It’s 100 Degrees In Here And My Toddler Has a Bead Stuck In His Nose
I’ll explain about the bead in Ezra’s nose in a minute…But regarding life with no air conditioning, ten days ago, I woke up to lightning flashing outside our bedroom window. The thunder was very loud, and right after this the air conditioner went off. We have an underground heat pump, and somehow lightning struck both the air conditioner and our phone line (so we were without phone or internet also).
The phone company was able to fix the phone line by that afternoon, but a visit from the air conditioner repairman left me feeling a bit down. He said there was a special part he needed to order and we would be without central air until it came in the following week. And it was already close to 100 degrees outside.
Since we live in a split-level ranch, our main floor is upstairs, where it tends to be hottest. The humidity was over 70%. We decided to sleep in the small finished part of the basement, where it was a bit cooler.
In the evening we ate some meals on the deck, if it was cooler there. We also ate breakfast outside sometimes.
These photos of washing dishes outside are actually from a couple of weeks ago when our kitchen sink was broken, and we had to wash dishes on the back porch for over a week.
After two nights of sleeping in the very stuffy basement with about five fans going, we decided we would have to break down and buy a window air conditioner, even though we really couldn’t afford it. We mentioned this on Sunday to some friends, and they said they “just happened” to have a new air conditioner in its box, sitting in storage. The husband had found it at a garage sale. We were so thankful!
We had moved all of the twin mattresses to the basement and also borrowed an inflatable mattress from my parents. We’ve been sleeping all together in the basement for 10 days now. The kids think it’s one big party. It’s funny how inconveniences don’t seem to bother them.
We have an old folding table downstairs where we eat some meals if it is too hot outside. After getting 9 mosquito bites (despite the use of a citronella candle) during our meal a few nights ago, I’ve decided we should just eat inside. 🙂
After many nights of less than optimal sleep, my husband and I aren’t feeling like our usual selves. Then, on Thursday, Ezra was sitting on Daddy’s lap when he said to me, “Mommy, I can’t get my bead.” He was pointing to his nose, so I looked, and sure enough he had a little pony bead stuck in there.
We spent literally hours trying to get the bead out of his nose. We tried having him blow his nose, we had him smell some pepper to get him to sneeze, we tried a technique used by doctors that we found online. All to no avail. After several hours, we had to admit that we needed help. We went to a doctor, who was very kind. He was a former pediatrician, and so gentle with Ezra. It took him about five seconds to remove the bead with a small pair of forceps. The worst part was that two nurses had to hold Ezra still, and he didn’t like that, but they were very kind and it literally only took seconds.
So, several hours and $71 later, we returned home, where my mom was watching the older children.
On the way home, a small voice from the back seat said, “Mommy, I want my bead.” I couldn’t believe that after all that he had been through, he still wanted it! It was kind of funny after the fact. I was not amused while we were going through it, however!
The blessing of all these minor trials is the extra time we’ve spent together. I’m sure we’ll all remember this time camping out in the basement together. I always plan to eat meals outside and it usually doesn’t happen. This forced me to get outside.
In the middle of all this, we celebrated Ezra’s 2nd birthday, and I finished sewing this skirt for Abigail:
I’m really hoping that our air conditioner will be fixed soon. It has been so hot upstairs (literally 100 degrees on the hottest days) that we haven’t been able to function normally. I’ve put off starting school until September 1st (that’s my “Lord willing plan” anyway!).
So, anything exciting going on at your house? 🙂
Dear Patricia~
Thank you so much for visiting my blog and for your kind words! It would be nice if we could meet each other! 🙂
I hope the rest of your week is blessed!
Joy, I've been a fan of yours for years. Grandma would share wonderful things you would do and I did some of them myself. Maybe a book would come out soon? Can't wait to meet you. Patricia Waller
Dear Kateri~
Thanks so much for visiting my blog and taking the time to leave a comment!
That heat doesn't sound fun, though it sounds like your family made the best of it. Hope it cools down soon for you. I love the skirt you made for your little girl. Such pretty colors. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Hi Sarah!
Yes, we've had lots of fun! We have the window unit in the basement window, so only the downstairs is cool…I've been living down here except for running upstairs when I need to take a shower or cook something.
Hooray–the air conditioner repairman is here right now! The needed part came in, and I am so hoping and praying he can fix it. Maybe we could all sleep in our own beds tonight. 🙂
Yes, I don't know what Ezra was thinking! I guess he just thought he'd see if it fit up there or something.
Thanks for your comment, Sarah, I always love to hear from you!
Oh my, Joy! You all have had quite the adventures lately! I am sorry to hear about your air conditioner . . . I know how difficult that can be. But what a blessing that you were able to get a window air unit! Those can make all the difference. And just think of all of the fun memories your children will have now of 'camping out' and eating meals out on the porch! 🙂
Poor Ezra with the bead up his nose! You wonder what goes through their mind when they do things like that. Thankfully the doctor was able to get it out quickly and easily.
Happy birthday to Ezra! And the skirt that you made Abigail is lovely!
Thank you ladies for your sympathy! 🙂 I was talking to some missionaries to Haiti that our church supports, and they said it is hotter where we live right now than it is in Haiti where they are. But then they showed a slide show of some of the living conditions there, and then I felt like we have so much!
I also kept thinking this week how Ma (Little House on the Prairie) would feel in her long skirts with her sleeves rolled up, doing lots of hard labor in the heat…gives me a new respect for our foremothers.
Mama Hen~
I know what you mean about trying to carry on as usual, but then just giving in and doing nothing. This hasn't been my most productive 10 days. 🙂
Hillside Farm~
Thank you so much for your comment! You gave me lots to think about. I hope your day is blessed. 🙂
Grace Mae~
Thank you so much for your prayers! Yes, I've never looked forward to the cooler fall days as I do right now!
Jenn~
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment! I hope you get your air conditioner back soon! 🙂
Oh my! I'm so sorry about the air conditioner. I don't know how many times I thanked the Lord for air conditioning and protection from the lightening this summer. It's been a difficult summer here. Isn't it amazing how our children look at situations. Can you imagine what it would be like if they had our same attitudes towards things at times?! 🙂 Childlike faith and excitement….I think that's there to give us a different perspective too! 🙂 Making memories – you won't forget this time and neither will they.
Beautiful skirt!
Blessings to you,
Ooh, sorry about the air conditioner. Ours has been out this week too, but it hasn't been 100 degrees. Even so, I have found myself napping in the basement.
Hi,
We are praying for the air conditioner to get fixed. Praying for cooler days.
Blessings,
Grace Mae
Oh me, I sooo understand.
Our compressor went out on our ac unit and as it was 17 years old we had to just buy a new unit. Ouch! We had to wait five days and even writing that it seems so pitiful to be whining, but it was SO HOT. I tried to carry on as usual for the first three days, but at day four I just gave in and didn't do anything.
I hope you can get yours fixed soon.