4 days left... I stayed up last night and wrapped more gifts including a few for the critters and some that came from aunts for Avery.  I ran out yesterday at lunch to get a gift card for the bus driver.

Still to do:  finish cleaning, figure out what we're making and taking to Christmas eve, figure out what we're making to eat on Christmas, buying the necessary supplies for those meals, and maybe make a batch of chocolate chip cookies.  I mean, I don't need more cookies, especially since I've received a few desserty gifts from neighbors and family, but it doesn't feel like Christmas if I don't have them and it's a nice way to spend a little time with Avery that I know she will remember fondly, as I do.

Avery has a half day on Friday.  I could and probably should keep working, but I might embrace it and use that as a bit of catch up time.

On the health front:  I am still coughing.  My ribs feel about 95% better, but I can still feel it and need to "get into position" to cough w/o hurting myself.  At least I feel well enough to move around more freely and can get in and out of bed easier.

I hate snow to begin with, but having my kid on the bus on the way home yesterday when weather physically slapped my house and dropped a pretty heavy dusting in 10 minutes was unnerving.  This morning we got a call from the bus driver asking us to walk down to the first intersection on the main entry road in the plan because of the roads being pretty rough.

It was a pretty slick walk.  Avery started to tumble once, but I had a hold of her and some pretty clunky boots on that held me in place.  Thank God my lungs aren't where they were 2 weeks ago or I would have died trying to walk home.  After passing the cars sliding about.  We got there in time to find the exit on the main road backed up and people turning around.  Fortunately, the salt trucks were also coming through by this point.  On the walk back I got to relay to a few high schoolers that their bus got stuck, but was on its way.

Regardless, putting your kid on that bus and telling her to sit and stay firmly in her seat w/o conveying your anxiety to her is quite the challenge.

It is only a half an hour later and the roads are clear enough now that the later buses are rolling by out front w/o an issue - thank God.

6 in one hand and half dozen in the other?

Saturday I got up and we headed out with a few things on our to do list.  After leaving the post office (I'm very late getting Christmas cards out) I decided I needed to add a stop to our list.  As I always do in the fall, I have needed to add air to the tires, but the rear passenger has consistently dropped faster and more each time.  On this day when the car dinged to tell me this tire had low pressure I knew I needed to get it looked at.  I took a leap of faith after searching local tire places and headed to one on our main street (Pike).  Just a little shop, several people there waiting - all of which said they trusted this place and come there when they need something with tires.  I also learned they own the repair shop across the road, so that's a good tip.  It was a bit of a wait due to first come first served, but I left having only spent $27.  Tiny screw in that tire, but in a repairable spot, so win.

From there we went and snagged more apples from the local orchard, but I scrapped the other few stops I wanted to make since I was already well into the afternoon.

Today on the other hand I had to call the vet for Church.  We noticed him in the liter box a few times just standing there.  If you recall, he's had urinary blockage before, so I am not playing around.  Fortunately, he's not blocked, but he does have a UTI, so it's medicine time in my house for the next two weeks.  We will also be shifting Barnabas to the Urinary Care food as to avoid Church sneaking kitten chow, which probably doesn't help matters.  This bill was definitely more, but still way cheaper than a blockage and emergency care.  Merry Christmas Church.

Speaking of which, my gift to myself this year is quite small and inexpensive.  Many many moons ago a friend bought me KitchenAid brand kitchen towels.  I've literally had them for 20 years and they remain quite usable.  Well, I ordered myself another set of KitchenAid towels.

On Sunday we went to see Wonka, courtesy of Grandpa Joe's Candy shop - they had hidden passes around town a few weeks ago.  It was a good time and they even had a table full of free candy at the front.

With part of my Saturday hijacked and our activities on Sunday I once again didn't get cookies made.  I did get a bit of cleaning done on Friday/Saturday, although not as much as is necessary by Christmas.  My ribs still feel like I've been beaten and I still have some coughs (although less).  My upper right back has been tightening up due to compensating for my side, so I'm still pretty gimpy.  Time to pull out the massager.

I stopped taking meds on Sunday because it had been two weeks and I wanted to give my liver a break.  By dinner time, I took a bite of food and felt pain on the left side of my mouth -- whee!  Sinus infection.  Good to know the meds did nothing to help my lingering issues but they masked a legit problem.

Monday I scheduled the earliest available appointment at my PCP (Wed at 11:45am) and then called leaving them a message asking for any slot if someone cancels.  Fortunately, they called back and got me in yesterday at 11.  I left there w/ two prescriptions, one for an antibiotic for my sinuses and one for a cough suppressant.  I don't think the cough suppressant is doing much - it is a "take as needed" thing but the mouth pain is gone already after 3 doses of the antibiotic.

My ribs are the biggest source of my pain at the moment.  Pretty sure the coughing did this to me, but I feel like someone took a baseball bat to my right side.  It's hard to get in and out of bed and most movements are giving me a sharp pain.  I had to get help to lift the 30lb bag of dog food last night.  This all needs to go away -- now.  It's time to start cleaning in prep for Christmas since I'm obliged to have people here.  I was supposed to get the house cleaned tomorrow, but my cleaning person is afraid of getting sick, so I'm on my own.

Of course, while I'm gimping around and struggling everyone in my house has lost their mind.  The cold snap has Zero running circles.  Church and Barnabas needed a play session last night before bed and the foster kittens are running amok.  

I neglected to mention the one very odd thing that happened last night!  My favorite egg arrived and when he opened the door to walk in a finch flew in with him.  It was flying around - the dogs and cats immediately took interest.  After getting everyone locked up we chased it around for a while trying to convince it to go out the back door.  Failing miserably in that attempt I got lucky and he flew into the downstairs bathroom.

I slipped on some gloves and we found Avery's butterfly net.  Between the two I was able to catch a very tired finch and put him out back.  He sat out there at the top of a post for a while but eventually flew off.  How crazy - and it was after dark, so what were you doing out there little buddy?

I'm still coughing.  For the most part it is completely non-productive.  The sinuses slamming shut thing came back with vengeance the night before last.  Around 3am my head completely closed and my only option to sleep was w/ my mouth hanging open, hence drying out my throat further.  I hate that everything gets caught in my chest for a month.  What to do about it?

Cough syrup doesn't do anything.  Tylenol helps my head, but not the cough.  Allergy meds didn't clear my head.  My inhaler didn't help my cough.  Warm tea did nada.  The neti pot was futile, I couldn't get it to flow through and salt water got trapped so I then had pockets of it draining out overnight (yum).  The steam of a hot shower didn't change much.  I never had any fever with any of it... but could I have a sinus infection?  Between the two issues I want to call the doctor, but I'd be pretty pissed if I spend $100+ to go and they tell me it is what it is that I just need to wait it out.  I'm almost at the 2 week mark of taking various medicines, that can't be a good thing to keep doing.

Update on the fosters - Pickle and Summer get a shot and a chip today (I guess the mobile clinic ran out of chips).  All 3 had their second dose of dewormer.  That means they will all technically be ready to go.  Pickle and Summer are doing well and will play and cuddle a bit, they are both still apprehensive, but will accept pets and both purr.  Jackson on the other hand definitely needs more time.  If Pickle and Summer go quickly I'll be able to give him more focus.  In the mean time I may need to put him back into a smaller containment area.

I still feel a bit woozy -- like when you first put on a new pair of strong glasses, a bit weak, and cold.  I slacked this morning until just before my 11am stakeholder call but truly still didn't feel like doing the things that need to be done.  I, as my mother would have called it, "rested my eyes".  Ultimately, I don't think this one will kill me.  Admittedly it is prb my own fault for not getting a flu shot this year, something I have done for the past 15 or so years... but my distrust is too high to convince myself to do it.

Of course, now you have the next novel cough-cough spinning up in chy-na.  Get ready for the long cold winter of death in preparation for an election year where you simply MUST vote by mail.

In theory I go back to work tomorrow.  I'm tempted to take another day to make up for my lost time... but I'd prb feel bad for do so.

I froze all night, but the chills broke (note, not once did I show as having a fever) earlier today and I am back to overheating way too easily (I just came back in from sitting outside for a minute).  What overheated me was lugging several containers of Christmas decorations up from the basement, which took 2x as long as it should have due to breaks in between.  I definitely still feel wobbly and a bit off.  The only thing I put up though was the greenery on the front door.

I didn't get up until 9am this morning and that was due to my lower back aching from being in bed too long.  So I moved to the couch and wiped out until around 2pm.  I have to praise the kiddo, she understands I am not feeling well and has been so sweet.  She's kept herself pretty busy and has repeatedly asked me if I'm okay.

I did get up to feed her and to tend to the beasts.  When I get sick I am always reminded of the flu I had in January or February of 2020, right after the ex had headed to NC.  That will always be my measuring stick.  This round of ick was tolerable - At least I walked to put the dogs out and didn't have to crawl.

Hopefully I don't feel like a complete pile of poo when the tylenol wears off.  I'm not much for taking meds, but this is an occasion that calls for it.  I even took 2 tablets instead of 1.  I did wrap up the chicken and the enchiladas are baking, so we will have a decent dinner.

The signature drink for Thanksgiving went over well.  I did make a bit of a mod to it... partially because I didn't have enough heavy cream as required for the amount I was mixing and the mac and cheese I was making, but also to reduce the irish cream and up the vodka.  The mac and cheese recipe came from the Monin website - the place where I order my flavored syrups.  Color me surprised that they had so many non-alcoholic recipes.  It too was pretty darn good and I'm pleased to have leftovers.

I didn't get a ton done this weekend.  I was supposed to be off on Friday but I put in a solid 6.  Saturday we mixed up the dough for pizzelles, good thing too or I wouldn't have budged to make them today.  I spent more time on the couch today fighting with sinusy issues than I'd like to admit.  I did do an emergenc this morning because I was feeling a bit off yesterday and more so today.  At this point I have chills, but no fever.  Let me repeat - I am cold.  I haven't been cold but a handful of times in the past few years (yay menopause).

Regardless, I did get the pizzelles made -- with extra hand washing and mitigation activities to ensure they aren't typhoid mary signature cookies.  If I had gotten started earlier I would have made choco chip too, but that didn't happen.  I cooked chicken and put it to marinade for honey lime enchiladas yesterday, but they too did not get made today.

I gathered the fall decorations, but didn't put them away.  Not a single box of indoor Christmas decor has come up the stairs, but I did get 95% of the outdoor stuff out/up including the wreaths on the windows.  I had big hopes to start wrapping gifts or to start Christmas cards.  Those are both big no-gos.  I am really hoping a good night's sleep sets me right and maybe I will embrace the day off I scheduled for tomorrow a little more fully - be it to get things done or to sleep.

And another burst of pretty decent temps!  I'm loving this, especially now that my time outside isn't working to prepare it for winter - although I could prb mow the back again as a result of the nicer temps.  At a minimum w/ the kids playing on the swing set I am scooping regularly, that definitely lightens the load come spring.

I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week.  I have planned to make a mac and cheese that involves pumpkin and some of Alton's pb fudge as our food contribution to the gathering.  I have also gotten into the habit in the past couple of years of coming up with a feature drink that appeals to my favorite egg's two female cousins and I.  This year during brainstorming a pecan pie vodka was mentioned, but noted that they've never seen it.  Well, the PA LCB was willing to do a special order, so I ran and picked that up last night and did some stocking up of various other items.  Of course, I left w/o Irish Cream, which is needed for the one recipe we wanted to try w/ the pecan pie vodka so I need to pop back in.

I had also ordered a signed bottle of Four Walls Irish Whiskey.  For whatever reason, PA LCB would ship that direct to me but the special order bottle had to go to the store.  Whatever, it's here.  If Four Walls is meaningless to you, it is from the gents (Glenn, Rob, and Charlie) of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.  I'm not a whiskey person, but... eh, why not fan girl for a hot moment?

I often have to return to my notes here in my blog to get dates and timeframes.  As I return here this evening to see when Barnabas joined us - as to be able to calculate when we should be celebrating his birthday - I figure I should post it.  His gotcha day is Sept 2 and if he was approx 4 months old at that point that brings us to May 2.  So it shall be.

Another burst of warm weather - thank goodness.  By "warm" I mean upper 50s.  Perfect if you're outside moving around or have at light jacket.  With the time change I managed to get up for early mass before cathecism.  We had to get up for the early mass as Avery had swimming lessons!  The neighbor alerted me that another session had been posted and I quickly registered her for another 4 lessons.  It looks like they didn't do a great job marketing it as there weren't a lot of kids, but that was a huge win.  It was just Avery and one other boy in her lane this morning.

From there it was time to get moving here at home.  I am happy to say the hot tub water is now changed out, the rest of the brush (which ended up being a second garbage can - I had already gathered the first garbage can on Friday) is ready for the curb tomorrow, the hoses are away for the winter, and the hose bibs are covered.  Halloween is almost all down (except window clings) and a good chunk of it is away in bins and back to the basement, but some remains to pack up.  Somehow I manage to always need another bin, the stuff expands outside of the container, I swear.

All that time I had some pork cooking, so from there I needed to only prep the potatoes to cook for mashing and that's my day.  My back is barking. I would go get in that fresh clean hot tub water, but frankly, I'm too tired.  The lunch box and snack bag are packed.  It's time to zonk..

I remain exhausted and behind.  While I got a good bit addressed outside before the first snow (we woke to it November 1) I didn't get the hot tub water changed out, nor did I 'disable' my rain barrel - I did drain it, but I should probably flip it over and put the rest of the downspout back.  I think there is another two large garbage cans of clippings to make in winter prep.  The lawn did get mowed one last time about a week ago.

School was out last Friday and this past Monday.  Wednesday was our parent teacher conference and a holy day of obligation.  Today (Thursday and Friday) are half days.  It's keep the kid occupied while getting work under control season.  Thank goodness they gave us a week off from homework.  Hopefully I'll get the Halloween decorations down --and away-- by Thanksgiving.

I'm also struggling to get enough sleep again.  There's the waking in the middle of the night from the dogs only to be followed by the cleanup necessary when Saffy then still poops in the house.  I almost fell asleep during church last night.  Tonight I made it to 4pm with work when I cut out a bit early to nap on the couch for two hours.  I'm still feeling like I could zonk right back out, and hopefully I will at bedtime for a full night.  Yep, and it's time for them to frell with the clocks to screw me up further.

On another, but very related and necessary note, I got a moka pot.  I've had my eye on one but it seemed needlessly complicated.  I think I have it figured out and I gotta say, it's pretty delish - and strong - which is needed these days.

I know with all of this going on it seems crazy that I took on more foster cats, but getting to sit peacefully holding them is actually quite soothing.  We've made some progress.  I can hold them, but they still look fairly scared and we haven't had our first purr yet.  There is debate on the gender of the black cat.  I'm pretty sure we're talking male but the records for that # cat indicated female... I'm just not seeing it.  If that situation is what I believe it to be, we have Jackson (black), Summer (tabby female), and Pickle (tabby male).  Can you tell it was Avery's turn w/ names?.