It isn't the pressure switch... their next recommendation is that it could be the board going bad.  They will likely be back tomorrow to change it out.  Remember how I said I wasn't going to complain about costs?  I'm going to just end this post now in order to keep my promise.

The furnace guys got us running yesterday and it stayed running, but they are back this morning to change out a pressure switch that was throwing codes and not maintaining expected power.  I had a moment last night while I thought about things - most everything in this house is getting to that age where I can expect to see issues.  I guess it's time to mentally (and financially) prepare.  I will do my best to not complain about the cost and to remain grateful that I am able to get the parts and repairs necessary.

Avery has recovered (and in time to go to her friend's birthday party).  Fortunately, I didn't pick it up from her -- at least no signs of it as of yet.

Now this morning the furnace isn't kicking on.  Once again I am grateful for the year round maintenance agreement I have.  I called giving the error code and what it sounds like based on a quick google search and they should have someone here today.  It isn't crazy cold and I still have my space heater and the fireplace, so we're fine, but it's nice to know we should be good to go before the next storm rolls in.

Well, Avery is sick - again. This time it is stomach issues.  On a related note, all of both her and my bedding got washed overnight.  I didn't get much sleep and I'm pretty wiped out.  When she fell asleep on the couch (in my seat) I  decided to relax and make a drink (the last of my bottle of kahlua, amaretto, and... chocolate milk -- because I could -- judge me).  I put the drink in the cupholder of the other couch and sit down.  The cupholder tips over and dumps the entire drink on my side and lap, into the couch seat and down the front.

When I tell you it was a mess, that is an understatement.  This is easily the biggest mess that couch has ever seen and the biggest mess this carpet has ever seen -- and I have a 5 yo, a cat, and two dogs including a senior.

If you visit and smell spoiled milk... well, yeah.  *sigh*

First solo robin on Sunday morning, on the way back from church!

I posted on this day last year too.

My sleep sucks lately.  I'm past the super stressful work activities from last summer, so I should be having an easier time, right?  Nope.

Let's just note that I am tired, very ready for bed when I get Avery to bed between 8 and 9.  Last night I showered and climbed into bed.  I am guessing it was within 10 min into a video I wanted to watch before I was out.  But then I woke up a half an hour later, before 11pm.  Mind you - I am not someone who can take 20 minute naps.  On the rare occasion I get to nap on a Sunday afternoon it takes a couple of hours.  I did get back to sleep but woke up at 2am and 5am.  Multiple wake ups seem to be the norm lately.

I know one of the common causes of waking is being too hot or too cold.  I keep the heat down at night and often turn on the ceiling fan to reinforce that coolness.  Usually when I wake I get warm a minute or two later, and have to kick the sheets down to cool for a few minutes before I can cuddle back up and re-attempt sleep.

I also have something happening that I remember first experiencing when Avery was a newborn - falling asleep on the couch I would be very aware and awake on one level but I knew my breathing had slowed to a state for someone who was asleep.  It puts you in a mental state where you think you're dying but you're at peace with it.  That is such an odd thing to write or try to explain.  I don't think it's sleep apnea.

Either way, this is exhausting.

Following up on Saffy - no indication in her urinalysis that there is anything negative going on with her kidneys, so that's a blessing.  We can do follow up bloodwork for comparison at some point.

We had a quick bout of sick come over Avery.  Slight fever, feeling icky.  It was kind of nice to have her at home, probably because she napped all afternoon and was pretty easy to manage.  It gave me a taste of when I won't have to leave the house in the morning.  While I am not rushing for Avery to start kindergarten I will have the perk of getting an earlier/less interrupted start.

In other news I finally booked us a cruise... well, two actually.  I'm not having anxiety over it, which I am surprised by but more than good with.  My excitement for vacation was also amped by abnormally warm weather on Thursday.  It was just long enough to get a bulk of the back yard scooped.  Not the most vacationy thing to mention, but it sure does make me think of the forthcoming spring.

Saffy had her yearly visit to the vet.  She has elevated white blood cells and a slightly high SDMA kidney result.  As such, I was outside with her first thing this morning to collect pee.  It went better than I expected, I will say that much, and we dropped it off today for analysis.

She has gone through spurts of pee accidents, like 2 or 3x in a short period of time and then nothing for a while.  She has also been pooping quite easily in the house, even right after having been outside.  I assumed she was just slipping a bit and getting old.

I am hoping we'll hear that she has a slight UTI.  That is pretty straigthforward to deal with and may even explain some of the other issues.  You know how UTIs really mess with older people, almost making them act as if they have Alzheimers?  I wonder if that happens w/ dogs too.  Say a prayer for Saffy, we do not want this to be the start of kidney disease or even cancer.

Ah the new year, when there are all kinds of things available in the stores and ads everywhere to help you lose weight -- mostly by taking the money out of your wallet.

I gave in and bought mysellf a little something - Aldi had step counting watches for $5 or $6, so not much of an investment, and I have to admit I have been curious for a very long time.  I wore it today with the intention of truly doing what I normally do.

I am shook.  After getting Avery home I was still under 1000 steps for  the day.  That is embarrassing to note and I do so only in an effort to kick myself in the rear.  I did walk about the house for a while this evening and got myself up over 5000 steps.  I have started tracking my calorie intake again (after about 2 months off). I'm hoping to make numerous small changes in an effort to snowball.

The night before last we broke in the air fryer much to Avery's pleasing.

The good:  Yep, the nuggies and fries were pretty darn good.  The time to cook potato wedges is greatly reduced from doing so in the oven - and that's not even me thinking about the obscene amount of time it takes for my oven to get to temp.  It was pretty easy to clean.  No oil added for nuggets and only a tablespoon for the three potatoes I sliced into wedges.

The bad/lessons:  Don't trust the internet for times.  I'm glad I opened the fryer a couple of minutes early on the nuggies, they were slightly overdone and probably would have been burned had I waited.  Now I need to find somewhere to store this beast.

I wasn't going to buy myself a Christmas present this year, but I cracked and ordered an air fryer when I saw a good deal through Best Buy.  Avery had expressed sadness that I hadn't gotten one from Santa so I could "make her nuggies easier for her".  I guess it is a gift for both of us.

It arrived on the 1st.  I haven't tried it yet. I am trying to decide what tp make first, but I guess I should christen it with chickie nugs.

On a completely different topic:  I am always a bit down and distracted through the holidays.  This season I have also been struggling with jealousy.  I am so grateful for the comforts I have, why do we always feel the need to compare ourselves?

Nope, I don't get to be part of a dual income household.  With the ongoing and looming issues I postpone booking that cruise.  Having a circle of people to hang out with isn't in the cards right now.  I am lazy and don't have the stamina (or money) to take Avery everywhere and join everything.  I am not rattling cages to climb the corporate ladder.  It all is what it is and won't matter down the road.  What I really wish I had the balls to do is to cut myself away from fb, but I worry that I would feel like an island as a result.

What to do about it?  Pray, for sure.  Put it out there to maybe let someone else know they aren't the only one with those feelinga.  Press on.

Out with the old and in with the new, happy 2023!

Looking back at 2022:

- My kid remains the best.  She is learning so much and gaining independence in leaps.  She doesn't need to be told to clean up very often, she is helpful, she is smart, beautiful inside and out, and beyond all -- kind.  She had her first recital (with dance) and joined back up for another year, but just for acro.  She loves playing with cars/monster trucks and is still into superheros.

- Another year with out a single cruise.  Avery, my sister S and I did go to my sister J's for a vacation however.  We made another trip to Idlewild.  We had a season pass to the local pool again and Avery made huge leaps forward in her confidence and abilities in the water without additional/formal lessons.

- The critters:  Saffy's health has remained good for her age, but she is skinny as a rail and does have bad days both with her mental acuity and not having accidents.  Zero is crazy, but has learned some calm to allow me a better time working.  The fish, named Indigo after this post last year passed just days after Thanksgiving, not making it a year with us.  Church - whooo... he really gave us a scare with his urinary blockage.  At this point most of the shaved spots are grown back in and he is doing well.

- More critters: We started fostering for the rescue from which we adopted Church.  Our first group was four babies (Sunflower, Lavender, Tulip, Clover) and their mother (Marigold).  They came in June/July and were all gone at the start of November.  Clover was a major loss for us, not doing well under anesthesia for his neuter just a week after Church's illness.  The second group remains here, three cats that were with another foster who had rescued them from outdoors (Vader, Buddy, Christian).  With these three I learned more about parasites than I want to, but they are well on the mend at this point and should be ready for forever homes early in 2023.

- Other than having way too much weight on me, my health is good.  My near vision is crap at this point and I have readers everywhere.  I did not get my water intake up as I had desired.  Typical aches and pains here and there - but I think many of those can be attributed to my weight too.

- Work has slowed due to a task ending, which was a relief, but in hindsight I wish I had capitalized on it more.

- No big activities here at this house this year.  There is lots that needs tending to as things are falling apart.  It's kind of hard to suck it up and replace carpet when you have an older dog and a younger kid.  Without the properly placed throw rug it is easy to step on carpet tack and hurt yourself coming into my living room.  If the dog goes running through between the living room and kitchen he kicks up the strip between the two.  There is a hole in the vinyl in my bathroom.  The grout between the tile in my shower is crumbling in several spots.  I debate if I should slush fund this or hold off until the mortgage is done.

- I was still on track to finish the mortgage by the end of 2023, but at present I am feeling like I need to build up a bit more in the slush fund since the cost of everything is climbing.  This is likely to slow me down and force me into 2024 with the mortgage.  I'm not too thrilled about it, but things could be way worse.

- While I have gardened every year I haven't mentioned it here in goals and successes.  Last year most of the non-tomato crop came from plants my favorite egg's parents brought.  This year I had my tomatoes, but I branched out a bit.  My potatoes, turnips, and carrots were duds but the peppers, tomatoes, and lettuce kicked butt.

Here is the wish list for 2023:

- Avery will put her toes back into sand.  She doesn't remember cruising, she doesn't remember being at the beach!  This needs to be remedied.  I never got us on that long weekend I mentioned last year and Disney's insanity made me question that desire.  I do want to get back down to my sister's now that my nephew's baby is here (our previous visit was while his wife was very pregnant)  Flying seems like a bad idea though given the recent airline issues.  I dunno, nerves keep making me postpone booking something..

- We need to get back to some of the activities in the burgh (Kennywood?  Zoo?  Children's Museum?).  I definitely want to hit the Pittsburgh Botanical Gardens - that is closer to me and not a trip into the burgh.  Maybe the Good Zoo in WV instead of the burgh's zoo.

- I want the end of the mortgage to be so close that I can taste it -- you know, since it's not looking as likely that I will complete it..  If I do finish it off my next goal is to start putting money away for the next vehicle.  My car is a 2016 but I bought it in early 2015.  Low miles, but it is getting up there in age.

- Starting the next thing with Avery.  Perhaps karate?  She loves to sing, is it weird to find her someone to work on that at this age?  Either way we definitely have Kindergarten in the fall.  I am hopeful we can get in at our first choice of schools.

- As noted, I wanted to finish the mortgage before investing in the house.  If I do leap the first things on my list are definitely the flooring and doing something on the sides of the fireplace.

- This year my garden will still have tomatoes and lettuce.  I will however plant rounds of lettuce to space out the harvest.  I am attempting to winter over the very successful pepper plants. I will give potatoes another spin.  I bought extra fertilizer and was gifted seed germinating mats from my wish list.  I need to figure out what else I will focus my space and resources on.  It might be decided by what seeds germinate well.  I wish I had the space and dogs that didn't dig/stomp so I could create a legit garden out back (beyond my buckets).

We had a nice Christmas.  The roads weren't pristine, but good enough despite the crazy cold temperatures.  Avery was pleased with her gifts - that is all that matters.  The big winners this year were the remote controlled cars and the microphone.  Not to lower the rank of numerous other gifts that are getting play time as well.

Per usual we went to my favorite egg's aunt's on Christmas eve.  Christmas day we hosted his parents, but easy peasy with dinner from the crock pot.  Monday we hosted my sister M and her husband.  All visits were fantastic, but I am very glad I have two more days scheduled off to try and relax a bit and call it a holiday "vacation".  Today I got a massage and had a nice lunch (with a rita).  The laundry is drying and other small to dos are getting checked off.