My neighbors, their dog, the darn soccer ball that frequently ends up in my gardens (deliberatly kicked over the 8 foot high cedars in their yard). They don't understand the concept of put the dog on a leash and that my gardens are not your dogs prsonal toilet. Have it pee in your own *&^% yard! What's worse is it isn't even down at the end of the lawn, it is up right near my front porch. I have even been out gardening and had the dog come running up and pee next to me! It has knocked my niece over several times. The neighbor got upset when my sister yelled at her to come and the dog after it had just knocked over my 2 year niece (and this is a woman in hr 50's). Doesn't understand why no one wants her dog running all over the place 5 houses away. Hmmm, we all either keep our dogs on a long leash, have underground fencing, or (and I know it's a radical thought but..) TRAIN your dog to stay on the front lawn! Finally got the dog sorta dealt with. She got the hint I think, when one of the other neighbors (who also has a dog) told her to get the d@@M dog on a leash or he would call by-law on her. Now we get to have fun with the grandchildren who live with her. (It is the grandmother, mother, brother and mother's 2 sons who live together). The 2 boys are a human demolition team. If they look at it, it is broken. They are forever climbing on our fence (already cost me $200 to have a section repaired), tormenting our dogs, walking into our fenced in backyard to get the ball the uncle purposely kicks over the fence. I have told them I don't know how many times, one of our dogs is 13, deaf and doesn't like strangers. If he is in the FENCED in yard and you go back there, he will not hear you, you will surprise him and might get bit. SO STAY OUT OF MY YARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I guess on Friday they kicked the ball so hard against our house that things fell off the wall (my brother actually hid the ball in our shed after that. They came into our backyard when we weren't home and searched til they found it) If I had of known that, I wouldn't have given them back the ball on Saturday. Then I discovered that at some point they have been jumping the fence to get into my backyard, because every hosta all along the fence line is nothing but broken stocks now and the ball landed in my grandmother's peony. I have babied that bush for years to get it to a good size. It is highly sentimental and not replacable (same with some of my hostas, came from my nighbor who is noe deceased). They got told in no uncertain terms if the ball comes into my yard again, you will get back with a steak knife in it as I tired of having my property damaged (and no, talking to the mother or grandmother does no good whatsoever). Wanna guess what came flying into my backyard on Sunday afternoon? And landed in my fern? And whose mommy told them they would get it back later when we weren't home? ANd whose mommy got told if I caught her in my backyard I would charge her with trespassing so stay the hell out of my back yard? I feel like I have to fortify my house just to keep them out of my yard and to stop having my stuff damaged. I am so tired of spending my weekends repairing things the precious little darlings break. I think I am going to set up a video camera, keep a running tally of all the damage they have done to my house and give mommy and grandma a nice bill for what it has cost me so far.

Very pleased to have found this site...it’s literally the only one on the web with real women talking about what is really happening to them in this stage of life - the only one I can find anyway!! Amazing to see the diversity of experience which does not fit the textbook or what we are commonly told...I shouldn’t be surprised really, people always spread so widely to each side of what is ‘typical’ in pretty much everything. It’s reassuring anyway even if a tad strange to find it on a house decorating website. I’m 47 and might be in menopause, or Perimenopause...last period was in May and very light. Before that had one in November and a super heavy one in September - 3 weeks long and not fun. I had a D&C in October and then an iron infusion in Nov as I felt so lousy and had v low iron, made an amazing difference - totally recommend that if heavy periods wipe out your iron. No wonder women are tired quite frankly with this kind of crazy stuff going on in our lives! Anyway...I have a question to ask everyone - with all these periods coming and going, does it mean that you are still fertile, or ovulating, on and off as well? Even when in your 50’s? Has anyone’s Dr suggested they should still take bc meds to prevent pregnancy? I’m asking from the other perspective - in hopes that I might still have a glimmer of fertility - if I get any more periods :) Thanks

My dog has urine problems and leaks here and there. We put wee wee pads under the sheet of her bed, and when she has a bad few days, we use washable diapers (we put an adult incontinence maxi pad in it to absorb most of the urine, but you'll still have to wash the diapers...so I'd get 2 - you can get the adult incontinence maxis at the drug store). About the smell, we spray something similar to Nature's Miracle on a paper towel, then rub the paper towel on her. It's called Vet's Choice Eliminate, and it smells wonderful (and has enzymes in it). Not sure if you're supposed to put it directly on the dog, but I've been doing it for about a year and no bad reactions. The only thing is that your dog is shaved, so I'd worry about urine scald - a tip that Meghane gave me is to put vasoline on your dog (where the urine usually goes), and that will help to prevent urine scald (I guess it's like a shield). I'll put a link to a place that sells Eliminate, but you can just google it to shop around. Here is a link that might be useful: Eliminate

FW said Tayler's 9 months. My kids both walked at 10 months, and I have friends who've had theirs actually walking earlier. As for potty training, it's time (since you said Trace is 2 1/2). Kids all have their own time frame for being broken of the accident habit, and for us I segmented potty training into two different goals; day and night. In the daytime, I would use a timer and have my kids go every 30 minutes. If there were more accidents, I'd do every 20 minutes. It's a little hectic, but it works. Also, I never used kid potties. I got an adaptable kids seat that attaches to the big potty seat so they don't fall in, oh and a stool to stand on. DD got both nighttime and daytime potty training down perfectly at age 2. DS however is a deeeeeeeep sleeper and we still (at age 6) have to wake him in the middle of the night or he'll piddle the bed. But he's had daytime training down since he was about 2 1/2. Oh and no drinks after 7pm. You may have a little more to deal with because sometimes kids who are going through emotional stress can have more accidents. Just be patient and loving and they'll get it eventually. :) Blessings, Haley