Scattered Sundays
I ended up back at the doctor because my ear infection/eardrum that burst apparently never cleared up. My friends, it’s really really hard to be a toddler these days.
What’s next, hand food and mouth? Lice? Or whatever virus is going around my preschool this week. Maybe chicken pox is next.
On Sunday night, I was sitting at our soccer board meeting and I realized that it was the January board meeting when my ear started causing me so much pain. And it was that very night that my ear drum burst.
Given that these meetings are monthly, it meant that my stupid ear had been plugged up for a full 30 days. And annoyingly, the pain was starting to return. So, not only could I still not hear, but it was hurting again.
I was able to get a doctor’s appointment for Tuesday, and my doctor confirmed that the ear infection was indeed back…or had never really gone away. She hadn’t seen my gross ear before because I had to go to urgent care for those appointments.
I’m using two kinds of ear drops 4-6 times a day to try to clear up this stupid ear. And you know, that’s what I get for falling asleep in my crib with a bottle. No more! Lesson learned.
As an aside, I can’t stop laughing at the idea of showing up at a pediatric ENT with my ear issue. Would my chart say “Sarah, aged 492 months, has been cranky and complaining about constant ear infections”?
If I have to get tubes, will someone buy me a stuffy?
Between the basement drama and my ear being a total tool, I gave myself the week off from doing any photos over the last week. Photos are my least favorite part of this job, and being a raging angry toddler meant I just wasn’t in the mood.
It was nice to take a break, and I absolutely crushed my computer and admin work over the last few days. My to-do list was smoking because I was checking things off so quickly. It was rad, and I need to do more of those kinds of workflow weeks.
Thursday morning I woke up to realize our credit card had been hacked and quite a lot of expensive charges had made it through in just 24 hours. Freaking buttfaces.
And naturally, our credit card company’s app and website were fully functional, EXCEPT for the option to dispute charges. And the AI messaging bot was not picking up what I was throwing down. It was an exercise in futility.
I’ve been joking with a friend that between the basement crap and everything that keeps happening, I’m very likely on the reboot of Punk’ed and this is the longest prank in the history of pranks.
Ok, Ashton Kutcher, you can jump out now and laugh like an idiot. I’m ready to be done with this episode.
In what we hope will be a turning point into good news territory, Troy has a sleep study this week. He did an at-home one around Christmas, but the results were inconclusive. If he doesn’t stop snoring, my pillow over his face will be 100% conclusive.
This time, he’s going into the sleep clinic and the pros will be monitoring his snoring and sleep data. The results won’t be available for a few weeks, but I assume the report will say “the fact that your wife hasn’t ended up on Dateline over your snoring is shocking to us all”. You know, something like that.
And let’s be clear, I would never end up on Dateline. We all know I’m better than that.
Jack will be headed to Great Wolf Lodge with youth group this coming weekend. Both boys have wanted to go forever, but Bennett can’t really swim (thanks Covid for shutting down lessons, and then um, somebody never really signed him back up. Psst, it was me) and that just sounds like a waste of money.
He’s pretty stoked to go and I just hope he’s on his best behavior with the group. Bennett, understandably, is a bit bummed, but I have fun things planned to try to make his temporary only-child status seem special.
My sister, nephew, and I are going back to Neko, the cat cafe in Seattle. He doesn’t know about it yet, because I have learned never to tell my children about exciting plans until the very last second. That way, when one of them inevitably gets sick, they don’t know what they’re missing.
He also gets to spend a day with Grammy and Grampy allllll by himself. A whole day of spoiling and doing whatever he wants and he doesn’t have to do any of that with his big stinky brother.
What I’m reading this week
I finished The Anomaly, and it took fooooorever to get through. I wasn’t in the right mindset for the book, we were super busy with basement drama, and frankly, the book bored me. I give it two “mehs”.
I started Matthew Perry’s Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing and man oh man, addiction is a big terrible thing. I mean, I knew that, and have read Cherry and Demon Copperhead recently. But dang, friends, just say no!
READER SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Long-time reader, JP, left this five-star review on our Chocolate Zucchini Muffins {Pin this recipe}:
So delicious, from my 20yr old down to my 7yr old, and me, these are so soft and delicious I’ve forwarded the recipe on to my sister!
ON SUSTAINABLE COOKS THIS WEEK
Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip – This Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip is a delicious and flavorful appetizer that you’re going to love snacking on! Perfect with crackers or veggies, this simple recipe is a fast appetizer that will quickly get gobbled up. {Pin this recipe}
Pesto Gnocchi – This creamy Pesto Gnocchi is a simple and easy dinner that you can throw together in 15 minutes or less. You’ll want to make this delicious homemade comfort food part of your permanent meal plan. {Pin this recipe}
Best Pizza Sauce Recipe – This is the best homemade pizza sauce recipe! It’s a super speedy, simple no cook pizza sauce that is perfect for homemade pizza. {Pin this recipe}
THE FIVE MOST POPULAR POSTS THIS WEEK
- Air Fryer Egg Rolls – vegan and vegetarian as written but super customizable! Oh, and did you know you can FREEZE these? {Pin this recipe}
- Garlic Butter Rice – I can’t think of a week that goes by in this house without at least one batch of this comfort food being made. {Pin this recipe}
- Air Fryer Cookies – I’m a big fan of this recipe and you’re going to love it! {Pin this recipe}
- Air Fryer Pizza Rolls – unlike the ones from our childhood, these are not filled with lava and regret. {Pin this recipe}
- Air Fryer Pretzel Bites – one of our favorite snacks and the dough is freezable, which makes this a “heat and eat” kind of snack. {Pin this recipe}
MEAL PLAN
Monday:: Breakfast for dinner.
Tuesday:: Pasta and veggies.
Wednesday:: A new recipe that I’m photographing.
Thursday:: Troy is making dinner and we’ll be excited to eat it!
Friday:: Popcorn, leftovers, and movie night.
Saturday:: Testing a new recipe.
Sunday:: Testing a new recipe.
What’s on your meal plan this week?
I can empathize; my sinuses are your inner ears, and the pain along my upper jawline can be wicked intense when my sinuses are enflamed. Hope you recover quickly.
We’re experiencing fake spring here in the Mid-Atlantic, so the slow cooker will have a reprieve while we cook outdoors. Thus, the meal plan:
Monday. Grilled Meatless Something
Tuesday. Grilled dessert for Valentines, maybe a berry crisp.
Wednesday. Grilled something.
Thursday. I think we’ll grill something.
Friday. Great night to grill.
I hate that your sinuses are such a PITA!
Have you ever tried a mouthguard at night when the sinuses act up? I have to wear one year-round, but when my sinuses hurt, it’s especially helpful.
I love the grilling menu!
Your life is truly insane right now, and I want to buy you all the stuffies or the adult equivalent which is quiet time at a spa for the weekend. Thinking of you and wishing you well! ☺️
A spa trip sounds delightful. Way better than a stuffy. 🙂
Feel better.
Thank you, friend!
Sorry to hear about your ear. It is funny you mention Hand foot and mouth. I have 3 kids (2 were homeschooled). My homeschooled 7 year old got hand foot and mouth from the playground. He was 7 the dr said anyone can get it but is usually reserved for the under 3-5 ages. We’ll fast forward 7 years. I now have a 5 year old granddaughter in daycare. She gets hand foot and mouth. Well guess who gets it again. My 14 year old who had had it as age 7. He was miserable his feet hurt to walk for 2 days he sat on the couch only walking to go to the bathroom and bed. Here’s to the millions of war drops clearing this dumb infection up. Hope y’all enjoy the cat cafe.
***war=ear lol
I was picking up what you were throwing down. 🙂
Oh buddy, your kiddo really got it hard, didn’t he???
I am sorry to hear that your ear hasn’t cleared up. And yes, of course, we will get you a stuffy if you have to get tubes put in. Any requests?
I feel like if I say “cats”, it will just get stolen. 🙂