Yes, I've firmly decided who I'm voting for. :D

I'm so sorry to hear about your pup!! Please continue to keep us updated!!! :grouphug:

I have two children with autism and I can share what worked for them and why. My 14yo -- Math-U-See!! He really needed to see that 1+2 = 3 and that's where the manipulative blocks came in. And he was easily distracted by color and 'busy pages', so the black and white pages used in MUS were terrific!! He learned to read with Alpha Phonics, which uses a word-ladder approach for reading (ball, call, hall, tall, wall, etc.) -- BJU uses the same approach (I believe) vs a traditional (ba, be, bi, bo, bu, etc.) phonics approach. We supplemented this with Pathway Readers. Again, black and white pages without distractions and he enjoyed the stories. They didn't feel "baby-ish", which was important to him because he didn't really learn to read well until he was 8, and the last thing he wanted to read was, "See Spot. See Spot run. Spot is a dog." ;) My 6yo -- Now, my 6yo LOVES color! Go figure! She's using Abeka Math and loving it!! I keep my MUS blocks close at hand and I use them for learning her math facts. She's very good at memorizing and she loves repetition, so flash cards have worked very well for her (so far!) I'm also using the Pathway Readers with her, but I'm doing so because she went to public school for Kindergarten where she learned to sight read and using a pure phonics approach was frustrating her. Pathway Readers uses a combined sight reading / phonics format and she's really enjoying it! I hope this helps!

Sure!! Sonlight is an excellent way to combine several children in one grade level. I'm using Core 4 this year for my boys. (My 14yo has special needs and is working on a 7th grade level -- Sonlight cores are sooo good that *I* always learn something and I figure that, if *I* can learn something, after going through high school and taking some college classes, *he* can learn plenty, too!) We're combining this with the Trail Guide to US Geography. I purchased the CD that has all 3 levels in one and my 14yo is using the Advanced set (which asks more indepth questions) and my 8yo is using the Intermediate set. My 14yo is using Smarr's Introduction to Literature, which covers writing and a little grammar, and spelling is correcting any missed words. My 8yo is using Learning Language Arts Through Literature, which combines grammar, spelling, and writing in one curriculum. They each have their own art and math curriculums (my 14yo is using CLE, which is in workbook format, and my 8yo is using TT Math 5, which is all done on the computer) My 6yo is using Abeka Math and Art, Pathway Readers and Workbooks, Handwriting Without Tears Printing Power, and BJU for Science and History. I'm using the read-alouds from Sonlight Core 1 with her as well. (She also has special needs, so I try not to overwhelm her)

My 14yo has big feet, too!! :D I've had some success at Target, but it's sort of hit or miss. Payless is a great idea! (I'll have to remember that)

There's social morality and there's religious morality. There are laws that are passed so that society doesn't descend into anarchy. Taxes must be passed so that the streets are cleaned and the roads are paved, the elderly and the disabled are cared for, etc. Police are there to protect you from the 'criminal element'. What happens in a doctor's office between a woman and her physician is between the two of them. Society will not descend into anarchy because she makes a decision and her doctor obeys her wishes. Her decision does not affect you. If you don't believe in abortion...don't have one.

I can sooo relate!!! The stares in public drive me crazy!!! My daughter has her quirks, too. Trust me....If you're ever around an escalator, and you see someone riding it with a little girl with blonde hair and blue eyes for hours, that's us! :blushing: My family is just now starting to 'get it' about our youngest daughter. And they've become very encouraging ... although my MIL doesn't understand why I don't put her in public school with their "wonderful programs" :rolleyes: My daughter also has a roughly 2-year language delay and that is her biggest 'issue'; it's more of a problem than her sensory issues, although the reverse was true when she was younger (then it was more sensory than language). :grouphug:

For my 1st grader, I'm doing history and science separately. She has special needs and I didn't want to do too much with her each day and overwhelm her. So we're doing history now until Christmas break, and then science from January until the end of the school year in June. I also like this idea because science is fun to do in the spring, when everything's blooming and you want to be outside anyway!! :)

I belong to two homeschool groups. The local one is more of a support group. We have monthly meetings and occasional 'mom's night out' get-togethers at local restaurants. They have a once-a-month co-op, where my two boys take art classes. So I don't consider a 'co-op' in the true sense of the word, because it amounts to less than 10 hours per school year. The other group I belong to is in 'the city', which is about a 30 minute drive, and they're a large group. I do occasional field trips with them and both of my boys are in a once-a-month Star Wars / Pokemon club. I joined that group because it was a good choice for my oldest, who is a senior this year. The group is large enough to hold a graduation ceremony, and I wanted my daughter to have this opportunity. I really try not to plan too much. If I'm in too many group activities, I don't get much schooling done!

You mean the Aes Sedai? And, yes, someone is finishing the series. The author is Brandon Sanderson and the book is supposed to be released sometime late next year. You can start with the Wikipedia entry and follow all the links to catch up :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wheel_of_Time

That sounds just like my mother-in-law! When did she visit your house??? :lol: :D

First, I'd give you a :grouphug: Second, I'd ask you what your favorite food is! I'd also want to know your favorite author, or reading genre, so I could bring you a stack of books. I can sooo relate! When I was pregnant with #3, I spent 5 months in bed (from weeks 19 through 36). I had an 8yo and a 5yo and my husband worked an hour away from home. I did alot of crossword puzzles, and I read the entire Robert Jordan "Wheel of Time" fantasy series, and I watched alot of television. I spent alot of time cuddling with my kids. We read alot of books together .. I read the Tolkien series to my oldest...I remember that vividly! And I learned that children are capable of sooo much, when given a chance! My 8yo vacuumed, swept the floors, made me peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and loaded the dishwasher. She helped to keep her younger brother entertained. And I had no family or friends to help out either....my oldest daughter and I truly bonded during that time and she matured alot over that summer (she's been a big help ever since) I hope this helps and that you're soon up and about!!

Great minds think alike!!! :thumbup:

Bruce Springsteen!!! I've always wanted to go to one of his concerts and I've never been able to!! And, of course, I'd never miss a chance to go to a Jimmy Buffett concert!!! They're awesome fun!! PARROTHEADS UNITE!! :D

I've learned that I can draw, if I take my time. It's definitely a skill anyone can learn. And all of my children are wonderful artists!!! My 14yo would love to be an artist, in fact, when he grows up.

Yep, that was me!! I didn't realize that I had to sign my name! :blushing: I thought it told everyone who the rep was from

CLE Math 7 here, too -- my 14yo has special needs and he *loves* this math program!

My boys are really enjoying the Trail Guide to US Geography!! They love it! They like mapping and finding out the answers to all the questions! That's the biggest hit for them so far this year.

Mine wants to finish! I may give him an unexpected break, often if I'm working with another child and he happens to be at a stopping point...or if he's been working diligently, and I want to reward him for that, I may say take 15-20 minutes and get a snack or drink, etc. But we're usually finshed by lunchtime (which is around 1 o'clock) and he'd rather finish for the day than take breaks!

My husband's extended family (mother, sisters, their husbands, and their children) are going on a cruise to the Bahamas in June and they will be taking two of our children with them (our daughter, who'll be 18, and our son, who'll be 9). My hubby and I and the two other children - who both have autism - won't be going ... we're going to take a vacation to the Outer Banks instead. From what I've read at the State Department website, my children will both need passports. This is a very silly question, so don't laugh, but...how do I go about getting a passport for my children? I don't have the first clue!! Thanks in advance!

Craving cucumbers and tomatoes sends up a red flag for me! I would really encourage you to research the Feingold diet. Cucumbers and tomatoes are two of the foods that are removed with Feingold. Here's a link to get you started -- you can find plenty more on google! :) http://www.everydiet.org/diet/feingold-diet

There isn't a home companion guide for Geometry either -- although I wish there was!!

It could be the B complex supplement, but I'm not really sure. I really think that, if she wasn't sensitive to gluten, then taking her off of gluten wouldn't do anything, if that makes sense. However, it would be best to not start two new things at the same time because, then, when you have a negative reaction (or a positive one, for that matter), you don't know which thing caused it. So you could stop one or the other for the time being (I would say at least 2-4 weeks) and see what happens, and then, if everything goes back to normal, you'll have your answer -- or at least a possibility of what it could be. But I do know that many times, children crave what they're allergic to, especially when it comes to gluten and autism -- there's a whole "opiates theory" associated with that...that when they eat wheat, it's as if it makes them high and they want more and more and more, to keep the feeling -- the same can happen with dairy. Does your daughter crave things made with wheat? For instance, eat a large number of pancakes, whenever they're served? Are her favorite foods wheat-related (i.e., chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, pasta, etc)?

Yes...we almost always vote the same.

How long have you been on it? I know that many times, children can get worse before they get better. And it can take up to 6 months to remove gluten from a child's system, especially if you're dealing with something on the autism spectrum. And it can take up to a year to see results. So I'd need more information, such as why you've chosen a GF diet. (Meaning, did you have allergy testing done that showed a wheat allergy, or are you trying to help with something like autism?) Btw..I answered your other post on the special needs board and you mentioned ADHD -- if that's the child you're trying to go GF on, you may want to try the Feingold diet. I had wonderful success with my 14yo on the Feingold diet -- the GF diet didn't do anything for him -- BUT .. it didn't hurt him either....if you're seeing a really negative reaction to the GF diet, then I'm thinking it's because it IS working..it's just going to take time.