I am SO happy for you! What an inspiration and a testimony you are to me and to others!!!!!!! Thank you for never giving up and showing perseverance! A very heart-felt congratulations!

One more idea... One of my sons was like this. If he thought I was by the door, he'd stay put, but if he thought I had left the door area, he was up and busy... So, we'd go through the bedtime routine and I grabbed a book and a chair and sat in the doorway having quiet time. I did not engage with him, just read my own book a while. I love soothing music, too. I have such beautiful memories of playing lullaby cd's for my kids when they were young! When my grandson comes over and occasionally spends the night I am either holding him and singing, laying next to him and singing or I put on soothing music and sit next to him.

I would add bread/dinner rolls and a tray of sides of olives, pickles, cheese and crackers...

I am home. Exhausted. A bit numb again, emotionally. Person I love is in rehab and wouldn't say good-bye to me, angry, on 24 hour medical watch for detox, etc. Please pray for Bee's Person for the next 30 days that there can be progress made, hope, a plan for the following several months... healing... Please pray for me. This took a huge toll on family life and marriage. I felt a bit hopeless last week, but dh and I am back on the same page, discussing moving forward and overcoming the way we see things differently and what we expect from each other and the kids, etc. That helps so much. There have been SO many times dh has been my bridge over troubled waters... I really need him to be that bridge... and to not lose hope. Thank you all so much, the prayers, thoughts, comments and hugs have meant more than I can say.

It has got better over time... my first couple of teens are now early twenties and they take time to let me know how much they appreciate and admire me... Particularly because they have started out in life and have seen first hand how hard it is to make your way away from home and mom's help is suddenly so much more golden... So, I got lots of loves from my older kids... I'm not so much a "card" person or even a "flower" person... I am a "just do SOMETHING that says I love you and thank you for what YOU do" kinda person...

2nd Update: Person is found and will hopefully check into rehab today.***

Update... Someone in my life is an addict in risky behavior and was going to get in rehab today... this person is now a missing person, on purpose... Didn't sleep much. Please continue prayers, Thanks.

She had done her research, had notes, spoke well (she called me right before... so cool that before speaking at her first press conference she calls her mommy!)... The senator took a liking to her and the senators assistant made an effort to "keep in touch"! Here is my girl with the senator and my girl speaking at the press conference! PS My daughter thought it was great that she and the Senator are the same size, since my girl is so tiny...

My daughter has become the university "poster child" for the reaction to tuition hikes and the doubling of the interest rate on student loans...

... at a press conference with our Senator, had face time with her... the Senator will speak about 20 minutes, then the platform goes to my daughter for 10 minutes... Three university students were invited, and my daughter was the one they chose to ask to speak! It's all happening this very minute.... this half hour... :001_smile:

I am very touched by all the comments and prayers. It's been a rough week, but I am making it through. Looks like some changes ahead that will not be very... umm... enjoyable... but, needed. I am thankful that I have a relationship with my kids that is very strong to where when very serious things come up, they can be honest with me, get mad and hate me when I take a stand, then continue on with me because they know how much I love them... Although, it's tough. Still not out of the woods... I've been horrified and think my hair is gone a bit more gray. I wonder how I can consider myself a decent parent half the time, yet know that some children only learn the hard way and that it's better for them to get bitten and have a safe refuge than to head out alone into the world, get bitten and perish... Thank you so much for the prayers. Honestly, I have stood next to my car, after shutting the door, ready to walk forward , praying, "God, please, please show me what to do... I have NO idea." Then I take another step.

My 2nd child, 20yog, sophomore at University and part of the journalism program... has been on the cover of San Francisco Chronicle... interviewed twice by them... been quoted on a billboard down the street from the University... been contacted by NY Times for a phone interview... went to the state legislature last week for a discussion... ... all regarding tuition hikes and the doubling of interest rates on student loans that goes into effect soon... ... and is the current "poster child" of this "topic"... ... and was contacted and invited to meet with the Senator in a very small group tomorrow for 20-30 minutes prior to a press conference where the Senator will speak, followed by my daughter speaking!!!!! This isn't political... it's simply regarding tuition hikes, interest rates and how difficult it is for students who are trying to earn their way through school... I'm so excited for her, for the exposure and here she is just a sophomore with all these experiences! Ok... Thanks for listening! :001_smile:

I have sheer lavendar drapes that flow down from the center point near the top of the ceiling to the sides of the bed... I love them! So pretty, so easy.

Thank you all so much... to browse through and see your names and avatars and hugs and prayers means a lot. If I stop and think about it, I get such horrible images in my head and start to cry... if I don't think about it much, I feel sick over it still... Prayers for me to sleep would be great, too.

*Update page 10* I'm numb. I cannot share details, pm's are fine. Had some shocking, disturbing, heart breaking, shake me to the core news today. It honestly tops the worst of what I've been through and that is serious... Please, please, if you pray, pray for me, that God will guide my path, cover me with peace, protect my family. Thank you ***Update... Someone in my life is an addict in risky behavior and was going to get in rehab today... this person is now a missing person, on purpose... Didn't sleep much. Please continue prayers, Thanks. *** 2nd Update: Person is found and will hopefully check into rehab today.*** ***And one more update at page 10. Next time I update, I'll start a new thread, I suppose!***

But... even if you use a second internal drive... at some point you will have a different computer, wont you? What happens then? I got Picassa, but it duplicates every single photo that I put on my computer... I put my chip into the computer to upload my photos and click on "import" and it puts them on my computer... then I open Picassa and it duplicates every single one there! That's crazy... what can I do to have them in just one place? (again, as of today, they are all backed up by an external hard drive...)

So, if I delete them from my computer files, they will still show up on Blogger? Hmm... I think I'll test it... lol...

My computer is bogged down and I will be working on that... I have SOOOO many photos! I have them all backed up currently on a separate hard drive. But, if I delete them from my computer, then they wont show up on my blog, right??? I will be replacing my computer within a year and want to know advice on photo storage... How do I store photos and still have them usable for blogger? Thanks for the help!:)

mom2hunangirls, you make me laugh!!!! Thanks! Yeah, I think the school does what is right, overall, and I understand why... I think it's okay to know that they did what is right, but also be annoyed at their tone, since we've got a few years' experience going on here, particularly with son. And a bit of clarity on the medication... The school always had an inhaler onhand, but son said this last week that his was thrown out. I was not notified or told to replace it. I don't know if it had expired or had run out, but I was never contacted regarding it. This son has only mild, seasonal asthma. He requires medication about 4-6 weeks a year, at the most. He's had one asthma attack in 13 years. He knows his body and his breathing patterns and capabilities, so I do fault him for crying wolf. He wanted attention and he wanted to not go to class. Did he shake the tree for fun... yeah... did it cause some mild wheezing? That's what he says. I do expect him to drink some water and watch his symptoms and report any changes in breathing. I was not bothered that he called me at all. He told me that they did not have an inhaler, I asked if he'd drank some water and taken a rest, sitting down and he and I decided that should be his next step. Anyway, medication will be taken to the office Monday with physicians instructions and I will write out a detailed course of action that I would prefer followed as well. Because I know my son and his condition. Now, my other son is a whole 'nother story. He can go from mild wheezing to hospitalization within half an hour. My heart rate increases considering the difficulties he's experienced with asthma, just thinking about it! Anyway... :001_smile: New day... follow up talks with son ensued... Sun and sky are gorgeous! It's the best time of the year!!!!!

My career minded daughter has chosen to stick with ear piercings... but got a tatoo on her lower back after she was 20. My not so career minded daughter, who is a lovely lady, got her nose piercing at about 18. She also did a tongue piercing, which didn't thrill be or her grandparents, but we love her dearly and that never changes... Just not what we would pick. I love who she is. My still evolving daughter who has given us a run for our money since birth... she has ear piercings. At 17 I allowed her to get a monroe piercing (upper lip off to one corner area). She has a clear stud to replace it with for when she is around people she knows find it more offensive. She asked for a tongue piercing and I said nope... not until she is 18 and does it with her own money, without my permission. (She paid for most of her monroe piercing). Well, she found a way to get it done regardless. Sigh. Parenting is one overwhelming experience at times. What matters at the end of the day is who I love and how I show it.

Oh, I'd be happy to take my son dry clothes if her were 6 or 7... even 8. But, not at 12. Nope. I believe it is inappropriate behavior to soak yourself thoroughly between classes at school... and then want you parent to bring you all dry clothes... at that age. I actually do know the dangers of asthma and another one of my sons has been rushed to the ER and has been hospitalized a couple of times due to complications with asthma and pneumonia. Perhaps both the office lady and I are annoyed with son and it comes across to each other... In any event... I have to sit and wonder what moms who work full time do. I cannot imagine that they drop it all and run to the school regularly or even from time to time. I know that we have to list who to call if we cannot be reached and who has permission to pick up our child... I plan to be working full time within a year and have to think things like this through... Thanks, everyone. I don't share my own POV in contradiction to anyone else's... particularly because I asked you all if it would annoy you... so I value all the responses! :001_smile: And next week something like this might not even be on my personal radar... lol.

I hear you... the school has to follow proper protocol and it isn't their fault that my son pulls these things... I do think that the office lady doesn't like that she has to call me, either, and maybe she suspects what happens as well and cannot voice an opinion about it... maybe they figure if I get called often enough I'll get tired of it and get son to knock it off! Maybe... PS It feels good to have just vented about it, too... :^)

I have no idea if they have a school nurse on staff... I keep getting this same office lady when these things come up... I am irritated because the lady speaks to me with this tone as though I am in the wrong for questioning and trying to avoid going to the school. Surely I am not the only busy mom... I'd bet most moms work full time! Last year son called home "not feeling well" and was not running a fever, so I said he had to stay at school. This was the day I was getting my daughter out of the hospital and bringing her and her newborn home. Son knew this and wanted attention, too. I had my phone off at the hospital and they called grandma to come get son, saying he was sick and coughing badly. Grandma gets son and brings him home, saying that son is very sick. Grandma leaves and son is just fine, never coughs once and is happy as can be, totally healthy! I am not kidding here. Totally healthy. I wouldn't be upset at the school for not calling me to tell me that he was soaked in the rain... because I know my son and he would do that... and has to have the consequences of it. When I didn't run clothes to him, he didn't do it again. If it happened again, I wouldn't take him clothes, either. I am still annoyed at the lady in the office. I do understand the other POV's... they have to act responsibly and err on the cautious side. I think, however, that I will ask the school counselor if I can write up a guideline list of when to call and what to do... sign it and all... I just am not up to playing "Wolf!" with them. Now, that said, if school called today and son was in the office with an attack, I would head right over and help my son. I am on my way to pick up the rescue inhaler now...

I currently have a very basic, plain cell phone that I use for multiple phone calls and texting... With a large family, my phone is in use a LOT and any time I have tried to use limited calls for less cost of a plan, a family emergency arises and I have to switch back to unlimited... At this time my ONE phone with unlimited talk and text is $103 per month. That is ridiculous to me and I am tired of paying that price. I have NO internet connection, don't use it for email, no GPS, no bells or whistles and it's that price! I am looking at two plans... either plan I might be adding a second phone to for a teen that would compensate me part of the due amount. Plan 1: $70 a month, includes taxes, GPS and email. Can keep same phone number and adding a second phone would bring total to about $110 Plan 2: $50 a month, including taxes, no GPS, no email or extras, unlimited call and text. Adding a second phone would be another $50, making it $100, but teen would pay $25, making my cost $75 I do drive around a lot and have often wished for a GPS. Money is very tight, though... I am having a hard time deciding.

Oh, how awesome!!! I remember my oldest two girls piano competitions and it is just thrilling when these moments hit! Thanks for sharing, it brings back the joy from years ago...:)