Ok. See a doctor if: fever goes over 104.5 fever lasts for more than 5 days symptoms do not clear up in 7-10 days (viral does, presumably bacterial doesn't) a stiff neck has not improved after a week (UNLESS it is accompanied by fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, lethargy--then see a doctor immediately) soothe cough and congestion with natural remedies; don't overdo the Ibuprofen and Tylenol So that's what I follow now. I hate, hate, hate spending the time and money when it's not necessary. My DH is more inclined to say "go see a doctor" if I'm debating on whether I should. It's not that he's overly worried; he would just rather the professionals dispense the advice. However, I don't really like paying $$ to hear, "It's viral, here's a steroid Rx" or, "I don't know." If they get sick we boost vitamins and supplements and have a movie marathon. :)

DD decided to go ahead and start RSO Biology 2, and I'd really like to let her do the microscope labs. Any advice on which are better and which to avoid?? She's the oldest and 11 1/2, so I don't mind getting a little spendy with this--we'll get a good bit of mileage out of it. Thanks!

A week at least. If something gets us, it usually takes us about 10 days to be 100% again. I'm the "see the doctor as little as possible person" when it comes to me and the kids. I'll add some tips I got at the walk-in clinic, when I get on my computer.

Let's see, last night we had leftovers from my parents' on the 23rd, including dessert breads my mom sent home. Tonight it was dessert breads, applesauce, smoothies (frozen fruit for the one who doesn't like smoothies), and corn. :lol: I'm not actually hungry because I've been eating candy all day... I made chili for DH though. I'll likely serve that with rice tomorrow.

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

The 26th is our official pajama day, like Black Friday. I only showered today because I feel vaguely like crap and hoped it would help. :leaving:

:lol: Must just make her feel better.

Quill's scenario doesn't bother me like the "storage family" scenarios would. If it's offered as a gift, then the giver is done once it's given. Period. To me that's not understanding boundaries and ownership and all that. I wouldn't flip out, but it would get under my skin and I likely would be very honest about my intentions with those and any future gifts. I don't know what I'd do if my husband bought me things and then sold them 6 months later. Probably buy things in my own name. That would seriously tick me off. But Quill's mom clearly said it was a loaner. That's ok. Maybe an odd time for it, but oh well. If the book is out of print, it's understandable she'd want to retain ownership of it.

Did she ever gift any of the books on it?

I'm so sorry. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

I still use Excel. :o

Tied for first: O Holy Night, O Come O Come Emanuel, What Child Is This? I really enjoy them all--religious and secular both, but those are my favorites.

It ends up that way here, too, but not because we're all extremely introverted.

We used to do Christmas Eve at my parents, Christmas brunch at ILs after our morning presents (like, showing up at their house around 8:00. DH and I exchange gifts on Christmas Eve. Now we've moved my parents to the 23rd because the kids and I are going to a midnight service tonight for the first time ever. Still doing Christmas brunch at ILs. So I'm just poking along the rest of the time. I do all our stuff early partly for that reason. I'm so not a "rush hither and thither" person, so when we're not hither and thither, I sit. We watch Christmas movies. I do maintenance chores. No super special meals at our own house, either. I make oodles of cookies, that's it. Going to my parents yesterday actually is nice because the kids are spending today playing with their new stuff and are reasonably quiet. Yesterday morning was a different story, though. :svengo: BUT I don't resent this arrangement because a) I grew up 100s of miles away from both sets of grandparents and my kids are blessed to be within 20 minutes of both of theirs. and b) the Christmas Day thing was a DH non-negotiable from the start, so /shrug. I think my kids will really associate Christmas with their grandparents rather than our home, but it keeps the focus off of Santa and the pressure off of me. The ever-present trade-off.

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

Our Generation. It doesn't appear so, but I didn't poke around too hard. :o

6:00 or 7:00. Some years it's been later, for one reason or another. We aim for 7:00.

Yep, I'm just generally boring as well. Most of the exciting things I've done were illegal or just plain stupid, so I think I'd rather be boring now. :) I like podcasts, too. Most of my hobbies involve more work, so I'm not sure they count... But honestly, I think there is absolutely nothing with just sitting around in your free time, especially if you have very little. I think that's rather healthy, really.

Turned out great, thanks hornblower!

Yes, at least for the customary prayers to be read over me.

I mix up names in my own household, the pets too!

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

That seems to have worked! I have a test batch in the oven now.

So we made ridiculous amounts of cookie dough, but it's kind of crumbly. I was short on molasses and didn't adjust the flour. Can I just add oil until it holds together properly? Or is that a big mistake?

It's all a mind game.