Oh they always coincide, by design. It's just that Minifobette actually sleeps, while Minifob usually just does calisthenics in his crib until I come and set him free again. I used to give him reprieve after about an hour and a half, but now I make him stay in until Minifobette wakes up, no matter how long that is. Otherwise he'll just wake her up, and that's no fun for anyone.

I watch this thread in awe as you deal with all this stuff so magnificently, Clod! I have nothing much to add not being a parent'n'all but you DO have to believe that looking after yourself is a major and integral part of looking after everyone else. So I'd humbly suggest offloading some/all of the family reunion duties listed above. Just this once?

ETA: I love LOVE the way you're writing the recipes! You rock!

Yabbut, in all honesty, how? I have to do the cooking because none of the other relatives have any concept of cooking GFCF (most of them don't even know my kid's autistic yet.) Once I plan a menu and buy the ingredients, they can help me make it, sure, but the planning is the hard part. I'm working on offloading the activities section of things, but that has hazards: my cousin coming from North Carolina keeps talking about how many great outdoors things there are to do around here. Which is true--in the Spring. He has apparently been away for long enough to completely forget what 100 degree weather feels like.

Talk's cheap, the weather will slow the cousin down for ya. :haha:

Well done on offloading the activities - once you've delegated leave it to them (that's the most difficult thing about delegating!).
Can you politely ask the two relatives who're expecting to stay with you that they make arrangements to stay somewhere else?
I dunno, but I think that's what I'd try to do.
Good luck anyway.

They're staying here because they're both dead broke right now (through no fault of their own, they're generally upstanding contributing members of society)--another relative bought their plane tickets too. If they didn't sleep at my house, they couldn't come at all.

I thought that might be the case ... All I can do is send you supportive vibes ...

Tiki reminded me (not her intention with that thread, I'm sure :lol:) that I finally got an updated video on Minifob's progress. Behold!

What a difference from this. Yay you. :notworthy

You know, when they're grown and don't call often enough, you'll have a ton of ammo for the guilt trip you lay on them. :haha:

Amazing. :thumbsup:

And they're both adorable.

Wow! Most excellent. By the way, I am keeping up with your blog. I can't wait to try the sweet wine fish. :thumb:

A slightly off topic question: Do you notice a difference, physiologically, or mentally for yourself being on this diet?

In myself, no. I have lost weight, as I've mentioned, but part of that is also because I am frustrated trying to find things to eat for lunch if I don't have leftovers from the night before, so half the time I end up just not eating. On the other hand, they say the older you are the longer it takes to clear your system--other people's anecdotes seem to indicate I'd need to be on it for a full six months before I saw any possible effects.

Thanks! I'm pretty fond of 'em myself.

Your kids are too cute! Well done Mom.

Did you notice how Minifobette seemed to try to "smile" when I said I was going to take a picture? These are the tiny socializaton cues I am desperately clinging to these days for her. It took her a long time to really fight off her measles shot, but she's finally back to normal poop now for several days in a row, so I'm letting myself be hopeful (not to mention looking forward to weaning her.) She's still borderline, socially, but in the last week or so she's really stepped up the progress again.

Wow Clod. Made me cry. Absolutely amazing. (You, and the progress.) Congrats. Keep up the great work!