Mood:  a-ok

What would you do if:

• You had a 14 year old that is getting on the internet, downloading things, even learning to program. Dad and Mom have been keeping tabs on him and so far he has been more than above board and honest, but you can't look over his shoulder 24/7 and you want him to be safe from the bad things on the internet.
• You had a 9 year old who is just learning how to search for cheat codes on the internet and loves to play online games. He doesn't really get on anything bad, but is he really safe?
• You had a 4 year old who loves to immitate his brothers and can play a video game with the best of him. He doesn't even know how to get on the internet, but what if he learns from his brothers?

These are real concerns that Sarah and I have about our boys. The three scenarios above are true. However, I'm sure that every parent has similar worries. So? What do we do? How do we make sure that our kids are really safe?

Enter the PG Key! So, what is this nifty little thing pictured above that looks almost like one of those memory sticks? Well I can just tell you what it claims to be able to do and go from there. We had some mailing issues where our first package somehow went to the wrong address, and, when we finally got our PG Key, our computers went down. I am not allowed to download anything or install anything on this borrowed computer so I can only tell you what it's supposed to do then write a follow up article when we try it out on one of our fixed computers. Which hopefully will get fixed very soon!

I hate to copy and paste from a website, but that is exactly what I am going to do since I really have no experience with the PG Key so far. Here is what the website says:

PG Key Program Features & Functions:

• Simple, easy to use solution that any parent can use- Just plug it into the family or child's PC and immediately create a safer, supervised, kid friendly environment.
• A total solution that gives parents everything they need to follow the advice from experts.
• No annual fees required.
• Website blocking, filtering, access and time control, notifications – 10 essential parental controls are activated.
• Designed and endorsed by experts from law enforcement, education and children’s and family psychology.
• Works with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7

Now, let me tell you why I am super excited about this. I like the idea that it is easy to install, has no way of over riding it (I've heard of some really smart children that can do that) and that it has time control so that I can control the time my kids are on the computer. Those are all very appealing to me. But, as I said before, I'll have to wait a couple weeks before I can really try it myself. When I do, however, you all will be the first to know what I really think.

So how much is this nifty little thing? How about just $49.99 plus shipping? And, there are no monthly or yearly fees, that's it - Just $49.99. Still not convinced? The website says that there is a free trial available. Just click here or on any one of the hi-lighted links above to get to it. Okay, now for the kicker. Even though I haven't used it yet, there are loads of other TOS Homeschool Crew reviewers who did. To get to their reviews just click here. Happy Home Educating and look for my full review soon!

As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew I was sent a free PG Key in order to use and review on my blog.

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Mood:  don't ask

I had a review due today but I've been sick. I suppose I could have written it while in the prone position resting, but my mind hasn't been real clear all day and I thought better of it. I'm feeling a little better tonight so I'll give it until tomorrow morning to write it.

This review, however, isn't just any normal review...it's rated! But, don't worry, it's not X Rated, it's...

PG

That's all I'm going to tell you though. You'll have to check back tomorrow!

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Mood:  cool

What does it take to get you excited? You've seen those commercials for Publishers Clearing House. Would winning a million dollars excite you like the people on the commercials? Well, by the reaction of the people in the following clip, you would have thought that they had won the sweepstakes and you know what? For them it was the sweepstakes. What was the thrilling news that got them to react that way? They just got the news that someone sponsored their child. In the commercials on TV the people win $10,000 or more but you can make a family in a Compassion country feel like they've won the lottery for just $38 a month.

Watch the video first. It's a little fuzzy, but you'll see enough. Then click here for more information on how you can sponsor a child and make a family feel like they've won a million bucks!

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Mood:  a-ok

You know that from time to time I divulge secrets about myself or my past. Some are serious, but most are fun. Well, I'm about to post another secret. Are you ready? Here it is. When I was young, I wanted to be a zoo keeper! Yep! It's true. Actually it was either a zoo keeper or a forest ranger. I loved the outdoors. I still do. Oh, I'm not an adventurous one that likes to go on 25 mile hikes to see a waterfall or anything like that, but I do like to be outdoors and be around nature. I am still fascinated by God's creation. That's why I was excited when I found out that we would be reviewing the Download-N-Go unit study, Terrific Tigers.

Now, I've told you in my past Download-N-Go reviews that the author, Amanda Bennett, has done a fantastic job writing these unit studies. But, there is just too much to do in the time they say you are to do it in! She recommends a week. In fact each Download-N-Go study is divided up into five days. The problem is that if you try to do even half of what she recommends it would take you forever. Terrific Tigers is no exception. There is just so much.

There's really too much to even try to include in a review. That's why I said a few reviews ago that I was going to try to focus on on aspect of these great unit studies in each review. In this post, I'm going to focus on the "Internet Resources" section that is included at the end of each days study.

Before I do, however, let me remind you of what is included in each one of these studies. As I mentioned before, each study is divided into five days. Each day highlights one aspect of the theme. For Terrific Tigers the five days are:

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Mood:  a-ok

Well, we got the results back. For those of you who may be knew, I have been blogging off and on about my three sons' health problems. We are a very unique family. All three of our children have had fairly serious life-changing things happen to them.

My oldest was stricken with a rare eye cancer at 15 months old. He is now 14 years old and cancer free, but has an artificial left eye.

My middle, 9 year old, was diagnosed with asperger's syndrome about two years ago. We had been struggling and going from doctor to doctor for years with out any satisfaction. Finally we know what it is and are learning how to handle it, but it has been a difficult journey.

That brings us to our four year old. Very early on he seemed like a normal toddler. Until about a year ago when he was stricken with a severe rash and fever while we were out of town. A quick trip to a pharmacist solved the rash and fever, but his behavior changed overnight. We have taken him to doctor after doctor and still don't have a satisfying diagnosis, but he is doing okay.

Recently we had some genetic testing done with him and found that he was missing part of his ninth chromosome. We worried and fretted until we could finally get with the geneticist to learn more. When we got there, they told us that this was very rare and they didn't have a whole lot of information on it yet. They wanted to testing on Sarah and I to see if he inherited the problem. Well, we got the results back yesterday. And it's all my fault! I am missing the same part of the ninth chromosome. It came down from my line. That still doesn't help the problem much, but at least we know that I turned out...uh hum...fairly normal, so that can't be the main problem.

So, we're still trying to find out what's going on. All the boys are in some type of therapy - either physical, occupational, or speech - and all are doing some better. We have learned some more significant things recently that I'll talk about in another post. But for now, you can blame it all on me...it's all my fault!

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