Ignore this thread!

[Openhearted]

I made a blueberry pound cake last night. It is so yummy. I'm not a cake fan at all. Mostly because of the icing. It is just too sweet. This cake doesn't have icing, but the recipe calls for buttering a bundt pan with 2T of butter and then using 1/4 c sugar for "dusting" (instead of flour, I suppose). I think a couple of Tablespoons of sugar would've been enough, but it was still not too sweet.

 

My mom had bought a pint container of blueberries thinking little ds ate them raw. He doesn't. So I needed to use them up. It was a success.

 

Eta: bundt not burnt. Autocorrect. Grrrrrr!

Edited March 21, 2016 by Openhearted

[Junie]

Happy Monday!

 

Lots of schoolwork to get done today.

 

Sweetpea, what is your science curriculum topic that you're working on?

 

(((Dawn)))  Hope you feel better!

[Ellie]

It's MONDAY! The first Monday of spring!!!!!

 

That is all.

[sweetpea3829]

Happy Monday!

 

Lots of schoolwork to get done today.

 

Sweetpea, what is your science curriculum topic that you're working on?

 

(((Dawn)))  Hope you feel better!

 

 

Earth Science...but with an introductory unit on Matter and Elements.  Because I know 9 yr old DS will want to know what rocks are made of.  And then what those minerals are made of.  And then what those elements are made of.  

 

Unit 1 (7 weeks) will be all about Matter.  Atoms, Elements, etc.  

 

Unit 2 (8 weeks) will be all about Geology.  

 

Unit 3 (6 weeks) will cover Biomes.

 

 

Then...next year (because we "Science" from April into September) we'll have:

 

Unit 4: Oceanography (which will be a lot of review, as we did oceanography/marine biology last year, but we'll go more in depth this time)

 

Unit 5: Meteorology

 

Unit 6: Astronomy.  

[Critterfixer]

My boy just came to me asking if he could get a summer job working with bacteria and parasites. I think I'm going to have to put together a microbiology course for him sometime.

But I won't be working on that one today. First thing I need to do is to make a housecall to check on a kitty. After that, I'm going to work on getting the last cluttered closet cleaned out and organised. After that, I need to clean the rest of that room, one other, and then I'm going to file papers and get other paperwork taken care of. Then it will probably be time for bed. :laugh:

[Critterfixer]

If you are doing Oceans and haven't watched the entire series The Blue Planet, you should. There is also an excellent series done by the BBC, I think, that covers weather. Also awesome.

 

Unit 4: Oceanography (which will be a lot of review, as we did oceanography/marine biology last year, but we'll go more in depth this time)

 

[Susan in TN]

Our weather has turned cold, just in time for spring. It was 34* when I got up this morning. (A veritable heat wave to our Canadian friends :D )

 

Stuff to do today.

[sweetpea3829]

If you are doing Oceans and haven't watched the entire series The Blue Planet, you should. There is also an excellent series done by the BBC, I think, that covers weather. Also awesome.

 

 

We watched parts of The Blue Planet last year.  The kids eat that kind of stuff right up!  Being near the ocean is one of the few things I miss about living in Rhode Island.  

 

 

 

Well...I decided to nix school this week.  I just can't do it all and I NEED to get this science curriculum monkey off my back so I can focus my attention on other day to day things.  Plus, DH is getting tired of staring at my back on the computer for hours on end during weekends, lol.  

 

Most of the kids are thrilled.  DS9 harumphed a bit about not having school but...I suspect it was borne more out of a desire to win Mom's favor than an actual desire to do schoolwork.   :sneaky2:

 

My daughter, on the other hand, was not shy about expressing her true feelings.  She emphatically commented, "Oh YAY! Dreams really DO come true!"  

 

Thanks.  Just...thanks.  

 

I'll remind her of that in May when we make this week up instead of playing outside in the nice warm spring weather.  

Edited March 21, 2016 by Sweetpea3829

[Openhearted]

If you are doing Oceans and haven't watched the entire series The Blue Planet, you should. There is also an excellent series done by the BBC, I think, that covers weather. Also awesome.

Critter, does The Blue Planet cover weather or is there a different BBC series? The last time I checked Amazon had the Blue Planet dvd set at a very reasonable price although it maybe available on Netflix or Prime video.

 

I hope the kitty is better today.

[JoJosMom]

Good morning, all.  It's "Take Nana to the Not-Quite-Big City for Her Hair Appointment Day."

 

Instead of organizing all the Texas homeschoolers, perhaps Ellie could come and keep my child on task today?

 

Pweez?

 

[Openhearted]

Check out Eric Sloane's books on weather for fun and beauty.

Thank you for the book recommendation. I'm going to get the weather one.

(Just now getting around to this due to internet outage)

 

I thought you might like these.

http://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?subject=Reading%2FLiterature/6&category=Christian+Liberty+Nature+Readers/947

We have done the K one and are doing the nature reader 1 this year.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Dawn - if you do cranberry juice, it needs to be the kind that does not have added sugar.  You can get cranberry capsules too with the addition of D-Mannose which can help.  I know it hurts, but drink lots to flush everything out of your system. 

[Jean in Newcastle]

You saw me and then you didn't because I'm going back to bed. 

 

I got woken up right in the middle of a dream where I was a tour guide.  I was giving a tour of bath houses.  But I didn't know where any bath houses were, so I was taking people to see caves because. . . um, it's sort of the same?  I suspect that I was a lousy tour guide! 

[Critterfixer]

 

 

Critter, does The Blue Planet cover weather or is there a different BBC series? The last time I checked Amazon had the Blue Planet dvd set at a very reasonable price although it maybe available on Netflix or Prime video.

Weather is a different one. Although some weather is covered with The Blue Planet, the Weather one really gets into how oceans drive the winds. Cool stuff.

 

ETA: Kitty is a little better this morning. Still not eating, but fever is down and I rooted her out of her bed to go to the bathroom. She will probably still need some fluids tonight, but hopefully she'll feel like eating a bit by this evening.

Edited March 21, 2016 by Critterfixer

[Openhearted]

Thanks Jean. I'm going to the store now and will get some of the cranberry tablets. We also have to pick up dd16's friend that's spending the night.

[KrissiK]

I had a bizarre dream last night. And it wasn't even (allergy) drug induced. The only thing I remember is being at camp and it started to snow. But it was also one of those strange "Alice in Wonderland" dreams where it's just a bunch of strange people and places all thrown together. The mind is truly an amazing thing.

 

Oh, and good Monday Morning, all!

[Critterfixer]

Jean, that is so weird. I had my usual nightmares about sick cats (dreamed my favorite old cat was bitten on her one remaining eye by a spider) but I also had a dream where I was walking through an old bathhouse. I wasn't giving tours though. And there was no tour guide. Maybe she was off touring caves? :laugh:

[Junie]

I just heard a terrible squawking noise from downstairs.  It took me a moment to realize that one of the dc had just asked to practice her violin.   :lol:

[Jean in Newcastle]

And I'm back again.  My body will not allow me to go back to sleep this morning.  Which is ok - I can use that extra time to find some pants.  Which I think will be as elusive as bathhouses because I suspect that there are no clean ones.  I guess I do own one of those washing machine things. 

[Susan in TN]

I just heard a terrible squawking noise from downstairs. It took me a moment to realize that one of the dc had just asked to practice her violin. :lol:

Ha! I think I have become deaf to the squawking violin noise. Or maybe deaf from it. :)

[Susan in TN]

Pants!

[Slache]

Thank you for the book recommendation. I'm going to get the weather one.

(Just now getting around to this due to internet outage)

 

I thought you might like these.

http://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?subject=Reading%2FLiterature/6&category=Christian+Liberty+Nature+Readers/947

We have done the K one and are doing the nature reader 1 this year.

Thanks! Ok, long story but I'm allergic to latex, had a million UTIs and everyone said it wasn't the latex but it was. So...

 

Uristat or Azo will prevent you from peeing every 30 seconds which you will need to properly clean yourself out. I prefer uristat, both will stain your panties orange.

 

3 half gallons of no sugar added cranberry juice. You are not allowed to get creative here. You must drink it constantly and in one day (about 12 hours). Your tummy will hurt and you will have diarrhea. Sorry.

 

After this you can stop taking the uristat or Azo. If you still think you have a UTI you must go to the doctor immediately. This has worked for me every time.

[Jean in Newcastle]

I found one pair of pants - actually leggings that I will wear under shorts.  Then I will pretend that I'm on my way to exercise when I'm doing errands later.  At least they will keep me from being arrested. 

[Ellie]

And so today, I went shopping for a few things at Sprouts. You know, the Sprouts where I left my brand new copy of "The Healing Kitchen" a couple of weeks ago. I mentioned to the checker that I had left the book there, and she asked if I had checked with the vitamin department. :blink: Because there are books there, and someone might have thought my book was Sprouts' book and put it in the shelves. She called someone from that department, who came over and walked with me to a couple of places where it might have been. No. So then she thought maybe the manager had put up a display of books some place else, and she went all over the store to find him, and she came back with my book in hand. There was much yayness in the store.

 

:party:

 

That is all.

[Openhearted]

It's been over 3 hours since anyone has posted. People are not taking this thread seriously. :D

[Jean in Newcastle]

I really really wish that just once I could get all my ducks in a row.  Then perhaps I could keep them at least in the same room.

 

 

[Openhearted]

Jean, ok, so I bought Uricalm cranberry with CranGuard. It has 400mg cranberry extract and 50mg D-Mannose per serving which is 2 chewable tablets. Now the packaging says it is to maintain urinary health, and the directions are: take 2 tablets daily to support urinary health. Should I take more? Not excessive amounts I mean, but like 2 in the morning and 2 at night since I am fighting an infection. I have taken two since getting them.

 

And, Slache, I got the Orange pee pills. They are a lifesaver. Since I am doing the cranberry tablets do I still need to do the juice? I will if I have to, but ugh. I am drinking copious amounts of water with fresh lemon squeezed into it. I can tolerate that better than cranberry juice.

 

Lynn, thanks for not wanting me to suffer. It's not too bad with the Orange pee pills, but I will go to the Dr if not better by Wednesday.

[Slache]

Jean, ok, so I bought Uricalm cranberry with CranGuard. It has 400mg cranberry extract and 50mg D-Mannose per serving which is 2 chewable tablets. Now the packaging says it is to maintain urinary health, and the directions are: take 2 tablets daily to support urinary health. Should I take more? Not excessive amounts I mean, but like 2 in the morning and 2 at night since I am fighting an infection. I have taken two since getting them.

 

And, Slache, I got the Orange pee pills. They are a lifesaver. Since I am doing the cranberry tablets do I still need to do the juice? I will if I have to, but ugh. I am drinking copious amounts of water with fresh lemon squeezed into it. I can tolerate that better than cranberry juice.

 

Lynn, thanks for not wanting me to suffer. It's not too bad with the Orange pee pills, but I will go to the Dr if not better by Wednesday.

I don't know. I said don't get creative! The pills sound like maintenance but you have something wrong  so I don't think the pills will help. I didn't read what Jean said so if I'm contradicting her assume she's right and I'm wrong. The orange pee pills will only work for 2 days. If you don't knock this thing out the pain is going to come back with a vengeance and nothing will be able to help. Do the juice and suffer the side effects or you you will suffer significantly worse consequences! Besides, everyone could use a good colon cleanse every once in a while. ;)

[Susan in TN]

(((Dawn)))

 

I have a bottle of 100% cranberry juice in the pantry, which I would bring to you if I lived closer. It's really hard to drink straight (ooooh so tart!).

[Jean in Newcastle]

OK - I looked this up.  If it were just cranberry and D-Mannose, I would say to take it twice daily.  Since it has the orange pee stuff as well, I'm not as sure.  But I think it would be ok since they have a stronger product by the same company called Uricalm Intensive.  But. . . I am not a doctor and do not play one on the internet.  All standard exclusions apply. 

[Slache]

The orange pee stuff does nothing for the infection, just the symptoms.

[Susan in TN]

Quack!! Quack quack quack. Quack-quack!!

 

The ducks are trying to line up, but they are a bit unruly.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Dawn - D- Mannose should be as much as 2 grams for treating an actual UTI.  There are 50 mg per 2 tablet serving in the product you got. 

[Junie]

I would just go to the doctor, get a prescription, and take it with heavily-sweetened cranberry juice.   :leaving:

Edited March 21, 2016 by Junie

[hornblower]

well poop, my thyroid biopsy results are the not very helpful 'atypical' 

A lot of shrugging going on in the drs office.
It's like we're bored teens at home "what do you wanna do?"
"I don't know. What do you wanna do?"

"I don't know"

because there's no right answer. You can leave them, you can cut them. 

 

So the obvious solution is to ask someone else! I got a referral to another specialist to see what he says. There are no good evidence based guidelines she said. (of course I will go do my research now...) 

 

[Slache]

I would just go to the doctor, get a prescription, and take it with heavily-sweetened cranberry juice.   :leaving:

Me too, but with mint chocolate chip ice cream instead. I treated myself because I didn't have insurance or money to go to the insurance. I'm so tired. Doctor. I didn't have insurance or money to go to the doctor.

[Junie]

well poop, my thyroid biopsy results are the not very helpful 'atypical' 

 

A lot of shrugging going on in the drs office.

It's like we're bored teens at home "what do you wanna do?"

"I don't know. What do you wanna do?"

"I don't know"

because there's no right answer. You can leave them, you can cut them. 

 

So the obvious solution is to ask someone else! I got a referral to another specialist to see what he says. There are no good evidence based guidelines she said. (of course I will go do my research now...) 

 

 

 

:grouphug:

[Junie]

I was without health insurance for a few months after I graduated from college.

 

I ate an apple a day until I got a job that provided health insurance.  

 

It seemed to work, but I'm glad that time in my life was short-lived.

[Slache]

I was without health insurance for a few months after I graduated from college.

 

I ate an apple a day until I got a job that provided health insurance.  

 

It seemed to work, but I'm glad that time in my life was short-lived.

Oh you poor thing. I've had insurance for the first time in my life for the past 2 years except when I was in Americorps. Oh, government insurance. How I miss thee. I was on state insurance for my 1st two pregnancies. Thank you Ohio and Oregon tax payers!

[Jean in Newcastle]

Hornblower  :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

[Jean in Newcastle]

Life is better with yogurt.  Or pudding. 

[Susan in TN]

well poop, my thyroid biopsy results are the not very helpful 'atypical'

 

A lot of shrugging going on in the drs office.

It's like we're bored teens at home "what do you wanna do?"

"I don't know. What do you wanna do?"

"I don't know"

because there's no right answer. You can leave them, you can cut them.

 

So the obvious solution is to ask someone else! I got a referral to another specialist to see what he says. There are no good evidence based guidelines she said. (of course I will go do my research now...)

 

 

I am sorry. A friend of mine is going through thyroid issues. They could do tests and "wait and see" (is it cancer? something else?) but at this point in the game she is ready to say goodbye to the thyroid and hello to treatment.

[Another Lynn]

:grouphug: Hornblower :grouphug:

[Another Lynn]

Whew!  I'm home again.  (Left the house at 7:15 and got home around 5:00)  Fed the family (you don't know how amazing that really is - I try not to do it very often, lol.)  Before that, I took the oldest two to a consultation with oral surgeon for wisdom teeth removal.  Insurance will cover more than I would have guessed, thank goodness!  Before that, it was our CC day.  10yo ds passed his 3rd round of Memory Master proofing.  One last round to go next week.  Oh, and dh took dd to her first soccer practice for middle school girls soccer and she scored a goal during their practice game.  Yay for everyone.   :hurray:  

 

I am tired. 

[Openhearted]

:grouphug: hornblower :grouphug:

[KrissiK]

well poop, my thyroid biopsy results are the not very helpful 'atypical'

 

A lot of shrugging going on in the drs office.

It's like we're bored teens at home "what do you wanna do?"

"I don't know. What do you wanna do?"

"I don't know"

because there's no right answer. You can leave them, you can cut them.

 

So the obvious solution is to ask someone else! I got a referral to another specialist to see what he says. There are no good evidence based guidelines she said. (of course I will go do my research now...)

 

 

I'm sorry! I think there is a lot the medical establishment just doesn't know and are not in a position to find out. When I had my eye thing 5 years ago I had the top retinal specialist as my doctor and after a month of treatment when they finally got the inflammation under control, I remember her sitting there in my exam room with her handbook of eye diseases, and she couldn't figure out what I had. Well, what caused it. I had a complete blood panel done, everything. Finally, she concluded it was some kind of virus and we left it at that.

[hornblower]

I'm sorry! I think there is a lot the medical establishment just doesn't know and are not in a position to find out. When I had my eye thing 5 years ago I had the top retinal specialist as my doctor and after a month of treatment when they finally got the inflammation under control, I remember her sitting there in my exam room with her handbook of eye diseases, and she couldn't figure out what I had. Well, what caused it. I had a complete blood panel done, everything. Finally, she concluded it was some kind of virus and we left it at that.

yup, that's so true. And I have to say I appreciate that style of medicine more - when I'm feeling rational, that is - rather than the 'trust us, we know what we're doing' paternalistic model. I was just looking at the 2015 evidence based guidelines from the American Thyroid Association & yeah, there's a lot of hm'ing and haw'ing there too. 

 

but I also kind of just want someone to tell me what to do! :p

 

 

Hey - evidence based BOOYAH! 

Edited March 21, 2016 by hornblower

[Jean in Newcastle]

Why is it that when I'm overwhelmed, I just want to sit and do stupid computer games and hide from the world?  Even though I know that doesn't advance me at towards getting un-overwhelmed? 

 

I have gotten a lot done today - just not enough for it to even look like I've done anything. 

[sweetpea3829]

I greatly respect doctors but...as others pointed out...they really don't know everything and aren't always up on the current literature, even in their own fields.

 

A few years ago, my husband started having some problems with his cheek.  It would swell up and cause him a lot of pain.  Come to find out, he had salivary stones.  He went to a respected ENT in our area who did some tests and scans and said, "Yep...this stone is too big for me to manipulate out, best bet is to have a parotidectomy."

 

A parotidectomy is removal of the salivary gland...it requires an incision from the top of your ear, alllllll the way down your face and well into your neck.  Needless to say, there are some serious risks...nerve damage is practically a given.  Most recover fully but...not all.  

 

Not to mention...his beautiful face!  All scarred up like that! 

 

So we scheduled a follow-up with him and went home and started researching.  Come to find out, there's a physician in Pittsburgh that is pioneering a procedure to remove salivary stones, even large ones, endoscopically!  Well Mr. Local ENT was all put-out when we brought it up to him.  Called it quack medicine, said it was a waste of time...the stones would come back, etc.

 

I asked him, "Well...do they cut kidneys out of people that have recurring kidney stones?  No? Oh...ok."

 

So we went to Pittsburgh and had the procedure done.  45 minutes after he went in, he was done.  We were driving back to NY an hour after that.  He's been fine since.  And even if he gets another stone, I'd rather drive back to Pittsburgh and do it all again, than have the gland removed.  

 

 

[texasmama]

Hello, friends, I am ketched up.

 

I almost lost my dinner at the part about eating horses and such, though.

 

(((hornblower)))

 

Dawn, I once had a UTI that I kicked by just drinking cranberry juice.  I had no insurance and no money.  Don't let it go too long because you don't want a kidney infection.

 

I still have red welts where the gut kneading cat kneaded me, even though she has no claws.  I think my shirt rode up, and she did it on my bare skin, but it seems excessive.

 

 

Edited May 24, 2016 by texasmama