random chit chat

[Courtniko]

I dreamt that I went down to check on the milk with the dry ice, and everything was totally melted. Thank goodness that was not the case, the dry ice refroze all the milk. We gave DS extra filled bottles for daycare today. Hopefully we can use most of what thawed.

I hope the dry ice keeps it up till we can get a new freezer.

[Courtniko]

heartbot, that is awesome! Congratulations!

[Courtniko]

Sept 29, 2016 8:31:39 GMT -5 heartbot said:

Courtniko, glad you were able to save most of the milk! Do you have any idea how long it had been thawing?

I had gotten milk out 2 nights before that, so it was 2 days at most. Most things in there were still somewhat frozen, and most milk packets had some ice in them still. It was just the bags of milk sitting at the top of the milk pile that were totally thawed, but still cold. I am going to assume that they were not fully thawed for more than 12 or so hours. We used a bunch of the thawed milk today, and it all smelled fine. If it still smells fine we will use more tomorrow. After tomorrow we will probably throw anything that is left out.

We normally send him with 3.5 oz per bottle. I just checked his online log, and he took all 4.5 oz of his bottle this morning. We figured if the milk will go to waste anyways, might as well see if he will drink it. So I guess as a silver lining, we learned maybe we need to send more milk with him to daycare. Maybe he will sleep better...

[Deleted]

Sept 28, 2016 21:15:12 GMT -5 heartbot said:

I paid off my student loans tonight!

Congrats!! One reason I'll encourage the kids to go to school in Florida is so hopefully prepaid/maybe some scholarships should cover most of it. DH & I graduated without debt.

[Deleted]

heartbot, I get it. We were really fortunate that our parents set up some sort of assistance for us and we got great scholarships from the state. DH's grad school was covered but I didn't do grad school (yet?)

We're still hoping by the time DD1 starts college in 15 years they've dealt with the outrageous costs of going to school... it's horrifying to think how long so many people have to think about school debt.

[okiemama]

So, I went to urgent care last night with a fever of 103.3 was told I had a UTI. After the Tylenol I took for fever started wearing off I noticed my whole lower back was aching quite a bit. Dr. Google is telling me that means kidney infection...anyone ever have a uti with a fever? The discharge paperwork I was given about UTIs said if you develop fever or chills (uh, that's what I came in for?) to call your doctor...

[okiemama]

Sept 29, 2016 17:05:48 GMT -5 heartbot said:

Sept 29, 2016 16:09:04 GMT -5 okiemama said:

So, I went to urgent care last night with a fever of 103.3 was told I had a UTI. After the Tylenol I took for fever started wearing off I noticed my whole lower back was aching quite a bit. Dr. Google is telling me that means kidney infection...anyone ever have a uti with a fever? The discharge paperwork I was given about UTIs said if you develop fever or chills (uh, that's what I came in for?) to call your doctor...

Were you given antibiotics?

Yes, but from what I've read it takes a different kind to treat kidney infections.

[creepyeyeball]

adelbert Three sick kids is awful. I hope you at least stay well because the only thing worse than three sick kids is three sick kids plus a sick mom. Ugh.

[minae01]

Sept 30, 2016 4:28:06 GMT -5 adelbert said:

3 sick kids at the moment. #Blessed

That's awful. I hope everyone us on the mend soon and you don't get it!

[sammie]

Sept 30, 2016 4:28:06 GMT -5 adelbert said:

3 sick kids at the moment. #Blessed

You need a break ASAP! Hope they feel better soon!

[Courtniko]

Sept 29, 2016 16:01:24 GMT -5 buttercup said:

This may be flame worthy. I think education is important. My mom was a sahm and my dad was an engineer. They managed to pay for college for five kids by spending money wisely. I appreciate what they did.

I know people who spend what we save for our kid's college on sports and activities for their kids. Activities that most likely won't have any lasting effect on their lives. However, helping their kids go to college or a trade school will likely result in a higher income and more financial security for their kids. It drives me crazy when I see people waste money on expensive activities when they could be investing it for their kids.

I can understand this, but at the same time, sports and activities can make for a well rounded adult. It is healthy to be involved in sports, and it is good to peruse interests beyond school. And even travel, which I know you did not mention, is important for personal growth.
The other thing is that college applications want to see involvement in sports and activities.

ETA- there needs to ba a balance

[minae01]

abbeyd, sorry this is late, but A had a nasty bug that gave her diarrhea for a good week or two. The pedi was going to suggest a temporary switch to soy because of the milk sensitivity if she wasn't better by the two week mark, but we didn't quite get there. Hopefully DS is better soon!

[Deleted]

Sept 30, 2016 8:37:21 GMT -5 heartbot said:

In college, one of my friends' parents told her they wouldn't pay for any of her school because they were saving for her wedding. She didn't even have a boyfriend at the time. Saving for your daughter's wedding and not her college education...that I judge.

That is so messed up and really sexist. They obviously think it's more important for her to become a bride than a college educated person....

[scotty138]

adelbert Sending healthy vibes! I've got a cold and I'm doing my best not to get DH and the kids sick before we leave for vacation.

[creepyeyeball]

Sports. Travel. College Savings. You really can do it all. Even with five kids and one income. But sports doesn't have to mean expensive leagues and travel doesn't have to mean expensive vacations. Your children can see the world by camping at national parks for next to nothing but the cost of gas to get there. You can invest your time into teaching your kids about sports at young ages for free. DH has a boxing lesson with DS2 once a week where they go to a friend's house that has a garage converted into a gym. DS1 does weekly track and field training with his grandpa that was a collegiate track star. I majored in dance and do weekly ballet lessons with DD1. All of this is free and then if we realize a child has a certain fondness or talent for these things at these young ages, we can invest financially in them when they are older. But spending hundreds of dollars a month on sports activities for toddlers and elementary school kids? Seems silly when they will get more out of one on one time shooting a basketball with dad than they will running around for an hour a week with a bunch on kids on a basketball court.

To each their own, but I just think our culture thinks it takes tons of money to give kids good experiences. I disagree. Money helps, but time is more helpful.

We save what we can for college. DH works at a university. He chose that job specifically because we knew that employees' kids get to go for free. That is the free education we will provide for them, along with homeschooling, which could allow them to graduate HS early and take college courses for free before they turn 18. What we are saving can help with books and living expenses. If they choose a different college or path, that is their choice, but I don't feel we owe them free college. We did what we could to give them free options in a large family.

[creepyeyeball]

Also pro-trade school all the way. We are encouraging the kids to get an asdociate degree in a trade while living at home before the age of 18 and then going on for a Bachelors after that if they want. If the world goes to pooh, you can always feed yourself with a valuable trade!!

[Courtniko]

I hope everyone gets healthy quickly adelbert

[okiemama]

Sept 30, 2016 12:28:44 GMT -5 @pennygirl2013 said:

okiemama, how are you doing? Are you feeling better?

Definitely feeling improved in general, but back pain is the same or worse.

[creepyeyeball]

Hope you feel better soon okiemama

[craftcrazymama]

Saving up for and paying for your kids education is very rarely done here. As a rule most kids get a student loan for University if they're going. It's almost a rite of passage. And on the flip side, most kids I know do some kind of sport activity and none of them run cheap here. Just for my step son we have spent thousands on football (soccer) fees, kits, tournaments etc. But have no plans to put anything aside for his education beyond paying school fees for his current schooling up until Uni.

Its a little ironic given I believe strongly in education and the fact that providing it can mean a massive difference in someone's life, and personally am less inclined towards paying huge amounts for activities that don't have to be so expensive but I also believe our children having to find their own way to fund their higher education makes them commit to it more than if it was funded by their parents.