Imabest, these gals are sure made of stronger stuff, aren't they? ;-D I'm happy to hear no bones were broken; my Mom fell outside two years ago and broke her bone just below her hip. Pins fixed that, but the bruises took so long to heal! As for not eating much, do you give her something like Ensure or Boost? They're not fond of them bcause of the think consistency, so I used to put it into my blender with more milk and froth it up: she said it was like a milk-shake! Our doc even suggested those slurpie things from a convenience store! lol! 3,000 calories to fatten her up! At this point in time, a Food Guide isn't what they need, he said. Naturally the basics, but calories do count, too, and she needed them. Never did the slurpie thing, but the Ensure really helped. ;-) You have a full plate now, don't you? I hope the physio goes well and that her appetite improves.... Blessings Linda

I've just discovered this thread and not a moment too soon (or late?). I can sooooo sympathsize. I'm also a stay at home mom former teacher debating the return to work. I have gotten totally jazzed reading all the great ideas and options. like you, I know htat my whole family would be miserable if I returned to work full-time. Right now I have a great set up subbing at my oldest dd's school. I have MIL babysit and when she can't I swap child care with a neighbor who works evenings. If you ever do feel the need to sub, find a nice girl's school with strict rules. My daughter's school is a dream to sub at. Small class sizes, the teachers always leave extensive plans and the girls actually respect the teachers (even subs). But as you said the pay sucks. It really only works out to be spending cash for me. So the ideas in the thread about future employment when my youngest starts school are real boosters. Good luck with that pet sitting. I am envious of your opportunity and the excitement that goes with something new and exciting - not to mention lucrative!

LOVE your new tub - I've got one very similar sitting in my basement waiting to be installed! I once went two years without a proper tub bath, when I had a tiny apartment with no tub. It was awful! I was miserable! I am a bath girl through and through, and hitting the tub is also a big part of handling my fibro/CFS pain. I'm normally cooking myself in super-hot water at least an hour a day, my dermatologist yells at me and I tell her to duke it out with the pain clinic LOL (and it's better for my skin than a chemical-loaded hot tub). The 60" tub I chose is just the right size for me - I'm 5'2.5" - to be all underwater from collarbones to knees, and the back of my head rests comfortably on the rim of the tub. There's a wonderful replacement cover for the tub's overflow drain that even gives an extra inch of water depth! Even though I don't use the shower much (I can't hold onto something, wash my hair, and keep my balance all at the same time) I am getting this teak shower seat because it'll fold up and slide right under that clawfoot tub when not needed. Although the new shower will fit two and DH sure does like "helping", hee hee hee... We're putting a grab bar on the wall above the tub to make it easier to get in and out, too. Moen makes a good-looking grab bar that goes well with a sort of old-fashioned look. While we didn't block for it because we won't know where the bar needs to be until the tub's in place, there's an anchor made by Toggler that meets ADA load-bearing requirements so we can secure one end at a stud and the other with anchors. _I_ also find it a lot easier to get out of a clawfoot tub than a regular tub, because I can use that rolled rim as a handle to help haul myself out. With regular tubs there's nothing to hold onto. California Baby makes some fantastic bubble baths that don't dry out your skin or provoke UTIs. Kiss My Face's shower gels make nice bubble baths too. I like salts better than bubbles, and usually I make my own (dead easy and cheap as heck too) but I also like Burt's Bees salts. You can get all three brands at drugstore.com, which is doing free shipping on orders over $25 now.

oh i can't wait to show my daughter the flamingo! my daughter is a flamingo FREAK. She wants to move to florida so she can "have" one lol. My favorite mediums are fabric and paint. I make primitive crafts.. it is an absolute passion, and i sell on ebay, but prior to my diagnosis, we were getting ready to start a huge remodeling project on our house, so all my crafting stuff is in boxes in the garage, and then all summer i have been recovering frmo surgery and then chemo.. i just finished radiation, and now am on to 6 more cycles of chemo, so i just haven't felt up to unpacking everything or doing crafts. I hope to start again in the spring! So interesting to hear updates to your lives.. i know so much can happen in 7 years... seems just crazy how fast this time has gone..