I blog at http://www.rlfb.wordpress.com. The blog is called Offerings. It is not homeschool blog per se. It is my writing as I live this life of homeschooling our family (6 kids). Putting it here- in case someone would be interested. But I have never done a report on our school week. Rebecca

Thank you! I cannot wait to try these recipes. Rebecca

I REALLY want to make yummy chocolate cupcakes with white/vanilla icing. I need a new recipe. We have been egg/dairy free for years and have just been initiated back into "life with eggs." I have a wonderful egg/dairy free recipe- but I am in the mood for something new. I tried the Betty Crocker Devil's Food Cake and used Crisco (yuck) and hated it. Does anyone have a favorite? We can't do milk- but I can just substitute rice or soy in place of that ingredient. Thanks so much... I am thinking mini chocolate cupcakes with white icing and red sprinkles... for valentine's day- or just for fun! It is also my birthday on Thursday- so this could be my choice!!! Rebecca

Treehouse(Rebecca)- I am also a Rebecca! I "know" you from the HOD boards as well as here... Anyway- I am just chiming in here- because I just had a similar issue(s)... First- did you mean 17 mm??? I am on "watch" for a thickened endometrium too- mine was 12 or 12.5 mm and I have been having irregular cycles, too. (with odd bleading) Our plan is to move forward with a D & C if I don't cycle normally for two cycles and the ultrasound shows an issue. I am sorry you are going through this! You are not alone! Rebecca

To all the dear ladies who took the time to post to me... I had my appt. today. I do not have a fibroid. Thankfully, I do not have anything serious. The lump that was felt was actually my ovary which is behind my uterus. I have a simple cyst on the right ovary that has to be monitored. I have adenomysosis- inside the uterus. I have a thickened endometrium which has to be monitored and might require a D & C. But the chance of it being endometrial cancer is minute at this point. Thanks so much to all who posted their experiences- and if you are a praying person- please pray for me that my body will normalize and shed this extra thickness! Sincerely, Rebecca

Thanks Chrystal... Has anyone had fibroids without heavy bleeding- but still irregular periods, bloating, heaviness, etc.? And possibly- irregular periods and then extended bleeding? Rebecca

Thank you for these replies. I am very impatient waiting for tests! Rebecca

Thank you! It is not too reassuring as I am still nursing my 20 month old 1-2 times and have been nursing ever since he was born. :confused: But thanks again, Rebecca

:001_huh: :bigear:

Thanks so much Treehouse Academy! I forgot to write- that my bleeding has been very strange. Irregular... and weird. My last "normal" cycle was in October. I had a "light" with some spotting cycle in November- and then went 40 days(with spotting around time (p) was due- and now have been bleeding for 11 days. (Not heavily). I am to start progesterone tonight for 10 days to regulate this hopefully. Because I haven't had these major heavy bleeding times- I feel scared. I am also horribly bloated (esp. in the evening) and uncomfortable!! Thanks for your words. I need them! Rebecca

Thank you Mariann- so... much! I am encouraged to hear that you had babies after a fibroid diagnosis- as we still want more children- and I was concerned about that... O- I appreciate your reply! Blessings, Rebecca

I might have one of these- but I also have some other symptoms that are confusing... I saw my doctor yesterday- and go for an ultrasound on Tuesday. I have been having lots of discomfort, bowel issues, irregular bleeding... she felt a "baseball" sized something on the back "top" of my uterus. She thinks it is probably a fibroid. But she did say she has to determine if it is "on the uterus" or ovary... or...? I, of course, am trying hard not to be terrified. I will be 34 in Feb. I have had six children. My youngest is 20 months. She said that I have no risk factors for uterine cancer, etc. I do have family history of fibroid on my mom's side- with my mom's two sisters and grandmother having this issue. Talk to me. Thanks, Rebecca

We finished Little Hearts with my then six year old right before Thanksgiving- and now we are in Week 3 of Beyond. It is going great. He loves it. He is in SM 1A and I am using FLL 1/2 with him, too. We are two weeks away from completing Bigger with my 9 and 8 year old sons. We are all looking forward to Preparing. My five and 3 year old are on week 15 of Little Hands and still doing great! I do K work with my daughter and also literature with both of them, too. My oldest is in Saxon 5/4 this year along with SM 3A. I am impressed with how well he is doing with Saxon. It is going really well. So- there is a mini update! Rebecca

Heartiest Congratulations and Blessings! Rebecca

I blog at Wordpress. It is free- but I did choose to pay a small fee to block ads and blog "associations" (links of other people's blogs randomly generated). I really, really like it there. http://rlfb.wordpress.com/

I just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS!!! I wondered if your little ones arrived. Great blessings and peace! I don't have any preemie experience- but my first son was born at 37 weeks- and he was very, very sleepy for the first 3-4 weeks- so I imagine- babies even younger than that- would also be very sleepy! Merry Christmas! Rebecca

Thank you very much! I thought it was you- but I wasn't sure! Blessings, Rebecca

I am looking for a quote that was posted on this board by Joshua Harris from his new book. I think Kathleen in VA had it in her signature- but I am not sure and it is not there now. It was about your theology being wrong = your life being wrong. Does anyone know what I am talking about and where I could find it? Thank you very much! Rebecca

What's to Eat by Linda Coss is hands down my very favorite... yum!! This cookbook is dairy, egg, and nut free. You can easily sub for wheat and soy free by just using your alternatives. Many, many of these recipes have become family staples. Most of our family staples all include wheat- as that has been a major food source for us over the years... Linda Coss also has another one- yellow color- (What Else is to Eat)that I have as well. I got it last year and haven't used it as much... not because it isn't good... just haven't gotten into the swing of it. I do have two of the FAAN cookbooks. They were worth it for us. I have used them extensively over the years. We have several recipes from those cookbooks we make over and over again. Do you get the FAAN newsletter? They feature recipes every time. Those are they types of recipes that are in the cookbooks. I also have the Parent's Guide to Food Allergies and that has a few recipes in it I have used repeatedly. Also- another awesome place for food allergy recipes in the Recipe database at the POFAK website(kidswithfoodallergies) I have gotten some terrific family favorites from there- and there are many people cooking with all kinds of restrictions- so you can find a lot of variety for what you need. They have flour recipes there, too (for wheat free, gluten free, etc.). I was given a gluten free cookbook a few years ago when one of my son's was allergic to all grains except corn and potato. I found it to be very, very heavy with dairy and egg recipes. I don't know about others though. I hope this helps! Sincerely, Rebecca

Hi! How old is your daughter? And what would make you think constipation? The constipation part of your post raised a red flag. If you think her stomach issues are at all related to a bowel problem- you need to call the doctor asap or take her to the ER. Serious intestinal problems can cause vomiting. I don't mean to be scary- but it can be very serious. I hope she is feeling better and it is just a virus! Sincerely, Rebecca

So the traffic is bad in Woodstock and not just in Atlanta? What kind of delay are you talking? We visited on a Sunday. Thank you all so much for all these thoughts. I am processing everything. I am from Pennsylvania(an hour or little more from Philadelphia) and have now lived in NC for three years. Ally- I appreciate the good and the bad. Thank you for sharing!! Rebecca

Thank you so much! The allergy info is very encouraging. Rebecca

Thank you for all these responses. Ally- yours was the first negative one! No, we do not like traffic. :) We live in rural WNC- there is no traffic. However we come from a very urban/surburban part of PA and so are used to that flow of life- somewhat. We do enjoy the beauty of our location but we have to drive everywhere- I mean drive far-. I have to drive an hour to an hour and a half for some of our doctor appts. We routinely drive an hour and a half to Sam's Club- that can get draining, too. It is not a job- but rather a church that is drawing us. I had a very difficult time with our relocation to where we are now. I have realized that I am "scared" and somewhat burned as I have assessed my response to possibly relocating again- where we know no one, etc. That is why I am gleaning all I can. Thank you so much, Rebecca

Thank you! Are you a little farther north Earlene? Is that why you get four seasons? Again- I am very unfamiliar with Georgia- just starting to get my bearings here in NC. We have visited Atlanta and Woodstock. The medical info helps! Is it friendly? Is it hard to fit in if you are from the northeast or another part of the country? Thanks again, Rebecca

Thank you! I was specifically interested in Cherokee County. Are the three seasons fall, spring and summer?? As far as medical care: We are not a holistic family so that is not what I meant... I am wondering things like: if the hospitals are good? If the pediatricians are good?, etc. We have severe food allergies and asthma in our family- so the quality of doctors is really important to me. Where we came from(in PA) our pediatricians were avaliable 6 days a week with emergency hours on Sunday morning and evening hours one or two nights a week- plus nurse triage at night. That is not the way it is here in our very small NC town- so I am wondering about that...(just an example). I guess I would say: Are you happy with your doctors? Do you like where you live? :) Thank you very much! Rebecca