Home School- Y or N?

So, I am seriously considering home schooling Lydia. The demand for a decision is at hand. She starts school next year but depending on what I decide, I need to start preparing now.

The delima...Okay, so, I know some who have been home schooled and did very well. In fact, one might say they excelled in comparison to other kids their age due to home school. But I have to weight the pros from the cons. My feelings of sending my baby off into the world of sex, drugs and childhood ridicule might be a little self centered. I hate to see her leave my side for a moment. And yes, sex, drugs and childhood ridicule are very much a part of the environment even at the young age of 6 years old. Don't believe me....ask the Mom that lives down the street from us. Her 6 year old came home on Friday and announced that she knew what sex was. Apparently, another youngster on the bus told her that she and her brother have sex. Hmmm, that has to make you wonder. And I consider myself to be a part of a decent neighborhood. Sure, there are a few questionables on the street but overall, it's a nice place to live. Do I really want to subject Lydia to this kind of environment? One that teaches her that morals, dignity and respect for others are a joke? Or, do I want her to learn in a safe and clean place where I can teach her about sex when the time is right? I want her to have friends and socialize. Be able to function in society with her peers but, I want her to do it with good influences. Kids are followers. The learn what they see. Their environment helps shape them into the person they will become as an adult.

I just don't know what to do. I still want her to be able to go have fun and get out away from the clutches of myself. I think this is a monumental lesson for them to learn. It helps develop a sense of independence and exploration. Lydia has stage fright of the unknown. She's terribly shy around anyone she doesn't know or isn't around very often. I want her to learn to break out of that. To be able to participate in school events and pop that bubble she is in. I would just like to preserve her innocents at the same time.

Any opinions, thoughts or ideas would be very helpful.

Barracuda

I love my baby Barracuda "Cuda". He hates being alone! I sleep on the couch with him about half of the time. If I'm not, he sleeps with Lydia. He's such a baby. I want him to stay little forever.

Well, yesterday was very sad for us. We took the little Forest(Lydia named her) to the vet. He kept her over night in an incubator and gave her some sugar water.....she didn't make it. It was very hard but I know we did everything we could to help her.

On a happy note, we got a new kitty tonight. We haven't quite named him but he is a looker! So darn fluffy. He's a Blue Tabby Persian-11 weeks old. Possible names on the list....Zander, Sumo, Gismo/gremlin(jason thinks he looks like one)...umm, Lydia thinks Grey kitty is sufficient. Any name ideas? Here's a picture.

The Fur-Baby

So, we are totally consumed with our furry 4-legged friends lately. Our Asia had 5 little babies this last litter. We are very concerned about one of them. She's so sweet but she kind of just stopped growing this last week. She weighs in at a whopping 5 oz. So, we thought maybe she wasn't getting enough to eat with the other 4 crowding her out. Now she just doen't try to eat. So, I went and got her some formula and a bottle and have been trying to get her to take it but she is reluctant. The others have started running around and playing but she just lays there. We are so in love with her and I will just hate it if she doesn't make it. They are only 4.5 weeks. Isn't she pretty? I would love suggestions if anyone has any!

Treatment

http://www.4women.gov/faq/pcos.htm

This website has great information on PCOS and treatments available.

There are no absolute causes known for PCOS. Likewise, there is no cure for it either. For that matter, there aren't any medications dedicated to this condition. The best they can do is substitute medications that help regulate cycles and treat as needed for some of the other symptoms women may have.

Because I do want to have more children, there is really only one non-evasive treatment available. I am on Metformin three times a day. This should help with my insulin resistance lowering testosterone levels and hopefully regulating my cycles. If I am lucky it could also help me ovulate as long as all the other before mentioned ducks are in a row. It usually takes about three months. At the end of three months I will continue the Metformin and start on a fertility drug called Clomid. Clomid is used for stimmulating ovulation. They only give Clomid under careful observation and only for about 3 months at a time. This means that if I do not get pregnant within that time frame, they will stop the Clomid and I will then be referred to a fertility specialist.

I am trying to stay positive about the whole thing but I will admit, it is hard to be optimistic.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The concern is the lack of knowledge and treatment available for PCOS. We are striving to get the word out so more women will be treated for this syndrome, due to the fact it can lead to life threatening conditions and diseases. Please read and learn about it. You may know and love someone who has this syndrome.

"Polycystic Ovary Syndrome" or PCOS is a metabolic disorder that affects a womans menstrual cycle, fertility, hormones, insulin production, heart, blood vessels, and appearance.
PCOS is the most common hormonal/endocrine problem in women of childbearing age. An estimated five to 10 percent of women have PCOS. Over 5,000,000 women suffer from PCOS. That's 1 in every 10 women. Many go undiagnosed.

There are many symptoms of PCOS. You may have only a few or all of them and to varying degrees. Listed below are the symptoms associated with PCOS.

-Multiple ovarian cysts - that can cause ovaries to be 2 to 5 times larger than normal ovaries
-Irregular or absent menses - some women have normal regular periods whereas most will have some changes to their cycle. Sometimes bleeding is heavy but it can also be lighter. The periods may be or become irregular and may stop altogether. In the teenage years this may be normal and can delay diagnosis of PCOS. When chronic anovulation (lack of egg being released regularly) occurs the lining of the uterus (endometrium) may thicken and may lead to abnormal cell changes and an increased risk of uterine and endometrial cancer as women age.
-Infertility - this is usually related to the lack of egg release or ovulation.
-Sleep Apnea and/or insomnia
-Acne - can increase on face and body with the increase in androgens
-Weight Problems - two thirds of PCOS sufferers are affected. The weight gain is usually in the abdominal region. This carries a higher risk of cardiovascular disease including high blood pressure and heart disease. The weight gain is associated with the body not processing insulin normally.
-Hirsutism - is an excess of hair on the face and body due to the excess in androgens. The hair can increase of the sideburn area, chin, upper lip, around nipples, lower abdomen, chest and thighs.
-Insulin resistance and increased chance of diabetes
-Alopecia - loss or thinning of scalp hair in a male-like pattern.
-Acanthosis Nigricans - velvety, hyperpigmented skin folds
-High blood pressure
-Multiple hormone imbalances

If untreated, PCOS can lead to heart disease, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, diabetes, depression, and breast cancer.
Stop PCOS Ignorance-Educate Yourself-Spread the Word