Yes, I found the press releases a little strange too. But to me, they totally fit the Duggar family. From all I've gathered from that family, there is absolutely nothing negative about pregnancy or childbirth ever. So this birth is wonderful and miraculous and something to celebrate, like all the others. Of course a baby is wonderful, but this is a pretty serious situation.

I've used pure vitamin E oil before.

About 18 months ago one of my former coworkers, a healthy 40 year old with no underlying conditions, died from complications arising from shingles. I had forgotten about the horrors of shingles.

Agreed. My mother never purposely exposed me to the pox when I was a kid. I never got it and I've survived into adulthood. I'll just take my chances I won't catch it as an adult. It's so rare nowadays anyway with most kids being vaccinated, I really doubt I'll catch it from someone when I'm 65.

We've been sponsoring a child through World Vision for years. You can send your child cards and letters and they send you pictures and updates on your child.

(bolding mine) I respectfully disagree. Since no one can even remember the last time Ree posted, but she's been in Southern Living, the Bonnie Hunt Show (twice), other publications, a cross-country book tour, won just about every blog award around, and has a best-selling cookbook-- she is a celbrity, not a member of a close-knit community. I enjoy her blog, but Ree has never tried to deny the fact that she grew up on the golf course and now lives on an expansive cattle ranch. She's never tried to hide her abundance and doesn't need protecting. She's opened her life up on her blog and in her book. If she didn't want people to know she was successful, she wouldn't have done so. I said all that to say, no one in this thread is spreading rumors. They are discussing what has been openly shared by a celebrity.

I had several brands of the canvas or grocery store ones, and the handles would always tear off under our frequent use. Home Depot sells some nylon (or polyester?) ones in their signature orange color. They're garish, but have lasted me 2 years. They have black clips on them that fit the sides of a grocery cart so you can easily load your groceries in them. They are .99 each. We have 5. Hubby & I always keep one or two in our cars and use them for everything. I toss them in the wash occasionally to keep them fresh.

We have two!!! We love them!

Butterfinger Jingles

Generally, Wal Mart's regular price on an item will beat out any grocery store price. But Wal Mart doesn't run the same sales (BOGO, 10 for 10, etc) that most grocery stores do. If you really need to stick to a strict budget, you'll stretch your dollars most by checking the ads for your local grocery stores and making multiple trips - only buying the loss leaders at each store and buying the rest at Wal Mart.

Hummus and feta. On anything. A rice cake, english muffin, toast, crackers, stale pitas, cucumber slices, you name it.

I don't use my bread machine for baking the bread, just making the dough. I've had a couple machines and they all bake horribly. After using your bread machine for dough and then baking the bread in the oven a few times you won't find it difficult at all and will never go back to baking bread in a bread machine.

DD and I are both at 97.0 usually, she's even registered at 96.9 at the pediatricians office. I've never had a problem with Drs believing me when I say 99+ is a fever for us.

It bothers me too when cashiers comment on what I'm buying. Conversation is one thing, a running commentary on my diet is another. Comments about stocking up annoy me too! I read it to mean "You MUST be stocking up for the future because only a glutton could eat all this in one week." I know that is just me being overly sensitive, but that's how I feel. Twice recently cashiers have acted a little grossed out by things I've bought and said, "Uh? Food XXX, is that even good?" Um, no, it's totally gross, I only buy it to stimulate the local farming economy. :001_huh: My favorite was a couple of years ago when a cashier asked me what I used Tea Tree Oil for. I was a little caught off guard and said something along the lines of "It's a natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial essential oil." What would she have done if I said "It's a great intimate lubricant!"

Mellow yellow?

I've been involved with a few message boards over the years. Without a doubt, this is one of the tamest. Sure there is discussion and debate, but I don't know that it's increased recently.

http://theinspiredroom.net/2008/11/24/make-your-own-napkin-rings-easy-craft/ http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=HomeDecor/napkinrings.html http://www.theartfulcrafter.com/napkin-rings.html

I know large families were common in the past, but I really wonder how many of them were all born from the same mother. Didn't plenty of women die in childbirth after a couple babies, and the husband remarried almost immediately out of necessity?

Napkin rings to go with the napkins? You could make those yourself too.

We have a fitted vinyl tablecloth. It's not the most fashionable, but it is durable, easily cleaned, and cheap. I think they're designed for outdoor patio use, so they really can take a beating from kids. http://home-furnishings.drleonards.com/Home-Furnishings/Home-Decor/Fitted-Tablecloths/64868.cfm http://www.happyaccents.com/cgi-local/ASI_Store.cgi?Category+FittedTableClothsOval_FittedTableClothsAll-TableCloths

It wouldn't hurt to list it now. If it doesn't sell, you can just relist it in the spring.

I'm like that, you're not alone. Another thing that makes it hard for me to relate to women is what I called the pampered princess personality. I'm a SAHM, and generally ascribe to traditional household roles. But some of the women at my church would be floored if they knew I painted two bathrooms and all the doors and trim in my house this summer. That's a man's job :001_huh: They also would be dumbfounded if I let them know that basically all our clothing, dishes, books, and furnishings are from thrift stores. Most of the women I know talk about shopping and buying things all the time. I truly have nothing to add to those conversations. I do try to relate to other women, I think it's beneficial. But I spend a lot of time trying to overlook an abundance of differences and find some common ground.

I have BTDT. My husband cut off his mother when we got married. She was a truly awful mother his entire life, and an overall toxic human being. From the time I met him I knew she was nothing but a hindrance and weight in his life. I never understood why he even allowed her in his life. When he married me, he saw the light (on his own!) and chose to cut her off. For us, 'honoring your father & mother' means we chose not to think negative thoughts about MIL or speak ill of her. But that's it. Have you noticed the often quoted scripture Christians use when they continue to allow their parents to manipulate and abuse them in adulthood is: 'Honor thy father and mother in the Lord, for this is right.' Ephesians 6:1 Our pastor teaches that 'in the Lord' means you honor the people who have served as a mentor, spiritual guide, and caring parental figure in your life. People who have been parents in the Lord to you. Not necessarily the people you are biologically connected to.

Contact the seller first. If the packages were shipped via Media Mail it can take up to a month. If you have not received the package 30 days after your order, you can file an A-Z claim and Amazon will refund you.

We have one and I love it. I just move it to clean around it. It's not that inconvenient. No more so than any other caddy. It does rust. I should probably buy a new one soon.