Lego Separator for Arthritic Hands

I initially bought this Lego separator for Blue to help him separate those annoying flat Lego pieces. What I did not anticipate was how well it works for me! I am having a lot of dexterity problems again with my hands and this thing is fantastic. Now I can sit and play Lego's and not be completely useless :-)

First Homeschool Purchase

I just made my first homeschool curriculum purchase last night! I am so excited that I finally got up the nerve to just do it. I bought RightStart Deluxe Level A, and the Deluxe A-B Add On. Who knows how long shipping will take to get to Alaska but I won't start looking for it for another several weeks.

Blue is in 2 day a week co-op preschool but will be increasing to 3 day a week next fall. I don't know how much math we will get to but I wanted to start reading the text. This way I can discuss math with him in our everyday life using their terminology and concepts.

I am so curious if he will be a mathy kid. He loves puzzles and Lego's and seems to have an engineering type of personality. I figure if this isn't a good program for him it will work for Red or Yellow. That is one nice thing about having more than one child, if you mess up on a curriculum choice you have more shots at having someone like it.

To good health

What a year 2010 was! I finally received a diagnosis of Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease, most likely Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis. After a year and a half of worsening hand pain, stiffness, and loss of mobility I finally have an answer. I definitely went through a phase of feeling like I was a hypochondriac or at the worst crazy. I am on several medications that have helped the hand pain but have unwanted side effects. I hope once I have this disease better controlled life will start being a little easier :-( It has been a very hard couple of years and my body is tired. So here is to a healthier 2011~

Coming out of a major flare

Sorry for not updating lately, I have been in a major flare the past two months. I hope I am coming out of it but am still recuperating. Looking forward to getting back into blogging!

Mila and Hambone

I just found another book trying to explain to young children about Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The first is "Why Is Mommy Staying in Bed Again Today?", and the second is "Why Can't Sharon Come Out To Play?", discussing pediatric Fibromyalgia. To order check go to Fibromyalgia Treatment Center.

My oldest son is starting to ask questions about why Mommy is still sleeping, and why Mommy can't do this or that? It is so hard to know what to tell him. Do I tell him I'm sick, do I tell him I'm tired? I just don't know what to do.  

Grocery Shopping with a disability

Here are some tips I've come up with for grocery shopping with Fibromyalgia and/or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome:

For numbers 1-5 do these on separate days so you don't get too tired or have someone else help you.

1. Clean out refrigerator to make room for what you are going to purchase.

2. Make a menu schedule for the week.

3. Write down a grocery list according to area - baking, soups, produce, deli, frozen, etc. (this cuts down on wandering around the store in a fibro fog haha).

4. On your calendar write down what day you are having what, which cookbook/recipe, and page number. This way whomever is cooking knows right where the recipe is.

5. Get ads, coupons, grocery list, and re-usable bags together and put in car.

6. Drive to the store and park close to the door, *don't forget the items from step 5 Wink!

7. If having a bad day use the electronic wheelchair at the front of the store, don't be embarrassed when it makes that beep, beep, beeping noise as you are backing up.

8. Make sure they bag frozen foods together and anything that needs refrigerating.

9. Have a bagger help you out to your car and unload your groceries.

10. Once home take in the frozen foods and those that need refrigerating. If you have the energy unload the rest, if not take a break and finish later!

11. Yay, you did it!!!


Does anyone else have suggestions for making grocery shopping easier?

Read-A-Louds

I feel like I am ready to pull my hair out!!! How in the world do you decide what books to use for read-a-louds for your children. There are so many book lists I am completely overwhelmed and I am just looking at PreK-1st! I 've looked at lists from:

-Ableside Online
-Simply Charlotte Mason
-Living Books Curriculum
-Oak Meadow
-Tanglewood
-Winter Promise
-The Well Trained Mind

And of course numerous books that have more book lists! So what I am trying to do is to go through these sites and some books and try to find the books they all have in common. Then I am going to make a list of the fairy tales, story books that I want to purchase and then a list of books to check out from the library. Once I compile this it should be smooth sailing for the next couple of years...of course until another book list comes out :-)