I'm not jumping on any conspiracy bandwagons, but I have a long-time friend who had two family members die from heart attacks within the last 2 months (one on her husband's side; one hers). One was tested, and tested negative. The other was not tested. Both had Covid-19 on their death certificates. This is a trusted friend who would have zero reason to lie. I do believe if it's happening around here, it could certainly happen other places, so I am somewhat skeptical about that particular thing. Just because a person chooses not to vaccinate does not mean they are "anti-science" or buy into every conspiracy theory. For us, we weighed risk vs benefit and made choices accordingly. Our pediatrician was always very supportive of our decisions. As far as all the talk about masks in this thread, I am careful. I do not go out unless I absolutely have to, and I have only gone to stores where crowds are very limited, but I will not wear a mask. They make me feel like I am suffocating, and there is no way I can go without touching or removing it within a short period of time. If you could see the people in my area who have masks on, you would realize that for most people it is absolutely pointless, and the medical professionals in my family are in total agreement (we have nurses, NPs, and an anesthesiologist who has provided care for every Covid patient they've had at his hospital). People cannot keep their hands off the masks - they move them around, they pull them down to talk using their dirty hands then put them back over their mouths/noses. Nothing about that is safe or helpful. All it does is provide a false sense of security and make people less careful.

I typically wear it when I'm leaving home, but occasionally if I'm just running to Walmart or something, I won't. It only takes me about 5 minutes to put on my makeup. I use mostly Rejuva mineral makeup, so it's a loose powder foundation, which is light coverage, mineral powder blush, mineral eye shadow, then I use a little eyeliner, and Honest company mascara (a lot of mascara irritates my eyes - this one doesn't). I also use Beautycounter's lip sheer for my lips - it's really moisturizing and I have it in a pretty light, neutral color.

Thank you so much for all the information! I’m a little confused because I have no clue what all the abbreviations in the first post mean.

We have a tree cluster not too far away, and I am planning some outdoor seating there - hoping to get me some nice chairs and a small end table soon.

My daughter has a son on the spectrum. He'll be 5 in a few weeks. He knows a lot, but of course doesn't communicate it all really well. She really wants to start doing some school with him. He doesn't understand some concepts you see in a lot of beginner workbooks, like ordering pictures and things like that, but he memorizes well, can write and identify all letters, knows numbers at least to 20, etc. They've never done anything formal. Are there any programs that would work especially well for a child like this? He's super into sensory stuff. Manipulatives may work well for him, but she does have two older kids and an infant. I do most of the older kids' school with them, so that would certainly allow her more time with him (they live right next to us). I'm just looking for input on where to begin. FWIW, he does/will go to group speech twice/week and will likely go to OT as well, but of course that's all been affected for now. Thanks for any input!

My daughter has a son on the spectrum. He'll be 5 in a few weeks. He knows a lot, but of course doesn't communicate it all really well. She really wants to start doing some school with him. He doesn't understand some concepts you see in a lot of beginner workbooks, like ordering pictures and things like that, but he memorizes well, can write and identify all letters, knows numbers at least to 20, etc. They've never done anything formal. Are there any programs that would work especially well for a child like this? He's super into sensory stuff. Manipulatives may work well for him, but she does have two older kids and an infant. I do most of the older kids' school with them, so that would certainly allow her more time with him (they live right next to us). I'm just looking for input on where to begin. FWIW, he does/will go to group speech twice/week and will likely go to OT as well, but of course that's all been affected for now. Thanks for any input! Gonna post this on the general education board also, so maybe someone with older kids who have been here will see it.

I know it takes time to get established. I wonder how much cold it needs, and for how long. We do typically have some sort of winter. I guess I need to do some heavy duty research.

Thanks! We will actually be getting the 8-3, and in fact, the right side (when looking from the front) will start getting shade around 2:30. I'm planting the herbs and veggies that need a little less sun on that side. I just didn't have the heart to ask my husband to move it again once I realized the sun would be off of it by 3. Of course now that it's full of dirt, it would be impossible anyway. I'm super excited about it - he did a great job. We are actually adding bricks to the center area and coming out under the bottom gate to form a little bricked entrance. Our neighbor has a pile of bricks he's giving us. I'll have to update when it's complete and the plants have grown more. Our asparagus bed is going behind it - we're gonna do a long, narrow bed behind the back that matches, and it's gonna be just for asparagus. I'm excited about that!

We are planning to do a raised asparagus bed behind the garden my husband just built. I'd love to hear from anyone who has done, and be successful with, asparagus. We are in the south if that makes a difference.

If your garden was gonna get around 6-7 hours of sun daily, would it be better for it to be from 8-3, or 10-5? It probably doesn't matter at this point, as our garden is where it is, but I'm trying to decide if my veggies that need the most sun might need a separate bed in a different area. I attached a pic of my husband's handiwork, even though the design was my idea, from Pinterest of course, so not REALLY my idea. 😜 The arbor top has sentimental value, and I really wanted it incorporated - will probably let beans or something climb over it at some point. *He has since added the rest of the hinges, leveled the gates, and put the latch on.

Well my kids are all adults, so I didn't vote in your poll, but they got phones around age 10-11. I just got my grandson one for his bday - he'll be 9, but mainly because they go to their dad's, and dd just wanted them to have a single device if they felt they needed to contact her at any point that maybe their dad was asleep or something. We pretty much disabled everything other than a few games, and the calling/texting features. We also limited texts during later hours to only their mom, dad and me.

I’m so sorry to see that he has passed. Continued prayers for you all.

Just said a prayer for your father-in-law and family. Praying he has peace and comfort during this, and that you are all protected and comforted. I’m so sorry.

So happy to “see” you! What wonderful news!

Late to the game because I’ve been off the boards due to helping a lot of people around us prep for staying home, but in Louisiana, that would be a big NO. I mean certainly in some areas people are because nothing much is open, but still crowds of young people congregating in boats on the river and things like that. They had to clear people off Bourbon Street a couple weeks ago because it was packed. I’ve been the one doing the necessary things for pretty much the entire family - I try to go once/week to a grocery store and get stuff for everyone. Trader Joe’s had it going on yesterday - limiting the number of people in the store, spraying buggies and hands down with sanitizer on the way in and out, keeping lines marked so those waiting would stay 6 feet apart, etc. It’s probably the best shopping experience I’ve ever had there, and they had plenty of everything with no one hoarding or going nuts. Our local towns don’t have many cases, but the grocery stores and Wal-Mart are full of people any time I pass.

Sorry if this has been posted. Disneyland announced earlier it was closing I believe through the end of the month, and just a few minutes ago, they updated our travel agent page saying WDW is closing as well. No Coronavirus cases from either location, but closing as a precaution.

I don’t know, but I actually saw a post earlier with a link to a study (it was because of the veteran hospitalized in NOLA) showing that those with flu shots were actually at higher risk for Coronavirus. I’m trying to find the study now, but I cannot remember who posted it.

Well there could certainly be some argument for whether having multiple vaccines at one time would compromise your immune system, even if only temporarily.

Yeah I mean that’s what I was curious about. For those who’ve completed the schedule, or say their children who are having multiple doses of vaccines at once, is there a point where you say no it’s too much? Or do you maybe pick and choose at that point? IDK - this is why I’m curious as to whether there are very pro-vax people that would have a line.

Well, it’s just a question, and I do NOT want to argue. I am seriously just interested in others’ positions on the subject. Someone asked why I wanted to know, and I’m being honest about where I’m coming from, but I absolutely posted this out of mere curiousity.

I was merely responding to the question asked of me. I am genuinely curious how others feel about it, but I’m not gonna lie about why. I certainly don’t expect that to be the majority position. There are many people who are extremely pro-vaccine that could possibly draw a line, and I’m legitimately wondering where that line would be.

So far we have just ramped up our vitamins. There are a few cases in some surrounding cities, so I’m washing my hands a little more often if I’m in public, and today when my friends and I had lunch and coffee, we sat outside instead of in. I have shopped the last few days - I am trying to keep a good grocery stash should things escalate in our typical shopping areas. We live in a rural area though, so it’ll be fairly easy for us to stay home and avoid things if we need to.

I guess I just wonder if there’s a point where people will draw a line - like how many is too many to compromise our own functioning immune system, or will we just get vaccines for anything and everything that’s available, even though there will always be diseases for which there are no vaccines. At what point would the number of side effects come into play? I, personally, think the vaccine schedule is overload for infants as it is now compared to what it was 25 years ago when my kids were little (and, by the way, I don’t think the overall health of people in this country is better than it was 25 years ago, based on the numbers of chronic illnesses). Just wondering if there would ever be a point when people would think enough was enough.

How many vaccines would you be willing to get/give your children if they were available? As more vaccines are introduced for more illnesses, I just wonder if there is a limit to the number people are willing to get.

I think Baton Rouge might have even cancelled theirs - not sure though.