Just Breathe

We had a trying day yesterday! Porter has been sick most of the week, the standard preschooler cough and runny nose. He seemed worse on Thursday morning, and I kept him home from school. He was begging to go, and I hate keeping him home from school, but he was so pitiful that it just wasn't going to happen. He'd been coughing all day, but that afternoon he just couldn't stop, not even for a second. It made him throw up. It was awful. He coughed for three hours straight. So I took him to the pediatrician, and right away they said it sounded like asthma. After looking him over, our doctor said there was nothing else wrong with him, but his airway was swelling shut. She gave him a breathing treatment, which thankfully stopped the cough a little bit. She sent us home with a nebulizer and three prescriptions. Poor guy. I can't even count how many times I've taken the kids to the doctor and had them tell me they just had a virus and to wait it out. And then honestly, I wasn't even very worried about him, and look what happens. I don't think I'm very good at making the home diagnosis. But I suppose that is why I'm not the expert.

Anyway, he is doing better today (not great, but better). They don't think he has asthma, just that a virus or something else triggered this event. And I am grateful, because having a four year old struggle to breathe is scary.

On a side note, I sent Bryce to the pharmacy for our huge bag of mystery medications (don't you love it when the pharmacist gives you different instructions than the doctor?), and I told him to pick up some Popsicles or something to make Porter feel better. He came back with a BIKE. He is a serious sucker for a sick kid.

I'm Cooking: Yesterday I made Pear Tarts. They were quick and easy. I used fresh pears cooked in a little butter and honey, and I think the cheese really made it. As Porter has been telling people, mommy ate THREE. Hey, they were good and it was a hard day.

I also made Bacon and Swiss Chard pasta*. This was also quick and easy, although I used more balsamic vinegar than called for.

*Thanks to Lori for reminding me how tasty bacon is with greens!

Boats and Men

It has been a really long day here. Porter is sick and tired and Molly will not nap. So I will just leave you with some words of wisdom from a four year old:

Mom, I don't know much about men. But I know A LOT about boats.

I'm Cooking: Sweet and Sour Chicken with Carrots, Brown Rice, Roasted Asparagus. The chicken recipe was a new one for me, but everyone here really liked it. It's not sweet and sour Chinese-style, but with lemon and honey and cinnamon and paprika. I used chicken breasts instead of thighs, and didn't exactly follow the amounts as I like a lot of sauce to pour over my rice, but the recipe is very forgiving. Yum. The asparagus was my first from the CSA, and it was very fresh and delicious just roasted with a little olive oil and lemon pepper.

Evening

Last night we had chicken fingers and egg rolls and pretzels for dinner. Not our usual fare, but we were having a picnic. On the water. It was perfect.