March 2012: What's happening in your world?

[Aspen]

I visited the dentist yesterday, but that was back in February.

I need to figure out what to do about my tooth, whether to try for another crown or just have it extracted and get an implant but the earliest appointment for a consultation with the oral surgeon who does implants is March 20.

[goddessoflubbock]

Dentist ::shivers::

This week we are having spring like weather so tomorrow DH will be doing yardwork. After two years after drought, we have NO grass but man the weeds take hold! He has severe pollen allergies so he's going to whack it all down tomorrow. DS offered to mow the lawn on spring break ROFL

Hopefully later this week I'll get to head out back and enjoy my swing before the tics, red ants, mosquitoes and heat make it impossible. You'd think in level II drought we wouldnt have mosquitoes but they live on!

[adhocisadirtyword]

We have a lot of mosquitos in this area right now. We didn't have our winter freeze, so they never died off. My daughter is very allergic to them and they are very attracted to her, so it's never a good combination. I tell her she's my natural mosquito repellent. As long as I walk about a foot away from her, they leave me alone.

I've been buying the California Baby brand natural mosquito repellent. It doesn't smell too bad and it works really well with no bad chemicals.

So we've temporarily switched the Paleo diet. This is a huge change from vegetarianism, so it's definitely an adjustment for us. We decided to do it because we found out last week that James is allergic to oatmeal. We had been having it every day for breakfast and his eczema kept getting worse. We had no idea it was the oatmeal so I told him to take an oatmeal bath and he broke out in hives.

I had been looking into the diet anyway as an answer for Elliot's teeth. He still breastfeeds and we eat ridiculously healthy, but his teeth kept getting worse and worse.

So we thought back and realized the James' skin was the healthiest back when I was on a gluten free diet. He wasn't fully gluten free himself, but since I cooked, his gluten was considerably reduced. But oatmeal is pretty low in gluten and only has it because of cross contamination. So we began to think it might be all the grains we're eating (whole wheat flour, spelt flour, brown rice, oatmeal, etc.) that were causing his skin issues. Which also points to the paleo diet.

So we've been eating meat! And avoiding grains. I'm doing grass-fed, or pasture-raised animals, so I don't feel so terrible as a recovering vegetarian. But, I have to admit, the food tastes sooo good. Plus, it's still lot's of veggies and fruit, so it's all good.

And I've lost 6 pounds so far (in 3 days) ... and it wasn't just water weight. The fat around my hips is shrinking. Weird. Also my acne is clearing up, I'm not achey anywhere, and I have so much more energy. So far so good. But since it's only been two days, it's hard to tell the long term affects. James' skin is looking much better though.

[goddessoflubbock]

I recently learned that Mosquitos prefer type O blood, and they can tell blood type 100 ft away. They also like people who have just eaten bananas. My favorite fruit!

Well I just found out a few minutes ago exactly how fast I can move. I spotted a large spider dashing up my arm and FREAKED! I jumped up and ripped my shirt off (after banishing DS to his room!). Of course we never found the thing...

[Aspen]

That must be why mosquitoes love me so much. I have Type O blood.

[goddessoflubbock]

That must be why mosquitoes love me so much. I have Type O blood.

Stay away from bananas, you'll need a transfusion!!

This college thing is a lot of work. When I went there was a nice college ten minutes from my house. I went.

He is looking at Tech, which is in town but $$. I'm beginning to look into scholarships. He's got Aspergers, he's left handed and 25% Cherokee. And poor! His grades are definitely improving, but he's smart in ways HS doesn't measure.

He's still talking about moving to California after he graduates which would be amazing for him.

[Sophist]

Hmmm, bananas and type O blood. I'll have to remember that. I have no idea what blood type I am. A mixture of A's and B's considering that's what my parents were. Unless I'm a freak of nature.

Woot! Freaks.

[adhocisadirtyword]

Yeah - she is Type 0. Not a fan of bananas though.

Goddess - some schools in CA are okay in price, but the UC system is getting more and more expensive. You might want to look into the Cal State system if he's serious about California. The schools that are the cheapest will be the least popular areas (Fresno, Sacramento, Chico, etc.) But if he can get a scholarship, he might do well at Berkeley or San Diego.

[goddessoflubbock]

I'm trying to see about how much he'll have, plus most larger schools offer some help as well. I don't want him to graduate deep in debt

I got the family running again, this time at 4am. The spider returned!! Luckily DH was able to kill it!

[adhocisadirtyword]

Since he's very good with computers and is already programming, I would also contact Cal Poly Tech - my guess is that they would snatch him up quickly. It is a fantastic school and really geared toward the science and technology minded (like MIT). Not sure what their admission requirements are, but many an admission counselor has been known to look past less-than-stellar grades for the right student.

[goddessoflubbock]

Thank you, I'll pass it on to him

[Aspen]

That must be why mosquitoes love me so much. I have Type O blood.

Stay away from bananas, you'll need a transfusion!!

This college thing is a lot of work. When I went there was a nice college ten minutes from my house. I went.

He is looking at Tech, which is in town but $$. I'm beginning to look into scholarships. He's got Aspergers, he's left handed and 25% Cherokee. And poor! His grades are definitely improving, but he's smart in ways HS doesn't measure.

He's still talking about moving to California after he graduates which would be amazing for him.

My nephew attends UT in Austin and I think it has a very good computer program, plus it would be in-state tuition for you as opposed to out-of-state.

[goddessoflubbock]

The out of state tuition at Cal Poly puts it way over the top . A shame bc just reading their recent events it sounds like a cool place. He's on UTs site now

Finally got out back on my garden swing - in my shorts! It's 80 degrees here today, great weather . I didn't take my oxygen tho, I only went out for 20 mins. Paying for that now. Basically sat there and was swaying and playing fetch with Maddie. She knows I can't bend to the ground so she puts the stick next to me

Came back in, seeing some black swirls...down to 79! Ugh...

[Aspen]

I think that a good financial aid package could make Cal Poly affordable, but I think it's good to have alternatives in any case.

[goddessoflubbock]

We'd have to factor in traveling as he's surely going to come home over winter and summer breaks! From Austin or Amarillo its very doable Right now hes gathering info. Next comes the excel spreadsheet...LOL

The temp here has already started dropping, it's going to be COLD tomorrow!