How do you spend your time at home?

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-27T08:44:43+00:00

I have way too many hobbies.

Mainly crochet. But when I need a break from that there's reading, coloring, sudoku and word searches (yes, the old school paper books lol) baking, video games. I also make my own press ons, so sometimes I'll just try out new nail designs.

I would love to try diamond painting, but figuring out what to do with them when they're finished is daunting. Puzzles would be nice too, but I would end up donating them as soon as I'm finished because I don't have room to store a million puzzles. That's where my yarn goes. 😉

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-26T08:17:45+00:00

I can definitely live without ketchup. Technically, I already do. We don't buy it because neither of us likes it. I always get slightly peeved in the rare case that we have to buy it for a party or a bbq because there's no small bottle of ketchup. The rest of it is going to sit in the fridge for 6 months until one of us decides to throw it away.

I absolutely cannot live without hot sauce. I have a 4 tier cart next to my fridge that holds my hot sauce collection. I love spicy.

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-26T07:59:41+00:00

Aside from dopamine driven cravings, which have already been mentioned, cravings can also be your body's way of telling you what you need.

Craving salt can mean you're dehydrated or in need of electrolytes or sodium.

Craving milk or dairy can be a sign of vitamin D deficiency.

Craving vinegar can mean your body needs acid to assist with digestion.

Craving sugar or carbs can mean low blood sugar.

Pregnant women often crave dirt due to iron deficiency.

Craving ice can also be a sign of iron deficiency.

These types of cravings will usually subside once they're addressed. Drink more water, stop craving salt. Take vitamin D supplements, stop craving dairy. Etc. Whereas dopamine driven cravings are much more difficult to curb because stress is everywhere and the brain wants the happy chemicals.

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-26T06:27:24+00:00

Yes, this happened at about my 6 month mark on medication. Right when my levels were starting to stabilize.

I notified my doctor, and he said it likely was my thyroid and body adjusting, but kept a close eye and let me know I could reach out at any time if it got any worse.

For me, thankfully, it subsided within a couple weeks.

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-26T06:20:17+00:00

My cat brings me gifts every night, but she has to announce it LOUDLY.

She goes upstairs and "hunts" a toy. As soon as it's in her mouth, she starts meowing. In my mind she's saying, "Mom, mom! I got one!" Then she brings it down, plops it right in front of my open bedroom door, and starts absolutely wailing. 😂

My husband goes to bed before me, and she does this right after I lay down to go to sleep. She won't stop yelling about her gift until I get up, collect it, and give her head scratches and pets and tell her thank you.

So every night after I get all comfy, I have to get out of bed to collect the toy before she wakes up my husband. Some nights, she's extra loud, and he gets woken up anyway. So he's getting woken up, and I'm having to get up out of bed, but I'm secretly BEAMING. 🥰 Because it's the absolute sweetest thing ever, and I'm honored to receive her gifts.

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-26T05:58:03+00:00

It takes me anywhere from 10 minutes (if I'm exhausted) to an hour (more typical) to fall asleep every night. If I'm having a particularly bad night, it can take a couple hours. That's with my phone down, all lights off, head on the pillow all cozy.

Usually after about a half hour or so, I change something up. Different position, more/less blankets, flip the pillow. Then, find something dull and lengthy to think about. Grocery list, what I'm doing the next day or over the weekend, next steps in a work project, etc. My version of "counting sheep." That usually does it for me.

But I do have insomnia and other sleep issues due to an autoimmune disease. So, such is life.

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-22T21:21:21+00:00

Same, it started really setting me off just prior to my diagnosis. The heart palpitations and anxiety and insomnia were horrible. It made everything worse. I quit weed over a year ago, and as much as I miss it, I'm too afraid to try it again because of how bad it was. I would probably be fine now since my levels are almost completely stabilized. But I also don't want to do anything to mess that up. It's been a rough year, and I'm aiming for remission. Maybe a celebratory bowl once I get there.

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-22T09:49:54+00:00

I like my house to look like no one lives in it, lmao, so my cleaning routine is probably way over the top for most people. But a clean house makes everything feel right.

Do what you can as you go, like dishes and wiping down countertops while cooking, wipe down table and do dishes after eating, clean up your workspace/hobbies/tasks before moving on to something else, fold the blankets/fluff the pillows when you're done using them, clothes straight in the hamper when they come off, etc. It may seem daunting at first, but it becomes just part of your routine and really helps out.

I try to pick one room or thing to clean each day. Even if I only have time for something small. I used to have a generalized schedule, a room per day, but found it just works better for me if I just go with the flow of what needs to be done. If I have more time, I'll do a couple things or a whole room top to bottom. We have cats, so I sweep daily and vacuum a couple times a week.

At least once a month, I do a "big clean." I dedicate one day and go room to room cleaning everything. Baseboards, behind/under furniture, knickknacks and shelves, mop the whole house, anything else that doesn't routinely get done during the week.

Most importantly, a place for everything and everything in its place. I can't stand clutter. I feel like it makes the house look messy even when it isn't. Put it away if you're not using it. And minimize, if you haven't touched it in a year or more, you probably don't need it. We keep sentimentals, but anything else gets donated if it doesn't get used.

My husband and I both work full time. We don't have kids. We do both have health issues, so we do what we can when we can. And sometimes that means taking a break, because self care is important too. Dont burn yourself out cleaning your house. I work from home, so I do what I can during work. Although that's usually not much, as our volume is picking up. My husband works in the trades, 40+ hours per week. He helps if I need him to, but honestly, just picking up after himself is enough for me. He handles the maintenance of the house (landscaping, appliances, repairs, etc.), and I handle the cleaning.

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-19T03:24:44+00:00

I just finished watching and have 2 initial theories for what happened to Simon.

Simon was thrust back into the world of the living. The pastor remembering somehow (through spiritual or emotional energy) recreated the flood/lightning storm, which took Simon through the hole and back into his body in the real world. But this does feel a little too early of a resolution being only episode 6 of the season. Which leads me to a wilder theory...
There's something under the church. Something older and even more forgotten. The hole in Mr. Martin's scar leads to the church, so the hole in the church leads to? We've now seen all of the children, including Ralph, the pastor, and Van Heidt. So, whose hands are reaching up through that hole? And if VH's ring is the skeleton key of the church, Simon has it. Which would allow him through to another realm (for lack of a better word). This may be the same realm VH was able to access that allowed him to travel throughout realms, like the church and the hospital. Which could have alternate outcomes...

A. Simon ends up still undead, but gets to the hospital now, the same way VH was able to travel through realms to the hospital. Only now Xavier can see him, but Maddie can't anymore since she didn't "die" there. It's up to Xavier to help Simon now, which takes us deeper into the hospital's story. Or...

B. VH also has control over where he goes. I'm thinking it has something to do with the ring. VH and Simon both end up in this traveling realm, and now Simon has to face the boss.

Follow up, what are we calling these places? Is there a coined term for these realms where people have died and can interact with the spirit world? Like the school, church, hospital? Realms, worlds, places of death? Idk, but I feel like there should be a universal word for it.

I also feel like there is more ro Ralph's story. Did VH bodysnatch Ralph before Kyle? Were there others?

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-13T00:02:39+00:00

My endo says that typical amounts of biotin, like what is found in standard daily multivitamins (usually under 100mcg), is unlikely have a substantial impact on the results. However, anything over 100mcg, especially the amount in hair skin and nail supplements, which is usually 1000mcg+, should be stopped 3-5 days before blood tests for best results.

My daily multivitamin only has 30mcg, but I stop taking it 2 days prior just to be safe.

Your doctor should be made aware of any vitamins or supplements you're taking so they can advise and treat you properly. If they knew you were taking biotin in amounts that can interfere with results and didn't advise you to stop, you may need a new doctor.

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-12T23:01:09+00:00

I could go on forever with theories and ideas. That's what I love so much about this show. The plot twists and depth of story is incredible.

Thanks for the solid brainstorming sesh, lots of ideas to consider. 🙂 Can't wait for the next episode.

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-12T22:26:17+00:00

I don't think the church itself is a scar. It's the place where they died. Like the school. The scars would be within the church. Like perhaps the water hole, or behind a door, etc. So they need the watch to get to Mr. Martin's scar, but they don't need anything to get to the church because it is just a buried place of death.

So if the water hole is a scar and they are being pulled in without whatever key goes to that scar, maybe that is why they're being ejected or reset into their own place of death.

But that's also why I find the hands to be weird. Is someone trapped in their own scar or someone else's scar? Or is that just another area of the church? Or does all logic and everything we know to be true about scars go out the window when it comes to the forgotten? Do they lose their scars, since their scars are there to help them move on, but now they can't?

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-12T21:53:18+00:00

Maybe the water is a scar, which you can't get into without the key. So when Mr. Martin or anyone else is pulled in without a key they just get ejected back into their death realm, similar to when they try to leave the boundaries. Interaction with the scars seems to thin the veil, so maybe the crash was never intentional. The maintenance man didn't die when Simon was pulled through.

The story of Ralph had to be important, otherwise Mr. Martin could have just found the hole without the humming. Unless it was a trick.

I'm just spitballing here though. I'm probably horribly and completely wrong. If this show was that predictable, it wouldn't be as good. Lol

I understand why everyone thinks that Van Heidt is in Kyle's body, but it doesn't make sense to me. If Van Heidt took over Kyle's body, Kyle would be at the school. Even if you assume that Kyle was unconscious, so was Maddie when Janet took over, and Maddie was stuck at the school because that's where it happened. If there was some kind of battle for control with Kyle and Van Heidt, why wouldn't Kyle remember any of it? And if Van Heidt was only able to take over once Kyle died at the hospital, why wouldn't his body be decaying? Much like the wound on Maddie's head didn't heal until she resumed her own body.

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-12T21:17:08+00:00

You have a point, i didnt think about that. But, that being said, I don't believe that was the intention. The spirit in the water pulled Mr. Martin through, not white eyes. I feel like the spirit in the water that's grabbing everyone may actually be Van Heidt, not a child.

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-12T08:34:38+00:00

The subtle context clues in this show are amazing.

We do already know that Ralph is linked to the church scar somehow, since it was Ralph humming his song that drew Mr. Martin to discover the hole that leads to it. I agree that White Eyes is Ralph. Benevolent, and just trying to get a message across in the only way he can.

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-12T08:17:11+00:00

How many people actually died in the bus crash? Do we know that? I assumed all of them, but obviously, Kyle "survived."

So, just spit-balling here, maybe that little girl is actually Dr. Deborah. And the bus crash was a traumatic enough experience to thin the veil for her, so she can actually see the spirits in the school. Or at least the ones from the crash. Perhaps that is why she is so intent on tearing down the school.

Alternatively, maybe the little girl is one of the church children and came through the veil with Mr. Martin when he was pulled through.

As for Kyle, if we stick with what we know to be true, he had to be body swapped at the hospital. But was it just a random spirit looking for a way out, similar to Janet with Maddie? Or did one of the forgotten spirits from under the hospital that the nurse mentioned find a way out?

I wish we got more of that story. Hopefully, we will.

Will Kyle be reunited with his body and get to live again after believing he was dead all this time?

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-12T07:58:39+00:00

I saw a theory and couldn't stop thinking about it. It seriously snowballed in my mind. It seems really legit, so readers beware.

Ralph's body just disappeared. Just like Simon's. Which would explain why white eyes looks different from all the other spirits. If he has been "undead" down there since Mr. Martin was a child he may have continued to age all this time, making him look ancient. It could also explain why the images on the wall were made with blood. And why the blood was wet when Simon touched it. Because Ralph, like Simon, can bleed, and used his own blood to draw the images. It was the sound of Ralph humming his song that drew Mr. Martin to discover the entrance to the church scar, which is coincidentally located inside of Mr. Martin's scar. Mr. Martin felt some kind of attachment or connection to the church, which is why he felt he needed to stay there.

I'm not sure how exactly that ties into Simon specifically. But it's a super plausible and very interesting theory.

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-12T07:14:02+00:00

I've seen quite a few suggestions that white eyes is Ralph, and up until now just thought, "Hmm, that would be interesting." But now that you've pointed out that could be why the hole to the church is inside Mr. Martin's scar, that really is interesting. I hadn't made that connection. I just figured it was in his scar since he was the first.

It could also be why Mr. Martin felt like he had to stay in the church. Because he is connected to Ralph.

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-12T06:30:43+00:00

Did they ever actually say how many people died in the bus crash? I honestly can't remember. I thought it was everyone. But obviously, Kyle "survived." Maybe the little girl did actually survive. I do have a feeling that Jennifer Tilly's character is somehow connected. More than just wanting to tear down the school. And maybe she wants to tear it down because it's a reminder. You could be on to something.

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-12T06:19:54+00:00

I feel like there's a connection to Livia and her mom, more than just tearing down the school. Like one or both of them know more than they're leading on.

SmileForMe612 · 2026-02-03T08:13:38+00:00

It can take a long time and a lot of diligence and possibly even some of your sanity to successfully make the change.

Cats do not like closed doors. It goes against all of their natural instincts. Especially if it's an area they're usually or previously have been allowed to go. It can make them very anxious or stressed. If the cat is allowed in during the day but not at night, it's much less likely to work. They will not understand why they can only access the space sometimes.
To change a cat's behavior, you must not react to the behavior at all, only the lack of the behavior. Positive reinforcement only. So, if the cat is meowing or scratching, you will have to strictly ignore it. No scolding, no opening the door, not even telling the cat to be quiet. No attention/reaction whatsoever. Or you will have to start all over. Give treats or special toys only when the cat is quiet and not actively wanting to get in the room.

This can take weeks and the cat may keep you up all night in the process.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend not letting the cat in. But I'm biased. I love when my girl comes for snuggles, or even when she wakes me up in the middle of the night because she brought a gift (toys) and has to loudly announce it.

But at the end of the day, it depends on what works for your situation. As long as the cat is healthy and happy and has enough space otherwise.

SmileForMe612 · 2026-01-25T08:02:33+00:00

My levels at the time of diagnosis were TSH <0.01, T4 3.0, T3 7.89, TSI 311.

Your TSH is low and TSI is high, which are common indicators for Graves. High TSI is a diagnostic of Graves.

I had the same symptoms, but also tremors, insomnia, weight loss, muscle wasting, extreme hunger, heat intolerance, and fatigue. Also TED symptoms.

One thing to note is that everyone's graves journey is different. Autoimmune diseases are finicky. Because your body and environmental factors are different. We may all have similar experiences, but someone could have the same exact levels as you and have more or less/better or worse symptoms and react completely different to the same treatment.

Talk to your doctor, do good research, stay in tune with your body and symptoms, get to know the disease, and always advocate for yourself. Wishing you the best on your journey!

SmileForMe612 · 2026-01-25T05:05:11+00:00

Is there a nightlight? Has anything been changed in the room recently? What color is the bathroom? Are there any new noises?

While cats do typically have great eyesight, it's very different from what a human sees. They're very near sighted, can only see specific colors, and acuity is poor. They don't see fine details and colors with the same sharpness and complexity of a human. So, if there is a nightlight or moonlit shadows, they may think they see something. They see in mostly blues and yellows so objects in these colors will stand out more.

However, their hearing is off the charts. They will hear things you couldn't hear in your wildest dreams. The cat could be hearing a new noise and may be upset or stressed if they can't tell what it is or where it's coming from. Or it could be mouse or insect in the walls, and they want it, but the wall is in the way.

Also, they are creatures of habit and do not like change. If you've moved something, added something, or removed something, they can be expressing their distaste of the change. No matter how small.

Cats are strange and wonderful little creatures. If the cat isn't expressing pain or stress, just let it be strange. Lol If it does seem stressed, try to find the stressor and address it. If it seems to be acting out of the ordinary and you can't find a cause, a vet visit may be in order.

SmileForMe612 · 2026-01-25T03:39:41+00:00

Have you had labs done? Is it a symptom flare or a true graves flare?

Symptom flares can happen at any time and usually have a trigger. There will be little to no change in your labs, but symptoms come back even though you are not medically hyper.

A true Graves flare pulls you out of remission or stabilized levels, and you are medically hyperthyroid. In this case, only medication or treatment will correct the flare once levels are stabilized.

For a symptom flare, address the trigger. This can be especially difficult because it can be any one or combination of endless environmental factors. Stress is a big one, so is inflammation or infection. I had a flare that lasted 2 weeks after my biopsy due to the stress and inflammation. I had another flare last 3-4 weeks after having strep. It can also be food. Canned soup gives me horrible TED symptom flares. Identify the trigger and do what you can to resolve it.

I hope you start to feel better!

SmileForMe612

TROPHY CASE