LOL...I'm Back!

Subhan'Allah! I guess when I take a break, I take a break, lol! Seriously though, life happens and my family is the most important thing to my heart, besides of course Allah!
Lot's of things have happened, we moved, we had my oldest tested for different things, and have found that she has Auditory Processing  Disorder. I have taken lots of time reading and getting as much info as I could on it as well as taking her to therapy. I'm so thankful after a year of therapy there has been some improvement, we are still not where she should be but we are hoping in time to get there. In a future post I'll write more on what  Auditory Processing Disorder is, and the therapy that my daughter has been doing, In sha Allah!
We are still homeschooling, which is taking so much of my time, and can be so overwhelming at other times. We are finishing up another year, the count down is on, 29 more days, In sha Allah. Then of course I have to make 2 portfolios this year, this is the choice I chose for my State. This can be time consuming and not fun, but it is nice to see a years worth of work all rolled up in one book. My oldest likes to look at her other portfolios. Then of course I need to get ready for the next school year. I will have 5th, 3rd, 1st, and a preschooler, it will be a busy one! Not only this, but we will be schooling in Jordan, not sure for how long we'll be there, I guess that will depend on how long the kids and I can handle not being with our father/husband. I'm sure that will be an interesting experience.
We got a cat, and all I can tell you that was the biggest mistake I ever did. She was very cute, but so annoying. I tried hard to not let it bother me, when she would get on my counters, table, on my clean dishes in the dish drainer...but when she decided to start urinating on my sofa, that was more than I could handle. I did everything I could to clean it, and even though we didn't seem to smell it, the cat still would urinate on it. After 3 days, I said she is going, but my kids cried it broke my heart, and I was willing to give it a new chance. I mean, we have had the cat for about 7 months, and she never did anything like this before. I even blamed it on happening because my son had an accident on the sofa. But...she just won't stop, so I said she has to go. There is no more and's, if's or but's,she is gone! I'm not really mean, she is just going to my mother's so the kids will get to still visit and see her, but I'll be able to live in my living room again.
I really did plan on keeping the blog updated, and In sha Allah, from here on out I will!

My Girls are Growing Up!

I know that I haven't written for a while, but I am giving little tidbits of things that have happened recently.

My 7 year old, wanted to make Pumpkin Chip Cookies, all by herself, and then her 5 year old sister wanted to help her. It was quite the amazing thing to watch, my kids growing up, Masha'Allah! My oldest was reading the recipe as well as measuring the ingredients, and then having her sister pour them into the bowl. Both girls did the mixing, and of course got help with putting them into the oven.
It's kinda bittersweet seeing your children grow up, knowing they getting more and more independant, need you less and less.
I am just sad that I didn't run and get the camera that day, but at least I have the sweetest pictures in my mind.
I just love my kids so much. Thank you Allah, for blessing me with them. Ameen!

My Break!

Assalam Alaikum,
   I am trying to get back to somewhat of a routine after having my little one, which has been more difficult this time, with having to school two kids right after having him, as well as kinda schooling, entertaining my pre-schooler. I have been lacking on the home front, and the house seems to have taking the brute of my time. We have just completed our 1st quarter of school, alhumdullelah, and it is just before EID-Al-Adha. I am thankful that it is working out this way, so we are taking a week break, YEAH!!!
I would love to say that I am really going to be able to relax, but that is just not possible, so I have told the kids this is the plan. I will clean the house for the next 2 days (because really I have neglected it), Then the we will all work together to get ready for EID, which will be fun inshallah. Then inshallah, I am all theirs, LOLS. I have agreed to play what they want, read stories...whatever they would like. Well, almost whatever they would like! :)
I still have do the homeschooling Portfolio, but am hoping to work on this after Fajr, when the kids are all still sleeping.
Being a Mother equals no breaks, but being a Homeschooling Mother definitely equals no breaks!

Science Curriculum

Assalam Alaikum...I wanted to share with you our science curriculum, I love it for it is easy to use, as well as being fun, but the best part is that my children love it and are learning a lot from it. We are currently using R.E.A.L. Science (LIFE). It was writing for non-scientist parents, and it is a lot of hands on. If you ask my oldest what her favorite subject is, it is Science, and she would love to do it everyday.
If you would like to check it out, click HERE !

Sharing one of our projects with you!

Plant Cell

                                        

Animal Cell

It's fun, and children learn best by having their hand invovled with the learning, other than just reading and writing.

Tongue-Tied!

Assalam Alaikum...I can't believe that it has taken me this long to get back on here. I have been super busy, mostly doing research, as well as homeschooling, and taking care of my family. My son was born tongue-tied, it was the 1st time anyone in our families have ever heard about it. I started looking things up, question our pedi, and even though he is bf'ing fine, we still thought we would have him clipped. Our pedi, and everything I have read made it seem so simple, and harmless precedure.
Anyway, our pedi, said she won't do it in the office, because if you don't do it right they could have speech problems. So she referred us to and oral surgeon. Well, my dh and both didn't really like him, not very personal. (We also felt it was because we were Muslim, we could be wrong though.)  He looked at it, and said they like to wait over a year, because they put them under, and if you do it earlier it affects their brain.
I asked about a local and clipping, and he said nope we can only do it when they are under and with laser. He said or we could wait until he is 12 and do laser.
I told dh, I will not put him under, even if he had speech problems, because speech prolems aren't serious.
   After seeing the oral surgeon last week, I called my pedi, and she then referred us to an ENT. So, yesterday morning we go and the nurses and the dr, we all so nice. They looked at my son, and explained even though he's not having and issues now doesn't mean he wouldn't in the future. That he could have choking problems while eating, speech problems (more likly a lisp)...He told us it is so much better to have it clipped at a young age. He told us he could clip it right then and there, or we could come back, but recommending it done sooner than later. Dh, and I agreed to have it clipped then.
Oh my how I felt like I had a knot in my stomach, and started tearing up. Dh, held him, while a nurse held his head and the Dr. clipped it. He did bleed for about 5 mins, but I was able to nurse him after that. He had to be held all the time after though, everytime, I put him down even for a second he would scream top of his lungs. He has given me a few smiles, but hasn't cooed like normal, and actually miss it. We usally have conversations a few times a day. LOL! So, hoping that today he will be back to cooing.
He did stick his tongue out which I was happy about, but you can tell that his tongue feels weird to him, because of the way he moves it, and then looks after. Dh and I agree that his facial features have changed a little too.
For the most part we are happy we did it, but I wish he never had to have it happen in the 1st place.
By the way, the ENT Dr., did mention that 95% of the time this is all that needs to be done to correct it.

Homeschooling!

How did I forget to post this?  LOL!

I can't believe that we have already completed a month of school. Time sure seems to be flying lately. I have to say I am very happy with my choice of curriculums this year, the only one I'm not in love with, is the second grade reading and phonics from Horizon. I like both K and 1st grade, but the second so far is just reviews, and it looks like it could be that way through the whole curriculum. My favorite curriculum is our science. R.E.A.L. Science (LIFE). It has been alot of fun with lots of hands on. My kids are all learning a lot from it. It's mostly for my 2nd grader, but I use it with my K'er and Pre-K'er, just don't give them all the paper work.
We have been doing what seems like a lot of projects with more to come.

I'm Back!!!!

Assalam Alaikum...I can't believe how long it has been. Life happens, that is why I haven't been around. I just didn't think that it would be this long.
So a little that has happened, I found out I was pregnant and was having morning sickness, I was just having trouble getting my normal things done, that I started staying away from the computer. Then my in-laws came and visited for 3 months. It was a wonderful visit, but extremely exhausting to me being in my last months of pregnancy. I had my baby and after getting the family adjusted had to get back to school. I am just starting to get my life back to normal. LOL!!!