:iagree: I wouldn't wear it to a Trunk or Treat event.

:iagree: Also, I have never been able to find any doughnuts that aren't full of artificial colorings, except the ones in natural food stores. Even very plain, unfrosted cake or yeast doughnuts contain yellow dye. Don't ask me why. :confused: If your son has been eating a lot of doughnuts, it may be more the dye and not so much the sugar causing (or exacerbating) the problem. Almost all cake contains dye, too--even white cake, as I think a previous poster noted. The blue frosting was most definitely bad news. :grouphug: Hope things improve for you soon.

At a chaperoned Christian overnight party, my girlfriends and I left the building and drove around town in the dark with boys we barely knew. As far as I know, none of the leaders (or our parents) ever knew anything about it. I also know for a fact that some inappropriate touching went on in the fully lit gym, with everyone present and almost everyone none the wiser. So, no, I wouldn't let my child go to a co-ed overnight lock-in.

I wouldn't use the little clear bands; they are hard on hair, especially if you don't cut them out. You might try some covered elastics instead. Be sure to get the kind without any metal on them, like the little colored ones made by Goody. The no-slip "snappie" barrettes are nice, too. These work well: http://bowsweet.com/snappies.html They have "gripper strips" in them that hold them in place. You can find lots of similar ones on Etsy. I tend to like the "snappies" (made from snap clips) better than the "clippies" (made from alligator clips) because they are lighter, and, I think, more comfortable. The clippies would probably be fine for your older girl. A lot of the ones on Etsy and in the store above are lined with velvet ribbon on the inside of the barrette to keep them in place. The old school plastic Goody barrettes work pretty well, too. They come in shapes like bows, dogs, butterflies, etc. and have little plastic teeth on the inside of the barrette.

It does seem like about 95% of supermarket breads contain preservatives, but there are some that don't! We buy Aunt Millie's Hearth 100% Whole Wheat, Aunt Millie's Swirl Raisin Bread (not 100% whole grain), and Koepplinger's Natural 100% Whole Wheat Bread at the day-old store for about $1.00 a loaf. It's much easier than making homemade bread, and the ingredients aren't bad. If you do want to make homemade bread, why not try a bread machine? The bread turns out well, you know exactly what's going in it, and it takes virtually no time. Applegate Farms frozen breakfast sausage! There are several varieties, but ours contains only chicken, water, evaporated cane syrup, salt, sage, rosemary extract, black pepper, ginger, white pepper and red pepper. It's so yummy and takes only a couple minutes in the microwave. Just read the ingredients of the regular cheese at the grocery store (especially the block cheeses). A lot of it is fine. We like cheddar, white american, mozzarella string cheese, provolone, swiss, and Monterey jack. Again, just check the ingredients. Some varieties are fine. Salsa is cooked, so it is technically "processed," but so would be homemade! The Chi Chi's Mild Thick and Chunky Salsa in my fridge doesn't contain anything artificial. You can also buy organic salsa with natural ingredients at most grocery stores now. It depends what you mean by processed. If you just mean food that is "natural" and doesn't contain artificial additives, you should be able to find substitutes for most of what you eat now. You should easily be able to find natural pasta, cheese, meat, and (unflavored) yogurt. Snack crackers and chicken broth are a little more difficult; there are some good varieties at natural food stores or in natural food sections. You could try Back to Nature or Late July crackers or Pacific Foods chicken broth. A lot of the mainstream chicken broth manufacturers are now claiming "no MSG" when their products still contain things like "autolyzed yeast extract." I would avoid those. I'm not sure about the taco shells. I have NOT been able to find preservative free tortillas. For natural pre-prepared dinner rolls, you could use frozen Rhodes Warm N Serve Soft Dinner Rolls (white flour, water, sugar, butter, yeast, dry milk, salt) or the Pillsbury Simply Buttermilk biscuits. They're definitely not health food, but they don't have anything truly *evil* in them. :) You'll have to do some searching, but you'll quickly find some "safe" brands if you're looking to eliminate dyes, artificial flavors, preservatives, etc. Good luck!

Okay, I didn't realize this. That does make things more difficult and less clear cut! I'm glad he had a happier day today, and if he took the initiative himself to ask for more materials, that does sound like he wants to continue. I suppose if it was something I really wanted my child to participate in, I'd continue to monitor it closely and see how it goes. I'm sorry you're having a rough time. :grouphug:

If my child told me every day that he hated something, I would believe him. If he reinforced that by speaking strongly and negatively about it every time he was questioned, again, I would believe him. He has cried about going and doesn't want to answer questions about it or talk about it? That would send up huge red flags for me. Even if he said once that he did in fact like the activity, that wouldn't carry much weight for me considering his reactions the rest of the time. I'd think it was possible he was just trying to please ME by saying he liked it. I wouldn't force my child to spend over four hours every Saturday on an optional activity he hated. I think your son's reactions go beyond simply whining about hard work. There is no guarantee that he will learn what you hope at these sessions, particularly considering how he dislikes them. You really can't expect someone else to teach him not to be negative in one half day a week. That is ultimately your responsibility, and the sooner you address it, the better. Tell him in very specific terms what types of speech are not allowed in your home. You have to be willing to back up your words with action. If you're not willing to discipline him in any way, it's difficult to see how any change is going to happen. I would not continue with the activity.

We do in the fall and winter, but in the summer, they're too hot, and I prefer tights for church.

You are awesome! Thanks so much for the update. I think things worked out for the best. I wish there were more people in the world like you.

I agree! Most newer little girls' dresses are very short, and those matching little diaper covers don't cover much more than the diaper itself. Bike shorts are better, but I'd rather they not be constantly on display. :) I've found that as long as dresses hit at the knee or just below, they don't interfere with walking, climbing, and playing. We also prefer dresses with sleeves, which can be surprisingly hard to find.

I did end up pairing our new Lands' End dress with leggings, and it's very cute. It just doesn't work for us with tights for church. It hits a couple inches above the knee. You can go a size up with their summer dresses, but if you do that with the winter ones, the sleeves tend to be too long. I love bike shorts under dresses, too! Gymboree ones work great. We have a couple of dresses from Basic Brilliance. I love them, but they stain very easily for some reason. However, the company will actually redye them for you in a darker color if necessary, for a small fee.

Me, too! :( I used to love the Lands' End knit dresses, but now they're so short that they're almost like tunic tops! The fabric is much thinner than it used to be, too.

eBay is my favorite source for modest church dresses. It does take some searching to find ones I like, but I rarely spend more than $10 for a dress (including shipping). Ask sellers for measurements if you're looking for a particular length. You could try searching for Bonnie Jean dresses or Rare Editions dresses; both come in baby sizes and tend to be more traditionally styled than other brands. You can also buy custom made modest baby dresses from these sellers: The Scarlet Thread (ask them to email you their current fabric selections) Lilies of the Field (you can see their available fabrics on their website) The King's Daughters I've ordered from the first two companies and have been happy with their sewing. Hope this helps. :)

Target carries a cheaper line of Calico Critter-like animals and accessories called Li'l Woodzeez. I like the Calico Critter animals better and we do have those, but we use them with Li'l Woodzeez furniture (inside a Fisher Price My First Dollhouse!). We have the kitchen/housekeeping set, the living room and nursery set, and the master bedroom and dining set. They came with lots of little accessories and are very cute. The only thing I don't like about them is the refrigerator door and oven doors don't open. They also have a bakery set, a schoolroom/playground set, a house for $25, and a few other things. They are worth checking out if you want to save some money.

If it were me, I would ask the vet to run a senior panel blood test to see if there are any obvious and treatable problems. The weight loss and loss of urine control could be just old age, but to me it sounds like there may be another underlying issue. Pets Alive is a wonderful animal rescue in New York. Their director wrote the following article. I hope it's helpful to you. :grouphug: How Do You Know It Is Time for Euthanasia? Many of our friends on Facebook or twitter, or even email, have contacted us, filled with grief and sorrow, and asked our opinions on how to tell if it is time to let their beloved pet "go." In this “business†I have seen it all. Some people put their dogs or cats down at the very first sign of illness because they don’t want to pay vet bills or because they claim that is the most humane thing. Unfortunately I have also seen people wait far too long, past the point of humaneness and into the realm of cruelty. I know it is difficult to let a beloved pet go. I can’t even type this without my throat closing up and tears welling into my eyes at the thought of the ones I have had to let go. This is a very personal decision. No one can make it but you. I am certainly no authority on this, nothing would give me the right to judge this for others, but here is how I decide with my own dogs, if this helps. 1. Have they stopped eating? If my dogs stop eating that is it. I will not force feed them. I will give them three or four days of me trying everything to get them to eat – chicken and chop meat, but once that doesn’t work, that is it, it is time. 2. If my dogs can no longer get up and walk around on their own. If they can not stand, walk around and move with nobility and dignity, then it is time, even if they are eating and otherwise mentally alert. That is no life for an animal. (I mean this only in the sense of senior failure…not dogs that are young and healthy and get along GREAT and just FINE with a cart. I am talking about when a dog is so old it would not have the strength to get up any longer). 3. If my dog has lost his or her nobility. If I look at my dog and say I would want to be let go if I was in this stage, then I make that decision of kindness to let them go so that their pride and dignity is no longer depleted. [in the comments following this article, Kerry clarified that #3 is referring to loss of bladder and bowel control.] 4. If they are so uncomfortable that they can not sleep, that they are constantly unhappy, miserable or crying or whining. If my dogs are suffering, it is time. It is the only gift I have left to give them – and that is to let them go. So, no one can decide for you. I’m sorry that you are in this place. But respect your pet and LOVE your pet enough to let them go. I wish you much love and affection and peace with whatever decision you make. ~Kerry Clair

I highly recommend getting a larger tank. Goldfish don't stay small for long! Larger tanks are actually less work than smaller tanks in the long run, as they will stay cleaner and you will have healthier fish. You will want to move the gravel from your small tank into the large tank without washing it, as it now contains beneficial bacteria. Your goldfish really needs a 10 gallon tank at a bare minimum. A 20 gallon tank would be even better. Goldfish produce a larger volume of waste than other fish, and in such a small tank (particularly a new one which has not fully cycled) the ammonia will build up quickly, even with a filter. Your fish could have healing burns from ammonia. Also, salt will not remove chlorine from water. You will either need to add a product like Stress Coat (which will also help with skin injuries and stress) or let your water sit out for 24 hours before adding it to the tank, as another poster noted. Stress Coat is inexpensive and you can find it at places like Walmart. Buying some test strips can help you determine if there are problems with your water (too much chlorine, ammonia, nitrites, etc.) You will need to change about 10-20% of your water once a week--more often if the test strips show a problem. Your fish needs to be fed once a day, only as much as he will eat in about 2 minutes. Here is a great website for new fish owners: http://www.firsttankguide.net/goldfish.php I've linked to their page on goldfish, but the whole website should be helpful to you. Good luck! Edited to add: Almost everyone I know who has fish--myself included!--had a rocky start at first. Caring for fish is a little trickier than you might think, but once your tank is stabilized with good water quality, things should go more smoothly. Fish are beautiful and can be very enjoyable pets.

I am so very sorry for your loss. The Tramadol absolutely helps. My dog is on it. Without it, he is barely able to walk up stairs or down the driveway. With it, he plays like a puppy. He has also taken it after surgery. It is a powerful painkiller. Helping our animals pass peacefully is the last responsibility of a loving owner. I know the grief is terrible, but it really will get better. :grouphug:

Have you tried searching on Petfinder.com? Lots of small animal rescues post their animals there. I love to adopt animals from foster homes, because they are handled often and their caretakers are knowledgeable about their personalities and quirks. Our local small animal rescue almost always has young animals available as well as older ones. You could also look on Craigslist. I once found a hamster on Craigslist (her owner was no longer financially able to care for her), and she was healthy and well socialized. Rats are wonderful. A good friend of mine took her rat to the vet, only to be told that he had a terminal illness and didn't have long to live. When she arrived back home, she began crying over the diagnosis. Upon seeing this, her rat went into his cage, brought out his best hidden treasure (a half eaten chocolate Easter egg), and gave it to her. So sweet! Mergath is right. If you can get two, they will be happier and more relaxed. Good luck!

From Ringger Clothing, I only have denim skirts and a flannel nightgown. I tumble the denim skirts for about 10 minutes and then hang to dry. They are soft enough for me and I rarely iron them, except sometimes the hems which can curl up if the skirt is dried too long. I dry the flannel all the way; it shrunk some as expected but is soft. Amy Ringger is super nice and could probably tell you which fabrics would be soft and wrinkle free after just hanging. She can also send you fabric samples. I've ordered an empire waist dress and lots of skirts from Lilies, in 100% cotton prints, denim, and flannel. I tumble all of them for a few minutes after washing and then hang to dry. The 100% cotton prints do require a little ironing. They don't look horribly wrinkled, but I think they look neater and feel softer ironed. The flannel skirt is soft and looks nice without ironing. The denim skirts sometimes need to be ironed, especially their hems. Lilies will also send you fabric samples. I would imagine you might have better luck not needing to iron their poly/cotton blends. Hope this helps! :)

I've thought about dying dresses from Dharma, but never have. I love this company's empire waist dresses, but they don't have pockets. They could probably add pockets to the jumper styles: The Scarlet Thread I think Serengeti might have some ready-made empire waist styles. Look in their outlet section for better prices: Serengeti Here are some more places to order custom made empire waist dresses. I've ordered from both companies and have been happy with the quality: Ringger Clothing Lilies of the Field Apparel

Some ideas: *A gypsy--long, full skirt with a colorful scarf draped around the waist, a peasant type top, a headscarf, and hoop earrings. You could also add a shawl or tambourine. *A hippie--maxi dress or skirt, long beaded necklaces, fabric or leather headband, sunglasses, and fringed vest. *A pioneer woman--long skirt, white blouse, sunbonnet, and apron. *A princess--old prom or bridesmaid dress with a crown added; some ready-made costumes are modest. If your daughter wears women's sizes, the cheapest new costumes I found were $25-$35. Here are a few: Snow White Pink Princess Gypsy Cleopatra I also recommend searching on eBay. They have a huge selection of used costumes.

I would suggest keeping it simple. I encourage you to buy a good children's Bible and read a story together every day. Then, just talk about what you can learn from the story and spend a few minutes praying together, thanking God for His blessings and asking Him for help with any needs you have. We like The Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes, The Picture Bible for Little People, and the Family Time Bible in Pictures, all by Kenneth N. Taylor. You can find them on Amazon or eBay. The stories are told simply and in a Biblically sound manner, and questions and a Scripture reference follow each story. You and your older children could also read the corresponding story in a regular Bible before your discussion. May God bless you as you all learn together! :)

:iagree: I was so glad to hear you rescheduled. I hope you all have a wonderful vacation!

My arthritic old dog takes Tramadol, too. Hiding it inside a small ball of canned dog food works 99% of the time for us.