thanks, Ellie, as always helpful and thoughtprovoking info. I will check out the diet site, I do find an intake diary helpful, in fact it seems to be something I have to do to have any success at all. Do you agree with the conventional wisdom that going below 1000 cals/day sets off a "starvation cycle" lowering metabolism? (forgot to ask my doc this the other day).
as for symptoms of thyroid, not many that you listed, except that both parents have arthritis, I'm not sure about the type, perhaps osteo rather than rhuematoid, but I'm pretty sure my grandmother was likely to have had that type, she had horribly disfiguring arthritis for years, developed it as a fairly young woman. the only other sypmtoms would be feeling cold and dry skin, but then it is cold and dry here weatherwise, and some mental fogginess but I've always figured that was due to stress and sleep deprivation. I will call and see if she (doc) might consider ordering a full thyroid panel. I don't know if it might indicate anything or not, but years ago I had a thyroid check that actually came out "high"...upon recheck sometime later, it had returned to normal, I'm thinking this was 10 years ago.
I will speak with the kids about pulling their own weight more. They just seem so obtuse about it, and they do somethings, take care of their "critters" and help S13 with homework, but I guess H probably is more environmentaly sensitive than most people, in fact he gets upset when things are moved from their usual places, such as dog leashes and tv remotes. Hmm, now that I think of it, I dont' even touch the stuff on his side of the dresser, I will let it fall off before I do, partly because I don't want any monster surprises, but also because he gets upset if it's moved. and, now that I think about it, I don't even touch his pillow when I make the bed, because it bothers him, not that I touch it but that I move it. I adapted to these things so long ago that I didnt even recall them. In fact he even gets upset if the bar of soap in his shower is moved. So I suppose it's even the tiny little things that I don't particularly notice that drive him up the wall. I also get the distinct feeling that SIL is used to having his mother pick up after him, which is not my inclination, so he leaves his mail around and his coat and little irritating things like that. Thank god they should be getting their house soon, should be about a month. I will speak with the kids tonight though.
I am concerned about the debt issue as well, and I have closed all my accounts, and gotten the interest rates reduced somewhat. it will take a while to get them paid off though. I've thought of looking for a debt consolidation loan, but don't really have collateral except the house, so that doesnt seem a good option. I've thought of going to consumer credit counseling and seeing what they would suggest, but H says he doesnt think we'll qualify. I told him it never hurts to ask, and i do intend to check it out. need to get that scheduled. I do know of instances where people with higher incomes than ours got help through them although the sitches I know of had a higher debt than ours, so maybe that comes into play. That's a tough thing to figure out how to deal with. Even with the interest rates lowered they are still high, and it will take forever to get it paid off. I don't know of many other options other than checking through that agency.
