Drop a really big rock or similarily heavy object on it. I've had to do it a few times with a heavy big brick we have in our driveway and it sucks but it's instant and you don't have to really deal with the aftermath.

I just flippantly asked my son how many calories he needed a day and he said as many as he can get. YMMV :D

IME-6000 calories a day. HTH! LOL I'd assume the 3K, provide a ton of healthy food and fluids, and hope for the best. My nearly 14 year old son at 5' 10.5" busy active but not cardio active kid eats 3K on average and is naturally thin. We have chickens and he loves fried eggs, thank heavens.

I've had my share of crystal light and vodka too-it could be worse but it can be a whole lot better!

We've taken dry ice before-it kept ice cream frozen for three days in 90* heat. It's not cheap but it works well!

I'd use them!

We have a big two room tent that is super cozy-we also all sleep on thermarests and quality sleeping bags. We also just got cots for my husband and me, it's nice to just be up off the ground sometimes and it makes a storage area in the tent. We also bring a dining fly as a shade/rain shelter... makes a place to do boots/shoes without tracking in the tent. We also bring MP3 speakers so we can play music-I usually make a camping playlist of mellow tunes with everyone from Johnny Cash to Bonnie Raitt. Good folding chairs, a good folding table also. Ice cream ball for the kids sometimes. We always bring books and end up reading some of the time too. Earplugs if you have snorers in the family. I like to sleep in a soft fleece hat. Those perimeter mosquito deterrants. Good headlamps. Gloves. Solar battery recharger. inflatable pillow. multi-tool/leatherman for everyone. Big solar shower for hot water. Paper plates. Wine and beer. :D We have a set of stainless steel dishes and a dutch oven and we bring whatever we need for the menu that week. We've had everything from shrimp and steak to chicken and dumplings. If you can make it at home you can usually figure out a way to make it in the mountains! Pasta dishes, casserole, lasagna, ribs, fried chicken, taco salad, stuffed pork chops... sometimes we bring a cooler and sometimes we don't. We've used a burlap bag as a cooler for quick trips. We take our horses so all of our stuff has to fit space and weight wise on a pack horse-we bring three to carry all our stuff. We spend most weekends in the mountains all summer and fall-we love it!

I have no post-hyster problems at all, libido or anything else!

Constantly when I tell DH something and his response is "oh, really?" It's not a big thing but it's an annoying thing and he does it ALL THE TIME. It's such a non-response, there's no way to respond to "Oh, really?" with anything except "yes, really" and *poof* the conversation finds itself in left field. It's such a quick little way to swat the conversational ball right back in my court and make me repeat myself and that really is the core of the problem b/c another pet peeve of mine is having to repeat myself.

Depends on if it's annoying me too. LOL Usually I make the annoyer stop it b/c both my kids do it on purpose and I don't see the point in letting them instigate petty arguments. If it's something like breathing too loudly or using a flashlight to read in the car then I tell the annoyee to get over it.

I'm certainly not trying to talk you into a hysterectomy, that's a personal decision and everyone needs to figure out what's best for their own health. For me, I was more than happy to run the marginal risks of the surgery and not have ongoing medication and BC issues. But I wanted to reference what you said about training-I don't run (though I should) but we do pack trips with the horses into the mountains all summer and fall, usually every weekend. I chose to have my surgery in the winter so I would be ready to go the next summer and it worked out perfectly. I had a major surgery in part to also repair some adhesion problems so a much longer recovery time than most and I was still up to full speed within a few weeks. Now instead of missing out on that fourth week every month I can go to the mountains all summer/fall, my physical health is much better I think b/c it's consistant-before I had a week where I couldn't walk, ride or run; now I can do that every day of my life. I was more than happy to sacrifice a few weeks in a row to gain back all those weeks that I would have lost without the surgery.

I'm pro-hysterectomy and I DO think they should be routine. I think as soon as child bearing is over a woman should have the option to be done with the whole mess and the procedure should be perfected to the point it can be done in same day surgery! LOL I don't miss my plumbing one. little. bit.

When I was in your shoes I got a hysterectomy! Ablation procedure maybe? I've been out of the BC game for a long time but there must be some variations that are a help in this situation? You might also consider some hypnosis, self-calming techniques (or meds!) b/c I know anticipating the pain can make it worse. I'm sorry you have to deal with this!

I'd change it, no problem. He'll learn what "sit" and "treat" mean quickly, he can learn his name too! Sidebar-I have a puppy I'm trying to name right now and I LOVE the name Valley! I might have to steal that one!

We've always lived on farms and ranches and have had scads of animals; I've also worked in vet clinics many years. Lots of experience with the topic at hand. IMO, have them say their goodbyes before, they don't need to be there at the very end. As others have said, it's not always textbook and it can end up being more of a stress to everyone, including the pet.

I have five female dogs and one male-the male is a Great Pyranees 8 month old pup. So I'm dealing with a lot of strong personalities! I have few problems with the female issue, mostly it's juggling a dog with puppies and a guard dog and hunting dogs and herding dogs and elderly dogs! In your situation, you have to think of your older female dog-is she dog friendly, mellow, puppy friendly? then you might be fine with another female pup and they will be besties like my oldest females. You just about can't go wrong with a male pup neutered ASAP. I prefer females, obviously, so I have to manage them and referee the occasional problem. Congrats on your new family member!

AW poor kid, I'm glad she landed at your place! I can't add much to what your vet and you have already arrived at-I prefer some things to beet pulp but at the end of the day she's been transitioned onto it and is doing well so I'm not going to tell you to change it all up. If she's that young she will gain on anything you give her now. Amazing how people can let a horse get like that... I don't understand. I worked at an equine surgery center and our "weight builder" formula was one coffee can of senior and two coffee cans of steamed rolled corn twice a day with free choice grass/alfalfa hay! It blew my hair back when I first saw it but we rehabbed a lot of thin horses on it with full vet approval.

My grandma used to make pickled peaches by the half with skin on.. yum! I used to be able to find jars at garage sales or given to me but since the economy tanked I can't find them inexpensively ANYWHERE.

I'd keep soaking and rinsing with bleach water. It'll come out eventually!

I would suggest starting with some fruits and pickles-they're reasonably easy and safe to do and it will give you an idea of what you're getting in to. Pickled green beans, asparagus, cukes, carrots, jams, jellies, syrups (ie-the jelly that didn't set up ;)) are all fun and easy to do. I don't know WHY it's addictive but it is! You never saw such a hot mess in your kitchen as when you're canning... I cook all winter on a wood cook stove, just like the old days, but in the late summer when I'm using the gas stove for canning I sincerely thank God that I don't have to try to CAN on the wood cook stove! I vastly prefer to freeze vegies. Jars are expensive and I think it's cheaper and a better product to freeze the vegies. I also feel just a little safer knowing that pickled and sugared products are less likely to go bad. I've done salsa and it was fine but I get a little paranoid.

Very much agree!

a good first stage on desensitation would be plastic play bugs all over the house, then gradually in surprise places, then maybe move on to real bugs! I also agree to learn all you can about them.

the most solid I will go in the actively puking stage is (homemade if I can) chicken broth and saltines to a thick soup consistancy. Usually they won't even eat that. in recovery I will make bread pudding... but not until recovery.

My daughter had it done at 10 years old and it was a MESS! If I had known she had to deal with it I would have had it done sooner but nobody ever mentioned it!

I notice crabby people all the time too-I sometimes have to do business in our small local town and I hate it, I get the weird cold shoulder or a weird once over look and then the look away. When my kids were still in school it was awful. The town is famous for being very cliquey and that's exactly what it seems like. Over the winter I worked at a small medical office that was the same way and I ended up bursting into tears as soon as I got in my car to go home a few times, just thoughtless rudeness so many times. There were a lot of cute young women that worked there and it seemed like high school all over again. I live in Montana which is supposed to be so friendly... it used to be and I remember it... but it doesn't seem the same any more. I see it more in younger women and of course, the local small town clique. I try to avoid both! Sorry you've had enough of it-I certainly understand how it can just hurt sometimes. Hang in there!