You were wise in not saying anything too soon. We were so excited we told our children right away, so that made it doubly hard on us. Trying to explain to them what happened. It's really sweet, though. Every once in awhile, they'll say something about their little brother or sister in Heaven. It makes me realize children understand things better than we adults sometimes think they will. We'll be praying for you during this time! Hope you get to feeling better very soon. Tammie

I had a similar situation ~ ended up being a molar pregnancy. Lost one (which was the evident miscarriage), but the molar pregnancy just got worse. There's always also the possibility that there is still some remaining "material" from the placenta or yolk sac. A simple exam and D&C could take care of it. I am sorry for your loss. This time of year really gets me. The twins I lost would have turned two this month. It's hard, but you'll get through it!! My prayers are with you! Tammie

If you're talking about Spike the Dinosaur (Imaginext) ~ it's AWESOME!!!!!!! We got it for my son for Christmas and it's incredible!! The remote is VERY "kid" friendly, and it appears to be very durable. We tried to get it in town before Christmas, but everyone was sold out. We had to pay extra shipping and ordered it online from Walmart. Walmart, Target and Toys R Us all carry him. He runs $120 - $130 retail. There are a couple listed on ebay as well. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas! Tammie

Mine were the same way. I have HORRIBLE teeth (inherited from my mother). I did EVERYTHING the orthodontist told me and my front teeth were still very stained. Baking soda and Peroxide. Mix it into a paste and brush twice a day with it. After using the baking soda paste, brush with your regular flouride toothpaste. If her's are just the white spots, they should go away. Mine were actually discolored because of the adhesive, but the baking soda paste greatly reduced it. Unless you're right up next to me, it's not noticeable. Hope that helps! Tammie

If possible, take him home!! My daughter was also "thought" to have Aspergers in Kindergarten. She had alot of the outward tendencies, but wasn't clinically diagnosed. The teacher / school were ADAMENT that they could not adjust their classroom setting for the needs of ONE child ~ MY child! I could understand their point of view, so then we began looking into options that would suit HER needs. The only option that would work was homeschooling. I'm not sure what they're basing this on ~ Aspergers has a VERY wide range of behaviors. Some just take simple behavior modification techniques, some require intensive training and re-training, and some you just learn to deal with! The one thing about most kids with Aspergers is in one area or another, they're academically excelled, they just can't get it out. Once we brought my daughter home and she was "comfortable" learning, she SOARED!!! She's now 8 in the 3rd grade. She scored out on 6th and 8th grade levels in literature, reading, grammar, and math when we had her tested this past year. If there are genuine concerns, by all means, get him checked out. Thankfully, my daughter's was the form we could work through. She's "outgrown" alot of it now. The one main thing that drove me CRAZY when she was younger is she COULD NOT sit still to memorize facts! She had to walk in circles! Do you think you'd ever see that in a typical classroom setting?? But that was one area we could not get around. If I made her sit down, she couldn't get it. She got so frustrated and we'd end up in tears. So, when it came to memory work, she paced in circles around her desk. But, she got it!! All of those tendencies have gradually gone away and she can now completely function in a typical school setting if necessary. Don't feel like you have to jeopardize your son's happiness and success to remain in a school setting that is not concerned about EACH child's needs!! Do what's best for him! Hope that helps! Tammie in LA :blush:

If I hand't JUST done the same thing myself, I would not have the nerve to repeat my hubby's words to me, but believe it or not, alot of it truly "in your head." (don't hate me!!) I have been an AVID coffee and coke drinker for YEARS!!!!! Started having problems with fibroids so doc told me to cut back and/or quit altogether. I'm one of those "all or nothing" type people, so cutting back wasn't an option for me. Alot of us (me, included!) have the mindset that we can't survive without the caffeine. In all actuality, though, the darker the roast coffee you drink, the LESS caffeine is in it (I work at Starbucks ~ that was in our training). The French and Italian roasts have a stronger flavor but actually have less caffeine than your typical house blends. Funny, huh?? Anyway, if you get COMPLETELY off caffeine, it should only take about 2-3 days (per my doc) to get over the hump. It took me about 5. One thing to keep in mind, too ~ ALOT of teas have caffeine!! Chai Tea has almost 5 TIMES the caffeine per cup than typical coffee!! My biggest problem wasn't really tiredness, but the headaches from the withdrawals. You will definitely have some sort of "withdrawal" symptoms. Caffeine is just as much a "drug" as anything else. Just try to keep your mind off of it. When you get tired, find something to do. It will pass. Good Luck! Tammie in LA :blush:

This has probably been asked MANY times before, but I can't seem to find a thread with this particular question, so here goes......... This is our 3rd year h/sing, first year doing it TWTM way. We're having a GREAT time, kids are really learning SOOOOOOO much more than they have in years past, but I don't feel like we're "getting anywhere" in our memory work. This is the one area where I feel disorganized (and, just so you'll know, I'm a TOTAL Type A personality!!). So, any suggestions?? Here are my memory work goals for right now. Any way of organizing it and /or presenting it that might help (3rd grader and K'er): Books of the Bible Weekly memory verses Addition, Subtraction and Multiplication facts (3rd grader) Science vocabulary (life science ~ currently working on animals) We're about to get into the Old Kingdom Ancient Egypt ~ thought about adding in Pharoahs?? (We're using the VP memory cards for chronological Bible facts and they LOVE it!!) Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks! Tammie in LA :blush:

I don't think you're being too over-protective ~ they're YOUR kids! Being from a family in the law enforcement background, the one "red flag" that comes to my mind is the fact thay they'll be asleep. Not so much what might happen with your children, but not knowing who / what else would be in the apt with NO ONE knowing (get my drift??). I completely agree with some of the other suggestions ~ hire her in a setting where you'll be "around," let her watch the older ones who would tell you what happens, and, they "might" get offended, but again they're YOUR kids, ask for references. If she's that old, you know she's babysat before. Just explain to her parents that you're looking for a part time sitter on a regular basis, it's very convenient that she's right upstairs, but that you always check references no matter who it is. If there's nothing to be concerned about, they won't fuss. If you do choose to use her, set ground rules that CANNOT be broken ~ NO ONE in the house (not even her parents!). I know we can't explain it Biblically, but I completely trust my motherly instinct! I think God puts it there as an added protection barrier where our kids are concerned. Pray about, and trust your instincts. Good luck! Tammie in LA :blush:

It's funny you should post this. A friend of mine and I were having this exact conversation earlier this week! We don't have a HUGE house by any means (3 br / 2 bath, about 1600 sq ft), but it's more than comfortable for a family of 4. My friend has five kiddos with one on the way in a 4 br / 2 bath home. She was "stressing" b/c the older girls were going to have to share a room when the baby comes. I told her a little about my upbringing ~ we had a family of 6 in a SMALL 3 br / 1 bath home (couldn't have been more than 1,000 sq ft). But, we NEVER saw it as small!! The memories I have of that home are of the incredibly sweet family times we spent together, the slumber parties my sisters and I had EVERY NIGHT because we all three shared a room and a queen sized bed, the fun we had "ice skating" on the hardword floors in our socks, and too many more times to mention! We were talking about the economy and how so many people are looking into smaller houses to save on house notes, utilities, etc. Like I mentioned to her, because my parents didn't fuss about the size of our home, but rather made it a "home," the size of my houses has never been an issue for me as an adult. I think the biggest thing is how we as parents present it to our kids. We're in economic times that are going to force changes in our daily routines, especially for those of us still living on one income. It's all in how we present it! If our kids see the guilt and frustration in our faces and actions because we think we're not giving them all we can, then they'll feel the same. But if they see us taking what we have and making the best of it, they'll learn to do the same and be better adults for it down the road. Hope that helps! Tammie in LA :blush:

We LOVE The Children's Place!! There's an outlet in our area that is FABULOUS!!!! This time of year (between Oct and Dec) and at the end of seasons, they have HUGE $.99 sales! I sew alot of my daughters clothes just for fun and being able to make them "frilly" (you can't find "frilly" girls clothes anymore without paying a ridiculous price!), but this past summer I was able to get her entire winter wardrobe for under $50!! I picked up skirts and pants for $.50 a piece, leggings for $1, and even a coat for $9. I also do ALOT of shopping for her nicer things on ebay. She LOVES her My Twinn doll and loves the little matching outfits, but I just don't pay those prices!! You can find gently used, nice clothing online for a fraction of the retail cost. And, don't forget thrift shops and garage sales!! You'd be amazed what OxyClean and an extra wash / soak cycle in your washing machine can get out!! Good luck! Tammie in LA :blush:

I wouldn't recommend this unless someone will be RIGHT THERE watching them, but use your cats!! Both times my daughter's mouse has gotten out, the CAT has found it first!! Like someone else mentioned, they're usually under something. Her mouse likes the washing machine!! Both times I've seen my cat waiting anxiously by the washer, my daughter checked Belle's cage, and sure enough, not there!! Good luck on "the hunt" :) Tammie

This is not from "personal" experience, so if someone else some more enlightening info, please share.... My sister is a certified teacher homeschooling her children near Chicago. She said there was a bill in the last year or two that they tried to pass to regulate homeschooling in Illinois. It appeared to be VERY grave to homeschoolers at the time because there was absolutely NO regulations in place. They tried to go for an "all or nothing" approach with homeschool regulations, hence the main reason it did not pass. It would have made it a little more difficult, yes, but not impossible. Again, if anyone else has more pertinent info, I'd love to know as well. Thanks! Tammie in LA

It is pretty sad to say, but most presidents do alot of "talking" about education when they're campaigning, but when the get into office, education typically takes a backseat. This is not meant to be a derogatory statement, just a look at the facts of today. We have our guys in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economic predictions are frightening, as well as SOOOOO many other things, I find it hard to believe that the very first thing on his (or McCain's) agenda if he gets into office will be the education ticket. In addition to all of the other things the new president will have to contend with, unfortunately his decision isn't always what transpires. The Congress and Senate have alot to say with what actually happens after the President puts his two cents in. So, I'm not "worried." Concerned if Obama gets in ~ YES!! But for MANY other reasons other than just education. Plus, on a side note, Illinois is still a "free" state where homeschooling is concerned (no registration requirements with the state, no teaching requirements, etc). I think if he was adamently against homeschooling, he would have tried something in his own state already. I know all of us are concerned citizens right now with the upcoming elections. We must keep in mind what Proverbs says ~ "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord." No matter who gets in, God knows!! Hope you're all having a GREAT week!! Tammie in LA :blush:

I think alot of it depends on how tall they are. It doesn't really "hit home" that they're comparatively thin if they're not really tall. My dd (8) just topped 60 lbs!! My pediatrician was never overly concerned, though. He could tell she was healthy, just thin like her daddy. He says as long as they're eating well and not getting sick alot, don't worry about it. They'll catch up sooner or later. My ds (5), though, is a different story. He was over 40 lbs at 4 y/o, but he has the height and stocky frame to go with the extra weight. I wouldn't worry about it. If we were exactly the same, it'd be a really boring world to live in :) Tammie in LA

If you're looking for something that is strictly "Bible" and not denomination-based, Veritas Press is AWESOME!!! The activities are great, and the Bible is just Bible. No "religion" mixed in. It's a chronological study from Genesis - Revelation. It's divided into sections (typically about 5 -6 books per set). You can pick and choose where to start. We LOVE it!! Tammie in LA