Hi everyone! I wanted to come on here and share my story in the hope that it might help someone.
I first started having migraines at 7 years old. I remember throwing up in the play ground so many times. The next day I'd be told by kids that I shouldn't be at school because I have a "tummy bug". The noise of school triggered my migraines a lot.
There are a lot of migraine sufferers on my mum's side of the family. My mum, grandma and great grandma all had them and so does my uncle.
When I was 14 I had a traumatic brain injury with bleeding on the brain that made my plight much worse. Even after I got over my injury, my migraines were worse for many years.
In my 20s I had ups and downs, periods where the migraines would be gone for a while and periods they'd come back more often. But I'd always usually have at least one a month (I know many people here have things so much worse and I feel for you so much.) I got very good at managing them.
Then when I was around 25-26 I had a period of time when my headaches became a daily occurance. I say headaches because they did seem to be somewhat different to migraines, with similarities. I'd wake up in the morning with a very strong headache and a bad feeling in my tummy. Medication and caffeine would help but I just couldn't understand what was going on. It seemed potentially alcohol related but then sometimes it would happen without me having had anything to drink, other times I'd have had a few drinks and nothing. I went through a bunch of medical treatments, nothing really helped.
Then when I was 26/27 I stopped eating dairy. I'd long suspected I had an intolerance and so I tried the elimination diet and figured out it helped me with many gut symptoms.
3+ years on I do not get migraines. The only times these come on is if I've had considerable amounts of dairy over the course of a number of days. It's so stark that it's almost like someone waved a wand.
Some other symptoms I've rid myself of: constant loose stool, feelings of inflammation in the stomach and gut that I just thought were normal, intense hyperactivity in the evenings (after large meal with dairy and a glass of wine), almost constant high resting heart rate.
I also want to say that the majority of headaches I've had throughout my life were definitely migraines. I was assessed by many doctors, I had all of the classic symptoms pre, during and post migraine. I won't list them as you know them yourselves.
I know that this won't be the case for many of you, if not most. But those of you who are suffering so much for many years, I really recommend you try an elimination diet to see if you have any food intolerances. At the end of the day, it's worth a shot! (Please don't take this as medical advice, I am not a medical professional, this is just what worked for me.)
Good luck to everyone, I understand your pain.

Just lost my 10 year old German shepherd mix today she was the sweetest dog ever. She suffered from chronic ear infections and loved to swim especially around this time of year every time I let her outside to the back yard she would always jump in the pool.she hated the vet very much 😂 like most German shepherds but wouldn’t try to bite just growl at the vet. Today was just like any other day I let my dogs out to go to the bathroom and get some sun and I’ll leave them out there for a hour or 2 so they tire themselves out before dinner and I had a feeling after a hour or so and I just brush it off and answered a phone call and got distracted and ignored the feeling after wards that feeling came again and I went outside and called my dogs in and my male dog came inside but my sweet lulu didn’t come I thought she was probably napping by the pool or her usual outdoor napping stops but nothing then I found her tucked between the shed and garden beds breathing very slowly and her stomach was bloated and very hard then the panic set in I tried to get her to move but she wouldn’t she gave me a couple of kisses and she had this look in her eyes I called my family out and I called the vet in a panic all while I’ll was getting ready to take her my aunt was comforting my lulu and she said it’s ok sweet girl if it’s to painful you can go and my sweet lulu took her final breath in my aunts arms. If I just gone outside the first time maybe just maybe she still be here
Goodbye my sweet lulu I’m so sorry you had to pass in so much pain you were the best friend a girl could have.❤️

A Novel Species: Entries from Dr. Marshall
WARNING: THIS DOCUMENT IS CLASSIFIED AND PROPERTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE. IT IS A FEDERAL CRIME TO VIEW OR REPRODUCE ANY OF ITS CONTENTS WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORIZATION. QUALIFIED PERSONNEL ONLY.
Dr. Marshall, June 8th, 2012 -
Begin journal:
Hanging back at the ranger station today, seems like it should be a nice weekend. Weather cleared up after that long ass winter and the snows about cleared up. We’ve been tasked with monitoring this herd of elk moving through the area. I guess they’ve been displaying some “anomalous” behavior, approaching tourists seemingly unaware or unafraid of the potential danger. Odd but not unlike anything we’ve seen before. I’ve had Tim Dog posted up in the hunter’s perch for a few hours watching em. Gonna go radio for a report pretty soon. Other than that not much going on out here. Just the wind rustling in the pines and my good old girl Taby. She’s such a sweet dog :)
End of Entry #1
Dr. Marshall, June 10th, 2012
Entry: Something strange is going on here. Tim is back but with some interesting news. He spent another day up there monitoring the herd, but…. Something’s off. He used the Elk call we gave him and it worked, but it seems it might’ve worked a bit too well. Soon as the herd showed up, they just…. watched him. For hours. He was too scared to climb back down so he radio’d for a couple rangers. Rangers came and tried scaring em off, but the Elk wouldn’t budge. They just stood there, staring at him. In my 25 years of doing this I’ve never once seen Elk behave this way. Our current hypothesis is some kind of infection, but so far there just isn’t enough to say. I don’t like this. Not one bit. We’re gonna try to take samples from the Elk in hopes of finding out what in God’s name is going on out here.
End of Entry #2
Dr. Marshall, June 13th, 2012
Entry: Well it’s official - something is going on. We took samples of blood and urine from the Elk to be analyzed back at the lab in Sac. One of the rangers spotted what looked like some kind of tick or parasite latched onto one of the Elk. But when he tried to remove the Elk went berserk. Smacked him up badly and he had to go to the medic. We got a closer look after isolating one of em and it seems to track. We found a small, worm-like creature attached just beneath the haunch, tucked in the skin between the abdomen and the haunch of the Elk. It was half burrowed inside and didn’t seem to respond to any physical contact, but when we went for removal, the Elk started acting up again. So we latched it down and tried tranquilizing it. No dice. Elk won’t go to sleep. Won’t do anything except eat and stare. There is no way we’re dealing with some novel species. The hell is going on here? A larva that infects Elk—in North America none the less? It’s stranger than fiction. Anyway I’ve been having trouble sleeping the past few nights pondering the possibilities. In other news apparently some of the townies have been acting up lately. Man found dead out on the trail along with a few others in the same spot. Signs of predation after death. Folks been reporting hearing and witnessing strange behavior from their neighbors. The more I stay here the less I feel safe. If it weren’t for my job security I’d have left days ago. This place is starting to give me the creeps.
End of Entry #3
Dr. Marshall, June 19th, 2012
Entry: Lab reports came back. Supposedly heightened amounts of adrenaline and cortisol are present in the blood. They also found trace amounts of what seem to be tiny hairs, mycelia-like in nature. What. The. Fuck. We’ve begun postulating there could be some sort of fungal infection but this wouldn’t track with the presence of larvae in our Elk. None of it makes sense. I’m concerned we’re dealing with some sort of invasive species but I lack any explanation of what it could be. My sleep has become worse and worse over time. Lately I could swear I’m hearing shit. Thought I heard the voice of old Tim saying “Help, Help” in between strange mumblings and clickings. But when I get out of my bunk to look around—nothing. Hope I’m not losing it. I’ve heard the townies have been acting up even worse. Wandering about aimlessly in the woods. There was a bear attack just yesterday. Apparently the man sat there while the bear ate him, completely straight faced. I put in a request for transport back home to Sacramento. I’m done with this shit. I’ve seen enough. This ain’t the one for me. I know some young up and comer might want to come out here to finish my research. But I’m getting too old for this type of shit. I want to see my kids graduate.
End of Entry #4
Dr. Marshall, June 24th, 2012
This could be my last entry. I honestly don’t know. I’m to wait for transport home hopefully by July 2nd but I don’t know if I’ll make it that long. Tim is gone. He’s gone. Found dead in a cougar’s den about 10 miles away from base camp. But I swear to God I keep hearing him. I think I’ve lost my mind. There’s something in the goddamned cellar. And it’s mimicking Tim. I can hear him cry. I can hear him beg for my help. It’s real. I swear to God it’s real. I can’t get a wink of sleep and I’m counting the minutes till sun down every night. I’m scared. I want to go home. The rangers all left base camp overnight. I don’t blame them. Something’s the matter. Half the population in town has gone mad. People in droves, just wandering into the woods.
I’m going to go into the basement. I need to find out for myself what’s really going on here. Janelle, I love you. I’ll never forget that time we spent in Bora Bora after you finished your thesis. Take care of the kids. Tell Jackson his daddy loves him. Show them my catalogues. Teach them to love nature. I have to go. I love you.
Final entry.
THIS DOCUMENT IS PROPERTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE. IF FOUND, IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES. REDISTRIBUTION OR RETELLING OF THE DETAILS IN THIS DOCUMENT IS A FEDERAL CRIME.

WARNING: THIS DOCUMENT IS CLASSIFIED AND PROPERTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE. IT IS A FEDERAL CRIME TO VIEW OR REPRODUCE ANY OF ITS CONTENTS WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORIZATION. QUALIFIED PERSONNEL ONLY.
Dr. Marshall, June 8th, 2012 -
Begin journal:
Hanging back at the ranger station today, seems like it should be a nice weekend. Weather cleared up after that long ass winter and the snows about cleared up. We’ve been tasked with monitoring this herd of elk moving through the area. I guess they’ve been displaying some “anomalous” behavior, approaching tourists seemingly unaware or unafraid of the potential danger. Odd but not unlike anything we’ve seen before. I’ve had Tim Dog posted up in the hunter’s perch for a few hours watching em. Gonna go radio for a report pretty soon. Other than that not much going on out here. Just the wind rustling in the pines and my good old girl Taby. She’s such a sweet dog :)
End of Entry #1
Dr. Marshall, June 10th, 2012
Entry: Something strange is going on here. Tim is back but with some interesting news. He spent another day up there monitoring the herd, but…. Something’s off. He used the Elk call we gave him and it worked, but it seems it might’ve worked a bit too well. Soon as the herd showed up, they just…. watched him. For hours. He was too scared to climb back down so he radio’d for a couple rangers. Rangers came and tried scaring em off, but the Elk wouldn’t budge. They just stood there, staring at him. In my 25 years of doing this I’ve never once seen Elk behave this way. Our current hypothesis is some kind of infection, but so far there just isn’t enough to say. I don’t like this. Not one bit. We’re gonna try to take samples from the Elk in hopes of finding out what in God’s name is going on out here.
End of Entry #2
Dr. Marshall, June 13th, 2012
Entry: Well it’s official - something is going on. We took samples of blood and urine from the Elk to be analyzed back at the lab in Sac. One of the rangers spotted what looked like some kind of tick or parasite latched onto one of the Elk. But when he tried to remove the Elk went berserk. Smacked him up badly and he had to go to the medic. We got a closer look after isolating one of em and it seems to track. We found a small, worm-like creature attached just beneath the haunch, tucked in the skin between the abdomen and the haunch of the Elk. It was half burrowed inside and didn’t seem to respond to any physical contact, but when we went for removal, the Elk started acting up again. So we latched it down and tried tranquilizing it. No dice. Elk won’t go to sleep. Won’t do anything except eat and stare. There is no way we’re dealing with some novel species. The hell is going on here? A larva that infects Elk—in North America none the less? It’s stranger than fiction. Anyway I’ve been having trouble sleeping the past few nights pondering the possibilities. In other news apparently some of the townies have been acting up lately. Man found dead out on the trail along with a few others in the same spot. Signs of predation after death. Folks been reporting hearing and witnessing strange behavior from their neighbors. The more I stay here the less I feel safe. If it weren’t for my job security I’d have left days ago. This place is starting to give me the creeps.
End of Entry #3
Dr. Marshall, June 19th, 2012
Entry: Lab reports came back. Supposedly heightened amounts of adrenaline and cortisol are present in the blood. They also found trace amounts of what seem to be tiny hairs, mycelia-like in nature. What. The. Fuck. We’ve begun postulating there could be some sort of fungal infection but this wouldn’t track with the presence of larvae in our Elk. None of it makes sense. I’m concerned we’re dealing with some sort of invasive species but I lack any explanation of what it could be. My sleep has become worse and worse over time. Lately I could swear I’m hearing shit. Thought I heard the voice of old Tim saying “Help, Help” in between strange mumblings and clickings. But when I get out of my bunk to look around—nothing. Hope I’m not losing it. I’ve heard the townies have been acting up even worse. Wandering about aimlessly in the woods. There was a bear attack just yesterday. Apparently the man sat there while the bear ate him, completely straight faced. I put in a request for transport back home to Sacramento. I’m done with this shit. I’ve seen enough. This ain’t the one for me. I know some young up and comer might want to come out here to finish my research. But I’m getting too old for this type of shit. I want to see my kids graduate.
End of Entry #4
Dr. Marshall, June 24th, 2012
This could be my last entry. I honestly don’t know. I’m to wait for transport home hopefully by July 2nd but I don’t know if I’ll make it that long. Tim is gone. He’s gone. Found dead in a cougar’s den about 10 miles away from base camp. But I swear to God I keep hearing him. I think I’ve lost my mind. There’s something in the goddamned cellar. And it’s mimicking Tim. I can hear him cry. I can hear him beg for my help. It’s real. I swear to God it’s real. I can’t get a wink of sleep and I’m counting the minutes till sun down every night. I’m scared. I want to go home. The rangers all left base camp overnight. I don’t blame them. Something’s the matter. Half the population in town has gone mad. People in droves, just wandering into the woods.
I’m going to go into the basement. I need to find out for myself what’s really going on here. Janelle, I love you. I’ll never forget that time we spent in Bora Bora after you finished your thesis. Take care of the kids. Tell Jackson his daddy loves him. Show them my catalogues. Teach them to love nature. I have to go. I love you.
Final entry.
THIS DOCUMENT IS PROPERTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE. IF FOUND, IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES. REDISTRIBUTION OR RETELLING OF THE DETAILS IN THIS DOCUMENT IS A FEDERAL CRIME.

Hi there! I have a son (2M) who will be 3 in the fall. He currently is diagnosed with acid reflux, eczema, and has a some sensory stuff that affects what he will eat. We are working with OT and speech and are on a waitlist for a feeding program.
He takes famoditine, a vitamin with iron, and has recently begun Claritin. We use hydrocortisone occasionally when his eczema flares.
Recently, he’s been looking a bit paler to me. He’s pale to start out with, but his dark circles and veins seem more prominent at times. He gets marbling in his legs randomly, even when the temperature doesn’t seem to be a factor, and has been having more rashes and dry skin on his shins, low back, behind, and neck. The rashes come and go. We haven’t changed anything in his diet or soaps or detergents. He also started to get little dots that almost look like keratosis across his nose that spreads to under his eyes. It’s not super noticeable unless he’s in certain lighting.
He was sick in early April, and in mid May his finger tips started to peel. I fell down a rabbit hole trying to figure out why, and saw stuff related to vitamin B3. I have Crohn’s disease, and know it can be low with Crohn’s, so asked the doctor to run it. We got the results but they are super confusing:
NICTOTININIC ACID <20 ng/mL NICOTINAMIDE 21 ngmL
Under that, it says:
Due to the large variability in the metabolism of nicotinic acid, the dosing preparation used (immediate-release vs. extended release, and the mg doses used, the serum concentrations may range from less than 20 ng/mi to about 30,000 ng/mL. After oral administration of an immediate-release tablet, peak plasma concentrations occur in 4 to 5 hours. The plasma half-life of nicotinic acid is about one hour. In one study, fasting plasma concentrations were reported to be less than 20 ng/mL. In another study, it was reported that the administration of a single 1000 mg extended-release tablet resulted in mean nicotinic acid concentrations of less than 50 ng/mL.
Nicotinamide is a metabolite of nicotinic acid. Due to the large variability in the metabolism of nicotinic acid, plasma concentrations of this metabolite are variable. In one study, fasting plasma concentrations were reported to be approximately 40 ng/mL. In another study it was reported that the administration of a single 1000 mg of extended-release tablet of nicotinic acid resulted in a mean peak nicotinamide concentration of 400 ng/mL between 5 and 10 hours post dose, decreasing to about 100 ng/mL by 16 hours post dose.
I don’t get what any of this means, and I’m worrying given his food avoidance that he has low vitamin B3. Are these low?
He had a couple of other weird levels but this is the one I’m most worried about.
Thank you!

Hey everyone im a 28 year old guy. Strongly considering a tummy tuck after a consultation with two plastic surgeons in my area, both with outstanding reviews. Both also recommended a similar procedure (tummy tuck with lipo of two fat pods on either side of my back). Went from size 44 jeans to 33 through diet and exercise.
Question- I already have two bulging discs in my lower back from rowing crew in college. History of sciatica and stenosis in lower back. Ill notice even after fishing for a couple hours ill feel a little discomfort the next day. Nothing major. With the tummy tuck procedure how long were you hunched over and unable to stand up straight? This is one of my concerns...I may fix the loose skin issue but cause chronic low back sciatica if I have to be hunched over for a week. Any feedback you guys can give would be awesome.

I’ve been on levo 50 mcg for 2.5 years. My TPO AB skyrocketed from 27.1 U/ML last May (28.5 and 20.4 in prior years) to 266 U/ML this week..
TSH: is 2.705 MIU/L, up from 2.529 on February 1st. In May 2023, 2.105, and in June 2022 , 0.848, vs 2.823 in Feb 2022, when I was diagnosed.
T3 Total: is 103, down from 115 in February, vs 125 in June 2022.
Free T4: is 0.89, down from 0.93 in February, vs 0.78 in 2023, vs 0.84 in June 2022 vs 0.57 in February 2022.
Thoughts on labs? Does this sound like progression to Hashimotos?
I have previously been managed by my PCP / told my levels don’t warrant an endo consult. I have asked for endo.
Meds: I time my vyvanse with my breakfast at least 1-1.5 hours after I take my am levo. I don’t take my vitamins until lunch or dinner. I take propranolol for migraine prevention daily at bedtime, and ubrelvy and compazine for rescue meds for migraines as needed.
My doctor wants me to take trazodone for insomnia and consider semaglutide for weight loss, as I cannot get my weight to budge despite a generally good diet and regular exercise.
Any advice? Thanks so much !

I was diagnosed with Vulvodynia in October 2023 after I had a BV infection that was treated incorrectly with anti fungal yeast infection creams. Then I was put on BV antibiotics for 15 days and still felt zero relief. I went to my primary care and she didn't know what to do so she tried to help me get into a gynecologist but everything was a 3 month wait. I managed to get into a gynecologist who was an old male doctor and he didn't even want to test me for infection. He told me to not wear "panties" and id be fine..
About 1 month later I was still in insane pain, unable to sleep from how bad the burning was. Couldn't get out of bed for days and couldn't find a doctor who was willing to help me. I was spending hours and hours every night looking on this exact forum trying to find a solution. This was when I finally convinced my primary care to help me get into a gynecologists office that specializes in vulvo pain. (I do not recommend this place at all, MUSC)
At my first appointment they told me "it's probably your laundry detergent and take these antihistamines. Let's also put you on birth control for your PCOS!" the antihistamines did nothing to help as it wasn't an allergic reaction. they told me no infection was present even though I had the discharge, oder, and pain all still from my previous positive BV test a month prior.
I called in a week later begging for help, or something to stop the pain as it was unbearable. They told me "you have vulvodynia which you will have forever and the only form of treatment is anxiety medication" (I was already on anxiety medication so this wasn't a treatment that was helping me for vulvodynia) They mentioned they had a doctor in office who specializes in vulvodynia so they got me an appointment but it took another 2 months to see him and in the meantime they put me on steroid cream. (highly don't recommend, this stuff burned so badly and I believe caused more issues rather than healing)
This was the worst 2 months of my life waiting for this appointment, scrolling this forum, hoping to find answers. When I showed up to the gynecologist who specializes in vulva pain, I brought my dad along with me. (obviously was NOT in the room during the appointment. But was there to help me stand up for myself to doctors. Which I highly recommend bringing a partner or family member with you to help advocate) After this doctor did a swab for infection he stepped out of the room and decided to talk to my dad while I got dressed again. This doctor talked to us in his office and said "you have vulvodynia. lets put you on an SSRI for your anxiety" I was confused because I never mentioned my anxiety, and usually for Vulvodynia you treat it with SNRIs, but he told me this SSRI would cure me. I believe he believed I only had vulvodynia from anxiety or trauma, yet I KNEW something more was going on.
When I got home I went to the MyChart website to view the notes this gynecologist put in the system and he marked me as having "high PH, not enough good bacteria, + 'her mom died when she was 14 so she's suffering from trauma" I sat there dumbfounded because at the appointment he said there was "nothing wrong" yet in the chart I had high PH and not enough good bacteria. I sent him an email and I asked him "how can I fix my PH and get more good bacteria?" because high PH, not enough good bacteria, abnormal discharge AND fishy order were all BV symptoms that I had and indicate an infection. He called me the next day and told me "haha well yeah but here's the thing. Go to college, work in a lab, and if you find the answer, let me know." then "wished" me luck. My dad heard this phone call and was so upset too.
This is where I was in pain for about 7 months. The burning hurt so badly and I could never wish that on ANYONE. I ended up taking just a generic SNRI anxiety medication that focuses on nerve pain so I could find a real cure in the mean time. Here were my symptoms and here is what I did to cure my vulvodynia. (I am not a doctor and everyone is different. its all about trying new things to help!)
I did one of those vulva microbiome tests online where you send in a swab and it tells you what bacteria are there. it showed me having 85% bad bacteria and 15% good bacteria. My recent visits to the gynecologist showed me having High PH during month 1's visit, month 3's, and month 6.
!!! I treated it by giving my body what it needed to heal. I am almost 100% positive that taking Vitamin D and K2 drops daily cured my vulvodynia which I never thought was going to be possible. !!!
I was taking Vitamin D, along with my SNRI. I only took the SNRI for 1.5 months to let my nerves calm down. I still am not sure if the SNRI did anything or if it was a placebo but I continued to take it while I healed my body.
I had tried cotton underwear because I heard it helps lower risk of infections but I found them to hurt me as they were scratchier than my no-show underwear. So instead, I wore no underwear while I was home. Only loose sweatpants/sweatshorts at home. I would wear no-show underwear if I went to town in jeans so this helped minimize friction and irritation.
When I would shower, I only used a bunch of water externally until I felt like I was clean. This was hard for me to do as I was using non-scented soap externally because I couldn't stand not feeling clean. But only using water helped wash away everything that needed to be cleaned, but would leave my body's natural oils causing the area to heal. Stripping the oils with soap felt like it was causing more problems at this time.
Long story short to anyone who just wants an answer: I believe I cured my vulvodynia with Vitamin D + Vitamin K2 drops, short term SNRI, wearing no underwear when I could, avoiding clothes that would touch the area to avoid any friction, no soap and only water!
It has been almost 2 months of me feeling NO PAIN at all. I don't take the SNRI's anymore, I can wear any clothes I want, I use soap sometimes but still try to avoid it. The only thing I still do is take Vitamin D.
I have had maybe 1 flair up within the past 2 months that lasted like 3 hours but I believe it was triggered by IC bladder pain. After drinking a bunch of water and avoiding vitamin C the pain went away! If anyone has questions I'll answer any. I had zero help and only bad experiences from gynecologist's in my area. It wasn't until I cured myself that I found an amazing gynecologist who has been so sweet so I am thankful to know I'll be able to go to her if I have any issues in the future. Trust that the universe will help guide you to the answers you need. I thought I was going to be in that terrible pain forever but trust me you will find something that helps you and it may just be on a random Tuesday when you least expect it.

Her discipline is very much different in the 3 households. With her mom, she's left to herself or is pushed to stay outside and play unsafely in a poverty stricken area, but gets screamed and whooped at things that are just uncalled for and unnecessary. She is also not fed or at least not fed well, and is still made to wear diapers and drink milk for babies.
At her dad's, it's whatever she wants, or yelling and not allowing her to make mistakes and then saying such things when she does.
At mine, I try my way and she's mostly close to me, but it's hard when I know everyone else just doesn't stay consistent with what's better. She does listen to me more than anyone, except her mother whom she's frightened of.
So bc of her situation in the other houses and people, she's always, ALWAYS getting into things ( i know kids do, but this sometimes seems too much) especially when they're not hers. I'm talking about gifts, things put away or left out, any chocolate food or sweet drinks and she'll either find a way to get it herself or lie to an adult around that she hasn't drank or ate it yet ever, or writing or leaving stains on bedsheets and pillowcases, walls, floors, cars, etc.If you scold her or tell her it's not hers, she'll get upset, cry and throw a tantrum and then claim to everyone you're fighting with her and that she hates you, doesn't love you and will announce it to the world that you're hurting her physically in an abusive way or something.
She knows she's not allowed to write on walls or furniture or other things, but will do these things and then hide it or will not ever say sorry, as we've never heard her say it. She only does when I tell her "Remember when I said if you do something bad/wrong or hurt someone, you have to say sorry?" Nods "So since you did x/y/z, what should you do?" Shrugs with a bored look on her face
I'm trying to find a punishment that fits the crime and a better way to explain to her. I did explain and show her that she has a place and what things she can write and draw on, how to put them away, etc. And she doesn't seem to show any reaction if you do punish her if she doesn't throw a tantrum. I'm trying to teach her to be a real child with a real childhood and experience that magic I used to love as a kid, while disciplining. So both worlds, she's not used to, although I've been trying to parent her since around August of last year. I've printed out workbooks to help her practice for school so she won't feel embarrassed about being behind, switching screen time with one on one play, experiences, changing up her food patterns, finding her a good dentist and pedia and financing those, buying her the appropriate milk and vitamins prescribed, talking with her and just all the while trying my best even if I feel like it's not enough.
I'd like to be a bit more firm, but again, it's hard when the other people around her baby her and will immediately coddle her and cuddle when she throws tantrums after she's done something wrong and you scold her, and will say "Poor child, just leave her alone" And give her sweets and all.
Forgot to mention, she's 4 years old going 5. I've been introducing her to art and crafts before as she's not really familiar with it at first (due to living with her mother mostly, and in poverty) and to get her prepped for school (hasn't been enrolled yet as the mother refused) as I know it'll be her first time being in a school environment.
Developmentally (in terms of knowing colors, etc.) she's a bit behind but when it comes to how she speaks, it's a bit mature for her age? Cause she copies how the adults around her speak and act and most of the times it's not pretty. You'll often hear her saying something along the lines of "You think you're funny? You know nothing! Do you want me to hit you?" or say things that adults or oldies would usually say with their friends that are inappropriate.
Honestly, her being coddled right away then given some toy or sweet or gadget after a tantrum is what I'm also struggling with fixing. I'll try at best to take her aside, make sure she's focused on my words and ask her if she's upset, and why, why was she scolded, and why she had to be scolded and the consequences, and about saying sorry and hugging afterwards. She'll do it, but mostly with a fazed look (kinda like when kids have just woken up and they've zoned out a bit) and I'm afraid she won't properly learn to be and say sorry, and the consequences. As much as possible, I want still be a positive influence and safe motherly figure in her life as much as I can before I leave abroad. Because I know no one will really reinforce these things anymore when I'm gone and video calls can only do so much.

At the world’s top college of magic and technology, every day brings a new discovery -and a new disaster. The advanced experiments of the college students tend to be both ambitious and apocalyptic, with the end of the world only prevented by a mysterious time loop, and a small handful of students who retain their memories.
Surviving the loops was hard enough, but now, in his senior year, Vell Harlan must take charge of them, and deal with the fact that the whole world now knows his secrets. Everyone knows about Vell’s death and resurrection, along with the divine game he is a part of. Now Vell must contend with overly curious scientists and evil billionaires hungry for divine power while the daily doomsday cycle bombards him with terrorists, talking elephants, and the Grim Reaper himself -but if he can endure it all, the Last Goddess’s game promises the ultimate prize: power over life itself.
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The last few notes of a Roxy Rocket song echoed through Vell’s dorm, and while scrappy and dissonant, they were at least coherent. An improvement from early lessons, especially.
“Well, that didn’t hurt to listen to,” Skye said. “You’re making progress.”
“You have such a way with words,” Vell said.
“Okay, fine,” Skye said. “You’re actually making good progress for a guy who only finds time to practice every couple weeks.”
The ever-encroaching responsibilities of being a senior, the leader of the loopers, and the focus of a godly game of fate had whittled Vell’s free time down to almost nothing. The occasional guitar lessons were some of his only islands amid the storm, and a welcome excuse to spend more time with Skye.
“You want to try a few more chords?”
“My hands are starting to hurt, actually,” Vell said. He pulled away from the guitar strings and shook tense fingers loose, revealing fingertips rubbed red and raw by practice. Skye stepped forward and took him by the wrist to examine his hands.
“I do not understand how a guy like you doesn’t have thicker skin,” Skye said. “Weren’t you an actual cowboy for a while? You did rodeos and everything.”
“I wore gloves,” Vell said.
“And for the rest of the weird shit you’ve done in your life?”
Vell took a long pause.
“Yeah, I don’t know,” Vell said. “Good genes, I guess.”
“I’m not complaining, mind you, I just think-”
A loud dinging sound from Skye’s purse interrupted the conversation, and she released her grip on Vell to go answer her phone. Vell recognized those familiar chimes as the Dad Ringtone. While most contacts were set to vibrate, Skye’s father and a few other lucky high-priority contacts got their own ringtones. Vell was lucky enough to have his ringtone set to the theme song of a cartoon Skye had loved as a kid, but played at a much lower volume than the Dad Ringtone. Skye’s father didn’t call often, and when he did it was usually about something important, so she wanted to be sure to never miss a call.
“Hey dad,” Skye began. “No, now’s fine. What’s up?”
Vell set his guitar back on the shelf and relaxed while Skye continued the call.
“No, no, that’d be fine, great, even,” Skye said. “He might be a little busy, but- What?”
Skye’s delight and talking to her father shifted to mild concern.
“Dad we kind of need to- no, not tomorrow, dad,” Skye said. “Dad!”
A long silence followed as Skye held the phone frozen by her ear for a short time. She tucked it back into her purse, took a deep breath, and clapped her hands together as she spun to face Vell.
“So, good news, you’re going to get to meet my dad,” Skye squeaked.
“And the bad news?”
“Well, part one of the bad news is that it’s going to happen tomorrow,” Skye said. Vell would’ve like a little more notice, but that was far from disastrous. Part two was still waiting, though. “And part two is that I kind of maybe didn’t do a very good job describing the nature of our relationship, and he sort of a little bit thinks you’re...a hero.”
Vell waited for a part three, and there was none.
“Is that the bad news?” Vell scoffed. “I might let him down a little, but there’s worse things my girlfriend’s dad could think of me.”
“Yeah there’s definitely a few upsides, be sure to hold on to those,” Skye said. “But also, you know how I flunked out of mad scientist school?”
“Yeah?”
“Well my dad...didn’t.”
***
“Your girlfriend’s dad is a supervillain?”
“Former supervillain,” Vell corrected. He adjusted the suit coat he’d just put on. “He left the game after she was born and went white hat, now he only builds death rays and robot armies so relevant authorities can observe, learn, and prepare for the real deal.”
Having a genuine mad scientist to train with helped keep secret agents and spies ready for actual threats, and Skye’s father got to keep doing what he loved: threatening to blow up the world.
“Are you still really a supervillain if you don’t actually do any villain shit?” Hawke wondered aloud. “Isn’t he just sort a supertrainer? What would you call that?”
“I’d call it asinine,” Alex said. “We shouldn’t be condoning this behavior, much less inviting him to build a death ray on our campus.”
The Einstein-Odinson had been selected as the faux-mad scientist’s next testing ground, and due to a misunderstanding of his role on campus, Vell had been selected as his testing partner. He had to put on a tuxedo and everything, to better fit the classic secret agent trope Skye’s father was envisioning.
“Mad scientists are an important part of the scientific ecosystem,” Helena said.
“You’d know,” Samson muttered under his breath.
“Conflict breeds innovation,” Helena continued, either heedless to or deliberately ignoring his snide comment. “The arc of history requires both heroes and villains.”
“Yeah, well, as far as villains go, I prefer mine to be weird old dads with fake death rays,” Kim said. “Still, Vell, doesn’t it feel kind of weird that he doesn’t actually know you’re dating his daughter?”
“It’s fine,” Vell insisted. “It’s always awkward trying to talk to your parents about your relationship, and she just over-focused on me saving the day and helping people. Simple miscommunication.”
“And when are you resolving that miscommunication?”
“Later,” Vell said. “Skye and her dad don’t get to spend much time together anymore. They’ll take the day, and we’ll get this all sorted out later.”
A life of volcano lairs, alpine bases, and remote tropical islands did not exactly make it easy for Skye to keep up with her dad, so having him concoct a scheme right on her home turf was a good way for the two of them to spend time together. Right now, Vell’s only priority was allowing for some healthy father-daughter bonding time. And also preventing the apocalypse.
“Okay, I’m good to go,” Vell said, as he finished up the knot in his bow-tie. “Hawke, ready on comms?”
“Mission control good to go, Agent Harlan,” Hawke said. He enjoyed any apocalyptic arrangement that allowed him to stay safely behind a chair, but playing mission control was especially fun.
“Good. Samson, you’re on tech duty,” Vell said. “The rest of you, keep an eye on the island. There’s no guarantee our supervillain will actually end the world. Which feels like a weird thing to say.”
Big events usually invited big catastrophes, and a literal supervillain seemed like a prime spark for some apocalyptic fire, but Vell was not so sure. He couldn’t think of anything less likely to actually end the world than a deliberate attempt to do so. All the loopers agreed having some backup eyes on other potential disasters might be warranted.
“Let’s just get this over with,” Alex said. She was the first to leave, everyone else filtered into their respective roles to play soon enough. Samson walked alongside Vell as he left the lair.
“Hey, do I have to put up the whole mission control act like Hawke was doing?”
“Not if you don’t want to,” Vell said. “Play it up a little if Skye’s dad is around, maybe, but like, right now we can just talk normally.”
“Okay, cool. Got your shit right here,” Samson said, as he hefted a large bag of gadget. “Standard spy bullshit. Gizmo watch, secret cufflink radios, pen with a concealed laser cutter, got it all right here.”
“Thanks,” Vell said. “Where’d you find all this stuff?”
“I just asked,” Samson said with a shrug. “Island full of supergenius weirdos, most of them had this kind of stuff just lying around.”
“Convenient. Did you make a list of everyone you got this stuff from?”
“So we can keep an eye on them? Yeah.”
“So I can give it back later,” Vell corrected. “But yeah, actually, knowing about the laser pen guy might be a good idea.”
“We’ll know where to start with any laser-based apocalypses,” Samson said.
“Good instinct,” Vell said. The two of them walked out of the building and towards the docks. “Am I walking weird? I’ve never worn a tux before.”
“Little stiff, but I think it’s working in your favor. You look more serious.”
“Great, thanks,” Vell said. He stepped up to the edge of the docks and strapped on his gadget watch before checking the time on it. “Should be here soon.”
“You need me to stick around?”
“No, you’re good,” Vell said. “Thanks for the help.”
Samson excused himself before the chaos started in full. Vell felt like an idiot standing around in a tux for a minute or two, until he was joined by someone in an equally odd outfit. Skye joined him in waiting on the docks, wearing a dress with long sleeves and a short skirt over sparkling tights and some very high-heeled boots.
“Very gogo dancer,” Vell said.
“Yeah, dad’s really into that whole Cold War era 60’s style,” Skye said. “Apparently this is what a ‘proper villainess’ looks like to him.”
“Could be worse, could be the catsuit kind of female villain.”
“Ugh, don’t get me started,” Skye said. “Every time he took me to work conferences I had to watch grown women try to waddle around in pleather bodysuits.”
“Supervillains have conferences?”
“Oh yeah, surprisingly good ones,” Skye said. “Especially if you’re a little girl who likes genetically engineered sharks.”
“Oh, so that’s where you got your start.”
Skye nodded. Her penchant for genetic engineering had struck at an early age. Her father had initially been excited for her to get into the family business, but it turned out Skye just liked fucking with fish DNA, and didn’t have much skill in all the non-genetic engineering parts of mad science. He was proud of her anyway.
After shifting on uncomfortably high heels for the umpteenth time, Skye checked her phone and texted her father.
“He says he’s pulling up right now,” Skye said. Vell scanned the horizon and saw nothing coming across the ocean.
“Is he at the right-”
Vell was cut off, and forced to step back, as the ocean started to churn. The waves parted to reveal a jet-black submarine with a towering, jagged skull carved into the prow.
“Oh, right, supervillain,” Vell said.
The imposing submersible drifted to a halt, and a hatched on the side hissed open. Red lights beamed out from the darkness within, and a few seconds later, an armored killbot marched down a boarding ramp, flanked by a towering man in a long white labcoat. He had a jagged streak of black through his otherwise gray hair, and wore heavy glasses with thick black lenses that obscured his gaze and shadowed his face.
“Hi dad,” Skye said.
“Hello dear,” said the man behind the murder machine. He stepped off the boarding ramp onto the dock, as another killbot exited to flank him, and fixed his dark glasses on Vell. “And as for you...I am Doc-”
“Doc” stopped his imposing introduction to have a coughing fit. Skye stepped up and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Dad, did you take your meds today?”
“I did, I did,” the Doc said, between coughs. “Just a climate thing. I got on the damn submarine in Seattle, now we’re in the tropics, there’s pressure differentials, humidity.”
He let out a few more coughs and then cleared his throat loudly, before regaining his previous composure.
“Now, as I was saying,” he continued. “I am Doc Ragnarok!”
His boisterous shout failed to echo in the open air of the docks.
“Oh, good lord, that was terrible,” Doc Ragnarok said. “Can I try again?”
“I wouldn’t bother,” Vell said. “We’re by the beach, open air, the acoustics are terrible.”
“Oh, yes, you’re right,” Doc Ragnarok agreed. “Finally, someone who appreciates the details. You must be Vell, then, or is it Agent Harlan? Do you have a codename I should be using?’
“It’s just Harlan. Vell Harlan.”
“Yes, Skye has told me quite a bit about you,” Doc said. “You’ve escaped kidnapping attempts, outwitted undead thieves, stolen secret treasures.”
“Oh, he’s, uh, also a really nice guy, very helpful, top student,” Skye said, laying groundwork for the eventual boyfriend reveal.
“I expect nothing less,” Doc Ragnarok said. “I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am to face off against someone with real credentials again, Mr. Harlan. For the past few decades it’s been nothing but greenhorns using me as a test run, well-trained but no experience, no sense of style.”
“Well, I am nothing if not experienced,” Vell said. “Stylish, however...well, this tuxedo is a rental.”
“I can tell,” Doc Ragnarok said. He let out a single boisterous bark of delighted laughter. “Ah, look at us, already bantering. I missed this.’
Doc cleared his throat again and regained his ominous supervillain demeanor, as he snapped his fingers to make the killbots flank him.
“I must begin my preparations,” he said, in a voice shockingly distinct from his earlier conversational tone. “Challenge me if you dare.”
“Excuse me a moment,” said a voice somewhere behind the killbots. Doc snapped his fingers, ordering the crowd to part again, and Helena hopped forward on her crutches. Skye glanced at Vell curiously, and he shrugged in confusion. She wasn’t supposed to be here, for multiple reasons.
“Can I help you?”
“Yes, I was just reading your book earlier, ‘Practically Evil: A Guide to Classic Villainy’,” Helena said. “It’s a great read, but what really stood out to me is the section on classic henchman archetypes, specifically ‘The Igor’?”
She held up the book in question, which Vell noted had a picture of Doc Ragnarok holding a skull on the cover, and opened it to the section in question.
“Oh yes, I understand, completely,” Doc Ragnarok said. “As I said in the section opener, that information is presented for historical context, and I strongly condemn the typecasting of differently-abled persons like yourself into such roles. Regardless of my intent, I’m sorry if I caused any offense, and if you have feedback-”
“Oh, no, you misunderstand, I’m not offended, I’m actually intrigued,” Helena said. She turned the book around to quote a specific passage. “‘An outcast, often hunchbacked or otherwise misshapen in such a way to make them a pariah, physically handicapped but mentally gifted, driven to evil by the harsh treatment of judgmental peers’. I think it’s a very fitting role for me, and I’d love to give it a try.”
Vell had several very strong opinions about that, but kept all of them to himself.
“Well, it’s a bit short notice, but I’ll never discourage anyone from following the path of evil,” Doc Ragnarok said. “And this is a training exercise, after all, perfect time for you to train. Come along, minion! The more the merrier!”
Doc Ragnarok snapped his fingers again, and the killbots fell in line, this time with Helena in tow. A procession of smaller robots followed, carrying a worrying number of power cores, ray guns, and mutagens. Not for the first time, Vell began to wonder if this was a good idea. The recurring doubts got obliterated as Skye looked over her shoulder and winked. She was worth a lot more trouble than this.

Hi so I’ve had 2 consecutive periods, maybe with like maximum 4 days in between I think.
The first was fairly normal, this one is crazy. It’s day one and truly the gates of hell opened up. There’s a lot of blood, I’ve noticed it’s clotted quite a bit, very red. And constant all day. Light cramping and I feel like my guts are rumbling a lot. - started to feel a bit dizzy this evening but I’ve been taking vitamins also
For context - 26, I was on the implant for 9 years and stopped june 2023 (so it’s almost a full year now) since stoping I think I’ve only had 2/3 periods (one after I got it taken out, 1 near Christmas and this one now) before on the implant my period always stopped. (Since last year I’ve been on no birth control)
Before the first period last week I felt very hormonal, got hormonal zits like crazy, bloated a lot, emotions were wack. One thing that wasn’t super normal was I felt super hot for a couple of days, almost as it it was hot flashes???
Life context - was very stressed up until the first period because of an exam. But since last week stress has been down. Last month I started regularly exercising again, lots of yoga (that’s fairly normal) but started running - 5k every 2 days, but bumped it up to 10k every few days when I can. Overall I eat pretty healthy and try to take care of myself.
So is this any cause for real concern?

It looks like Enfamil is rebranding Premium to Neuropro, and I believe premium just includes probiotics?
My baby (4 months) has been on Enfamil A+ Ready To Feed for a few weeks now after we discovered the powder form was making him upset.
But now there’s a shortage of A+ and lots of Premium/Neuropro,
I’m worried about switching him again as we JUST got him to a good place with food. He also had a really upset tummy with BioGaia a few months back so I’m worried about the probiotics in the Premium/Neuropro
This is so frustrating. Should we try the Neuropro? They also send that in their My Family Beginnings program which I’d like to take advantage of for savings.
And then as well, the Neuropro is only available in Canada it seems as an interim solution through Health Canada, so then does that mean it’ll be gone soon? Or is that just because of our silly English/french label rule?
Here’s the info about it
https://www.enfamil.ca/pages/enfamil-a-supply

Timestamp:https://imgur.com/a/gafs-ebpVOmX
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Synopsis:
Juliette Contzen is a lazy, good-for-nothing princess. Overshadowed by her siblings, she's left with little to do but nap, read … and occasionally cut the falling raindrops with her sword. Spotted one day by an astonished adventurer, he insists on grading Juliette's swordsmanship, then promptly has a mental breakdown at the result.
Soon after, Juliette is given the news that her kingdom is on the brink of bankruptcy. At threat of being married off, the lazy princess vows to do whatever it takes to maintain her current lifestyle, and taking matters into her own hands, escapes in the middle of the night in order to restore her kingdom's finances.
Tags: Comedy, Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Copious Ohohohohos.
Chapter 245: A Clockwork Wish
The quiet streets of Hartzwiese stood in contrast to the lights of the many inns, bars and taverns.
Despite its modest size, the town boasted as many drinking establishments as there were adventurers somehow drunk enough to be booted from the guild hall. And yet for all the bright lanterns singing from the windows, they paled in comparison to the moonlight as it graced the steps before me. A white carpet ushering me towards a tavern Apple was now using as a stables, and where I could enjoy a complementary room, courtesy of the fact I now owned it.
But before I could put my day’s labours behind me, there was still an important task I had to do.
The most important.
Rewarding my loyal handmaiden, who throughout these arduous days had remained firm and true as much as the sword by my side.
Indeed, no ill deed went unpunished, and no good service went unrewarded.
Why … she even knew the same.
Stopping before a large fountain in the centre of the town square, Coppelia held her palm out towards me as she eyed the faintly glittering surface.
“Gimme change,” she said brightly.
“Change?”
“I want to toss a coin into the fountain~”
My mouth opened wide.
“E-Excuse me! I know very well you possess coins of your own! Furthermore, I’ll not give you money from our hard earned hazelnut croissant fund merely to quite literally toss it away!”
“It’s not throwing it away. It’s making a wish.”
“A wish?”
“Mmh~ drop a coin into a fountain. Get a wish. An absolute bargain. Haven’t you tried it before?”
“Coppelia, I’ve no need to drop coins into fountains. I ring a bell. That’s how my wishes come true.”
“Well, do you have the bell with you?”
I paused.
“... No.”
“There you go, then! Until you get your bell back, you’ll need to toss away coins for your wishes.”
She beamed with childish expectation, palm still outstretched, fully expecting me to humour her request.
Well, sadly for Coppelia, I was not so easily moved!
Our personal finances went into maintaining a minimal standard of living! And that meant every coin we had to spare went into purchasing premium apples and cinnamon rolls! It would be unconscionable of me to allow it to be spent so frivolously!
“Staaaaaaaaaaaare~”
I rolled my eyes.
“... Fine, one copper crown,” I said, rummaging through my bottomless pouch. “Really now, this is hardly a djinn you’re bribing. I’m surprised you wish to add to the fountain and not merely scoop up what’s there.”
“Hey! I have standards! … I don’t like copper, it’s less shiny than silver and gold and gets in the way when I rummage through my ill-gotten gains.”
I offered Coppelia a sigh along with the small coin.
She accepted it with a giggle. As she turned to the fountain, the stars twinkled from her eyes more than the surface of the clear water.
Plop.
It vanished into the depths.
A small proof of our hardship, now given to the fountain to judge and a magpie to steal come the morning.
“And what wish do you hope to acquire through a less shiny copper crown?”
Coppelia merely smiled.
No word left her lips as her turquoise eyes gazed at the fountain’s disturbed surface. She herself was motionless but for the soft wind tugging at the ends of her fluffy golden hair.
And then–she twirled on the spot.
Arms spinning around, she raised them out and stopped like a melodramatic ballerina.
“World domination! I shall subjugate all squishy life under my cute, clockwork heel!”
“Please pick a different wish,” I replied, waving her declaration away as I would a plain chouquette. “World domination has already been chosen by half the world’s rulers. There’s not enough wishes in any fountain to accommodate them all.”
“... Got it! I’ll take an apple strudel!”
“You can wish for something that isn’t already in our possession.”
“In that case, I’ll take an apple strudel from every bakery in the world!”
I nodded. Better. Especially as I was far more dependable than any wishing fountain.
Indeed, as soon as I returned to the Royal Villa, I’d order a squire to go fetch an apple strudel from every bakery in the world as part of some inane quest!
“But what about you?” she asked, never knowing the suffering and hardship her casual request had just caused somebody not me. “Don’t you have any wishes for the totally legitimate wishing fountain?”
I held a hand to my chest, scoffing with a princess’s dignity.
“Ohohoho … for the fountain? No. I’ve no need for a fountain to make my wishes come true, for I have my own strength of purpose. And that is enough to grant all I desire. The prosperity of my kingdom. The health of my family. And the loyalty of my subjects.”
Coppelia leaned towards me, her smile appraising my own.
“Reeaaaally?”
I reacted with the indignation such scepticism deserved … and also a quick glance around me as I eyed for witnesses.
“... W-Well, if I could maybe have one thing, it would be an opportunity to finish reading my current novels. I have been stuck on the same pages for far too long.”
“That really annoys you, huh?”
“I-It’s terrible, Coppelia! At this rate, I’ll need to re-read some of them … and frankly, it’s enough of a strike against my fragile heart to do so once! There is only so much research a princess can take!”
My loyal handmaiden giggled. She wouldn’t if she knew the dangers that overexposure to the world of bestselling adventure romances could cause. I’d seen noblewomen collapsing at court more often with a copy of Scandals Of The Incorrigible Viscount in hand than any knife to the back.
A moment later–
Plop.
A second copper crown was casually tossed into the fountain.
“Done~” said Coppelia with a satisfied clap. “I’ve made your wish for you!”
My mouth widened as I stared between the fresh ripples and her mischievous smile.
“E-Excuse me! Didn’t you say you had no copper crowns?”
“I only said I didn’t like them. I never said I didn’t have just the one lying around. Isn’t that great? Now it means we both get our wishes! Apple strudels and scandalous books galore!”
“C-Coppelia! That is an entirely unnecessary waste of a copper crown … and more besides, I could have wished for a dragon’s hoard!”
“I mean, you could. But if you thought people were a problem before, wait until they know you’re even richer than a normal princess. You’d have burglars breaking into your vault even while you’re still busy swimming around in the pile of gold.”
“Please. That happens regardless of whether or not a dragon’s hoard is involved. And if it ever became a true issue, well … I’d simply solve it by hiring a dragon.”
“You’d hire a dragon to guard a dragon’s hoard?”
“Why not? There’s clearly no better proven warden.”
“Yep, that’s true. They’d even guard it against you. How would you get the treasure back?”
“I wouldn’t. It’d simply exist to slowly erase the population of burglars from my kingdom. That would be its true value.”
Coppelia looked up in thought.
“Huh. That sounds suspiciously like something which could work.”
I smiled with quiet pride. But not too quiet. I had my pride, after all.
“Ohohoh … naturally, I’m not only a princess. I’m a genius … but since I’m mostly a princess, this also means ensuring my retainers are rewarded for their service, and bribed concerning any slovenly faces I may have made.”
“Now that’s the level of subtlety I like. Negative numbers.”
“Well, negative numbers is also how I value most fae trinkets. But perhaps you can find worth in it.”
Coppelia clapped her hands together and beamed.
“Ooooh~! I smell souvenirs! Did you steal toiletries on the way out of the Fae Realm?”
“I did not steal toiletries! … although if I’d seen any, I possibly may have!”
“So you stole something else? Like cutlery?”
“Coppelia! I do not steal things whenever I visit a different plane of existence!”
“Why not? Everyone else does.”
“I am not ‘everyone’. Even when abducted, I’m still required to display the regal bearing of my station, representing always my kingdom and my family … and there was no cutlery, either.”
“Wow. You must have had an awful time.”
I gave a grim nod.
No toiletries. No cutlery. Not even a branded napkin.
The next time I was indiscriminately abducted to the Fae Realm, I’d ensure I would wander lost until a stack of towels accidentally fell into my arms.
“It was dire. But while I didn’t return empty handed, it was with nothing drawn from a dragon’s hoard or edible like a mound of apple strudels. Regardless, here is a gift acquired from the Spring Queen to add to your collection of trinkets and doodads I have no wish to know about.”
Thus, I reached into my bottomless bag, sweated as I fished for a slender object, and then retrieved a small ring of jade.
Unlike the crystal ring gifted to me by the Winter Queen and now embellished by her sister, the jade ring was adorned only with a pattern of crystalline vines upon the band, lacking any jewel set upon it.
Even so, Coppelia’s eyes lit up like a twin pair of moons.
She pointed at herself.
“Wait, is that for me?”
“Indeed, it is. You may have it.”
“Eh … ehhh?! It actually looks expensive, though! I was expecting something like a postcard!”
I raised a brow.
“If you’d prefer a postcard, I’m sure I could ask for one instead.”
Coppelia appeared speechless. Something so impossible not even a fountain could grant it.
Blinking in disbelief, she reached out and accepted the ring. Without putting it on, she held it against the moonlight, studying its finish.
“Ooooh~ it’s so shiny! … Will I blow up if I wear it?”
“No.” I paused. “At least, I don’t think so.”
Coppelia stopped as the ring met her finger.
“There’s no need to fear,” I added as I took a step away. “It’s a ring gifted by the Spring Queen, and so is imbued also by her magic.”
“I’m not hearing anything which says I won’t blow up.”
“You won’t blow up. Probably. After all, this thing is still little more than a child’s trinket. It contains a single favoured plaything from her court of dreams. The very swing she sat upon during our meeting.”
“The swing?”
“The swing. I believe it functions similarly to the bed. Why not try summoning it in the same manner?”
Deciding she’d paid enough tribute to caution, Coppelia popped the ring on.
She studied herself to ensure she hadn’t melted, before raising her hand in curiosity.
“Sooooo … do I just need to say [Summon Swing] and–woooaahh!!”
Poof.
The moment the words left her lips, she was lifted from the ground as a swing of crystalline leaves and vines appeared where she stood, seating her automatically in the process. Against the dour backdrop of Hartzwiese’s decidedly human streets, it shone with as much vividness as the Spring Queen’s mirror-like wings.
Coppelia blinked, her eyes wide as she wrapped her hands around the ropes of crystallised vines.
And then–
She began to swing.
With only the rustling of her clothes and the fluttering of her hair to disturb the quiet scenery, she proceeded to test the Spring Queen’s plaything, wasting little time before she began to swing like a pendulum, backwards and forwards at greater speeds.
She did not say a word, nor voice any thoughts, and although she wore a smile upon her face, it was no different to one she regularly affixed upon herself.
A moment of doubt struck me.
“N-Naturally, it’s rather unorthodox as a gift. It is no great heirloom or weapon, and rather impractical so far as useful function is concerned. But I imagine the ring itself is worth some value. If you do not want it, I’m certain some curio collector would pay for its novelty value. Regardless, please consider it as a bonus.”
Suddenly, Coppelia leapt off the swing in mid-flight. She skipped a few steps owing to the momentum, yet still pirouetted effortlessly on one foot as she twisted around to face me.
Her widening smile was the only warning I received.
“–Hiieeee?!”
Because the next moment …
I experienced the sensation of being hoisted off my feet.
Oh no.
“Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!”
Wrapping her arms around my waist, she easily lifted me up.
A feeling I’d experienced once before. And one I had not forgotten. Terror mixed with only the tiniest drop of excitement met me as I was promptly swung like an errant pillow.
“C-Coooppeeeliaaaa!! M-My priiiinnceess imaaggee!!”
With a girlish smile, Coppelia paid no heed to my meek and delicate cry as she twirled on the spot.
Around and around, my hair billowed behind me as all the town became a blur which helped to hide the many holes and cracks in the walls and windows, until somehow, the other side of my hair became known to the opposite side of my face.
“Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee~”
Just as I felt the world beginning to take on entirely new colours, she came to a stop.
She placed me down, continuing to smile as I waved away her supporting hands. I stumbled as I chased equilibrium, all the while blowing the many strands of my dark hair away from my mouth. My fingers instinctively went into emergency combing mode.
“I-It seems … uughh … you enjoy … the gift … uuuh … I’m … I’m pleased …”
Coppelia stepped back, arms behind her back as she gave another twirl, this time mercifully without me attached. Like a maiden in a meadow, she lightly skipped around her new magically summoned fae swing, examining its fine spring motifs and crystalline details, before finally turning to me once again.
I leaned away, not least because there were now several versions of her before me.
“Thankies~” she said brightly. “I like this a lot!”
I held my tummy, making sure nothing terrible was about to happen before I replied.
“You’re … uugh … you’re welcome …”
She gave a giggle of amusement at my expense, then seated herself on her new swing once again.
For my part, I rather desperately eyed the direction of my kingdom’s latest acquisition. A tavern which possessed very helpful walls. Even if I had no intention on using the beds within them.
After all–
It wasn’t only Coppelia who had reason to smile tonight.
Indeed … I also had a new and improved bed to enjoy!
Now that my minor detour to this corner of my countryside was complete, my only remaining task was to thoroughly and objectively test the Spring Queen’s magic for myself.
Yes … it was time to indulge my face in the Winter Queen’s pillow once again! To hug a silken duvet now gifted with the scent of an eternal meadow! A moment to thoroughly reward myself as I purposefully shoved any and all dangerous thoughts of tomorrow to the wayside!
And nothing, I knew, could disturb me from my slumber!
That ominous feeling I’d forgotten something important?
Why … I barely even felt it!
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I used to think she was alright then she started talking about shit for clickbait and not to mention the over exposure of her kids so she can make money off of social media.
And her husband is just enabling her bullshit.
She got a “mommy makeover” and won’t shut the fuck up about it weeks after she’s recovered. I had a tummy tuck last year and the only thing I did was bitch about not being able to sleep on my side because of the drains but that lasted 2 weeks. I also didn’t post pictures of myself for the after.
Now it’s post surgery depression. What the fuck is her need for constant attention and validation from strangers?? She’s always depressed about something.

Hi! I have diastas recti after my second child (7 years ago) that has never fully healed. About a 2 finger gap. I recently had my gall bladder removed, and my surgeon said he specializes in hernia repair and wants to repair my hernia and do a panniculectomy to flatten my stomach. He and his PA said I am a perfect candidate and this procedure will work great for me- and be covered by my insurance!
As someone who has wanted a tummy tuck for 7 years, did anyone go this route?
He will be using sutures not mesh to repair my muscles.
He classified it as ventral hernia repair.
Thank you!!

Hypercondria falls under anxiety, and can be quite destabilising condition that can take people out of their daily Routines while they go down the rabbit whole of what if's.
Have you ever been in that situation where you get stuck on this idea that you have a medical condition, but in the end turns out to be something less serious.
I was seeing one client for what they considered was chronic stress, and some worrying symptoms which elevated to head tension and physical sensations, doom and gloom.they went down the Google self diag google doctor, which made things worse. Their GP thought it was stress related.
More luck than anything I had a hunch this didn't fit cognitive behavioural stress model. So I said look in your bank app go back 2 months anything stand out.
90 seconds later
High strength Vitamins.
With a side effect of doom and gloom it would appear. Stopped and these doom like episodes disappeared.head aches also after a short time.
Googling the side effects and that vit, nothing comes up except for one guy who wrote in a forum, the words doom and gloom. Placebo effect, intolerance to a pill ingrediant, can youbtest that in a lab even
Moral of the story never underestimate the human body to be complex and resilient