Just checking in.

Thick mist under the street lights sounds quite atmospheric, @CheerBear.

Nice that you have been visiting well and unwell ones. Wondering how they are they going, if you feel like talking about it. Understand if not.

From what you have said now, I think I may have been wrong about the kind of contraceptive planned for you. I think the one you are referring to is one I've never been able to take since I was 17, when it seemed to flare up my crohns disease for the first time. Got big red lumps on my legs, which are a known complication of crohns, as well as a pile of other symptoms leading to diagnosis. Might have just been a coincidence that I was taking the contraceptive at the same time as crohns was flaring up in me anyway. But didn't seem worth taking a chance! Consequently I've used just about every other method of contraception known. Can imagine how dark and twisty mind could be an unfortunate side effect of it for you. Hugs.

So true about the responsibility for contraception mostly falling on women, @CheerBear. Good to hear you are going for the one with the least medicated effect. So great you are getting the additional psych sessions. I know it's something you've really wanted and will be helpful to you.

Xmas craft and board games with the LF sounds lovely, and great there was a better ratio of adults to kids. I can see how that would be a relief for you at times. Great to hear the relationship negotiations between adult loved ones is working itself out okay. Wonderful that they are appreciating the special moments shared.

I'm going to head offline now for some more sleep. Hugs and all good stuff your way today.

Morning (just) @CheerBear, @Mazarita, (and those nearby @Zoe7, @outlander, @Faith-and-Hope) and anyone passing through.

went to sleep possibly just before your silly o’clock but slept until now 😲☺️.

Maz I don’t think I fully acknowledged your twisty feelings the other morning. I’m sorry for that. When I re read it I understood how difficult it is for you and your need to talk through it with confidence that it can’t be accessed by anyone else. I also wanted you to know you have my full support. The stuff you are going through is really complex. I hope you are able to work through it at some stage.

I spent yesterday researching (read Dr Google) what might be causing my :pile_of_poo:'s. My tests came back with everything being free from bacteria or any other surprises. I’ve been so scared of it being IBS because of the foods (and alcohol) that I may have to loose in my diet that I would struggle to part with. Long story long I think the more I researched it that i think I’m more likely to have a gluten sensitivity. I rang my mum who is gluten sensitive these days. She told me that it happened around the time of menopause for her. I’m hoping that this is my culprit. Although I love gluten foods (bread, pizza etc) it’s an ok thing for me to have to give up, probably even healthy. It also explained why I was so vitamin and iron deficient. It also would help me to understand why my body is immunosuppressed and a mess. The last few weeks I’ve had so many little but annoying things because I’m so run down (Thrush, tinea, cold sores all over my face, throat infection, sore ears, totally fatigued etc). I’m not actually whinging (ok maybe a tiny bit) because I’m just feeling better about connecting the dots and like there are things I can do to feel better again. Yesterday I went gluten free. Today no rush to the toilet for me ☺️, yesterday I had been 4 times by lunch 😬. I know it’s early days but I’m hoping I’ve found out what’s giving me the :pile_of_poo:'s and other things. 😊. I know there are so many people with much worse than what I’ve experienced and it helps give me an appreciation and more empathy. Well that’s my rant over my :pile_of_poo:'s 🤦‍♀️😳.

Heres hoping that some good moments in everyone’s day.

PS by the time I got to post this it is well and truly the afternoon. :face_with_rolling_eyes:😄.

I hope you have found the cause of your problem there @Teej and it starts getting better for you. It is difficult to cut out certain foods but if it helps ith your issue then that is a good thing. There are a lot of foods I can't eat and some in combination really affect my IBS - but that has taken a lot of trial and error over the years to work out also. I also have medication to help with the pain and also to help with the stomach and bowel issues but not eating certain foods helps keep those to a minimum also.

I hope you can get on top of what is happening for you as running to the toilet constantly certainly affects everything else in your life - and being really run-down wuld also be causing this to all be worse. Take care of you Hon

That sucks that the LF were so difficult for you @CheerBear I hope they settle a bit more for you for the rest of today. Shopping centres can be noisy busy places at this time of year anyway so to add in your own little voices would have been so difficult. I hope you got done what you expected to do anyway CB.

I have been sleeping this afternoon - layed down to watch something on tv and couldn't keep my eyes open - but I knew I was tired still so not unexpected.

I have nearly finished my planning for tomorrow - will do that tonight (not much to go so shouldn't take long).

I hope the rest of today is better for you CB

Thanks @Zoe7. I really dont like busy shops at the best of times and this time of the year I want to be nowhere near them. One needed a haircut and one needed some shoes for their big night this week so I had to take them out with me to the big shops which is never my favourite thing to do. Little was bursting with over stimulation and Christmas hype, middle lost their favourite and 'special' drink bottle (and it was actually the end of the world really, according to them) and big wanted shoes they couldn't walk in so I said no. We got everything done though which is good and I picked up little a nice outfit for the big night as they didn't have going out kind of clothes that fit, and they look very cute 😍 Quiet and slow for the rest of the afternoon for us.

I can imagine you'd be pretty tired after your week, and in need of some rest to get ready for the week ahead. Good to hear you had some. Is it a half or full day for you tomorrow?

Lol 😆 @CheerBear with your description of kids and today’s efforts. 😬 for having it all in busy shopping centres Made me think who I’d sometimes have on my hands. Mine would have been fidgety, surly, pouty and silent. Boisterous would have featured lots as well.

Let the countdown begin 😏. School ending is good and bad from memory. I think I was a mum who mostly thought it was good though. No routines and them sleeping better and being a little less on edge was the bonus. Arguing and being in your face 24/7 not so much.

Interesting that your person went through it too. I’ll see how it goes. I could be wrong with my self diagnosing as well. Yes giving up this won’t be easy. Bread is a hugely convenient, cheap food. Pasta has always been an easy go to as well. Everything gluten free comes with a big price tag is the frustrating part. It would be easier with a few more $ to spend on groceries.

@Zoe7 Sorry you have IBS. I didn’t realise how many varied foods can set people off. I’m glad you know and manage your diet, also that there are meds to help. The thing that has been strange is that apart from feeling bloated and a general yuk feeling I haven’t had any pain with it. My whinge factor would have escalated hugely if I’d been having pain with it. Hoping your planning for tomorrow is going ok.

Hugs 💜🤗