Hey Jennifer Just a different point of view. If I read your posts correctly you say that he is a straight A student. He was "caught" stealing candy at 6 something in the morning. When you checked his computer history he was checking emails. He confesses to a lot of stuff, etc...... Hmmmmmm this kid doesn't seem too bad to me. Of course I am not the one living with him. One....he is doing great in school. This is an area where he really excels...don't cut his one outlet off by restricting after school activities that are related to the school. Two...it's obvious the boy has a sweet tooth. Is he being punished because "we" are now trying to get our kids to eat right which we didn't? If this is a continuing problem...don't bring candy into the home. Make him use an allowance to buy his own. Three.....At least it was his email and not a porn site. Four...A person who lies continuously normally doesn't confess to anything. It is always someone else's fault. Learning to accept fault is an adult trait, not a children's trait. It has to be learned over time. A child can accept responsibility for chores, etc...but will place the blame on others whenever possible. This is normal for the age. Honestly, it sounds like to me you've got a pretty good kid. I'd take him in a minute. My only other thought would be that because he is number 2 out of 7 your attention (and rightly so) is spent more with the younger siblings than with the older ones. Maybe he needs some one on one time with you or dad. It doesn't have to cost anything, but can be a walk in a park, a picnic, a trip to the mall where you just browse...anything. By the other responses you've received I feel like I've missed something. But I think you should be very proud of this young man. He will turn into a fine young man...just give him some room to grow. Larry

Rosie If that doesn't work try contacting your local Red Cross. They should be able to help track him down also. Larry

Tammy And you are going straight to HELL!!!!!! Like the other posters, this is not unusual for 14 months out. Just don't make it a daily habit. Keep up your good work. Larry

Ann I have a huge incisional abdominal hernia. My insurance will cover the repair at 100%. Now trying to get them to cover the panniculectomy is another matter. My plastic surgeon and hernia surgeon says it is medically necessary and the insurance is saying cosmetic. Anyway, I'm waiting for an answer from their appeal letters. My hernia surgeon said that if I didn't get it repaired (with or without the panniculectomy) that it would only get bigger. It looks like someone has parked their butt on my upper stomach. The open scar is the crack and the cheeks are the hernia. Larry

Hey Rusty My surgeon told me he would like for me to get down to 230 pounds. I was 6'2" and weighed 363 pounds. Today I weigh 213 pounds and feel great. I went 17 pounds under his goal. The secret is not to go back over his goal. Keep up the good work. Larry

I eat a small piece of Domino's thin crust pepperoni about every three months just to get rid of the craving. I was never a big pizza eater before surgery. Larry

Hey Julie Men can relate. We never buy new underwear or if we do we still keep the old ones until they are so full of holes that people will wonder why wear anything at all. I've been walking down the hall at work and feel my underwear just drop down off of my body. Luckily the crotch in my pants catch them and they sort of droop down to my knees under my pants. Stubborn can be good. Larry

Hey Mandy The only deficiency that I have is my folate level which causes everything you say in your post. I take a prescription tablet daily for this and it is now under control. You can also pick up folic acid at walmart in 400 mcg or 800 mcg strengths. You have to work the tool given. I've said a prayer for you today. Please know that there are people here that care for you. Please keep us posted. Larry

Crystal I have been on Neurontin (gabapentin) for one year now. I now have neuropathy in my left foot from nerve damage from not being turned while in the hospital for 3 weeks following my wls. (complications involved) I have lost 150 pounds in a year and consider that normal with the surgery and all I've been through. It has been a wonderful year though and even with the complications I would still go through it all again. I've never heard of neurontin being an appetite supressant. I take 1800 mg per day and may be adding more in the future and I still get hungry during the day. Each person's body is different, but I'd place my bet on the Flexeril. Keep up the good work. Larry

Hey Jenn Congratulations on your anniversary. It appears that we both have the same date. I went in last year at this time and had major complications (see profile),but would do it all again even with the complications. Congratulations on your weight loss. Larry

That is a nice poem, but plagarized none the less. You should always credit the person you took it from (not me). Larry

Shannon I have an HMO so therefore didn't have to pay anything out of pocket, but if I had it would have been over $268,000.00. I had major complications and spent 3 weeks in the hospital before spending 3 weeks in a rehab hospital. I like to do thing differently. Even with complications I would jump back on the table to do it all over again. Larry