Miscellaneous May 2025

At the end of May, this momma breathed a sigh of relief and welcomed the different pace of summer.

We received a new dog bed from a neighbor. The dog was the last one who was allowed to use it.


In other animal bed news-


Jon bought "me" a kitty hammock for the window next to my desk so the cat would have a cozy resting place during my workday outside of my arms and my desk space. Here are pictures of the cat with the hammock.

Neither Squirrel nor my new standing desk converter thwarted Bri away from her desk job.

Bri likes to join us at Shabbat dinner in a certain way. So, the human children decided to match.

Little Ogre and Papa Bear performed in Shrek the Musical for a 2nd time, and Team Cohen was there to cheer them on from the audience.

We went out for celebratory ice cream sandwiches after the show.

I read that May 2025 was the wettest month in Austin since October 2023. We had some really powerful storms. That said, it did lead to a silly, puddly evening with these goofs.



Spencer crafts:

Robot Friend

self portraits

Other creative Feffer expressions:


Gabgirl:

Gabi has been excitedly growing her hair for several months, and we had fun with hairdo experiments.

Ethan had to get bloodwork taken one morning and felt nervous about it. It went easier than he anticipated, and brave, calm Ethan got to go out to breakfast with Daddy afterwards.

Bike riding developments:

Joey and Ethan rode bikes to school together one morning.

Spencer actually rode his bike again!

The rest:

Mommy received the New Leadership award at shul.

family-completed puzzle

POV: fly on the wall with the 3 Cohen Crazies

Glutenpalooza and Biopsy

Starting a few months ago at Spencer's 8-year-old well-check visit with his pediatrician, we've been on a journey to figure out why Spencer isn't growing as he should. Bloodwork results from endocrinology indicated celiac disease. That sent us to gastroenterology and a biopsy for a definitive answer. To keep the results valid, he needed to NOT stop eating gluten before the biopsy. So the night before the endoscopy procedure (while Daddy was at work and Ethan was at baseball practice), Gabi, Spencer, and I went out for Glutenpalooza at Gattitown - a pizza and pasta buffet with arcade games at 50% off that night! Don't mind if we do.





The day of the procedure arrived. Spencer was happy to put on his new hospital pajamas. With David (the dolphin) in hand, he was nervous but still smiling.

Spencer was quickly handed an iPad and was perfectly distracted

Child Life came by and did a great job explaining what was going to happen and helping him know what to expect. They let him choose the scent for his anesthesia mask and paint it on to try for himself.

While we were waiting, Spencer's other favorite adult video called to check in.

After a bit more waiting, nurses came to wheel him away, and he was off to the procedure. Thank goodness for that iPad distraction. The hospital staff texted me throughout the process, letting me know that everything went smoothly, and eventually it was time to reunite with my sleepy kid, still on the iPad.

Then came the popsicle, and it was time to take the patient home.

After some hours in front of the TV, Mommy took the brave boy to a couple of stores where he got to throw anything gluten-free in for purchase. This most exited child shocked himself with how much "regular" junk food was already made without gluten.

Lucky Charms, cheese balls, Fruit By the Foot, Cocoa Puffs, Fritos, Cheetos, potato chips, Smartfood popcorn, Pirate's Booty, OH MY! That cart got heavy (and expensive).

At least we found the fruit section eventually.

Kiddo was very excited and proud to show off his successful adventure to his sibs when they got home from camp and share some of his earnings with them.


We are now on this new celiac journey and will take things one step at a time. But at least there's Pirate's Booty to go along with us.