Friday things. 4/28

1. 

If you live in a place that has Casey's stores, you have to try these. 

2. I spent the last 24 hours thinking I was getting a case of pink eye/conjunctivitis. Now I think it's just allergies. I am rotating all kinds of different drops and there's a layer of yellow pollen on my car. So. It's probably allergies. We are all at varying degrees of sickness this week for some reason. 

3. I am exhausted by the very thought of getting Wells to preschool every morning. Three more weeks of this. Some days Scott takes him. Some days I take him. I make my plans for the next day around 9pm the night before. It's kind of an exhausting way to live because preschool is 10 miles away and he's only there for 3 hours. I cannot wait until he's going to school closer to home (spoiler alert: plans for next year have been cemented)

I came across a Twitter account called "Kim Wexler's ponytail" and it was the best name for anything I've ever seen.

4. 

If you read my plight about food the other day, just know that I tried this Greek bowl method and it's really great. Like, you should try it if you haven't already. I am thinking what I need is just a 14-day recipe rotation for dinners. This would make the list. 

5. I haven't posted memes in quite a while. That's basically because I haven't been looking for any. 

I think I shared this one already but the sheer superiority, right? 

WUW - - April 2023

I can't believe it's the end of April. Some days it feels like June, mentality and weather-wise, and some days it's like the beginning of March. I have no idea anymore. 

Eating. 

(see: Dreading)

Reminiscing. Baby days. 

Exactly a year ago:

Exactly 4 years ago:

Guess who doesn't miss the unfinished wood floors in that Pittsburgh house? Me. 

Loving. 

They are playing together a lot and this is the one thing they fight over. 

Up to. 

Looking out doors as much as possible. 

Dreading.

Cooking dinner. I am in a huge rut and I'm convinced (or I have convinced myself) that the only way out is through and I keep going with the meal planning and the cooking and I'm exhausted and it really is true: at some point it's just been decided that I'm responsible for everyone's food intake, forever. 

Does anyone have advice to make this easy? What do you even eat? I don't understand why I can't get this under control. I am at the point where I enjoy none of it. I don't like the process at all right now. 

Working on. 

Spring landscaping. 

Excited about. 

Sutton was very into soccer practice the other day. She was up on her knees, swinging her snack around and yelling. 

Watching. 

I am doing my yearly rewatch of the Breaking Bad universe. To do this, you have to start with Better Call Saul. Then Breaking Bad. Then El Camino.

If you've never seen any of it, you need to start with Breaking Bad and then watch El Camino. Watch Better Call Saul last. There's a ton of BB Easter eggs in BCS and you need to have the background in order to see them. I mean, this is the way it was designed to be watched since BB came out first. 

I may or may not move onto a rewatch of Weeds after this. 

Reading.

Well, I've been reading next to nothing because of aforementioned rewatch. I have actually been making my way through Mere Christianity for the second time; I listened to it the first time. I just bought M is for Mama and then I grabbed a copy of Mama Bear Apologetics for a book group. I listened to it the first time I read it awhile back. I also have the new Jojo Moyes and the new Megan Miranda on my nightstand. I'm swamped. 

Wearing. 

JCrew t-shirt dresses. I have 5-6 that I've collected over the last few years. 

Doing this weekend. 

I don't know. Is that an acceptable answer? 

Looking forward to next month. 

To be *quite* honest, I'm looking forward to Wells not having to go to preschool every day after it ends in May. Not because I don't like his school or anything but because it's 10 miles one way and that's a lot of driving for 3 hours of preschool every single day. Graduation in coming up in about 3 weeks. 

Something I do truly appreciate about the state of Missouri is that school ends for the year, usually, around May 20th. Much better than early-mid June. 

Linking up for What's Up Wednesday!

In case you missed it:

Some random things I don't love 

Things I don't love.

Yellowjackets. We tried one episode of this much-talked-about show and it was fine in parts but very gruesome and weird in others. Definitely not worth the Showtime subscription. I've noticed anything Melanie Lynskey is in is usually bound to be weird. 

Jury Duty. Okay, I don't exactly don't like it but it's not that great. We got 3 seconds into it and Scott asked if it was the same people who made The Office (he doesn't like The Office). If you look at the producers' credits, yes, it's the same people. Anyway, it's just not *that* great. We did watch 4 episodes without even trying. I, personally, love James Marsden, so I think you will get farther if you have an appreciation for him. (27 Dresses is one of the best movies ever)

Wells' field trip was rescheduled due to "weather". It was 65 degrees. Now I have to plot that on the calendar again. 

I am heading to the library to renew my card with the county this week. Do I mention how awful their ebook system is? I've already complained via email. No response. I know that's shocking, that a government bureaucracy wouldn't respond to a concerned citizen. 

I've tried a few new recipes lately and they've been blah. I never thought a cookie recipe would just be not-good. But I made the Tollhouse Double Peanut Butter cookies that's on the back of the pb/chocolate chip bag; they don't have a lot of flavor. I realized the recipe doesn't even include salt! I added sea salt to the top and they were better but still not worth it. Make these if you want cookies. 

Another recipe was fine. It was for a southwest couscous of sorts. The amount of chopping and steps to take in no way was made up for by the final product. In the middle of making it, I realized water had spilled all through the produce drawers so I had to clean out the entire fridge too. 

I haven't read a book in weeks. Probably over a month. I don't love that. But I've been occupied with other things (like a systematic rewatch of Better Call Saul). 

What are you *not* loving on this week? 

Friday Things. 4/21

1. These tanks from Carly Jean Los Angles are 50% off this week. They are a really soft, swingy material. 

Totally recommend. 

I just went to check my closet and the one I have is a small and I'd say they're 100% true to size. It's swingy but for more room, I'd probably grab a medium. All of CJLA's clothes are so flattering and they're extremely well-made. 

This time I got the tea leaf color in medium and the charcoal in a small. 

Usually I would have relied on Old Navy for these types of basics but I truly haven't found anything worth buying style-wise at Old Navy in about two years. I like their baby clothes but I've found that their toddler/kid clothes don't hold up at all. 

2. "Uncle Jamie" came to visit for a few days and Wells was in heaven. He also kept Sutton busy at soccer practice so I could play with Wells. There were lots of tears from poor Wells when Jamie (he's Scott's friend) left Thursday. 

And poor Sutton tried to climb the Paw Patrol City Lookout Tower (should I put an affiliate link here? lol) and smashed up the side of her face. 

3. 

Sutton does not tolerate the outdoors, and keeps as many limbs as possible off the ground. Or rather, she tolerates the outdoors about as well as I'd assume any child of mine might. 

4. Scott got his brick oven up and functioning. He built it this past winter. While I am a deep-dish fan, he is a brick oven fanatic. It was good pizza for sure. I made the dough, using this recipe and he makes me weigh the ingredients instead of just measuring them. 

5. I got my $25 refund check in the mail from the city yesterday. I'd post a picture but there's too much to edit out for towns/addresses. I'm just relieved I can cross "stop at city hall" off of my to-do list for next week. 

Erythromelalgia

I mentioned that I went to a rheumatologist a few weeks ago. I waited 10 months for this referral appointment so I. was. going. with Sutton, stroller, snacks, and all. It was an hour's drive to get there. 

(was a long morning)

The long version of the lead-up to the appointment was that I saw a doctor in Kansas in the spring of 2021 for something unrelated, mentioned this issue, and he told me I should try to get into a rheumatologist. He put in a referral and they had wanted to set up an appointment in Kansas City back during the summer of 2021. We were super busy that summer and driving 3.5 hours one way to a specialist with 3 year old Wells sounded like quite the nightmare. So I just didn't. Then I was pregnant. And seeing anyone who specializes in vascular issues while pregnant is silly because your body doesn't work the same way when you're carrying a baby. Finally, last summer, I decided to set up a new referral out of this hospital and they put me at a doctor an hour away and it was a 10 month wait. 

Basically, starting back in 2013-2014, I noticed that my hands would get really red and even swell a little when I was hot, over-exerted, or stressed out. But then sometimes, they'd get really cold and seem to shrink back (like my rings would feel loose) when I was stressed out. Essentially, I've noticed that whatever I'm feeling goes to my hands. Sometimes they get really cold and have the blue tint of seeing the vessels too. 

It was the oddest thing obviously but, like anyone else probably would, I just ignored it. I had enough problems back then: the effects of coming off of hormonal birth control (acne), diagnostic testing for fertility issues, etc. This did become a persistent problem over the next few years though, for sure, but I was convinced it was all connected. 

While I had been told by a few doctors that I likely had Raynaud's, this specialist took one look at said ahhhhh erythromelalgia. There was no doubt about it to her. 

The weird thing about this is that it's usually a secondary condition caused by a disease you are already diagnosed with or a side effect from a strong medication. It can also be genetic or it can just pop up. For me, it just popped up. The doctor said she'd only seen it once before and that was connected to lupus. 

For me, it's not severe. If you look at the symptoms online, it sounds really awful. In my case, it's more cosmetic than anything. For instance, it doesn't affect my feet at all, thank goodness. It's only my hands. It doesn't hurt. So redness and heat, but not burning or pain. Sometimes my hands will be red but they'll feel cold. Sometimes I notice tingly-ness if it's particularly bad...this would happen, for instance, if it's 90 degrees outside and I'm cutting grass. Or if I'm out walking the dogs or pushing the stroller in warm weather. So I've never really treated it; it usually just goes away when I've "calmed down" from whatever activity I'm doing. It does act as an awful tell if I'm particularly stressed sometimes. I've never even attempted to count the number of flare-ups...usually it's just if I'm outside in warm weather. 

The rheumatologist told me there wasn't really much I could do besides take a baby aspirin every day. She did a few special blood tests to look for a potential underlying cause. The only good thing about our years of "unexplained infertility, with potential PCOS" was that I'd already been tested for everything. The tests came back negative for any autoimmune issue. She said I have *no* autoimmune conditions, which was always something I assumed I likely had on some level. I do think there's a few connections, from the PCOS to the supposed thrombocytopenia to the, now, erythromelalgia. 

Anyway, I just thought I'd put this put there. It's pretty rare but still possible that you or someone you know could be dealing with the symptoms. 

(It doesn't look that bad in this pic but I have purposely avoided pictures of my hands in hot weather so I don't have many...weird, right? I remembered to take a picture while I was walking yesterday.)

Some recommendations lately.

In addition to the airing of grievances, I used to drop some weekly recommendations. It's much more my style than a Friday Favorites post. Here's a few that I could've put up on Friday, had I not been absolutely wiped from a Thursday night out and then trying to get out the door to preschool. 

We had this military ball on Thursday, which was like an all-afternoon, evening, late-night affair. It was also over an hour away and that was A Lot. It was fascinating to be at this point in our military career where we were among the four couples that "you have the pleasure of dining with" and they announced my name and all. I tend to not post pictures of Scott in uniform anymore because it's just a security issue for me; same with too many pics of an event like this, you know? But it went well enough. The food was terrible, but the photographer (who I recommended to them and they hired) was great. The venue was pretty, but not large enough. 

Sutton was still awake when we got home at 10pm :) Definitely not the babysitter's fault. I think we've hit a 12 month sleep regression and she's such a good little sleeper, normally, that was I wasn't expecting this. It's definitely been going on for a few weeks now and I'm trying to figure out her nap needs and well...anyway. 

1. Pink Grapefruit Method All-Purpose Spray

This stuff smells so good. I found it at the local grocery store. 

2. These rice packets. 

I have to admit that one of the things that deters me from cooking many dishes I used to make often is making the rice to go along with it. It just seems like so. much. work. Plus, both rice makers we've had tend to leak, creating a mess on the counter. These are very tasty alternatives. I usually make two for our family...two adults, 4 year old, 1 year old. They're not exactly cheap ($2+ each) but sometimes convenience wins so I always have a few in the cupboard. 

3. I recommend matching socks before it gets away from you. 

Wells almost had to go to a soccer game with mismatched socks. I couldn't find his soccer socks at all last Wednesday so he went to practice without socks over his shinguards. 

4. This podcast is really good. 

I am as far away from homeschooling ten children as a mom can get, but I like her. I like what she has to say. I have little to zero desire to take on her lifestyle and I'm not sure what that says about me right now. But again, I like her. I bought the book the other day because my library doesn't have it. 

5. Sutton is going through a phase where nothing makes her happy for more than 4 minutes. 

I was able to get 12 minutes of quiet by letting her watch the lawn mower outside. 

So I recommend parking a baby or a toddler by the window if there's anything remotely interesting happening outside. 

Springtime Airing of Grievances.

 I used to do these posts like once a month but, as of late, I have some things I've been trying not to complain about in my effort to be a decent person. Oh well. 

1. Velveeta Mac and Cheese is terrible. I could barely choke it down. I let both kids eat some, Scott ate some, then I threw away the leftovers. Usually I'll stretch a box for lunch leftovers the next day. Not this time. 

I always have a box of mac and cheese around just in case. I prefer the taste of Annie's but Walmart was completely out of the "dinner-sized" boxes the other day. 

This is not the same. Do not buy it. It is awful. 

2. I got blocked on Twitter by someone who believes that everyone should wear a mask to keep her safe. That's a Tuesday well spent. 

3. The snacks at soccer. I can't handle it. These children do not need to eat mid soccer practice. Or mid-game. The games are only 20 minutes long! 

4. I made this chicken soup/stew the other day. Terrible. I followed the recipe. But I got the feeling toward the end that it just wasn't going to work. 

Alright that was the warm-up to the big grievance...

5. I signed Sutton up for swimming lessons at the local indoor pool in February. For babies, they only did private lessons. Okay. I paid for 4 lessons in advance. Went to the first lesson. The instructor was a high school kid and he was actually really good at it. He was personable and friendly. He told me I could bring Wells, even, to the next lesson so he could try out the pool too. Great. I opted, over the next week, not to bother with adding in Wells because it seemed like a lot to put on myself (we'll just try again at the regular pool this summer :). I showed up for the next week's lesson and the instructor was a high school girl. I never did learn her name. She spoke only when spoken to, she gave no instruction or information, and I basically just carried a screaming Sutton around the pool for 30 minutes by myself. 

The next week, I went to the lesson and no one was there. No one. No instructor. 

I called the number posted on the office door. Voicemail box was full. I called the number listed on the website. It rang and rang in the locked office (I could hear it). I left a dutiful message explaining who I was and why I was there and to please call me back. 

For the next FIVE days, I stopped at the pool office after dropping Wells off at preschool. No one was ever there. The office, according to their own signage was supposed to be open from 8:30am-12pm on MWF at the least. 

Finally, I caught someone there 6 days after the missed lesson. She apologized. Said she'd been sick and her instructors must not have shown up last week. She rescheduled me for the very next day. Showed up with Sutton the very next day. 

No instructor. 

I called. I left the same message again. 

For the next FOUR days, I stopped in after dropping Wells at preschool. Eventually, I caught her again. She apologized. Said "those high school kids don't want to work" and rescheduled me for the next day and would do the lesson herself. 

I showed up at the appointed time. No one was there. 

I called. I left the same message again. 

Then, I drove over to City Hall. The indoor pool is managed by City Hall so I spoke to the women there at the desk. They called someone who called someone who said "she's on her way". 

This woman then showed up at the pool and I met her there and we did Sutton's 3rd (out of 4) swimming lesson. Her 4th lesson was going to be the very next day, just to get it out of the way since we were like 6 1/2 weeks into a 4 week commitment here. 

I got a text the next morning saying there was an event this woman had to attend/work at the community center and could we do it next Friday? (Good Friday). 

SURE. 

Fine. 

Whatever. 

At least now I knew she had my number and was able to use a phone. 

So on Good Friday, I showed up. With Sutton. With Wells and his bag of Legos to keep him busy. At a 9:40am swimming lesson. 

No instructor. 

This time, I texted her. 

Nothing. 

Maybe she doesn't know how to use a phone after all?

Then, I packed everyone up and drove back to City Hall. 

This time I was able to talk to the guy in charge ("Mark") and I explained and he had me write down my address and what they owed me and said he'd write the check to mail me as a refund. 

And that was the end of that. 

Still waiting to see if I get the check in the mail. 

I seriously thought the experience with Wells (who takes to water like a cat might) at The Goldfish Swim School in Peters Township, Pennsylvania had taken me to the brink of sanity. 

This was worse. 

What about you? Any grievances to share lately? 

Easter Weekend 2023

This was a 4-day weekend and felt longer than that, to be honest. Thursday felt like Friday, Friday felt like Saturday, Saturday felt like Sunday, Sunday felt like Sunday, and now it's Monday and Wells keeps asking why he's at home because it's "Music Monday!" (at school). *

*Actually now it's Tuesday because I got distracted yesterday.

Let's do a good old-fashioned recap...

Starting with Thursday...

I took Sutton with me to the rheumatologist and that went about as well as you'd think. 

But I've had this referral appointment since last July, because apparently this is Canada or something, so the toddler-baby came along. 

That was enough activity (it was an hour's drive each way) for an entire week.

Friday, I attempted to take Sutton to her last swimming lesson that been rescheduled multiple times (more on this later...we're due for a Grievances post, yes?). Wells had to come along. I have discovered that a ziploc bag of Legos will keep him busy in any situation. 

Spoiler: there was no lesson and we had to make a trip to City Hall to ask for our money back instead :)

So I took them both to Walmart.

Then, I got a wild hair to continue my painting of the living room/front room. 

I'm also looking for a nice white for Sutton's room, and probably eventually Wells' room (I just notice color more in her room because she has an extra window and gets all the light.)

I had hopes for these, but no. Too close to the weird builder-grade color that's already in there.

Saturday morning Wells had a soccer game at 8am. Scott learned a hard lesson: don't offer to take him to a cold 8am soccer game unless you actually want to do it. 

Cheetos at 8:15am because that's what the snack was on this day and I have thoughts. Like, why? WHY?

Scott said I forgot to send gloves (okay, fine, I did) and he was getting side-eyes from the other parents and, well, I have some thoughts for the other parents too based on the snack choice, you know? 

Then I took both of them to an Easter egg hunt:

Then I took BOTH shopping with me and I really wanted a sweet tea but, unfortunately CFA was 3 hours in the other direction. 

 We were supposed to go over to a friend's house for dinner and I phoned in dessert because holy cow...

She and Wells had fun. 

Watching a baby lamb have "surgery"(abscess removed)...hanging onto the Karelian bear dog. (guys, I can't make this up...we were in Alaska with these friends 10 years ago when they got this dog as a puppy...she ran around in our "no pets" rental more than once)

Trying steps:

Looking at all of the animals...

Onto Easter:

I joke with Scott (he doesn't think it's funny) that he gets one cooked breakfast a quarter. This was just cinnamon rolls, sausage, and eggs...but for real: once a quarter. I'm not a breakfast-maker. 

We still had Monday off after this. Scott did a lot of exterior work on the house, started the gardens, Wells had soccer, I don't even know what I did but Sutton threw up all over me at 9pm on Monday night so it wasn't an ideal end to a long weekend. 

Mimosas in red wine glasses sums up how scattered I feel trying to head into a short but packed week. 

I am 99.9% sure we have an Easter egg hunt this(!) afternoon.