16yo son is a year round competitive swimmer. Pools here have been closed now for a few weeks. Some of the team members, including my son, had a Sectional meet in mid- March that they had been training hard for and were on taper when USA swimming canceled all meets. This disruption has been really hard on the team and the kids. Dryland training workouts do NOT substitute for the in water swim training that happen several hours per day/ 5- days per week. The Senior group coach is doing his best to challenge the kids and keep them engaged during this time out of the water with daily zoom meetings and dryland workouts/ etc, so that is appreciated. We are lucky that we are an active duty military family and so far, the gyms on post are still open with strict protocol in place. So I am working out with my son daily doing Crossfit workouts as well as strength training. Hoping this does not go on for months and months. Just several weeks out of the water makes a huge difference for these swimmers and their endurance. It is hard all around

All of my children have had the series ( 1 step-daughter, 2 sons)... no complications or side effects and yes it was a series of 3 I believe.

We were recently stationed (Army) in Alaska so we have a white Christmas here. It isn't snowing currently and none is projected in the next week or so but we've had snow on the ground for weeks and weeks now. It is also currently -15 :huh:

I started feeling bad last Saturday evening. By Sunday it was full force flu :( I spent the next several days in bed with a fever, chills, aches and upset stomach. The general malaise/ lack of energy lasted about 6 days in total. Hope everyone is feeling better soon!

Hello, this is for my online World View class. 1. To whom or in what do you attribute the ultimate authority in your life? 2. What benefit, if any, is there to you for following that ultimate authority? 3. How do you determine right from wrong in your life? 4. Why do you choose to do right even when it is hard to do? If you do not wish to publicly answer you can message my mother. Thank you for the answers. From~ Skyler.

DS- Queens University of Charlotte and also committed to swim with their Men's swimming program! Major: Exercise and Sports Science Allison

DS was accepted to both Carthage College and Campbell University with academic scholarships. And was also not only accepted at Queens University of Charlotte ( private DII school) with a generous 4 year academic scholarship BUT he has also committed to the Men's swimming program as well!! It's been a good week here :)

I am sorry to hear of the possible diagnosis... praying for you. If you do find that it is ALS and want to speak with someone that has been close to ALS, feel free to PM me. We moved back to NC in 2012 to help my mom with the care-taking of my father, who passed away from ALS. It was a very difficult disease for not only him but our entire family. As hard as it was, there were also so many blessings in so many ways. Hugs....

I am doing almost the bare minimums this Christmas season. We live in NC and my husband is leaving for his new Army post in Alaska in February and then heading off for a 9 month deployment soon after. I have a son leaving for college this coming summer ( :crying: )... all while my 13 yo and I are making the 4000+ mile drive to Alaska in June. Mom moved in with us after my Dad died in 2013 and she is not moving with us so we need to get her moved into her own place this Spring. I have a house to get ready and put on the market before we leave for Alaska.... and I homeschool my 13yo son. I am more than overwhelmed this year with so many CHANGES. So... we have a tree up with lights- and that is IT. I am not doing ornaments or decorating anything in the house. I bought everything online mostly and am not doing the crazy in store shopping. I am NOT making homemade gift bags for people complete with tons of homemade breads, treats and cookies. I don't do Christmas cards and we never receive any from people anymore anyway. The in- laws live only a few hours away from us and they have put in no EFFORT to see us or our boys since we were stationed here 4.5 years ago ( the closest we have lived to them in 12 years)... so I am putting in no effort to remember them this season. And I am not making a huge meal as I did for my family/ extended family for Thanksgiving. Nope, I want to enjoy this Christmas so a spread of appetizers it is and then I can sit down and enjoy my STEELERS game!!!

I am so sorry for your loss. Yay for your adoption of your toddler! How bittersweet all of the feelings must be. Hugs Momma :grouphug:

My husband has been an active duty soldier for 21years. He has his conceal permit and carries everywhere he is legally allowed to.

I haven't read all of the replies but wanted to send you some hugs :grouphug: My Mom lives with us now after my father passed from ALS about 3 years ago. It is very difficult to deal with aging parents. My grandmothers are both still alive as well ( in their 90's and widowed) and really need to be moved into some sort of assisted living situation but refuse. It is a mess in many ways :( I just finished reading this book last night and highly recommend it! I was able to relate to so much and also had some giggles too while reading... definitely a bonus. Cant We Talk About Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir by Roz Chast

Add me to the list of meeting my husband online through a dating site. We are going on almost 12 years married :)

My husband has 21 years active duty Army and we have been married 12 of those years. Between the deployments, trainings, field time, year-long unaccompanied tours, 13 hour days.... I just want to say I COMPLETELY GET IT!! The jealousy bug bites me too and I have to work really hard at being thankful and joyful for the 'place' God has me which is at home with the family. :grouphug:

My parents were married 43 years before my father passed away. Both sets of my grandparents were married until my grandfathers passed away after 40 years of marriage. MIL and FIL divorced one another when my husband was 7yo.My MIL married and divorced twice. My FIL is 10 years into his 3rd marriage. I am remarried and have been for 11 years. My first husband walked out when I was 30 weeks pregnant with my youngest son. I agree that reading some of these posts makes me sad.

Wow... Tara....that's crazy.!! I never thought schools really just passed on students though I had hear it happens. I appreciate the responses and think I will just allow him to make up 2 of his larger assignments/ projects that carried a heavier weight and calculate that in the grade so he is passing this semester. He is a motivated student in a lot of ways but he is also a competitive swimmer that trains 3 hours a day 45 miles away and I think he was just feeling burnout with this particular class and not being honest with me. Thanks again ladies!!

Thanks for the reply. Gives me some options to think about. I definitely want the course on his transcript.

My son took a class this year and did well the first semester making a B+ average. Well this semester he didn't put in the work and blew off a few assignments so he has an F this semester. His overall average for the year is passing though. Do I award him a full credit for the year? He put in more than enough hours even with the F for this semester to count as a full credit. The class was intense with weekly projects that took many, many hours to complete. I am torn on how to record this on the transcript? His other classes were at a local private Christian school where he has a 4.3 GPA this semester and a running GPA of 3.9. Any advice is appreciated.

How cool! We hosted an exchange student from Austria a couple years ago. It was a neat experience. However, I have to admit that the coordinator who was supposed to be looking after/ checking in with the exchange student was a complete joke.

I struggle with anxiety too :( Just wanted to send you some hugs as I also totally relate. :grouphug:

I am sorry that your daughter is experiencing so many canker sores. I am 40yo but have been dealing with multiple canker sores at one time since I was your daughter's age. They are awful and really make you feel miserable. Today at my dental cleaning, my hygienist advised to add L-Lysine to my regimen. I knew that lysine was used for cold sores but didn't know it was also successful with helping canker sores. She explained that it helped to boost the immune system. I also use a colgate peroxyl mouth rinse to help clean them out which gives me a little relief. Finally, there is a prescription gel that the dentist can write as well that seems to help healing time and brings some comfort to a painful mouth. I hope you are able to find some relief for your daughter soon. I can't speak to celiac or other possible deficiencies as I have no experience with it, but I agree that speaking with your doctor may be a good idea and definitely couldn't hurt.

I agree that using her competitive gymnastics as an extra-curricular is the way to go. I have a competitive swimmer that trains about 18-20 hours per week. He will be likely swimming in college and we are using his swim only as an extra-curricular. I did, however, use some of his hours of crossfit and dryland training, along with mud runs and hiking that he completes on his own as PE credit.

Just wanted you to know that you are not alone in suffering from these. I also have these on occasion in the same areas that they affect you. When they are obviously ready to be popped, I take a warm bath and then use a sterile needle and follow up with soap and warm water. I allow that area to air-dry. Loose fit clothing also makes me a bit more comfortable during those times.

I am so sorry to hear of how much your BIL is suffering. My family (husband is active duty army) was able to move back close to my father after his diagnosis so we could be a support system, both emotionally as well as physically. It was such a helpless feeling to watch the progression of the disease. By the time Dad passed, I was so relieved his suffering had ended, but I also felt guilty that I wanted God to take him. I understand. Hugs.

I haven't read the replies yet but just wanted to say your family will be in my prayers. ALS took my father about 2.5 years ago and it is a brutal disease. My father passed peacefully and I will pray the same for your BIL.