Cheryl -
Yes I am VERY excited about my trip! One more month! Yeah!!! I can't wait to watch my little guy on the beach and to put benefiber in my tropical drinks with the umbrellas in it!
How do you think the benefiber & metamucil differ? Do you think they work better in combination? How much metamucil do you take? What other benifits does the metamucil have?

Jen,
I hope you don't get constipated and that your butt behaves during your trip!! Benefiber and metamucil have completely different ingredients, but they probably work about the same. I wanted to try the benefiber because the info I rec'd about iBS said that if one if prone to gas and bloating(I am), other fiber supplements are preferable to metamucil. But it took me so long to work up to 1 teaspoon daily of metamucil, that I don't plan to stop it at the moment. On the metamucil jar it states that 7 grams of soluble fiber from psyllium husk may reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol. A high fiber diet is good for everyone really. I just didn't realize the importance until one of my docs told me to do it. Do you know what area of nursing you are going to enter? I personally think you should work for a GI doc or a CRS with your own experiences and so much knowledge of other people with butt and digestive issues. Many nurses have probably never had a butt or digestive issue in their life although my former GI doc's nurse also had IBS. I used to joke with her that she had that condition so she could better understand her patients with it, but she didn't agree with me!! I like medical stuff, but could never be a nurse giving shots and taking blood from others!!
Cheryl

jen - i'm glad you're feeling better lately!

Cheryl -
I would love to get into a GI specialty. However, I think most the time the doctors have techs in their offices vs nurses to save $$$. So, I plan on being a ER nurse. I have ER expirience from the military and that is where the action is at! So many different kinds of patients to help with.
Jen

Jen,
I know I could not do ER!! Whatever floats your boat, I guess. My son is really enjoying pharmacy school, by the way, even though it is very difficult. Hopefully, he will have lots of job opportunities when he graduates as there is a shortage of pharmacists. I think it is great that you are going into nursing and will be able to help others. There is more to life than just earning a living and getting stressed out while doing so (I am talking about the business world). But I enjoyed my job prior to my retirement. It is just that stress can be so bad as companies continue to pile on the work as others retire and let the remaining workers absorb the extra work. I will stop my rant!!
Cheryl

P.S. I often think I am beating my head against the wall with my autism advocacy efforts such as spending 5 hours at the Women's Lifestyle Show this past weekend. Hopefully, some good will come out of it as many people picked up my materials that I had on display. On the positive side my hubby and his dad went to visit my son yesterday and he seems to be doing well.

:hi: Cheryl,
My oldest son is applying to get into dental or pharmacy school. He is graduating this spring with a biology degree. I am hoping it is pharmacy because that school is closer to our family. I am sure many people who picked up your literature is going to learn from it. Glad your hubby had a good visit.
Jen,
You have to be special :D to be a nurse, especially in the ER!
When do you graduate?

Jo,
My son applied for dental school b/4 he got the pharm school idea. He got on the waiting list for dental and didn't get in. Now he thinks it was a good thing as he really likes pharm school and there is a lot of $$ needed to set up a dental office after completing the costly dental studies!! My son has a chemistry degree and was a chem instructor at our local community college b/4 quitting that job as well as his ft job in information services to go back to pharm school. He went from 1 1/2 jobs to none, so he tries to work whenever he can to pick up some extra cash as he has no steady income. You're special too, Jo, in taking care of Jared.
I have requested an Autism Speaks shirt and badge for my further endeavors. They might get tiired of my requests and not approve me to be a science ambassador! There were 10,000 at the event on Saturday--Women's Lifestyle Show and I was also able to display my materials at the organ donation booth after asking them about it. So, I had materials on display at two locations.
Cheryl

Hi Cheryl,
I thought I replied earlier today to this but it's not here!
Maybe I forgot to send.
Thanks for the kind comment.
I think Pharmacy school is a great idea, you are right less cost to set up and I like it because my son could be closer to home. :D How long does your son have left? Sorry, you probably said but I forgot. It is so expensive to go to school and not have a job. It is also hard work!
You are going to be a great volunteer. I am sure they will appreciate someone who is so caring and has a special interest in autism.
Wow! It sounds like you had a successful weekend.
Take care,
Jo

Cheryl -
It is really great that you are such an advocate for autism. It sounds like you have done alot of hard work.
You and Jo must be so proud of your boys. From what I know of, pharm school is really hard to get into. Thats what I wanted to do when I was youger. When do your sons' graduate? I will be done at the end of this summer - Aug 2009.

:hi: Jen,
My oldest son is graduating from University of Texas in Austin in May 2009. Yeah!!
He really wants to be a dentist but is not sure if he'll be able to get into their program.
He is thinking of Pharmacy as another option. Sure hope he can get into this.
He may decide to get a job and possibly wait a year. With a wife and a young daughter it is hard for them to go without income for so long.
I am so happy for you. You are almost done with school! It is such hard work.
I also wanted to go into pharmacy when I started college, but ended up with an accounting degree!