We had heard that Toto was not going to be selling residential tubs anymore. Hope that's not true--our 1525's are really nice tubs (read about them here on GW). If you can still get a Toto tub I think you'll be happy with it! FWIW, we have a Kohler cast iron shower pan in our guest bathroom and it's nice, too.

I still have my stool too :), and I agree on the universal access sink height, which is in between low vanity (31 ish) and tall vanity (36) height. Its hard to say without knowing the layout of the bathroom whether the wheelchair accessible sink is feasible (say if the bathroom itself, isnt.) If you are in the framing stage you may want to consider both the layout and such things as blocking for handrails and such. It may seem premature, but my parents moved into a new house when I was in first grade and still live there. Now at 81 and 85 there are some real accessibility issues with the baths (and stairs) in a house that my parents refuse to leave. Watching my mother navigate some parts of the house is like watching someone climbing a rock wall...its not fun. I think you are really taking a lot of consideration if you are considering making modifications for your young children, so, look into making some accomodations for your parents (and yourself!) as you age, while you are in the process.

Re the question about pit bulls and rottweilers: Watch Animal Cops and Animal Precinct on the Animal Planet channel. The majority of dogs taken in because of owners not being to handle them are pits, with rotties second. The majority of dogs that the SPCAs on those shows have to euthanize are again, pits and rotties. Someone may be able to mention a collie or beagle that turned vicious and attacked, but it would be extremely unusual. Pit bull breeding is out of control - these dogs are sought for their aggressive behavior. I don't know if the same is true for rottweilers, but you couldn't pay me to have this breed around children or the elderly for any reason. Dogs are by nature aggressive and territorial. No amount of training can get rid of this instinct. It may never appear in overt behavior, but it's always there. I would never bring my children to a home with untrustworthy dogs, not even that of my parents. I would also not leave an older child alone with a dog unless that child had proven that he was the alpha creature in that relationship and was used to handling the dog. Here in California pit bulls have made virtually all the attacks reported over the past several years. That is, with the exception of the two presa canarios who killed a thirty-year old woman in San Francisco a few years ago.

From the Indiana Code: IC 31-17-5-2 Best interest of the child; in chambers interview of the child Sec. 2. (a) The court may grant visitation rights if the court determines that visitation rights are in the best interests of the child. (b) In determining the best interests of the child under this section, the court may consider whether a grandparent has had or has attempted to have meaningful contact with the child. (c) The court may interview the child in chambers to assist the court in determining the child's perception of whether visitation by a grandparent is in the best interests of the child. (d) The court may permit counsel to be present at the interview. If counsel is present: (1) a record may be made of the interview; and (2) the interview may be made part of the record for purposes of appeal. As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.15-2004, SEC.3. IC 31-17-5-3 Petition Sec. 3. A proceeding for grandparent's visitation must be commenced by the filing of a petition entitled, "In Re the visitation of _________". The petition must: (1) be filed by a grandparent entitled to receive visitation rights under this chapter; (2) be verified; and (3) set forth the following: (A) The names and relationship of: (i) the petitioning grandparent or grandparents; (ii) each child with whom visitation is sought; and (iii) the custodial parent or guardian of each child. (B) The present address of each person named in clause (A). (C) The date of birth of each child with whom visitation is sought. (D) The status under section 1 of this chapter upon which the grandparent seeks visitation. (E) The relief sought. I'm in the very early stages of this process in NJ. Indiana has a portion of the code that is very wise: the child may be interviewed and asked if he/she wants to see the grandparents! New Jersey doesn't have that. You're fortunate in that your grandchildren are older and able to speak for themselves. Mine are only 3 and 5 and as my attorney advised me there's usually no history from a child wherein he/she might have expressed a meaningful desire to see the grandparents. In NJ, the court can order visitation even though the family is intact, which my daughter's is - it's just extremely dysfunctional, with abuse, big-time anger problems, gender identity issues, denial and depression all going on. The parents deal with problems with other family members not by addressing them but by telling the family member that they cannot see the grandchildren, i.e., if you don't do such-and-such because I demand it, you won't be able to see the children. Or, because you said such-and-such about my spouse you cannot see the grands. Lots of emotional abuse, brainwashing and isolating going on. My attorney has advised that we will proceed to focus on the dysfunctionality in pressing our case to be allowed visitation, i.e., the parents cannot make healthy reasoned decisions.