Actually Tevas are from Israel. "Teva" means nature in Hebrew and Israelis pronounce it teh-va. Most Americans look at you funny if you pronounce it that way though.

There was an outbreak of this at our local Y this past winter and my two year old caught it. She ran a 104 fever for about 36 hours and then broke out with the sores 2-3 days later. The worst sores were actually in her diaper area. It took 4 weeks for one in particular to heal. Then my DS7 got it too, which is according to the Ped. unusual. He said (usually) this particular strain only affects children under five. Well his fever was so high, he had fever dreams and hallucinations. Scared the %%%% out of us. He had open sores in his throat which made it nearly impossible to swallow. He lost about four pounds and he is already quite slim. He was miserable!!! And so were we! If you can, I would stay as far away as possible. This is the nastiest bug my children have ever had. According to our ped., it is HIGHLY contagious and the virus sheds in the infected person's stool for up to 3-4 weeks after the sore outbreak. I canceled playdates and get togethers for weeks afterwards. I wouldn't wish this bug on my worst enemy's kids, let alone a friend.

DangerMom, I like your approach, "I notice that you've been a bit pouty. . ." I think this would work well with dd and I think I will try this. Chris in VA, I think you are right about her struggles with wanting, yet not being quite old enough to make her own decisions. I will try to think of some other ways that I can give her some more choice and empowerment over how she spends her time. Thanks for responding! Claire

My oldest dd has just turned eleven. She has mostly been a typical first-born--compliant, rule-follower, eager learner, and generally obedient. In fact, we really have not had to do much discipline with her at all, compared to our other two DC. But in the last few months she has taken to pouting and sulking whenever her Dad or I make a decision that she doesn't really agree with. It can be as simple as, "we are going to Lowe's". She doesn't want to go to Lowe's, yet she will not verbalize her disagreement, she just gets this pouty look on her face and sits around and sulks with her arms crossed. Then she sulks in the car the whole way there and gives everyone the silent treatment. It drives me nuts!! DH and I discussed this and debated whether we should ignore it and not give it any energy, or address it head-on and put some consequences in place. We first chose to ignore it as much as we could (though I admit shame-facedly, a couple of times I snapped at her-"Wipe that pouty look off your face," etc.), but the behavior has continued and gotten worse. Any parents out there deal with this kind of behavior and have some strategies that have worked? Would you choose to ignore it or confront it head-on? What consequences would be appropriate for this behavior? This is new parenting territory for us and I would appreciate any words of wisdom. Thanks, Claire

I thought they were kind of fun. I went to a Bible college (years ago) and the men *had* to wear ties or bow ties. So most of the smart alecks went to the Salvation Army and bought the most hideous and outrageous 70's bow ties they could find. I guess I kind of see the princesses as doing much the same thing--thumbing their noses at the rules a little bit by being outrageous and a little rebellious, while still managing to obey the rules. Just my opinion. (ducking now)

Hi Aubrey.:grouphug: I'm very sorry for you. I completely empathize and like you I will never go to the ER again. I've had 3 live healthy home births and 3 m/cs, all naturally occurring. My midwife is a direct-entry midwife and does not do ultrasounds. So with 2 out of 3 of my m/cs I called up a practice that has 2 OBS and 3 CNMs. I got a lecture from the Administrative Assistant about not having any previous pre-natal care, but once I got past her, the midwives and OB who did the ultrasound were really kind. Do you have anything like that where you live? I find that the practices that contain both CNMs and OBs are the most helpful. They got me in right away. Good luck to you. Sending positive thoughts and prayers your way, Claire

I have used whey in protein drinks. I think it depends on whether or not you're dairy sensitive. Right now I am using rice protein powder. But it's way more expensive than whey and I am really not convinced that it is that much better for you. I use the protein because it helps me feel full until lunch and (so I've read) it is supposed to help keep your blood sugar more stable. I do 1 scoop protein powder, 1/2 frozen banana, 1/2 C other frozen fruit (usually cherries or blueberries), 2 t ground flax seeds, 1 t almond butter and 8 oz. water 3x week or every day for a week if the scale starts going the wrong way.

I saw that, too, and I couldn't help but wonder if that is the blogger's mistake and not Tina Fey's? As snarky as she is about grammar and spelling mistakes, I'm going with the blogger.

A 3rd for Pablo Honey. Your post made me laugh because I discovered Radiohead later, too and I said to one of my musical friends who is much more cutting edge, "You knew about this group and didn't tell me!!!?" I really felt cheated. :lol: Two more that you should check out: Sigur Ros and Sufjan Stevens. Those are the other two that I would feel cheated if somehow I missed out on them!

Maybe she should consider homeschooling! It fits her criteria: it's intellectually fulfilling, there's no need for high-heeled shoes and one can go outside from time to time! :)

http://melodygodfred.com/2011/04/15/a-mothers-prayer-for-its-child-by-tina-fey/ Thought some from the hive would get a kick out of this. *warning: contains some language

:bigear: I just looked at the pkg. of "Uncured Sunday Bacon, no nitrates or nitrates added **" that we buy. The ingredients are: pork, water, sea salt, evaporated cane syrup, celery powder. Then at the bottom it says "**Except for those naturally occurring in sea salt and celery powder." Sigh. Something that we eat is going to kill us no matter how hard we try.

Three books that really did change my life: Everything Belongs by Richard Rohr Boomeritis by Ken Wilber The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

Watching this youtube video is very inspirational as to the "why" we need to reduce/eliminate sugar. It is long but very educational. As for the "how" I think it depends on your level of sugar addiction but I have found I need a kind of elimination diet for seven days. I really like Dr. Mark Hyman's UltraSimple Diet. You can buy the little paperback for very cheap. I have done this now every spring and fall for the last three years. Even though I try to be mindful, sugar is a thing for me that creeps in over time. I find I need to go cold turkey for a week in order to retrain my taste buds and kick the cravings. It's still a journey, but I'm trying! Good luck to you!

:bigear: I don't know but I am having the same problem on my Mac.

I think this is a very interesting question and one which I have a lot of trouble answering. I grew up in an extremely conservative, fundamentalist church and school (which has been called a cult by some). This very issue of "original sin" is the one that has screwed me over the most (imo). The idea that I was born a sinner was heavily taught and I internalized it. I was taught that God could not even look at me because of my sinfulness--only when he put his "Jesus glasses" on. Because of this (coupled with highly punitive parents) I grew up very afraid of God and I always felt dirty, sinful and bad. In theory, I would like to say I agree with Sirius Black--that we are a mixture of both light and dark and have the power to choose. I want to believe this. But it is a lifetime of recovery for me to get over the deeply ingrained message that I was born sinful and bad.

"Kids happen" indeed!:lol: If I did this I would have to fight off DH with a stick!! Even more so than usual!

I voted other because I cook 4-5 times a week: oatmeal, eggs, waffles or pancakes. I let them have boxed cereal only on Saturday--they take turns picking it out for the week and Sunday DH cooks a big breakfast.

My husband gets these. I tried to figure it out for years! Any chance you are wearing a backpack or kids carrier? Because that's what I decided his were. Right where he buckles the Kelty he gets the tiny holes. Seatbelt is also making sense.

I second the chapstick idea. This happened to us and we could not figure it out. Finally I found a fully empty chapstick tube in DS's pant's pocket. If it is chapstick you can use candle mold cleaner to get it out.

You may think your question is superficial because it deals with the outside, but it points to something deep that nearly all women struggle with and it is very much an inside problem. I have a lot of issues with this too, and I find (especially right around bathing suit time) I can make myself quite miserable with my negative self-talk. My issue is my hips that are slightly too large. I find myself despising my hips whenever I look in the mirror and cringing if my husband touches me there. I have also sat on the beach and sweltered in a cover-up instead of going out and having a great time in the water with my kids. But you know what, my kids don't care a lick about my slightly too large hips. So I have found a trick that works for me. Whenever I find myself engaging in this misery, I try to picture the two women side-by-side--the miserable Mom in the cover-up on the beach sweating to death and the laughing, happy woman splashing in the ocean with her husband and kids. And then I ask myself, who do you want to be? Then I take a deep breath and drop the towel. As for the husband part, I find that a glass of wine and a darkened room make it all go away. Be kind to yourself. :grouphug: Claire

INTJ also! I am very surprised at how many there are here and also INTJ is supposed to be even more rare in a female. Interesting.

Also :lol: at tackling Foucoult and Derrida in your spare time. I believe post-modernism did begin with art/architecture and then trickled-down from there into philosophy. It really depends on the perspective you are coming from (Secular/Christian/Jewish/_____), but a good Christian introduction to post-modernism is Truth is Stranger Than It Used To Be by Middleton and Walsh (IVPress). But as you know from the most recent kerfuffle, the Christian perspective is broad (at least I think it is) and the authors don't really land in the "post-modernism is something to fear and protect your kids from camp." And yes, I think you can be post-modernist in your sensibilities without knowing it.

I think using level 2 would be a perfect fit for kids those ages. I am looking at the book right now, having just ordered it for my DD10-4th grade who is in a similar situation as your daughter. The literature selections include readings from books like: The Patchwork Girl of Oz Doctor Dolittle The Jungle Book Pippi Longstocking Little Women The Hobbit Peter Pan (just to name a few). These are challenging literature selections that I think would really strectch a 2nd grader so I think a 4th grader would do just fine. Just my opinion. Good luck.

Nothing can be done even if it is broken. Don't go to the ER. Tape it to your 4th toe to straighten it and take some ibuprofen. (That's what we always did). :grouphug: