Growhappy, I've been reading accounts from several people who have had plants test positive. Based on their experiences (and Irina's) AVs can show symptoms quickly, can take many months to show, or may not show symptoms at all. One plant that tested positive had no symptoms until 9 months after the person had completely cleared a thrips infestation. Others, as Irina noted, have tested plants that showed no symptoms at all, yet the test was positive. As far as I've been able to tell, no one has studied AVs related to INSV so no one knows the specifics of it related to time frame, etc. Sandy, who wrote the recent AV Magazine article about INSV, said that she found changing light and temperature was how she originally found she had a problem. She changed lighting and temperature because she thought it might account for the symptoms she had. Within a week or so of doing that, her plants became much more symptomatic. I found an article that echoed that changing light and temperature sometimes will work to accelerate development of the virus. Sandy suggested that if anyone has a plant about which they are concerned that they should increase the temperature and light. Also, as noted, Epicias can succumb very quickly. There are other "indicator" plants. According to a Colorado Extension article, "Early warning of virus presence also can be noted by using indicator plants or plants that show TSWV/INSV symptoms earlier than others. Such plants include the petunia cultivar 'Calypso' and gloxinias. Both plants are extremely susceptible to both viruses and will show symptoms within a week after infection. Non-sticky blue or yellow cards placed near indicator plants can attract thrips and increase the likelihood that the indicator plants will become infested." See link below for entire article. A Univeristy of Mass article also suggested using an indicator plant. "The petunia cultivars Calypso, Super Blue Magic and Summer Madness have been shown to make good indicator plants for several reasons. First, these varieties are highly attractive to western flower thrips. Secondly, infected petunia plants do not serve as source of virus in the greenhouse because INSV does not become systemic within these petunias. Infected leaves can be picked off and discarded and petunia indicator plants can remain in the greenhouse to continue monitoring. Another reason is that the virus lesions show up very soon after thrips feed. Thrips feeding injury on the foliage leave distinct white feeding scars. If the thrips are carrying INSV, a brown rim and, later, a circular lesion can be seen around the white feeding scars as early as 2-3 days after exposure to thrips." http://www.umass.edu/umext/floriculture/fact_sheets/pest_management/virusind.html Here is a link that might be useful: Colorado Extension Article

I have to share with all of you. My DD (12 yrs. old) had nasty sinus infections every year, so bad she needed sinus surgery but we've held off. She did have her tonsils and for the 2nd time, her addenoids removed last summer. It has made all the difference in the world. She's been very healthy this year. Now, for the last 3 months, her school (a christian school of about 450 students) has been in horrible shape. Everything from pneumonia, strep, bronchitis, the flu, stomach flu and even mono, has been present at the school. So many kids have been hospitalized on a weekly basis, so many missing days and days of school-all the way from the kindergartners to the highschoolers and staff! We have been lucky. Neither she nor I have become ill. I work at her school so I include myself, and the lady I work closely with has been sick 3 times already. All my DD's close friends have been very ill but not my DD. I attribute our good health this year to one thing- we have bombarded our system on a daily basis with Emergen-C. Every morning she takes it in her OJ or apple juice. I open 2 packs and pour it in and down the hatch. I do the same. My friend works in a daycare and she does this too. Not a sniffle from her either... plenty of kids sick there, too. Can't say enough about it. I also think her surgery helped, by the way. No tonsils to harbor the bacteria. Oh, I also pray that He keeps us healthy!

I called the doctor this morning. My fever is down completely, and my cough isn't nearly as bad. But my chest feels so congested, my head is beyond stuffed, and my throat is still awful. I had to walk across the road to the barn this morning, and that little bit of exertion was enough get me out of breath and in a cold sweat. So I called the doctor. The nurse said I definitely need an antibiotic. I think she based this on the stuff I had been coughing up for the first four or five days. They'll probably give me Zithromyacin, which is what I was going to get for the Babesiosis before I came down with this. Zith has been in the news lately for causing heart attacks. Normally that would put me off, but the risk is low and I would like to get both these things cleared up, or at least improved, if possible. Thanks, all!

I haven't read all of these messages. But I have to tell you that I grew up in a home where my step father treated us like DIRT! Kids were to be seen and not heard! That was his favorite line! At 16 I was ready to move out on my own. Life was horrible. I got NOTHING- yelled at, told I was lazy- you name it. I had to buy my own school clothes my own everything. He controlled the whole household. I never got a kind word spoken to me, never a praise, never a pat on the back. No help for college. NOTHING.... He had his own two kids, to this day he still supports them. They are both lossers. But those two kids got anything they every wanted. I didn't want much REALLY As hoaky as it sounds, I just wanted a dad! Someone I could call dad again- not Phil. I was about 12- had lost my dad two years previous. I missed my dad- I missed my family- we moved out of state. It was a sad childhood. My mom was the calming force. She kept the peace. But it wasn't enough. The constant stress from the day to day living with this man. I stayed out of the house as much as possible. I had a horse. I rode for hours. When that wasn't enough I found a boyfriend. At a very young age I became more 'involved' with my boyfriend then I should have. I worked, anything not to be home. I HATED it! As an adult I would wait for the man I was dating to turn into Phil. See, he wasn't always like he was when my mom married him. He was actually one of the nicest men I had ever met. Until the vows were exchanged. We weren't bad kids. We accepted him. He never could or would for us. I can't stress enough what your doing to your daughter. SHE WILL NEVER forget this. You are destroying her piece by piece. My advice is to leave this man. You will get over the loss- she just might never get over what he is doing to her! I know this man your married! Not in the literal sense, but I LIVED THIS...... I still think about my 'lost' childhood from time to time. But you know what, I BEAT him.... I'm succesfull! I'm happily married with two kids. I have a wonderfull relationship with my mom and brother. And my husband is NOTHING LIKE HIM! My mom left him about 6 years ago. Sad it took that long. My brother who was younger then me, lived with him from a small boy up. I see the horrible traits of Phil in my brother. My brother grew up thinking he was dumb. He drifted from job to job. NEVER a harder worker, but he had trouble reading and writing. So he'd drop the job as soon as more responsiblity was sent his way. It was sad.... He's just recently regained some of his self esteem. He's 29 years old! Took him all this time. He's found his place in life. So have I! Guess what! I can even eat food in my living room LOL.... So can my kids.. I'm sorry if this is harsh and I'm sorry it most likely didn't make sense. If it helps your 16 year old daughter then I'll sleep better at night.... HUGS to you and your daughter. Kristi