Just a thought, why are all of you eating organic meat when only one person needs it? Its a pain but you just cook his seperatly. That would shave a ton off your grocery bill.

Well I put down a deposit on the apt today so were moving in the next 30 days! I got a chance to talk to the spec ed director who Ive heard good things about and they are open to slowly working her into the school even if its just 1-2 classes at first. I would be happy to do a mix of class and independent study if it means getting her into school successfully full time in the next year. Never though PS might really be an option before for her.

I could have written your post but were a family of 3 with a budget of $350mo we've had to resort to weekly trips to a foodbank that gives fresh produce. We dont do beef and eat chicken, turkey and fish, occasionally ham. Im building a grow station on a strong wire shelf to grow hydroponic lettuces and leafy veggies which are a huge part of our budget. You can grow from seed to harvest in 30 days this way. We rarely eat fruit, I buy bananas but thats about it. Its just to expensive period. I'd love to hit the fruit stand where I can get them dirt cheap and buy bushels and can them but I dont have the funds for the jars. I see you dont use costco, is it an option? I know here the produce there is way cheaper then the grocery store. They also sell the huge commercial loaves of udis gf bread for $6-7. Unless your avoiding legumes for medical reasons use them, they will help fill out a meal. Were trying to move over to paleo for medical issues and withour limited budget we have to cut corners and use soaked legumes which dont seem to cause as much an issue. Id also put a stop to snacking on sunbutter. 1TB is one thing, a bowel is another.

Nope. Said I needed to rest at least 24 hrs and feel better before running around. Felt like crap making dinner and dd8 just had to have an epic meltdown because I needed to put me first and go lay back down before I either puked or passed out instead of reading her all the vhs movie titles repeatedly while she made up her mind. Grrr

I got my head smacked good today when a door frame on the barn came off (finishing construction and we were trying to get the hay in the barn before heavy rain hit) it got me right on my forehead at the hairline. I knew something hit me but it didnt even hurt and the first word out of my moms mouth was "Do you need to go to the hospital?" I was still processing what happened at that point. I felt fine and got back to work. About an hour and a half later I started showing signs of a concussion. I learned that yes my mom is nuts. I asked to be taken to the hospital since symptoms were showing up rapidly. First rule when you suspect a head injury. DO NOT LET THEM DRIVE! Yes I actually had to argue this point with her as she expected me to drive half an hour down a busy narrow, windy mountain road myself. She was pretty ticked at me that my step dad had to take me in and "waste their day which they couldnt afford" (They are crazy busy with the farm this time of year and I offered to help get the turkey fencing done so they could focus on other stuff and get the babies out of the brooder since they are way to big to be in there) It was his fault the frame wasnt attached to the structure in the first place. It should have had at least a nail or something to prevent this exact thing when you are not actively working on it. It turns out I do infact have a concussion. Its not uncommon for symptoms to take a few hours or even a few days to show up. So please, if you get a good bang on the head, even if you dont feel pain, watch out for symptoms which in my case was neasua, foggy/drugged feeling, sleepyiness, chills and my vision was all weird. When the pain kicked in it was the rest of my head and neck that ached and not the point of impact. Im told I have a lovely blood red mark and flat swelling of the area rather then a goose egg I was expecting. I did ask the dr why it didnt hurt because that should have hurt and he said something about some type of shock, dont remember what exactly, I'd never heard of it. Im glad I didnt feel it though:) So I've spent the afternoon resting and watching old movies and I am bored out of my mind.

I might just take you up on that offer:) It will be nice to have our stuff back, were sleeping on blow up beds and its killing me. Plus im going nuts not having a decent kitchen setup. Havent been able to figure out where the boxes are in storage to bring some stuff here.

PF:) Just waiting for my last rental ref to come back and the place is ours. We passed the credit check and stuff, i've never seen a place so insistant on rental refs no matter how far back and the place I have the longest history is dragging their heels. Probably still pissed I refused to pay for carpet cleaning because it was filthy when I moved in and so was the rest of the place. I left it immaculate and got my full deposit back and was told not to worry about the carpet cleaning due to the place being filthy when I moved in (I have tons of pics to prove it and the move in report) after I got my deposit back the owner said I had to pay becuase her records showed it was cleaned prior to move in which it wasnt properly done and was documented. I refuse to pay for something that wasnt done. A white towel should not come off the floor black after "cleaning".

Thats what Im leaning towards but I need to see what supports they plan to offer dd14. When I say disaster im not kidding and socially shes about 2 yrs old. Anything short of a self contained classroom I think is going to be a problem socially. Doesnt help that shes tall, model thin, blond and pretty and the other girls gave her hell about it last time. Poor thing always came home in tears:( Im also worried about them coming home sick all the time. I lose my babysitter when we move:(

I still havent decided of what do to for my dd8 who loves PS and while bored academically she loves all the action. I dont love the constant illness she brings home from Sept-Feb then the cost involved from medicine to supplies . For dd14 PS has always been a disaster every time we have tried it due to ASD and mental health issues. We have her mental health stabilized and we should be moving into an apt in a school dist thats supposed to be wonderful for ASD kids for jr/high school next month or Sept. I am sick of the isolation because dd14 doesnt like leaving the house and its a battle to get her to do school work (or housework!) and she wont do work period if dd8 is home and frankly if im going to go through the hassle/expense again this year either both go to school or both stay home. Hs'ing just isnt working for us, i've got 8 years experience and the past year or 2 has not gone well, at all, due to dd14's issues. Since getting her ASD dx this year shes now getting 6hrs week therapy, were all getting counciling (this year has been very difficult dealing with everything going on from dd14 having severe mental health issues, me dealing with severe depression from all the stress, had to take 7 months off work due to dd14, ended up homeless, its been a really rough year). Both kids are also being enrolled in a behavior intervention program, dd8 copies dd14 and it makes life unpleasent to say the least. Dd8 also has sensory issues that are being addressed, half day long melt downs suck:( We have more supports now then we have ever had just this is all recent, like the past month or 2. Im told with dd14s issues I even have the option to enroll her into a K12 school and they will send someone out to do the work with her and keep her on track. (We have mostly used K12 our entire journey either with a hands off VA or independent for most of her classes). Being in the city means we can attend HS activities and our state allows duel enrollment so dd can take a class or 2 she will enjoy to force her out of the house and get her feet wet. I do NOT want to HS high school! We will be able to have a very different year but all I have known is not at all fun hs'ing that i've been forced into and my needs have suffered. Im not the most social person but I NEED another human IRL to talk to that doesnt involve treatment for my kids. I havent even been been out with another adult, doing something relaxing and fun in at least 7 years. Im tired of being alone. Hoping that by moving to the city I can get a support network in place, I've been alone most of this journey and I'm wore out and not looking forward to another year:( I'd love it if both kids could be successful in PS, I could go to work full time to support us and I'd get a break. Im tired of worrying over every little expense and having no wiggle room and feeling like im failing at hs'ing too because I cant get dd to do her bleepin work anymore:( Teaching dd8 at home is a workout as she needs to be kept in motion. On paper we should have a much better year since supports are being put into place but I've never had a great year and just the thought of another year of isolation... I'm dreading it.

It takes about 4 weeks to get off caffine and you realize how crappy caffine actually makes you feel. It makes you tired from morning till evening, it messes with getting a good night sleep which leaves you needing that morning fix more then ever. Ive been off it for 4-5 months now and I can tell you the few (3-4) times ive had caffine. Feel like total crap the next day. That stuff really is a nasty drug and you dont realize how much it messes with your life. Its not worth it but you dont realize it when your on that caffine high and feeling good.

It depends on the kid. At 12 I was taking care of an infant from dawn till evening and a 4yr old alone and it wasnt a problem. My oldest dd turns 14 next month and no way is ready to babysit.

Its easier to just run whole blood histamine as mthfr just give a small piece of the puzzle. It looks like you have low histamine/overmethylation. The pill you reccd is just folate which is used in OM but will cause serious issues for undermethylated folks. I am going to ask my dr about it since both dd13 and I are on folate for OM and money is tight. Would be great if insurance covered it. Omega 3 will make the OP worse of she is pyroluric, we need omega 6 for several months before we can take 3. Its an issue very specific and unique to pyroluria.

I know many people who have successfully been med free and thriving for years that had BP and SZ dx's. They turned to alternitive medicine which has a high success rate when you see a trained dr. Bipolar is often cause by Pyroluria and histamine issues which mainstream folks will poo poo but I've seen it first hand and treatment works. If you can afford it people from all over the world go to Mensah Medical. They also have out reach clinics and many will even do the phone consult route through direct healthcare access but it only has one visit and doesnt include follow up. There is an awsome facebook group that deals with pyroluria as well. (The group have been life saving for our family)

Actually it would becuase my core is so weak which is why my back keeps coming out of alignment but I have childcare and transportation issues. Hoping I can address in the fall. For now I know not to pick up more then 20-30lbs max.

Went to the Dr today for my ER follow up and asked about a thing on my hand that ive had about 2 years that itches, sometimes hurts and changes color/shape on a regular basis. He scheduled me for a punch biopsy tomorrow afternoon. I know they will inject numbing stuff then cut it out but will it be painful? I know dd8 had a biopsy when she was 3 and she swore it hurt badly even though she was numb but lidocane doesnt work that well on her. Oh, they said I may or may not have a stitch. Advice from someone whose btdt?

Drs office just called back, its a healed compression fracture on L5. I know when I broke it and the Dr just did an xray and had me in a girdle thing from hip to breast. I was in severe pain and bed ridden for 2 months but they kept saying no break and i didnt believe them. I couldnt even walk more then a few feet:( got hurt loading the trailer for a cross country move. I still mess up my back and need my spine realigned on a regular basis since that accident:(

We dont have internet at home right now so I haven't been around much. I ended up in the ER Saturday for several abdominal pain (thought it was pancreatitis) and they did a CT with contrast. I saw my regular Dr for a follow up today and while we discussed my ER visit he didn't mention that the report said: Bony Structures: No destructive lesions identified. bilateral pars interarticularis and lamina in the lamina of L5 normal alignment of the lumbar spine. Impression: bilateral pars interarticularis lamina in the lamina of L5 huh? I'll call my dr and ask but does that mean? google says something about a compression fracture? I would think he would have asked me about that.

Yes! I'm 38, and things have really been a struggle with my oldest and it's impacted my ability to provide for us. I've seriously got the baby bug and know I can't do anything about it and would be dumb to do so when I'm struggling so much already. I've always felt I have one more coming, a boy:) alas, unless he falls into my life via adoption I'm done. Maybe I would feel different if I had a partner but I've had 2 as a single mother and I know what I would be in for and I need to worry about the kids here. I've mostly accepted it and have been going back and forth on getting my tubes tied as a preventive measure in case I lose my mind to the baby crazies lol I think I'm just missing the nursing and the snuggles and of course that breastfed baby smell.

Starting Monday our house will be internet free for the next 30 days (this is huge for us) and as I've learned this week we can watch movies as a family activity in the evening without major drama which is new. Granted it's not exactly interacting but it's a huge step for my ASD kiddo who has locked herself in her room for months and months (yes we've been getting help and we're starting to see changes). So I'm going to make a lot of use of the library but I need titles! Only rules are family friendly, nothing scary (so no gremlins type movies) or religious. Thanks!:)

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Stepford+Wife Go see the movie! I enjoyed the remake:)

Most people I've run into don't know what is it and it's baffling, how can they not be aware of such a cultural term?

Our last trip was 1200 miles and we brought our own food/drinks which cut a lot of the costs. Pack everything in an ice chest then have a smaller one you keep in the car. Keep the days food in the smaller one and the supplies in the larger, fix the next days food while at the hotel the night before, plan on eating a lot of sandwiches/picnic foods that dont require heating unless you know for sure your room will have a microwave. Dont plan to use the in room coffee pots to heat water for tea or oatmeal packets as the water will taste like coffee. We booked our rooms online ahead of time and spent 2 nights in a hotel and made the trip in 3 days. 8 hours a day of driving when your not used to it is brutal even though it seems simple.

I may have a chance to attend a class with my dd13 and am wondering, is it worth it? How much is hype vs reality? Its basically taught in 1 day with some follow ups which seems really really fast. I learned meditation at the Zen temple as a teen and it was not a quick process for me so learning in a day seems a bit of a stretch. ETA: The teacher I would be learning from has been certified and teaching for 38 years.

The waiting lists vary, were living in one now and outside of my crazy neighbor 2 doors down calling CPS and the police on any family that makes her mad (she's a druggie and they are evicting her) its actually nice here. My rent/utilities is 30% of my income and I think we were only on the wait list 3 months got this place but were on other waiting lists for in the city and those lists are between 3-12 months. Section 8 is about 4 years wait here but have him go down to the local welfare office and they can start getting him set up with various services and I know in this state thats where you also get the list of all the income based housing.

Good luck! I totally get how nervous you are, I'm terrified how my dd is going to do when the time comes.