1) (Wo)man down
I got sick last weekend. I don’t know if I can blame my new immunosuppressant drugs or just being around too many people last week (maybe both?), but it knocked me down good. Nothing major, just your garden-variety virus, manifesting in a sore/scratchy throat, a runny nose, sneezing, chest congestion, and an annoying cough. I felt so run-down and was, once again, grateful for my childless existence, where I could rest as much as I wanted to and watch way too much TV. How do parents do it?! How do you recover from illness while wrangling kids? BLESS.
I started feeling more like myself yesterday. I am not a very good patient, though, and I’m nervous about getting sick more regularly now that I’m on methotrexate. Eeps. (Lisa, tell me it will all be okay!)
2) Bonus time
I got my bonus! Yay! While I am going to be a good girl and put the vast majority into savings (and use some of it to pay off my last student loan, yassss!), I’ve also decided to treat myself to two big-ticket items I’ve been eyeing for my apartment. The first is an outdoor couch for my patio. I found a reasonably priced option on Wayfair that will fit perfectly on my patio, and I’m dreaming of spending summertime afternoons on the patio with a cold drink, my book, and hopefully a cat or two.
The second item is a new dining room table. While my current table has served me well (and is going to be a beast to move out of this apartment), I’m ready for something different. The table is counter-height, which means my feet dangle from the chairs when I’m sitting and it’s not very comfortable. I’m looking for something that is standard height and maybe even a bit bigger, since my new dining area can accommodate that! I’m still deciding on this one.
3) My oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe
Last week, I mentioned that I have a favorite oatmeal chocolate chip recipe that I love and then forgot to link it out. Here it is!!! I love the addition of molasses. It really kicks up the flavor and makes the cookies oh-so-chewy. Please let me know if you give it a try!
4) Chip is 8!
Monday was Chip’s 8th birthday, which I’m still trying to wrap my mind around. For newer readers, Chip is my mom’s dog, my fur-brother, and I love him like he’s my own. Here are some photos of puppy Chip to put a smile on your face today:
5) Weekend plans
What’s happening this weekend? Today, I’ve truly got nothing going on, so maybe I will actually watch The Martian like I planned a few weeks ago. Tomorrow, I have a writing date with Mikaela, and then I’m meeting up with my mom for lunch and furniture shopping. And Sunday will be a low-key day, although we’re doing game night with the fam in the late afternoon/early evening, which will be a change for us!
Woo hoo bonus time!!! That couch is going to get so much use!
I hope so! I may need to figure out a solution for our afternoon thunderstorms, but I am excited for some patio time!
YOU BET I AM MAKING THOSE COOKIES. Maybe after Dorothy’s dance comp tonight because I ALREADY HAVE THE STUUUUUUFF!!
YAYYYYYY! I hope you love them as much as our fam does!
Ugh, sorry about the cold! Hope you feel better soon.
Yay for bonuses!!! Can’t wait to see your new couch and table!
Thank you! I am not very good at being sick, lol.
Omg puppy Chip, that is way too cute. I hope he had a lovely birthday!
Sorry you were sick, that sounds horrible. Glad you’re feeling better in time for the weekend- your plans sound fun. And, those cookies- you can’t go wrong with a Sally recipe. I might make them (with and egg replacer) for when my son comes- he loves oatmeal raisin cookies, but we all know chocolate chips are the way to go.
Chocolate chips > raisins ALWAYS. I hope you make them and your son LOVES them as much as we do!
Puppy Chip is adorable. And so tiny! Hurray for bonuses and for you for being responsible and putting the bulk of it away. However, also yay for spending some of it. You have to have balance!
Balance is key! It’s nice to be able to sock away a good amount into savings, but also fun to buy some things I really wanted!
Your new furniture sounds exciting, and I can’t wait to see pictures! Awww, Chip is the cutest! Our ranch dog (Border collie/Australian shepherd mix) is also named Chip. Good name! Darn for getting sick. I hope you’re all better now.
You have a Chip, too! He is named after my mom’s favorite dessert, chocolate chip cookies. Heh!
Puppy Chip!!! What a cutie pie!!
Good to hear you are feeling better. Thankfully, when I’m sick, Tony takes over with the kids and vice versa.
I loved your latest episode on AM/PM routines! I want to use it as inspiration to write out my current vs my ideal routines.
He was such a cute puppy. A stinker, but so, so cute.
I’m glad our episode on routines was so helpful! Yay!
Phooey on the virus. I’m cracking up at ‘how do you do rest while sick if you have kids?’ Well I remember when Coach, Lad, and I all had a horrible stomach bug. Ed managed to stay healthy- he was like 18 mos. I put all the chairs on the kitchen table so he couldn’t climb and I dumped all the books and toys on the family room floor and we laid on the couches resting while he played. Not ideal, but we all survived. Hooray for the bonus. Little chip – what a tiny bundle of cuteness.
This is INCREDIBLE, Ernie! Way to figure out how to survive during a terrible stomach bug while there’s an 18-month-old running around!
Oh Little Chip! So cute.
I wonder whether your immune system could be affected by the medication so quickly. I have no idea, I’ve not been on an immunosuppressant, but it seems more likely to be coincidence right?
Yay for bonus, and yay for paying off your student loan, saving some, and spending some! We get quarterly bonuses, and the March one is the biggest. I’ve spent a bit, but am trying to put as much as possible into my vacation fund.
From some of the research I’ve done, it’s probably too soon to be immunosuppressed (plus, I’m not on a very high dose right now). So probably a coincidence?! I just hope it’s not a warning of things to come!
I am sorry to hear you are sick but glad that you are feeling better. Being on steroids is probably worse for your immunity than MTX. But it’s tough to be immune suppressed! I feel like I might be getting a cold now. Phil had an absolutely horrible one but I somehow did not get it! I hope you don’t experience a noticeable difference in your immunity!!
Look at puppy Chip! He’s the same age as Paul which is wild as it doesn’t seem like your mom has had him for that long!
Yay for a bonus! Those are 2 great purchases. I would love to get a couch for our back patio but it’s tough to spend money on something knowing it will have to sit in snow for much of the year which will probably impact the life of the furniture (we have no storage space in our garage).
Ooh, I didn’t even think about the steroids. I’ve been on those for much longer, too. Blergh. All reasons to get off them as soon as I can!
It must be hard to get outdoor furniture when you live in Minnesota! It’s so crucial here, but I totally understand.
I’ve been sick all week too- turns out I had the flu. Thankfully my Husband has been around so he’s been managing the kids.
What a tiny ball of puppy cuteness Chip was! He still is.
Oh no, not the flu!! I’m sorry you had to deal with that. I’ve managed to avoid something as bad as that recently. **knocks on wood**
Chip was such a cute puppy! He was SO WILD, but he was so cute, too.
I am sorry you got sick, Stephany. I hope you’re on the mend.
Congratulations on your bonus… and it’s very smart to put some of that away but also to splurge a bit with the extra cash! Can’t wait to see the new items for your home.
Happy birthday, Chip!
I am on the mend, thank goodness. I am such a baby when I get sick!
I’m trying to be a good financial steward of my bonus, even though I want to spend it all on things for my apartment, lol.
I’m so glad you are feeling better! I don’t know how parents do it either—they’re super heroes!
I am excited to see the new outdoor couch and dining room table!
How is Chip 8???? Insane! Happy Birthday, Chip!
Chip is 8 and Lucy is turning FIVE on Sunday. I am not okay with these pets of mine getting older!!