Oh, I know science is firmly against my "the flu shot made me sick" mantra. But I can't help it, I had exactly one childhood illness, the stomach flu, until I got the job with the flu shot. Then like clockwork every year for 8 years I got sick (like a cold, achy, like mild flu) 2-3 days later. Stopped the job and shot, stopped the sick. Perhaps it is because I am never sick that it affected me so much to feel run down and sick, but it bothered me. And it was real, darn it, science be darned! Then I got the flu, was the sickest I've ever been and hopefully will ever be. but just that once, and in the 5 intervening years, no shot and no sick. I don't want to convince anyone not to get the shot- I'm thinking we will go get them tomorrow- but I tire of facts getting in the way of my anecdotal data, lol. I know vaccines can't make you sick. I know the flu shot (nasal spray I think not so) is dead virus and it's impossible. I KNOW! But it really did happen just like that.

I hope it will work! I was so disheartened when our dog was diagnosed. It's not terribly common in labs (but is in GSD) and on top of the butt tumor- it seemed hopeless. But that was 3 years ago and it seems the arthritis and dementia will be what finally gets our girl. Our experience has been atypical though, normally the most effective medicine is a very expensive antibiotic for skin conditions (I cannot remember the name, but the price tag was in the hundreds per month) and even that is not effective for many. It was really disheartening to read about this condition. our lab goes through the clavamox/prednisone cycle about twice a year since being diagnosed, and every time the vet thinks it won't work..,but it does! At least for a while it goes away. Did the vet give pain Meds? Our dog has been on rymadyl (for arthritis) since 7, and Tramadol daily since 10, she is 12, nearly 13. She's wacky when on the prednisone, but the pain Meds have never done anything but make her feel better. Tramadol is cheap, too, and very effective. Good luck to you and Luke, and whatever happens- he had a loved, good life. Please don't beat yourself up.

I was required to get the flu shot (actually, it was a spray I think usually) for long time for work, and I always, always got sick right after. Only time I ever got sick, actually, save the stomach flu once. So once I could, I stopped getting it. Not sick, I don't even get colds. I got h1n1 in 2009, wow was I sick- sickest I've ever been, sick. I still never get a flu shot, but my kids usually do. We didn't get them this year, but I am thinking of going because of all the reports. Healthy kids dying, too. If I already had h1n1 (it was confirmed) do I need one? No one else got it, just me, even though only dh had the shot that year.

We still. Have. No. Scores. But, we did get a nice letter today from the school encouraging Ds to take a variety of ap classes based on his scores...of course by law homeschoolers can take only electives so most are out, but it was a nice clue he obviously didn't do too badly. Actually quite shocking as he has some challenges and test anxiety too boot, and took it cold. So they have his scores, but we don't. Oh well.

I think I answered your other post, that our lab has had great success with steroids and antibiotics for her fistula, but I will tell you when it was first diagnosed the prognosis was grim. They are just really painful and don't normally respond to treatment, we are very, very lucky. I researched a great deal and was very hopeless based on what I read. It's a really tough condition, and your dog is so young yet. My personal opinion is that rehoming would be much worse than putting him down. At least this way you know he was loved his whole life, he was safe and cared for. It's unfortunate, but it may be the best option. If he won't get better (and I researched a great deal and most dogs do not, it is chronic for their whole lives) and his is so bad right now that he is having accidents daily and is aggressive...what can you do? He can't live that way, and neither can you. Euthanizing is painless, and gentle, and so, so many dogs in this world never had a moment of the love and care your Luke had. He is a lucky, loved dog, and as hard as it is, sometimes you have to make hard decisions for the best of the dog. If it's come to that, it just has. I know it's impossible not to feel guilty, but please don't be so hard on yourself. To the poster about diapers- our dog has a tumor on her rear also, and we wanted to try surgery, but it could affect her sphincter. I asked why not just use diapers, and the vet said a dog that size (we have a lab, a GSD is bigger) and with a fistula would have chronic infections and it wouldn't work. Apparently small dogs can be diapered, but with large dogs it is much harder. she still has the tumor, (and dementia, and arthritis, darn dog is a mess!) and it hasn't grown much and she is hanging in there still.

I'm banging my head here. My oldest and I are vegetarian. My dh is not, but he will eat what I fix and since he has high cholesterol and other health issues, it's best for him. My youngest does a great deal of physical activity. My oldest does zero and tends to chubby like his dad (though at 15 now he is slimming down without doing anything, so the chub may have been puberty related). For dh and my oldest, lower carb is best. We are insanely busy in the evenings and while I have tried to cook a good meal for lunch, have leftovers for dh, prepare something healthy-ish for oldest while we are gone at night...it's not really happening. It's just darn hard to take an hour or more of our school day to cook! I am looking with longing at the freezer/crockpot type meals I used years ago wile working part time and home schooling. The running around is as much as a part time job, but none of those options are vegetarian or if they are, are carb heavy. This is the most food knowledgeable board I know, so I thought I'd pick your brains. Help!!!

But there is no reason given, just statistics. As Mrs Mumgo said, the military health system is barred from performing abortions, even on a hydrocephalic, brain dead fetus. When it was discovered at the first ultrasound, around 18 weeks, my very good friend had to raise the thousands of dollars to travel to another state where she could have procedure performed. She also had to arrange care for her twin toddlers, as their father was deployed. She fits your sad statistic- it was close to 26 weeks when she had it, and infinitely more dangerous for her as the weeks passed. Health care decisions should be left to the owner of the body, and the doctor performing the procedure. As my friends case illustrates, legislating health procedures means unnecessary suffering.

I have had an untold number of toads in my travel mugs because we were driving in a rainstorm, and they were all over the road. It seems we can't see a toad and not pick it up and take it home for a while. I had a very brightly colored frog in one once in china, but I threw the mug out because I thought it may be poisonous just in case. Dh was so annoyed. Who knew travel mugs make the perfect temporary amphibian holder?

I have an add on question, can close family contest it if you wish a guardian to be a family friend? We have designated a sister, but its not ideal. A family friend seems a better option, especially as the years pass. But we hesitate because dhs family could maybe handle it being my family, but while I am 90% sure my family would respect our wishes with a family friend taking the kids, dhs family would flip out. Mostly because he's a gay man not of their religion. He is truly the best equipped for the job, and I could die knowing the kids would be not just cared for, but would thrive, in this friends care. Dh feels the same way. But we both worry how his family would react and a legal battle on top of losing both parents- yikes. Best we just stay alive too I guess.

Oh gosh, my Bill loving Ds would pay to see that! I so hope they stream it.

I am sbgrace's twin, apparently. Always been quite thin, but I am also very light boned so I personally do not feel my BMI that says "underweight" is accurate. My wrists and ankles and bones in general are really small (like, really small- my kids wrists eclipsed mine at age 9-10) so I imagine this is why I don't weigh what those charts say I ought to. I eat what I want, and I don't exercise- I really, really need to, but I don't, I am very sedentary. You are no doubt much healthier than skinny me! The caveat of "I eat what I want" is I have realized over the years my "I want" is not calorie dense. I love spicy ethnic food- Indian curry, kimchi, etc. Sure, I can polish off a box of twinkles if I am so inclined, but I am rarely ever inclined that way. My preferred snack is onions dipped in red pepper paste. Calorie count: 0, or close to it. I don't like grains or food with sauce or much bread or meat, I love coffee and tea, not pop. I think this is the real reason I am thin, my "cravings" are all for low calorie things. Except for beer, I do love beer. A Dr told me to drink Guiness to gain weight, it's a sandwich in a bottle! I am mid 40s, btw.

I went to Latin mass at a schismatic church occasionally, and I would say from the small interactions this group (pius something?) fit the bill. Home schooled, dresses and skirts only, very like the evangelical/Protestant brand of patriarchal churches. But would they qualify as catholic? They certainly think so, the Vatican, not so much, lol.

Well I sent the billboard to my recently-out-as-atheist Ds, and he enjoyed it. it was nice for him to see atheists have billboards and even an org. He texted me that back, actually- "we have an .org?!". I suspect he perusing it now.

Oh, if only it were that easy. My personal opinion is brain chemistry has far more to do with nature than nurture. We all know the story of the child raised in horrific abuse/war/etc and goes on to be a fabulously well adjusted citizen. We all know the PTSD crippled child of the same circumstances. Why? My child led weaned, co sleeping until choosing to sleep alone children are wildly different. One just as the article describes. One in therapy and on medication for anxiety, add and lds since age 7. Why? I guess it's a small mercy I did co sleep and such, otherwise I would blame myself. Oh wait, I already do, for 100 other reasons in 100 other studies. I am clearly taking this too personally, but cmon- sometimes you just have to let go of the why and deal with the now.

Our lab is quite slow and docile, but when on prednisone a bit more lively and hungrier...I never thought a lab could get hungrier, lol. It isn't like with humans, for sure. Typically the course is 3-4 months, gradual step down. She has had 3 courses of this treatment (month of clavamox, 3-4 or prednisone) since being diagnosed with the fistula. I think it's closer to 4 years now she has had it. The first vet was very grim about treatment- recommended taking off the tail, the expensive Meds, said prognosis is very bad. But, it's been very manageable for us. I know GSD are prone to them, I too researched it at first. They are very painful, and quality of life is a consideration. Your dog is young, that is both good (healthier) and bad (longer to live with a painful condition). I'm sorry!

Our lab has had a reoccurring fistula for 3 years now. thus far when it flares up, a combo of clavamox (antibiotic) and prednisone can clear it up, though it does keep coming back. The very pricey Meds we have not yet tried, as this combo works for her. When first diagnosed that med was recommended but we asked to try something cheaper first and lo and be old, it has worked. We also keep the area clipped and wash it with antibacterial stuff, I can't really tell if that helps. She is 12 and has dementia and arthritis (and lately Lyme disease, too) so we are not too concerned with long term prognosis. One vet did say removing the tail seems to work to cure it when nothing else will, seems drastic and our dog is too old to consider it, but apparently there are surgical options.

Ds said the home room teacher gives them out, he has just 2 classes but he has a teacher considered his home room. Plus- great, engaging music teacher who emailed me about home schooling because he was impressed with Ds and he and his wife worry about the never ending testing and pressure in our public schools. Minus- this teacher has forgotten to hand out report cards for weeks, we also get a mailed copy so it's just funny, but PSAT scores are NOT also mailed, just handed out, so...not so funny. I get it, he is an artistic genius not so concerned about the minutiae of the home room, but...I need those scores! Ds would happily forget the test ever happened, so I am at their mercy.

I have lived in a place with shady housing goings on, it sucks. Kick backs from realtors and landlords to housing officials meant they would only approve/negotiate those realtor or landlord properties. Everyone knows what is happening, no one does anything or can't because of host nation red tape, culture, who knows. It sucks though! Hopefully that is not what is going on, but it wouldn't shock me. And hopefully you can kick up enough fuss to get your house.

Nothing here, Ds has a school code so maybe that is why? Maybe I should go through his backpack, just in case...

Ds also reports it is painful to stretch. His is apparently tight, hence the stretches. I am happy to leave mine alone, hoping it will return the favor.

Ds has a stretch from pilates, you lay on a tennis ball stomach down, move the ball around until you find the psoas, this may be easier if you are a rail thin boy, lol. Start off at the belly button and work towards the hip, maybe lower. It's in there. You have to do one side at a time. Once you find it, push up with your arms, and lift the opposite leg for more stretch. The psoas is tough to find, but you will know when you do with the ball, according to Ds. He says it helps- he is a dancer too! But maybe check with a doc first, that this stretch is ok, wouldn't want you to hurt it worse.

Cats can also get anorexic, believe it or not. But it doesn't sound like your cat has had a traumatic experience or behavior change so that doesn't seem likely. Cats are really hard to diagnose, so a vet visit is pretty much your only option. It can be hard to find a good vet, I know! We are lucky in that we can use military vets, they are not profit driven at all and I find it so mich easier to really trust that what they say is what my pets truly need. Don't be afraid to be firm about procedures or tests you aren't comfortable with or can't afford, though that is easier said than done. Hope your kitty is just going through a picky spell!

Anyone in NoVa got theirs, that is a school code? Ds is partial enrolled and they consider him a student (jokes on them, his scores won't be very good most likely). Still nothing...

A million years ago, I took the sat in 7th grade for...something.I got special classes at a college out of the deal, but ,y parents were imploding at that time and I didn't get to go, no one to watch my siblings after school if I did. Some sort of talent search I guess. Anyway, Never had algebra, or even pre algebra. My math score was exactly the same 3 years later, post algebra 1,2 and geometry. Average! Still waiting here. Please average please average please average,lol.

I love this thread! No scores here yet, but I would be over the moon with average for Ds, a sophomore. He has some challenges and tests terribly. Our goal is just to get to average my his junior or senior year! So average scoring moms, here is someone hoping to get in that club!