So glad he's okay!!! My son is 6 and has taken three summers worth of swimming lessons so far but still isn't a very strong swimmer and can't tread well at all. I make him wear floaties every time he gets in or near the water. He didn't really like that this summer, and kept saying he doesn't like other kids to see him in floaties, but I don't care. I told him his safety is the most important thing. Maybe next year he won't need them. It is scary how fast something can go wrong, without other people even noticing!

I think that is perfectly fine and will be appreciated! Meatloaf is a good idea, too!

We just "completed" week 3 of school and: We're behind one science activity, one social studies activity, and one math lesson that we'll have to do this weekend if I don't want to start next week "behind," We took time during our school day yesterday to food shop and clean the downstairs because both desperately needed to be done (I admit I am still neglecting laundry) My son is much more willing to sit still, pay attention, and do what I ask for 1st grade than he ever was for Kindergarten (and I used a VERY gentle, fun, non-academic Kindergarten) My daughter is reading more than she did over the summer. She's currently reading Adam of the Road. We've done several fun projects and activities for social studies. She really likes social studies. We went on field trips so far to the Reading Public Museum to see the T Rex Exhibit, to Longwood Gardens to see the flowers and the light exhibit, to a homeschool day program at the National Watch & Clock Museum, and to a bird specialty store an hour from home to get my mom a new pet bird (which is why we're behind with a few school activities). I haven't even begun to think about when/where to fit Meet the Masters Art back into our schedule but need to do so very soon. I don't want to ever fall too behind and in fact want to take fewer breaks than we have in past years because if this baby sticks (and I so, so, hope it does) it should be born in late April to early May and I want to be done with our school year by then! ETA: my laundry is now caught up, the unfinished math lesson is done, and the unfinished social studies project (making a model of a Viking longboat) is done. Just a science activity (drawing and labeling a map of different habitats) left to do in order to be caught up! :D

We homeschool secularly, but we do cover world religions as part of our schooling. I do think kids should have some basic understanding of what different people believe. So between Oak Meadow, Story of the World, and supplemental reading for both, as well as conversations we have and so on, we've introduced the basics of a bunch of different religions in a "this is what so and so believes, and this is what so and so believes," kind of way to my daughter. I haven't reached that point yet with my son.

Pretty much never. I wish he would once in a while. Overnight trips and day trips? He doesn't even like to take them to the park for half an hour alone. He will once in a while take one of them along when he goes to a store, he'll bring one to an activity if I have to bring another to an activity at the same time, he'll hang out alone at home with them if I want to run errands solo or go have a mom's night out once in a while, he'll help take care of them when we're both home, but just going, "Hey kids, let's go out, just me and you guys, we'll do something fun and give mom a break..." it just doesn't happen.

So, yesterday the kids and my husband and I went with my mom to a bird specialty store to get her a new parakeet to replace the one that just died recently. She lives alone in an apartment building, she's turning 75 next week, and the bird made a nice companion for her even though it didn't want to ever be held or petted or anything. We go to this store because she knows many of the birds have been hand-reared and she's hoping to get a more social parakeet. No such luck. The ONE parakeet they had there didn't want the owner to go near it, and it bit my husband haha. Meanwhile, I'm hanging out by this big open display of young cockatiels, and when I put my hand down in there, this one comes hurrying right up to me and climbs on my hand. I fall instantly in love and between myself, my husband, and both of my kids, this thing just lets us hold it forever. It's content to never get down and go from person to person and be touched, held, etc. It's awesome. It also costs $119 instead of the $20 my mother had planned to spend and requires a bigger cage. We tell her we'll pay for $75 of it as a birthday gift (originally she had wanted a Michael's gift card to buy yarn) if she decides she wants this bird, and she decides to go for it. We bring home the most awesome bird ever and get it all set up in her apartment. I just know it's going to make her a great companion. So she's trying to decide on a name for it, not knowing for sure if it's a boy or a girl, and I did a little looking at bird names online and sent her a list of some of them to consider. She decides she likes Jesse. She posts the following on Facebook: Mom: My baby bird is named Jesse (thanks Nancy) be it a boy or a girl. What's that old song? I wanna be Jesse's mom. Mom's friend: I think it is "I wanna be Jesse's girl," but that works, too. :) " Me: Haha...No, the one you're thinking of is called Stacey's Mom (has got it going on) and it's about a guy wanting to go to his "friend" Stacey's house because he is lusting after her mom. Jesse's Girl doesn't really work either, it's about a guy who has a male friend named Jesse and wishes Jesse's girlfriend could be his instead. He sings, "I wish that I had Jesse's girl..." I was cracking up LOL. And now, here are a few pictures of the totally adorable, sweet bird we brought home!

although she wasn't even home

Yes, yes, maybe.

In the laundry room, wearing

I have no dental insurance. I get a check up and cleaning twice a year. It costs me $45 each time.

I would not make a 5 year old make a report at all. If anything, ask him to tell you one or two things he learned about the geese (orally) or what was his favorite thing about them, and maybe draw a picture of one. For an 8 year old, if you've taught paragraphs already, you could ask him to write a paragraph (maybe five sentences) covering some things he learned about them and he can add an illustration to it. But I wouldn't really make an issue of reports at those ages myself (I think my daughter was more like 9 before I started asking her to write paragraphs and so on). They're fascinated by them, you're reading about them, you're probably talking about them, you're looking at them- the kids are learning!

I couldn't even tell you what brand my daughter has, and she's had it for over a year lol. My husband went on Craig's List and bought her a used, half-size, acoustic guitar. Used because we didn't want to spend a lot of money on something we weren't sure she'd maintain an interest in, half-size because we thought it would be easier for her to handle at her age, acoustic because that was my preference over electric. If she sticks with it another year (it's been a year this month) and is still interested, we'll get her a full-size as she'll be almost 13 by then, and save the half-size one for my son in the event he decides he wants lessons at some point, too.

I think one pony tail is fine at any age, really. Pigtails seems very little girlish.

haha! That's pretty funny!

My pool would never force that with the young kids, or insist on it. They encourage bobbing under the water, and if a kid won't do it, they'll try to wheedle him into it, but if the kid refuses, they'll say okay, you don't have to do it, and they'll make a note of it, and try again the next lesson. If by the end of the session they haven't done everything they were supposed to, they won't pass the class, but big deal- they'll have gained some experience, and they'll repeat the level the following year when they're more ready. In the meanwhile, they won't have been made even more afraid of water, afraid of swim teachers, afraid of lessons, etc. I would never allow my child to participate in something like what you described, and I would way rather them repeat lessons and/or learn a bit later than hate and fear the water.

Thanks for sharing this! They told you that you were even more behind at first than they said I am and it worked out for you, so hopefully it will be okay! :) Thank you! And it sure is...but, hey, only 6 more days now! lol. Thank you again everyone for being there and being so supportive!

I really love stories like this! They make me feel more hopeful! I hope my story turns out the same way!

Ultrasound update here: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/showthread.php?t=424409

So, a week ago there was nothing but a yolk sac. Today, there was a fetal pole and a heartbeat! The gestational sac had grown more and the fluid had increased. This is all definitely progress and I'm very happy about it, because the alternative of no heartbeat would have been pretty devastating! BUT I am also still pretty concerned, because the baby only measured 5 weeks 6 days, and going by my last period, I should be 7 weeks 3 days today. So that's pretty behind, I think, for it to be measuring, even though I ovulate around cd18! And the heart rate was only 82, which I think is pretty low. When I looked up what a heart rate should be at 6 weeks I got a whole list of people saying their baby's heart rate at 6 weeks measured anywhere from like 100 to 130ish. So, I still just don't know what to expect or think. My doctor said again, "There's progress. I still can't PROMISE everything will be okay. I wish I could wave a magic wand and put you safely at the 12 week mark. But really all you can do is keep doing what you're doing- keep taking your progesterone and metformin- and hurry up and wait." She was going to have me come back in two weeks to check it again. I asked her if she could maybe do it in one week instead as the waiting is really nerve-wracking and she said OK. :D So, once again, I'll see what happens in another week. Thank you for your continued prayers, good thoughts, well wishes, etc., and please continue to send them my way!

Thanks! I finally dozed back off a bit but up again by 7. Guess I may as well just go with it and jump in the shower, have my daily cup of (decaf) coffee, and go about my morning. My appointment is at 11:30 but it's usually a bit of a wait so hopefully I will update by 1-1:30!

Ooh how exciting!! Any time now!! :)

I'm taking an oral progesterone supplement. I requested my dr supplement me and she agreed to do so even though she didn't really think my levels were quite low enough to need it. It makes me feel better, though- more proactive or something. Because, really, early pregnancy is such a helpless time, and even more so when you've suffered previous losses!

Woke up at 3 AM to pee, then got back in bed and tossed and turned for about an hour unable to fall back asleep because all I can think about is the ultrasound I have scheduled late this morning. So. Nervous!!! Now it's a quarter to 5 and I've given up for now on sleeping so I'm lying in bed reading the forums on my phone. I am going to be so exhausted today if I can't fall asleep for a couple more hours but every time I try my mind just starts racing. Ugh, I just want to know what's going on already. I feel like I'm losing my mind!! :willy_nilly::willy_nilly::willy_nilly: ETA: Update with ultrasound results here: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/showthread.php?t=424409

:grouphug::grouphug::grouphug: I so get what you are going through and I've "only" had two losses in a row- about to find out about 7 hours from now if this one is viable. If it is, it'll be born right around my 40th birthday. If it's not, I so understand that feeling of running out of time and not wanting to quit trying but not wanting to face more heartbreak and fear. It's so hard. I just hope in the end it was all worth it, for both of us! That this is the time, and it all works out. Thinking of you, hoping for you, and happy for you. Right now, you are pregnant and even though for people like us that is terrifying it is also wonderful. Congrats again!! :)

I just let mine potty train when they're ready. I offer encouragement and such but don't force it. They've all potty trained while they were still three (although in my son's case I was afraid we were going to hit four lol, he really waited right until the end of that third year!) and for me it was less stressful than trying to bribe, push, or keep an eagle eye on the toilet habits of a disinterested two year old. And I'd rather change diapers and pull ups than do tons of extra laundry and/or clean up after a bunch of accidents! Eta: stupid phone- I thought I edited my first post but apparently it was just reposted! Sorry!