Rest of the family, who started about four days before I did, is feeling better. I am still feeling rough…sore throat, really swollen glands, headache, body aches, exhausted, off and on fever up to 101.7, but it stays down with Tylenol or ibuprofen. A little queasy. Had pcr test, so we will see in a day or so, but I’m hopeful I’ll be recovered by then. In the meantime I don’t feel much like doing anything except staying horizontal really.

Tried some chicken and rice campbell's soup and husband is bringing a milkshake. Just.....blah.

Soup could be good. I'm not sure I have the energy to make soup, and I don't love Campbell's. I really wish there was a "sick food delivery service" with stuff you could order.

Any ideas for food that is easy on throat and tummy and goes down when you feel lousy?

Here. I’m exhausted but my throat and head hurt and are keeping me awake.

The next one is April 8, 2024. Where are you going to be to watch it? Start making plans now!

Yeah, I got a strep test at urgent care, and that was negative, too. I'm drinking a slushee. It helps some, but I guess the tylenol wore off because now I feel kinda vaguely achy all over as well as the sore throat and headache. And am exhausted. And crap. Just took my temperature and it's 100.2. Which is not quite technically a fever, but is definitely abnormal. Guess it's good I have the PCR appointment.

All right. I scheduled a pcr test tomorrow at cvs. I think it’s overkill but just to be safe. I am not particularly sick. In the before times I would assume allergies or cold or barometric pressure and continued on my way. I don’t feel good but I don’t feel terrible either.

No, just a rapid. But I am fully vaccinated, wear a mask everywhere, and don’t go many places. Plus turn around time on pcr test is like five days. I went to urgent care for strep test and rapid test and they didn’t think pcr was warranted.

Okay, any home remedies for swollen glands in the neck and chin? I keep wondering if this is what mumps feels like. Really sore and swollen.

How is lemon and honey in warm wine? I do have all those ingredients

I’m torn between something like popsicles or slushees for throat or hot tea. Not exactly full fledged sick but more like we’re all fighting something and just don’t have much energy and want to just lay around. Also wondering if alcohol would kill germs in throat?

Also accepting remedies for headaches, fatigue, mild body aches, and swollen glands. Mild chills. Rapid covid test was negative. No real congestion. Nobody is exactly fully ill but nobody feels great or like doing much either.

Congratulations! I know it's a huge relief but also tinged with sadness, too.

So how do you deal with the hurt feelings of the people who are caring for baby’s older siblings and cooking for them rather than healing themselves?

So, a family that has undergone horrific trauma in the past year should give up a trip that’s pretty much once in their children’s childhoods opportunity to avoid hurting the feelings of family with baby who they spent all year cooking for their kids and caring for their kids? Or they sacrifice the trip they want to please the family that gets everything already or to change the trip so rather than taking important time to heal and bond as a family they will babysit for these other kids instead, just in a different location? Sometimes some things aren’t appropriate for infants.

With kids going back to school, I've been thinking about this in case someone does catch covid (vaccinated, masked in public). Are there any particularly recommended? Practically speaking, I don't think we can afford to have them throughout the whole house, but maybe if someone gets sick, could put it in the room they are isolating?

I don't know if we have a state fair, but the little town next to where I live has a big City Fair every July.

Yup. When I saw the headline, my first thought was, "FINALLY the CDC is catching up with @ktgrok!"

This is why my solution to this is never, ever to lock my car door. There have been multiple times every car in the neighborhood got hit and windows broken and all we lost were the change in the cup holders and once a bunch of Christian cds. Also a lot faster to get in when it's raining.

I misread this thread title as "Cat Break Ins," and I was wondering what direction it was going to go. Cats breaking into people's houses? Someone breaking into a cat? How would that even work?

I will be honest. I do not have the mental headspace to constantly be receiving unwanted gifts from someone I have an awkward relationship with and then having to extend the relationship by sending thank you emails or letters, which will likely result in another interaction..... The whole IDEA of this is making me feel panicky and overwhelmed in terms of executive functioning. Christmas and birthdays give me literal hives, and I have made a mutual nonaggression pact with most people I have a real relationship with for traditional gift giving occasions. I'm sure auntie means well at some level, and I certainly understand how you think the easiest thing to do is to accept the gift and write the thank you note, but there is just NO WAY I could handle that occurring on a regular basis. I can adore people on their own merits and not be able to handle returning text messages promptly. This kind of etiquette requirements would feel like assault and blackmail to me.

@heartlikealion, any word on how your daughter is? How is your son?

Yeah, but I'm pretty sure it features Farmer Brown and "cut the brownies." It was yellow and spiral bound though. http://www.schoolmadesimple.com/readywriter.html

Ready Writer? ETA: I think the math drill program was CalcuLadder?