Nora, the Leverage is worth it. The crew would totally approve.

Yum, we went out to dinner at our favorite Italian place. Instead of a cheesy dish I had one of the specials offered tonight. Macadamia crusted Mahi Mahi atop a bed of spinach and mashed sweet potatoes and covered with a mango and pineapple salsa. Tasty.

I am remembering why I fled Michigan for southern California.

Sometimes you need to go back to remind yourself.

Aims, the medications may make it easier to do the behavioral modification things the doctor suggested. Good luck.

The upstairs neighbors are making grumblings like they might be gearing up for an all night screaming session. I really hope not. I am too fucking tired for this bs tonight.

Leverage totally worth it.

Thanks for all the good wishes. It was a totally awesome day--I got brunch made for me, got some time to myself while H went off to get the rest of the lumber cut for bedroom and the last of the living room bookshelves, and then we went for a drive in the sparkling sunny, high-50s (sorry, Erin!) day. I had salmon, broccoli (sorry Tom, but I love it, so that's okay), and rice noodles for dinner. No cake, but I did have a steamed bun. And then we got home and H was doing some banking and looked up all chagrinned. "Happy Birthday, hon. The date snuck up on me!" Oh, don't be sorry, I had a splendid day!

Aims, what others have said, you and MM are terrific parents, and Em's lucky to have you. But a note on what Hil said--we noticed too that red food coloring, especially in "fruit" drinks, set off manic behavior in StY. His 32-year-old preschool teacher asked us to take him out of her class of seven (seven!) four year olds, as she found him "uncontrollable." Oh, I don't know, maybe the fact you're feeding him cookies and Jungle Juice before you send him outside to play might have something to do with his wild behavior? We restricted sugar and eliminated red from his food palate, and he was much more even-keeled.

Jessica, it's good to hear from you. You have been, and continue to be, much in my thoughts.

Aims, I nannied a couple of severely ADHD boys over a summer way back when. At their doctors' prescript., they were off their meds for most of the duration (I guess to develop alternate coping techniques? Mitigate the weightloss both of them had?) They were 7 and 11 and both had been on 'em since they were 4 and 6. They did pretty well with the unstructured days, but it really drove home to me how USEFUL the meds can be, even so early, when the 7 year old was having a really shitty day and clearly overwhelmed, he came to me and said "I think I need my meds today." He had this ocd finger touching thing going on and it unnerved both of us. He'd learned what it was to be in control, and knew he was well outside those boundaries. And that's a good thing to get a handle on early. He knew when he could self regulate and when he couldn't. It was really my first experience with that in kids, and man, that kid? Awed me.

Hee! It was seeing a Gold Star with a TOO LONG LINE is what made me wish I had more than fifteen minutes in this airport (nice connection, mom). And I'm not coming through Cinci on the way back. :(

I guess I'll just have to make a special trip some time.

I think that's an excellent idea!

I have acquired Leverage by other and highly dubious ways.

For anyone interested, Demonoid has open registration right now.

Jessica, I've been thinking about you and your family all week. Take care of yourself.

I have to say my Strattera makes a HUGE difference.

When I had to get it refilled they didn't have it so I had to come back the next day.

That was like two weeks ago, I kept forgetting because I'd get distracted. As in I'd walk to my car and think "I need to get my meds" and drive past the pharmacy on the way home and remember it later.

FINALLY remembered to get it, I can't feel a difference yet but it will be nice to be able to keep thoughts in my head and be able to stay on task at work.