Jaiden's Mommy

We noticed a couple years ago that occasionaly when we run our van through big puddles and sometimes during heavy rain that the drive belt slips causing the power steering to lock up temporarily. I've only recently decided to do a little research on it since I need to replace my power steering pump for unrealted reasons. I'm seeing this is a VERY common problem in Chrysler/Dodge probably due to no splash guard. Unfortunately the solution kit sold to prevent the belt from slipping is only marketed up to the year 2000.

I'm an amateur, no doubt, but I like to do my research so when I go to my mechanic I can discuss with some knowledge what is going on. This is what I was looking at: http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=12611&l...

It lists 3 components to the kit: Kit includes double-sided Micro-V® Belt, grooved idler pulley, tensioner with a grooved pulley. I thought, well, let me see if I can find individual parts to match my year model and I'll see what I find in my search (reviews, forums etc..) I'm getting nowhere. This is only my first night of hunting but all the solutions seem to be for anything but my year model.

Looking for advice on where to look, if anybody knows of a forum or discussion that may focus on 2001+ year models having this issue and the solutions they got... It's not an absolute necessity but a fix would be nice so that we don't even have the belt slip off or have to be extra cautious while driving in rain!

A little background: My last LMP was 3/16. (I had an average 34 or so long cycle length) After that I got pregnant. We miscarried and on June 21st I had a D&C. I have had off and on spotting since but nothing like a real period until 9/9 (that makes 11 1/2 or so weeks before my cycle started). That was definitely the real deal lol... anyway it lasted 11 days.

I decided I wanted to use an OPK to see if it indicates I'm even ovulating with this first real cycle post-op. I went today and bought a 20pack (on sale of course!) and whatayaknow... I get a smiley face! Today would be Day 13 of my cycle.

Obviously this indicates we should get busy JIC it's accurate. Should I go ahead and test tomorrow also or just put the tests away until next month if we don't get pregnant? I guess I just did not expect a smiley on the very first test.

We had a security system installed last week. Part of the install we got a new thermostat. Well, we decided to cancel it within the 3 day cancellation period so Tuesday they came out and took their equipment back. The guy put our old thermostat back on the wall, a very basic programmable thermostat. DH said it worked fine when he left. At some point during the night it shut off completely. No power to the thermostat at all. There are no batteries since we have a power cable that runs from the HVAC to the thermostat.

Today we bought a new thermostat thinking that was the problem and after installing it, there is still absolutely no power to it. There is a breaker-like switch on the unit inside, and in the breaker box outside. We have switched both breakers with no luck. Checked for a fuse and can't find one. This is our first home so we don't know anything about the unit since it was already there. I think it is about 6-10yrs old.

We called the security company back and made a complaint. They put in a home damage claim and we should get a call back shortly from someone in that department. I'm really ticked if something they did messed up my unit! I'm also frustrated that it worked when they left... fearing they may tell us tough-luck because of that.

Any ideas are welcome. We are really hoping we don't have to replace the unit!

Here is a photo of a strange plug on a wall cover. A group of friends are trying to figure it out and we are stumped after several searches. Doesn't seem to be an antenna plug or even a European plug. It is an outlet in a trailer. What is it used for and what is the piece plugged in to it for?

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e80/Lisaannevb/w...

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I have a 12 place setting of about 10-12 different pieces, plus 6 or 7 serving pieces of Carico stainless flatware in the Cezanne design. They are in a wooden box for flatware storage. The set retails for about $2000, possibly more depending on how much the individual serving pieces cost.

This is something I am considering selling but have no idea where to turn for advice on who may buy this (any companies or dealers), or even how much to sell it for. I believe this flatware has never been used. It is in excellent, flawless-looking condition.

Any advice or suggestions are appreciated. Thank you.

Many, if not all, parents surely experience difficulty in feeding their children the right foods. My daughter is no exception.

She likes chicken nuggets or breaded chicken products, and used to love macaroni and cheese. At dinner we offer what was cooked and she refuses or plays with it. We don't eat a huge variety of foods but we offer pastas, meats, veggies... no luck. Now all of a sudden she even refuses the macaroni if we offer. We've tried Gerber meals to see if that appeals to her, getting her involved and showing her with excitement when we put her plate together, eating it ourselves... she just plays with it.

She loves cheese, yogurt, strawberries... most fruits. She'll nibble of carrot pieces but won't eat much. She likes wheat thin crackers, granola bars, cheerios/milk for breakfast.. there are many things she likes, but when it comes to lunch or dinner she just won't eat REAL food. I'm at a loss.

We don't force feed her, but I am fearful of her 15mo checkup that she will not weigh in very well. We have started giving her gummy vitamins to help with the lack of meats and greens.

I'm looking for some suggestions of foods you tried with your toddler when they were having a hard time accepting most foods.

My DD is about 12 1/2 months old. She still nurses a couple times during the day, nurses to sleep when I am home, and when she wakes up early in the morning she will be in bed with me nursing off and on for a few hours.

This is purely comfort nursing, and while it does not completely bother me, I do wish to stop it. A few times I have been able, depending on how tired I am, get her out of her crib, nurse her, then put her back down but she wakes up an hour later ready for more.

When your baby was 1+ did you discontinue night nursing yourself or wait for your baby to quit? And if you stopped it yourself, how did you manage to do so?

Unfortunately we bought a new house and one of my cats decided to urinate in one large corner of the room. I tried a WalMart pet urine cleaner with no luck, and then I bought Nature's Miracle Orange. I have heavily soaked my carpet as much as I can a couple of times (I can't get the carpet up to get to the padding underneath) and the room has smelled stronger of urine every since.

It has been about 4 or 5 days now. You can smell the Nature's Miracle product, but you can still smell the urine. I know the bottle says it can take up to 2 weeks to completely rid the room of the smell and for the carpet to dry. Did anyone else notice the smell coming up stronger after applying the product? I'd like to think it means the stuff is working.

How did you transition your baby from breast milk to cow's milk?

Did you mix half/half to help your baby with the difference, and if you started the weaning process before your baby was 12 months did you supplement formula or just go ahead and supplement milk?

Just curious to see what other moms have done. Just not sure what I plan to do yet. Thanks :)

I miss you guys so much! How are things around here? supermommy come back yet?

Ok, I guess I'll ask a real question lol... Hmmmm

Oh, so as if this probably isn't the first question asked about it, how do you all feel about J&K+8? I'm really sad, I just want everyone to be happy!

Wow, it has been FOREVER it seems since I have been on here!!

Anyway, I'm back with a question for you ladies who breastfeed and have or had a baby who nurses to sleep. DD is almost 11 months old and I am planning to cut WAY back on nursing at 12 months. DD almost exclusively nurses to sleep with me which can be very difficult at times. It is a win/lose situation where she gets to sleep pretty easily this way. But usually she is in bed with me the whole night (not so much a part-time cosleeper anymore) and nurses constantly. My back hurts from her laying on top of me. I can't do the side-lying nursing, and I'm losing sleep.

I get of work late and she is already 2 or 3 hours ahead of me with sleep. I have to feed her then she nurses of to sleep. Lay her down in the crib, wakes up 2 hours later (sometimes less), then each time she wishes to nurse again I wake up to adjust her so she doesn't freak out too badly when she can't find the breast. She wakes up anywhere between 8 and 9am which gives me about 5 hours of continually interrupted sleep at least 5 nights per week.

I'm not big on the CIO deal, but I'm not sure what else to do right now. I'm handling things well, but I'm just pooped. I want my bed back, and I want a comfortable sleep.

Suggestions from those with experience appreciated :)

I got sciatica in my right leg/foot around September of 2007. I was doing a lot of running and working out and unfortunately was not supporting my high-arched feet properly. It's been pretty bad since then off and on, especially once I got pregnant.

I was seen for it once and was just basically told I may eventually want to see a specialist for inserts in my shoes. I can't go long with flip-flops, the nerves pinch (or maybe the ligaments pull) terribly when I wear high heels, and my tennis shoes always feel like they are cutting off circulation to my foot (my foot and leg goes numb sometimes).

Is this really a part of my sciatica? And is it worth it to be seen for it and go through specialists for them to prescribe me an expensive shoe/insert?

My daughter is totally amazed by DJ Lance Dance from Yo Gabba Gabba. Since she was about 7 months old she has been so interested in this show! There is one episode on OnDemand about sleeping that will keep her quiet. My hubby plays this on her fussy nights while I am at work. She will sit there and watch the whole thing in silence.

She is 9 months now. We bought her a few Yo Gabba Gabba toys for Easter, and she has this Broby dancing toy (kind of like the Elmos) that dances and shakes his arms around. She mimics him when he starts. It is so adorable! She starts smiling and laughing and you see her little arms going around in circles.

I have always thought I'd just go on and let my daughter completely self-wean from the breast. She is 9 months old now and I'm not feeling that way anymore.

I'm currently working on getting hubby to increase her solids intake while I am at work. We are doing it slowly so we don't disrupt her daily milk intake, but overall she nurses sufficiently when I am home. My goal is that by 11 or 12 months she will not take but a very small amount of milk while I am at work so that I can be pretty much completely weaned from the pump. (I only work 4 days per week later in the evening)

My daughter is just the type who would probably nurse as frequently after 1 year as she does now if I didn't work on it. Although I still want to be able to offer breast, I want to significantly reduce how often, hopefully down to one or two feedings per day.

Did you want to allow your baby to self-wean then change your mind? I kind of feel cruddy about it, but at the same time I just want to move on.

Ok well, not really, but still!

I got the flu like 4 weeks ago and since I'm nursing there was pretty much nothing I could do. Well, it progressed in to a headache that would not go away, in to a cough that kept the headache around, in to a dry cough, cough with gunk and back and forth like that since.

Monday I went to an urgent care facility where he just prescribed me with a Z-pack antibiotic and prednisone. The cough is still very existent and horrible. My back, neck, jaw, and head hurt so badly from all of it. I'm done with the Z-pack and went ahead and made another appt with my doctor for Monday in case nothing clears up in the next few days.

Is this bronchitis? Oh my Gosh, it's terrible. Tylenol/Ibuprofen... nothing works. Not even cough medicine!

I mashed sweet potatoes for my daughter last night. She doesn't particularly care for them alone so she does not get them often. Any ideas of what I could add to it to make it more appealing? In the past we usually added banana but something different would be nice.

BTW she's 9 months.

Thanks!

I guess, first off, how many of you breastfeeding moms opted to introduce cow's milk at 12 months? Did you completely wean from the breast or continue to nurse and offer cow's milk?

A question caught my eye earlier. I know the couple of times we attempted to offer my daughter formula she almost immediately threw it all back up which makes me wonder if she has a lactose intolerance, or if it was just totally different and too hard on her.

So, breastfeeding momma's, did you decide to use lactose free milk/soy-based milk, or did you try regular milk?

A part of me wants to exclusively breastfeed as long as possible and allow self-weaning, yet another part of me wants a little break (like from pumping at work or to just get a way sometimes). 12 months is still 3 months away so I have time to think about it I guess.

If your baby got prescribed ointment for their pink eye, how long did it take for their eyes to clear up and the pink eye to go away? She came down with the symptoms on Sunday, went to the doctor on Monday, and as of today her eyes look a little better.

My daughter has pink eye along with a sinus infection so she is on amoxicillin and the ointment. It is SO terrible to put this stuff in her eyes and I think we have to do it for 7 days >_< To make things worse I think I've got it, too, ugh lol.

Did you get certified in 1st Aid and CPR before the birth of your child?

I definitely recommend it now if not. I got certified, coincidentally, while I was at Academy to be a police dispatcher when I was about 4 months pregnant.

I have to be honest that I kind of forgot everything lol but I had to get re-certified this week and it's amazing the things you wish you knew! I made my husband come to work and take it wish us and he's pretty glad he did. He didn't even have the slightest clue how to perform basic life-saving functions on our daughter if she ever needed it.

Moms, if you got sick while breastfeeding did you notice a supply decrease at all?

I came down with the flu on Tuesday and the three days that I have worked since then I have noticed I'm only pumping about 14-15oz when I usually pump around 18oz. When it comes time for my second and final pump my breasts just aren't as full as they usually feel. It doesn't help that I'm struggling to stay awake while pumping hah.

Being sick sucks so badly lol. My daughter seems to be doing fine despite the fact that she has the flu as well.