvira (called Peggy because her g-ma, who raised her, didn't like her given name) and Daisy Mae. Grandpas were George and John (called Jack) and a step grandpa called Rashy! Sandy

Thanks for all the helpful input. One more question - so is it best to buy the vinyl by the yard or purchase a vinyl tablecloth with the ends sewn. I suppose it might not matter if you're clipping the ends under. Suzanne, I would love it if you could email me a picture of your set up! Thanks! Brenda, I was hoping the dry erase markers would work. I also use Sharpies on my page protectors and wipe them clean with alcohol. Maybe that would work on your other marks. I've thought this was a great idea since first hearing about it several years ago but I just never got around to actually doing it. Now our wall space is at a premium and I'm excited at the prospect of making better use of our tables!

I watched it. Once was more than enough. Sandy