I am a WAHM with two precious gifts from God. This is my first attempt at blogging and my first year to homeschool. My desire is to give my children the best education I can and nurture a love of God and of learning. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:12:00 -0500 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:12:00 -0500 I am sure that many of you have already either purchased The Schoolhouse Planner from TOS and/or a Digital subscription to TOS Magazine or you have at least seen reviews of one or both products.  Well, here is another one.  I hope that you find it useful and informative. DIGITAL TOS MAGAZINE -- CONVENIENCE OR CATASTROPHE First I ought to tell you, I do have a subscription to the print magazine and I really enjoy it.  I really do not like reading articles of much length on the computer.  When I come across something of length that I want to read, I print it out.  Yes, I wind up with a lot of paper that winds up little more than scratch paper.  Expensive habit that I really am trying to break. (Trying to save those trees.)  So, going into this, I knew I would not like reading the magazine in digital format.  Sure I can print it out and read it like that, but as I said, I am really trying to break myself of that habit.  I really could not imagine printing out an entire magazine to read, either.  I print out enough for teaching my children.  So, with predisposed negativity, I set about "trying" to read the digital version of TOS magazine issue.  Boy, was I in for a shock!  I am constantly amazed at how God shows us  the error of our ways/thinking.  I was already being judgmental and I was SO wrong! FIrst, as I said I enjoy the print version of TOS.  I only got the current issue a couple of weeks ago and already it is well worn.  I found so many websites that I wanted to look at and rather than write them down, I just flip back through the magazine to find them.  I do it this was so that I can find new and interesting tidbits that I missed before.  When I went to the digital version, I found that it was SO fantastic that I can click any link and it will open in a new page.  Links opening in a new page is FANTASTIC!  That way I can continue reading the magazine and when I am done, I have the links that I wanted to look at already opened and waiting for me.  I get to further investigate the links I wanted to in a much easier manner.  Another plus, the venders have clickable links as well.  So, if I would like to research any of the vendors to see if they may be a fit for our family, those pages are waiting for me as well.  I really like that I don't have to stop reading to click the link.  That is a HUGE benefit to me.   I don't think I will switch from my print subscription to the digitial version.  However, I still have time to decide that.  When my year subscription is up, I may very well be a convert.  The digital version of TOS Magazine is really just that great.  By the way, the articles are not overly long so reading them online is not a problem.  What I was sure would be a mediocre experience at best turned out to be really wonderful.   THE SCHOOLHOUSE PLANNER --  JUST HOW GOOD IS IT? I am going to start off by answering my own question first and then explain why.  HOW GOOD IS IT?  It is absolutely FANTASTIC!  I have been through dozens of different planners and found most of them severly lacking.  The SchoolHouse Planner comes the closest to being "IT" as I have ever come across.  Honestly, this thing is GREAT! Within the planner, there are calendars in multiple  formats (year at a glance, 2-page monthly spread, and weekly planning pages).  For every month there are so many great learning/teaching ideas that are clickable.  Granted, those ideas are from TOS and the links lead you to certain products for sale at TOS, but they are great for ideas whether you choose to purchase the linked items or not.  The way some of them are grouped by theme and or holiday will make unit planning easier.  Again, you do not have to purchase anything, just the link titles are good to use for further searchings elswhere on the internet or the library.  I noticed several topics that  I would not have grouped with other items within the group, but they really make sense together and they all lead into the others.  Another fantastic part of the planner is the inclusion of several historical documents of our great country (Constitution, Emancipation Proclamation as well as others).  These are in easily printed format in their entirety wich makes it easy to laminate them for future reference or memorization of say....The Preamble.  There are many other reference charts as well that are very informative and will be useful throughout several years.  I know that my personal laminator will be getting a work out.   Not only are there several "educational" information charts, there is also a kitchen measurement conversionl chart that we normally would not view as educational, but it really is.  To go along with the kitchen chart, there are many wonderful sounding recipes.  I cannot wait to try several of them.  I have even rearranged my weekly menu to include one right away. Now, let's get to the "school" part of this planner.  WOW!  All the aforementioned items are indeed school related, but then we have the planning forms.  However you like to plan out your year, it is covered here.  There are also forms for recording curriculum used, websites, books, videos, etc.    Really there are so many different forms to cover so many aspects of homeschooling.  Co-op, support group, field trips, outside classes (like 4-H projects, Scouts, Brownies, etc.), unit studies, all covered.  And so much more.  Whatever your style, this planner will work for you. I am sure that I am not alone in this.  I try so hard to get at least the first six-weeks of school planned out before school starts for us.  It never fails that something will happen and I wind up off schedule in one or more areas.  Then, I have a dilemma.  Do I re-copy everything and update my planner or do I flip back and forth in the planner until we get caught up (supposing that we do get caught up)?  I do not have to deal with that anymore.  No more writer's cramp.  All the forms can be typed on and saved.  If you have a program like Nova PDF Lite (you can get a free version here), you can click the print button, change the printer to the Nova selection, click print and it will create a page in a new file that you can save.  That way, if you need to update, you can simply copy and paste (copy from the Nova file and paste to the new Schoolhouse Planner page) what you need to and only make changes to what needs to be updated.  THAT is really AWESOME to me.  Now, my planner won't be a constant reminder that we are not "on schedule."  There are also more household forms.  There are forms for the baby-sitter, medical info, menu planning, grocery shopping, budgeting, address book pages, "To Do" lists, etc.  There is even a garden planner!  I am really excited about that one!  Again, there are many more forms for the household, including CHORE CHARTS!  If there were anything I could change about this, I would add a "Day-at-a-Glance" page.  As a WAHM, with a business that requires several appointments, that would be a BIG BONUS for me.  I would also like a "Daily Schedule" page.  My children, or at least my 10 year old son, needs to be reminded that we do have a schedule that needs to be at least generally followed.  Sure, it gets overlooked sometimes as well, but if it were a part of this planner, it would be easy to update, tweak, and adjust as we needed to.  I really think that I will include this in the notebook I have which includes all our homeschool and household info/forms/schedules.  Actually, this will replace the majority of what is in my notebook already.  Here, I thought I put together a pretty good notebook.  TOS has certainly filled in the gaps that I didn't even know that I had.  So, in closing, I must say that I was on the fence about buying  The Schoolhouse Planner.  I mean $39 for a school planner!  I just really couldn't see it.  I am SO THRILLED  that I was asked to review it.  It is not simply a school planner.  It is a school and a house planner.  It is a life planner that happens to include school and household planning as well.  It is TRULY worth every penny.  In using this planner for barely a week, I must say that I am really impressed with how much more organized I feel and how much more I am able to get accomplished in the day.  And I don't feel harried or rushed.  Good-bye guilt and hello organization.  Thanks to TOS, I NOW have the perfect notebook! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/577810/ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:12:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/577810/ I stumbled upon this recipe that sounded good.  However, I have this habit of changing recipes as I cook them.  This one was no different.  So here is my version.  I call it "Not so Sloppy-Joes."  I recently took it to DS's 4H awards banquet and got rave reviews from parents and kids alike. 2 pounds ground beef - I always use chuck or sirloin (preferably) because it tastes better and less fat 1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup mix or Beefy Onion Soup mix 3/4 - 1 medium sized, chopped yellow onion, depending on tastes.  1 bottle chili sauce, I use Heinz 2 cans of refrigerated buttermilk biscuits, large sized biscuits Brown the meat with the soup mix, drain.  Add the chili sauce ( use less if desired, but I use the entire bottle) and set to a very low simmer, stirring occasionally. While meat is simmering, split biscuits in half (top from bottom, like one would do when buttering it) and roll out on a floured surface to about 6-8  inches.  Don't forget to occasionally stir the meat during this time.  When you are nearly done rolling out the biscuits, remove meat from the heat and set to cool a bit.  When all biscuits are rolled out, spoon desired amount of meat (I like them thick and hearty) on one half of each rolled out biscuit half and fold the other side over and seal. (I stretch the bottom portion a little more and fold it over and press with a fork or spoon).  Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake acording to biscuit instructions.  This will make 32  palm of your hand sized "pockets."  That may sound like a lot, and for some it will be.  However, figure on at least two to two and a half for your average 10 year old boy.  If there are left overs - a super easy lunch for tomorrow (or "It's bedtime so I'm now hungry again" snack, like my son does). **NOTE**  When it comes to filling the biscuits, start with the first one you rolled out first.  The reason I say this is because I found that the dough will start to shrink back up after a seemingly short while.  Who knew, I didn't.  Until now.  These are really good.   The hardest part is rolling out the biscuits and that is not hard at all.  It is so simple that the kids (a little older is probably best since there is the cooking involved) can do it as part of their home economics/homemaking classes.  Please, if you try this recipe, give me your feedback.  Did you like them?  Not like them?  Change the recipe?  I would really like to know how you have improved them - or how I can improve them.  Although we do really like them just the way they are.   I have another breakfast recipe that I will post soon.  It also is a variation on a recipe.  Actually, I had two recipes that I wanted to try and mixed them both around for this one.  It again involves rolling out dough and is extremely easy and quick.  I am getting better at it.  It gets easier and easier.  It will be even easier once I get this big wooden cutting block thing on wheels.  Hopefully this weekend.  I've always wanted to make homemade breads, but have no where to work with that much dough.  My kitchen is a tiny galley kitchen. Until next time (hopefully more often than in the past)...Bon Appetit. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/542137/ Tue, 3 Jun 2008 01:54:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/542137/ I am in a situation that, unfortunately, is much my own fault.  I have an Yahoo group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreeHomeschoolTools_NO-CHAT/) where members request and offer homeschooling materials for postage only.  It is really a great group with a bunch of wonderful members.  This week someone posted about the Subway homeschooler exclusion in their contest and how "we" should Boycott Subway.  Well, I could never boycott Subway, I love their sandwiches, but that's beside the point.  I have a moderator and she became EXTREMELY rude.  To her credit, she did ask politely for the discussion to stop as it is a no chat group and the conversation needed to be moved to the sister site - a chat group.  When the discussion continued, she actually told members to "Shut up" and told them if they did not like that this was a no chat group "to leave."  She also put my name in the post.  I knew nothing about this post.  When reading the posts regarding the situation, I missed her post.  When I saw another mentioning the "Shut up" comment, I asked her "Who said to shut up?"  She told me know one did and the members were blowing everything out of proportion.  Well, another member sent me the post and  I was FLOORED!  I could not believe that she had said all she had.  Granted, I have had to ask her to tone down her posts in the past, but she has never been this blatantly rude and offensive.  By the time I was made aware of the post, I had already removed her as a moderator, which she did not like. Now, because of all the chat, I did change the name to add the "No Chat" part.  Some members took offense to that and were upset.  They enjoyed the chat.  However, the home page of the group plainly states that it is not a chat group and to go to the sister site for chat (or another group).  One of the members took it upon themselves to open a group with the original name.  While I am not upset that she opened the group.  I am a little miffed that she is using the same name.  I asked her to please use her own name, but she has not changed it. That however is not what this is about.  This is about how I restore the group's members faith in me as the owner.  I have made a public apology to all the members for the rudeness and let them know that I am the only moderator from this point forward.  Do I need a moderator?  Yes, I do.  I not only have my two kids (my daughter could really count for two on her own because she is so strong-willed and "spirited"), I also babysit a 3 year old little boy that has had a hard time in his young life and is "special needs" on an emotional and behavioral level.  In addition to that, I run my own AVON business (www.youravon.com/mhalbrooks) and have my own team that I work with for their own successes as well.  I also have church obligations.  So yes, I do need a moderator.  However, after this experience, I don't think I will  ever be able to trust someone to not be rude or ugly.  This moderator tried to get  me to shut down this group repeatedly.  She threatened it herself and she could not have done it anyway.  My vision for the group is for homeschooling families to be able to get many of their homeschooling needs for free (postage only) and therefore, make it more economical to homeschool our children.   At this point, I just don't know what to do.  Do I just let it all go and hope it all works out or what?  I admit my feelings are hurt by the whole situation.  My feelings are also hurt by a member taking the group name for starting her own group.  Why couldn't she choose her own name?  That does bother me.  I did learn a lesson though.  I will not trust anyone to look out for my  (or the groups) interest as I do. Okay really this was just a sounding board.  Feel free to comment and leave me suggestions.  I just really needed to get this off my chest.  Blessings to all. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/540531/ Fri, 30 May 2008 12:04:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/540531/ This week has been absolutely HORRID!!  I mean come on.  I have heard of the "Terrible Twos" for years.  It has always been my experience (with my kids, my god-daughter, my cousin's children, and children I have kept in home daycare) that the threes are really where the terrible phase starts.  I knew when I was pregnant with my daughter, who just turned 2 last week, that she was going to be different.  Little did I know how different.  My son (10 in December) was such a sweet boy.  Granted he was sick a whole lot of the time, but still he was sweet.  The biggest problem I had out of him was when it was time to pick up his toys.  He claimed it would make him sick.  When I told him he either picked them up or I picked them up and threw them away, he decided he wouldn't get sick if he pick them up.  However, he changed his mind later and lost many toys before he decided to pick the ALL up himself again. My daughter is a whole 'nother story.  The onery and hard headed behaviour started in the womb.  My first sonogram, we caught her literally bouncing off the walls of my uterus.  Over and over and over again.  I was very grateful that she was so small that I couldn't feel it.  That was a clue.  When she got bigger, she sat on my bowels.  As she grew her head put pressure - a lot of it - between my rib cage.  She stayed breech until the day before they were going to try to turn her at the hospital.  That is when I had to bribe her with Froot Loops cereal to get her to move and then keep my hand  blocking her from being able to move back until I FINALLY got her turned side ways.  Then I put my preggy girdle/belt thing on the top of my stomach so there was pressure keeping her from moving back. When I went into labor, I was at the hospital (after my water broke at home) at right around 6:45 AM and she FINALLY made her appearance at 9:15 PM.  That was all so very easy.  Even though the nurse and I did not see eye to eye and she decided that I no longer needed the medicine in my epidural.  Even when my hip was out of place and the epidural, because the nurse turned it off, did nothing to ease the pain from that or my back labor.  Still, that was sooo the easy part. Fast forward two years and a few days and we have a very hard-headed, stubborn, onery, even mean little girl.  I knew she was mean by the time she was 6 months old and loved to pull her brother's hair -HARD- every time he got near her.  She graduated to hitting and biting (usually only biting herself).  Still that was easy stuff. This week she has blossomed.  Monday I was on the phone with the phone company.  Yes, I was on the phone for quite a period, but we went outside and the kids played and then we came inside and they played.  My daughter wanted to brush her teeth.  Okay.  I put some toothpaste on her brush and then the lady with the phone company needs me to write something down.  Unthinking, I set the toothpaste down on the bathroom counter and go to the kitchen to write the information down.  My son comes through the kitchen and I ask him to check on his sister and put the toothpaste up out of her reach.  He goes, he screams.  My daughter is in her bed and covered in toothpaste.  I am still on the phone and trying to wrestle her into the tub.  "No!  I don't wnat tub!  I have toothpaste!"  Finally, I am done with the lady from the phone company (that is still not straightened out and I dread having to call back Friday).  I have to chase my daughter all over the house to finally get her in the tub.  Later, I am talking to my mother about it all (for about 5 minutes), and my daughter walks in covered in Strawberry Nesquick Syrup.  She of course has to love on the dog, so he is also covered in it.  Now we have to give two baths.  Now let's talk about Tuesday.  I finally broke down and bought myself some pistachio nuts.  I got one small handful and my little angel sneaks off and she dumps the entire package out on the floor.  $9.00 on the floor.  I clean that up and direct her to her room.  Later, after she is in bed and I thought asleep, she goes back into the kitchen plays in the cornmeal.  I was in the next room, but could not hear her.  She knows how to be very quiet and sneaky.  I walked into the kitchen to get a drink and there she sits.  She sees me and jumps up with "My hands are dirty.  Come on Mudder, I show you."  She grabs my hand and drags me to the bathroom to wash her hands.  I put her back in bed and to ensure that she stayed put, I layed down with her.  My back sure hurt this morning when I got up this morning.  Toddler beds were not made for comfort.  I don't care what anyone says.  Today, things are more back to normal.  She is adamant that she do the dishes and sweep the floor and destroy any and all pens she finds as well as eat all crayons that have accidentally been left out.  Oh and she absolutely MUST help cook dinner every night.  This means she drags everything out of the bottom cabinets at least twice.  I cannot set a bottle of spices down near the edge of the counter or she grabs it and runs.  I cannot try to fold the laundry with her in the vicinity.  Unless I want to spend all day folding the same load over and over again. This is why I do not get to make entries near like I would like.  I am too tired after chasing around after her all day.  As I typed this she got out of bed - AGAIN - and is now sitting in here with me.  Diaperless.  That's a whole other topic.  She was doing so well with diaper training and then decided she did not want to use the potty anymore.  However, she also does not want to wear diapers. I know God never gives us more than we can handle, but come on.....I have prayed over her, prayed for her and prayed for myself and my stamina.  I am really dreading her being three if she is this onery at two.  I admit it.  I am scared.  I did introduce her to the flyswatter tonight.  She does not like it at all.  I think it may help, but  it is really too soon to tell.  Lord God, please, in Jesus name, let this work or give me something that will.  Amen Well, I am going to try to get her back to bed.  I too am tired.  Until next time.  Zzzzzzz..... http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/427347/ Wed, 14 Nov 2007 22:40:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/427347/ I just had to say thank you to Jamin for her recent entry on Homeopathy.  A mere comment on her blog just wouldn't suffice to express my gratitude for her post. My son, who will be 10 years old in December, developed a severe ear infection when he was 6 months old.  Although we did the round of antibiotics, twice, it never went away.  I actually lost two jobs, well, lost one and resigned from another, because I had to take off so much of the time with him.  I was taking him to the doctor every 2, 2-1/2, 3 weeks (3 week stretches felt about like Christmas to me).  He just could not get rid of the ear infections.  At nearly age two, I took him to my mother's ENT and we talked about tubes.  For his 2nd birthday, he had his first set of 2-yr tubes put in.  (For those who do not know, some tubes are designed to fall out after certain periods of time.  These tubes were designed to stay in place for 2 years.)  Of course, his ears were drained when the tubes were put in and he was placed on antibiotics.  Finally, clear ears and no more ear infection.  Or so we thought. We were at the doctor for his ears and received the dreaded ear infection diagnosis no less than EIGHT times from December to the following August.  Turns out the infections blew his tubes out.  So we tried to get the ears well once again.  I was really wary of doing the "tube thing" again when it only showed slight imporvement.  However, I gave in and we went in for our seond set of tubes.  However, this time I waited until AFTER his birthday and Christmas.  The tubes went in on January 2nd.  On January 1st of the following year he blew the first one out and the second one followed on January 2nd.  So much for 2 year tubes.  At that point, regardless of what the doctor said about tubes were helping, I knew better.  I was the one up with him all night.  I was the one that had been thrown up on about 20 times.  I was the one that walked the floor with him and tried to sooth his pain.  I was the one that cried with him and over him.  The ENT was resting comfortably at home in his cozy bed dreaming of inserting more tubes in little ears.  The tubes were not making a difference in the ear infections.  Now, maybe if they had had bigger holes the fluid could have drained, but they didn't.  What happened is the hole in the tubes was blocked by the fluid in the ear, which remained in the ear continued to build up until the pressure forced the tube out of the ear.  Let me tell you there is nothing nastier or more frightening than for your child's ear to shoot a bnch of nasty smelling pus and blood out of his ear.  Throughout all of this, I had noticed that he did not speak properly and did not hear me all the time.  After both surgeries, this improved, but then went back to the way it normally was.  No, I was not willing to do tubes again.  I just would not consider it since it was not helping.  Sure, insurance covered it 100% with no co-pay, but why do it when it just does not work.  It was like beating my head against the wall to get rid of a headache.  Just did not make sense. Well, the ear infections continued, of course.  My son even spent almost the entire week of Valentine's Day in the hospital because he dehydrated so bad from the vomiting and diarrhea - all cause by an ear infection with a comfirmed diagnosis by three seperate doctors at the hospital (they sent their reports to the ENT).  Everytime he got an ear infection I had to first take him to our family doctor and then take him to the ENT (per ENT's instructions).  Well, the ENT kept telling me that because he did not have pus and/or blood draining from his ears, he did not have an ear infection.  I argued with him.  I had an Otoscope.  I had been taught how to look at my son's ears and and what to look for by him and the family doctor.  I saw the red swollen eardrum myself.  Granted on one "fateful" visit, my son had been on meds for four full days by the time I could get him an appointment to see the ENT.  Maybe they had already improved tremendously.  I do not know.  I do know that when we looked at the ear together, it did look much better, but was still a little pink and swollen.  He told me that he had minor irritation from to many meds.  WHAT?  "Well, can you explain to me why he had a temperature of 103 and was throwing up all night for two nights in a row - one while on meds?"  I asked (yes, I was a bit huffy).  "He probably had a stomach bug," was the response I got.  BULL!  I told him in no uncertain terms that I was done with his services.  Thanked him for his previous care and let him know that I would NOT be bringing my son back to see him.  I did ask him how he could possibly say that with the two sets of tubes, my son never once had an ear infection (which he told me during this last visit) and yet also tell me previously that he had blown both sets of tubes out because of infection.  He then told me that my son simply grew too fast for the tubes, but did NOT suffer from ANY ear infections with the tubes.  I again gave him my thanks and reiterated that we would not be returning.  Little did I know, he had already fired me (my son because of me) as a patient.  That would have been our last visit anyway.  YEAH!!     We made an appointment with our family doctor.  I gave him my son's medical files from the ENT and got a referral to a new ENT.  I took a copy of the medical files to the new ENT and explained to him that we were "fired."  He wanted to know why.  I just knew that he was already wanting to kick our family doctor's butt for referring a "problem parent" to him.  After I explained all that had gone on, he stated that he has actually received several patients that were former patients of the same ENT and the stories were all the same.  He felt, although he did not know the other ENT, that he did not like his knowledge or diagnosis to be questioned - kind of like "short man syndrome" is how he put it.  I loved this new ENT already.  We have been going to this new ENT for about five years now.  My son's  hearing has been tested every year.  The new ENT did discover that my son only had 10% of his left eardrum and about 70% or his right eardrum.  Based on this they were very pleased with his hearing test results.  Since he cannot hear with the missing left eardrum, he hears with the bones inside the ear.  He actually hears quite well for hearing in that manner, but there is still some damage that has resulted in some permanent hearing loss.  Once again we go back in for surgery to replace the left eardrum.  This is something that really scared me.  They actually cut the back of the ear completely loose from the head and fold it over onto the cheek and go INTO the ear.  I was scared to death.  There was the risk that he could lose all hearing.  After the surgery, my son was in severe pain for days and days.  He cried and I cried.  He refused to take any pain medication because he was afraid it would make him feel like the anesthesia and hospital pain meds made him feel (confused, disoriented, dettached from himself).  I could not convince him otherwise.  The sweetest thing that boy has ever said to me was, "Don't cry Mom.  I'm only crying because I hurt a bit.  I can't get comfortable and don't know how to fix it.  You didn't do anything wrong.  I love you, so please don't cry."  I went to the bathroom and sobbed and sobbed.  Here I was "mommy hurting" because I couldn't make his pain go away or make him feel any better and he was concerned for me.  I just love those "angel" moments. We did find out, through the surgery, that his left Eustachian tube is not formed correctly.  That was part of the problem.  The eardrum graft did take, but he blew the new drum out again before the packing had even fully dissolved.  So, we went another route.  In June of this year, we had his adenoids and tonsils removed.  (Had I known before that the adenoids sat on top of the other end of the Eustachian tubes, I would have had them removed a LONG, LONG time ago.)  He healed well from that surgery with no complications and very little pain (only mild irritation because he felt like he had something in his throat - the swelling).  Now we go back in February to see if this has had any effect on his ears and the eardrum acutally healing and staying intact.  If it worked like we are hoping, we are done with the surgeries - for now anyway.  If it didn't, we will go in for at least one more drum replacement surgery.  We hope that his drum will heal on it's own, but do know that in all likelihood, we will have to replace the drum again first.  Then the prayer is that it will stay intact. Okay, you are probably wondering where the "Thank you" is in all this.  Well, it is coming right up.  Although, I just cannot see making myself give my son a homeopathic "remedy" for his ears, I would be willing to consider it for other ailments he may get.  This child can get a splinter in his toe and it will turn into an ear infection (this is only a slight exaggeration that his doctors and I share). However, since I still really do believe that, even though the tubes are not formed properly, the REAL culprit is allergies, I am willing to try homeopathic "remedies" for that.  Also, I have a 2 year old daughter that has had one confirmed and one suspected (will see the doctor Friday) ear infection this year.  I think I may try this with her as well.  I did have my son on Echinacea for months before his first surgery.  The anesthesiologist scared me off of them because they can interfer with anesthesia and make it very hard for a patient to come out from under the anesthesia.  Now, having said that, I want to stress, the only reason this scared me away from giving them to my son is because there was always, and still is the chance that he could have to undergo emergency surgery at any time.  I still drink Echinacea tea and allow him some on occasion.  I just do not give it to him daily like I had been doing in the past.  I wonder if I can get him to chew up a bit of horseradish root?  Nay, I doubt it, but it would sure open him up.  At least it works for  me. If there is a way to prevent my daughter from having to go through all this like my son, I am all for it.  So THANK YOU JAMIN!!!!  I will defintely be looking into all of this.  You have reminded me that I do have other options rather than to sit and wait and see what happens with my daughter and in the future with my son.  I have been so caught up in the ears, I had really forgotten about the rest of my options.  We have a great homeopathy and herb shop nearby.  I wonder if I can get the kids to drink apple cider vinegar.  Ah!  Really sweet Black Cherry Kool-Aid covers the taste of anything.  You have really gotten me to thinking about all this again.  There are really so many options out there that I have just forgotten about.  Thank you for the "kick in the pants." Again, thank you Jamin, for reminding me of my options.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/426957/ Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:34:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/426957/ How would you like to have a Casio Pink EX-Z75 digital camera?  Well, you can.  Free would be even better wouldn't it?  You have a chance to do that as well. This is a great little camera that all us mom's would love to have to document our kiddo's shining moments.  Let's not forget those lapbooks and projects as well.  How fantastic those annual records would look with some great pictures of the kid's work and and the kids hard at work.  Also, we cannot forget the 4-H projects that many of our kids are involved in.  The Record Book would look fantastic with some amazing pictures included (don't forget about the scholarship available for Record Books). A real treat with this contest is that it is all about supporting Breast Cancer Awareness.  You could win a really nice 7.2 mega pixel camera.  Then, while you are snapping away, you will be promoting a wonderful cause.  Chances are we all know someone who has been affected by Breast Cancer.  Let us show our support by promoting Breast Cancer Awareness, this and every month.  Now Casio has given us a really neat way to do that.  Plus, PINK is a great color.    Visit 5 Minutes for Mom and spend about 5 minutes there to get all the detailson how to win this great camera.  The winner will be drawn on October 26th.      http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/406038/ Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:42:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/406038/ I was sent another great contest.  With the travel season coming up this would be absolutely fantastic to have in the (God forbid) event of an emergency.  Most of us heard about the family that was trapped in the snow storm and the mother and children survived (she was able to breast feed her children and sustain them) however the father perished while trying to seek out help.  This could have possible made a difference for him.  The solar blanket alone would have been SO VERY beneficial.  Those things are GREAT!!!  Anyone who camps will also find this contest FABULOUS!  So here is the scoop: Asioo.com is giving away a great backpack kit full of fabulous emergency preparedness items.  One never knows when an emergency will arise.  I know when we have had such situations arise, it would have been so great to be able to just grab one bag and have everything I needed in it.  I mean, it is already hectic enough right - just with everyday "Mom" life.  I know the reassurance that I was prepared would bring tremendous relief. Below is the FANTASTIC prize offered.  To get your chance to win, just go to the Mom Views page    GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!! The Deluxe Emergency Kit is available in 4 sizes (for 1 person - 4 person kit), and the price ranging from $74.99-$94.99. Each kit comes with: Backpack 2400 Cal. Food Bars Solar Blankets Mayday Water Pouches Dust Masks Ponchos Flashlight 2 Person Tent 12 Hr. Light Stick Water Purification Tablets Utility Knife Camper's Stove 5-N-1 Whistle Alkaline "D" Batteries 50' Nylon Cord 54 Piece First Aid Kit Waterproof Matches AM/FM Radio w/ Batteries Pair Leather Palm Gloves   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/406034/ Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:16:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/406034/ Just wanted to share this with everyone. Curious George Book Giveaway! Curious George has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. I just love to read his books and follow his mischief! Now one of my lucky readers will be able to enjoy H.A. Rey’s original book published in 1941 about our favorite little monkey! I will be giving away a paperback copy of this wonderful classic. To earn one entry, simply comment below To earn two entries, comment below, and post a link to this contest at your blog, or send an email (c.c. kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net ) to at least 3 friends. Winner will be posted on Oct. 31, 2007! Good Luck everyone. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/405297/ Mon, 8 Oct 2007 23:08:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/405297/ I was sent this from someone on one of my groups and decided I would give it a try.  It looks really neat.  For myself, this would be neat, since I have not been able to complete anything other than a "kid" puzzle (with all pieces still there) since BEFORE I had my kids.  My son is now experiencing what I went through, because my daughter runs off with his puzzle pieces.  Anyway, it sounds like a really neat thing.  Below is a copy of their promotion. Greetings from Gamewright! Are you looking for a unique gift that is sure to elicit "Wows!" from everyone who sees it? Our parent company, Ceaco, is introducing the Pieceless Puzzle - a revolutionary new puzzle unlike anything you've ever seen before. "What exactly is a Pieceless Puzzle?" Watch this video to find out more... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4YrChGyQtQ Get a Free Pieceless Puzzle! You can be the first on your block to own a Pieceless Puzzle. All you have to do is help us spread the word about it through blogs, online forums, and your email network. Simply forward a link to your post or send a copy of your email, along with your name and complete mailing address (no P.O. boxes) to pr@gamewright.com Please allow 4 weeks for delivery. Thanks as always for playing with Gamewright! Gamewright a Trademark of Ceaco 70 Bridge Street Newton, MA  02458 http://www.gamewright.com This is the copay that makes Zeus on the Loose, Slamwich, Rat-a-tat Cat, etc.  I don't know how many they are giving away.  Worth a shot anyway. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/397155/ Tue, 25 Sep 2007 06:38:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/397155/ You know how we try to raise our children to love God and live for His Glory?  Well, it has been brought to my attention that despite church, despite Bible study, despite my talking and "explaining" to, my son still did not really "get it." I intentionally did not watch any of the September 11th anniversay memorials because I knew how I would react.  I did not want to upset my children with my tears.  Well, my son had been looking at some stuff on You Tube before he went outside.  I sat down at the computer and saw that one of the videos by the same person who created the cartoon video he was looking at was a 9-11 tribute video.  What harm could come from watching just one video?  One turned into several.  There I was crying and weeping and praying when my son walked in.  As it happened he walked in while I was watching a video about how God was there (http://youtube.com/watch?v=LxJiiWo0JbE).  Some He called home and some refused to answer His call yet again.  Then, there was that tug.  Not from my son, but from God.  "Hey!  Talk to him.  He needs to know why."  Well, I "knew" my son knew why, but I asked anyway.  Nope.  He didn't -- "not really" were his words. So, there we were sitting in the middle of the floor talking and crying and listening and explaining.  There were many questions that I wasn't prepared for, yet I was because God gave me the answers.  It was truly heartwrenching to find out that despite what I thought were my "best efforts" my son did not really understand what it means to have a relationship with God.  He did not really understand what Jesus dying on the cross meant for him.  I have explained and talked and read and prayed and more his entire life.  Yet he still did not understand.  So I had failed him.  But this was not about me.  This was about him and his salvation.  I explained as best I could and told him Scripture that applied and was relevant.  HE GOT IT!!  Then, came more questions...... How could he know that he would go to Heaven?  How come some people didn't answer God?  How can he hear God?  Why did God let His own Son be killed?  Will He be able to see Jesus?  Are Jesus and God the same person?  What is the Holy Spirit? Why do you pray for Osama bin Laden and his bad men?  (I'll answer that one for you all a little later.)  And so many more questions. God is so very awesome!!  I had the answers to his questions and could put them all in terms that he understood.  HE GOT IT!!! After all the explaining and answering of questions, I asked him if he wanted to have a personal relationship with God and ask Jesus to come into his heart.  He did and we prayed.  We prayed not only for Jesus to come into his heart and give him Salvation, but for my own walk to be strengthened and renewed.   That was two days ago.  At first I felt so ashamed and under-qualified as a human being, much less a parent.  Then, it dawned on me, the timing was just not right before.  He wasn't ready.  I had been planting seeds and finally they took.  He came to me yesterday and told me that sometimes he feels like there are two parts of him.  When he's doing something he shouldn't he doesn't remember the good side of him.  When he does something good, he doesn't remember the bad side of him.  I told him that was normal and that we are all human and will do bad things at times, but that is why we need Jesus in our hearts and lives.  So when we do bad things, we can apolpgize and be forgiven by our earthly family and friends and by God.  i told him that as he matures he will be more aware of both sides of him and will understand himself better.  He says he wants to be more good than bad and will try really hard.  Ahhh....what wonderful music to any parent's ears (earthly or Heavenly).  Okay, why do I pray for Osama bin Laden and his followers?  Well, it is actually really simple.  If their hearts can be softened enough to allow Jesus into their hearts, they will no longer be a threat to us.  There are a great many evils and evil doers out there.  If they were all to allow Jesus into their hearts, they would no longer be evil doers, but soldiers for Christ.  Wouldn't that be awesome?  Yes, I have been ridiculed and even yelled at and called crazy and blasphemous for praying for bin Laden and his followers.  So.  I am in no way comparing myself to Jesus here, but didn't the same happen to Him?  Some may not agree with me praying for evil doers, but I just shrug it off.  I know that God wants me to pray for them...."not one should perish."....so I do.  It's okay if no one understands it or even likes it.  I do not need their permission or approval. No, my son does not agree with me about praying for "bad people."  He thinks they are bad and they need to be punished and he told me that he has actually prayed for bad people to be punished.  Well, I cannot say that I don't want the "bad people" caught and punished by our laws.  I jsut don't want Satan getting any glory and I feel that is what happens when an evil doer/"badperson" dies without a relationship with God and Jesus as their Savior.  But that is a whole other  issue.  Back to my son. I have seen a noticeable change in him already.  He really tries to be "good."  He questions himself before he says or does things that might not be "okay."  What's funny it I had just decided to take Bible class out of our homeschooling curriculum.  Am I going to put it back in now that he "gets it?"  No.  And no, I am not crazy.  I decided to take it out because I do not want reading the Bible to be "just a part of school" or something he "has" to do.  I want it to be something that he can do for enjoyment and enlightenment.  Now this is not to say that the Bible won't be a part of our schooling. It definitely will.  I just do not want him to ever feel like reading the Bible is work or a chore.  I want him to WANT to read the Bible.  So, no more Bible classes, but still many Bible references that we can and will look up.  We will have more quiet time together reading the Bible with each other.  I may add Bible classes back into the curiculum in the future, but for right now, I think more one on one reading and discussion would be better suited for us.  I will still incorporate some of the curriculum I have into our reading, but as a guide, not as lessons. So, we are really excited around here.  As you can imagine.  There is another soul bound for GLORY.  YEA!! The grass sure is green over here on our side of the fence.  God is just so AWESOME. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/391665/ Sat, 15 Sep 2007 10:48:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/weare3/391665/