Tuxicans

My husband and I are in the process of adopting a baby boy from foster care. We have his bio-mom's name, etc, but no information on the bio father. I know one day he may want to know who his biological family members are, but there's nothing listed on the birth certificate. I've asked if I can have the name of the bio father for the future, just in case, but was told I could not have it. Will my son (when he gets older of course) be privy to that information, or is it just gone forever? Has anyone had this experience?

I have a beautiful large red capped oranda who began to exhibit signs of dropsy two days ago (swollen body and prodruding scales). I treated with epsom salts, heat and melafix. Today, he is no longer swollen, but most of his scales are gone. His behavior is quite normal still, but I'm concerned about the many missing scales and what I should do now. Any help would be appreciated!

My husband and I are in the process of adopting a baby boy. He is still in the hospital and was abandoned by his mother. I have one friend who wants to give me a baby shower and another friend who thinks I shouldn't have a shower since this is an adoption. I don't understand that...what's the difference? He will be our first, and he is coming into our family, just the same as if I birthed him. We plan to give him my husbands middle name as his middle name, too. She also thinks that's not right. She wants us to treat him differently than we would a child we gave birth to. Is this a common thought? He is our baby and we love him as such...does it matter where he came from?

My friend sent me this twice, but I don't know what it means... (i). Anything anyone's ever seen before?

My husband and I are adopting 3 children from foster care. The youngest is 3 and her name is Auburn. I don't mind the name, but am concerned about that name for her living where we live. We live in Alabama, and there is a HUGE (I'm talking really really huge!) football team rivalry here between Auburn and Alabama. I'm worried that she'll get picked on in school, especially when she enters middle school. The social worker said she's always gone by Aubie, which is cute. We have considered changing her name to Aubrianne, so she will continue to go by Aubie. She doesn't seem aware that her real name is Auburn at this point. Would it be unfair to change her name? Again, it's not because I do or don't like the name...just concerned about her when she gets older. College football is a big deal here.

So many friends that were once dealing with infertility, like me, have become mothers. I'm the only one left. They don't talk to me anymore--it's like I have a disease. All of my friends have children or are pregnant. I've been struggling with this for more than 6 years. I just wish I had someone to talk to who could truly understand. Does anyone have any advice?

I can't figure out how to do a poke on a friend with a timeline. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

I've been doing a low carb diet for 3 weeks now. I'm overweight, and have PCOS, which means I have some insulin resistance. I've had very little simple carbs (no white bread or rice or pasta) in those three weeks (I've had 1/2 can of coke and one piece of Valentine's candy--my 2 slip-ups). The only bread I've had is 3 sandwiches over this period of time and they were made with those whole wheat sandwich rounds, ham and cheese with no mayo. I have a salad for one meal each day with spinach and baby greens. I've been drinking water or decaf tea only, no sugar. I've been drinking about 6-8 cups of water a day. I'm also having a glass of milk a day. I've been going to the gym about 3 times a week. I haven't lost an ounce.

Everyone I speak to says when they went low carb, the weight came off pretty quick, even with no exercise. I just can't seem to catch a break. I've given up just about everything, as far as food goes. Just eating lean meats, morning star sausages, eggs, cheese, tons of salad and nuts of all kinds. What am I doing wrong?

I am not sure why, but I've had this God-forsaken timeline for about 2 weeks. My posts just go into cyber world and disappear. I can even go to my husband or friends accounts and view my page and there's nothing there. I was starting to feel like no one liked me since I got no responses anymore EVER. Now I see that my posts aren't showing up at all. What would cause this? This timeline blows, by the way.

Help, please. I took Clomid this past month and did progesterone suppositories. My period was due about 6 days ago, but has not come. I stopped progesterone 4 days ago and my period still has not come. I tested negative 4 days ago, also. I did ovulate on day 14 or 15, I can't remember. Any idea how long after stopping progesterone it will take for my period to come? Any help is greatly appreciated!

Help, please. I took Clomid this past month and did progesterone suppositories. My period was due about 6 days ago, but has not come. I stopped progesterone 4 days ago and my period still has not come. I tested negative 4 days ago, also. Any idea how long after stopping progesterone it will take for my period to come? Any help is greatly appreciated!

I teach in a small private school and love my job, but am looking to change schools because I live 3 counties south of where I work, and my commute takes me an hour to an hour and a half most days. That's not even so bad, but the gas is killing me. As I said, I work in a private school, so I only make about 22k a year, and that's a huge issue, too. Anyway, I need some ideas about my cover letter. How do I word my reason for searching for a new job? Do I state that as the reason? Do I mention it at all? I just don't really know where to start. Thanks in advance!

So, apparently in the last several months, I've developed an allergy to the mites that we all have (all people have mites living on their skin). I've seen 9 different doctors (including 2 dermatologists and an allergist). The doctor that figured out what was wrong has me on a ridiculous amount of antihistamines. They work, but I have side effects from them and if I stop taking them, I'm itching and covered in spots in about 2 days. Has anyone else ever heard of this? I never thought this was possible! It's horrible!

So, apparently in the last several months, I've developed an allergy to the mites that we all have (all people have mites living on their skin). The doctor has me on a ridiculous amount of antihistamines. Has anyone else ever heard of this? I never thought this was possible! It's horrible!

There is a small, private zoo in my city. I went to visit last Friday and was appalled at the condition of the birds. They are being housed in a barn, with one tiny light (about as much light as you would get from a nightlight in a dark room) and covered in blankets b/c there is no heat. The birds have no light in their cages, no way for their circadian rhythms to normalize, and the diet is nothing but sunflower seeds. Finally, the barn is filthy and the cages are stacked upon one another. It's as if this zoo director is more of a hoarder than a director. However, I've gone to numerous places seeking help and have found none. USDA, USDA Veterinary Services, Humane Society, Animal rescue groups, Fish and wildlife...even the news. NO ONE will help. Please, can someone offer suggestions?

I had a m/c a few months ago. Immediately after, I took Clomid, but didn't get pregnant. I've always (pre-miscarriage) had 30 day cycles with ovulation on about day 16 or 17. However, the last 2 months my cycle has been really short (3 weeks) with my ovulation on about day 12. Is this normal? I've only been pregnant that one time, so I have nothing prior to compare it to. Any information would be very appreciated!

I co-teach with another teacher (Teacher A). We were put in a classroom together because she took off the first part of this year for maternity leave and I was supposed to take off the latter part of the year for maternity leave. However, I miscarried, so that won't be happening, but classes were set and things just stayed the same. Anyway, this is Teacher A's 3rd week back. Another teacher (Teacher B) had her baby within a day of Teacher A and came back from maternity leave 2 weeks ago. I have been TTC for almost 6 years, and like I said, finally got pregnant this year and miscarried in September. Both Teacher A and Teacher B are well aware of this.

Long story short, Teacher B comes into our classroom EVERY SINGLE FREAKIN' DAY and wants to talk babies to Teacher A...at least once a day, often 3-4 times a day. She walks in, doesn't even look at me or even acknowledge my presence, turns her back to me and goes on and on about babies, asking Teacher A if her baby is doing this or that, or has hit this milestone and going on about how "hard it is to leave my sweet boy over in the daycare all day" (The daycare is on our school's campus). This woman KNOWS I recently had a miscarriage and knows I've been trying for longer than she's even been married. She also knows I'm sensitive and still very saddened over my miscarriage. Is she just a clueless clod? An idiot? Or a b*tch? I can't figure it out. Perhaps the miscarriage isn't fresh in her heart and mind but it is in mine and I'm so angry that she comes into MY classroom and makes ME feel uncomfortable to the point I feel like I have to leave so I don't cry. She comes in during planning period or before or after school most of the time...occasionally during classroom time, but not often. What do I say? How do I handle this situation? I do still have to work with this woman. .

My husband and I are interested in a foster through adoption program. I'd love to hear from others who have adopted through foster care and hear about your experiences, both good and bad. Thanks in advance!

HELP! I'm so tired of this. I've had these horrible itchy red bumps for 6 weeks now. They look a lot like chicken pox, but they have been here almost 7 weeks. I've had a low grade fever the entire time and stayed sick, too with mostly upper respiratory irritation and sore throat. I've been to 6 different doctors, including an infectious disease specialist and no one has a clue what is wrong!!! The last doc (the inf. disease specialist) ran a full panel of bloodwork, but the results are not due to come back till about Thursday of this week, and he isn't even sure the bloodwork will show anything. I need some answers and some relief! Has anyone ever dealt with something like this?

I had a D&C just over 5 weeks ago and still have had no period or even signs of a period. For about a week, I've had weird creamy white discharge, no odor or anything. This is not really normal for me. My cycles have always been pretty regular. Does anyone have any idea when I might expect my period?