Victorious 1's - Created Chaos

Multiplication Tables

2011-11-01T09:50:00.002-05:00

Although this is our 10th year homeschooling, I am in new territory when it comes to 5th grade work. You see, Andrew was in 10th grade when we first started to home-educate. He already knew how to read, write and he knew his multiplication tables. I remember learning my multiplication tables and that is exactly what I want our 5th grader to be fluent in: multiplication. I use Math-U-See

Pinterest of Interest - Yummy Chicken Recipe

2011-10-19T23:59:00.001-05:00

Yes, I spend enough time on the computer... reading blogs, IM-ing on Facebook and pinning on Pinterest. Interestingly enough, I get a lot of great ideas for our homeschool on Pinterest, as well as home project ideas and recipes. Speaking of Pinterest recipes... Made this the other day... it was delicious. And really fattening, even though I used reduced fat ingredients as much as I could. (

New to Me Website

2011-10-18T22:06:00.001-05:00

I recently stumbled on a great website about vaccinations and immunizations. I have learned more than I thought I would -- so I have to share it! http://thinktwice.com/ What I especially find informative is the section that explains how the vaccines are made. Funny what I have fogotten over the last year. Actually, not funny at all. Not at all. Allergies are not funny. Here's info on the

Cold Season Already?

2011-09-28T09:16:00.000-05:00

I have a cold. It's what I call a "head cold" and I almost never get them. During the winter months, I increase my resistance by taking extra vitamin supplements, including D3. I did not get a cold all of last year, but, I sure do have one now. (Sniff-sniff) I do not take any OTC medicines when I get a cold. I suffer it through and am generally better within 5 days. The symptoms are rough,

The Dentist is Not A Flouride God

2011-09-02T10:57:00.001-05:00

I took the kids to a new dentist, recently. Normally, when we go to the dentist, I prepare myself to be lectured and scolded because of our decisions to NOT use fluoride. I usually rehearse what I may need to say -- so that I am not caught off-guard and I re-familiarize myself with just how much money the lobbyists and dental associations actually make. This time: I did none of that. I simply

Changes - 1 at A Time

2011-08-10T12:44:00.000-05:00

This year has been a year of changes - more than I could have or would have even imagined, if I had imagined changes at all. Our family has moved to a new state, new home and new life. Big change. Due to this big change, I find myself needing to blog again. Remember -- blogging is my therapy! My kids need me, so here I am back to blogging. There have been many significant changes that have

Safe Mints - Yum Yum

2011-01-06T19:42:00.002-06:00

I'm always on the lookout for safe treats for my family, but - especially for Nicolas and especially this time of year, the after-Christmas let down. Long gone are the days of Christmas stockings that were filled with marshmallow Santas and holiday Snicker bars. Pears and pomegranates replaced the corn syrup filled sugary candies. And mints. And Christmas was good. In November, I found a

Propylene Glycol - Good or Bad

2010-11-11T10:26:00.000-06:00

Propylene Glycol. Are you familiar with this ingredient? You might be if you read labels as much as we do. Over the last 2 years, I've realized that we use many products with chemicals and ingredients that are harmful, carcinogenic and just plain old "bad" to use. Some additives most definitely are harmful and should be avoided ALL the time, whereas others are sometimes harmful - depending

Oh Tomatillos - Where have you been?

2010-10-19T08:29:00.003-05:00

Tomatillos. They were new to me, until last week. Now they are my friends. Variety is the spice of life... it's true. I had never paid much (if any) attention to tomatillos in the grocery stores. I thought they were just another type of tomato, or something... Something is right! They are something wonderful that my kids like to eat and this makes me very happy. For most children and

GF-CF-CF Mac and Cheese

2010-10-07T22:46:00.003-05:00

It's been 2 years since Nicolas has had macaroni and cheese. I had given up looking for cheese at least a year ago and had lost hope of ever finding cheese again, that is gluten-free, casein-free and corn-free cheese -- until just the other day... I found a new cheese at Whole Foods, and by all label appearances -- it looked acceptable. I was surprised. Bought it. Made it. The boy

Preventing Chaos

2010-09-17T23:39:00.001-05:00

Most of us know that it is so expensive to buy food for our kids with food allergies and intolerances. I used to think it was hard to find food that was: gluten-free casein-free corn-free free of artificial colors, sweeteners and MSG, etc. Oh, how we wish we could purchase everything we need from one store or retailer... or better yet, order it online from just one place! Dreaming... Well,

Adventures in Autism: CDC Vaccine Recommendations in Childhood Hits 70.....

2010-09-07T22:22:00.001-05:00

Adventures in Autism: CDC Vaccine Recommendations in Childhood Hits 70.....: "Ding! Ding! Ding! America wins a prize!!! CDC wants your child to have 70 vaccines by the time they are 18 years old! 70! ...50 of those..." I have been meaning to post about this... it still shocks and disturbs me. It's been almost 2 months since this news came out and I am still weak in the knees. ACIP =

I Wondered About This...

2010-08-30T01:09:00.001-05:00

I've been wondering how the unused flu shots were disposed of. I know that some people wonder about health care, about political parties, about the oil flowing... and I know many people do not worry or even bat an eye at questioning the safety of vaccines. I guess that I don't either... now. Now I know. I have known the last few years and I know who my child was, is and I know we cannot

Goodbye Summer - Hello Chaos

2010-08-29T23:56:00.001-05:00

For the first time in our 8 years of home-educating, I took some time off, away from what is considered "formal" homeschooling of Nicolas. I needed the break. Of course, we did not stop learning -- Nic asks dozens, if not 100's of questions each day and we participated in our local library's summer reading program. Yes, our special boy is a reader! And yes, he is obsessive with his reading

Scary Prayer

2010-06-03T23:49:00.001-05:00

Not sure what I think about this... but - it is something to think about, when I am not crushing supplements or pulling weeds out of the garden.

Our Newest Food I

2010-04-14T06:45:00.003-05:00

The last couple of years, I have been on so many bandwagons and tooted so many horns - and tried so many new recipes! Some we love and others are short-lived phases or temporary addictions. At first, it wasn't easy to find gluten-free and casein-free foods... but, when we added yeast, vinegar, MSG and CORN to our list of forbidden foods, it did get a little bit trickier. Now days, not such a

A Posting We Will Go... First: Dr. Wakefield

2010-04-13T23:10:00.000-05:00

The web, tv and papers are full of autism information this month. Or - should I say misinformation? Been a while since I have even had a chance to blog... I do not know how I get so busy, but - the kids have to remain my priority, so - the blogging often gets set aside. Since blogging is my therapy, and I do still get a little overwhelmed, I am back to blog, or at least today I am. I

Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s Interview on His MMR Study

2010-04-10T15:41:00.000-05:00

Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s Interview on His MMR Study

Remember 21 Jump Street Star?

2010-03-17T13:54:00.001-05:00

Good read over on Huff Po today... Shifting Focus: 8 Facts About Autism the Media Is Not Covering

The Greedy Do Not Surprise Me Anymore

2010-03-11T09:32:00.001-06:00

Read this over at The Age of Autism, this morning. I am not surprised and I have my own thoughts about why things happen. ((The love of money!)) I am living with my own thoughts each and every day, in our created chaos. I am living with an ill child... and sometimes I am so close to the situation, that I forget what "normal" or "usual" are. Really, broken pencils are the usual. Yelling,

Pencils

2010-02-26T10:14:00.004-06:00

For years, we have had pencil problems. We = Nicolas. It's just another one of those things that would be odd in someone else's home. Here, it's the usual. Notice I didn't say it was the norm!This is my dream pencil sharpener! Just look at this - it's a thing of beauty. Ahhh...There is not a day that goes by without a pencil getting broken. Usually it's just the lead, or should I say it is always

Food Label Lies

2010-02-25T09:15:00.006-06:00

More food label advice - for all of us, not just our affected kiddos. Same stuff I've been squawking about... imagine that.I've been thinking about adding more fresh and raw foods in our diets again. Thinking and doing -- not the same thing though...Can You Trust That the Ingredients are What They Say They are? You need to realize that some foods, particularly those making low-fat, low-carb

Can't Sleep

2010-02-25T02:49:00.000-06:00

I can't sleep.Found a video that I have never seen before... I see quite a few.

Haircuts, Dark Circles and Grumpy

2010-02-24T00:16:00.004-06:00

I need to complain.Not about the CDC, FDA or vaccines. Not about GMO's or crappy HMO's. Not about food labels, chemicals or ingredients... or any of the other negative things I deal with on a daily basis.Haircuts. I took Nicolas to get a cool little new hair style. He needed one and although he is 8 years old, he has only had 2 other haircuts in his life that I didn't cut. Being a former

Peking Acrobats

2010-02-17T22:46:00.001-06:00

Earlier this week, we went to see the Peking Acrobats, in the city. As always, it was entertaining and the announcer told the audience, of mostly children - to be sure to NOT try any of these tricks at home.Last year, we had great seats! Second row, to be exact.This year... ugh - the top row. Way up in the back...The girl never minds waiting. She's happy just being with me!Back to the

GF CF Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

2010-02-08T13:04:00.003-06:00

I gave up trying to find affordable granola bars without corn syrup. Sometimes I would find gluten free bars, and sometimes even gluten free and dairy free... but - the CO$T was a bit staggering, for me - especially considering how much an 8 year old boy can eat!So, we now make our own. I have 2 different recipes, but - this sweet, crunchy one is our preferred granola bar these days.Don't they

Keeping the Love Happenin'

2010-02-01T13:27:00.003-06:00

It's February - love month.Hubs and I went to a truly wonderful marriage seminar last weekend.Oh don't choke! It's wasn't boring at all... in fact, I laughed my face off!! I didn't realize how much we needed to laugh. There's a fair amount of "bad" stuff in our lives: reading labels, looking for "bad" ingredients, a.k.a. chemicals Nicolas is allergic to... and we've realized that many of the

I Can Fix A Lot of Things...

2010-02-01T13:00:00.004-06:00