Is Dictation Day by Day CM? I think I'm reading that it would be? I switched to using that around 3rd grade for my oldest because the list approach was not working. The first year and a half was rough-he missed a lot of words. But he only misses one or two usually now (6th grade). The next ds (4th) is still struggling, but I'm starting to see some improvement lately-I don't think a list approach would be great for him either. Here's what we do: Day before: I give them the list of new words for the upcoming day and they write them Day of: I dictate their sentence(s). I correct any mistakes and they fix them. Ds4th alternates between typing the sentences and writing a silly cursive sentence using some of his missed words. Once a week: I make silly sentences from the review words to dictate to them. It's their favorite day. I mostly do the classical approach, but there are elements of CM that I enjoy and try to incorporate into our homeschool.

We just had our 5th baby. We have been given showers/sprinkles for every one (even though I tried my best to discourage them-haha!) -the first four babies were all the same gender and we literally needed nothing for 2-4 (we cloth diaper mostly). Most of the gifts for babies 2-4 were diapers/wipes. For baby #2 my church threw me a praying shower which was my favorite-no gifts, just praying over me and baby. But, if you're invited to a sprinkle and it doesn't specifically say no gifts I would assume they are expected. I do think showers for subsequent babies is based somewhat on location. I grew up in Michigan and there is no way I would have been given a shower for babies of the same gender. I live in North Carolina now, and it is very common.

Oh how precious! Welcome, little one!

Come on baby! Ds #3 was nearly born before I was fully checked in at the hospital. The first two babies had been quick-ish-6 hours or so of labor-so I figured I had a little time. I apparently have a pretty high pain tolerance and wasn't too concerned because I could still "talk through the contractions", not pleasantly, but I could make myself talk through them. When I finally called dh to come home I figured we still had time. He closed all the storm windows, I sprayed bleach in the shower, we stopped at the bank to make a deposit on the way, he almost stopped to get lunch. I had an epidural with the first two babies, but when they checked me once I arrived at the hospital with #3 I was at a 9-epidural was not happening. But, not having an epidural was the best experience and I didn't have one with the next two babies either. Dh has been very nervous about getting to the hospital on time with babies #4 and #5 (I kept my labor a secret for an hour with baby #5 because I didn't want him riding me off early to the hospital-lol!) Looking forward to reading your post of baby's arrival!!

This summer dh had a freak infection in his elbow that resulted in a week in the hospital. We have no family here. I have lots of friends who I could ask for help, and I know they would be willing, but it's really hard to ask. My bil and sil happened to be visiting part of that week and it was so wonderful to have someone to watch the kids so I could go to the hospital. I felt no guilt leaving them with bil/sil like I would have with friends. Just my experience, I know everyone is different, but I was so thankful for family here at that moment.

Sigh...I really long for that community-type feel. We live in a pretty small town, but I think that era is gone. 😭

Oh, that's something I hadn't thought of-I'll look into it insurance and see if that's an option.

Yes, our Dr is part of the large medical group-it drives me crazy! Maybe I need to look elsewhere-which breaks my heart because I really do like my Dr.

I'm sorry-hope they get what they need and get better asap!

It's a family Dr. Maybe that's the issue? We've had a ped in the past, but they were kind of condescending and I always felt like I was a failure parent at each well check. Maybe it was just that ped, though (although I've heard others same similar things about their experiences)?

This has been my week: Sat: take ds9 to urgent care in a neighborhood town (no appts available in our town). He tests positive for strep. He gets an antibiotic Sun: take ds6 to same urgent care. He tests negative (a notoriously false negative test). Same symptoms as ds9. Urgent care will not give him an antibiotic. I send a message to my Dr on behalf of ds3, ds6, and ds11 who all have the same symptoms hoping to get them antibiotics (note: we're not a family that abuses antibiotics-this is only the second time the kids have ever had to have them) Tue: baby girl has a well check and I'm able to talk to my Dr. She is waiting on customer service to send her my message. Wed: Dr finally gets my message and is able to prescribe antibiotics. My throat starts hurting and I put an urgent call in to my Dr. Thur: no response from Dr so I call again. Dr says I need to come in...next available appt is NEXT THURSDAY! Nevermind-I go to a medical clinic nearby and am able to get antibiotics (thankfully!!). We are not sick often, but when we are, we ALL get the same thing (obviously...) and it is impossible to get into our Dr (who I really really like). Urgent care treats us like individuals who have never met and couldn't possibly have the same illness. And when I try to make dr appts I have to make them for each individual person. I really want a family Dr who is actually willing to see our whole family together and treat us like a family. Do any other large families experience this? Any workarounds? Illness is frustrating enough without all of this craziness. It has been a week!

Have you seen the comet? Yes, it's in the bathroom closet.

Thanks-I'll look into Fish! I had read Swiss Family Robinson to them, but it's been a few years so maybe ds would want to give it another read.

Thanks. I've looked at book lists similar, but they are filled with a lot of books that have romantic/sexual content and I'm hoping to avoid that. In fact, the very first book listed on that list looks like it's more romantic story than pirate story according to the summary.

They forgot to send my group b step test to the lab and had planned to have me retested at my next appt...except she came before the appt. The Dr didn't realize the test wasn't necessarily negative until after she was born. They just wanted to keep us 24 hours to make sure she was ok. But, it's my understanding that even if you're actively positive the chance of passing it on is low. Rest easy! I'd aim to do what they recommend, but not be worried about what will happen if you're not able to follow the advice.

Not really a podcast, but a radio show: my boys enjoy Adventures in Odyssey and several things from Keys for Kids (The Pond, Red Rock Mysteries, Paws and Tales)

Thank you!!!

DS11 really enjoyed Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe. Any pirate type books similar? I'm specifically looking for books without any sexual innuendo.

Haha! I'm glad I'm not the only one. I make dh open them for me.

Haha! That is awesome. It would be fun if we lived close 😉

@Lovinglife123-haha, we both have a child in this group too! With our last one we did Rod & Staff (the ABC series) and some confessions of a homeschooler's letter of the week. That worked well so I'll probably do the same for our next Pre-K kid.

@Lovinglife123: are all of our kids the same age? Haha-we're on all the same planning threads. Bible: daily reading as a family. Math: Rod & Staff 5 Logic: a critical thinking type book on Fridays Science: Berean Builders Creation History: SOTW 3 with kingfisher. Appropriate book by MB Synge (author of the other story of the world series) Greek: Hey Andrew 2x per week Latin: Latin's Not so Tough 2x per week Spelling: Dictation Day by Day Grammar: Analytical Grammar Jr Mechanics. Plus something else-not sure yet. Writing: writing stands 5 2x/week, periodic history and science reports, 2 book reports Reading history aligned books and other books Art: daily quick drawing exercise. Weekly art class that I teach Piano: continue with our Alfred books

Bible: daily reading as a family. Math: Rod & Staff 2/3 Logic on Fridays-a critical thinking book. Not sure if he's ready for this yet. Science: Berean Builders Creation History: SOTW 3 Greek: start Hey Andrew 2 Spelling: start Dictation Day by Day Grammar: FLL 2 Writing: writing stands 2 Reading: finish OPG Art: daily quick drawing exercise. Weekly art class that I teach Piano: continue with our Alfred books

This is my oldest/guinea pig, so subject to change: Bible: daily reading as a family. Friday a deeper study with me. This year we're using a Kay Arthur -we just started so I'm not sure if I like it or not. eta: scrapping Kay Arthur Math: finish Saxon 8/7 Logic: ? See previous thread where people gave me lots of ideas. We're finishing Fallacy Detective this year. Fridays we've been doing a little coding -might continue that. eta: we'll finish Fallacy Detective and then I bought a book on works religions and cults-it's a 3 book series that should take us a couple years to go through together. We are both excited about it. Science: Berean Builders Atomic Age History: SOTW 3 with kingfisher. Appropriate book by MB Synge (author of the other story of the world series) eta: he'll still listen to this as I read it during lunch, but nothing extra in the "history"for him. Instead I'm doing a geography year-we've picked 18 countries that we will research (history, current government, geography, etc) and write various papers on. We're both excited about this one too Greek: Hey Andrew 2x per week Latin: Latin's Not so Tough 2x per week Spelling: Dictation Day by Day Grammar: Analytical Grammar (this will be year 2/3). After we're done with the weekly assignments I'll do some kind of short poetry analysis one day a week (maybe I'll pick up grammar of poetry again-it got a little advanced and we stopped it last year) Writing: writing stands 6/7 2x/week, quarterly history and science reports, 2 book reports Reading history aligned books and other books Art: daily quick drawing exercise. Weekly art class that I teach Piano: continue with our Alfred books

Time to start cleaning and organizing all the random things. Ha!