Thyroid Expert?

There's a thyroid expert named Andrea Beaman I am wondering about. Has anybody heard of her? I've heard that she has a program that can get you off thyroid medication. True or false? Anybody know? I'm curious to see if that is impossible for anybody to do, especially if you've had thyroid disease for 13 years like me. Seems like those parts of my thyroid that weren't working would be dead after 13 years.

I am going to start detoxing I think. I am going to start back on iodine and cut out sugar and try to get back into health mode again.

I don't know if I ever typed on here about redecorating the house to put it up for sale. If I haven't, we are; if I have, we are still doing it. My daughter and I are going to tackle the bathroom as a mother/daughter project after this week. Sanding, painting, hanging - mask on my face to save my asthmatic lungs. I need to find 36" Drawer Slides too and find a leopard shower curtain for the shower, which won't go over well with the husband so I'm not telling him until I hang it. He considers it "his" bathroom but it really isn't. It's just a dingy bathroom that our girls won't use so I'm going to make it more girly. He'll find out about THAT when it's done. Ha Ha!

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Graduation Gifts

In a little over a year, our firstborn will graduate high school. What do you get the graduating senior? A laptop? Money for college tuition or books? Car? (Yeah, wishful thinking on her part.) Once she makes up her mind on where she is going to college will depend on what she needs I guess. Will she need stuff for her first dorm room or is she living at home? Will she be driving back and forth to college or living at college? So many decisions!

I can't believe my firstborn is almost an adult. I can't believe I am old enough to have a child who is almost an adult! HaHa!

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Home Search

I've been researching the real estate market for about the last two years, waiting to see what is available, prices, and how well our home would sell if we put it up for sale (and how fast). I found this app for a a real estate agent checklist but then found out it is actually for a real estate agent about new listings, listings sold, contracts and closings. That's not me. I'm just an individual who wants the best price for our home, to sell as fast as possible once we put it up with an agent, and the best house for our family that will (hopefully) be our last house we buy.  Maybe the realtor we find, when we finally are ready, will have this app!

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Waiting Job Opportunities

My husband may have a new job opportunity with his current employer.  It's actually a pay cut (no overtime) but it'd be a great learning experience for his future. The hours are perfect for our family as well.  We have our *fingers crossed* this comes through!

There was another job he thought about with his current employer but they required welding and he hasn't welded all that much. I think they provide the supplies for that position which isn't too bad. I know some companies require you bring your own tools. He looked up some information at atl welding supplies to price just in case, but I think he'd be covered.

If the new opportunity doesn't come through, we may move back home.

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Burn Remedy

What is the best natural remedy you know of for burns?  I am making hair accessories for my kids and the hot glue gun keeps burning my fingers! It's a Wal-Mart hot glue gun for goodness sake, not an adhesive and high temperature glue here. Just a little pink glue gun for me.  After half dozen flowers glued, my fingers have had enough. That stuff sticks to everything!

I have an aloe plant (but that stuff kinda stinks).  I can use it though.  I have used vinegar for sunburn but not sure it'd work in the same way for this kind of burn.  I have some type of silver cream from the hospital from when my daughter grabbed a few hundred degrees of curling iron from the wrong end and burned her palm, but I'd rather not use that unless it's a major burn.  It's good stuff.

I'm looking for a mild, natural burn remedy.

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Mudding

The thing to do in our little redneck town is for the kids to go mudding.  I thought that meant jumping on a cheap atv and playing in the mud with it. Nope, they take their nice jeeps and trucks and get mud in every crevice possible on the truck and themselves.

Yeah, I'd rather take the ATV rather than risk damage to an automotive vehicle.

They post pictures of their mess afterward and they're quite proud of themselves.  They look like they are having fun anyway.  If my kid did that and messed up one of our cars, she'd be in SO much trouble.

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Financial Relief: End of Child Support

Child support is done (unless the ex goes back to court with some reason why my husband should pay for adults).  It ended in July and the case is officially closed at the end of September.

This month, we got our bills paid on time.  Boy, has that been nice. It's been hard and it's been long but it's finally over.  My husband is all for taking care of his minor children - he was always on time and paid up. However, it is a relief for our large family not to have that court order hanging over our head, struggling to make ends meet. About two years ago, we even had a bankruptcy free consultation because it was soooo hard to pay our necessary bills.  We didn't go through with the bankruptcy and we kept our heads barely above water to get to this point.

Whew.  What a relief.

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Don't Weld the Ex's Presents Together

Five days until Christmas.  Is everybody ready?  I just reminded myself that I haven't taken care of Christmas dinner yet - oops.  Better do that after I get done playing on the computer.

I was even nice to my husband's ex this year and bought her a present. Not that she deserves it after her behavior but we model appropriate behavior for all of the kids anyway. I thought about getting some welding equipment from smith equipment and welding all her gifts together into one big pile of expensive, specialty chocolate goo, but I didn't.  See, I'm being nice!

Hope everybody has a Blessed Yule and Merry Christmas!

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Funny Things Kids Say and Do

My six-year-old has decided to go live with a friend because she has a pool and hot tub.  I'm being tossed aside for some water.  She has also decided that we should cater to her as of this morning ("bring me this") because she said, "That's how I roll."

She's such a funny girl.

I have actually considered getting a pool but we would have to put up pool fencing to lock my kids, and the neighbors, out safely. Of course, since she's threatening to abandon us for a friend's pool, I am not so keen on getting that pool just now and giving into the little tyrant's demands.

She's lucky she is so cute.

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Wild, Exotic Animals Loose in Ohio

The big news this morning in our state is all about the exotic animals that were set loose.  I'd be real worried if that was in my backyard.  I can't imagine looking out and seeing a big lion in your backyard or bear lumbering down my road. If I were those residents in the area, I think I'd find a vrbo and hightail it out of there for awhile on a short, last minute vacation. They've closed the schools and are telling people to stay inside.

I feel bad for the animals - not their fault.  Rumor is the owner let them loose before taking his own life but that's not confirmed yet that I know of.

Jack Hanna is there to help.

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Weight, Christmas

I was thinking today about my total weight loss this past year (with the ups and downs I have had), I lost 20 pounds in total (lost 19, 9 came back, and then I lost 10).  That's not too bad I guess.  Maybe if I lose it slow, it won't come back (since they say losing weight too fast isn't good).  I can hope right?  I can also hope that none of it comes back over Christmas.

Onto Christmas shopping...my stepdaughter is asking for a laptop.  While I'd love to look at custom laptops for her, we're going to leave that "little" gift for her mother to give her. She supports two kids with our financial assistance. We support six. Yup, she can have that gift!

I'm heading out tomorrow to make another dent in our shopping.  Hopefully, it doesn't snow tonight like they're calling for.  I have too much to do and can't afford another snow day home!

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Husbands!! Grrr!

My husband is "hinting" around for an expensive guitar for his birthday.  He's not a very good hinter.  He pretty much picks his birthday and Christmas gifts every year and has done this for as long as I've known him.  I've never had to come up with an idea for him (which is a bit irritating).  What he's picked out this year will take a payday advance loan so it's not happening. I told him to downsize his birthday wishes (at least by $100!).  His birthday falls a month before Christmas and with six kids, he really needs to consider the finances. 

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Relieving Stress with Hobby

My husband is starting a small hobby/business.  I don't call it a straight up business because he's not actually going to make money off it.  He'll make enough to cover his materials.  He's doing it because it's something he enjoys.

I think this hobby/business is a stress reliever for him.  We all need those!

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Children's Safety

We are considering looking at an old farmhouse to buy if we end up relocating.  It has four acres and they just reduced the price on it.  Unfortunately, it needs a lot of updating.  There's also probably lead paint under the paint layers somewhere so I need to get a lead test kit.  I want one that is EPA approved.  The picture looks like there is a pool on the property so we'll need a swimming pool alarm too.  I want to make sure my kids stay safe no matter where we live.  I'm extra cautious about my kids' safety.  Becoming a mom made me more neurotic than I already was - my poor, overprotected kids.

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Good Age for ATV for Child?

My son wants an atv. I've looked up a little online for children riding ATV's but I really don't know anything about them personally.  I rode one once when I was about my son's age and I didn't have the strength to turn it.  I ran into a fence with it (good thing I wasn't heading towards the canal only a few feet away).  I could climb trees, jump fences, hit the top of the rope in gym, and run fast but I could not turn the handlebars on the four-wheeler. 

Anybody with experience want to chime in on ATV's for kids? 

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Safe Room Heaters

Does anybody have any good suggestions for room heaters? My daughters' bedroom stays cold all winter long. The new ductwork and furnace we installed does nothing for their room. I worry about safety so I'd need good recommendations on the safety and effectiveness of a good room heater.  We'll need to do something in there by November.  Otherwise, they'll spend five months piled under a load of blankets to stay warm and I'll spend the winter getting up in the middle of the night, every night, making sure they are covered up.  I'd kinda like to sleep this winter. 

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Spring Cleaning in the Summer

Did you ever notice how a home just "feels" better when it's been cleaned and organized?  It feels lighter.  For the past two days, I've been working on two of my kids' rooms - under beds, closets, drawers, shelves, etc.  We threw out six bags of garbage between the two bedrooms.  Why do kids think it is ok to leave potato chips in a bowl for weeks hidden on a shelf? 

I need to finish my own bedroom now.  It still feels crowded.  I need to go through a few of my drawers and clear them out to make room for stuff piled on top of my dresser.  I have a lot of lingerie and I don't know why I hang onto it if I don't wear it anymore.  I guess because it was expensive when I bought it. Too bad I didn't buy wholesale lingerie. 

Next on the list are kitchen and bathroom cabinets.  It just feels better in the house when things aren't so disorganized and crowded.  It makes me feel happier to see things lighter and organized.

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Thyroid Disease and Menstrual Cycle

If you have thyroid disease, I'll bet at one time or another, or for an ongoing amount of time, your menstrual cycle was a bit whacked unless they were managing your thyroid disease correctly.  Mine has gone from being 45-50 days apart, to every 30 days but really heavy and painful, to every two weeks, and now - I'm five days late beyond the 30 days so I'm not sure if my menstrual cycle is getting longer again or if I'm pregnant (yes, I said pregnant). 

I shouldn't be pregnant.  Birth control has been used 100% but things happen.  It would be a huge shock if it did for me and my husband...oh wow, he'd probably fall right over.  With my thyroid disease, I don't know if I should wait this out and see if it's just my thyroid or buy a pregnancy test. 

I'll put it off a few more days.  I have too much to do anyway to worry too much at this point.  I have to get sponsors for my daughter's cheerleading squad, look up car insurance quotes at carinsurancelist.com, and chauffeur my kids around over the next couple days to their various activities. Besides, if I buy a pregnancy test and it's positive, that means we'll have to go into complete shock that much earlier!

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Temperature Dropping, Stress Rising

With our house teetering into foreclosure, like so many others right now, we've stopped remodeling for now.  I was looking at metal tile for our kitchen but there is no point in making the house pretty if the bank ends up taking it from us.  Just what I need - another stressor with my thyroid stressing me out enough right now.

Speaking of thyroid, my doctor hasn't called me back yet. I left my temperature results with his office on Wednesday.  It's Friday.  Can't a nurse call me back or even the receptionist?  Somebody to tell me that the doctor has looked at the temps and plans A, B, & C?  My temperatures are dropping again and I've had the headache from you know where for 24 hours now.   If I don't hear from him today, I have to wait through the weekend.  That will irritate me to no end.

I'll go back to dreaming about the metal tile I want in my kitchen I guess...

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Reconnecting with Hubby on Vacation

Now that we are back from vacation and back into a normal routine, I miss my husband.  I got used to having him around 24/7 and we really reconnected.  He said it was like falling in love all over again.  He's so sweet. 

He works an annoying shift in the machining industry.  I don't understand most of the technical side of what he does but they need him. He's really smart though and aced all those classes in college.  Smarty pants!

I'm good at business stuff and he's good at the technical stuff.  We are SO opposite!  Taking the time to reconnect as man and woman vs. dad and mom was really great though.  Everybody should do that! 

We're staying connected as much as possible.  He's driving me an hour to my doctor's tomorrow when he could be at home instead.  He's great.

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