Shepherding Kind Hearts

Review: Stack the States iPad Application

2012-01-27T11:28:00.000-06:00

In my search for quality educational iPad applications to supplement our homeschool curriculum I stumbled upon Stack the States. I am so impressed with this application that I just had to share my thoughts and opinions with you my fellow homeschooler.

I was initially drawn to this app because we are studying the United States in our geography studies this year. My oldest, who is in 5th grade is notebooking his way through the states. My younger two school age children are learning about the 50 states through observation and "osmosis". When I came upon Stack the States I immediately thought that this was an educational tool that my younger children could use for a more interactive learning experience about the 50 states. I have never, and I truly mean never, paid for an application. All of the apps on my Ipad are ones that have been offered for free. I was pleasantly surprised that Apple offered a "lite" version of Stack the States as a preview to the full version.

My 7 year old son started playing the lite version and loved it. Within 20 minutes or so however, he had reached the limits of the lite version and could no longer earn any more states, which is the objective of this application. I sat next to my son while he played and was so impressed with the variety of questions asked about each of the 50 states that I looked into purchasing the full version, which I normally would never do. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I realized that the full version of this app is only 99 cents. From a homeschool perspective, where else can you get a fully interactive geography curriculum for only 99 cents? After downloading the full version my 7 year old set off on his own to "play" (translation; learn) with our new geography application. Everyday he has played for at least 30 minutes or more and is learning more about geography than I could have ever imagined. I have to admit, I am learning a bit myself.

Stack the States asks questions about landmarks, state capitals, bordering states, mountain ranges, cities, and much more with regards to each of the 50 states. There are also questions that ask to identify the states based solely on their shape. I am highly impressed with the amount of United States geography my 7 year old has learned in just a few days. This was the best 99 cents I have spent in a very long time.

I plan to also use this application as a quiz tool for my oldest son. Theoretically, he should already know much of the information asked in this application but I think it will be a fun tool for him to use to test the knowledge he has acquired through notebooking.

Basics about the application:
For each correct question answered the child earns that state. The state is then stacked on a platform and when enough questions have been answered correctly and enough states earned and stacked on top of one another to reach a checkered line then the child earns a random state for their map. The goal is to earn enough states to fill up their map. Additionally, supplement games are earned after a set number of states have been earned. For example, after earning 10 states on the state map a game called "pile up" is unlocked. There are a total of 3 supplementary games that can be unlocked for additional geography learning enjoyment.

Cost:
Stack the States Lite; free (maximum of 10 states)
Stack the States full version; 99 cents at the time of this posting

Disclaimer: I was not paid, reimbursed, or otherwise compensated in anyway for this review. My opinions are my own.

When Their Love of Reading Blossoms

2011-12-28T21:11:00.002-06:00

As a homeschooling Mom, I don't know if there is anything that touches my heart more than when my children learn to read and then eventually find their love for reading. I don't know what it is about reading that touches me so much, perhaps it is because reading is the backbone for everything else. You can't learn if you can't read.

I remember when my oldest who is now 10 discovered the joy of independent reading. It seemed like overnight he went from not picking up a book on his own to devouring everything he could get his hands on. I remember scrambling to find him books that were appropriate and on his reading level. Fortunately at that time he wasn't picky about which books he read, every subject and story line interested him.

Then along came my next son. He was my early reader so I thought for sure he would always have the love and curiosity for learning that he showed at such a young age. Just goes to show though that you can never assume anything, especially when it comes to your children. Reading has always been easy for "A" but he has never just picked up a book and started reading all on his own. Sure he will pull a picture book off of the shelf or thumb through a picture filed science book but to read a book from cover to cover all on his own hasn't ever happened. Well, I should say it hasn't happened up until very recently.

Shortly before Christmas I was in the schoolroom and found a few fiction books in a series with a science theme. The basis of the books is fiction but sprinkled throughout the story line are non-fiction facts about various animals. I showed these to "A" and he showed some interest in reading them. So we sat down together and he read a few pages here and there to me. Only later did I find out that he was also reading these books before bedtime. Each book is about 100 pages with 10 or so chapters. Once I realized I might be on to something with the science themed chapter books I set out to find another series that he might enjoy. Early chapter books with a science theme are far from common unfortunately. But I did stumble upon one series I thought he might enjoy so I ordered the first box set as a Christmas gift. Thankfully he loves them!

But I digress, what I want to stress here is the moment when you see your child reading all on his own, without your prompting, when he could otherwise be off playing and rough housing. That moment for me happened this morning. I was sitting on the couch feeding one of my twins when I looked in the kitchen and saw my son sitting at the kitchen table, knees to his chest with his nose in one of the new books I bought for him. I couldn't stop from staring. Finally I was witnessing an event that for a long time I thought would never happen. "A" had discovered his love for learning and it can only grow from here. After he was done reading his chapter he came and sat next to me on the couch and read another chapter to me out loud. My heart could not have swelled any bigger at that moment.

I am thrilled that finally together he and I discovered the key to unlocking his love for reading. Some kids will only read books on certain subjects. If the book subject does not interest them then they will have no interest in reading it thus preventing them from discovering their own love for reading. As I mentioned earlier my oldest was far from picky in the books he chose to read, any subject was fair game with him and he loved them all equally. Once I realized my next son was only excited about reading certain subjects I was a Mom on a mission. Thankfully I have succeeded in at least the early stages of my mission and prayerfully his love for reading will only continue to grow and blossom.

Time off of school or not?

2011-12-26T21:06:00.000-06:00

Homeschoolers have the flexibility of taking time off of "school" whenever needed and at various times throughout the year. Most commonly families take time off to celebrate Christmas, Easter, family birthdays, and of course summer. Some homeschool families might also follow a regular schedule of taking time off of school after completing a certain amount of school days. For example, 6 weeks of school followed by 1 week off continued throughout the year.

But what do you do if a child or even multiple children in your family do not handle a change in routine very easily? What if something as simple as taking a week off of school causes major mental and emotional stress when you try to resume school lessons?

I wish I had a steadfast and tested answer to these questions. I don't. Why? Well because I have one of those children that just not deal well with a change in daily routines. My child is not special needs or learning disabled in any way, he just functions best when he has a set routine. Does he deserve time off of school? Of course he does, just like the rest of us. We all need time to recharge our mental batteries so that we can tackle more lessons with enthusiasm and motivation. As his Mother though I am left to deal with the question of how to give this child and myself a break from schoolwork while still maintaining a sense of learning so that when we do return to lessons in earnest the adjustment isn't such a shock to my son. I don't have a clean cut answer, I wish I did.

Each time I take a little time off of our daily lessons, the break for my son who struggles looks a little different. Sometimes I think (or hope and pray) he will be ok with taking a break "cold turkey". In other words simply not doing any work for up to a week, sometimes more during the summer. Then there are other attempts at a school work hiatus when I know he still needs a tad bit of schoolwork everyday to keep his toes wet with the school routine. I haven't found the perfect fit for this child and breaks from daily schoolwork. Perhaps I never will because he is ever changing, maturing, and growing just like the rest of us. I know enough about this child though to know that what works one week will not necessarily work the next. All I can do is pray for wisdom, seek the counsel of my husband, and do my best daily.

We are on a modified schedule this week. My husband requested that the kids have a bit of a break this week from school but he agreed that our child who struggles with changes in routine will still need a bit of school work everyday to keep him at least partially in the mental game of doing school. Thankfully this child doesn't balk or complain at doing a bit of work everyday. Today was reading out loud and a lesson in math, nothing taxing or mentally draining. Just a bit to keep his mind in the school mode.

Obviously we can't do school year round without days or even weeks off of school. When I deliver in just 6 short weeks we will have to take at least a week if not more off of school so I can recover and we can all adjust to our new routines. I suppose that is the beauty of homeschooling. Even though my son struggles with a change in his daily routine, this fact doesn't detract from his long term learning. Eventually we all get back on track and learning resumes in earnest.

Gratitude challenge 2011 Days 21-30

2011-12-01T20:08:00.000-06:00

As I mentioned in my last Gratitude Challenge post, I am not good at everyday routines. :) Never the less, this challenge has been on my mind everyday and it has helped me be more aware of those little things in life that too easily get overlooked and unappreciated.

November 21 - Being that today is the first annual National Prematurity Awareness day, I am thankful for my micro preemie twins who have overcome more obstacles in their 9 months of life than perhaps I have in my entire 34 years. These two girls have taught me more than I could have ever imagined this past year and everyday I am thankful for their precious little lives.

November 22 - Today I am thankful for something simple and something that I at times take for granted, but today I give thanks for a reliable car that accommodates my growing family. A car that I know will start when I need it, keeps us warm in the winter, and cool in the summer.

November 23 - As my belly continues to grow and my energy continues to decrease I am more and more dependent on my husband for help. Today he was a tremendous amount of help in getting our house cleaned up for tomorrow. I couldn't have gotten half of the things accomplished today without him, he is a huge blessing to our family.

November 24 - Happy Thanksgiving!! As my family and I celebrated and gave thanks today I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of blessing and I looked upon my family and all that we have thankful for, especially considering the events of this year.

November 25 - Can I be thankful for Thanksgiving leftovers today? Well good because I am. I purposely didn't eat them for lunch so I could enjoy all the yummy fixings for dinner. Sometimes it is the little things in life.

November 26- Today we put up our Christmas tree and the kids decorated it. As I sorted through ornaments I looked at my twins watching all the comings and goings from their high chair and was immediately struck with the emotions of this season. My girls are home and healthy, they will be at home to celebrate their first Christmas, I couldn't ask for anything more.

November 27 - I can't go all month without at least one mention of how grateful I am that I am able to stay home with my children and homeschool them. Neither of which I could do without the support of my husband. It isn't always easy but I can't imagine life any other way.

November 28 - Today I am struggling with pregnancy aches and pains but despite the discomfort I am thankful for the blessing that continues to grow within me. For numerous reasons above and beyond the normal "every child is a blessing and gift" the little boy that will arrive early next year is a special gift and I can't wait to see what God has in store for this little one. His life would not be possible is his twin sisters hadn't of arrived as early as they did.

November 29 - With the outside temperature hovering around freezing, I am so thankful to be able to come home to a nice warm house. A warm house where my family and I can be safe and protected from the cold just outside our windows is greatly appreciated today.

November 30 - Today, the last day of this challenge, I am simply thankful for this challenge. I have thought more about the blessings that surround me this past month than I have in a long time. I found myself saying more prayers throughout my day giving thanks and praise to God for all that He has provided for my family and I.

Everyday is a good day to give thanks for your blessings!

Study the 50 States

2011-11-21T20:48:00.000-06:00

The Shepherding Kind Hearts Academy (I just made that up, pretty good eh?) has started a year long unit study of the 50 United States. As a young child I remember having to memorize the 50 states and their capitals. I've decided to take it a bit farther and teach my children, namely my oldest who is a 5th grader some additional lessons beyond just the state names and their capitals. Through this unit he will learn notebooking, improve on his writing, online research, and a range of geographical terms.

Although this is very much still a unit in the making I wanted to share with you the resources, both written and online, that I have thus far discovered and are utilizing.

Notebooking:

First and foremost we are utilizing the geography state notebooking pages from Notebooking Pages.com. The beauty of notebooking is that you can individualize your unit with these pages. Debra provides a wide range of notebook pages to suit and complement every possible research topic. I am handpicking about 10-12 pages from each state for my son to complete. These pages require him to do online and book research as well as improve upon his research writing skills.

Book Research Resources:

National Geographic: Our Fifty States

Book description: Overflowing with beautiful illustrations, specially designed maps, and concise essays written and reviewed by members of the Society's Geographic Alliance Program, this authoritative guide stands alone in the children's reference category. From Maine to Hawaii, kids will discover fascinating details behind each state's unique history. Our Fifty States is a superior volume so chock-full of engaging information and stunning visuals, youngsters will never run out of things to learn. Foreword by Former President Jimmy Carter. The easy-to-read physical map that introduces each region of the U.S. is followed by a lively essay with absorbing descriptions of the area's history, climate, natural resources, and physical features. Then, within each regional chapter, children can explore the individual states through illustrated historical time lines, full-color political maps, photo essays, and state-at-a-glance boxes. Additional features include special essays on the District of Columbia and the territories, comparative charts, a list of additional resources, and a detailed index.

My perspective: This is a beautiful hard back book full of vivid images and a wealth of state history knowledge. We are using this book to help complete the timeline and state facts notebooking pages. Additionally, my oldest son is reading this book to help with his state research topics. For example, in the Pennsylvania section her read about the Battle of Gettysburg and completed a notebooking page about this battle as well as the Gettysburg Address.

The Look It-Up Book of the 50 States

Book description: Entertaining, up-to-the-minute, and easy-to-use, The Look-It-Up Book of the 50 States is an affordable family reference to each state of the union. Illustrated throughout with photographs, drawings, and maps, it provides a concise history of each state from the time it was first explored to the present day–as well as information on places to visit, wildlife, natural resources, and fun facts.

My perspective: This wonderful resource is full of beautiful glossy color information packed pages. With 2-3 pages dedicated to each state this is a perfect reading resource for upper elementary students to read on their own or for reading to younger children who want to learn alongside their older siblings.

Online Research Resources:
The About.com e-mail course of the 50 States is the guide I am using to dictate the order in which we study the 50 states. Each week about.com will send you an e-mail with 2 states and the links from about.com to help with your unit study. Beginning with the 1st and 2nd states, Delaware and Pennsylvania respectively, each following week you will receive an email with each subsequent state admitted to the union in their respective order. After I receive this email each week I go to Notebookingpages.com and print off the appropriate notebooking pages for the upcoming state studies.

Class Brain for a plethora of state information including symbols, geography, and other fun information

Golden Gate Weather Service for weather information

City Population for population information for each state listed by city

Info Please for elevation information for each state

Mining and natural resources for each state

Current Results for precipitation and other weather related information

50States for all kinds of fun U.S. state related information

As we venture into this long unit study I am quickly learning to adapt and change as we go. Depending on the research subject matter from each state I am amending the type of notebooking and research. For example, CT is full of fun historical subject matter. I am having my oldest son do a bit more research during the week of CT in the hopes that he gleans more historical information from this important seaboard state.

Happy studying!!

Gratitude challenge 2011 days 12-20

2011-11-20T15:23:00.000-06:00

I've fallen behind on my gratitude posting, not surprising really since schedules are not my forte. Nonetheless, this challenge has still been on my mind and heart everyday.

Day 12: On this cold and blustery day, I am thankful for the warm house I call home.

Day 13: I am thankful for a full night sleep. Jillian may not be the best napper during the day but she knows how to sleep through the night and that makes her lack of daytime sleep worth all the struggles.

Day 14: Today I am thankful for the little guy kicking inside my belly. So much of this pregnancy has been filled with thoughts and pondering of true blessings and miracles. If my twins hadn't arrived early the life that now grows within me would have never been possible simply by way of timing. I am excited to be this little guy's Momma, I know without a doubt he has a special purpose. Otherwise God would not have orchestrated all of the events of this year which made his life possible.

Day 15: Today is for my 4 year old daughter who is finally staying dry at night. There were days that I thought this milestone might never be reached but she has done it without much struggle.

Day 16: Today I am thankful for the simple things like hot tea and fresh brewed coffee with Almond Joy creamer. Sleep doesn't always come at night and these two drinks help me through my day when nothing else (besides prayer of course) does.

Day 17: November 17th was the 1st annual world prematurity day, so on this day I was incredibly thankful for my micro preemie twins born earlier this year at 26weeks 5days. Everyday I give thanks and praise for their health and well being.

Day 18: I am thankful for my first born. He is growing up into such a wonderful young boy. He is kind, caring, and so full of life.

Day 19: I am thankful that one of my babies has learned to put herself to sleep for naptime. I simply lay her in the crib and without a peep or whine she sleeps for hours on end. Thank you Britian for this and many other blessings you bring to our family.

Day 20: Today I am thankful for my husband who willing takes our children places that he knows they will enjoy. This afternoon he is ice skating with our oldest 3.

What are you thankful for today?

Gratitude Challenge 2011 Days 9-11

2011-11-11T06:41:00.000-06:00

I fell a little behind in posting my gratitudes simply due to time constraints, they were on my heart each day though.

November 9th - with snow and rain falling all day I was thankful for a warm house and a working furnace.

November 10th - having completed a large grocery shopping trip I was thankful for the money in the bank to pay for all the food and necessities my family needed. My refrigerator still looks empty but I know there is food somewhere in the house for us to eat. :)

November 11th - Happy Veteran's day to all the men and women who have courageously served or are currently serving our nation to protect our freedoms. I am thankful for my husband, a veteran, for all the sacrifices he made as a young man to serve our country.

What are you thankful for today?

Gratitude Challenge 2011 Day 7-8

2011-11-08T20:34:00.000-06:00

November 7th - Yesterday I was thankful for my 4 year old daughter and the joy we got to experience together as she read her first 2 books all by herself. All day she insisted that she was ready to learn to read. So later in the afternoon we sat together and I reviewed a few sounds she would see in the first book we would read together. Not only did she read that first book all by herself she wanted to read another and so she did.

November 8th - I am thankful the rainy weather we have had today. We desperately need the rain. It has been raining all day today and is expected to continue into tomorrow. Now if it just stays as rain tomorrow I will really be thankful (joking of course). There is a chance that the nasty white stuff will start flying tomorrow, I am just NOT ready for that yet.

What are you thankful for today?

Gratitude Challenge 2011 Day 6

2011-11-06T20:20:00.000-06:00

November 6th - Today is my husband's birthday so it is only fitting that I am especially thankful for him today. More specifically though I am grateful for the struggles we have overcome in our marriage to get to where we are now. It wasn't always an easy road to travel but together we conquered something I thought at one time was impossible. I love him more and more everyday!

What are you thankful for today?

Gratitude Challenge 2011 Day 5

2011-11-05T20:03:00.000-05:00

November 5th - Today I am grateful for evening hours at my pediatrician's office and for wonderful health insurance. One of my infant twins was really struggling to breathe despite a medication that was prescribed for her earlier in the week. Night office hours yesterday meant no urgent care visit and our health insurance coverage saved me a ton in prescription costs.

What are you thankful for today?

Gratitude Challenge 2011 Day 4

2011-11-04T14:04:00.000-05:00

November 4th - Today I am thankful for God's graciousness and forgiveness. I struggle with so many things on a personal level, I am thankful that He is always there for me in my times of need.

What are you thankful for today?

Gratitude Challenge 2011 Days 1-3

2011-11-03T20:28:00.000-05:00

I have so much to be thankful for over this past year, choosing just one thing each day for the next month will be hard. But because my family has been so blessed in 2011 I can not think of a better way to bring this blog back to life than to begin with the Gratitude Challenge.

November 1st - I am thankful for my husband. He works incredibly hard for our family and does everything in his power to make sure I can stay home with our 5 (soon to be 6) children.

November 2nd - I am thankful for my micro preemie twin blessings, Britian and Jillian. Born 2/9/11 weighing 1 pound 6 ounces they have defied all the odds and are thriving beyond my wildest imagination at 8 months old.

November 3rd - I am thankful for the multitude of doctors and nurses that cared for my girls in the NICU for those 11 weeks. Their hands with God's grace brought them both back from death's doorstep.

What are you thankful for today?

Lewis & Clark Study Guides & US State Unit coming soon!

2011-09-27T15:10:00.000-05:00

This week in our homeschool we have begun a Lewis & Clark study. I have also decided to begin writing a United States state study with the main goal of memorizing the states and their capitals as well as key facts about each state. Both of these ventures are impromptu much like other parts of our history studies. Core subjects are always planned out ahead of time using prewritten curriculum but I tend to let my children and their interests dictate our history and social study topics. Once I get these study guides and lessons plans completed I will post them here on my blog for all to enjoy for free. Afterall, many hands make light work.

Review: The Well Planned Day Homeschool Planner

2011-09-24T20:10:00.000-05:00

Do you need to organize your homeschool? Perhaps you are like me and keep the majority of your lessons plans in your head. This method is manageable when you only have one child to homeschool but with two or more, lessons can get a little hectic if they are not written out and planned beforehand. I learned this the hard way, trust me.

Last year I stumbled upon The Well Planned Day Homeschool Planner published by Home Educating Family Magazine and immediately knew this was the planner for me. I really needed a planner that could accommodate multiple students on the same page and included the main subjects with areas to amend subject planning as needed. The Well Planned Day Homeschool Planner has everything I need and more. I loved this planner so much last year that I knew without a doubt that I would use the same planner this year eventhough I am now teaching three of my children. This planner can accommodate lesson plans for up to 4 students on one page in a very clean and organized format.

Not only does this homeschool planner accommodate a larger number of students than most other planners on the market it is packed full of wonderful articles and useful suggestions for Mom. The beautifully decorated pages along with the articles draw me to the planner even when I am not actively planning. I have read and re-read each article numerous times for encouragement and advice; each time gleaning something new from the pages.

If you are searching for the "perfect" homeschool curriculum planner I encourage you to consider The Well Planned Day homeschool planner.

You can preview The Well Planned Homeschool Planner here

Pricing and ordering information:
The Well Planned Day Homeschool Teacher Planner $24.95
Many other planers available such as student and on-the-go planners

Details:

Spiral Bound with Three Hole Drilled to Fit into Binders
Over 230 Full Color Pages
Full Year Planner: July 2011 - June 2012
Home Management with weekly cleaning schedule, monthly projects, greeting card registry, and monthly budgeting.
NEW in 2011, Holiday Organization Section: Greeting card registry, activities and event schedules, gift giving, around town shopping, and internet shopping.
Organize and plan for up to 4 children in one convenient book.
Four Student Class Plans: Schedule each student's class assignments.
Four Student Time Schedules: Track each day by the hour.
Weekly Schedule: Organize your week with class assignments, weekly priorities, prayer requests, dinner menu, and notes.
Month at a Glance: Plan field trips, enrichment activities and books to read
Semester Attendance & Progress Reports
Perforated Report Cards
Menu Planning: Plan weekly meals and conveniently shop with perforated shopping lists.
Family Worship: Read through the Bible in a year.
Insightful homeschool articles and tips to inspire you throughout the year.
and much more....

Still here. . .

2011-06-17T16:35:00.000-05:00

Oh my goodness how I have neglected this blog. It has been a hectic, stressful, and emotional year so far. As life settles down and we all adjust to our new lives with the twins at home I am beginning to redirect my thoughts towards homeschooling and the upcoming year. This past year was pretty much a wash. Yes there was school work, yes there was learning, but it wasn't the type of family homeschooling I had hoped for. The circumstances that kept us from learning together have been resolved and I am thoroughly looking forward to our third year of schooling together, as a family. As time allows I am researching, planning, and organizing for the upcoming year. Thank you for sticking around this past year during the drought of this blog. I promise hear friends that I will be posting much more frequently. Lots of article ideas are floating around in the empty space of my brain, I can't wait to dive in and start really writing here.

Praising Him During Times of Stress

2011-04-05T12:58:00.000-05:00

Previously, during stressful times in my life I would throw my hands in the air, get frustrated, and ultimately ask God loads of "why" questions. These tactics would of course get me no where, just more frustration, anger, and disappointment. How long did it take me to learn my lesson and change my ways? Oh lets see here now. . .only 34 years. Just call me a slow learner!!

If you've been reading this blog or following my other blog Two Pink Peas in a Pod then you know my family and I are in the middle of an incredibly stressful and emotionally draining time in our lives. This is not a situation my husband and I can keep to ourselves. We can not hide this stress from our children, everyone in our family is affected; even our dog and cat. February 9th, when the youngest two members of our family were born our lives were thrown head first into a whirlwind of emotions and situations that I never thought I'd have to deal with in my life. But here I am, 8 weeks into a 4 month stay in a level 3 NICU, 1.5 hours away from my family, and advocating everyday for my precious miracles.

What have I learned over the past 8 weeks? Too much to completely write here on this blog, that much is for sure. But I will do my best to communicate what my Heavenly Father has taught me and is urging me to put into words for the rest of you.

I am a bit of a control freak, that much I will admit to. I was particularly bad with control before having children and in my college years. I used to harbor a lot of anxiety, anger, and stress when things did not go as I had planned or wanted. If you are a parent you know very well that all forms of absolute control have to fly out the window as soon as you have kids. There are just too many curve balls thrown at you everyday as a parent to worry about and try to control every little thing. Letting go of the little things in life was fairly easy for me but from time to time I still struggle with the bigger things. Letting go and letting God take control is something I have really been trying to work on over the past few years.

When the girls were born 8 weeks ago (tomorrow) I immediately lost all control of every aspect of my life. No longer was I home to direct homeschooling, house cleaning, grocery shopping, and taking care of my children. I was also thrown into the unknown abyss of the NICU. The care of my girls was under someone else's control and direction. My daily routine had been put in a blender and set on high speed. There were days in those first few weeks here at the NICU that I couldn't keep my head from spinning so I began to write. I can remember one day in particular, it was a Thursday. On that day Britian took a turn for the worse, doctor's and nurses were constantly flowing in and out of her room, all I could do to cope was write. I must have written in my journal for 2 hours straight. Anything and everything that came to my mind was put on paper. Why did I do it? I am not sure to be quite honest, it is just all I knew to do. Perhaps when this roller coaster is said and done I will look back on that journal and cry tears of joy for how far my girls have come because of His healing powers.

Everything happens for a reason. I learned his hard lesson very early on in my stressful childhood. God does not bring you or I to a place that we can not get through. As the dust is settling and I am in a new NICU routine I can now see more clearly the areas of my life where I should be praising Him rather than questioning Him. Where I was once overwhelmed at the large number of staff and faculty here at the hospital I can now give praise to Him for placing some very special doctors and nurses in our lives. Caring, educated, and genuine people who will always hold a special place in my heart and people I will do my best to chronicle to my girls when they are older. I have found a special friendship in a fellow NICU Mom here. A fellowship that would have not otherwise been possible had it not been for the blessings God has given us both. Also through our stay in the NICU my family and I have been surrounded with an enormous amount of love and support. For this He is owed an enormous amount of praise.

Could I question God for this chapter in my life? Of course I could. Could I wallow in grief and frustration asking Him why my family and I are enduring these struggles? Of course I could. Could I scream and yell at Him for giving my twins this and all the ongoing challenges? Absolutely. But am I? For a few days to be honest, yes I did. But through prayer and time in His word I have come to a beautiful and comforting place in my heart where I can give Him praise for everything He has set before my family and I.

For friendships, lessons learned, outpouring of love and financial support, and for all of the experiences yet to come I will give Him praise daily.

Praising God during a stressful time is not easy at all. But from experience I can tell you it gets easier and lifts your spirit. When I began praying in earnest and giving God all the praise and glory He is owed for my current stresses I was immediately able to see the joy and beauty in our situation. What a beautiful gift that was!

Rather than questioning, I will give God all the praise and glory for this stressful situation as well as all future challenges He sees fit for me to endure and overcome.

TOS Review: Big IQ Kids

2011-03-25T14:14:00.000-05:00

Big IQ Kids is an online spelling, math, vocabulary, and U.S. geography program all rolled into one. Through daily lessons students in elementary and middle school learn good study habits and increase their self confidence in the subjects covered. Big IQ Kids offers a free program as well as a paid premium program. You can view the differences in their programs here. As a part of The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool review crew, my children and I were able to review the premium program.

The spelling program includes over 40,000 words in the dictionary and is pre-set with 40 lessons and word lists. With this program you also have the option of adding your own word lists. Big IQ spelling will generate a weeks worth of lessons when you add your own spelling list. For this review I primarily used the "input your own" method but I also looked through the pre-loaded lesson plans. The 40 pre-loaded spelling list lessons are excellent and are appropriately challenging. For my 4th grade son we use a workbook method for spelling. While reviewing Big IQ Kids I simply input each of the 20 words from my son's workbook into a spelling list using this program. I liked that he could get more practice and reinforcement using this program. My son enjoyed doing some of his spelling lessons on the computer, it was a nice change of pace for him. I liked that he could not go on without mastering the quizzes which he often struggles with when he wants to "rush" through his assignments.

The Big IQ vocabulary program includes a large number of words from the elementary age through the SAT level. Like the spelling program there are pre-set word lists with lesson plans or you can input your own vocabulary words. The word lists are challenging and the lesson plans were appropriately structured. However, my son and I had a challenging time understanding the voice that "said" the words. It is a bit like a robot and the sounds were not always easy to understand. Also, the synonym and antonym portion of the lessons were at time illogical. However, once I explained the words to my son he grasped them a bit more. If I thought the antonym and synonym answers were not correct I just had my son skip that question and did not count the wrong answer on the overall quiz score. For example, one of the questions indicated that nail and board were anotonyms. The word board does not have an antonym so I had some trouble seeing how this was a plausible answer. Otherwise I thought the vocabulary exercises were challenging and the definitions were accurate.

Big IQ Kids math is a fun online program. As a parent you can customize the lessons and math facts included in each lesson. My son really enjoyed this math program and I think it provided him with math drills in a sufficiently challenging way. As with the other programs from Big IQ Kids, I wish as a parent I could review my son's progress without logging in as the student. Parent profiles linked to the child's information is helpful in creating lessons and reviewing progress. I could forsee older students or technilogically afvanced children modifying their own lessons without parental notice.

The U.S. States geography program from Big IQ Kids is comprehensive and educational. My son learned a ton from this program and I am happy to say can now identify all of the states by shape and nearly has all of the capitals memorized. This program quizzes students on state capitals and state locations, state spelling, abbreviations, and basic state facts. Additionally, parents can add extra facts that they would like their student to learn. I found this program particularly helpful for a state postcard swap that my children and I are participating in this year. As each postcard arrives in our mail I enter additional facts that the sender included on the card. It is a fun way to include the poastcards in our learning.

Pricing information:
$19.99 for one month of all 4 programs or $99.99 for a year.
Individual subjects for one month from $7.99
You can read more about their pricing programs here
Also, you can begin with the free program and upgrade to the premium program at any time.

Want to read more reviews for this program?

Big IQ Kids Review from TOS Homeschool Crew

TOS Crew Review: Reading Kingdom

2011-03-07T14:59:00.090-06:00

As a member of The Old Schoolhouse review crew I was given the opportunity to review the Reading Kingdom. Reading Kingdom is an online reading program that teaches sequencing, motor skills, sounds, meaning, grammar and comprehension. This program is recommended for ages 4-10 and teaches reading to a 3rd grade level. Dr. Marion Blank, the inventor of the Reading Kingdom, has been honored with the Upton Sinclair Award which is given to individuals who have made a significant contribution to education. She began with the Phonics Plus Five program and Reading Kingdom is an online “version” of that program.

Reading Kingdom teaches introduction to Reading & Writing, Keyboard & Mouse Training, Skills Survey 1, Seeing Sequences, and Letter Land. Once those are completed the child moves to reading & writing level 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

For this review I worked with both my 3yo and 6yo. My 3yo is a pre-reader and my 6yo is reading at about a 2nd grade level. I chose to do this review with both of my younger children because I knew my 3yo would benefit from letter recognition lessons and my 6yo would learn from the keyboarding practice available with this program. As we began this program I quickly realized that I would have to help both of my children with this program because of the short time limit for activity responses. In other words, my children were not able to find the letters on the keyboard quick enough for this program's pre-set parameters. This led to frustration despite my kids knowing their letters. So together my children and I worked on this reading program together. They were still learning but I provided a little extra guidance in the beginning to help them find the letters on the keyboard.

For example, in Letter Land the child learns to match and recognize letters by sight.

Then it progressively gets more difficult. . .

As the child progresses through Letter Land then they start reading and writing. In various portions of the reading and writing section the student is asked to match a singular word to its plural and choose the correct letter order for a given word. My 6yo particularly enjoyed this part of Reading Kingdom but I was always close by to help mitigate his frustration level by not being able to find a letter on the keyboard. Eventually, the more and more we played with this program both of my children became more adept at finding the letters on the keyboard quicker and needed less of my assistance.

Overall, both of my children enjoyed this program and learned a great deal from it. Working with both of them from the very beginning to prevent frustration with key hunting helped tremendously with their success in this program.

Program details:

Cost is $19.99 per month or $199.99 for a year. Each additional child is $9.99 per month.

Would you like to read more reviews from fellow crew members?

Reading Kingdom Reviews

Pirose Nursing Cover & Scarf Review

2011-03-05T20:22:00.000-06:00

My twins will be a month old in just a few short days. As a Mama Buzz reviewer, shortly before they were born I was given the opportunity to review the Reno Rose Pirose nursing cover and scarf. When I received this item to review, little did I know to what capacity I would be using this new nursing cover.

With my previous children whom I all breast fed I simply used a blanket to cover myself and my baby when we were nursing in a setting which required modesty. These blankets were at times bulky and never stayed where I most needed them. When I was pregnant with the twins I knew I wanted to get a more formal nursing cover. Not only would I need something when we were out in public but my other kids are older now so modesty and covering up at home is also needed. I was elated when Mama Buzz offered the opportunity to review the Pirose cover.

The Pirose cover for nursing is much more than your typical nursing cover. No, this cover does not include an adjustable neck strap or rigid neckline to view your baby. However, because of the way this scarf cover is designed these features are not needed nor are they missing. I beautiful and light material of this cover flows so freely around Mom and baby that the highly marketed features of other nursing covers are not needed. The Pirose cover is contoured in such a way that the front is longer than the back and provides ample coverage while nursing. The thin flowing scarf material is light and airy which would be perfect for nursing year round but would be particularly nice if you live in a warm summer climate. An added and unexpected use that I have found for this nursing cover is to use while pumping. My girls are micro preemies so they are not able to nurse yet but I am still frequently pumping for them and I need to be covered while I pump in the NICU and at home. This cover is perfect for this use. Also, because it comes with its own matching storage bag I am able to throw it in my purse or in my breast pump bag easily. The material is so light that when packed away it takes up hardly any space; the wallet in my purse in larger than this cover when packed away. In addition to being a nursing cover, you can use it as a scarf and add some flare to your favorite matching outfit. The Pirose nursing cover comes in a wide variety of beautiful patterns, it might be hard to choose just one to purchase.

The Pirose for nursing covers are available for $35

Disclaimer: I received this product for free in exchange for my honest opinion and review. No other form of compensation was received.

TOS Review Crew: I See Sam

2011-02-28T08:23:00.153-06:00

The Reading for all Learners Little Books, otherwise known as I See Sam is a collection of 8 sets of books, each containing up to 27 books per set. Published by Academic Success for all Learners, the Little Books collection begin at a kindergarten reading level and progress up to a 3.6 reading level. As a TOS Homeschool Review Crew member I had the opportunity to review the Little Books sets 1-4 with my 6 year old.

You can read the scope and sequence of the Little Books series here.

Little Books Set 1: for reading level K-1.0 and includes 27 books. This set teaches 27 new sounds, new sound combinations, 73 new words, 9 new sight words, and comprehension skills. Reading assessments are covered in books 6, 11,16, 21, 26. $30

Little Books Set 2: for reading level: 1.0 - 1.3 and includes 27 different books. This set teaches 5 new sounds, 2 new sound combinations, 98 new regular words, 8 new sight words, and comprehension skills. Reading assessments are covered in books 6,11,16,21,26. $30

Little Books Set 3 for reading level: 1.3 - 1.6 and includes 22 different books. This set teaches 15 new sounds, 2 new sound combinations, 109 new regular words, 15 new sight words, and comprehension skills. Reading assessments are covered in books 6,11,16,21. $30

Little Books Set 4 for reading level: 1.6 - 2.0 and includes 15 different books. This set teaches 8 new sounds, 4 new sound combinations, 374 new regular words, 44 new sight words, comprehension skills, and contractions. Reading assessments are covered in books 2,4,6,8,10,12,14. $30

When my 6 year old son and I first began this review I started with a couple of the reading assessments provided in sets 1 and 2. I wanted to make sure I was starting him in the appropriate set of books which would be at his learning level and not his frustration level. Once I found his learning reading level we dove right in to that set of books. Initially my son wanted to read multiple books at one setting, it was new curriculum so he was excited. Reading is something that comes easy to my son so I allowed him to set the pace at which he wanted to move through these books. With each book completed however I made sure he knew the words he was reading, could identify them on the flash cards included with each book set, and was mastering reading comprehension. There are scripted questions throughout each of the books which help assess reading comprehension, you could choose to use these questions or make up your own if you prefer. Also helpful in these book sets are the review and new "upcoming" words included in the front and back of every book. Before reading the story in each book, the student is encouraged to review the previously introduced words at the beginning of the book and then upon reading the story there is a list of new and upcoming words that will be included in the following book in that set. This feature was nice for my son because it helped review and reinforce words that he may have forgotten and it served as a quick reminder of the words he would be seeing in the upcoming story.

Also included as part of our review packet, I received the flash cards that correspond to each set of books. You have the option of purchasing these flash cards or downloading them for free. I found the flash cards to be very helpful with my son. When beginning a new set of books I sat with my son and we read through all of the flash cards for that set. As he tried to read the words I separated each card into a "know" and "need to work on" pile. Then before beginning any new book in that set we would read through the "need to work on" pile again and take out the ones he had learned, adding them to the "know" pile. My son really enjoyed this exercise. Not only did he gain confidence from seeing how big his "know" pile was but he also gained encouragement when he got to transfer a card form his "need to work on" pile to the "know" pile. This process not only helped him learn but it also helped me to gauge his overall learning and sound blends that we need to work on and reinforce more often.

I am happy to report that my son is still enjoying his I See Sam books. He will choose to read these books on his own fruition and enjoys the cute little story lines and fun characters.

Click here for an interactive view of a book in set 1.

Academic Success for all Learners has also made a bunch of downloads freely available for your use.

I will definitely be using this series of books to help start my preschool age daughter reading later this year!

You can read more reviews from fellow TOS Homeschool Crew Members!

I See Sam Reviews

Disclaimer: I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review and opinion. No other form of compensation was received.

TOS Review: Math Rider Math Game

2011-02-25T08:00:00.001-06:00

Math fact drills and learning math facts "quick as snap" has always been a struggle for my oldest son. One day he will know certain facts quickly then the next day forget those facts while remembering completely different facts. This struggle has slowed his progress in higher level math operations. I have tried everything from flash cards, manual writing of math facts, online math games; you name it and I have probably tried it with my oldest son who is 9 years old.

When I found out I would be reviewing the Math Rider math game as a part of the TOS Homeschool Review Crew I was excited. Any opportunity to review math facts in a fun way in this house is always a welcome addition.

Math Rider is a fun math fact drill game with a horse jumping over jumps or "poles" when a correct answer is provided. If an incorrect answer is provided for a particular jump or no answer is given the horse and rider stop at that jump and a very clear speaking narrator says the math sentence along with the correct answer. Math problems in which your child gave incorrect answers are added later in that same horse race to try and reinforce the correct answer and help your child learn while having fun. Each horse race is known as a "quest". You have the option of customizing your quest difficulty level as well as the moth drill covered. For example, for one child you can set them on an easy addition quest while another "rider" or child can drill advanced multiplication facts. At the end of each quest child and parent alike can review the math fact drill mastery from that quest. The mastery section is set in a grid format and color coded to make reviewing accomplishments and math fact progress quick and easy.

I found Math Rider to be a wonderful learning tool for not only my 9 year old but also my 6 year old son. My 9 year old is able to use this game to drill his addition and subtraction facts that tend to "escape" his memory conveniently while doing math assignments. Math Rider also helps my oldest to further memorize his multiplication and division facts. The program adjusts the the child's answering speed. For example, if your child regularly answers the math questions quickly, the poles or jumps will be spaced closer and closer to provide further challenge to your learner. My 6 year old also enjoyed playing Math Rider. He knows his addition and subtraction facts but this game provided him with a fun opportunity to play, learn, and complete quests. I should note that in the beginning I had to help my 6 year old son with the input of answers portion of this game. I would ask him the math sentence that appeared at the bottom of the screen and he would give me the answer after which I wold type in the answer for him. Personally, I saw no need for him to get frustrated with this game simply because he could not type on my laptop quick enough despite clearly knowing the correct answer. As time progressed he got better about typing the answers on his own. Again, I really enjoyed the mastery grid function on Math Rider that allowed me to review their progress and make notes of math facts that my boys were struggling with.

Another wonderful feature about Math Rider is the practice arena. You can have your child practice any number of math facts before beginning or moving on to the formal riding quests. If you know your child is particularly weak in a certain math fact area, for example multiplication facts with 12 then you could have your child practice multiplying 12's before starting a multiplication quest that includes facts through 12.

From the publisher:
Ride your horse on noble quests through the magical MathLands. MathRider combines fun game play with a highly sophisticated question engine that adapts to your child. The game propels your child to mastery of all four math operations using numbers 0 to 12.

Have your child master addition, subtraction, multiplication and division all for the cost of less than 1 hour professional private tuition!

You will know when your child has completely mastered an operation. And more importantly, your child will know it, too!

This is the fastest way to mastery of all four math operations. The artificial intelligence rehearses what is needed most, at a rate that is tailored to each player.

The game recognises and rewards improvement, not just perfection. This builds confidence and propels children naturally towards complete mastery.

Noble quests exemplify positive values such as family, caring, honesty and kindness.

Pricing information:
Download for $37 with a 30 day money back guarantee

Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Homeschool Review Crew I was provided with a limited download version of this product for free in exchange for my honest opinion and review. No other form of compensation was received for this review.

New Testament Translation Not Taken For Granted

2011-02-23T08:00:00.001-06:00

In our homeschool bible study every morning my children and I pray for those across this world that do not have the bible translated into their native language. Praying for these people not only helps to raise awareness in my children about the bible translation missions field but also serves to keep the importance of having the bible translated into their own native language close to their heart and not take it for granted.

A friend on facebook shared the following video. I enjoyed it so much and was moved to tears. This group of people are a wonderful testimony for the impact that having a bible translated into a native language can have on a population that would otherwise possibly be non-believers.

The Kimyal People Receive the New Testament from UFM Worldwide on Vimeo.

Moving Blog Info For the Twins

2011-02-22T16:12:00.000-06:00

I started Shepherding Kind Hearts as my outlet for everything related to homeschooling, motherhood, and homemaking. Shortly after finding out I was pregnant with twins I asked you all where you wanted to receive pregnancy updates and such on the girls. Universally everyone agreed that here on SKH was best. I agreed to continue posting their updates here with the disclaimer that there may come a point in time when I would have to rearrange things for convenience and sanity's sake. That time has come.

Because of the girls' unique situation and our new reality I have decided to no longer post updates on them here but rather on the blog I started a couple months ago for just them. This will give me a better sense of separation between the two blogs. I am passionate about homeschooling and homemaking and I am looking forward to returning this blog to that focus; even if I am not doing a lot of homeschooling or homemaking while living 2 hours away from my family.

If you would like to continue receiving updates on the girls, please join us over at Two Pink Peas in a Pod. You can get updates by email or by google friend connect, I will add Networked Blogs soon if that is your preferred method of reading updates.

Pulmonary Interstitial Emphysema

2011-02-22T15:29:00.000-06:00

Pulmonary Interstitial Emphysema, better know in the NICU world as P.I.E.. What is PIE and why am I posting about it? First things first.

What is PIE?

Pulmonary interstitial emphysema (PIE) is a collection of gases outside of the normal air passages and inside the connective tissue of the peribronchovascular sheaths, interlobular septa, and visceral pleura secondary to alveolar and terminal bronchiolar rupture. Pulmonary interstitial emphysema is more frequent in premature infants who require mechanical ventilation for severe lung disease. Once pulmonary interstitial emphysema is diagnosed, intensive respiratory management is required to reduce mortality and morbidity.

Reference: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/976801-overview, accessed on 2/22/11

Why am I posting about it?

My girls are struggling with PIE. Today Britian has developed PIE in both lobes of her lungs. Yesterday, Jillian had it in her right lung. Britian's has developed suddenly and has progressively gotten worse throughout today. Her Dr.'s are changing the settings on her high frequency jet vent, adding base to her fluids which should help with oxygen saturation, and waiting. We are all waiting, waiting and praying. Mortality and morbidity, those are two terms I can go without ever considering when thinking about my children. But alas, there it is, in black and white, PIE increases mortality and morbidity. Shoot an arrow straight through my heart, emotionally this is a tough one.

No one can tell me why she has developed PIE in both lungs so suddenly. Perhaps it is simply her severe prematurity or maybe the stress from this previous weekend has caught up with her. On Saturday Britian's breathing tube was changed because of an air leak. While changing the breathing tube Dr. Dagle tried her on the CPAP. Britian failed very quickly on the CPAP and the resulting lung issues have been a downward spiral. One of her lungs collapsed Saturday following the CPAP attempt, she was upgraded from the conventional ventilator to the high frequency jet vent, and is now battling PIE in both lobes. All steps in the WRONG direction.

There is a saying the NICU community; the first week is the "honeymoon" period. The girls and I are clearly out of the honeymoon. Physically they are struggling and fighting harder; emotionally I am falling and crashing harder. Before you go and post a comment on faith and hope or on how God is there for me. I know all of this, I truly do. But I am human, it is normal for me to struggle and fall to my knees in prayer.

Our First Setback

2011-02-18T11:59:00.000-06:00

I know setbacks are inevitable with micro preemies, honestly and truly I do. My mind knows they are inevitable but my heart feels otherwise. But I am putting all of my faith and trust in God that this is His will for my baby girl and He will continue to provide for and heal her little body according to His perfect timing.

Britian's last sonographer briefly trained me in how to read PDA echo's. So when Jillian's echo was being done today I knew exactly what to look for. I haven't even heard the official diagnosis but I KNOW it is open. So crushing to see the red (returning blood flow) pulsing up through her duct. So here we go with another round of indomethacin, the dug used to close PDAs. Also, Jillian's blood CO2 levels have been climbing for the past 24 hours. Her conventional vent settings are getting too high in an attempt to lower her total CO2. So back on the high frequency jet vent she goes. Frustrated! But I know she will heal and continue to grow all on her own time.

Thank you for your continued prayers and words of encouragement!

TOS Review: Kid Scoop Reluctant Reader

2011-02-18T08:43:00.000-06:00

Do you have a child who is a reluctant reader? Has your child not found a love for reading and learning? If yes, then Kid Scoop's Reluctant Reader program may be just what your child needs to jump start their love for reading.

As a member of The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Review Crew team my kids and I were able to review this program. First off I have to say that my oldest who best fits in the grade range target for this program is not a reluctant reader. He devours virtually any book he can get his hands on. My younger son however, who reads at an advanced level has not found his love for reading. When I received this program to review, I was hopeful that it would light a fire under my younger son to read more and enjoy himself.

Kid Scoop's Reluctant Reader program is intended for 2nd through 8th graders but would work for a reluctant reader of any age because of the way the program is written and tailored to a wide range of interests and activity levels. Reluctant Reader is a unique reading program that encourages a love for reading based on the idea that kids love to read about their favorite topics. It is based on the premise that your child will willingly and excitedly pick up a piece to read if it is about something that piques their interest. For boys, these topics might include baseball, trains, or airplanes. Girls on the other hand might enjoy reading about butterflies, bubble gum, or fun kitchen activities. No matter the topic, it is all about getting your little one interested in reading. To that end, Vickie Whiting, founder of Kid Scoop created 365 Kid Scoop worksheets focusing on different topics and a 12 issue newspaper. Both the worksheets and newspapers make reading fun yet educational for your struggling reader.

When you subscribe to the Kid Scoop Reluctant Reader program you will receive all 365 Kid Scoop worksheets in pdf format and you will have online access to a full year of Kid Scoop newspapers. The online newspapers include current events, weather, and special holidays just to name a few topics covered. The newspapers are not only enjoyable to read but they also provide conversation and discussion topic starters for you and your child. The newspapers are written and presented in such a manner that they are fun to read and explore. If your child learns better by listening, the online newspapers also have an audio option.

The 365 topic fun worksheets span the gamut so your child is sure to find plenty of worksheet topics that hold their interest. You can explore the worksheets documents in one of two ways. First, you can do them daily; 365 different documents gives you an entire year of topical reading. Or if you prefer, you can select the worksheet documents based on topic and supplement a unit study you might have planned. These worksheets are full of fun reading activities such as word searches, decoding lessons, and much more which all refer back to a written article in the beginning of the worksheet about your chosen topic. For example, my boys and I chose to first read the Martin Luther King Jr. article as part of our MLK day lessons. We began by reading the written article, I gave each of my boys their own copy to read at their pace. After everyone was finished we discussed what we had read and then thoroughly enjoyed applying what we had learned about MLK in the fun written and discussion activities that followed.

I knew my oldest would love this type of program but I was pleasantly surprised when my younger son asked to read through another article just 2 days after reading our first. He enjoyed the way the worksheet information was presented, they are not written in the typical "article" format but rather presented and written in a fun manner that is appealing to children. Since beginning the program my boys and I have read through a good number of the worksheet topic and thoroughly enjoyed the online newspapers. Using the Reluctant Reader program was not a reading "chore" for my boys but rather a fun reading and learning game. As a homeschooler I love that the 365 worksheet topics can be added seamlessly to our unit studies or added to a "light" day of learning on selected holidays.

Pricing information:
For $97 you will receive the following: 12 month access to the online newspaper, 365 Kid Scoop worksheets, and a 365 day money back guarantee. Click here to subscribe.

Read more Kid Scoop reviews from fellow TOS Homeschool Crew members!

Disclaimer: I was given this product free of charge in exchange for my honest review. No other form of compensation was received.

NICU Mom Worries

2011-02-17T21:00:00.001-06:00

The list of NICU Mom worries is limitless. Everyday is something different, no two days are the same. You worry about weight gain, heart rates, respiration rates, exam results, blood test results, feedings, progress, and most of all the UNKNOWN. The unknown has to be the hardest of them all. Like all Moms we worry about the well-being and health of our children. A healthy life is almost a given when you give birth full-term but when you have a preemie everything is thrown out the window and instead every quality of life concern floods in.

Thoughts that have flooded my mind in the last 8 days include:

Will my girls have normal and healthy lives?

Will my girls have normal vision?

Will my girls have special needs including walking, learning, and developmental?

Will my girls struggle with weight gain once they are discharged?

How will their early arrival into this world affect their overall well being and development?

The answers to these questions are almost as limitless as my list of worries. The hard part is that these questions won't be answered for a very long time which leaves me waiting and wondering, stressing and pondering.

During my times of worry though I am comforted by the simple knowledge that our Heavenly Father will get us through each and every hurdle that lay in front of us. A dear friend of mine sent me Romans 15:13 today; May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

What a powerful verse to get me through these tough times. My trust in Him truly does fill me with hope and peace. Something that all NICU Moms need on a daily basis, sometimes even just minute to minute.

Edited to add:
In the few minutes that I took to write this last night I clearly did not communicate my true feelings based on the comments. :) I do have a wonderful sense of peace and reassurance that God will get us through anything He will set before us. I know that we will persevere through any of the challenges, this does not worry me at all. I suppose my point in posting my list of worries was to give others a better sense of what goes through NICU Mom's minds as we watch over our babies day after day and also to let other NICU Moms who are reading this know that their worries are completely normal. Worries are normal but we can't let it consume us. Like my Dad always said "Worrying will get you no where, you can't fix anything or change the outcome by worrying."

Quick update on the girls

2011-02-16T11:59:00.000-06:00

Things change everyday here in the NICU but because of all of your prayers and support the girls continue to head in the right direction. I know this may not always be the case but we are taking it one day at a time and will give praise for every advancement they make.

Jillian is being taken off of her high frequency ventilator and switched to a regular ventilator. Basically the difference is she will no longer receive constant low level shaking but will be able to lay still in her bed just like her big sister has been doing all along.

Britian will most likely be taken off of her ventilator completely in a day or two. I am feeling anxious about this because we do not have confirmation that her PDA (heart valve) is closed yet. But she is getting another EKG today to check for this. Both girls had slight heart murmur sounds this morning which is the first time anyone has heard murmurs from them.

Both girls are getting my breastmilk today. Britian is up to 3cc 3 times a day and Jillian is getting 2cc 3 times a day. No guarantee how long this schedule will last as they seem to take one dose fine then need to skip a dose or two then resume feeds again. But of course I am always hopeful that each new attempt will put them on the road to full feeds.

Mid-blog post writing update: I just got to speak with Dr. Dagle who is the Neonatologist taking care of the girls for the next 2 weeks and also the one that was on call the night the girls were admitted. He is in agreeance with me that we will not extubate the girls before their PDA closes, yeah! Also, at any time they are ready to graduate to a lower level NICU, it is all based on supply and demand at this point, if a more critical baby (or babies) come in then my girls can graduate. We are also looking at about a month or so before they can be transferred to the NICU closer to our home. I am happy with that. At least with a goal in mind I can stay a little more sane about the prospect of commuting back and forth between home and the hospital a little better as well as the need to have childcare/help with my older children.

Thank you for all of your prayers! Please keep them coming. I am humbled to my knees with the outpouring of love, support, and prayers that my girls are receiving.

The Best Valentine's Day Gift Ever

2011-02-14T17:29:00.000-06:00

Both girls had head scans and EKG's today. The head scans were to check for a brain bleed. Brain bleeds in premature babies can lead to complications such as cerebral palsy. Jillian's first head scan was unclear, it was a maybe, maybe not diagnosis. The EKG for each of the girls was to see if their PDA valve, the heart valve that closes at or soon after birth was closed.

We just got the results!

Praise Him and His mighty hand of healing! Both girls have clear and normal head scans. Upon receiving these words I cried tears of joy. Such amazing news! I could not have asked for a better Valentine's Day gift.

As expected the valve on both girls is still open. Britian's is open just a tiny, tiny bit so we are hopeful that with medication her valve will close. Jillian's is open more so than her sister's but she will still receive the medication to try and close the valve. We will continue praying for them! Heart surgery is not an option I really want to face, but we will take it one day at a time.

It is All About the Little Things in Life

2011-02-12T05:24:00.000-06:00

It is All About the Little Things in Life

As I sit here in the wee hours of the morning completing some motherly chores I am struck by the truth of this simple statement, both on a small scale as well as in the bigger picture of life.

In the past 48 hours my life has suddenly and unexpectedly become all about the 2 littlest things in my life. Because of my amazing husband and the outpouring of love and support from friends and family I have been able to concentrate my efforts here, 2 hours from home and the rest of my family, on my girls. My beautiful and perfectly formed baby girls. That is the big picture of the little things in my life.

On a much smaller but often times more encouraging and supportive scale, it is all about the little things in life. The little things like the amazing nursing staff here in the hospital who go out of their way to not only care for me and my girls in a physical manner but who also go that extra step and truly care about us. The nurse that took time out of her day yesterday to sit and have a real conversation with me about my girls and my family, another nurse who goes out of her way to make sure I am comfortable and without want, and even the lactation consultant who talked with me for over an hour not about lactation issues but simply genuinely cared and wanted to hear about my family; these 3 amazing and blessed women along with countless others have all deeply touched my life and added to my little things in life.

When you are a Mother to micro-preemies, caring for them and mothering them quickly becomes ALL about the little things in their life. Basic bonding and care events that I have not fully appreciated with my other children when they were newborns. Sure I enjoyed those little things with my other children when they were so young, but the significance to which the same events have become important to me in the past 48 hours goes well beyond what I have ever felt before. Simple things like touching my babies, kissing them, changing their diaper, or even just caring for their little umbilical cord. Basic newborn care events that can become routine or even inconvenient outside the scope of our situation. Every fiber of my Mothering instinct wants to be able to clean their umbilical cord, give them their first sponge baths, get them dressed, and just kiss all over them. But none of this is possible right now.

I was blessed last night as I sat with Britian talking to her, singing to her, and journaling her first couple of days of life. I was blessed by her night nurse. Her nurse graciously offered to let me help with some of her basic care needs. For the first time in her short life I got to hold my baby girl, at less than 2 pounds, fully supported in my hands as we weighed her tiny little body. I also got to change her ultra tiny diaper which was beautifully filled with an early bowel movement. I soaked in every precious moment of changing and cleaning her beautiful little backside. I was also allowed to swab and moisturize her little mouth and take her temperature. All such basic care necessities that take on a whole new level of importance when the simple fact that my girls are alive is an earth shattering miracle.

Yesterday I also read my girls their first board books. Of course I profusely cried before I even muttered the first soft word to each of them. This precious and forever treasured moment would not have happened yesterday had it not been for Britian's incredibly caring night nurse. She offered to find me some reading books and I jumped at her offer. Even now as I draft this post the specialness of that moment is not lost of me, tears are flowing from my eyes. Britian's first book was "Little Gorilla" by Ruth Bornstein and to Jillian I read "On the Night You Were Born" by Nancy Tillman. Both books were so perfectly written for our situation. The specialness of being able to read to my girls at their bedside coupled with the message in each of the books was overwhelming so I wept as I shared those moments with my girls.

And the biggest "little thing" that I was blessed with yesterday was getting to see one of Britian's eyes open. Both of my girls' eyes were still fused shut, much like little kittens at birth, when they were born. Prior to last night I had not been able to look into my baby's eyes, such a basic event in other new Mothers lives that many never even think to appreciate the importance of that event. The scope of this precious moment will never be lost on me again. As Britian's night nurse and I were taking care of some of her basic needs we were able to take her bili mask off. While I changed her diaper she opened her right eye and my whole world stopped. Nothing else mattered at that moment. I was looking at my daughter's tiny little eye and she was looking into mine, I was overwhelmed. So tiny but still so perfectly made.

It is All About the Little Things in Life

Our Baby Girls Are Here!!

2011-02-10T20:24:00.000-06:00

Britian's hand grasping my finger

At 26 weeks and 5 days, on February 9th, 2011 at 9:37pm and 9:38pm respectively, Britian Dorothy Mae and Jillian Elaine Marie entered this world ready for the fight of their life.

Before I tell their story, I first want to thank all the prayer warriors that have lifted my girls and I up in prayer. They have the fight of their life ahead of them and can still use your continual thoughts and prayers.

Now for their story: At approximately 4pm on Wednesday 2/9 after a long day running errands I realized that I had not felt either girl move all day and could not remember them moving on Tuesday the day before either. I have been battling a head and chest cold and not been moving a lot myself so it didn't even cross my mind about their movement on Tuesday. When I laid down to count their kicks at 4pm on Wednesday I didn't feel anything, not even a hint of movement. Now I have to tell you that I am normally the type to talk myself out of these early pregnancy concerns. Even with this pregnancy I have talked myself out of other concerns I had and not called my OB, nothing to this scale, but more along the lines of contractions and nausea etc. Wednesday though those thoughts never even crossed my mind, I simply called knowing that not feeling them move at all was a real reason for concern. As I reflect upon this simple decision more, I know it was God telling me it was the right thing to do. He gave me the knowledge and confidence that I was doing what I needed for my girls.

Britian Dorothy Mae

By the time I got ahold of my doctor's office it was just after 5pm and they had just switched over to "after hours". So I was sent to labor and delivery at our local hospital where I would have delivered normally at full-term; about a 40 minute drive from my house in the country. My husband and I arrived at L&D just after 6pm. Shortly after 6pm my girls were on the ultrasound to check for heart rate and movement. Honestly, this was as far as I was expecting my L&D adventure to go. They were alive so all was well. I couldn't have been farther from the truth. After monitoring their heart rates for a while the realized that Britian was not having variations in her heartrate, known as accelerations and decelerations. Her heart rate tracing was a flat line compared to Jillian's tracing which was more of a typical wavy line with accels and decels. They gave me some oxygen hoping to wake up Britian. No luck.

Jillian Elaine Marie

After seeing no change in Britian's heart rate the bigger and more advanced ultrasound machine was called up to check on the girls. Most notably from that u/s was that Britian had a ton of fluid around her in her amniotic sac and also had a huge bladder and possible kidney issues. Jillian on the other hand had little to no fluid around her. Although at the time diagnosis' were not given, it now appears that within 2-3 days my girls had developed acute twin-to-twin transfusion. 3 weeks prior they were otherwise fine and I think it was only within the past 2-3 precious days because my belly discomfort shot through the roof in that time period. I simply thought it was because they were going through a growth spurt, but I now know it was because of all the fluid in my belly. In 3 weeks my fundal height increased 11cm, I was 38cm when I delivered last night. 3 weeks prior I was only 27cm.

Britian and Mommy

Because of Britian's combined conditions the OB on call made the tough decision to deliver my girls. Later she told me that even minutes before surgery she was still questioning her decision. However, once she cut into me she knew she had made the right decision and even thought that she should have rushed me to surgery and hour or more before when she actually did. As she cut into the amniotic fluid shot to the ceiling, there was so much and under so much pressure. Also, ironically on the heart rate tracing Jillian "looked" better but in reality she was and still is the more critical of the two. She did not have a heart beat for the first 20 minutes of her life and received CPR for about the first 45 minutes of her precious life. Britian on the other hand "looks" more developed. She was very swollen with fluid at birth. Her belly was basically one huge oval whereas her sister was just all skin and bones. Now, almost 24 hours after birth her swelling has gone down and she resembles Jillian much more. Both girls' eyelids are still fused shut which is odd. Fused eyelids is more of a 23-weeker characteristic, at 26-weekers their eyes should have opened by now. At approximately 1:30am CST the girls were driven by ambulance from the hospital we delivered at to the closest level 3 NICU, nearly 2 hours from our home. There was concern that Jillian would not survive the drive but thankfully she did.

Jillian's hand grasping my finger

Early this morning, 2/10 I got a call from the girls' on call NICU Dr. saying that Jillian had crashed and was not doing well at all. She was at basically room air oxygen saturation but suddenly crashed and had low blood count as well as low blood pressure. They wanted to know when I would be able to get to see them, there was extreme urgency because Jillian may not be alive for much longer. At this time my OB post partum staff went into over drive. After waiting for insurance approval and receiving a few updated vaccines myself I was loaded into a transport ambulance and brought here to be with them and finish my own recovery.

In an answer to prayers Jillian was alive when I arrived. To date she has received a few blood transfusions and will probably continue to do so because of low hemoglobin. She is also being treated for low level jaundice. Britian will most likely get the bili lights at some point too because a preemie with out a touch of jaundice at some point is almost unheard of. I have been to see the girls quite a bit today along with my husband. I have been able to touch them both, what a blessing that has been. They both seem to be responding to my voice as well, Britian more so than her sister but Jillian is still fighting harder than Britian so her less movement is understandable.

Jillian covered with saran wrap over her to keep her skin hydrated

Blessings for today include: they have both survived (almost) their first 24 hours (we are 1.5 hours away from 24 hours post delivery). Also, preliminary scans of Jillian's head is not showing any bleeding which was a huge concern earlier today.

Britian's bladder and kidneys are still larger than normal but she is peeing a good deal as well. She may have urinary reflux. But in contrast to everything else that could be wrong with her, I will take renal surgery down the road compared to the alternatives

On a personal side of this event I had a vertical c/s incision because of the emergency surgery. Also, I was put to sleep instead of receiving an epidural. During surgery I woke up, it felt like coming out of a deep sleep dream. I could feel my OB tugging on my belly, I couldn't talk because of the breathing tube down my throat, and worst of all I could hear the OR staff counting CPR compressions on my baby Jillian. Knowing how fragile how she was that caused an immediate sense of panic but I couldn't do anything about it. I started shaking my head and gagging on the breathing tube to let the OR staff know that I was waking up. I heard them call the anesthesiologist over to give me more medicine. At 11pm I woke up from surgery.

Again, I want to thank everyone who is praying for my girls. The outpouring of love, prayers, and well wishes has been overwhelming. It will be a very long road for my little girls, but I am hopeful that they will continue to improve.

26 week picture and a few thoughts on pregnancy

2011-02-05T22:25:00.000-06:00

I have made it to 26 weeks with the twins!! 6 1/2 months complete of this amazing journey. I know I've said it before here on this blog, but it bears repeating; being pregnant with twins is a whole new experience. I am also at the point in my pregnancy where the scope of this adventure is at times overwhelming. The thought and soon to be reality of bringing home not one but two newborns is just a tad bit frightening, much more than a tad bit if I am honest with myself. I am frightened but excited and elated all at the same time. Just the thought of being up with my two girls in the middle of the night, just the 3 of us while the rest of the house sleeps peacefully is exciting. I treasure those quiet moments with my babies as I rock them in the dark and listen to their sweet nursing sounds. I loved it with my 2 other children, I am thoroughly looking forward to those blessed moments with my beautiful little girls.

I think my size is starting to overwhelm my husband. As we were out and about in town today he kept glancing at my belly with a look I have never seen in his face before. Not a look of disgust or anything otherwise bad. Just a look of "holy cow, my wife is getting huge". I asked him about his new look at one point during lunch today and he confirmed that yes indeed that was what he was thinking but his thoughts went a little further than that as well. Along with being amazed at how big I am he is dumb founded with the thought of how much bigger I am going to get. Keep in mind, I hopefully have another 10 weeks or more to go. Fingers crossed. I am not tall by any means and being that my husband is 6'4" I always looks huge when I am in the late stages of my pregnancies. I have a short torso on a 5'2" frame so my babies have no where to go but out. Now with 2 precious blessings growing inside, the thought of how large I am going to get overwhelms even me at times. I feel incredibly blessed!

When I start to wallow in the challenges this pregnancy has presented or might present down the road I am reminded of how far we came to get here and also of all the women who are desperately trying to add to (or begin) a family. I met a dear sweet woman at the book store today. She is a c-section nurse at the hospital where I will be delivering (total coincidence) and she told me she has been trying for 2 years to start a family and their next step was IVF. My heart ached for her, I wish there was an easier answer. Although our infertility struggles were short compared to hers, my heart still wrenches at the emotional journey she has been on.

Count your blessings and say your prayers if you have never struggled with getting pregnant or if you have the family size you have always dreamed about. You are blessed!

Now I am off to put my feet up, drink my Chamomile, and read my new book "When You Are Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads" by Dr. Luke.

Review: Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman

2011-02-04T10:18:00.000-06:00

Stumbling upon Mary Beth Chapman's latest book was a bit of serendipity. My husband had taken our kids to the library and asked if there were any books I wanted him to check out for me. I rattled off a few authors never expecting to be the first in line for this highly sought after memoir. I was so thrilled when my husband told me this book was on hold for me because the library had not received their first copy of this book yet, but when it did come in I was first in line.

I should first tell you that it takes a lot for a book to grab me from the very beginning. Typically I will read a few chapters in a book, put it down, and come back to it later in the day or even another day. I had this monster of a book devoured in nearly one marathon sitting. I just could not put it down! Mary Beth writes in such a style that you feel like she is sitting across the couch from you and together you are enjoying a cup of hot tea while she tells you a part of her life story. The backbone of this book is the tragic accident that took the life of one of her adopted daughters. However, Chapman begins the story back before children and before she and Steven Curtis Chapman met and married. Mary Beth eloquently takes her reader on a journey through her life that has been filled with tragedy and triumph. All along the way she relates how her faith has been tested but how she knew God never left her side. Grab your box of tissues, a glass of tea, and Mary Beth Chapman's latest book Choosing To See, you will cry and rejoice right along with the Chapman family every step of the way.

From the publisher:

I’ve told my kids for years that God doesn’t make mistakes,” writes Mary Beth Chapman, wife of Grammy award winning recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman. “Would I believe it now, when my whole world as I knew it came to an end?” Covering her courtship and marriage to Steven Curtis Chapman, struggles for emotional balance, and living with grief, Mary Beth’s story is our story–wondering where God is when the worst happens. In Choosing to SEE, she shows how she wrestles with God even as she has allowed him to write her story–both during times of happiness and those of tragedy. Readers will hear firsthand about the loss of her daughter, the struggle to heal, and the unexpected path God has placed her on. Even as difficult as life can be, Mary Beth Chapman Chooses to SEE. Includes a 16-page full color photo insert.

An interview with Mary Beth Chapman as she speaks about her book and the journey writing this book set her upon.

Disclaimer: this review is my true and honest opinion, I did not receive compensation in any way for this review.

Prayer request for my little girl

2011-02-02T19:30:00.000-06:00

My dearest readers, might I ask for your coveted prayers and thoughts of healing for my little girl? She woke up this morning with severe facial swelling and a rash. When I couldn't get the swelling and rash to fully subside with benadryl I took her in to the pediatrician. We left with a prescription of steroids (penicillin) and strict orders to take her to the ER if the swelling gets worse or her breathing becomes labored. Her pedi is concerned that the swelling could spread to her lungs or throat. Blood tests showed that her kidneys are functioning fine which is good news so we may never know what is causing her severe allergic reaction. I will of course be checking on her breathing all night, my motherly instincts will not let me rest tonight. Your prayers for her healing are deeply appreciated!

Review: God Gave us the World

2011-02-02T12:00:00.000-06:00

Quality Christian children's books can be challenging to find. Some deal with questionable issues while others are too simplistic and do not truly teach Christian values.

I recently received a copy of God Gave Us the World by Lisa Tawn Bergren to review with my 3 children. I have enjoyed reading the other books in this series so I was excited to be given the opportunity to review the latest in Bergren's God Gave Us collection.

Product Description:
Little Cub’s trip to a special museum exhibit, “Bears Around the World,” sparks a flurry of questions from the young polar bear who is just beginning to learn about life beyond her North Pole home.

As Mama Bear shares with her about the different types of places that God has put the various types of bears, with their different kinds of fur and eating habits, Little Cub begins to wonder: Why didn’t God make us all the same?

With Mama’s loving guidance, Little Cub is taught to see the vastness of God’s wonderful creation, his abilities as an amazing, inventive Creator, his desire for us to care for our world, and especially the important lesson that…
“Every bear has a special place in God’s great, big world.”

This adorable story offers young children who are discovering their place in God’s big world an opportunity to learn about the wonder of diversity, the gift of creativity, the importance of caring for His gifts, and how each child, each creation, is special to God.

Also Available:

God Gave Us You
God Gave Us Two
God Gave Us Christmas
God Gave Us Heaven
God Gave Us Love
God Gave Us So Much – a limited three book treasury

How we used this book:
Over the course of several weeks I added this book to our bedtime book reading options. My children get to choose what book they want to have read to them at bedtime so I simply added this book as an available option for them. After being introduced to the book they began regularly requesting that I read this book over and over to them before turning in for the evening. A repeatedly requested book in our house translates literally into a book that is highly enjoyed.

I have to agree with my children's opinion of this beautifully crafted book. Not only is it written in Bergren's signature style with a solid story line and wonderfully interwoven lessons on God's gifts to us and Creation but the illustrations are captivating and beautifully done. As a Mother trying my best to teach my children core Christian values, Creationism, and to appreciate all of the splendid gifts that God gives us each day I tend to be very selective on the Christian books that I read to my children. Fortunately Bergren yet again delivered a well written Christian children's book that addresses core Christian values in a solid yet child-appealing manner just like the rest of the books in her God Gave Us collection.

Pricing information at the time of this review:
$7.91 on Amazon
$8.99 on ChristianBook.com

Disclaimer: I was provided with a free copy of this book from the publisher Random House in exchange for my honest opinion and review. No other form of compensation was received.

Inventors & Invention lesson plan resources

2011-02-01T13:31:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago my first grader approached me regarding learning about inventions and inventors. I had other lessons planned for the day but I decided this was a worthwhile deviation from our plans and together we sat down to see what cyberspace could teach us about the great inventors and their inventions. The resources I found online coupled with books from the library made for a great unit study that are still working on. I've had many other homeschool Moms ask me for the information I uncovered so I decided to just put it all together is a semi-coherent blog post.

Teacher Vision; this site has great printables and lesson plans for inventors and inventions. Please keep in mind though, it is a paid membership site but they do allow for 5 FREE views/downloads before requiring you to pay to access more resources. 5 free printables is better than nothing!!

Pro Teacher; this site is a compilation of lesson plan ideas submitted by public school teachers. Although many of the lesson plans call for large group activities I found that many can be adapted for the smaller homeschool environment. If nothing else, the lesson plans can give you ideas and jumping off points for activities in your own home.

Crayola Inventions; invention lesson plans and creative art activities. Most lesson plans give a spine of ideas, you can elaborate on them as you feel led.

Renaissance Connection; invention timeline complete with science, language arts, and much more.

Scholastic; a variety of invention and inventor lesson plans from Scholastic. Some plans include additional recommended resources.

About.com inventions; lots of lesson plans on building inventions, you may have to scroll past some advertisements.

Lesson Plans Page; I have linked a great invention research worksheet but there are more wonderful resources on this site for your pursing.

Invention ideas from CLN; a long list of invention and inventor websites. I have not verified that all the links on this page work. The ones I have checked out and used are packed full of great information.

Discovery Inventions and Inventors; great invention and inventors lesson plans from Discovery! At the bottom of the page lesson plans and ideas are further broken down by age group.

Library of Congress Science and Invention lesson plans; a wealth of amazing lesson plans, resources, and information on every possible invention or inventor that your budding scientist could ever want to know about.

The Homeschool Mom; a compiled list of invention and inventor websites. Again, I have not verified that all the links she shares are current and valid but the list is extensive and can be very helpful.

Smithsonian; in addition to great information about inventors and their inventions this site also has 4 games that your kids can play and learn about science/engineering at the same time. My 6 year old asks to play on this site all the time. He loves the game where he has to get a ball from a starting point to a certain ending point by using physics and engineering.

To complete our unit study I gathered a variety of information on all the major inventors and their inventions. My children and I put together an invention timeline which provided a springboard of curiosity and discovery. I also checked out a variety of books on inventors from our local library. I chose some that were simple picture books for my younger children and also found a nice sized stack of books for my 4th grade. My 1st grader also asked for a notebook so he could draw/sketch his inventions as they came to his creative mind. He is now on notebook #2 having filled up his first notebook in just a couple of weeks. I have encouraged him to label and elaborate on many of his inventions. Additionally, legos have become a great learning tool for this unit. When my son finishes sketching his invention he typically turns to his huge stash of legos to make a model of this creation. To encourage his vocabulary and group speaking abilities I often ask him to explain to our family what he has made, why it is important, and what improvements he thinks he can still make to his invention.

Bottom line of this unit study is to have fun! The possibilities for learning are endless.

My perspective on homeschooling while pregnant

2011-01-31T14:49:00.000-06:00

Pregnant with twins; 25 weeks

Every pregnancy is different just like every homeschool family is different. Similarly, no two combinations of pregnancy and homeschooling will ever be the same, even within the same family. My family and I started homeschooling 2 years ago and being that my youngest is nearly 4, this school year is the first I have ever attempted while pregnant. For laughs and perhaps a little bit of insight, I thought I should put fingers to keyboard and pen my thoughts and feelings on this homeschool year as I attempt it with my ever expanding belly.

I should begin by telling those of you that do not regularly keep up with this blog that we are expecting not one, but two daughters in just over 2 months from now. I am 25 weeks pregnant with identical twin girls so my pregnancy thus far has not been a typical pregnancy for me. Despite the struggles and the challenges however, my kids and I have done our best to get school accomplished to the best of our abilities on any given day.

After moving to a new house in late September I was already in the beginning stages of all-day sickness. I was approximately 7 weeks pregnant when we completed our move and faced the daunting task of unpacking, organizing, sorting, and purging. Soon after moving however my constant nausea ramped up to a whole new level that I have never experienced with my previous two pregnancies. I was essentially bed ridden for days on end and relied heavily on my oldest son to feed and hydrate myself and my children. He would bring me breakfast and water/gatorade as I requested. He would also make breakfast and lunch more days than not for himself and his younger two siblings. He was an incredible blessing for those couple of months when I was unable to even sit-up or walk around much less make a meal for my family.

Despite the severe nausea I tried my best to still get some school done more days than not during the week. For my oldest who is in 4th grade this year getting school accomplished was much easier than for my first grader and preschooler who rely more heavily on me to guide and teach them.

For my 4th grader, 1st grader, and preschooler I relied heavily on the following tools and personal attitudes to get us through the toughest part of this pregnancy:

a student spiral-bound organizer. At our local homeschool convention this past summer, before I even knew I would be homeschooling this year pregnant I purchased the student planner from Christian Light Education (CLE) for my oldest. CLE's planner is simple yet very effective, especially for upper elementary students who are just learning to be organized and take responsibility for completing their assignments with a little less guidance from Mom.

I would write weekly assignments for my son with as much detail as I could muster considering my nausea. He always knew he could ask me a question at anytime to clarify the assignment or get help on a problem.

relax and be flexible. When I began to feel down or that I was failing my kids by not being able to actively teach them like last year I had to remind myself that this is a season in our life. Not engaging in the most elaborate lesson plans or unit studies this year is OK, this is where God wants my family and I to be right now and despite everything going on around us my kids are still learning. Even if not one book got cracked on a particular day, I can guarantee that each of my 3 kids still learned a few important life skill lessons.
taking a few months off to get through severe pregnancy nausea will not make or break my children's homeschool education. The beauty of homeschooling is that we can get school work and learning done at anytime. We are not constrained by the public school clock. Despite doing relatively light book work the first few months of this school year my 4th grader completed his math curriculum for this year today. Yep, you read that right. Once my nausea subsided and I came back to the world of the mobile and able I was able to ramp up his assignments and get him back on track, so much so that he is now actually ahead of the game this year. Homeschooling on the weekends, later in the day, and doubling up on assignments are all great ways to get back on track from a season in your life where you find yourself falling behind on schoolwork a bit.
don't stress! Honestly, I know this is easier said than done. Personally, I am only a couple of months past those months where I was stressing over failing my children because I was laid up with this pregnancy, unable to fully devote myself to them and their education. It all worked out beautifully though! I should have never stressed over what I wasn't providing for my older children but instead should have focused on what I was able to provide for them; namely a loving Mother deeply devoted to them, a warm house, and the ability to teach them compassion and caring for one another even if I was relegated to the couch 90% of our day.

Homeschooling while pregnant has two distinct perspectives. There is the perspective of the children which I have covered above. However, as I have progressed along this homeschooling while pregnant journey I have also learned that my personal perspective is equally important in this process. Not only do I have to think of my children that are growing and talking in front of my eyes and ears but I also need to think about the two precious girls quickly growing in my belly. Namely, I need to also take care of myself for their sake in addition to caring for the needs of my other children. This was a tough lesson to learn at first. As my belly continued to grow I found myself needing more and more rest. Throughout much of this pregnancy I have found myself "winging it" through our school day. I do not have the energy to plan, print, and implement beautiful lesson plans and the materials required to execute these lessons. But that is ok!! My kids are still learning despite all the pretty bells and whistles that we did last year. To some extent this year has been better than last year because we have been more relaxed and I have allowed my children to self-direct a bigger portion of their learning. We have learned about things like inventors, beetles, birds, and much more that I know I would not have planned otherwise if I was "directing" our learning for the year. What a blessing this adventure has been!

TOS Crew Review: Times Alive! by City Creek Press

2011-01-31T06:06:00.000-06:00

Do you have a child that is struggling to learn their multiplication facts? Is memorizing multiplication facts just not coming easily to your child despite repeated drills and fun math games? I can relate!

My 9 year old has been learning his multiplication facts for nearly 2 years now and still struggles with even the simplest facts. This struggle has proved to to be frustrating for not only me and his teacher but he was at the point of frustration with himself as well. As he advanced in his math curriculum he was required to recall more and more multiplication facts more quickly and more often. His inability to recall these facts was slowing down his overall math learning and progression.

As a result, I was thrilled when I found out we were going to be reviewing a math program specifically aimed at helping students quickly and easily recall their multiplication facts. Times Alive! by City Creek Press is a software program available for both PC and Mac users and can be purchased or downloaded on the City Creek press website. City Creek Press was founded by former Sylvan Learning Center owner Judy Liautaud.

The Times Alive! software is a compilation of tests, entertaining multiplication cartoons paired with catchy songs that teach multiplication facts, multiplication worksheets, and a parent specific area where students' progress and performance can be tracked.

How we used this product:
Times Alive! was incredibly easy to incorporate into our regular math curriculum. After my 4th grader finished his regular math assignment for the day I would set him up with the Times Alive! program. I never set a time limit on these drills I simply let him set the pace and do as much or as little as he liked. More often than not he was still working on, listening to, and enjoying this software after an hour or more. I have to admit that the cutest part of this whole review opportunity was hearing him sing the catchy songs around the house and seeing my younger two children gathered around the computer listening in and watching the cartoons right along with their older brother.

After completing the Times Alive! software program I reviewed my son's progress and achievements. I was excited to see he scored in the upper 90th percent on all of his tests. It has been a couple of weeks since he completed this software and I can honestly say that I have noticed a wonderful improvement in his ability to quickly recall his multiplication math facts and his confidence for "pop quizzes" throughout the day has skyrocketed. My oldest has always been a visual/auditory learner. I have never been able to just explain something to him verbally, I always have to follow-up my explanations with visual instruction. This multiplication software combines both aspects of his learning needs in one program. The catchy songs coupled with the entertaining cartoons has helped my son remember the mnemonic tricks of multiplication.

If your child is not ready for multiplication, City Creek Press also has Addition The Fun Way

Pricing information:
Available for download or purchase, PC or Mac versions, $48.95

Would you like to read additional reviews of the Times Alive! software written by fellow TOS Review Crew members?

Times Alive! reviews from fellow TOS Homeschool Crew members

Disclaimer: I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review. No other form of compensation was received.

Funny thing I read about twins

2011-01-28T16:52:00.000-06:00

My copy of It's Twins! by Susan. M Heim arrived in the mail today. I am devouring the pages.

I just came across a hilarious response to a common twin question that I just had to share with you all. Hopefully it makes you laugh as hard as I did.

Question from stranger: "A girl and a boy. Oh, you are so lucky; you've got the best of both worlds. Are they identical?"

Response from you: "No, actually, my son was born with a penis and my daughter thank the Lord, was not."

Am I the only one that thought this was hilarious? ;)

Paperback Swap Saves Homeschoolers Money and Time

2011-01-27T14:23:00.000-06:00

Have you discovered Paperback Swap? If you are a homeschooler or Mom who loves books then you are seriously missing out on a HUGE time and money saving website.

I have to admit, it took me a few months to really catch on to the glory that is Paperback Swap (PBS). I initially set up my account and then did not really do anything with it. However, as I began clearing off my book shelves to declutter and make room for new book and homeschool curriculum I reconsidered using Paperback Swap. I am so glad I gave it another thought!

What is so wonderful about PBS? Simply put, you get rid of books you no longer need or want and exchange them for other books you do want posted by fellow PBS members. The only cost to you is the initial cost of mailing a book that has been requested from you, which if you send via media mail postage costs range from $1-$4 depending on size and weight. Once a requesting member receives your book in the mail you will get a credit on your account. You can choose to purchase postage through PBS and receive immediate credit or mail the book yourself at your post office and wait for the book to reach its destination to receive credit. When you request a book you use the credits you have accumulated on your account and pay nothing additional. Each book is 1 credit while audio books are 2 credits.

I have gotten rid of a large amount of unwanted books so far and in exchange am receiving books that my children and I do need (or enjoy). For instance, a few weeks ago I was browsing at our local large chain bookstore. I found a book on parenting twins that I wanted to buy. First though I checked PBS via my smart phone and discovered that I could request the book for free from a fellow PBS member using a credit on my account. Cha-ching, I saved the cost of a new book which in this case was $20 not including tax.

As a homeschool Mom I have also found a wealth of educational resources to use with my children. Not only am I receiving classics, biographies, and other treasured reading books for my children to enjoy I am also finding lesson planning books and curriculum resources that I would otherwise have to pay for. PBS keeps a running tally of how much money I have saved, but I honestly think it is on the low side of reality. If I were to buy the books I am receiving in the mail from other sources such as new at the bookstore or used off of Amazon I would have spent much more money than what is listed on my account as savings. Truth be told though, this is a non-issue for me. I am receiving high quality reading books and homeschool resources for pennies on the dollar and clearing clutter off of my bookshelves all at the same time. What homeschool Mom could ask for more?

If you have not signed up with Paperback Swap and plan to do so, please consider using my username momoftwinpinkpeas or click on the link below:

The apple never falls far from the tree

2011-01-26T17:00:00.000-06:00

Growing up I often heard "You look just like your Mother" or "You act just like your Father". I usually just rolled my eyes and thought, "No I am not, I am me, not them". Not until I became a mother though did I realize the full impact of these statements and their scope of truth.

As my children grow-up and develop their own personalities and habits I find myself more and more often assaulted with the reality that I am looking in the mirror at little "mini-me's". Sometimes I am proud at the reflection I see in my children while other times I am down right ashamed at what I see, knowing darn well that I do the same thing. Yikes! Talk about a reality check!

My 6 year old son in particular consistently brings to mind the phrase "the apple never falls far from the tree". Not only does he look like a male version of me but nearly every aspect of his personality is a reflection of my own.

Here is an abbreviated list of how my son is the apple and I am the tree:

the ease with which he learns in school
visual learner; in both math and language arts
love of science
physical build; we are both on the "small side"
facial features
temper; scary but true and as a Mother this was a huge slap in my face but is proving to be a huge learning lesson for both of us
eating preferences; we love and hate nearly the same things including obscure raw vegetables
"attitude"; as hard as it is to admit, we are both "don't mess with me" type of people innately

There are many more things I could list but in the interest of keeping this post brief I will stop there with the list. As my 3 year old daughter grows into her own I see a little of myself but more and more I see my husband which, interestingly enough she takes after his side of the family in appearance and more and more of her personality is his and his alone.

While realizing that I have apples laying so close to the trunk of my apple tree is humbling it is proving to be an enormous learning lesson and God given blessing. Not only am I being forced to grow personally in order to best "train up" my children but I have to grow spiritually to find the strength and patience to put all the parts of growth together for both myself and my children. I am a better Mother because God has given me little apples laying at the bottom of my apple tree.

Gifted homeschooling: A lesson in flexibility

2011-01-24T20:49:00.000-06:00

Homeschooling a gifted child is not a topic I write much about. It isn't that I don't have experience with gifted homeschooling, I just don't feel like I have enough experience and worthwhile advice to regularly and accurately write on this subject. My only gifted child so far is my oldest biological child, he is 6. (I also have a 9 year old but he is technically my step-son, a term we do not use in our house). So I suppose, I have chosen to stay quiet about my gifted homeschooling journey rather than blog about the ups and downs. There are many times when I want to pen a blog about gifted education but chicken out or write about another topic. Nevertheless, my desire to journal homeschooling a gifted (or advanced) child still simmers just below the surface between my fingers and computer keyboard.

Today, I have decided to take the plunge and write about a gifted homeschooling topic that I have been immersed in since day one with my son. No, I don't mean day 1 two years ago when we started homeschooling, I mean day 1 of being his mother. After 6 years, I feel pretty well versed and experienced with the concept of flexibility as it relates to educating my son. Why flexibility? Well, simply because flexibility is something that my son thrives off of when presented in the context of education. Of course he needs schedules and expectations just like any other 6 year old. But flexibility is paramount for him when it comes to learning.

The type of flexibility I am referring to is the kind I encounter when a lightbulb goes off in his head and he NEEDS to (not just wants to) learn about a specific topic. At first I would resist his need to deviate from what I had "scheduled" and almost insist that we accomplish what I had planned rather than explore the tangent that he had set upon in his own mind. I quickly found though that this only caused frustration and resentment in my eager little learner. I was killing his love for learning because I wasn't being flexible and sensitive to his needs. Eventually I realized that his learning tangent needs were real, a true and honest search for information that his gifted mind needed for satiation. I used to feel inconvenienced and rather annoyed when he would come to me with random questions about specific topics that never seemed to end. Most certainly I was in the middle of something that I deemed important and necessary only to be interrupted by his stream of unending questions and curiosity. Oh how wrong I was to take that attitude with my young son.

Once I turned the corner and my eyes were opened to the tremendous gift he had been given and in turn could give me, I began to welcome his random topics of learning curiosity with open arms. His need for learning in turn set my own mind on unexpected paths of learning and enrichment. How could I possibly deny both of us those opportunities to learn and grow? And what could be better than learning something new side-by-side with my gifted young son? Nothing, simply nothing. With this new attitude came a lesson in flexibility. In order to fully embrace his love for learning, I had to learn to give up any preconceived lesson plans I may have created for the day and "run" with whatever topic he wanted to learn about. A form of un-schooling if you will. When I began showing my son that I was prepared to embrace whatever learning topics he was curious about his learning grew exponentially. Now he felt in control of what he was learning rather than simply learning about something because "Mom said so".

Over the years I have taken this flexible teaching attitude to other aspects of our homeschool environment. At one time I was in control of what subject we would start our day with and continued to make all the decisions during our homeschool day. And I wondered why I was met with frustration and lack luster attitude. We battled and butted heads to get every assignment completed. However, as I began to fully embrace the attitude of flexible learning I applied it to the "regular" and "mandatory" subjects completed in our homeschool day. Instead of telling my son which subjects he is going to complete and when, I now begin each day telling him what we need to complete but not how we are going to get there or in what order we are going to complete the assignments. My son gets to choose which subjects we do when. The result? I am now met with an eagerness and willingness to complete his schoolwork. He now feels in control of his education, something that many gifted children, especially those very young, need and require to feel appreciated and valued.

I shutter to think what would have happened to my son's love for learning if I hadn't learned a very important lesson of my own first; be flexible. When you are flexible with homeschool learning, the gifts that will come to you in the way of education and precious experiences with your children will most surely astound you.

Gifted children are a challenge, there is no denying that. But if you learn to go with their flow of learning, not only will you set no boundaries on their education but you will also foster a lifetime love of learning and education in their precious hearts and minds.

24 weeks means viability

2011-01-21T15:54:00.000-06:00

Today marks the date that the girls are considered "viable". Really it is an ugly term but it has so much meaning and importance. Basically it translates to the fact that after 24 weeks my girls have a better chance of surviving pre-term delivery. Of course I want them to "cook" for a lot longer but knowing that their odds of survival have gone up now that I am past 24 weeks puts my mind a little more at ease. For Moms of multiples, the point of viability has special meaning.

Lots of packages for the twins today

2011-01-21T12:38:00.000-06:00

I am in online shopping heaven right now!! 4 packages arrived in the mail today, all for the twins. One was a surprise gift but the other 3 were things I bought a few weeks ago that finally arrived. I am so excited!! Not only did 6 of my cloth diapers arrive and they are adorable in perfect condition but the covers I bought for them also arrived. Of the things I bought myself I am SUPER DUPER excited about the diaper bag. I bought a new Vera Bradley Get Carried Away Tote bag for my diaper bag. I got the super cute night and day pattern. Let me tell you, this bag is enormous!! But I love how it is organized. No it doesn't have all the typical bells and whistles of a diaper bag, i.e. bottle pouches, plastic liner, changing pad, etc. But the cost of this bag and it's size far outweighed my other diaper bag options geared more towards twins. There are plenty of pockets to stash things like bottles if I end up pumping, I can also just add one of the changing pads from an older diaper bag to this new bag. The inside size is beyond huge, I can only imagine how heavy it will be when I pack it full with 2 of everything so we can venture out and about. I love it though, I can't wait to be able to put it to good use!

I love the adorable matching onesies 3 packs and bibs that my dear friend Jenn and her daughters sent for the twins. Not only are they in cute pink colors but they have Zebra's and other safari animals on them, so cute!! Thanks again Jenn!!

TOS Crew Review: Speekee Spanish

2011-01-21T10:00:00.000-06:00

Are you looking for a convenient and inexpensive Spanish curriculum? Or perhaps you are interested in a Spanish resource that will supplement a program you are already using? Looking for something that will expose your children to native Spanish speakers?

Speekee TV may be the answer you are looking for.

According to Speekee creators the top 10 reasons why parents choose this online Spanish program are:

-    Great fun and extremely effective
-    Created by specialist linguists and musicians
-    Accelerated learning methodology for natural success
-    100% in Spanish (English and Spanish subtitles available)
-    Simple presentation style
-    Lively, engaging characters
-    Real Spanish children in real Spanish locations
-    Concise, essential Spanish vocabulary, with lots of repetition
-    Catchy songs

Speekee TV allows children to learn Spanish at their own pace which makes this type of program ideal for new Spanish speakers or those looking for supplemental material for a current Spanish curriculum. Speekee TV is 10 episodes with over 150 minutes of Spanish learning. Native Spanish speaking children converse with each other in common child play locations such as the park and playground. Each episode also include songs, animation, and puppets which help to hold children's attention throughout the lesson. Along with each episode there are free activity sheets that can be downloaded to augment your child's learning. The Speekee program was created by Spanish language specialist teachers.

How we used Speekee TV:

As a Spanish speaker trying to teach my own children the beauitful language of Spanish I am always excited to try a new Spanish speaking program. I believe that the more exposure they get, no matter the form is helpful. Be it Spanish in the written, spoken, or book form any exposure will help them learn just a little more of the language.

As we began viewing the 10 episode Speekee TV collection my 3 kids immediately gravitated to the computer screen. Together the 4 of us devoured a few of the episodes right off the bat. As their attention span dwindled and I became more aware of how the episodes were organized I made plans for supplementing the additional episodes. Not only did I use the free supplemental resources available for each episode but I made notes of the topics and words discussed in each episode so that I could include them in our everyday Spanish "practice" conversations that my children and I regularly engage in. When watched in one or two episode chunks we found the material more easily digested and retained. My children and I all thoroughly enjoyed each of the 10 episodes on Speekee TV. They are fun, musical, entertaining, yet very educational. The Spanish words and phrases presented in each episode are repeated numerous times in a fun way giving Spanish learners numerous opportunities to hear, retain, and comprehend the material. Additionally, there is optional subtitles that can be turned on for each episode. Personally, I chose to not use the subtitles for two main reasons. My kids all have a good base of Spanish understanding and I feel that the subtitles would have distracted them from the material being presented.

If you are looking for a fun introduction or reinforcement for a current Spanish program you are using Speekee might be just what you are looking for.

Pricing information:

A subscription to Speekee TV is $7.50 per month and the first two weeks are free.

Would you like to read more reviews from fellow The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew members for Speekee?

Speekee TOS Crew reviews

Disclaimer: I was proved with this product for free in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I was not compensated in any other way from Speekee or The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew for this review.

Just admiring your family!

2011-01-19T20:51:00.000-06:00

Moms of big families more often than not hear some pretty rude comments from family and total strangers alike in regards to their choice to have "more than a couple" of kids. I am far from a Mom of many or consider myself a household manager for a large family. However, in spite of having 3 kids I still get my fair share of rude and unnecessary comments regarding my family size. I've learned to shrug if off over the years, especially from strangers.

To all my friends and readers who have a large family or have the "heart" of a large family I want to share with you a refreshing and joyful story from an unassuming trip to the grocery store today.

My kids and I made our weekly trip to town today. Wednesdays are typically a very long day for us between the time it takes to drive to town and all the errands I need to accomplish while I am there. By the time we finally arrived at the grocery store this afternoon we were all tired. Because of this I did something I don't typically do; I put my younger 2 in one of those HUGE grocery carts like look like a car with steering wheels and the shopping basket out in front. I knew they would need some entertainment and a certain level of "corralling" to accomplish our shopping trip as quickly as possible. As I proceeded to the produce section with my limo sized shopping cart I made a mental note of all the fresh produce I needed. I parked the basket at the end of one of the rows so I could grab some things I needed without navigating that huge basket in the narrow produce aisles. I quickly grabbed what I needed from that aisle and returned with an arm full of fresh goodies. While I placed my items in the basket I noticed an elderly lady standing to my left with her basket. She appeared to be patiently waiting for me, possibly to have me move my basket so she could pass by with more room (there was already plenty of space for a standard basket to move by me). Nevertheless, I asked her if she was waiting for me and if she wanted me to move my basket. In the sweetest and most sincere voice she simply replied, "No, I was just standing here admiring your family." I was shocked! Of course I immediately thanked her. And with that she was on her way to finish her own shopping. She left me though forever and deeply touched. I wore a smile on my face for the rest of that shopping excursion. Such a simple gesture by this beautiful stranger brightened my day and helped to remind me that not everyone out there looks down upon those of us with more than "a couple" of children.

TOS Crew Review: Maestro Classics

2011-01-19T08:12:00.000-06:00

Beautiful music and a music appreciation lesson combined all in one. That is what composer Stephen Simon and art director/music educator Bonnie Ward Simon have created in Maestro Classics Peter and the Wolf.

Maestro Classics Peter and the Wolf begins with a skillfully composed score for the very popular story Peter and the Wolf. Following the musical/story portion we hear first hand from the composer Stephen Simon and art director/music educator Bonnie Ward Simon. Stephen gives a wonderful explanation on the background of the music. He carefully explains why each instrument was chosen for the characters and what role this instrument plays in the story. Bonnie Ward Simon on the other hand provides the listener with a lively description about the Peter and the Wolf story. Together both Stephen and Bonnie give new life to an age old story. Listeners not only learn new and insightful aspects about the Peter and the Wold story but are also treated to an artfully composed score. Stephen's composing adds new life to a common story. Included with the 7-track CD is a beautiful 24-page program book which helps to entertain and educate the children listening to the music and story.

You can visit the Maestro Classics website to listen to a sample of this and other CDs.

My kids and I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to and learning from Maestro Classics Peter and the Wolf CD. Each time we play this CD we all learn something new either about the story itself or about the musical instruments used in the composition. My children regularly ask questions and blurt out observations while we enjoy this story and it's accompanying music. The scoring and story telling leave us all enthralled and entertained. As a Mom I love the fact that my children are learning about music and gaining an appreciation for it without even realizing what is happening. Not only are they thoroughly enjoying the entertainment aspect of this CD but they are learning at the same time. What is not to love about that?

Product information:
Pricing: $16.98 or $45 for 3 CDs. Maestro Classics has a wide variety of stories and compositions to choose from. They would all make wonderful additions to your listening library.

Want to read more reviews on this product? Please visit The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew blog!

Maestro Classics Peter and the Wolf reviews

Getting financially organized this year!

2011-01-19T07:04:00.000-06:00

I have to be honest, I do not do budgets. There I said it, I admitted it. I have never in my life created a budget and stuck to it. I just know how much money I have and do my best to make sure there is some leftover each money. Sometimes that plan works, other months it doesn't work so well.

With our growing family and reduced income I have to finally face reality and quit ignoring the facts staring me in the face. As the financial planner and bill payer for my family, I NEED TO BUDGET! Plain and simple, no ifs and or buts about it.

But where do I start? As if God heard my prayers (I know he always does) yesterday I stumbled upon Carrie and her Dittle Dattle blog that offers financial planning worksheets for a notebook that she herself uses for her own family. I am all into simplicity, keep it simple and I am more like to stick with it. Carrie follows Dave Ramsey's financial planning and budgeting philosophy but her worksheets that she so graciously shares with the rest of us can be used for budgeting whether you follow the Ramsey plan or not.

I am in the process of creating a similar notebook for my family. I just need a few more office supplies to complete the notebook then I will be off and running. As Carrie mentions in her blog post, a notebook like this not only makes monthly budgeting simple but you also have all the information you need at your fingertips so that you can keep budget and financial status lines of communication open between you and your spouse. Love it!

Happy budgeting in 2011 friends!

Pen pals help encourage writing

2011-01-17T13:08:00.000-06:00

Finding and maintaining communication with a pen pal can open up a wonderful world of writing for your children. Pen pals are not just for homeschooled children. In fact, both of my sons regularly write to a public schooled pen pal. Pen pal letters accomplish and encourage a whole host of beneficial things in your child; whether they are homeschooled or attend public school.

Benefits of having a pen pal include:

give practical application to lessons in letter writing including letter formating, sentence structure, and envelope addressing.
promotes friendship between two people that may not otherwise have a chance to get to know each other.
encourages children to think of others rather than just themselves. Pen pal writers can not exclusively write about themselves. They must ask questions of their pen pal and show interest in what their pen pal has written in a previous letter.
encourages writing in a reluctant or new writer. Older children will enjoy the reduced pressure of writing that comes with pen pal letters while young elementary children will learn that writing can be fun.
writing pen pal letters will force children to practice good penmanship. Messy letters are not good pen pal letters.
requires reading, this is particularly beneficial for young readers. Your child will need to read their pen pal's letter when it arrives in the mail and before they can respond to and write a letter of their own.

The benefits of pen pals for your children are nearly limitless. I could not possibly list all of the advantages here.

Ways to find a pen pal for your children include:

contact friends outside of your immediate area that have children similar in ages to your own. Ask if they would like to be pen pals.
If you are a homeschooler, join an online homeschool community such as The Homeschool Lounge. Large online homeschool communities such as THL have pen pal groups where you can find other families that are in search of pen pals.

Lastly, if you have younger children that are not yet at the writing stage who would also like to join in on the "pen pal fun" they also have options. Picture drawing is a fun way for very young children to enjoy the fun of having a pen pal.

Homeschool books for sale!

2011-01-13T15:59:00.000-06:00

I am beginning the task of clearing off my shelves and listing curriculum that we no longer need. I will add to the list as I uncover the treasures in boxes and on bookshelves.

Math:
Singapore Math Textbook 3B U.S. Edition, like new (bought 2 by mistake); $8ppd

Language Arts:
A Reason for Handwriting Teacher Guidebook (K-6th), normal shelf wear; $10ppd

Vocabulary Cartoons (uses mnemonics to teach vocab words), like new; $10ppd

Punctuation Tales 4 books: Abbreviations, Quotation Marks, Sentence Stoppers, Sentence Structure; all like new; $5ppd

If you are interested in any of these books just email me through my profile or if you are friends with me on FB feel free to contact me there also. Yes, I will give discounts for multiple purchases.

Vasectomy Reversal: encouraged, overwhelmed, and appreciative

2011-01-10T14:34:00.000-06:00

The response from my original Vasectomy Journey post has been overwhelming and encouraging. I am immensely appreciative of all of you who have posted on my blog and contacted me privately through email. I had no idea before posting our story how common our struggles were among the vasectomy reversal community. Your words of encouragement are a treasure to my husband and myself.

For others of you who are contemplating a reversal or who have newly embarked upon the reversal journey please do not hesitate to contact me if you feel led. I would love to pray for you and help in any other way that I can drawing off of our experiences during this journey.

TOS Crew Review: Early Modern History Schedule by Easy Classical

2011-01-10T08:27:00.000-06:00

Are you a classical homeschooler looking for a clear and easy to follow history schedule? Or are you possibly considering a classical approach to teaching your children history? Planning a history schedule using the classical method can quickly become overwhelming and bewildering. I know. . .I've been there. At the beginning of each new school year I feel like I am still there. . .overwhelmed with the feeling of how I am going to plan and do justice to the backbone of classical homeschooling; history.

Easy Classical has simplified what can be an overwhelming task for classical homeschoolers. They have written detailed and easy to understand schedules for every history time period. Each time period schedule is broken down into 36 easy to follow weekly schedules. Each weekly schedule includes mapping exercises, writing assignments, art, extra reading recommendations, and comprehension quizzes. Every schedule comes neatly organized in a 1" binder.

How we used this product:
For the purposes of this review I was provided with the Early Modern History Schedule (Explorers to 1820) and not the accompanying materials that are available from Easy Classical. Despite not having the writing with history and geography guides scheduled I found this to be a thorough and easy to follow schedule. Being a classical homeschooler I always struggle knowing that I am covering all the aspects of the history time period we are currently studying. Somehow I tend to feel like I am missing something or short changing my children. I have always used the Story of the World books to structure our history lessons and readings. This Easy Classical history schedule nicely laid out each chapter from the Story of the World book that should be read each week. In addition to the Story of the World readings each week this schedule includes copywork, geography, and writing assignments along with review questions and a comprehension quiz. I am incredibly impressed with the thoroughness of this schedule. It is so easy to follow, clearly organized, and full of additional recommended reading resources. I have voracious readers so the reading lists are wonderful, it takes the time and effort I usually spend finding additional books for them to read out of my planning equation.

For frazzled, over scheduled, new classical homeschoolers, or homeschool Moms who just want to save time planning the Easy Classical schedules will be a time and sanity saver.

Product details:
Notebook version: $35.95

Digital version: $29.95

Sample Introductory Pages

Sample Schedule Pages

Sample Drawing Lesson Pages

Also available on the Easy Classical website is an extensive list of curriculum and supplemental resources available for each of the classical history time periods.

Disclaimer: Easy Classical provided me with the Early Modern History schedule for free in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

Would you like to read more TOS Crew reviews for this product?

Early Modern History Schedule Reviews

Praying for 16 more weeks

2011-01-07T22:39:00.000-06:00

I have quickly come to realize that when you are pregnant with twins every week that they are safely growing inside your belly is a huge milestone. Having uncomplicated pregnancies with my singletons, this was a fact that I took for granted. Carrying twins though raises this importance to the Nth degree. Every week has brought new changes to my body. These changes are similar to carrying a singleton but they are compounded a million times because of the number of babies and the fact that I am petite.

What does carrying twins look like on a 5'2" small framed woman? Well, when I am fully clothed it isn't so bad. I just look like I am due any day now. Under the clothes is a whole other story! A blanket of stretch marks has been laid clear across my belly beginning on one side where my belly meets my back and stretches clear across to the other side. The extra almost 20 pounds that I have gained so far has been distributed in such lovely places like my neck, arms, and thighs. My blood volume is now equal to a full term singleton pregnancy. My heart is working at the equivalency of running a marathon when I am sitting still.

Despite these and other challenges of carrying twins I am still in awe at this amazing blessing I get to experience. I have dreamed about being a Mother of twins since I was a young teenager. I have no idea why I would dream and wish for something like that at such a young age but I did. Perhaps it was God telling me that if I came to know him that he would bless me.

I am 22 weeks pregnant today. I am praying for 16 more weeks.

I do not do baby books

2011-01-05T16:38:00.000-06:00

I have started scrapbooks for my children with the hopes of creatively documenting their childhood. Truth be told though, I have failed miserably. The farthest I have made it is one year of one child's life (he is now 6). Pathetic!

A few months after my oldest biological son was born I realized that scrapbooking was not going to be a successful way of remembering his younger years. Because I enjoy writing I thought I would try my hand (literally) at journaling his childhood. Six years later I am still journaling for him and have since added journals for other two children.

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing my thoughts, hopes, wishes, and dreams for each of my children in their respective journals. I also include important events in their lives just like typical baby books. Unlike baby books though I am able to add more detail and emotion to the events. From time to time, I include pictures like you find in regular baby books. I have also enjoyed reading back through their journals from time to time. These journals have become a mini time capsule if you will, a memory filled book of each of my children's childhoods. My plan is to give each of them their books on their 18th birthday.

The books I chose for my boys are a traditional journal, an open book style. The green journal that I am journaling my daughter's childhood and the two red journals that I recently purchased for the twin girls that I am expecting are a magnetic closed book journal style. The journals for my three girls are more ornate and decorated than the styles I chose for my boys; just a personal preference.

If you enjoy writing or blogging, you might just enjoy journaling your child's childhood.

A cute little twin poem

2011-01-02T21:13:00.000-06:00

Two by two here they come

Having twins is so much fun

Two little girls are on their way come celebrate before the big day!

Four lil arms to hold tight

Four little cheeks to kiss night-night

Double the hands and double the sleep

We're gettin ready for double no sleep

Two lil babies from Heaven above

God is belssing us with twins to love. ♥

Obviously this poem is more suited for a baby shower, but I thought it was cute nonetheless.

Set a Good Example With Your Food Choices

2011-01-01T10:00:00.000-06:00

How often do you think about your food choices? Perhaps every time you eat. Seems logical, right? The question is though, from whose perspective do you make your food choices. Do you think only about what you want to put in your mouth? Or do you think about your children and the example you are setting each time you put a bite of food in your mouth?

I am not here to tell you what to do or eat but rather I will share my experiences and impressions as they pertain to my own family. It is my hope that perhaps you will begin to reconsider your own food choices in light of my experiences and lessons learned.

My kids are food magnets, there is just no two ways about it. Whenever my husband or I get a snack or eat outside of normal meal times our three children swoop in around us from wherever they are in the house and what a bite of what we are eating. With three kids one bite quickly becomes a devouring of our plate without even one bite making its way into our mouths. This is typically not an issue at all because I have learned from past mistakes and purposefully choose healthy nutritious snacks for myself. I care deeply about the food my children consume so as a result my own eating habits have improved dramatically from my "pre-kids" days.

Some examples of my mid-morning or early afternoon snacks (the pregnancy has increased my appetite beyond recognition) include:

vine ripened tomatoes with fresh mozzarella and fresh basil (when I have it available). Sometimes I drizzle a little EVOO and season with sea salt. Other times tis just a pinch of sea salt. For a serving of grains with my snack I will add whole wheat crackers or WASA bread; they both add a nice crunch to a soft textured snack.
organic yogurt with fresh fruit pieces (apples oranges, grapes, etc.)
fresh veggies with cream cheese or hummus
a light salad with a variety of toppings (I have found my kids are more open to eating a salad if they see me eating one)
fresh fruit with peanut butter and cheese slices (I make up a big plate of fruit slices, peanut butter, and cheese slices for everyone to share together)

Now dinner is a more difficult endeavor in our family. I do my best to prepare healthy and well balanced meals 99% of the time (we all have to splurge on dinner made with breakfast food from time to time). My oldest son will eat anything you put in front of him, my younger 2 however are more challenging. I know with time and age will come more willingness to eat a variety of foods though. Despite the challenges and reluctance at dinner my husband and I stay fast to our rule of not preparing a special meal or allowing after dinner snacks for those that refuse to eat the meal that was prepared for the entire family. My kids all know this rule and no longer argue or question us when the issue arises.

Another challenge when trying to raise healthy eaters is when eating out. The rule in our family is that you must eat the healthy portion of your meal (sandwich, meat serving, etc) before moving onto any less healthier side dish on the plate. At restaurants where they offer side choices for the kids we do not allowed fried food (french fries, etc). If there is more than one unhealthy side choice I simply let my kids know which items they can choose from (salad, fruit, steamed veggies, etc) and and stay strong to my decision. I figure that even if they only eat a few bites of their side dish that is better than eating an entire serving of the less than healthy option they have otherwise been served. Also, just like at home my husband and I prefer to choose rather healthy meal options when eating out. For example, I will request my hamburger wrapped in lettuce rather than having it served on a bun. I will also ask that they exchange the standard french fry side serving with a side salad with dressing on the side.

Am I fanatical about our food choices? Absolutely not! We have our fair share of less than ideal eats in this house. Is it a daily occurrence though? Not at all. The big picture in all of this is that as parents we need to teach our children healthy eating habits. To that end I believe those lessons begin with the food we put in our own mouths. Eating is definitely not a "do as I say, not as I do" lesson. Healthy eating is a life long decision, it doesn't happen overnight and it certainly doesn't come naturally.

2011-01-01T02:01:00.000-06:00

My prayer for all of you is a healthy, safe, and joyous 2011!

May it be filled with wonderful memories.

Our vasectomy reversal journey

2010-12-31T08:32:00.000-06:00

3D of Baby B, 19w4D

From August 2007 to February 2010 my husband and I used a vasectomy as our means of contraception and family planning. Considering the stress that was in our lives and our marriage in those early years of the vasectomy we didn't give the choice a second thought. However, God had other plans for my marriage and family. First came a 180 degree improvement in my marriage thanks to a lot of hard work on our part and an even bigger helping hand from Him.

After those issues were fixed God began working on our heart regarding our choice for family planning. Sometime in the Spring of 2009 my husband and I began seriously reconsidering our vasectomy choice and began our vasectomy reversal journey (vasovasostomy). I wish I had known way back then what an emotional journey we were about to embark upon. I suppose all the trials and tribulations were little tests of our true faith.

Our journey began with heartache and frustration. My husband met with the urologist that did his vasectomy and while he found out that because we were under the 5 year mark we were excellent candidates for a successful reversal. Bad part, reversals are not covered by insurance and we were going to have to pay upward of $5000. Where in the world were we going to find that kind of money? My hopes we dashed. I can distinctly remember sitting in my car after a shopping trip to a local plant nursery crying my eyes out from frustration. I honestly thought this would be an easy process. Get it reversed, assumed it would be covered by insurance, and we'd be well on our way to growing our family the way God intended and commanded in scripture. Boy was I wrong!

After the discovery that we'd have to pay for the surgery ourselves we came up with a budget and began scrimping in other areas of our expenses whenever and wherever possible. God's hand was upon us once again when he put me in touch with another homeschool Mom on the same journey towards a vasectomy reversal. She was a wealth of information, stuff I hadn't even considered. I felt truly blessed the day she emailed me without prompting and offered up her invaluable advice. I spoke with this wonderful via email in late 2009/early 2010. As a result of that conversation we found a wonderful Dr. in Texas who has a reversal ministry and does micro-vasosostomy for a fraction of the cost we had originally budgeted for. Because of our budgeting and saving we had about 95% of the costs including travel expenses saved. I called the Dr.'s office in January 2010 to inquire about their procedures, costs, requirements, etc. At that time they were scheduling about 3 months out however, as if God's hand was upon us yet again they had 1 opening 2 weeks from the date that I spoke with her. I quickly called my husband to see if that date was ok with him and he said yes. Almost overnight I went from dispair to elation, we were one step closer to making our vasectomy reversal a reality and we weren't going to go in debt because of it. Oh how far we'd come from crying in the plant nursery parking lot!

With arrangements made we were off to Texas to make God's plan for our family a reality. I thought we were golden, end of story. Bada bing, bada boom. We'd have the reversal, get pregnant and be well on our way. Little did I know that the most difficult and emotional part of our journey still lay ahead of us.

The surgery itself went very well. As a Christian ministry, the Dr. and his staff said a prayer over my husband before surgery started. I was allowed to stand/sit at my husband's head and comfort his as best I could during the surgery. Being a biologist, I was also intrigued to be able to watch the surgery up close. Certainly a memorable experience. My poor husband was in a lot of pain after the surgery with the plane trip home being the hardest part. He is a trooper though and made it through as best he could. I know his discomfort level went down a lot when we took his stitches out.

Much to our surprise and against Dr.'s orders 3 weeks later we found out we were pregnant. We were elated! See, I knew this would be an easy journey once the reversal was completed. Boy was I wrong! I miscarried the very same day I tested positive. Crushed, disappointed, frustrated, confused; none of it can even begin to describe the range of emotions I was experiencing. As a couple we had never had any problems getting pregnant or staying pregnant. I knew I was fortunate in that regard but honestly took a lot of it for granted. I had friends who struggled month after month to get pregnant, I told them I understood but in reality I didn't. You can't truly understand or appreciate emotional struggles until you experience them yourself.

My miscarriage was painful physically and emotionally. I tried my best to pick myself up and move on. I had no reason to believe that we wouldn't be pregnant in another month or two at most. I miscarried on a Saturday and the following Sunday while at church a dear friend of mine loaned me the book A Mom Just Like You by Vickie Farris (wife of HSLDA's founder Michael Farris). It is a book mainly on homeschooling from a Mom's real life point of view but Vickie also struggled with miscarriage after deciding to follow scripture regarding birth control. When my dear friend mentioned that Vickie was a homeschool Mom who struggled with miscarriage after opening her heart to God's will for her family I BURST out in tears; we were in our adult Sunday school class so this was not an easy event to hide from others. We both immediately knew that her willingness to loan me the book unprompted was God's doing. What a blessing that book was for me on my journey. After devouring that book in a day I moved onto other books with a similar theme; following God's will for birth control as dictated in scripture. The books I read were all written by real Moms on real journeys. What a blessing those words of advice were to me at a time of grieving and severe frustration.

In May 2010 when we still were not pregnant I kindly asked my husband to make another appointment with his urologist to have his sperm tested. I really wanted to know what (if anything) was causing our inability to get pregnant so easily like the times before. I was afraid his tubes had grown back together or he had torn one or both of them picking up our toddler inadvertently those first few weeks of his recovery. The results of his testing showed that his numbers were good but the little guys didn't want to swim. I also had my own suspicions about my fertility. In the 4 years since last giving birth and more prominently since my miscarriage I had noticed a change in my own body. I began to doubt I was ovulating and I knew my "moisture level" down there wasn't like it had been in the years past. Combining all these factors, all I could think was that the cards were stacked against us. All I could think is "God, why did you bring us down this road only to close the doors to allowing us to conceive and successfully carry to term?". Yes, He was testing my faith. I was failing his test miserably! Feeling led to research natural methods to remedy our problems I came upon some great websites that helped me develop a plan. In June 2010 my husband and I both began taking supplements to help with our fertility challenges. Again, I was hopeful that we'd be back on track and conceive easily. The supplements I began taking showed an improvement almost immediately. Men are different. It typically takes 3 months for their supplements to make a difference in their swimmers, just by nature of their biology. Despite knowing this, month after month ticked by with more frustration and tears. When my cycle arrived in August I was at the end of my emotional ropes. I cried, moped around the house, and finally just gave up. I prayed a very long prayer and gave it all up to Him. I was no longer going to get my hopes up each month only to have them dashed every 4 weeks.

I no longer had expectations for conceiving. I began to think that perhaps this long journey was just a test of faith. God wanted to see how far we were willing to follow his calling for our lives. I thought perhaps He really never had any intention of allowing us to actually grow our family like we had hoped. I quickly settled back into my routine with my 3 kids. I ramped up our homeschool work and was content with where we were as a family of 5.

When the last weekend in August rolled around I held out no hopes for a positive pregnancy test. However, when the day I was due for my cycle came and went I started to get suspicious. We were in the middle of the house buying process though and just assumed I was stressed. I have skipped a cycle once before without being pregnant about 7 years ago so I knew it was possible. I was due on a Friday so when Saturday and Sunday rolled around without a trace I knew I was going to have to test just to make sure I wasn't, which I had already assumed it would be negative. But as any woman who is trying to get pregnant will tell you, you ALWAYS have a slight hope for a positive even despite all the negative thinking and convincing otherwise that we all do to ourselves. Monday morning, Labor day 2010 I woke up early to test. As with my other 2 pregnancies the pink line was almost immediate. It was faint though and I questioned myself if I was seeing things. Holding the test closer to the window I realized I wasn't just imagining things. I crept back up upstairs and woke my husband up with the good news. It was exactly 3 months since first starting our supplements. It had worked!

I was excited but also nervous considering our earlier loss. I tried my best to comfort myself with the knowledge that even on the day of testing, I was farther along with this pregnancy than I was when I lost the baby earlier this year. Everyday I stayed pregnant I said a prayer of thanks and asked for just one more day of being pregnant. Was our journey to growing our family really over? Had we actually made it through the storm successfully? I could hardly believe the road we had traveled. I had felt alone and frustrated but once we were through it I knew God was with me every step of the way, he never left, but rather carried me through the rougher patches of the journey.

I am encouraged and hopeful for 2 other homeschool Moms I know who are on a similar vasectomy reversal journey. And to anyone else out there that might be reading this, whether you are considering a reversal or are in the low spots of this journey please do not give up hope. No matter the end result, you are following God's will for your family as commanded by scripture.

I am also happy to announce that not only are we expecting one blessing but rather 2 beautiful blessings. God has blessed us with so far healthy identical twin girls! The journey is clearly not over yet, God has big plans for my family. I am excited to see what those plans include being a Mom to twins.

If you are considering a vasectomy reversal and would like more information please do not hesitate to contact me. I am more than happy to share any and all information I have to provide, including the Dr. and his wonderful ministry that made all this financially possible.

UPDATE:
Due to the tremendous outpouring of response I have received from this post I want to also include the primary source I used when researching supplements to help with our infertility problems. Natural Fertility Info

From 3 to 5 kids in an instant!

2010-12-30T07:46:00.000-06:00

If you are friends with me on facebook you already know the recent news but for those of you who I haven't connected with yet on FB I am excited to share our most recent life changing news with all of you.

The Monday before Christmas was my standard 20 week ultrasound appointment and OB checkup. Within an instant of the ultrasound beginning our entire world was turned upside down and doubly blessed. I am overwhelmingly excited to announce that we are expecting twin girls, most likely identical.

I had my suspicions with this pregnancy but never in my wildest dreams did I think my suspicions were correct. I chalked up my extreme nausea to being older (it has been 4 years since my last pregnancy so a lot can change hormonally), my overwhelming exhaustion was also due to being older, and my bigger then normal belly was because this is pregnancy #3. See I had reasonable excuses for everything different I was experiencing. When my nausea started to diminish around week 14 I really knew it couldn't be twins, wouldn't I be sicker longer than with my singletons if I really was carrying twins? Apparently not. I started feeling undeniable movements at week 13 and had inklings of movement a few weeks before then. I felt my singletons move for the first time closer to week 16 or so. Lastly, at about week 15 or so I could feel two definite "hard" areas in my belly. One low like I would expect and another on my right side. Yet again, I had a reason. I was just having a bigger than normal baby. My husband is over a foot taller than I am so this was a plausible explanation.

My husband and I joked back and forth a few times in the weeks leading up to my 20 week appointment about twins. Never in our wildest dreams did we think it would be true. I have to admit though, in all honesty, being a mother of twins is something I have day dreamed about since I was a young teenager. Not really sure why that is, it is just something I thought would be interesting, different, and definitely a fun life experience. My husband has always known I've dreamed about twins but like me never really thought it would ever be reality.

God clearly has an interesting plan for our lives! I am excited to unravel the chapters of our life that lay ahead.

In a post later this week I will tell the story of how this pregnancy might never have been. His hand is clearly elbow deep in our lives, not merely laying upon it!

Extensive list of free or discount baby items

2010-12-26T11:49:00.000-06:00

While browsing a Mom chat board I came across this incredibly extensive and a tad bit repetitive list of free, discount, and coupon offer lists from a wide variety of companies. I suppose I am posting this as much for my reader's use as for my own so I know where to find this info in a few months when I have time to call these various companies. Also, I'd love to hear what you receive if you call these resources yourself. Many of the resources listed on the top are for Moms of multiples, but this list is extensive and there are plenty of discounted offers and free products for Moms of singletons as well.

*Free New Mothers Kit From Pfizer Call

1-800-223-0182-Say you are
interested in the New Mother's Kit and also let them know if you are having twins or triplets. They will ask how you heard of this offer, tell them a friend told you. You get Desitin, Pediacare, Purell, and other Pfizer products.

*Evenflo 1-800-233-Baby free gift pack for Multiples-full of bottles, nipples and toys

*Window Covering Safety Council free childproofing kit for window blinds, Call 1-800-506-4636

*Avent 1-800-54-AVENT free info and sample (wonderful samples for breastfeeding mother)

*Baby Mil or Baby soy 1-800-344-1358 - Free samples and coupons

*Balmex 1-866-844-2798 press 0 - free sample/coupons

*Carnation Good Start 1-800-242-5200 free club with checks free and dollars off formula if you have twins or more they will send you even more coupons for free formula.

*Del Monte 1-800-USA- BABY (coupons/samples)

*Earths Best 1-800-434-4246 press #1 for free coupons

*Free Evenflo Product Coupons, Booklets and Information, Call 1-800-356-2229

*First Years 1-800-533-6708 free toys for Multiples

*Gerber 1-800-443-7237 free coupons - be sure you tell them if you are having multiples

*Huggies 1-800-544-1847 samples and coupons (make sure you tell them if you are having twins/triplets)

*Johnson and Johnson 1-800-526-3967 coupons, and for multiples coupons for free items.

*Luvs 1-800-699-7916 coupons for Multiples

*Pedia Care 1-800-717-2824 $23.00 in cents off coupons and coupons for free items new mothers pack (some of their products are Desitin, Listerine, Pedia Care, Purell) Great pack

*Similac 1-800-Baby-Line Welcome addition club checks for formula and info

*Twins magazine 1-888-558-9467 they will send you a back issue to see if you like it.

*Nestle Infant Nutrition 1-800-222-0453www.verybestbaby.com They send coupons for 5 cans of carnation good start formula

*Playtex Products 1800-222-0453 Twins-bottle kit, liners and pacifiers. Triplets-2 bottle kits, liners and pacifiers. Quads-3 bottle kits, liners and pacifiers

*Evenflo Products Multiple Birth Program 1000 Evenflo
Drive Canton,
GA 30114 1-800-356-2229 Twins-starter kit, disposable liners and
coupons. Triplets-starter kits, liners, coupons and bibs Quads-starter kits, liners, coupons and bibs

*Scott Paper Co. - Call 1-800-TEL-SCOT to receive free Baby Fresh Wipes for multiples.

*Playtex Products 1800-222-0453 Twins-bottle kit, liners and pacifiers. Triplets-2 bottle kits, liners and pacifiers. Quads-3 bottle kits, liners and pacifiers

*Johnson & Johnson 1-800-526-3967 Twins-gift packet. Triplets-gift packet. Quads-gift packet

*Mead & Johnson 1-800-222-9123 www.enfamil.com You can receive a one time shipment of complimentary formula; one case for each baby.

*Proctor & Gamble Company Pampers Multiple Birth  Program 1-800-543- 0480 Preemie Pampers can be purchased by the case by calling 1-800-543-4932.

*Beechnut Food Corp 800-beechnut www.beechnut.com Twins-promotional packet and 2x the coupons. Triplets promotional packet and 3x the coupons. Quads-promotional packet and 4x the coupons.

*Bristol-Myers Multiple Birth Program 1800-422-2902 ask for coupons and samples.

*H.J. HeinzConsumer Services 1-800-872-2229 Send coupons for baby products

*Modial Industries 216-626-4490 Different gifts, some people get diaper genies

*Carnation 800-242-5200 Carnation does not have a multiple program, but you can call every week or so and get coupons. They do have an Special Delivery Club for expectant mothers:1-800-547-9400, Carnation sends booklets on pregnancy, nutrition, formula coupons, samples, order forms for upcoming programs and other pamphlets.

*Midas 800-621-0144 Midas dealers offer discounts on car sets. You can return the seats to Midas and get credit for
services at any Midas shop.

*Ross Laboratories (Similac)1-800-222-9546 Welcome Addition Club -Call to join the club and receive coupons. Talk to your peditritionfor local rep. Will usually give a case of formula per baby.

*Scott Paper Co.1-800-TEL-SCOTTwins-coupons for free Baby Fresh and Wash a-bye BabyTriplets-coupons for free Baby Fresh and Wash a-bye BabyQuads-coupons for free Baby Fresh and Wash a-bye Baby
*Ansa Bottle Co., 1-800-527-1096 Triplets or more only

*Little Me, 1-800-533-5437/1-301-729-4488 Triplets or more only;

*Mother's Little Miracle, 1-310-544-7125 Triplets or more only;

*One Step Ahead Catalog, 1-800-274-8440

*COUPON for a FREE any size Baby Magic Product 1-800-228-7408

American Academy of Pediatrics 1-800-433 9016 Parent Resource Guide

Babysitter Safety Booklet ask for booklet #12 1-800-843-5678

Beechnut's mailing list, coupons 1-800-523 6633

Booklets & Info for Moms-to-Be from the March of Dimes
1-888-663-4637

Breast pump and infant care catalog from US Medical
Corp. 1-800-408-7633

Breast feeding healing and soothing lotion
1-800-292-4794

Carnation Follow-Up Formula coupons and informative booklet (formula for babies eating solid foods), 1-800-242-5200 (ext.291)

Carnation The Very Best Magazine, can of formula coupons 1-800-242-5200

Cedar 1-800-GO CEDAR video for play sets, and catalog

Children's shoes catalog, 1-800-MY5-TOES

Diaper Genie for twins or more (call before 3 months old) 1-800-843-6430

Diaper Rash Ointment 1-800-587 3721 sample

Earth's Best (baby food) newsletter, coupons 1-800-442-4221

EvenFlo 1-800-356 BABY or 1-800-233 BABY coupons and information

Family Beginnings Club For expecting parents
1-800-BABY 123

Fisher Price 1-800-432 KIDS catalog and information

Flanders Buttocks Ointment samples for Diaper Rash.
Send two loose stamps and your address to: Flanders Marketing, P.O.
Box 5323, Aiken,
SC 29804

Folic Acid and It's Role in Preventing Birth Defects Booklet, good for before and during pregnancy. 1-888-232-6789

Gerber 1-800-4 GERBER prenatal pack, also for coupons later

Guide For a Strong and Healthy Baby ask for phd603
1-800-729-6686

Guide to Infant Play pamphlet from Sassy for 0-18 months. 1-616-243-0767

Heinz 1-800-872 2229 Baby Food coupons and Booklet

Heinz Baby Club For Canadians 1-800-565-2100

Home safety tips, 1-877-UL-4-SAFE

Information on Advantage Sound and motion Bassinets,
1-800-INFANT-A

Information on BeBe Sounds Prenatal Listening device.
1-800-430-0222

Information on ear infections and a booklet on you baby's language development and hearing 1-800-587-DAVS or visit www.KidEars.com

Information on homeopathic medicines for children,
1-800-624-9659

Information on why you should have your baby's umbilical cord blood saved,
1-800-400-3430

Introductory Subscription to American Baby Magazine for Expecting Parents (Will be billed after introduction offer.) 1-800-678 1208

Johnson & Johnson 1-800-526-3967 for New Parent's Pack of coupons and info

Kimberley-Clark (Huggies) 1-800-544-1847 press 1, 1, 1 automated mailing list also Proof-of-Purchase Catalog, and Huggies rebate forms: 1-800-990-4448

K-mart 1-800-533 0143 Birthday Club

Little Me: baby wear catalog 1-800-533-5437

Little Remedies coupons, info, and poster (Little Noses decongestant aids, Little Tummy gas and nausea relief, etc)
1-800-754-8853

Magnetized chart for your fridge Write to: Advil Forum on Health
Education, Dept. CAM, 1500 Broadway, 25th Floor, New
York, NY 10036

Maternity clothes catalog,1-800-966-6847 for Maternity Factory Outlet

Mayo Clinic Complete Book of Pregnancy and Baby's First Year from
State Farm, 1-888-SF EVENT (1-888-733-8368)

Motherhood Maternity Catalog, 1-800-4-MOM2BE they have nursing and plus sizes cloths

Motherwear 1-800-633 0303 catalog for moms who breast feed

Munchkin coupons (for bottles, nipples, etc.),
1-800-344-BABY

Pantene Pro-V Essentials! Choose from instant hair quencher, body enhancer, and ultimate hair therapy. 1-800-776-8424

Playtex Product Coupons, Booklets and Information,1-800-222-0453

Pregnancy Diary Myself My Baby (Spanish Version Only) to take you step by step through your pregnancy. Write to:
National Maternal
Child Health Clearinghouse, 8201 Greensboro Dr., Suite
600, McLean,
VA 22102 1-703-821-8955 ext. 254

Pregnancy guide CD, 1-888-933-5383

Pregnancy planner from the National Women's Health Resource Center  and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association. It's a 10 month blank calendar loaded with pregnancy tips and information. 1-877-986-9472

Preventing and Treating Your Baby's Diaper Rash pamphlet, and a $1 off any size from Balmex, 1-800-777-2500

Ross Labs (Similac For Canadians 1-800-518-CLUB coupons and samples

Ross Labs (Similac) 1-800-BABYLINE Welcome Addition Club

Safety Kit for Halogen Lamps 1-800-985-2220

Sample of Zilactin Baby Teething Gel, 1-800-746-8888
ext. 715

Schering Plough 1-800-522-7300 video on child allergies and pollen index chart

The 1st years 1-800-533-6708 product catalog and coupons

Toy Safety Coloring Book for kids (ask for item #283) and you can also ask for a booklet on safe playground tips for
children 1-800-638-2772

Triaminic 1-888-935-5543 information and coupon

Tylenol 1-800-962-5357 information

Video on water contamination, lead exposure, health effects, and what parents can do to protect their children. 1-800-604-1995

Window Covering Safety Council 1-800-506-4636 childproofing kit for window blinds

Women after childbirth: a pamphleted Depression After Delivery to help you determine if you have postpartum blues or need help with deeper feelings. Write to Depression After Delivery,
Box 278, Belle
Mead, NJ 08502 or 1-800-944-4773

You're A New Parent! Guide from Prudential Insurance
1-800-843-7625
ext. 3076

Your Baby's Development, a color booklet about child development from birth to 18 months. 1-888-344-BABY

Miscellaneous:

1-800-547-9400
Carnation "Special Delivery Club", for expectant parents. You get pamphlets on prenatal care and nutrition and product samples, coupons and other goodies for the new baby!

1-800-356-BABY
For parents of multiples, write Evenflo for information and requirements to receive their promotional items for
multiple births, including samples.

1-800-621-0144
Call Midas for information on discount car seats for infants.

1-888-207-7327
First Name Almanac. Receive a free igraphied presentation of a first name, its meaning, personality traits of persons with that name and other neat little things.

1-800-526-3967
Johnson and Johnson offers free booklets and samples, coupons etc....on a wide variety of subjects ranging from baby products to personal health care.

1-800-480-1802
Kodak. for information on the "New Parent Program".Includes discounts and coupons on Kodak photograph equipment and film.

1-800-282-4674
Osh-Kosh by Gosh. to join the parents club and receive free coupons and special promotional offers.

1-800-344-BABY
For Munchkin coupons (for bottles, nipples, etc.)

1-800-292-4794Free "Lansinoh" sample - For Moist Wound Healing During Breast feeding

1-800-985-2220Free "Bulb Guard" Safety Kits for Halogen Lamps
(request by postcard)

1-800-526-3967 Free J & J "New Parent's Packet" of Baby Product Coupons (ask rep)

Fisher Price Rewards Programwww.fisherprice.com/us/lovingfamily/promotions /
www.fisherprice.com/us/sweetstreets/special/

Feeding / Food:

1-800-356-2229Free Evenflo Product Coupons, Booklets and Information

1-800-523-6633
Beech Nut Baby Food. to receive rebate forms that you return with UPC labels to receive coupons good towards future purchases of baby food

1-800-344-1358Free $5 Rebate on a Case of "Babymil" or "Babysoy"

Formula:

1-800-242-5200
(Ext. 291) Carnation Follow-Up Formula for kids now eating more than just milk offers information pack and money saving coupons.

1-800-538-9852Baby Basics Formula

1-800-242 -200 (ext. 291) Carnation "The Very Best"Magazinewww.verybestbaby.com

1-800-547-9400Free Carnation Baby Formula Coupons

1-800-543-3112Free Carnation Baby Formula Coupons and Booklet (x010)

1-800-222-9546
Welcome Addition Club (Similac)www.welcomeaddition.com ,Free Similac, Isomil or Other Formula Coupons

Educational Materials

1-800-222-9123Free Mead/Johnson Coupons toward Enfamil, ProSobee,
Other Formulas
Baby Food

1-800-523-6633
Beechnut's mailing list, free coupons

1-800-442-4221
Earth's Best (baby food) newsletter, coupons

1-800-4-GERBER
prenatal pack, also for coupons later 1-800-443-7237

1-800-872-2229
Heinz Food Coupons and Booklet (press #2)http://www.heinzbaby.com/english/pdf...eding_plan.pdf

Beechnuthttp://www.beechnut.com/Special%20Offers/index.asp

Diapering

1-888-647-6763
Pampers

1-800-587-3721
Diaper Rash Ointment sample

1-800-544-1847 (press 1, 1, 1 )
Kimberly Clark (Huggies: to get to the automated
mailing list

1-800-990-4448
Kimberly Clark (Huggies) Huggies rebate form

1-800-777-2500
"Preventing and Treating Your Baby's Diaper Rash"
pamphlet, and a $1
off any size from Balmex,

1-800-587-3721Free Diaper Rash Cream sample from Xttrium Labs (in
Parents)

1-800-843-6430
Diaper Genie

1-800-544-1847 Free Kimberley-Clark Product Coupons,
Booklets and
Information

1-800-543-0480Free Proctor and Gamble (Pampers/Luvs) Product Coupons
and Booklets

Store Brand Diaper (Big Lots)www.thenurseryroom.com/Store/coupon.asp

Feeding Supplies

1-800-356-BABY or 1-800-233-BABY
Evenflo coupons and information

1-800-533-6708
The 1st years product catalog and coupons

1-800-222-0453
Playtex Product Coupons, Booklets and Information

1-800-526-3967
Johnson & Johnson for "New Parent's Pack" of coupons
and info

Medications

1-800-962-5357 Free Tylenol Product Coupons for Tylenol Products of
Your Choice

1-888-935-5543
Triaminic Free information and coupon

1-800-746-8888 (ext. 715)Free sample of "Zilactin" Baby Teething Gel

1-800-952-5080Free Baby OraJel Coupons for Cherry Flavor and
Nighttime Formula

Orajel Rebatehttp://www.orajel.com/baby/baby_rebate.htm !!!

1-800-842-3030Free Magnetic Dose Chart and $2 Coupon on Children's
Motrin Cold

1-800-754-8853
Little Remedies coupons, info, and poster (Little
Noses decongestant
aids, Little Tummys gas and nausea relief, etc)www.littleremedies.com

1-800-843-5678
"Just in Case You Need a Babysitter" Safety Booklet
ask for booklet
#12

1-800-843-7625 ext. 3076 For a "You're A New Parent!"
Guide from
Prudential Insurance

1-800-777-2500
"Preventing and Treating Your Baby's Diaper Rash"
pamphlet, and a $1
off any size from Balmex

1-888-344-BABY
"Your Baby's Development," a color booklet about child
development
from birth to 18 months.

1-800-292-4794Free Breastfeeding healing and soothing lotion
www.drypers.com to get on their mailing list. For
multiple births,
they have a one time offer of a certificate for a free
package of
diapers. Other coupons. Send confirmation of births
to: AHP, ATTN:
Drypers Multiple Birth Program, Box 8830, Vancouver,
WA 98666-8830.

MeadJohnson/Enfamil - 1-800-BABY-123

Drypers will send you coupons in exchange for your unused points from other diapers. Check it out. You'll get $10.50 in coupons for 50-125 points or $21.00 in coupons for 126+ points. There is also a link on the page for a Free Goodie Pack.
http://www.meadjohnson.com/nutrition...oninfants.html
"Enfamil Family Beginnings" Register to receive newsletter, coupons, etc. Also, go towww.enfamil.com/enfamil8.html for a free diaper bag at the hospital!

Ross Labs/Similac 1-800-BABYLINE "Welcome Addition Club" www.welcomeaddition.com They send you a starter supply of formula along with coupons. If your child needs to be put on Alimentum formula due to allergies, you can request a starter supply of that as well. (That is expensive stuff!!!)

Carnation "The Very Best" Magazine, free can of
formula coupons 1-800-
CARNATION (1-800-242-5200)

Gerber 1-800-443-7237 www.gerber.com for coupons for food, toys, and clothes. before the baby is born for a prenatal pack. After the birth you can when your baby reaches each of the stages 1,2,and 3 and they will send you coupons.

Heinz baby food: 1-800-872-2229 after your baby is born. They will send coupons.

Beechnut: 1-800-523-6633www.beechnut.com for new parent info and coupons. The web site will list any promos they have at the time.

Kimberly Clark/Huggies 1-800-544-1847www.huggies.com  you can be put on the mailing list bying or signing up online. other sites are www.littleswimmers.com and www.pull-ups.com Munchkins bottles and accessories, free coupons and pamphlet.

Evenflo 1-800-233-5921 or 1-800-356-BABY (not sure which is correct Playtex product coupons and info 1-800-222-0453 Zilactin teething gel free sample 1-800-746-8888 from last OCT. issue of Parents magazine 1-800-400-3430 free brochure on reasons for saving your baby's umbilical cord blood.

Childproofing kit for window blinds from Window
Covering Safety
Council 1-800-506-4636 Balmex 1-800-777-2500
Free pamphlet on treating diaper rash and coupon 1st
Years- 1-800-533-
6708 catalog and coupons Goodnights disposable diapersfree sample
and coupons 1-800-324-8783

K-mart birthday club 1-800-533-0143

Pampers- 1-800-PAMPERS www.pampers.com Ask for
coupons.
www.luvs.com sign up for e-mail newsletter. You can
also get info on
their promos 1-800-442-4221
www.earthsbest.com sign up for newsletter (this is an
organic baby
food company)
www.babyzone.com free info on pregnancy and babies.
Has a free stuff
category.

Get baby's first circus ticket for free! Send baby's
name, address,
and date of birth to: Ringling Brothers. & Barnum &
Bailey Box 39845,
Dept. FB Edina, MN 55439
www.babyzone.com - devoted to information on pregnancy
and babies.
Check out the Free Stuff category and you will find
many of the
offers listed as hot links.
www.beechnut.com - (1-800-523-6633) has information
about their
products and any special offers they have running at
the time. E-mail
or them for their new parent information.
www.gerber.com - (1-800-443-7237) - lots of
information you might
find helpful. You can join my Gerber from the web or
them to get on
the mailing list. You can for coupons each time your
child steps up a
stage in food.
www.earthsbest.com - (1-800-442-4221) - sells organic baby food. You can sign up for their newsletter on the web.

1-800-USA-BABY - Heinz Baby Food line. You can get a one- time new parent pack with information and coupons buying and asking for it.
www.luvs.com - Sign up on-line for their e-mail newsletter to learn about new offers as they come out.

1-800-233-5921 - Evenflo - Coupons and product brochures for bottles and feeding products.

Review: ALEKS Math TOS Crew

2010-12-13T20:53:00.000-06:00

The latest product that we have had the chance to review for the TOS Homeschool Review Crew was ALEKS math. ALEKS math is an online math program for K-12 students.

According to the ALEKS website:

ALEKS (Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces) is an online tutorial program:

Complete Curriculum Solution - Access to Full Course Library
No Textbook Required
Artificial Intelligence Targets Gaps in Student Knowledge
Assessment and Individualized Learning
Master Account - Monitor and Direct Learning Progress
Unlimited Online Access - PC & Mac Compatible
Allows Students to Toggle Between English and Spanish

Active use of ALEKS will dramatically improve grade performance and learning progress.

The ALEKS math program is not flashy, full of pretty pictures, or filled with animation to entertain. This is a straight to the point math education system that provides solid learning potential for the right child. Each student receives their own account so they can login and progress at their own speed. There is no need to repeat and review lots of unnecessary material with ALEKS, the system automatically moves the student through subjects that they have proven to have mastered. The use of pie charts gives the child a visual of their accomplishments and what is left to complete in the math course they are currently working on.

Parents can quickly and easily monitor the progress and attendance of multiple children from a master account.

ALEKS math provides math courses for everything from basic math facts all the way through high school trigonometry. They also have math prep courses for specialized levels if this is something your children require.

How we used the product:
As someone who learns math easily, I was incredibly excited about the math learning possibilities my 4th grade son would get with our free month trial. Notice I said, was. My oldest son, who is the only one that fits in the 3-12 grade range learns math completely different than myself or my younger children. He can only learn math when there is a verbal explanation for new concepts and lots of hands on assimilation opportunities. He requires lots of examples and opportunities to practice a new math concept. He can not see problems or solutions easily in his head, although he is making progress in this area slowly. ALEKS proved to be a bit discouraging for him because new concepts are not introduced verbally. All new concepts, examples, problems, and solutions are in black and white. My oldest son quickly got bogged down with deciphering new explanations and was not grasping the bigger concept of the lesson at hand. I regularly had to sit with him while he did his ALEKS lesson to give verbal reinforcement and explanation for what he was learning. ALEKS is supposed to promote and encourage independent math learning so having to sit with him for so much time was counter productive and a drain on our homeschool day.

On the other hand, I know this program would have been golden for my first grader had he had the opportunity to experience this program. He is gifted in the area of math so as a result needs little explanation or review when learning a new math concept. I am considering a free month trial for him to see if this is a program that he will enjoy. This is not to say that your child has to be gifted to get the most from this program. Quite the contrary, so long as they do not need lots of verbal explanations for math I think any student would do just fine with ALEKS wonderful math courses. In fact, I know of plenty of other homeschoolers on the TOS Crew that had success using this program with their children who are not gifted in math.

ALEKS is offering homeschoolers a free month trial ($19.95 value). Normally, their free trial is 48 hours but ALEKS is giving homeschoolers a special deal.

A subscription to ALEKS is:

$19.95 per student, per month, or
only $99.95 every 6 months, or
only $179.95 every 12 months.

Family discounts available

Be sure and read what other TOS crew members are saying about ALEKS!

TOS ALEKS Reviews

Review: Apologia Press Good Morning, God TOS Crew

2010-12-10T20:21:00.000-06:00

I have yet to meet a homeschool Mom who does not loves books. Likewise, Christian homeschool Moms generally love to get their hands on solid scripture based books that they can read to their children. My children and I were very fortunate to be able to review Good Morning, God by Davis Carmen and published by Apologia Press.

Good Morning, God is a beautiful story about a 4 year old boy as he goes through one week marveling at the wonders of all that God does from sunrise to sunset. This book can be used as a simple read-aloud to young children or it can be expanded into an eight day devotional with your children. To encourage using this book as a true devotional, the author has written several discussion questions which correspond with each day in the story. The main focus of this book is on Deuteronomy 6:6-7.

As a family we chose to discuss and reflect upon one discussion question each time we read this book. I was encouraged each day to hear my children talk about what each question meant to them and I delighted in the springboard effect of questions that inevitably happened after each reading of this book. Not only is Good Morning, God beautifully written but it is also enchantingly illustrated which made reading the book even more enjoyable. From our family discussions I made mental notes of biblical topics I needed to discuss and reference more often in our studies.

Good Morning, God is recommended for children ages 1-8 but can easily be adapted for older students especially in the discussion question sections. My 9 year old was almost more enthralled in this book than his younger siblings. Additionally, Apologia Press sells a coloring book to accompany this book which retails for $4.00.

You can purchase Good Morning, God by Davis Carman from Apologia Press for $14.00.

As a member of the TOS Review Crew I received this book for free from Apologia Press in exchange for my honest review. No further compensation was received.

If you would like to read what other TOS Review Crew members are saying about Good Morning, God be sure and visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog!

Good Morning, God reviews

The Patience of Motherhood

2010-12-07T15:10:00.000-06:00

My dear readers, I know it has been months since I posted anything containing creative substance here on my blog. The trials of life and motherhood have kept me away from my creative writing. I wouldn't have it any other way though. We are settling into our new house more and more everyday and we are expecting a new blessing in May 2011. With that said though, it feels great to have the creative writing juices flowing again in my little brain.

On my mind today is a comment made by an unassuming postal worker at my small town post office. Being a Mother herself, I know she did not mean any offense by her comment. And frankly, I did not take any offense to what she said. However, her words struck a chord within my heart and started my mind wondering, why? What was it that she said you ask? After realizing that my 3 kids and I along with our little dog had walked down to the post office she said, "You have the patience of a saint." My immediate response was, "No, I really don't, they are great kids." She could not be convinced otherwise however. So I left well enough alone, wished her a good day, and happily left the post office with my 3 well behaved (at that moment) children and always well behaved dog.

As we walked the few blocks home I reflected upon her comment and the sentiment in general regarding what Moms of "more than 2" go through on a daily basis. Please keep in mind I am not singling out those of us with more than 2 as being anything above those with 2 or fewer children. I am simply making an observation that society feels that those of us with more than the standard national family average of 2 children sacrifice or endure more than Mothers with less children (a sentiment with which I do not agree).

Two main thoughts about her comment came to mind as I walked home this afternoon. The first of which is, Moms of many do not have any more patience and understanding than those Moms with fewer children. We all make our own choices about our family size. The fact that I have 3 and soon to be 4 children does not give me any more patience than friends of mine with only one or two children. Mothers everywhere take each day as it comes to us. Each moment of our day is about protecting, nurturing, caring for, educating, and loving the children God has blessed us with. I should point out that stay at home Moms do not have any more patience or understanding than those Moms who venture off to work everyday. We all have motherly duties and those duties do not stop just because you are sitting behind a desk or bringing home a government taxed paycheck. Perhaps the lady at the post office today caught me in a "good patience" mood, perhaps that is why she said what she did. Honestly, I can tell you that like Mothers across the globe I definitely have days when my patience tank is run dry. I am not even running on empty those days, my tank has dried up and not even one more drop can be squeezed out. We have all had those moments, yes even those Moms you know who seem to always have it together. (that is a whole other blog post altogether) The patience I feel towards my children grows directly out of the vast and unending loving that I feel for them. Each day they are growing and learning. It is my job to shape and nurture that process. I feel a great sense of joy and accomplishment watching my children experience life. Patience for their mistakes and bad behavior is a beautiful gift God has given me. It does not make me a saint, it makes me a Mother.

The second thought that grew out of the postal workers comment was a bigger and more spiritual one. I do not have the patience of a saint, I have only the patience that God has blessed me with. God gives us everything we need at exactly the perfect moment in our lives; never too soon nor too late. When I went from a single woman to a wife, step-Mom, and birth-Mom in less than a year God was there. After the birth of my daughter God was there also, he gifted me the patience needed for a Mom with school age children and 2 littles, 2 and under. Yet again, coming this Spring God will give me the love and patience needed to lovingly Mother and homeschool 4 children. He has not granted me that level of patience today nor will he give it to me tomorrow, He will grant me the love, understanding, and wisdom needed for my life at just the right moment. I can not ask for or expect anything less or more. He gives me all I need at exactly the right moment in my life. How could we as believers ever ask for anything more than that? We can't and shouldn't.

Review: KB Teachers TOS Crew

2010-11-19T17:20:00.000-06:00

In the world of educational websites the options are nearly endless. While the options are almost limitless, the quality of most sites leaves a lot to be desired. As homeschoolers are time is precious and wasting time searching through a sea of educational websites does not typically rank high on our everyday to-do list. Imagine then, how excited I was when as part of The Old Schoolhouse review crew I was given the opportunity to review KBTeachers.

Initially I expected the average run-of-the-mill educational website. You know the kind, one full of busy work worksheets and lacking in educational content. Upon delving into KBTeachers my low expectations were blown out of the water! The first night I explored KBTeachers I could not possibly look through all of the wonderful resources and worksheets available for preschool through older students (roughly junior high). KBTeachers provides teachers with graphics and clipart, custom worksheet generators, activities, printable worksheets in a wide variety of subjects (even biology lessons), coloring pages, and handwriting sheets (printing, cursive, etc). No matter your subject matter there is sure to be a resource available on KBTeachers while will add educational content to your lesson.

How we used this resource:
Unlike other educational websites, I was able to utilize KBTeachers for all 3 of my children (ages 3, 6, and 9). Some days this option proved to be a wonderful time saver. If one of my children finished their schoolwork early or needed extra help with a topic I simply (and quickly) found a worksheet or activity for them to complete and enjoy. When my 9 year old needed extra cursive practice which our current handwriting curriculum does not support I simply printed out the appropriate worksheet from KBTeacher. When my preschooler needed something to color which corresponded to a lesson I was teaching her older brothers I found some wonderful coloring resources on this site. Lastly, when my 6 year old wanted a math lesson which his current curriculum did not cover to the depth he desired I was able to customize and print additional worksheets from him to complete. The more and more I used KBTeachers the more I realized the educational limits were endless.

The best part of KBTeachers is that much of their worksheets and resources are completely FREE! If you find that you want to use their premium resources you can purchase a premium membership for a reasonable fee.

At the time of this posting: 1 year $29, 2 years $49. If you pay with paypal you can enjoy their premium services for 10 days risk free. If you pay with your credit card you will have 30 days risk free to use their premium resources.

Be sure and check out the other wonderful reviews from my fellow TOS Crew reviewers!

TOS Crew KBTeacher Reviews

Review: Corps of Re-Discovery Fringe Pouch Kit

2010-11-15T22:12:00.000-06:00

As part of the TOS Homeschool Review Crew my boys and I were given the opportunity to review a wonderful craft item from Corps of Re-Discovery. The fringe pouch kit is a complete craft kit that when completed is an article I can imagine a frontiersman carrying during the frontier days. Corps of ReDiscovery was started by a homeschooling family inspired by their journey along the Lewis & Clark trail. They offer complete craft kits for items found during the Frontier era of American history.

About the product:
The fringe pouch kits includes pre-cut suede leather pieces, needle and thread. When completed the fringe pouch is a cute little drawstring bag that any child studying early American history would enjoy using. When complete the bag measures approximately 5.5" x 6" not including the fringe.

How we used the kit:

One cool and quiet day my boys and I decided to have some craft fun with our fringe pouch kit. Because there was only one item to complete and 2 boys, this project became a lesson in sharing and working together. What Mom doesn't love that! We read the directions that accompanied the kit together a few times to make sure we all understood how to properly put the pouch together (the directions were very clearly written). As the boys assembled the pouch they took turns in using the needle and sewing the pre-cut pieces together. My boys (ages 9 & 6) have never sewed so this was a wonderful opportunity to teach them about stitching, needle work, and sewing safely. While they worked we discussed what types of things they thought frontiersman would put in their pouch during those early American days.

Completing the kit did not take long at all, less than a half hour. As a craft inept homeschool Mom I truly appreciated the fact that this kit was complete. I did not need to hunt around the house for anything. We simply opened the bag and dove in. Our fringe pouch now carries everything from toy cars to rock collections.

You can purchase the fringe pouch kit for $11.99. If you are currently studying or will be studying early American history in the near future I highly encourage you to check out the other high quality craft kits offered by Corps of Re-Discovery.

Be sure and check out the other reviews from TOS review crew members for this and other items offered by Corps of Re-Discovery!

Corps of Re-Discovery Reviews

Review: Soli Deo Gloria Resources Map Skills

2010-10-15T18:58:00.000-05:00

As a member of the TOS Homeschool Review Crew I had the opportunity to use and review Map Skills by Soli Deo Gloria Resources. I was excited for this review because of our in depth geography study that we are currently doing. Map skills and geography go hand in hand.

About the product:
Map Skills is a complete unit study which includes map reading, supplemental math skills related to maps and geography, language arts, bible, and geography. This product is recommended for K-6th grade although the website indicates K-3rd. Once you read the until overview you will see that it can be used with K-6th graders. When using this unit study you will only need to add a standard math curriculum and a phonics program for a young reader. Otherwise, this product is a complete 2-3 week curriculum.

The objectives of this unit study include:

Learn basic directional skills
Demonstrate basic map reading skills at the appropriate grade level
Concept of "direction" (map and in life) will be discussed as it pertains to the bible
Demonstrate basic language skills related to map reading, geography, and directionality.

In addition to this unit study you will need to supply basic maps and atlases. There is also an optional workbook that you can add to this study. This workbook is optional and in no way is required to adequately complete this study.

How we used the product:

As I mentioned, we are completing an in depth study of geography this school year. In addition to being a fun supplement to our normal curriculum I knew my boys would learning to read maps better, something I have been lacking in our school studies. We currently school 5 days a week so this unit study took us about 2 weeks. If you school 4 days a week or take time off during the week from this study you will complete this study in 3 weeks or more. For us 2 weeks was the perfect amount of time for this in depth study. I did not purchase this optional workbook and did not experience an issue learning from this study.

During our 2 weeks of study our school room was transformed into a map reading haven. The walls were labeled with directions, names of local and far away towns decorated our walls, and my boy's ability to read maps soared. Since completing this study I have noticed a considerable increase in my boy's ability to read maps that we encounter in our geography studies. No longer am I explaining basic map characteristics, they are both adept at reading and translating the maps on their own. This aspect has obviously added a tremendous amount to our overall learning.

I was thoroughly impressed with the completeness of this unit study. I have purchased or received for free other unit studies that are sorely lacking in certain aspects of the unit. Kim Kargbo at Soli Deo Gloria Resources has done a wonderful job with this unit study!

Pricing Information:

$14.00 for a spiral bound Map Skills book.

$11.50 for the Map Skills ebook.

I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

Please visit The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew blog to read more reviews on Map Skills.