Just to provide another option. Claritin is very ineffective for my son, Zyrtec caused very odd and weird side effects, Allegra was okay. I did not want to go the Singlulair route. Last year we started using D-Hist Junior. It's a more natural one. I got mine on Amazon after 7 or 8 people told me to try it. It has worked SO well. You can give 1-2 tablets twice a day. We vary the dose depending on if he has a flare up but he has been very stable since being on it. Just another idea.

I'm fairly non-confrontational, but obviously this needs to be confronted. I would probably be tempted to "blame" it a bit on school. I would probably say, "You know, we've been super laid back with our schooling so far but are going to start to do quite a bit all morning, M-F and then have some quiet/rest time after lunch. As a result, little Johnny cannot come over in the mornings or early afternoons. Thanks for your understanding. If he does, open the door, say you are not available, say goodbye. Do not for any reason let him in your house. Now school may very well be some very intense block building :) Who cares? It's your day. Then, I would also say, "because of my schedule getting busier, I can only watch little Johnny one afternoon a week for 3 hours (or what have you...and this only if you want to). Please check with me ahead of time to make sure that day will work. Thanks!" Other ways mentioned are definitely more direct. But since I'm kind of a wimp...this is probably what I would do. Actually it's kind of what I do. When people ask me to watch their kids on days the ps is out, I often say, "Sorry, we have school that day." This should be enough. We are educating our kids. It's a job.

Thanks for the replies. Yeah, the sudden onset was very odd to me. I can't think of any falls I've had anytime in the near past. Honestly, I'm sure when I was an early teen I fell off horses I was riding and ice skating once or twice. But that was probably 20 plus years ago...don't know that it would flare up now. I really don't think I've ever had tailbone pain in my adult life. I'll keep an eye on it. No redness at all, just tenderness. Hurts if I sit back, mildly uncomfortable when I walk, bending to pick something off the ground is a no no for sure. Also I'm fine laying on my sides but not flat on my back. Again, it is not as bad as last night, but definitely uncomfortable. I'm planning to either call doc or chiropractor Monday but if something seemed worse, any fever or anything I'd go this weekend. Urgent care is only open til noon today so my time for that has been missed. It would have to be ER at this point and at this point I don't think I need to do that. Thanks!

This is so bizarre to me. I had a totally normal day yesterday. It was busy and active and I felt fine. However around 5:00 I was sitting and talking with friends for an hour or so and just couldn't seem to get comfortable sitting down. After I stood up, my tailbone area felt a little sore. Within an hour, I was in serious pain. Hurt to sit, to lie flat, to bend over. I haven't had an sort of falls, injuries, pregnancies, etc... lately. I didn't even work out this week. The area is tender to the touch as well if that makes any difference. I really haven't had any indication that I can think of over the last few days that anything was wrong. I took some alleve last night and stayed in positions that weren't painful (on my side lying down) and this morning is a little better but some positions are still brutal if I forget. The rest of me feels fine. Has anyone had this happen? Any thoughts? Treatments? I guess I'll call the chiropractor Monday...or would this be a regular doctor thing?

Baked chicken drumsticks with yummy seasoning, carrots baked with dates and coconut oil, seasoned rice, sugar snap peas. Kids and dh also getting crescent rolls.

Yes, this. I've done this for the last two years and will do it again. It doesn't take too long to become a qualified tester, I test the kids at home, and then send them in. Results come back fairly quickly now that they email them to you (I think 7-10 days).

Yes, this. I've done this for the last two years and will do it again. It doesn't take too long to become a qualified tester, I test the kids at home, and then send them in. Results come back fairly quickly now that they email them to you (I think 7-10 days).

When my mom watched the kids for us a couple years ago for close to a week, it was over the summer--will it be for you too? We put the kids in a Vacation Bible School in the area for the mornings. She was good with them for the rest of the day but you could then schedule a teen to babysit a couple afternoons too. Then your parents would just need to do dinner/bedtimes on those days. I prepared virtually ALL meals ahead of time. I made a ton of pancakes and such for breakfast, plus easy cereal and oatmeal. Lunch I think I made bought some lunchables and those freezer sandwich things (can't think of their name). Anyway we never eat things like that so my kids were excited and it was easy. I made freezer meals for the week and I think left money for her to order pizza one night and have it delivered. I felt like if she was watching them, I could try to take over all food prep. I even bought paper plates and encouraged her to use them. I just tried to think of things that would make it a little easier for her. Glad they're willing to do it...I'm sure they'd appreciate any way you can make it easier for them.

I took it for a long time for Lyme as well. My bottle said the same. I did it a couple times on an empty stomach and thought I was going to die. I talked to my doctor and he said it wasn't necessary to take it on an empty stomach. He said to take it with as little food as I could and still keep it down...so not a Thanksgiving feast, but enough that I could handle it. Also doxy caused EXTREME sun sensitivity for me. I know it's January, but keep it in mind. I got the worst case of sun poisoning after I had put SPF 75 everywhere...but on the knuckles of my hands and toes...it was ridiculously crazy. Just keep that in mind til you know how you react.

We do many of the things listed above. Probably the highlights: --Just don't go to the store. --When I do go, use my list, stick to it, and plan ahead for any good coupon deals. --I cut my husband and my two boy's hair myself --I groom the dog myself --I buy all clothes at thrift stores --As a family we don't eat out. My husband and I do for date night some, but even then we try to go cheap --Always evaluate...do I really need this? Could I get it cheaper? Could I borrow it? Can I wait awhile and think about it?

Even though you can't go into the office why don't you call the on call doctor and talk to them? They'll obviously be closed tomorrow too and it seems like you need some answers. Hope all goes okay!

Or for little odds and ends in the car? Like tissues, hand sanitizer, mini first aid kit, couple snacks? I've seen them before and thought they might work for that. Or for a holding spot for mini electronics (ipod, camera, etc...) So weird to ask what you're using it for. I really can't imagine doing that.

:grouphug: This is the first Christmas without my grandma. As a child growing up, I remember my dad always telling her (nicely) that she did too much. She really did--she gave me an obscene amount of gifts as a child. I told her the same thing (but not with much force...it was just who she was) about my kids. For her, her love language was gifts. She LOVED to give gifts. Sometimes they were more expensive, in later years they may have been quite a few things from garage sales. I noticed the other day how much emptier it looked under our tree this year...and realized that was why. It is so very sad for me. Not the absence of gifts, but her absence this year. I fully agree, OP, with all you said. There were years she went too crazy with gifts, but we found ways to nicely donate what we didn't or need or be creative. It just brought her so much joy. She is greatly missed this year.

We reached our breaking point a year ago. We had BCBS and it was going up to 1000/month with a 5000 deductible. I have Lyme and nothing to do with that is covered (a fortune) so not only were we paying 12000 a year in premiums plus close to 5000 each year (we always just missed somehow) plus all my Lyme. It had to end. So we switched to Medishare. We've been happy so far. We pay 325 a month (should be 405 but we qualified for the healthy benefit and save an extra 80 a month). 2500 family deductible. While my Lyme is still not covered (kind of a given), anything I submit whether covered or not does go through their discount system. So I just had 1500 in lab fees...but I paid 750. For us it has worked so far. I know several people who have had it for years and have been very happy with its coverage, one through a very bad broken leg/surgery and another through cancer treatments. Just a thought.

:grouphug::grouphug::grouphug: I have chronic lyme. I find the lack of understanding of it so utterly frustrating.

One thing I forgot. We often get games from Redbox for $2 a night. It's a nice way to try some games out without actually buying them. It is a special treat for the kids for a night or two over the weekend.

My kids (8, 7, 5) love Super Mario Bros. and any of the Lego ones (Lego Batman, Lego Star Wars, etc...). One of their very favorites though it Active Life Explorer. Comes with a mat...you don't need a remote and has a party mode where lots can play. Really is quite a good workout once you get to the higher levels. My kids play it a couple times a week in the winter for exercise--they will be literally dripping with sweat afterwards.

OP--I think you sound that you are trying to help your friend, I really do. Honestly? I'm not sure what I would do. Probably nothing unless we were very very close and I knew they really would be helped by saying something in a kind and gentle way. I had an experience with this with my oldest. He's very bright and a bit "quirky"--mainly he just has a huge vocabulary and knows too much stuff--so he doesn't talk about things normal kids do sometimes. Add to that when he was little he was shy so he didn't like to make eye contact with people he didn't know well (fine with people he knew, now he's fine with everyone). Well, we were seeing a professional for some reading help for him and she told me I really needed to have him tested for Aspergers because she was very concerned. We ended up doing extensive testing even though in my gut I really believed he was just quirky and did not have the correct symptoms (I read several books in the process). $1500 later...he did not remotely have it. Not even close. On one hand, I feel much better that I know since he is sort of quirky. On the other hand, it's a lot of money to be out, but I was so freaked out by this lady who seemed so knowledgeable that I felt I would be doing my child a great disservice to not find out. Later, I found out she was constantly telling people their kids might have it:glare:. That probably doesn't help...just my experience.

I'm with person A. I think there's just too many risks associated with holding two houses. At least it would be for us...not sure of your financial situation--maybe it would work for you. It is a pain to show a house and keep it nice. For sure. We have sold 3 and I really do get it. But, for a season, move stuff out, make the house look as nice as possible, and get it sold as quickly as possible. For me, the stress of waiting for the first house to sell would not be worth it. I'm sure others may feel differently.

Two thoughts... One, I have kids close in age to each other and they are constantly constantly playing as you mentioned yours are. I really feel that counts. How often do they really get to play during the school day at ps in a safe fun setting? So although they may not be getting large quantities of playtime with tons of kids, it may be quality with each other that will last a lifetime. Secondly, when we moved to a new area a few years ago we joined several things offered in our area and were making zero progress at friends. We kept seeing kids all the time but there was no depth. So, I took it upon myself to start inviting people over all.the.time (or to meet at a park). I did individual family to family play things as well as organized things for larger groups. This is what did it. In my home and at local parks with no classes or such to do we just talked and became friends...both the kids and the moms. It's been a really cool thing but it took a lot of intentional effort on my part but has reaped great rewards.

We always eat breakfast ahead of time--run to a nearby Publix there and grab some fruit, OJ, and such to go with the oatmeal. Maybe request a mini fridge for your room to store more stuff? We typically bring lunch, snacks, and drinks in. I usually pack a few "fun" things we never eat so it still feels special. Then we usually pay for dinner in the park. We just go with the lower cost places. My two boys might split one adult meal and my daughter might share with me. Anyway, we love Disney and have done it many a time creatively...but have very little money. So these are some ways we save and honestly? I don't feel it takes away from the experience. Oh, and I can't do dairy or wheat. I've never had trouble. They have tons of great options at almost any place. Oh and I have done oatmeal before and not used a hot plate...I get hot water from the coffee maker...just run water through with no coffee.

Without the amount of times listed, it's really difficult to make a judgement call. As a former classroom teacher, you would have those kids that would want to go all. the. time. Always at the worst possible times. I found it very hard not to always let them go (because you never wanted a child to have a problem), but it was incredibly disruptive to the other kids as they came and went (and then it would usually start a chain reaction of everyone else wanting to leave) plus it affected the child who was leaving by missing instruction time. It doesn't mean the child was not very nice but I did have times where I had to talk to parents about their child's frequent breaks and try to figure out what the issue was. Because if they are gone say 4 times a day for 10 minutes each...well, that does add up. Not saying it's the case with your child OP, but I can see both sides. Now if it's once a morning because they don't have good breaks...very much a school problem. If it's 4 or 5 times a morning?? Well, I would want to know if it was a physical problem or a different kind of issue. Hope it gets resolved quickly!

They eat 2 or 3 that night. They get paid for as much as they want to give me (last year was $1 per 7 pieces--each ended up with $5-$7 last year). Then they can have 1 piece a day til it's gone. If something looks totally gross and they don't turn it in...it disappears. It's worked well the last few years.

:iagree:

For the 12 year old boy in my life...he really just loves itunes cards or cash or candy. Not too interesting, but really what he wants. I agree with just packaging it well (or doing the itunes card with the great earbuds--that would be a great combination). Or I get several candy items...make it in kind of a bouquet shape all tied together and then put the cash or card in the midst of them. If you look on pinterest you will find more ideas than you though possible for gift cards/cash gifts.