I'm hesitant to try SSRI's again. I tried several in college for depression and it didn't go well at all. I probably SHOULD be on them full time, but with the side effects I'd rather deal with mild depression and the PMS mood issues. Primarily the Vit. D levels seem to correlate with my depression, so perhaps that's why they didn't work well. Do you take it daily or just that week or what exactly? I've had Vit. D checked - I"m chronically low and it's actually UP since this started {I take 20,000 iui daily supplement, and still only have levels of 50 or thereabouts. Prior to supplementation it was 8}.

What can be done to treat PMS {specifically mood issues} other than birth control? I can't do hormonal birth control and we're leaving the option to pregnancy open anyways. I've always had terrible PMS and mood swings from PMS. But over the last year, it's gotten far worse and it's starting to affect relationships. Asking here before I try at my doctor's, since they have just suggested BC in the past.

Is there anyone here who can give me pointers on a raw food diet for cats? I have a young male cat who clearly desires meat over kibble. He'll eat kibble, but prefers tuna or raw beef - to the point of stealing it if I leave items out to thaw. Occasionally chicken, but not turkey. I've been supplementing the kibble with bits of meat and a few cans of tuna a week, but I'm considering going all raw for him. I've googled, but everything I turn up seems to be for dogs.

If she's interested in Greek Life, but a Sorority isn't a good fit - have her check to see if there is a chapter of Alpha Phi Omega on campus. Co-ed, service fraternity. HIGHLY recommend it {life member here}. And while yes there is a pledging process....it is nothing like most greeks.

Update in post #1

I started at the age of 11, because I was curious what those "blue haired ladies" were doing who met at the library the same time as our homeschool event. I was a huge history buff already, and loved making history come alive in my family. It's been a blast. Found a few famous relatives {George Washington, Davy Crockett}, a few outlaw stories {one ancestor ran a horse stop for the James Brothers and the Daltons}, a few surprises {turns out we're part Jewish!}, and a lot of tough people who inspired me. Still haven't solved the family mysteries though, even after nearly 25 years of researching. I'm hoping when my Genes For Good DNA comes back, I'll be able to solve at least one.

I've tried a number of the "Meal Boxes" like Blue Apron and Home Chef. And a few pre-made meal plan websites too. But I haven't found what I'm looking for exactly. Home Chef was the closest though, but doesn't really support GF. Blue Apron was nice, but the meals were usually too "fancy" for us, and I often found myself using the ingredients in alternate ways. Green Chef was wonderfully allergy friendly, but again FAR too fancy of meals for our tastes. I'm looking for something fully Gluten free AND nut safe / Nut free. Regular food / meat and potatoes type meals. Good old American fare type meals - diner meals, things your mom might have cooked, etc. Maybe a breakfast option too. Meals that can be prepped in less than 20/30 minutes {maybe more for slow cooker} and don't require a ton of dishes / steps. Does this exist? Or should I take my daughter seriously and create it myself?

If you have a ton of laundry? Don't even both trying to do it all at home. It's FAR easier to load it all up, go the the laundromat, and run multiple machines at once. In about 2 hours you can get it ALL done and ready to put away when it comes home. Otherwise? I echo others here. Start with the kitchen. Load the dishwasher and then start from top cabinets and work your way down, working clockwise around the room. Then do the same with the Living or Dining room. If you don't have time to finish a room before you have to go somewhere? Do the bathrooms. They can be left soaking with solution and finished quickly when you get back. I've far too much experience with this too.

My guess it had something to do with age of majority and school contracts. Minors often MUST go to a pediatric facility if one is available per school rules {at least this was the case at the private high school attached to the university I worked at}. 17 is considered the age of majority in many states and therefore they could treat her as an adult.

If anything, I think their advice is dated. For years I tried to push through chronic pain in college and afterwards, because it was expected. IMO, it never went well. When I learned how to listen to my body and rest as needed, it became far easier to manage.

Any experience with these? They are opening a group near me and I'm considering it. I liked the support of WW, but the plan doesn't work for me.

I'll try that on Monday I guess. I don't have an appointment until June, but was given the go-ahead to do the blood testing now. I've no idea, tbh. I actually had the blood test ordered by my Endocrinologist. I've known I had an issue with wheat / gluten for over a year now and she realized we'd never defined exactly what the issue was. I'd probably decline the endoscopy if I test positive. But I might go for it if it's negative - I understand there are a lot of false negatives?

Most of the "box" meal services do the same. I spent most of yesterday looking at meals on blue apron and hellofresh. Found a few I want to try that I HAVE all the stuff for. I don't meal plan, really. Whatever sounds good the night before or that day. I just keep stuff on hand to be able to fix meals without planning.

I had blood drawn 2 weeks ago to test for celiac. They have online records, so I know for certain it's not in yet. The doctor cautioned me to continue eating wheat until the results were in because further testing might be needed. Wheat makes me feel like crud, and eating it daily for the last month is beginning to cause serious issues with my mood and joints. Surely it shouldn't have taken 2 weeks right? I'm not sure who to call to start figuring out where the results are - the Doctor? The Lab? ETA: Okay now what? It's been a month. The Doctor/ nurse said to check with the lab, because they haven't received anything. The lab won't answer the phone despite multiple calls. And there's still NOTHING in my online record!

Frankly? Because 1. I can't afford decent materials to be able to give her that level of education, and 2. My skills in math and science are not such I'm comfortable teaching her in those subjects without good scripted materials. I fully realize it's possible. I also realize that, given the materials I have available, my budget {both $$$ and time} and the resources I have access to - the best I can do is a non-rigorous, math and science light program and prep her for Community college entry. I"m also potentially looking at having to go back to a regular 8-5 job in a few years, giving me incentive to get her graduated early if possible. And actually I would be homeschooling high school - just early. She'd skip 7th and 8th and go straight into 9th in the fall, using Paradigm Accelerated Curriculum.

I don't know how fast they are planning on phasing it out. I know the local district is shutting down it's Early College academy effective this year and not accepting any more students into the program {current student will be able to finish}. Other local districts are doing the same. DD is in an odd place - She's 11, 6th grade ish. But could easily be capable of high school level in everything but math. So I'm contemplating just skipping to high school level content.

33. Very low for me tbh. It doesn't include primenow orders either :)

For a variety of reasons {No affordable options, difference in mindset with local homeschoolers}, outsourcing private classes for DD for high school isn't an option. I had planned to have her do dual enrollment at the CC starting at 15 {Sophomore} to cover most of her high school classes. But it's looking like it's VERY possible that option won't be open either - they are considering phasing out the dual enrollment due to costs. It's already gone from free to half tuition, which makes it a stretch for us financially since there is no financial aid for DE. I'm contemplating just graduating DD early at 15 or 16, then having her do CC with a max of 12 hours per semester {full time minimum}. Wouldn't be a rigorous high school program, but she's not going to be applying anywhere rigorous either tbh. Would she be able to get financial aid / grants at that age? I've also considered graduating her early and letting her take a gap year or two to work to save funds for college.

Ideas? We've never had lamb before so I have NO clue what to make with it.

Unglamorous here too. I just jerry-rigged my dishwasher to drain into a 5 gallon bucket because of plumbing issues. I couldn't handle only being able to wash dishes maybe once every 3 days and it STILL backing up the pipe for any longer. Tomorrow involves cleaning and bleaching the pipe overflow area {again}. You all have my sympathy as well. Pantry moths suck!

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/09/584493046/l-l-bean-scraps-legendary-lifetime-return-policy Thoughts? I, for one, only purchased from them BECAUSE of the policy. I won't be any longer - I didn't see very much difference in quality between the items from them and cheaper sellers on Amazon. I'm also seriously irritated that items I purchased under the OLD policy are no longer backed by it.

I go, but only because usually I end up with secondary infections {pneumonia}. Otherwise, home rest fluids and elderberry works as well as anything else

you can laugh, but check your local thrift shops. Ours gets a ton of newborn / size 1 diapers donated and sells sealed packs for $3

Hmm. That is a possibility. I usually gain a few lbs right before. That was the week it stayed the same - I expected the water weight to come off, but nope a gain afterwards. That's partly my problem. I don't get hunger cues, or the sensation of fullness, thanks to a brain injury as a child. The ONLY time I get fullness is when I've literally eaten until I'm physically ill - and even then it's fleeting. I've done the dietitian meetings before as well when I was a teen. They couldn't figure out why I wasn't losing weight either as my food looked perfect.

Hmm. That doesn't account for the gain though. Or the 3lbs the first week. I wondered if maybe it was something to do with my body seeing the low-calorie as another period of starvation. Or needing a higher calorie level due to the metabolism changes and such related with my thyroid {I'm hyperthyroid}.