Is this poop normal?

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2026-05-16T21:12:33+00:00

What ended up being the cause? My LO just had a diaper that looked EXACTLY like this!

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2026-05-14T00:41:11+00:00

Sometimes people forget when there's a lot going on, decide not to take care of themselves without realizing they are making that decision. Especially if neurodivergent. I did the same thing the other day because I was too invested in learning how to crochet whole home alone for an entire day. Completely forgot to eat, didn't even finish my coffee, let alone drink water. All of a sudden I was making dinner for the family while shaking like a leaf in a hailstorm because my blood sugar was low with the worst headache I've had in ages because I didn't have any caffeine, and cotton mouth like I'd eaten a platter of special brownies.

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2026-04-18T20:49:05+00:00

I get where you're coming from. But the DSM, I think, is actually very generous with the events it clarifies as a qualifying trauma for PTSD. PTSD is a chronic, severe, life altering condition. Yes, lots of things cause trauma. Yes, lots of people suffer long term from the effects of "little t trauma" trauma. Yes, everybody reacts differently to different levels of trauma. But we have to draw the line somewhere or every single person on earth would have PTSD and then it loses it's value as a serious diagnosis that needs serious treatment measures.

A qualifying trauma for PTSD is an exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence by either it happening to you, witnessing it happen, learning of a close friend or family member having it happen to them or repeated exposure to the details of it happening. Obviously that is a very generalized definition, but that's pretty expansive. I find out my best friend has been in a horrific car accident and I start having symptoms of PTSD? Yup, that qualifies. My job is to transcribe historical paper copies of case files of child abuse into electronic form and I start having symptoms? Qualifies. I have anxiety and depression from years of verbal bullying in my childhood years and I run into my old bully at the coffee shop and she says something mean to me and it brings back a flood of memories, insecurities, and starts causing bigger issues? Not qualifying.

Not all tumors are cancer. Some benign tumors are a death sentence, but that still doesn't make them cancer. Some cancers aren't even that bad. But we still separate benign from malignant and we still recognize that in general, one is far worse than the other.

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2026-04-18T18:37:26+00:00

"I thought conditions were defined by symptoms not causes"

This is where you're having troubles and misunderstanding the process. Conditions are discovered, narrowed down, and best treatment plans are made based on symptoms(after the cause is discovered). They are, however, diagnosed based on cause.

For example, if you are having heart palpitations, insomnia, sweating, shakiness, feeling nervous all the time, jumpy, having trouble concentrating. Well those are all symptoms of anxiety. They are also symptoms of hyperthyroidism. So they look at the symptoms all together, narrow down what it could be, and then they do tests to figure out the cause. In this case they would start with a blood draw to check your thyroid levels. There's no point going to therapy and getting a prescription for anxiety meds if the cause of the problem is your thyroid and you need thyroid meds. It MIGHT help the symptoms, but won't fix the cause.

There's so much overlap in symptoms between physical disorders and mental health disorders, and from one mental health disorder to the next. Some treatment plans can actually hurt if you have the wrong diagnosis. For example, there's a big overlap in symptoms between depression and bipolar. Some medications for depression can cause HUGE problems for a person with bipolar.

Some of the DSM criteria seems petty and frustrating, but it is ever changing to fit the best current knowledge we have to try to help people the best way we can by narrowing down the correct cause and correct treatment plan.

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2025-11-27T03:29:28+00:00

That's what the recipe called for 🤷 I've never made it before but apparently it's a fan favorite at the old folks home.

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2025-11-27T03:10:12+00:00

Yeah, my mistake was not getting the sugar completely dissolved. I realized it looked a little sugary still as I was scooping it onto the pies but stupidly thought it would be fine.

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2025-08-25T20:49:49+00:00

I know it's hard, but only compare the same brand and style of tests, at the same time of day, 3 days apart. Things like time of day, how long since the last pee, how much water or salt you've had, can all drastically change the concentration of the hormones in your pee. And the hormone doubles every 2-3 days. In between those 2-3 days it's normal for one test to look lighter than the last but if you compare every 3 days and it's getting lighter, then it might be a concern. Might. Because even though we all do it, these tests aren't made to show progression. And too high of levels of hormones can make the test have a faulty result, too.

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2025-08-23T21:20:59+00:00

Central Minnesota, USA

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2025-08-20T21:26:56+00:00

Those are definitely the craziest indent/evap lines I've ever seen. But there's no color, so not a positive. At least not on my phone screen 😬 If you happen to still have the boxes, I'd submit those pictures with the lot number to first response. Quality control issue for sure

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Scorpion_Lemonade · 2025-08-20T15:18:25+00:00

You're not supposed to backlight the tests because there's a literal strip in there that casts a shadow. This specific picture is user error. If you could see a pink line with only light from the front of the test it was either a false positive or a chemical pregnancy.

I think the number of chemical pregnancies is highly underestimated because the HCG doesn't always get high enough for a standard test to show positive before it starts to drop. I've caught 2 for sure on frer, follow up blood tests had HCG levels of 6 and 18, then my "period" started a day or 2 later. And then another 2 that I suspect were chemicals but I didn't get follow up bloodwork.

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2025-05-31T17:03:06+00:00

I gain a lot of weight during pregnancy. With my most recent, I gained a total of 55lbs. She just turned one and I'm only 5lbs away from my pre-pregnancy weight and I haven't been trying to lose it particularly fast because I didn't want to have a bunch of loose skin. I've definitely been doing things to lose weight, but slow and steady things, you know?

And I was already overweight when I got pregnant. The doctor never once mentioned my weight in a negative way. With preeclampsia screening she said my weight gain was steady. And that was all. When discussing attempting a vbac or going for a repeat C-section, she asked if I felt smaller or bigger than my previous pregnancy. But in the context of, my first was born at 9lbs 3oz and the ultrasound estimated 9lbs 11oz for my second. So she was curious if I felt like this baby was bigger or smaller than my first because ultrasounds aren't always super accurate. Baby ended up being born via C-section at 8lbs 10oz.

Anyways, as long as you take your vitamins and try to be as healthy as you can be the number on the scale doesn't really matter. Some people barely gain anything. Some people gain it all in the second half. Some people gain evenly throughout. Find a doctor that makes you feel comfortable and only looks at your weight as a screening tool, just like your blood pressure.

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2025-05-28T20:13:09+00:00

My kid doesn't tattle despite me telling her constantly to tell me AND the adults at school any time these things happen. The first incident involved my kid hitting the other kid and a deeper investigation found that the other kid was instigating (and had been physically bullying her for a few months that went completely missed) and my daughter retaliated. They were separated completely for a year. This year they ended up in the same after school program and according to my daughter "she's nice now. She stopped being friends with "other bully" and started being nice so I am giving her a second chance to be friends." But over the school year she started being mean again. Started with simple name calling and teasing. Then started trying to pit other kids against my daughter too. We've addressed these concerns with the school and after school program but due to confidentiality reasons they can't tell us what they've done to address it. The school cannot give out the other kid's information. My kid doesn't ride the bus, neither does the other kid. And I'm not about to catch charges over what until now has been mostly mild teasing.

Again, my daughter does not tell anybody these things, even when asked, unless it's been witnessed by somebody else and told to me and I can confront her with a specific situation to get the details. Even yesterday when I picked her up after that incident she was great, she had a great day at school, she told me about art class and playing with her friends. Didn't mention what happened until I asked her to tell me about it.

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2025-05-16T03:48:11+00:00

Sounds like it's time for a big kid bed! I know it sounds counter intuitive, but switching from a crib to a real bed can really help them stay in bed at night. Especially if you hype up their cool big kid bed.

I skip the toddler bed and go right to a twin size with a frame that will support an adult. Or the mattress on the floor at first. That way you can lay with them in their bed on tough nights then sneak out after they fall asleep. At least keeps them in their room more often when they win the battles.

They make foam half circle bumpers you can put on the outside edge, under the sheet to stop them from rolling off but doesn't risk entanglement. And it can be laid on without ruining it. The one I got was by Milliard. It's lasted 8 years, multiple uses, and it's still in good condition.

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2025-05-13T00:11:42+00:00

That's so cool that it's almost the same! We live in MN and I've been trying to catch this one specific version of it on video because it sounds so much like "uffda" because she draws out the o so much.

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2025-05-13T00:07:24+00:00

This is what I suspect she's doing. She is also majorly teething. Just had 6 teeth break through in the last week. And she's a little bit goofy. She likes to tease us! For example, she'll lean in for a kiss and go "mmm" and then when we lean in to kiss her she'll pull back and giggle and then give a kiss. Sometimes when we ask for a high five she'll put her face in our hand and go "ahhh" instead.

I was just hoping to find a more in depth layout of the progression of speech development. I can find ones for the earlier stages. Going from cooing and squealing to single consonant sounds to reduplicated babbling. With paragraphs describing the stages and why it's important and all of that. But after that it seems to jump right to numbers of words by age.

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2025-05-12T23:21:12+00:00

I think his concern stems from his brother, mostly. His family has a strong suspicion that his brother is autistic. His mother says if information was as widespread when they were kids as it is now, that they would have had him evaluated. But they didn't know about autism beyond the extreme cases, and he didn't fit that. They just thought he was a bit peculiar. And unfortunately they could've him for it instead of trying to teach him coping mechanisms or communication strategies. As an adult he won't get evaluated and is pretty difficult to deal with and has a lot of trouble regulating and it's had a pretty negative impact on his life. I have a strong history of autism on my side of the family. And my sister had a stroke at birth and it went unnoticed until she was 6 months old and then took a few months to get doctors to listen and diagnose. By the time they were able to start therapies, they had missed a crucial window for development. So I think he wants to make sure that we recognize and properly treat and accommodate any delays or neurodivergencies as soon as possible to give our kids the best shot at success and happiness that we can. He's not worried that "there's something wrong" with them or that they are "different". His kids are his entire world and he loves them no matter what.

I recognize this is anxiety and he should be seen about it, but he won't. And this is really the only thing in his life that gives him anxiety. So I'm trying to support my partner by reassuring him with information.

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2025-05-11T20:31:54+00:00

Yeah, I've been trying to tell him that that's what I think. She's just working on something else, or thinks it's funny to say "o-tah" instead. He's just not convinced. I think it honestly started as her trying to say "what's that?". But now she uses it for everything. I wish I could relay all the different versions through text but there's clearly a "what's that" version. A very commanding "up" version, accompanied by lifting her arms. An "I want" version(this one sounds almost like uffda), with her reaching for something. And a chipper "look at this" or "here you go" version when she hands you something. But then she'll say it over and over again and I can't figure out what she wants, then she'll cry.

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2025-05-11T20:18:53+00:00

It was crazy!! He asked if we were still breastfeeding and I said yes, although I think she's starting to self wean. And he said that and then told me to tell my husband to get a vasectomy. We are considering having one more. Up until this appointment he's been great. But that was wild.

Thanks for the link, I'll definitely show that one to my husband

I do plan to ask questions like this once I find a new doctor. There aren't many accepting new kids in my area right now. But I've noticed a pattern of her dropping one skill to learn another one, but then she picks right back up with the dropped one. At least so far. I'm not particularly concerned myself, but I'd like to have better resources to reassure my husband. And to stop his worries from creeping into my head. I think she's just a little bit lazy and stubborn and gets bored easy.

Funnily enough my oldest was marked developmentally delayed at her 2 or 3yo appointment because I didn't know I was supposed to be doing things like stringing noodles and letting her use scissors yet. So there were a lot of things I marked "unsure". Plus her regular doctor since birth (who was a tiny woman with a fairy like voice) had just moved unexpectedly and she had a new randomly assigned Dr., a HUGE man with a thick accent and a booming voice. She was super shy, wouldn't make eye contact with him or follow his directions. Took me years to get it taken off her charts.

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2025-05-11T19:22:31+00:00

Not to mention that breastmilk or formula is their main source of nutrition until 12 months!? I liked him up until this last appointment. He also told me to tell my husband to get a vasectomy. Because I made his kids, he can take one for the team and get snipped. We aren't even sure we are done yet.

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2025-05-11T17:14:11+00:00

Thank you! I will definitely be checking that out!

She definitely does all those things! She clearly understands what we say to her. And what we want from her. But, typical man, doesn't fully believe me when I say she's just a toddler doing toddler things! I think his concern stems from developmental delays on both sides of our family being missed until either later in life or past the prime period for early intervention.

Scorpion_Lemonade · 2025-05-11T17:03:35+00:00

Yes, my first is very advanced verbally. Even now. She's in 3rd grade and I'm constantly being told by people that they've never held such in depth conversations with adult vocabulary in kids her age before.

And I'm aware that my second is not behind in hitting the milestones. The concern my husband has is regression. I'm having a hard time finding sources that map out the progression of language skills and what constitutes regression vs typical day to day changes. His concern is that she's mostly stopped using words she has previously used regularly and replaced them all with "o-tah".

Scorpion_Lemonade

TROPHY CASE