Kris

I have been experencing some moodiness in the last few weeks. Weepiness at weird times, feeling irritated for no reason...not quite depressed, just detached at other times. My youngest is just a little over a year and I seem to remember hearing something about going through hormonal changes when the child is a year old. If this is the case does anyone know what this is called so I can get more information? Has anyone been through it themselves?

I am in college and just changes my major from accounting to sociology with the intent to become a social worker for child protective services. The reason for this, is that I have a deep desire to help people, especially children. The only reason I was sticking with accounting was for the money, and I feel that shouldn't be your reason for choosing a career. My question is, how difficult is it? I have a friend who--though she is not a social worker and does not know any--says it will take a lot of time away from my family. Is that true? Any other information or advice you could share would also be appreciated.

We did a DNA test, but the one we did was not admissable in court. Do I need to pay for the one that is in order for my husband to adopt my child? Anyone have any clue how this works?

I have a hospital bill for $733 from giving birth to my daughter about to go to collections. I have done everything I can, including payment arrangements, but it is still going on 08/17 and unless I will the lottery (no lotto in AL anyway) or someone gives me the money (everyone I know right now is broke!) that is the way things are gonna go. My question is, my husband mentioned that people who apply for jobs as accountants will have their credit looked at. Do you think that having this on my credit would prevent me from getting a job as an accountant?

I had a baby in Dec 2008, and about three weeks later, while on maternity leave, learned that our company was shutting down and I did not have a job to come back to. I have searched and searched, and finally I have found a job. I start back in a week. The problem is, I have a hospital bill of $733 remaining that I can not see how to pay. I called and made arrangements and I pay $50 a month, but they are saying that is not enough, it has gone to collections, and unless I can pay the full $733 by August 17th, it will be reported to the credit bureaus. I will be starting work, but it is only a Sunday job...6 hours on Sunday, 4 Sundays a month. About $200 a month. I have explained my situation, but the company is saying their hands are tied. So my question is: if it goes on my credit report, I know I can keep paying it until it is in "good standing". Is there even a point? Does "collections/ now paid" status REALLY look any better than "Collections/$733 owed?"

OK, here's the sitch: In 2006, my DH found out he had a son from a previous relationship. This son was 4. We had never been in his life, because we did not know. BM (birth mother) made it impossible for us to be a part of his life, short of going to court. When we approached a lawyer he said the most we would get was every other weekend because, regardless of why, DH had not been around. We decided not to go this route because SS (step son) was acting afraid every time that DH came around and kept saying DH was trying to take him away from BM. Well, BM called me today because she found out via the grapevine that we had a baby. She seems to have matured a lot, and she is married. SS is supposed to be adopted in January 2010. She is pregnant again, and she expressed wishes that SS and my DD could/should meet. The thing is, I have never mentioned it to DH, but I have often wished for this. Not just for them to meet, but be a part of each other's lives. She is his sister, after all. BM admited her responsibility in the past, that she was angry and didn't really want to let DH be a dad to SS. Well, since he is about to be adopted it is not like she wants money or anything....WWYD? I really would like to have the kids in each other's lives but am not sure how to go about it. She said it would have to be every once in awhile, to begin with, which I agree with, but she said her DH is agreeable to it. I have not talked to DH yet because he is at work and I do not want to try to get into this kind of conversation right now. But I mentioned it to a girlfriend and she doesn't think it is a good idea. So I thought I'd ask for others opinions.

What reasons should I give DH for this to be a good idea? They should know each other, right?

Is it even a good idea considering the past?

How could we do it? With DH being his BD but him being raised by another man, but seeing DH when he saw his sister???? So confused, but I feel like it is the right thing to do! Help please!!!

I am meeting with a lady for flowers for my vow renewal, and I was told she will work within my budget, which is tiny! (I mean hey we're already married!) We never had a "real" wedding...just us and my sis at the court house, no flowers, reception or anything, so for our five year anniversary we are having the kind of wedding I wanted. We're not having any altar arrangements or anything like that, just my boquet (medium size, hydrenga and roses) the 2 bms flowers (small calla lilly arrangements) and 3 bouts, 1 for Groom, Best Man, and Groomsman. Should $150 be enough for this? Best answer will be chosen!

It said it has to be paid in 10 days does anyone know if you can work out a payment plan for state taxes owed and if so how? A best answer will be chosen!

I am writing a book about a 14 year old girl...and the slang is different now than when I was 14. Please tell me the slang today--the word and what it stands for. Thanks for your help a best answer will be chosen.

I am writing a book about a 13-14 year old girl. She does not have a good relationship with her mom. I am sure things have changed since I was that age, when your mom reading your journal or monitoring the web sites you go to was enough to make you mad at her for a month, so I am wondering for kids this age now, what are things your parents do or could do that would break your trust, embarass or upset you? A best answer will be chosen!

To make this short, my husband and I are renewing our vows for our five year wedding anniversary this year. When we first got married we went to the justice of the peace because we were young and did not have the money for a big wedding. The only people we invited were my sis and her boyfriend--it was a very last minute thing. This time around, we are doing it up with the white dress, cake and everything, trying to make it as like the first time around as we can...what I envisioned, anyway...and I know we can't exactly have bachlor and bachlorette parties, but I would like to have a bang up celebration...anyone have any ideas? I WILL choose a best answer!

I think my mom overfed her...this is not spit up, but actual vomit. I am starting to feel very anxious...is this normal just for being overfed or could it be a reaction to something else? I mean, this is a large amount every time...covers her from the chin all the way to her bellbutton. Please help!

My daughter is a month old and is now having this tendancy to try to use me (well, my boob, anyway) as her pacifier. I say this because she will have been fed, and when I bring her to the breast, she does not eat...does not suck deeply, just kind of moves it around in her mouth, like she normally does her paci. She refuses to take the paci however and when I pull her away from the breast she shrieks like I have just hit her or something. I can't spend all day letting her suck...has this ever happened to anyone? What do I do to break her of it without discouraging her from eatting when she needs to? Just let her cry?

I just had a baby, my first, and she is two weeks old. My mother in law never seemed too interested in the fact that I was pregnant, and wanted to talk about anything but during those ten months. She even told me on a few occasions that she wasn't "into" babies. Well, now that the baby is here she has become very demanding. She has seen the baby four times already but is constantly complaining about never getting to see her. She is always asking about baby sitting and I am just not ready for that yet. She does not come to me with these complaints but rather ignores me and pesters my husband. My husband has gone back to work and I am the primary care taker of our child, yet she still refuses to come to me with her "demands". I have no idea how to make her respect me as the mother of the child. She is constantly trying to undermine everything I say and keeps reminding me that "she is a mother too". To make a long story shorter, the problem I am having now is two things:

1. I have told her my baby moves A LOT and I would like her to sit down while holding the baby. She refuses to do this. I think that until she follows my rule, she should not be allowed to hold the baby. We have this rule in place for everyone including my own mother...the baby just tries to roll right out of your arms, and while visiting my MIL on yesterday she nearly dropped the baby! And then, of course, looked at me like it was my fault and scolded me to "be careful". It was only after my husband reminded her of our rule and the fact that the baby had tried to roll that she relented in her criticism.

2. I told my husband I no longer want anyone holding our daughter while she sleeps because she will no longer let me put her down. I am awake all night trying to put her down just to have her wake up and cry so I have to get her back to sleep only to repeat again and again. This is when she has been fed, changed, burped, etc. and the only thing that seems to get her back to sleep is being held. Well, my MIL stated that it is not "good enough" just to see the baby...she wants to hold her. Right now the baby is hardly on a schedule (though I try) so I have no clue when she will be awake. Am I being too harsh to tell everyone they can not hold her while she sleeps?

I am new at this motherhood thing and just needing some guidance. Thanks for any help.

I had my daughter five days ago and my bleeding from vaginal tearing was really lessening before I even left the hospital! I was back on a normal pad before we left instead of the adult diapers they give you. Well, in the last 24 hours I noticed an increased blood flow and pain in that area. I am now back to the "diapers" and having to change them every few hours. I called the doctor who delivered my daughter and who sewed me back up and explained everything...he told me to stay off my feet for the rest of the night...only problem is daughter was extremely fussy and I was not able to do this...after all, she is only five days old! Anyone have this problem or suggestions for what I can do to help it? Just as an FYI, I do not know how many stitches I had because they did not even tell me...I just know it took him awhile to stitch me up and I was told on the severity scale of 1-3 it was a 2. They did not have record of how many stitches I was given. Thanks for your help.

My daughter is five days old and my milk just came in. We normally feed every three hours which her doctor said was fine, but he also said she might wish to eat more now since the milk has come in. She was wanting to feed ALL morning long...I would say about 4 times in 2 hours, for at least 20 minutes each. And while I did think this was excessive, I just thought that it was what the doctor had been telling me would happen. Turns out she just didn't feel well and was trying to comfort herself...I had at first ruled out the comfort sucking thing because she refused her paci. Well, end result is I believe she got overfed and is extremely gassy and fussy. Anything I can do to relieve her???

Just wondering the normal temps...when is it too low, too high? Noticed daughter was extra irritable ALL morning long...I was up with her every hour...and took temp. It was 98.1 and I thought that was too low. I had her swaddled at this point and put a cap on her, as well as put a blanket over her and got a heater in the room...she went right to sleep and I have checked on her every thirty minutes and have the baby monitor glued to my side. Is this temp cause for alarm?

I have an interesting question. My brother found out about a year ago that a woman he had sex with got pregnant and had a child. She claimed it was his, and I will be the first to say that the child looks almost just like him. However, because my brother was not in the picture at the time his name did not go on the child's birth certificate and he was not acknologed as the father. The child's mother married and had the child adopted. Now, she has divorced her husband and is trying to get my brother to pay child support. What is the legal aspect of this? I thought that if a child was adopted then whoever adopted the child would be responsible for child support?

OK this might seem like a weird question...I have a pure bred Scottish West Highland White Terrier. We got her in mid-September and she was potty trained completely within three weeks. I have been pregnant ever since we got her. Well, the baby is due here in 3 days--or so they tell me!--and our puppy has been acting strange. She has reverted to going to the bathroom inside. And she is acting clingy with me like she did when we first got her. For example, she ignores my husband (who is usually her favorite) and runs to me and just wants to be held. I also think her energy level seems down a bit. I have been keeping an eye on her because I was worried that she is sick, but a friend last night suggested that she might be anxious of the impending birth of our baby. I know cats can be weird about change that way, but I have never heard of a dog doing this nor can I find anything online. Anyone been through this before? Any advice on what I can do if this is the case? Thanks a million!

This is what they told me when I went to the hospital last night. Anyone have any idea how much longer it should be???