Long week

This week has been a drag. Lisa and I are both sick (a cold) so we have been taking it easy and trying to get better. Both kids are having allergy issues and John is fighting the cold.. So this week has been all about resting, cough control, and Kleenex.
The allergies that turned into the cold started a couple of weeks ago, and they have not gone away, but all the drainage was clear so we were not worried, then last Sunday I had a weird blood pressure issue, that the ER doc decided was a panic attack (I have had panic attacks and this was NO panic attack) brought on by the allergies.. but I am fine we just wanted to make sure that there was not a bigger issue we were missing. but the one night in the ER turned the sinuses and I knew when I woke up that I had a cold. Tues. Lisa and I both went to the dr to get something and the dr I saw (urgent care, as that is closer than my dr) thought it was nothing and that it would run its course, I demanded antibiotics, and she gave me the small z pak.. 3 days in and I am no better, honestly worse.. so I think next week I will need to go see my dr and get something stronger.
I do not like to take antibiotics, but when my body gets a cold (esp with a cough like this) I cannot get rid of it any other way. The best natural thing I have found is Grapefruit seed extract, but the taste is vile and when you have a a sore throat that is RAW (like strep) it is 100x worse and you have to take it 3-4 times a day.
I want to get a better assortment of herbs and oils to see if we can get rid of things without nasty meds. But it takes time and we are expanding, so we will get there..