My son used to have chronic mild diarrhea. His g.i. doc recommended that he take a daily dose of probiotic containing lactobacillus reuteri and bifidobacterium infantis, as well as l. acidophillus. She said that these first two strains of probiotic seem to be especially beneficial for IBS and Crohn's Disease patients. She recommended a particular brand, but I can't remember the name. Upon researching it, I found that it is cultured in cow's milk, and my son is allergic to milk protein. So I did some more research, and found that Nature's Way Primadophilus Reuteri is a good substitute for us. It's done him a world of good. It comes in capsules and loose powder that can be sprinkled on food or in a beverage. I buy it at a health food store.

I thought of a carrot. I feel so horribly mundane and boring. :D

I be Cap'n Short Jane Pewter of the dread pirate ship ChickBoat, and I didn't need no stinkin' website to think this up for me, either!

I also had a Snoopy.

At our ped's recommendation, we kept our son out of school for an extra year to give him some time to grow, mature, and develop. In ps 1st grade, they taught him absolutely nothing, and passed him. We pulled him out to homeschool, and had him repeat 1st grade to learn what he had missed. So now he's 9yo and working on a 2nd grade level. He is absolutely not an independent worker. This is largely due to delayed maturity. I understand that. This will take time. I understand that as well. But his performance tends to be considerably below what I know he's capable of. Some days he manages to focus and do his work without me watching every stroke of his pencil and constantly coaching him. But most days he just refuses. He has a learned helplessness thing going on, and I can't get people to stop babying him. Does anyone have any tips for getting him to perform at the level he's honestly capable of, on a more regular basis? Thanks.

The American Woman's Cook Book, copyright 1947, taught me how to cook and bake. I've looked over many other books, and I keep coming back to this one. I just really like the recipes and teaching information. In addition to the recipes I actually use, it has historical value as well. It includes recipes for partidge, quail, grouse, squirrel, oppossum, hot dog and hamburger buns, and marshmallows. People use to make their own marshmallows?!

I've been concerned about this for awhile, but can't figure out what to do about it. My 7yo daughter is constantly getting in other people's faces looking for attention. I think it's partly because her brother is medically complex, and gets attention for being alive. Literally. But I don't think that's the entire root of the problem. I've tried setting aside special time with her, making sure she gets her fair share, and looking for opportunities to praise her. But it's just never enough for her. She will ask for compliments over and over for the littlest things. ("Isn't it amazing that I remembered that? Are you shocked?" about something small.) Her appetite for attention and praise seem insatiable. I'm starting to notice other kids her age give her the "What's your problem?" look, and then shrug and ignore her. They're not aggressively rude. They just don't acknowledge her presence any more. And I don't really blame them. I pointed this out to her last night after dance class, and she didn't really see that she'd done anything offensive. She just thought they were being mean for "no reason." How in the world do I get it through her head that she's not the world's axis? And how do I curb this hunger she has for accolades?

Husband and son are home safe. Son has a miserable, *miserable* rash and fever. He's allergic to something they exposed him to, but we're not sure what yet. Immunology guy is investigating. He also blistered under some tape in his groin area and on his thighs, and the tops of the blisters came off with the tape. Skin is raw and oozing. But he's home safe, and it's over. Just needs his skin to heal up. So thanks for the kind thoughts, prayers, etc.

*Strictly in private* my 9yo son is Mr. Bumbletweaks, and my 7yo daughter is Bessie Bumble.

No. Certainly not. My high school was pro busy work. By the time I finished the pointless rubbish, the last thing I wanted was to pick up another book.

I voted other. I have a thick Maine accent that I can turn off and on at will. I also have a thick East Boston accent that slips out when I'm excited, or around cousins. Most of the time, I speak with "correct" American diction, courtesy of a year and a half of speech therapy in childhood. But I live in NC, and the locals often look at me like I'm a freak or an alien.

Best wishes for your vacation. I grew up in Maine, and miss it sometimes. (I'm in eastern NC now.) For the record, I always thought of Freeport as "down South."

We are Meliora Academy.

I use a flat iron, and it hasn't damaged my hair. But I also use a silicone product first that protects the hair from heat damage. Sometimes you can actually see a little smoke when I'm doing my hair, but it's the silicone smoking, and not my hair.

That's when we move, and I finish decorating, and she walks in and asks when I'm going to start decorating, and then starts rearranging things the way *she* likes them. Or she walks in and starts folding my laundry for me, and I tell her politely that I'd rather she didn't, and she thinks I'm just being polite but really like it, and she says, "Oh, I don't mind!" Which really means, "But I want to. You should let me." And I can't figure out how to politely get it through her head that I was just being polite, but really don't like it, and I really just want her to stop inspecting my bra size, put my underwear down, and get. the heck. away. from the basket. :cursing: