I have PCOS, had long/irregular/no cycles once I went off BCP in my 20s. Many doctors still go by dated advice for diagnosing PCOS; I know I had issues getting a diagnosis because I'm not overweight, not particularly hairy, etc. I had an OB/GYN do some bloodwork when I first realized my cycle was pretty much absent after going off of BCP, and while he did *some* testing, he really missed the boat. For example, in PCOS, "free" testosterone is a better indicator than total testosterone. PCOS symptoms are very mix and match, so it is quite possible to have without having ALL of the symptoms. Some people conceive without that much difficulty, others don't. The other issue with PCOS is that it has health implications beyond monthly cycles and fertility since it is tied to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Even women who are thin with PCOS are at increased risk of heart disease, hypertension, etc. PCOS also increases the risk of endometrial cancer. PCOS and thyroid are two of the biggest culprits in irregular, long, abnormal periods, and they can also coexist. Other things often ruled out are Cushings and adrenal tumors. After doing infertility treatments to have my first child, I was able to conceive naturally and have pretty normal cycles using metformin (insulin sensitizing drug often used to help women with PCOS) and eating lower carb. There's also some research on magnesium, calcium, and vitamin D in PCOS and insulin resistance. Typical panels for PCOS often include: FSH and LH, androstenedione, DHEA-s, free testosterone, serum sex hormone binding globulin, estradiol, progesterone, prolactin. They generally also try to look at thryoid and consider whether Cushings and adrenal issues in general could be at play. Testing for insulin resistance (often a glucose tolerance test with insulin levels at each draw) is usually done if PCOS is diagnosed or strongly suspected. There has been debate in recent years about changing the name, as you don't even technically need to have cystic ovaries to have PCOS. Many docs were taught about PCOS in an era when the diagnostic criteria were different than they are today. http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/24/16681138-women-with-pcos-support-name-change?lite The Rotterdam Criteria for PCOS state a woman only needs 2 of the 3 categories to be diagnosed with PCOS. Androgen Excess Ovulatory Dysfunction Polycystic ovaries It is also reported in the literature that it isn't uncommon for women with PCOS to have more normal cycles as they approach 40.

2-4 times a week or more, but really it should optimally be done more often. I have a dog that sheds tumbleweeds, so a day or two after I vacuum there are rolling tumbleweeds of fur already. We have replaced a considerable amount of carpet with hard flooring. Our stairs got hairy quickly from our dog who liked to look out the window from the 7th step or so. We have since replaced the carpet on stairs with wood treads and risers, so that's a lot easier to maintain.

Last year I picked up some clearanced ones (glittery looking ones and some other patterns) for 2-4 bucks. I was so happy! Maybe that model wasn't as durable, but we haven't encountered an issue yet. You can also wait for a sale and then trade in old binders for an additional savings.

We have a drying rack in our mudroom, sometimes I set up a 2nd one in the family room. We took an old ikea baby gate and attached it to the wall of the laundry room so it can swing down and serve as a drying rack, then it can be folded up out of the way when not in use. It is sort of a rigged up version of one of these: https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0LEVrjgiONUpL4AJ90nnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTB0dmRibmhwBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1lIUzAwMV8x?p=ballard+drying+rack&back=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fyhs%2Fsearch%3Fp%3Dballard%2Bdrying%2Brack%26ei%3DUTF-8%26hsimp%3Dyhs-001%26hspart%3Dmozilla&w=400&h=400&imgurl=4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-RDKA219xtRc%2FTxBht-buMnI%2FAAAAAAAAAGQ%2FV3tw0YLs8OI%2Fs1600%2FBallard%2BDesigns%2BRack.jpg&size=25KB&name=Ballard%2BDesigns%2BRack.jpg&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fbetweentherafters.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F01%2Fballard-designs-inspired-laundry-drying.html&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fbetweentherafters.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F01%2Fballard-designs-inspired-laundry-drying.html&type=&no=1&tt=120&oid=1f82af9c2ab378ffde4d67628a12553f&tit=Ballard+Designs+Inspired+Laundry+Drying+Rack&sigr=12qrirkk2&sigi=1316cjs6h&sign=10od6i7n4&sigt=103vg5ole&sigb=12vprrrfo&fr=yhs-mozilla-001&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001 I also have one of those "octopus" hanging things http://www.amazon.com/Ikea-801-896-63-Pressa-Hanging-Clothes/dp/B00QNR95PK hanging from a clothes valet thing like this http://www.containerstore.com/shop/closet/hangers/hangerAccessories?productId=10025748&green=2DE2A98A-B6BF-58BD-A0B1-676D132DB360 I can use the hanger valet thing to also air dry some of DH's dress shirts. I will pull the no iron ones out while just slightly damp and finish air drying them on the hangers. DD's leggings, underclothes, etc. can be dried on the little octopus clip guy very easily. I hang a bunch of things on my flip down drying rack, and then everything else goes on another drying rack if need be. I hang out sheets sometimes, but we have a few with pollen allergies, and we have lots of trees. So that has been cut back or is only done at certain times of the year now. I hang a lot of our things indoors because I just find our clothing holds up so much better that way. I haven't found most of it to get wrinkly. Growing up, my mom hung almost everything. We were a 7 person household. She's in her late 60s and they still dry almost everything on a clothesline or drying rack.

Thinking of you, your mom, and your DD as you continue with recovery.

Have you considered adding a sump rider to your homeowner's policy? We did so on our house despite the basement being historically dry. During Sandy it flooded because we lost power and the sump failed, so we were covered. Had it flooded via water down the walls, we would have been out of luck. We did pay our deductible, but it covered most of the cost of remediation. We have a backup system now that should theoretically work if we lose power in the future (I think it uses the water pressure from public water supply). A friend who sells insurance suggested the rider to me (I don't use this person for my policy), and I'm so thankful. It really made a huge difference in getting things remedied. We have carpet down there now. When ours failed before, we had to rip everything out (padding and carpet), drywall had to be cut, etc. IME I think with any substantial water, there's an excellent chance the floor will need to be replaced no matter what you put down. You don't want water underneath, behind, etc. anyway, even if it doesn't damage the actual surface. We went back and forth, and ultimately just decided to do carpet again. Pergo and other laminate would be trashed with the amount of water we had, I didn't want tile for that space, hardwood wasn't an option (below grade, would be ruined if wet anyway). I have looked at vinyl planks, but it seems like water could still get under it even if the surface would remain unscathed?

My hairdresser just moved away a few months ago, but when she was around, she was running behind about 25% of the time. The staff would apologize, she'd come over and apologize, etc. I always told her it was just fine, because I was thrilled to read a magazine, play on my phone, etc. in peace and quiet with a cup of tea :) She didn't rush me when it was my turn, so for me it was not a big deal at all. For a while I had really short hair, so I was there every 5-6 weeks. It was a lovely break.

Another idea from our small co-op where some classes are separated by age and some are multiage... what about assigning each child a biography at an appropriate level and then ask for some form of output? Book report, poster presentation, a "coat hanger biography" project, (google for examples if you aren't familiar)), a speech? You could have the kids all do the same format for output, let them choose, mix it up each week, etc. The kids could all learn a bit from the other presentations. You'd get history, writing, public speaking, possibly geography, etc.

I have been known to pull out some different books or change course to something more delight driven during the winter doldrums. I just ordered some different biographies, Hakim's Story of Science texts, etc. to shake things up. It is more for me than for the kids LOL. Add in that after you've gone through various curric for the 2nd or 3rd time, they can be even less charming ;) We are still happy with lots of what we use, but every year around this time I feel the need to shake things up to survive February. I'm okay with that ;)

Yesterday I ran for 15 min on the treadmill and then did squats and lunges. Not much, but was juggling multiple phone calls relating to a family member about to have a medical procedure, and that ate into my workout time. DH is traveling, so that makes my schedule a little less flexible as well. I was planning on a half hr or 45 mins of cardio and then lunges/squats, but ended up having to stop early and deal with the calls. I did some of my squats and lunges while on the phone LOL.

Physical therapy, rest, NSAIDs if you don't have contraindications.

Yep, I'd start with figuring out if anyone else in the house is colonized and asymptomatic. I don't think it is a settled issue, but some studies in the past have indicated that maybe even dogs can be a source of strep. I'd start with getting the human family members tested first.

We HS, but one year we did a study of Native American groups. We built models of various homes, covered some geography, read books like Children of the Longhouse and Chickadee. It would be easy to integrate writing with this I think and just scale projects to each child's level, with appropriate scaffolding (graphic organizers, etc.). As part of our small co-op, we did a study of the American Girl books. There were boys and they tolerated it just fine, but that's clearly a YMMV situation. My son was young enough at the time (third grader maybe?) to tolerate it. As a 5th grader, he'd probably protest. It would probably be difficult to do with the K and 8th grader, but you may be able to find something similar that would appeal more broadly to all of the kids? I agree poetry appreciation could work.

The uncertainty of something like that looming over you is so stressful. You'll be in my thoughts.

I was just reading this story in the news with tears in my eyes before seeing it posted here. Absolutely sickening.

Another vote for Grammarland.

Cleaning (which I don't find particularly soothing any other time!), meditating, yoga, exercise. I have insomnia when under more significant stress. I've found I need to quiet my brain by reading before bed, or watching really fluffy TV. I normally try to avoid watching TV right before bed, but I've found when my mind won't shut off, I need fluff in the form of a book or random TV show to break that chain of thoughts.

Half hr run on the treadmill this morning. Not stellar, but I'm getting faster again after two months or so mostly off from running.

Either chili powder and cumin or cumin and garlic powder.

I just bought some wool dryer balls a few weeks ago :) I had some many years ago, but I think they were played with and lost when my kids were small. I think they help.

Ha! My husband and I have this issue. We rarely argue, but we've gotten rather intense over a board game more than once, to the point we don't enjoy playing competitively against one another sometimes LOL. We are fine with anyone else, fine if we are helping our kids, fine if we are playing with the kids, but one on one in a direct matchup? It doesn't go well :lol:

The Americans has been one of my favorites for the past three years. I love it!

We've had our SQ for just over a month as well. I haven't noticed an increase in lint, but we tend to use normal cycle or a cycle gentler/lighter than that. We air dry a lot of clothing, and use the dryer mostly for some underthings, kid pajamas, sheets, and towels. I am surprised the spin out isn't a little better than it is, and my last washer was top loader too (not a front loader). As a result, I sometimes opt to run an extra spin cycle. I've been very happy so far. Thanks for sharing your experience :)

The Good Wife Justified The Americans Suits House of Cards

Way to go! You are on your way to being through the worst of it! Keep up the great work :)