Scattered Sundays
Since Bennett was two months old, he has gotten the exact same cold/sickness every 2-3 months. It’s such a regular occurrence that we call it “his period”. Last Thursday night he came down with a sore throat, cough, and low fever. Same as all his other “cycles”.
But, nothing is normal now and everything needs to be looked at in-depth. I’m fine and not fighting that. Y’all, be NICE to the staff at schools. They’re exhausted and ready to walk into the ocean. They’re not trying to make your life harder. They’re just trying to make it until the next day.
I just want to go back to just knowing he has a cold and nothing else. School was already closed for a five-day weekend due to staffing, so it was not a huge deal to just stay home and stay away from other people.
Sadly, we had planned an early birthday party for him on Sunday that definitely did not turn out how we expected. We had rented a screen at a local theater for 20 people (including us) to see Spiderman. It was going to be so fun, and all attendees were vaccinated and we were going to be masked the whole time. Alas.
If you’ve never told a kid that they can’t go to their own birthday party, I’m glad for you. He took it as well as he could have, considering the situation. We tried to make the day special by letting him choose a movie at home and ordering pizza. But it still really sucked.
To make matters worse, the cancellation policy for Regal was very strict and we couldn’t reschedule or get a refund. So, we invited everyone to please attend without us and enjoy the movie. Only two families attended, so it was a grand total of 7 people in the theater. Definitely a private showing!
We did have people drop off gifts and balloons on our porch. Everyone tried hard to make him feel included and celebrated. Every little kid loves helium balloons and my brother-in-law really crushed it with a cat-themed balloon bouquet.
We have tested him at home and had him tested at urgent care, and all tests results came back as negative for the rona and the flu. Just another run-of-the-mill virus for B-boy.The regular destroyer of plans and sleep.
All that’s left now is a lingering cough that comes in spurts of 2 to 3 every 15 or so minutes. It mainly happens when he is awake and moving. At this point, he has been quarantined longer than if he actually had covid.
Last week when we had seen Bennett’s pediatrician for allergies, he mentioned that Bennett’s tonsils were pretty huge. When everything calms down a bit with case numbers, I guess we’re headed to an ENT for a consult. Jack had his taken out right before he turned four due to his snoring and sleep apnea.
I’m not sure if removing Bennett’s tonsils will reduce all these colds or not. I suppose that is a conversation to have with the specialist. I’d love to avoid the surgery if it is unnecessary. For one, I hated seeing Jack in that much pain. And two, I will never forget the horrible breath that flowed from that kid for two weeks as his throat healed.
With both kids home from school for a long weekend, and then Bennett home the entire week, I still had to work. I threw in the towel and declared it open season on electronics time. What do I care anymore? Go for it kids. Enjoy those cat videos.
I would also like to call myself out from two weeks ago after telling a friend that I was ahead of work as a “contingency plan” in case school closed again or the kids got sick. So basically, I caused this. I’m why we can’t have nice things.
This week I had a few days of epic recipe testing. Some of those things will be coming to you very soon and I’m so excited about them! Recipe testing in this house is always odd. Troy will eat anything and really only doesn’t like two foods. And if they’re on his plate, he will still happily eat them.
Both boys can be kinda picky for some things and not picky for others. But, the seafood recipe I made on Wednesday went over so well for all of them! Bennett called it “the best thing in my life” and said “I don’t want more, I NEED more of this”. He even chose it for his birthday dinner later this week.
Jack and Troy are not seafood fans, and both had seconds. At one point during dinner, Jack said “if you put this in a restaurant, we’d make millions”. So there’s that and I’m pretty stoked to be sharing everything with you all soon!
One of the things we did a lot of during this week was riding bikes. Bennett inherited a really nice loaner kid bike from his cousin, whose parents are big bike people. Gear Fans? Wheel Lovers? Handlebar Heads? What do we call bike enthusiasts?
The bike has always been a little too big for him, but he tried it out again on Tuesday and suddenly it is the perfect size. He’s getting really comfortable on it…almost too confident in my opinion. But, it was a safe outdoor activity where he wasn’t around others while we were figuring out what the heck his deal was.
I sent his teacher this photo and said “we went on a bike ride for our “too healthy to stay home but too much coughing for school” Friday. Bikes – PE, looking at birds – STEM, playground – recess, and for ELA, he asked me if this was a sentence because it has a period at the end.
It’s a short post today because, well, we did almost nothing this week but laid low to make sure we kept other people healthy. Snooooooore.
What I’m reading this week
I absolutely flew through The Four Winds in just a few days this week. Not going anywhere + having a sick kiddo who wanted to nap on me made for a lot of couch time. The writing was beautiful and so far I have loved all the books I have read by Kristin Hannah.
Now I’m reading Vanderbilt by Anderson Cooper. I am fascinated by these huge dynasty families and this book gives insight into a culture I will never fully understand.
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO THIS WEEK
I have a backlog of The Office Ladies because I always save them for when I run. And I haven’t gone on a run in a very long time. I decided I wanted some happy sweet podcasts in my earholes this week and am making my way through this delightful show.
READER SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
I appreciate all the reviews that readers have been leaving lately. Thank you so much as it indicates to Google (our overlord by default) that the recipe/post is worthy of being shown to more people. It’s truly a very easy way to help our site grow, and it is so appreciated! Make sure when you leave the review to also indicate the number of stars you’d like to assign to it!
Wynn left this five-star review on our Instant Pot Beef Tips {Pin this recipe}:
Made today, along with IP mashed potatoes. Used trip-tip steaks from Costco, and they were so tender. We don’t like Montreal Steak seasoning, so I used Primal Palate Meat and Potatoes seasoning. Did not have beef broth, so I used all chicken broth. This is a great recipe that will be in my rotation, and it is easily adaptable to ingredients you have on hand. Well done Sarah!
ON SUSTAINABLE COOKS THIS WEEK
This week’s posts were “meat and potatoes” kinds of posts – as in delicious go-to basics that keep you fed and happy without any fuss. But really, only one of them contains any meat at all!
Gluten-Free Tomato Soup – Delicious and packed with flavor, this Gluten-Free Tomato Soup tastes like a bowl full of summer! Use convenient canned whole tomatoes for a creamy and delicious dairy-free soup that is ready in a flash. {Pin this recipe}
Frozen Broccoli in the Air Fryer – This Frozen Broccoli in the Air Fryer is an easy and delicious side dish that is ready in a flash! Perfectly roasted in the air fryer, this simple kitchen hack is a tasty and fast meal prep dish. {Pin this recipe}
Instant Pot Farro – Instant Pot Farro is a speedy way to cook this hardy and delicious whole grain in a flash. Learn how to cook farro in a pressure cooker or on the stovetop for a delicious and fast meal. {Pin this recipe}
Instant Pot White Chicken Chili – You’ll love this delicious and simple Instant Pot White Chicken Chili recipe. Packed with flavor and ready in a flash, this creamy chicken chili is sure to become a family favorite. You’ll also find slow cooker instructions included. {Pin this recipe}
THE FIVE MOST POPULAR POSTS THIS WEEK
- Air Fryer Egg Rolls – vegan and vegetarian as written but super customizable! On, and did you know you can FREEZE these? {Pin this recipe}
- Air Fryer Pretzel Bites – one of my favorite air fryer recipes of all time! And these beautiful bites of dough are freezer-friendly too. {Pin this recipe}
- Homemade Pizza Rolls – freezer-friendly too! Basically, I think everything should be frozen. {Pin this recipe}
- Air Fryer Appetizers – because eating a few different appetizers and calling it dinner is pretty rad. {Pin these recipes}
- Air Fryer Home Fries – these potatoes are seasoned with a homemade ranch flavoring and DAYUM they’re delicious. {Pin this recipe}
MEAL PLAN
Monday:: soup of some kind. I have frozen soup veggies all prepped and ready to go. I think I’ll make chicken gnocchi soup because Bennett loves gnocchi.
Tuesday:: Troy is making organic hot dogs, tots, and veggies.
Wednesday:: Troy is making Instant Pot Tortellini, garlic bread, and veggies.
Thursday:: Early soccer practice, so we’re having Air Fryer Taquitos and garlic rice with veggies.
Friday:: Bennett selected teriyaki takeout and sushi for his birthday to go along with the movie.
Saturday:: Bennett asked for the new seafood recipe I tested this week. Coming at you soon!
Sunday:: I made quiche last week and everyone loved it…so I’m making another one! If you want a laugh, and a deep dive into why I was not a successful blogger for years, please enjoy this old post for my quiche recipe. Really just go soak it in and enjoy those photos too!
What are you having this week?
You do what’s best for your family, but I definitely recommend getting tonsils out sooner rather than later. I got mine out at 27 and it was the woooorst. I’ve had 3 foot surgeries, a C section…and I’d do those all again before a tonsillectomy. I lost 15 lb in 2 weeks. At my POST op appointment, the doctor was all, “Yeah, they rank tonsillectomy in the top 5 most painful surgeries for an adult, but we can’t tell people that, because then they’d never have it done.” …cool, bro.
I had a friend who had them out in her late teens. Back when you stayed in the hospital to recover and there were shared rooms. She said the kid she shared a room with was bouncing on the bed after recovery and she was in agony begging for popsicles. So yes, the earlier the better. But I remember Jack felt like crap the entire recovery and man oh man I don’t want to go through that again!
Glad it is behind you.
Hi Sarah, for whatever it’s worth, Bennett sounds like my son. Every two-three months we were back in to see his pediatrician for a cough/congestion. I would legitimately send in extra boxes of Kleenex as part of his supplies at the beginning of the school year. For his first five years, without fail, he was always sick for his birthdays. This was pre-Covid though, so I feel like you have it a lot worse.
We ultimately learned that he has asthma (and allergies). The congestion, the ultimate migration to his lungs, and subsequent coughing was how his asthma manifested? He would experience some wheezing as well. His doc usually treated with a course of antibiotics if necessary, and a bronchodialator through a nebulizer and he would start recovering almost immediately. He also had him on a nightly corticosteroid inhaler.
This lasted until just after he reached his teens. While he still suffers from allergies and when he does get sick, it still goes to his lungs, he is so much better. I guess it was the same with my husband. He suffered from asthma as a child too. Back in the day though, that meant he was in emergency every month or two and would get sent home with a steroid shot. I feel like treatment has come a long way since then. He ultimately grew out of it around the same time my son started experiencing relief.
I’ve seen (read?) you mention that Troy has pretty severe allergies so I thought it worth mentioning.
Happy belated Birthday to your baby!
The Kleenex makes me smile, knowing how much my mom supplied in her classroom to her students.
Bennett definitely has allergies as do Troy and I. Troy’s are more food/animal-based and mine used to be seasonal/environmental but seem to now be year-round. Troy and my MIL both have pretty bad asthma so it is something we have been monitoring closely for both kids since they were babies. Troy’s biggest fear is that one of the kids has it. He legit follows them around with a stethoscope when they are sick. 🙂
In August, Bennett got a cough that would not go away and was prescribed Albuterol with a spacer. We’ve been using it during this cold/virus/whatever it is and it doesn’t seem to help. Maybe he needs something stronger? Or who the heck knows at this point!
I’m so thankful that his pediatrician ALSO has allergies and small kids with allergies because he’s so good about helping us monitor it. I think a lot is up in the air right now and allergy testing and an ENT visit are in order. And maybe a pulmonologist at this point. I’m thankful for insurance.
And thank you for sharing your experience! That is exactly what happened with Troy when he was little. Except it was constantly diagnosed as croup back then. My MIL grew up before there were inhalers and she spent A LOT of time in the ER.
Re. your quiche post . . . You’ve come a long way, baby!
I didn’t have much room to fall from that post! 🙂
I vote for the tonsils to come out. The younger the better. My daughter had hers out at 13th so old. She was ‘sick’ almost every 6 weeks with tonsillitis, sore throat, cough of some kind, etc, once her tonsils were removed she was never sick again. Until she caught Covid19 for Christmas this year but that was 25 years later. In my opinion that’s a good run. PS. I know I don’t get a ‘vote’ on your kids health, you are the mom you know what is best for your family! Hopefully the rest of the winter is uneventful for you and your family. PSS. I am wondering how do you keep your floors so shiny?!
That is a really great run of no sicknesses!
For the floors, I think a lot has to do with the finish that was put on them before they were installed. We’ve never had to do much to them. I also think all the windows in our house make them look shinier than they are. At certain angles you can see lots of toe prints from the boys.
I use a shark vacuum with a wood floor attachment (it vacuums and has a microfiber pad on it to buff the floors) and a Boma squirt mop. That’s it!
Well they look fabulous! I’ve never seen a foot print in the pictures. You made a good choice with that investment. On a side note I bought one of the shark vacuums you recommended years ago!
Whoa! Barfy photos LOL. I had to peek. Anyhoo, sorry about Bennett. That sucks. Our power goes out if a snail farts in Oregon, and we had to cancel a birthday party in July for my son because we have a well with an electric pump so – no toilets if no water – and we had a power outage. Pretty weird right. You did look into Familial Fever Syndrome right? Because my son had that. Every month a fever with misc. symptoms. My niece had it too. My son was on colchicine, gout medicine, for a while. Good luck with the tonsils. Went through that too. It sucks. Glad for your blog to make me laugh at the funny parts. And sympathize with the Mom parts.
Ah yes, the time of taking photos at 10 pm in my yellow-lighted kitchen. I don’t miss those days. 🙂
I just looked up the fever syndrome and it doesn’t sound like Bennett because it mentioned inflammation in joints. He doesn’t experience that.
Ugh to the power outage. I’m sorry!
Love your blog so much. You always make me laugh and its always interesting. I love to cook but I am not always up to it as I have a chronic illness. Your tips and ideas have helped so much over the years. Thank you ❤ 😊
Sally, you just made my whole week! I’m so thrilled that I could help you in any way.
Holy crap! That OG post the quiche was terrible! The pictures, gah! Basically, I’m now spoiled by your website.
I laughed the entire time reading it last week. You’ll notice there is no recipe card or anything. I just typed it all into the post.
That is what 100% of my posts used to look like until 2018.