good, bad, ugly...in reverse

What is with this winter? I feel like we've been unknowingly transported to a parallel universe or something. Everything about it has just been "off". We had way more snow than is typical for us in December. And here in January, when we normally have tons of snow, we've had next to none. We just had our second major warm snap, and are now paying the price as it comes to an end. So far in the last hour, the temps have dropped from 52 to 28, and they are supposed to continue to drop throughout the morning. So you can imagine what has happened to the roads since it rained much of the night. And just like three weeks ago, the winds are back. 70+ mph gusts. I guess the good news is that we're going to see some snow today as well. Just so abnormal. Has everyone's winter been so totally uncharacteristic?

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Sweet little Maxidoodle never ceases to amaze me with his toughness. The poor fellow is really down and out. He first got sick early last week. Had a fever and some general malaise. But he was better and went back to school on Thursday. But then on Sunday, he started coughing a bit, nothing major. Monday I got a call from the school nurse. He had fever again. After I picked him up, he just lounged around on the couch. That night his cough went to scary new heights. My chest hurts just listening to him. The doctor isn't sure exactly what ailment(s) he's suffering with. Put him on an anti-biotic because he heard something in his one lung. Also took some nasal swabs (which got a scream out of the normally stoic little guy!), because he thinks he may also have this one particular virus due to the look of his eyes. Saying Max's eyes are bloodshot is an understatement! It breaks one's heart to just look at his sweet little face! And yet, does he complain? No. Not one little bit! As nice as it is in some ways (at least compared to his drama-queen sister who acts as if she's on her death bed with every case of sniffles), I really wish he would complain sometimes (well, about things other than his siblings and what I'm serving for supper, that is). Back at the beginning of the month, Maxidoodle had strep throat, and we never would have known to take him to the doctor if it hadn't been for the fever and the rash. Anyway, the doctor said that the Maxidoodle will probably be sporting this fever through the weekend. We're to be in touch tomorrow.

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Eva gave me the You Make My Day Award. Some things just have a way of leaving a smile on your heart, and the things she said about me definitely did that! Especially coming from her...I've only recently "met" Eva, but she's one of those people who would leave me feeling intimidated (she's so intelligent and well-read) if she wasn't just so darn nice. So anyway, thank you, Eva! And I will be passing this along...hope to get to that post later today.