This is exactly my sentiment. Just be real, for goodness sake! Stop trying too hard... trying to be deep. I mean, could you imagine someone talking to you in real life like this woman writes??? It would be very tiring. Just be honest and real and practical. Well, apparantly a lot of people love her writing, so maybe it's just me.

I feel the same way. I returned it as well before finishing it. I don't care for her writing style. It just seems so... overdone.

How does he run his business?

LOL :D I guess the answer is *FOYER*!

wow! that sounds so beautiful!

If you were building a house, would you make sure that the plan had a foyer of some sort? Or would you prefer that the front door opens directly into your (open) living space? Thanks for your thoughts!:bigear:

Well ladies, it turns out it was just from stirring with the spoon the day before!! UGH. I feel so badly posting now as I feel quite stupid! I did make an appt. with my doctor that day (afternoon appt). But as the morning progressed, I noticed my hand and arm started feeling sore and more sore. At that point I determined that it was from the stirring, so I canceled my appt. I've never had that weakness thing happen before so I have to say I was quite alarmed and stumped. I think it's really, really strange that my arm and hand would react like that to such mild exertion. Sunday, the soreness was quite intense. It still has me a little baffled. :confused: I appreciate everyone's responses!

Okay, I think I'll head to the dr. Thank you everyone.

It doesn't feel numb at all though. Just very weak. Like, it's heavy, and I have a hard time lifting it (holding a phone for instance is difficult).

Did you see my edit to the post? That I had used my arm in mixing with a spoon yesterday? Would that change your opinion? Could something like that cause extreme muscle weakness? Thanks!!

All morning I have had this arm and hand weakness thing on my right side. So much so, that I had trouble lifting my arm to my face to do my makeup. I also had trouble holding my makeup brushes with my hand. There isn't pain or numbness, just extreme weakness. Would you be concerned enough to go to the doctor? Or would you wait and see if it goes away or gets worse over a few days? I've never had this happen before. Thanks. :bigear: edited to say: after writing this, I was remembering that yesterday I was holding a wooden spoon in my right hand, and stirring vigorously for quite some time. Could that cause this kind of muscle weakness?? Seems strange that something like that could cause such an extreme reaction.

Our teens are not allowed to play video games at all. Hope that helps!

A doctor said my vitamin D levels were low last spring. So, I started taking 5000 iu of D3 a day. I've also started going to a tanning salon a few days a week just to up the D (not enough to get pink or tan). I take a multi-vitamin (liquid) and also take a magnesium drink at night (I have RLS, so started taking this for that). About tiredness... I feel tired and worn out the days my facial pain is especially bad. It's hard to say what feels normal anymore. :confused:

For a couple years now I've had chronic facial pain (TMJ muscles) with chronic headaches/migraines. Off and on for a few months, I've also experienced unexplained aches in my legs. It feels like I've just recently done a hard workout, but I haven't. Recently I had the flu, and with it came extreme aches in my legs and bottom. Since recovering, I still have the aches. Some days are worse than others, and some days I don't feel the aches at all. I always have the facial pain though. Since I've had the flu, the aches are worse than the every-once-in-a-while aches I would get before. I can't imagine why I would have these aches in the legs. Does this sound like fibro? I'm wondering if this is just how fibro starts out. I'm bracing myself. Thank you.

i didn't read all the replies, but have you thought about renting the house out? seems like that might be a good option for you. then, you can rent something cheaper somewhere else.

I'm noticing my daughter's teeth looking very yellow lately. She is 11. She never drinks soda, tea or coffee. She has a very, very LOW sugar diet. She brushes twice a day. She's never on antibiotics (I think once in her life when she was in preschool). She's never had a cavity. So, obviously, perfectly healthy! What could cause yellowing of teeth so young? Any ideas?? :confused:

oops, posted twice. disregard.

thanks so much guys!!

At night, can people from outside the house see shadows through honeycomb blinds? Would love to hear your experience with this. Thanks!:bigear:

Is there such a window covering like this? It's for a bathroom. We want the coverings to cover the window at all times, and also allow some light through. BUT, we don't want it so that people can see shadows when it's dark outside. Make sense? Any suggestions?:confused:

Okay. I can see that I guess. I still can understand being at wit's end and doing something like that. I don't think she needed so much condemnation. I guess I felt sorry for her when she was being bashed is all.

I wasn't saying the verse was about adoption. I know it's about sin. When dealing with our adopted child, sin can come into the picture (from our responses). When our adopted child has an "issue", sin comes into the picture (with his actions and his responses). Sin taints every aspect of life. I was merely sharing our own experience and how we've dealt with things. I think that is what the original poster was asking for. Should she only hear from people with bad experiences??? Or only from people dealing with RAD? We are a real life family who has adopted an older child internationally. One older than our bio. What else can I say? Only what I know firsthand.

The woman who sent her son back to Russia was also dealing with a child with RAD. I was simply commenting that I see little difference in her actions and those taken by others in sending a child to a group home. Was the harsh judgment (by people here on this board) against her only because she didn't endure the child for multiple years first?? I have no judgement for parents who decide to send their children away. But I also hold no judgement for the single mom who sent her child back. That's all I was saying.

I find it somewhat humorous that when the news story broke about the mom sending her adopted Russian child back on a plane, the general consenses here was that she was basically a wretched person for doing so. Yet, this thread is filled with people talking about sending the child to full time group care. I see little difference! :confused: I actually can understand why an adoptive family might choose that option, but also can understand why the single mother would send her child back to his country. It can be very difficult to manage an older child, so I can see the natural tendency being to send them away. Anyway... we adopted an older child than our bio children, and yes it's been difficult but not beyond what we have been able to bare. He was 6 when he came home with us (from another country), and I'm sure there was alcohol involved in the prengnancy, thus making learning a little more difficult. But we are Christians, and believe the verse that states God will not tempt you beyond what you are able to bear... that goes for adopted children, brain damaged children, etc. 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to us all. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. He will always provide a way out. In our most difficult times with our adopted child, we always remind ourselves of this verse. In both us handling the situation, and the adopted child handling whatever it is that he's dealing with. God's Word is truth! What a relief. Is adopting an older child risky? Yes. Is it hard work? Yes. Like anything else in life that has value. Our bio children have not suffered because of our decision to adopt their brother. They have grown richer from the experience. We could have taken the easier road, but we would have missed out on the blessings that come through trying circumstances. You really have to seek the Lord on what He desires for *your* family. If you are His, He will work all things to the good. I could never tell another family if they should or should not adopt an older child. I can only tell them of our own experience. Our adopted son is now a teenager and doing very well. He is a believer, and a hard worker, and we have very bright hopes for his future. And it's all by God's grace.