Good morning!
I am going to try something new. Going to post this after midnight so I can go in and try posting a comment to get comments once again. I do so miss being able to respond to each of you personally. I quit getting the emails every time someone commented (where I could write back) long ago. Never could fix it or find out why. For a while I tried the making a comment so I could click on getting all the other comments via email...and it worked! But only for a short time and then that wouldn't work, either. Well, I thought I would give it a try again. Can't hurt to try. Even if it works, it might not work for long...but it would be so nice!
Well, the week started out where both Dagan and Leah had gotten the flu and were home sick from work. The boys had gotten it at school and were over it in like 2-3 days. Dagan was better shortly, too, but Leah was getting worse. She has asthma so is more prone to respiratory illnesses getting the better of her. Being short of breath and coughing, she wasn't able to sleep for days. Wednesday night she went to the walk-in clinic. Lower respiratory infection left lung. Needed antibiotics and steroids and to keep using her inhaler. If you're not better in two days of meds come back.
She thought the pharmacy she told them to call in the meds would still be open...but they were closed when she got there. So she had to drive over and get the medications on Thursday morning. Another sleepless night. I was very worried about her. But by Friday she was feeling a bit better and was able to sleep for a few hours...and nap! By Sunday noon she had slept a total of 14 hours overnight! Feeling hungry even. Whew! On the mend. Hope it lasts after the meds are gone, right?
Playing the calming music videos puts Allie right to sleep. Despite the soothing music, this week I stayed awake and didn't nap--lol!
Had a nice long surprise phone call with Linny I grew up next door to and have known since I was five years old! Linda's not on the computer and hasn't been writing letters like she used to, so it was a joy to hear her voice and know she's okay.
I didn't think I would like using them, but they have surprised me. So far, so good. But I needed to find smaller sized ones. Those big regular sized ones--too much for me. These are going to be a game changer for me.
Lastly, I am also trying cloth paper towels. I really like them. Also found ones on the smaller side.
In fact, I am thinking of ordering some about this size to use for napkins. I am not a fan of the huge regular sized napkins, either--lol! So I might as well get what I like and would gladly use.
They are basically the same. Frigid. LOL!
Oddly--especially since I just filled out my annual review and sent it back--I received a letter notifying me that I was randomly chosen for a SNAP (food stamps) review. Phone review at 8am Tuesday. I've never even heard of random reviews. I sent off all my paperwork and all the copies they needed to prove my income (or lack thereof--lol!). The government can go into my bank account any time they wish, as usual. So, I googled it. Was wondering if it was a scam. There are 25,000 cases that are randomly picked for federal review every year. So out of 41 million people on SNAP, I got randomly picked for review? Right after I sent in all my annual paperwork? Strange. I'll let you know how that goes.
Also had a long phone call with my friend Bonnie whose health now prevents her from writing letters or even emailing. We've been friends since the 90s in Minneapolis when we both joined a Women's Spiritual Group. A lot of energy workers in that group--including myself at the time.
I had been thinking for quite a while about being more environmentally active, shall we say, after I move. There will be recycling at the house. I had been searching online for cloth alternatives I could try. Well, since I lost all my assistance programs for a few days there...it became an even better idea to start right now instead. To save money--lol!
I already had gotten the supplies for using cloth toilet wipes years ago...but that went by the wayside with my health issues getting worse, etc. Well, I got those back out and set up again. (Not that I want to use them if I have diarrhea--lol!)
I have chronic sinus and use my Puffs endlessly. Never go anywhere without them. I am actually trying handkerchiefs! Makes me feel like my Grandpa Johnson--lol!
I also have some Swedish dishcloths coming. Now that won't save any paper goods, but it might save my arthritic hands a little. Supposed to be more absorbent, wring out easily, and dry quickly. Have any of you heard of them? I hadn't. But they popped up when I was looking for cloth paper towels. I'll show you when they get here.
Anyways, I am really using cloth more than paper this past week and it is going really well. Whoohoo! Maybe some of you have been using these for years, but I didn't even know there was such a thing as cloth paper towels. Now that I have tested these items--I will probably order some more in April. I am a convert. Not that I won't still have my Viva paper towels and some Puffs around, but they will last soooo much longer because I will only use them for things like killing bugs and other really gross stuff I don't want in my washing machine--lol!
A few pictures from Leah. The boys do love the Target dogs--lol! Liam and...
...Ian.
Another shot of Ian's build with sweeteners at the restaurant. I just love how happy he and Daddy look.
The plumbers came back and caulked the shower!
It is all done now.
Just need a shower curtain rod.
The boys all bundled up to catch the bus to school. Been super cold!
We've got wind chill warnings again. Sunday through Tuesday down to 50 degrees below zero wind chills.
Doesn't help to check other forecasts.
I hope the comment to get comments will work again. But the blog has to be already posted and then I can go back in and make a comment...so 5am won't work for me for that--lol! I'll just post before I go to bed on Sunday nights...if this works again. Just because it quit on me before doesn't mean it won't work now, right? Fingers crossed!! Till next week!! :) :)
