MamaSmurf

Don't hate me cuz I'm a spendthrift. I spent way too much this year, but little guy outgrew almost everything over the summer. Clothes $800 + (Gap, Please Mum, Old Navy, Polo, Children's Place) Shoes $85 Backpack/matching lunchbox (Gap) $50 Supplies $33 (Staples, Kindegarten list- only bought the minimum) Bloody hell, I haven't spent that much on myself in years! Luckily, I only shop 3x a year now when everything is on sale. Kiddo needed every piece of clothing imaginable, down to socks and undies. His wintercoat from last year still fits, so I don't have to buy one this fall.

Mason, I just read through this thread, and even before I saw you mention ADHD, I had already considered it. I feel your pain hun, I really do. A whirling dervish in the house when you're exhausted is so very hard to handle. My 4 (almost 5) year old had ADHD and Autism, and I feel myself getting exhausted just watching him. He NEVER stops moving. Has been that way since birth. It is a full time job keeping him safe, and even then he scares me sometimes. They tend to make sudden movements, knocking things down, falling over etc. You have to try to cut yourself some slack though! You are doing the very best you can with a challenging scenario. On a positive note, my kiddo has been the weight loss plan I was looking for . All that running after him, up and down the stairs everytime i hear a thud, has done wonders for my thunder-thighs. Anywho, you might want to consider giving him Melatonin at bedtime to help settle him. With your doctor's ok of course. That stuff certainly helps my kid, and now I can count on myself getting a decent rest at night. Hang in there! As hard as he seems now, his teenage years will scare you more ,

-when they start to sabotage your work efforts. -when you avoid running into them, or any kind of confrontation -when you feel nervous and/or ill at the thought of having to deal with that person. BTDT. It sucks. I quit a good job 7 months ago because of a toxic co-worker. Best thing I've ever done, and I'm happy as a clam at my new job.

Agreed, great show. I tried Dexter, but couldn't get into it. I think I can sum it up by saying I like anything HBO (From the Earth to the Moon is terrific too!), and all shows medical in nature. I used to watch St Elsewhere a 100 years ago too

I'm a TV snob, and hate to try new shows. Took me until Season 3 to finally tune into Grey's My Fave show list: (top 10) 1. SATC. They cancelled it years too soon 2. Weeds. The character Andy is a scream 3. ER. I felt like I lost a friend when the show went off the air 4. Survivor. I own almost every season on DVD 5. Big Love. 6. Grey's (finally, woot!) 7. Friends 8. Seinfeld 9. Cheers 10. Carol Burnett show Please add your own

Omg, I first saw the Jerk about 30 yrs ago, and I still remember the scene when he hitch-hikes, only to be dropped off at the next house . Freaking hilarious movie. Ok, I concider myself quite the movie critic, since I do it for a living . My list: ( all favorites) 1-Office Space (by far my fave of the faves) 2-Apollo 13 3- Forrest Gump 4-Manhunter (William Peterson version) 5-National Lampoon's Xmas vacation 6-Derailed 7-Bourne Identity 8-Spy Game 9-Deer Hunter (grrr Ican beat me to it D:) 10-Summer Rental (classic John Candy) 11-Mermaids 12-Boogie Nights 13-The Day After 14-The Spanish Prisoner 15-The Taking of Pelham 123 (just watched recently, and is the best movie I've seen all year) 16-Pushing Tin 17-Italian Job 18-Casino 19-Carlito's Way 20-American Psycho I'm sure I could come up with more, but I'm boring myself already with this list

I had an Ablation done back in Feb for what they thought was a polyp, and periods that mirrored The Shining . Turns out I had small fibroids, which I suspect are getting bigger (mid-cycle spotting the last few months). I would have preferred a Hyst, but my OB wanted to try this first. I don't relish having a 2nd surgery, but if the fibroids get worse, I will opt for the Hyst. After 25 yrs of periods, it's just a nuisance now. I had a tubal with my surgery, so having more kids isn't an issue. I know several ladies who had hysterectomies, and not one has complained they wish they hadn't. If it'll make u feel better, go for it.

On a side note: I bank with TD here in Canada, and their website was down Mon & Tues. Couldn't even get the webpage to load.

I had the clips done in February. My OB'GYn doesn't do the cut and burn thing. I've had no issues, except the the usual bloating at first, and some slight discomfort. I actually didn't want the tubal, but as I needed an Ablation done, he wouldn't perform it unless I did both. I'm still paranoid the tubal may fail though . I had general anesthetic with it, the worst part was the shoulder pain after- which they never told me could happen . Dr Google filled me in.

Tigz: I'm sorry I meant to address your comment about your friend, and forgot. I understand how you feel. It looks so hard to most people, inconceivable how they cope. But, just like any majors in one's life, you somehow find the strength to carry on. She is Supermom- probably very organized, OCD in everyday routine, and exhausted. It is not an easy life, but you do what you have to do. Just be there for her if you can. Offer to babysit, or take the kids to the park for her (so she can get her hair done, or grocery shop without stress). Call and ask if the kids need anything. No one has ever done that for me, and I dream of someone actually caring. Autism is very scary to people. I think people can be irrational about it, like it's catching or something. I'm pretty nonchalant about it now, and it amuses me sometimes to see people's reactions. Life is too short to be pitied. You are a good friend. Your concern is touching, and I know your friend appreciates it.

Well, ,my kiddo is of the "classic" variety. He has moderate Autistic Disorder. It was explained to me this way: Autism is like half a smiley face; ASD is the mouth, Autistic Disorder is the nose. My son is non-verbal (meaning has less than 10 words). He has very rudimentary communications skills. He hand leads, and makes various noises. I always know what he's saying though. And boy, does he show his displeasure clearly . He may never talk, I've learned to accept that. He is mild in other areas though; he's affectionate, sweet, and likes to be around people. He is not withdrawn. He is showing some progress in his eye contact, and understands what we say. He follows simple commands. It's very slow teaching him new things, but once he catches on, he knows it. (right now is learning how to dress himself) I'm fortunate that I live in a Province that gives us $20, 000 a year for treatment. He is currently enrolled in an early intervention program that runs 4 days/week, for the next 2 years. (to the tune of $22k a year). We will have a better idea where he stands when they reassess him before first grade. Then the school board takes over funding.

I've had some experience with this. I'm not sure if you know, but my 4 yr old son has Autism. And ADHD. Apparently, it's quite common for double or triple diagnoses. I believe it is genetic: I have a cousin who is clearly Asperger's and Tourettes, but my Aunt refused to have him tested. He is very odd. 28 years old, and still plays with Lego in his pajamas all day. Even as a little one, he was weird. I tried to bring it up to her a few months ago, and she freaked out. Her own brother probably had some form of ASD too, or so my Mom says, but no one talked about those things in those days. They just called him "eccentric". I met a lady at a parent's group I went to last year who had 3 kids with Autism. By the 2nd diagnoses, she was no longer shocked. What causes it? Don't think we'll ever know. I'm not part of the vaccination camp: I'd rather have a beautiful, healthy boy with Autism, than a dead boy from Meningitis. I try not to play the blame game. He is a joy, and I'm blessed to have him just the way he is. Very interesting topic you posted though. So many kids are being diagnosed now, and there are so many different degrees of ASD, that it's quite possible to have several siblings with it.

I've actually known a family of hoarders. Their house is indescribable. Picture 2 adults, 4 kids in a 2 bdrm bungalow filled to the roof with junk. There was a small pathway from the front door to the kitchen, but try to make your way to the livingroom . Even their backyard was filled on every square inch with junk. The wife was the problem: her mother had 3 condemned houses,1 of her sisters had a million dollar house packed to the rafters, and the cycle continues with their own kids. I, on the other hand have OCD in the opposite extreme. My house is so neat, it looks staged. I've always been this way. As a 5 yr old, I would follow my mom around telling her she missed a spot vaccuuming. Clutter makes me anxious. Dirt makes me nuts. I work full time, have a 4 yr old, and a lazy mom living with me, yet my house is spotless. No easy feat either, but I can't function in mess. Visiting that family would send me in a tizzy for days. I vowed my little one would never go over there for fear he would choke on multitudes of things.

The MBnA BT fee is 1% of total transferred. I'm not toooooo worried about what to do after the year if up, as I have a PLOC I can use that is at prime + 1 (4%). Rate jacks are very unusual in Canada. I've never had a RJ. On the positive side, I have about 10 other accts I could utilize if I had to. But that 1.99 is very tempting Thanks for your reply hun.

I have this dilemma. I have a chunk sitting on Amx @ 7.99 LOB, but MBNA is offering me 1.99% for a year. Is it worth the risk to transfer it, and lose the guaranteed rate? I'm a bit nervous at the prospect. It'll save me $30 a month in interest, but after the year, I have to shuffle it again. Help me make a decision please