I always thought young boys were pretty easy to buy for.  They liked all those Transformer things and Legos and Bionicles.

Somehow it doesn't seem like it would be any fun to be all done with Christmas by Halloween!  I have bought a few things, but my goal is to be mostly done by the first of December.  Never happens that way, though, lol.

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Brenda,50, CABF Parent to Parent Volunteer
Mom to A, 16, BP, Tourette's, OCD, ADHD: Eskalith CR, Trilafon, Lamictal, Seroquel, Cytomel
E, 14, BP,AS, hypothyroidism: Seroquel, Eskalith CR, levothyroxin, inositol
B, 13 & H, 10
Married 17 years to DH, 49

If CABF has helped you, please help CABF. Donate today. http://www.bpkids.org/donate?campaign=forums2010

FROM CABF: Do not start, stop, or change medications or other treatments for yourself or your child based on what you read on this Website or elsewhere on the Internet. Information presented here should not replace the considered judgement of a doctor who knows you or your child.

 I'm actually not dreading the holidays this year!  We got the "big" presents for the kids done early, so we don't have to worry about it.  Now on to a few little things for them so they don't feel bad with just one gift under the tree!

My wish list for a long time has been a Kitcheaid Stand Mixer and Food Processor.  I'm just not one to shell out that kind of money for items like that.  Now, if they had a lay-away...I might've done it.  Lo and behold, I was flipping through the channels and QVC was having a Kitchenaid hour and had both items on Easy Pay!! I got so excited, ordered them both and told my family they were my Christmas presents from them to me, even if they won't be fully paid for, for 6 months. LOL

Oh, and the BEST Christmas present of all this year, my son will be home and not in RTC for the holidays, for the first time in 2 years!!!!

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Melissa Van Galder, 36, Mom to:

Mikayla, 12 yr old DD, no dx.

Dylan, 2 yr old, DS, no dx.

Stepmom to DJ almost 14 years who decided to live with us this year. :)

Michael, 9 yr old DS, Dx: Childhood Epilepsy (Seizure free for 6 years), Bipolar, ADHD
Meds: Zoloft 150mg, Trileptal 1500 mg, DDAVP .2mg, Cyproheptadine 8mg, Senna 2tabs per day, Miralax 34 grams, Fluticasone Nasal Spray 2xday.

Married to Dale, 36: Step-dad to Mikayla and Michael. Father in every sense of the word. My rock.

We all live in Western Nebraska, son dismissed from RTC 9/27/10.

 I've picked up a few things here and there, but I still have a ways to go.  On my husband's side of the family we have decided to forgo gift giving this year, instead we will be making donations to our favorite charities.  I bet you can guess which one is at the top of my list!

I love Christmas shopping when it's snowing out.  It really puts me in the Christmas mood.

If the 7-9 year olds having gaming units like Wii, or iPod's/MP3, they should like gift cards to either The Game Stop or iTunes.  My MIL used to give my ds a box of money, filled with $1.00 bills. He loved it!  He also loved remote control cars or helicopters.   My hubby restores vintage racing snowmobiles so he likes receiving gift cards to Ace Hardware, Lowe's, Sear's and the Auto Zone.

At the top of my list, is a cookbook called The Pioneer Woman Cooks. 

Melissa...that is so awesome that Michael will be home...what an early Christmas blessing!

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Jackie aka mom2one
Forums moderator, Family Response Team Member
WI Mom to Mr. 18 (dx'd at age 4), Schizoaffective, bipolar subtype, Anxiety Disorder, PDD, Cognitive Disorder
Meds: Clozaril 50 mg., Seroquel 900 mg., Lamictal 600 mg., Lithium 1250 mg., DDAVP, and Synthroid .150 mcg
Fish Oil and Vitamin D
IEP, Therapeutic School
Married to my best friend and rock for 21 years!

If CABF has helped you, please consider a donation! https://www.bpkids.org/donate?campaign=forums2010

Ha!  So much for getting shopping done by Dec 1, lol.  I did buy a couple of things on line this morning, but I actually didn't realize that TG was next week already!  yikes  Not sure what we're doing; maybe just go to a buffet.  We used to do that when the kids were little.

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Brenda,50, CABF Parent to Parent Volunteer
Mom to A, 16, BP, Tourette's, OCD, ADHD: Eskalith CR, Trilafon, Lamictal, Seroquel, Cytomel
E, 14, BP,AS, hypothyroidism: Seroquel, Eskalith CR, levothyroxin, inositol
B, 13 & H, 10
Married 17 years to DH, 49

If CABF has helped you, please help CABF. Donate today. http://www.bpkids.org/donate?campaign=forums2010

FROM CABF: Do not start, stop, or change medications or other treatments for yourself or your child based on what you read on this Website or elsewhere on the Internet. Information presented here should not replace the considered judgement of a doctor who knows you or your child.

Thanks for the great ideas Jackie! We finally have the childrens' gift lists finalized. The boys will be receiving their first contemporary electronic media items, plus the old standbys: Playmobile for our 7 year old, and an R/C for the oldest. No snow here, but I did a deep cleaning of the house, and decorated to get in the spirit.

A pioneer woman's cookbook sounds fascinating! I'd love to try cooking a meal over an opened fire with a pioneer inspired outdoor cooking pit in the backyard. I'd be hesitant to try using an indoor fireplace.

Enjoy your dinner out Brenda!  This year I'm semi-cooking, but we have gone out to eat for Thanksgiving dinner in the past, and it's nice to have turkey with all the trimmings with out the clean up!

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So Blessed (Mom)--SAHM, Forty-something-Homeschooling BP child.
DH (Dad)-Great husband and father

Son #1 - 9, BP#1, Mixed, Psychosis,--Big hearted, courageous, amazing kid-- considering everything! *Home from inpatient, YEAH! Reduction of Seroquel! and Saphris added(Lithobid, Seroquel, Saphris, Synthroid, Vitamin D & Calcium, therapy, neurofeedback) Stable for 3 yrs. with a couple med re-sets!
Son#2 - 7, no problems, just your typical 7 year old, another great kid!

"And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance", Lee Ann Womack

Well, I'll make dessert.  I do a great pumpkin pie!

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Brenda,50, CABF Parent to Parent Volunteer
Mom to A, 16, BP, Tourette's, OCD, ADHD: Eskalith CR, Trilafon, Lamictal, Seroquel, Cytomel
E, 14, BP,AS, hypothyroidism: Seroquel, Eskalith CR, levothyroxin, inositol
B, 13 & H, 10
Married 17 years to DH, 49

If CABF has helped you, please help CABF. Donate today. http://www.bpkids.org/donate?campaign=forums2010

FROM CABF: Do not start, stop, or change medications or other treatments for yourself or your child based on what you read on this Website or elsewhere on the Internet. Information presented here should not replace the considered judgement of a doctor who knows you or your child.

The first year I was married, I had never cooked a Thanksgiving dinner before and we were having my cousion join us who is a Catholic priest.  I ended up making 4 different pumpkin pies trying to find the perfect one that would become tradition.   I knew my cousion would tell me the truth...lol, Libby's won!

I've made several recipes that are posted on The Pioneer Woman's web site here.  Most notable is the recipe for Corn Chowder with Chilies (my hubby who is not a soup guy requested this two weeks in a row), Chicken Spagetti, and the Braised Short Ribs are to die for!  In fact, I'm making the chowder for Christmas Eve dinner and the short ribs for Christmas dinner this year.  My dh and ds also liked her "sliders." 

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Jackie aka mom2one
Forums moderator, Family Response Team Member
Mom to Mr. 18 (dx'd at age 4), Schizoaffective, bipolar subtype, Anxiety Disorder, PDD, Cognitive Disorder
Meds: Clozaril 75 mg., Seroquel 900 mg., Lamictal 600 mg., Lithium 1250 mg., DDAVP, and Synthroid .150 mcg
Fish Oil and Vitamin D
IEP, Therapeutic School
Married to my best friend and rock for 21 years!

If CABF has helped you, please consider a donation! https://www.bpkids.org/donate?campaign=forums2010