that's our situation downstairs. Dh had the DVD player on top of the television. I was visiting someone's house, and they had made a wood stand/shelf for the tv to sit on (in the recessed area) then they put the DVD player "under" the shelf. So if you know someone who is handy with wood, you can always make your own.

Gosh, we must have 30 games, and not one is something I regretted getting. They are all fun and educational in some way. In fact, my youngest is getting the Leapster 2 for Christmas, and I'm not sure I'm going to buy any games to go with it, because we already have a ton, and I know he will love them and learn from them. I agree that it's a good idea to look at eBay and Craig's List. Also, on Black Friday, I think it's Target that is having all Leapster games on sale for $15

I agree, we don't know the whole story. My dd's bmom was in the Air Force. She intended to retire (didn't quite make it) and was required to do a year overseas. It was at that time she became unexpectedly pregnant with my dd. She was able to work it out with the Air Force, stay in Texas for an additional year, and she placed her dd with us. (permanently, we adopted our dd from birth). After dd was born, within 3 months or so, S was deployed overseas for a year. (Then Hawaii for a couple years. Definitely worth it!!) So, S may have been Air Force, but she had lots of choices, and utilized every one. If she hadn't placed our dd with us, and chose to parent, she would have had to either make alternative care plans for her for a year, or take an early discharge. Just deciding to not show up isn't an option. There are enough reasonable options to avoid a no-show!

We put my youngest in a toddler bed, and then put one of the child-proof doorknobs on the inside of his door. That way, he could get up and play around, but he couldn't leave his room. My middle kiddo figured out those child-proof knobs within a few days of installing them, though, so that won't work for every child.

Yes, the Leapster. Both my big kids have one, and my youngest is getting his own for Christmas. My oldest has the "original" and she has gotten too big for it. (She'll be 9 ths month). My middle kiddo just turned 6 yesterday, and, although he prefers his Nintendo DS, he still pulls out his Leapster often. I have a feeling when his little brother gets one for Christmas, it will be even more often. The one my youngest is getting for Christmas is the Star Wars version. It comes with the Star Wars game, and I got it on clearance at Target a few months ago, for $20. The Leapster itself is typically about $50. I'd look around for good deals.

You should feed him on demand. I followed Ezzo with my first, bottle-fed baby. My 2nd and 3rd, our breast fed babies, we fed on demand and let them set the schedule. You are the mommy and you know best. Even if it's something like your son should only wear purple socks. What's the reason? YOU are his MOM and YOU SAID SO. Mom is always right. For middle of the night feedings, it's just so easy to pop them on the boob and go back to sleep. It doesn't last forever, and my middle ds self-weaned at 15 months just fine. He dropped the middle of the night feedings months before that time. When someone tells you how you should feed your baby, do what I do....smile and nod, then do what you are going to do, anyway. Everyone will be happier that way.

It won't alert them that you "unfriended" them, but if you unfriend them, you will no longer show up on their list. I had someone unfriend me, and I knew someone had, because my number of friends changed by one. It wasn't someone I interacted with a lot, so I didn't realize who it was for awhile and I didn't try to track down who had "ditched" me. You can "hide" them. My sister does this with some of her dh's nieces and nephews. She doesn't want to read all thier profanity, but she doesn't want to offend them, either. So she just "hides" them, and then doesn't have to deal with it.

Ugh! People in my family go grey EARLY! A couple of times, I've been asked if my youngest is my grandchild. My sister just had a baby and I was visiting her in the hospital. That dingbat nurse actually thought I was Grandma! My sister and I were shocked, as I'm only 2 years older than my sister, and she's just as gray as I am. I'm not even 40 yet! I've only had my hair colored in the salon once. All the other times, I do it myself, but I'm way overdue. I need to get my hair whacked off and color it well. That should shut them up for awhile!

That does sound really interesting. I hope I can find a picture online. If I do, I will come back and share.

That's hilarious!

yes, that totally sounds like Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) to me. My oldest ds has it, and yes, he can be quite a handful. He is the reason I am hoomeschooling in the first place. He can also be a "sneak". I would start with an Occupational Therapy evaluation. I spent years, trying to get our pediatrician to listen to me. It wasn't until h is 5 year old Dr visit that she finally agreed and gave us an OT referral. Check out this website http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-processing-disorder-checklist.html Also, check out the book The Out Of Sync Child. That is a wonderful book that is very informative and helpful. My ds, with his SPD, is a "seeker". It sounds like your dd is partially a seeker, but also has a lot of sensory defensiveness in there, too. The SPD makes our kiddos seem very quirky and odd, and like they are "bad". After DS's preschool experience, where we pulled him out early, his self-esteem was terrible. He often said he was "bad" or "stupid". I am so glad he's home with me now.

I'm new, too, and I'm using the Bob books for my kindergartener. It uses phonics, which I think are really important. we will work on a few site words, too, but phonics is the key to reading.

I can second the Leapfrog DVDs. All 3 of my kids really enjoyed them, and they all learn very differently. My middle kiddo is 5.5 and has SPD as well. Have you thought about file folder games? I have recently discovered these, and they are very addictive! http://www.filefolderfun.com/ http://www.myffgames.com/index.php That first site is a free site, and the second is one where you pay to download the games graphics. At any rate, it will give you a good idea of some of the things you can do. I know my son just learns differently. That's why he's home with me. I want him to learn at his own pace.

I am currently reading The 5000 Year Leap. It has a lot of great, readable info in there!

I would also look at Sensory Processing Disorder. (Maybe you've read a book on that, too? The Out Of Sync Child is a great one) She sounds like she does have SPD and also Auditory Processing Disorder. It can be hard for SPD kids to make friends. Some consider it on the autism spectrum, even. My son has SPD. He doesn't seem to have trouble making friends, however, he can sometimes be socially awkward. I have seen him hitting a friend's behind when he disapproves and other things that he doesn't quite seem to get. My son is a "sensory seeker" and he comes across as being ADHD. He also has ZERO impulse control. He has done everything from crawl out on the roof, run off to the park alone, and touch a hot burner on the stove while I was upstairs changing the baby. And that's just the stuff this summer.

I've never had a problem, and we've been with Verizon for years. In fact, my cell just died and I had to get a new one, so I actually have a Verizon rebate downstairs, waiting for me to get it filled out and sent in. Take a deep breath, and bring that email to the store where you purchased the phones, etc. I'm certain it can be handled. It's just a big annoyance.

Gosh I'm so glad to read this post and all the responses. I don't remember my dd doing this, but she has always been in PS. My oldest ds is doing Kindergarten at home with me, and he does this a lot. It's very reassuring to see that this is a common problem, and actually a good thing. Even if it is somewhat annoying! And I've been handling it the same as everyone else. cool!

How do you find a vision therapist to evaluate? My ds needs an evaluation like this, but I'm not sure how to go about finding the right person to take him to. His vision is great, but I do think he has issues with vision, and that his eyes need some training. He has SPD and everything he does is fast. He had issues learning to speak and is in speech therapy, too. I think his brain just works so fast, his mouth had a hard time forming the syllables. Unfortunately, I think his vision might be working the same way. We are working on reading, and he doesn't look at the whole word. He sees the first letter and blurts out guesses, and he sometimes forgets that we read left to right. Granted, he will only be 6 in November, but given his history, I will feel better if he is evaluated. ETA: I got some great advice on another thread. See, I thought I'd asked this question before! LOL I am going to check with my dd's optometrist first and see what he recommends.

Well, to hit an idea out to left field for you......Have you been tested for Celiac? Celiac is a person's body's inability to process gluten. Gluten is found in wheat, barley, etc. I know it sounds odd, that something you eat could cause fibromylagia, but, that is just one of the many different symptoms. It's something like 1 in 133 people have Celiac, and 97% of those people go undiagnosed. You can find out more at www.celiac.org

Come to my house! My ds is starting Kindergarten here at home, and I've got another ds who will be 3 next month, and starting preschool with me. as long as you don't mind loud, active, rowdy boys, you come on over!

I think the existence alone of cyber schools isn't a threat. It does offer more choices, which is a good thing. I think the danger comes from the fact that these schools are advertised as homeschooling. The curriculum is still chosen for you. You are required to teach a set amount of hours that are determined by administrators, just like brick and mortar public schools. If I google "Washington homeschool" the first things that come up are these cyber schools. For someone that is new to homeschooling (we are officially starting next week) it is very easy to think that these cyber schools are the only good choices. The schools set the curriculum, your time used, and, here in Washington state, you do have a teacher check in with you each week. Now, I don't think this is in person, at your house, but via email and/or phone. Every week. While these cyber schools are definitely a good choice for some (my dd's friend did this last year, but is going back to public school this year) I think this would be a terrible choice for my ds, who is starting kindergarten this year. My son has a sensory processing disorder, and filling out worksheets as his education would be torture for him. We are choosing to do things as kinesthetically as possible. Cyber charter schools should advertise themselves as such. Here in Washington state, the Homeschool association here does everything they can to make certain the cyber charter schools do not get homeschool advertising time. They were not allowed at our homeschooling convention in June.

Thanks, Tracy! I have saved that link and will look into it. It wouldn't surprise me at all to find Jeran has this.

I was wondering if anyone could tell me how to find a Dr who can properly evaluate hearing, AND for auditory processing disorder? My ds will be 6 in November, and has a sensory processing disorder. He was evaluated in February, and been going to OT once every other week since then. I'm not really impressed with the OT, although she's very nice. She is currently telling me that he may have ADHD as well, and that he will likely need meds. Not only am I not comfortable with that, but I don't really agree with her assesment, either. I think she just doesn't quite know what to do with my son. He seems to "go" all the time, and has no impulse control at all. I would like for him to have a thorough eye exam, as well, with someone who can evaluate him for a visual processing disorder. He seems to have trouble crossing the midline sometimes. Everything for Jeran is fast. He can't seem to slow down his eyes and look at things. He has had speech issues all his life, most specifically with articulation, and I am certain this is due to him speaking too quickly. He could never slow his mouth down enough to learn to properly enunciate. He is currently taking speech with the school district, although he will be starting kindergarten at home with me. (And probably forever, if I have my way) Anyway, I am wanting to have his vision and hearing evaluated, and by someone who is familiar with sensory, visual, and auditory disorders. Plus, I'm considering cancelling OT altogether, and just trying what we can at home. I don't really see OT making any difference for him, so all it's doing is costing money we don't have. Thanks for any input.

Where do you find the right kind of Dr to do this exam. My ds has sensory issues, and needs to have an exam like this. He will be 6 in November.

I have an Aroma, also, that I got at Target. It is awesome. This is my second rice cooker. The first one, my sister got me a long time ago, and it finally quit worker. (I think it was the power cord). We used it a long time. The Aroma has a food steamer basket to use in it as well, although I have yet to use it. I've never cooked a bad batch of rice with either of my rice cookers.