Weird weekend

We were expecting a mellow weekend.  Saige had a basketball game, and then just the normal weekend activities.   We went to the game.  It was fun.  Saige’s team didn’t win but they are definitely improving.   We grabbed some lunch, picked up the stuff that I was making for Sunday dinner, and headed home. 

Cameron and Lauren attended a wedding in town, so they stopped here for a little while. It was amazing to see them!   I very much enjoyed the visit! 

After they went home, I took some Tylenol because I am still having back pain from last week.   About half an hour after that, I got sick.  I spent all day yesterday feeling like death.  I’m not sure if it is a Covid setback, or if I caught something else.  I took today off of work.  Something I really rarely do.  I just couldn’t see functioning under the circumstances.  I feel a little better today. Hoping it was a small, temporary setback.   I was sad to cancel Sunday dinner.   I haven’t seen Evelyn now for 13 days.   It is killing me!   Fingers crossed for normalcy.   

3rd place and updates

Quincy is back.  She wrestled last night at Garnett. She didn’t have a good night.  I think the time off and sickness had gotten to her a little.   Jim went over to watch. He said she wrestled well but didn’t get it done.  Tonight, she wrestled at the Baldwin invitational for girls.  She had a great night in a huge tournament and placed 3rd in her weight class.    Her team also placed 3rd out of 19 teams.  Pretty good night.  

I am sad to have missed both. I am definitely feeling much better.  I’d go so far as to say cured even.  And I feel blessed that our family made it through Covid without any real problems. I do however, still have a little bit of back pain and a dull head ache that comes and   goes. Evening seems to be a little worse.   I also worried I might still be contagious.  I know I followed the quarantine rules, but can we really be too careful?   So I sat these out.  Tomorrow will be 10 days so I feel like that is more adequate for my return to sporting events.  

The girls and Jim are all pretty much back to normal.  I haven’t heard any of them complain about any symptoms for a couple of days.  The last time Saige complained, we gave her some cold medicine.  Since she refuses to swallow a pill, she mixed this liquid in a cup of water so “it would taste better.”   She quickly learned that something that tastes bad doesn’t get better when mixed in water.  Also something that was maybe half an ounce becoming 6 ounces is just not the best mathematically.   She did drink it, and that seems to have cured all of her ailments.   A win for all of us!   Preston hasn’t had any symptoms.  Praying that it stays that way!  

Today at Mallory’s school, they celebrated Kansas day.  Grandpa was going to bring in a calf, but unfortunately doesn’t have any yet (or at least any that survived).  He brought in some corn and talked to the kids about farming instead.

Andrew called to check on us today, and told me that he had missed us last week, and hoped that we were doing Sunday dinner again.   These things make my heart swell.  Family is my happy place.   

I’m happy that this week is over.  I know I only worked 2 days, but seriously, we need a weekend!  

Times up

How are we doing?   Well how nice that you asked.  We are doing a little better, but still a ways from well. Oh it doesn’t matter?  We have to return to work tomorrow?  Awesome. Count me in.   That’s how this feels.   New protocol 5 days out, then 5 days with a mask in public.  I’m sure I could take more days off.  As a matter of fact, the bus boss asked me if I wanted more days, but I declined.  I have too much stuff going on with payroll and contracts and engineering to stay home any longer.  So I’ll pull myself up, put on my big girl panties, swallow down the DayQuil and get back at it.   Tomorrow.  Today, I still have the sniffles, eye strain, and a raging headache.   I’ve dealt with worse.  But never for this long.  I’m very thankful that I got the vaccine and the booster so that I had a “mild” case!   

Saige was home again today, after going back yesterday.  She had a headache and sore throat again. She said she feels better this evening after literally sleeping all day.  Harper and Quincy both went to school.  I think they are actually better.   Jim is also feeling a lot better.  Preston still has no symptoms.  

Which brings me to this.  I miss my girl so much!  I don’t like to go this long without hanging out with her. I know she’s been having fun with GG this week, and I did ask that GG maybe finish off the week. I am terrified of giving this stuff to her. That is the last thing I would want to do.   She has been going to work with her mom in the early mornings and then when GG comes in on the bus, she goes with her!   She likes this arrangement I am told.  I’m thankful that it has worked out.   Hopefully by next week, we really are back to normal.  

Monday

Covid update for today -

Jim- returned to work.  He came home early due to back pain and exhaustion. He did manage to make it through most of the day.  His coworker who is an older lady and was very sick last week also came back. I have been extremely worried about her so I was happy she is better.  Jim seems to be over most of the cold/flu symptoms but the muscle aches and fatigue are very awful.  

Quincy - has partially recovered her taste and smell.  She even baked cookies and said she was happy to be able to taste them, although they weren’t quite right, she said there’s definitely improvement.  She is returning to school tomorrow, seems to be over the cold like symptoms, and is in good spirits.  

Harper - is actually excited about returning to school.   Is completely better except for a small residual cough that only happens if she exerts herself too much.  She has spent a couple days hanging around outside because she said it makes her feel more human.  

Saige- also tentatively planning to go back to school tomorrow, however had a bad headache this afternoon, so if that isn’t better I will keep her home again.  She is over the sore throat and sniffles.  She is more than ready to get out of the house. 

Preston - still no symptoms of Covid.  He is currently at work, and we (with somewhat trepidation) allowed him to go out for dinner with his friends after work.   Masking up of course.  

And that leaves me - today was rough.  I have had the cold symptoms, muscle aches, chills,  and fatigue.  I laid in a tub of hot water for a while, and that did help.  I can’t seem to kick the brain fog, eye strain and just general blah feeling.  All of which is normal, but I rarely get sick, so I have unrealistic ideas of what will happen when I do.  In my mind I should be well by now.  Which is why I’m flashing back to summer.  Sunshine, pool time, warm weather  and happiness.   Tomorrow I might resort to burning sage (not Saige) if things aren’t better!   

Sunday update

Well this weekend has been interesting.  Jim is better. He is off quarantine, and going back to work tomorrow (masking up of course).  He worked outside and helped me do some stuff around the house. And I'm glad for that, because today I felt  like dog poo.   I’ve have had the chills, but no fever.  I have not lost my taste or smell,  but nothing sounds good or tastes good. I keep wondering how bad it would be if I wasn’t vaccinated.  I am fairly certain I will live, but I’m definitely ready to be over it.  

During the sunflower showdown, I was texted by our old neighbor.  She sent a video from Barstool Kansas state with Cameron getting a buzz cut for luck in the game.  It didn’t work, but I admire his willingness to try!  At least this time, he was mostly clothed and not on fire.  (Definite improvement).  

Not to be outdone, Spencer sent me a picture of Colin’s new hair cut.   I told them I hoped he only paid for half a haircut because they missed the back!   Colin said that Spencer did the cutting.  I hope he tipped her good!   I miss my kids!  I’m glad I heard from all of them this weekend!  

Sunday dinner has come to be very special for me.  It is a time we can set aside to all be together.  Sometimes the kids stay and hang out afterward and sometimes they don’t, but having one meal a week where we make the time to sit down together and catch up makes me incredibly happy. This week, of course we had to skip it.  I miss the kids.  Mallory comes out a couple nights a week for dinner usually.  Evie and Madison  are here every day.  They have all stayed away all week.  Which is good, but I miss them all.  Andrew’s birthday was this weekend.  I feel bad that they cancelled his party due to being exposed to Covid by us.  I feel bad that we didn’t get to have his Sunday birthday dinner.  But I’m still thankful that they all live close,  and that we are still not that sick with this Covid crap.  

Preston is a huge bills fan. He has no Covid symptoms at this point, but he is a little bit heart broken over the loss.  Jim has been craving McDonald’s, so he sent Preston to Topeka.  It was nice to not have to cook.  

We have charred oranges and given Quincy vitamins.  She is feeling pretty good, but still doesn’t have taste or smell.  Charring oranges is  gross.  The burned skin of the orange gets on your hands and is all but impossible to get off. We just want to help her!  It’s a weird thing to try, but at this point everything is weird.  

Saige and Harper get out of quarantine tomorrow.  Quincy gets out Tuesday.  There is no school tomorrow, so we have one more day for them to rest up.  They all seem to be over the worst of it. I have lost track of what medicine is working for which kid, and how many days they have been home.  I was telling Jim today, I love being home, but I do  not want anyone to tell me I have to stay home.  He gave me the look, but decided a discussion over it wouldn’t do anyone any good.  I will say, it was easier to stay in quarantine when the whole world was doing the same.  This weekend we missed a wrestling tournament, a basketball game, basketball practice, church, and Sunday dinner and who knows what else.  Does it really matter? No it doesn’t.  But it feels weird.  For the last 25 years, we haven’t really been home, then the pandemic hit.  We were home for months.  Getting back to life (even though some things have changed) felt good, but sort of scary.  Two years in, and I am just over it. Like everyone else I’m sure.  And that brings us up to speed.  Good night from the germ house.  

Update from the crap shack

 Now Preston is the last one of us who isn’t sick.  He is holed up in his room trying hard to avoid us all, but I feel like him catching this crap is inevitable.  I’m still hopeful, but it doesn’t seem possible.   He calls to tell us to to clear out and comes up to get food.  Then runs back down to his lair.  I feel bad, but there’s nothing I can do to make the situation better or different.  

I spent yesterday with incredible eye strain.  I didn’t feel bad and didn’t know it was  Covid.  I woke up today with the same cold like symptoms the girls have had.  Sniffles, sore throat.  I managed to secure a bus sub, got my work email changed onto my phone, notified my maintenance man so he can check voice mail and mail, and sadly, notified Madison that we need to keep Evelyn away for a little longer.  I am in quarantine until Thursday, if my symptoms are better, then I can return to the land of the living, with a mask of course.   Honesty, I have had worse colds than what this feels like, but it is early in the game, so I am being optimistic. I’m still a little annoyed about it.    

Jim felt good enough to go outside today and trim brush.   He also had enough energy to not be happy at all with the results of the sunflower showdown.  He even did a little yelling at the tv.  Honesty, I never understand his tv yelling, but I’m happy he’s better!  

Harper and Saige are mostly better as well.  Harper still has a little residual cough, but she and   Quincy spent a great deal of time outside today, saying the sunshine and fresh air felt good.  Quincy has lost her taste and smell.  We tried the charred orange trick, it made no difference.  The cat had an accident, and Quincy was picked to clean it up, since she can’t smell. This could come in sort of handy!    Mallory made us dinner and did a porch drop.  I was laughing at Quincy eating a slice of pie, and Harper describing the taste to her.  They are funny.  I was teasing Quincy about having to cut weight when she goes back to wrestling practice because she was literally eating everything and saying “can I taste this?….nope!   Can I taste this?….nope.”   

I’m now just praying that we all get back to regular life.  I always say I want to stay home, but when I actually have to, I feel overwhelmed by the stuff I’m not taking care of.  This well oiled machine just doesn’t run itself, despite what it looks like, my micromanagement is necessary.  (Kidding….sort of). 

Some thoughts I’m having about life (long random thoughts)

Cameron sent me a picture this week. It was the “first day of his last semester at KSU” photo.  The boy loves his mom, and knows of my desire to hear from him some.   Covid has taken quite a chunk out of his college career.  A career at a university he has wanted to attend since he was 3-4 years old and Jim took him to his first games there.  The thing I am thinking though, is that Cameron, although I’m sure he doesn’t love Covid protocol, has just accepted it as necessary and made the best of it.  He has decided to finish, and has done so with good grades, while doing fun stuff, and being careful.   I’m very proud of him.  I know it’s  probably not how he pictured his college years would be.

I am currently camping out in the living room, listening to the sounds of my girls in “quarantine” giggling at some videos they are watching.  And I am overwhelmed with thankfulness.  Thankful for the Covid shots, which means that although they caught Covid despite being “jabbed” they are upright, watching videos and laughing, not super sick.  I am so thankful for that.  Today I heard them having an argument - Harper told Saige she was tired of her.  Saige stayed calm, and  just said “fine!  get out of my room then!”  To which Harper retorted “but my room is soooo messy!”   They sometimes crack me up.  I can’t tell how many times a day they make me laugh.  Harper did clean up her room some, without being told she had to.  A quarantine win for me.  My husband is in the back, watching Rockford for the 1005th time. He is texting me random jokes and seems happy to feel better.  I am thankful for that too.   Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have worried about him. He has a few health conditions that we mitigate with medications. I worried that Covid would be hard on him.  It has been, but he is going to be ok.  And I’m glad.  

I am still worried about Evelyn, because she is too little to get vaccinated.  I am still worried about Preston, because he has asthma.  But I’m choosing to put my faith in God and focus on the things I can do something about.  Preston came home from work, gobbled down more sub sandwiches than any kid should be able to, and told me he had to write a paper that was due at 11:59.    “But don’t worry mom,  it only has to be 400-500 words and I already have 80 done!”   Oh and by the way, he didn’t know who Meatloaf was, so despite his need to work on a paper, I had to force him to listen to “Paradise by the Dashboard Lights.”   When it was over he told me I am such a boomer.  (Being a boomer is the worst insult there is).  I feel that the fact he didn’t know the song is a reflection of our failure as parents.  He now knows that the rest of his junior year of high school, and his senior year will be dedicated to his musical education.  After all, we cannot possibly send him off to college without him knowing who Meatloaf was.  

Today I read an article about things that the pandemic has changed in American life.  Some of it amused me because it definitely didn’t change for me.  One point was flying - saying people are more cautious about flying.  Ummmm I have always avoided flying.  They also mentioned being cautious in crowds.  Also something I have tried to avoid all my life.  I have been known to drive to town, see a parking lot filled with cars, and keep on driving.  I hate crowds.   The thing I have noticed that has changed is more subtle.  The way people treat each other.  Particularly on social media, but also in person.  It’s like we have all lost our common decency.  Also, I was in Walmart last night.  I bought a bunch of groceries, drinks, cold meds and vitamins.  I went to write a check and was told they weren’t  accepting checks.  What?   Why???   I had a moment of panic, not because the check wasn’t good, but because we keep a daily limit on our debit cards (a suggestion of the bank) and I wasn’t sure I could  get the card to work.  It did work, but geezzz.  How many places no longer take checks?   Don’t even get me started on the lack of groceries in there.   Where are the ramen noodles?   They’ve been out for months.  They don’t even have the “yucky” brand!   Bread?  Almost Wiped out!   Peanut butter?  I got a couple of the last few jars. Cat litter - gone except for the $25 a bag kind.  I’m not that hard up!   Seriously, the supply chain issues are starting to get to me.  The reason I went to Walmart was because our local dollar general is wiped completely out of cold medicines and vitamins.  Looks like a scene out of a zombie apocalypse movie in there.  Walmart was better, but not by much.  I did get the medicine and vitamins so that worked out.  Saige and Harper love ramen, but today they were introduced to a staple of my childhood - Lipton cup of soup.   I’m told it’ll do, but it’s not as good!   Maybe that is what we should all be learning.  I definitely have the stuff to make my own soup, but not instantly.  Patience?  Gratitude? Self preservation?  Thankfulness.  All decent lessons!  

Update on sickos

Jim- seems to be doing good. He is texting me inappropriate jokes, and using crude humor.  I’m saying he is cured.   Still has a tiny bit of congestion, but his voice is back to normal and he is catching up on things that are needed at work.  

Harper and Saige - have mild cold like symptoms.  Saige has had a sore throat, Harper has had more of a cough.  They are tired of tv, tired of crafts, tired of each other, and especially tired of my vitamin regimen I have been forcing on them.  If you get Covid the zicam, vitamin C and D really does help.   

Quincy- had a terrible stomach ache, and now has the sniffles.  The other girls were happy to have someone new to join the quarantine group, you know,  a new face to argue politics with.   She is a little sad about missing a couple of wrestling meets, but also said she was so tired it was nice to sleep.  I think she is also sad about missing out on her nightly tacos and fajitas.   

Preston so far, knock on wood, is fine.  He texted to see if he could go out after work.  Negative boy.  

And me - I feel like I am playing a game of Covid roulette.  I sneezed.  Is it Covid?   My eyes hurt - is it from sleeping in the recliner (not well) or is it Covid?  I don’t really feel sick, I am hopeful it will stay that way.  I’m hoping a weekend of relaxing, no where to go running off to, hydration and more vitamins will get us all back in the swing of things soon.   

Our luck ran out

Over the weekend, Jim told me he had a scratchy throat.  But he felt good, wasn’t running a fever, and seemed like he was ok.  By Sunday, he had no voice.  Still no fever, but a definite cough and   congestion.  My friend is a nurse and she offered to test him.  He tested negative for Covid, and for A and B flu.   We figured he had a cold.  He slept most of the day, and we went ahead with Sunday dinner, although he didn’t really hang out with us much.   He had Monday off, and thought he was feeling better, although his voice was worse.  Yesterday, he seemed worse to me. Today, He said he was going to stay home one more day, because his head was killing him.   I suggested that maybe he get tested again before going back to work, just to make sure. And also because Saige and Harper both woke up with symptoms.  Jim once again got tested by my friend.  Except today, it was positive for flu A, and positive for Covid.   Not what we wanted to happen, but at least we know what we are dealing with.  The way the Covid guidelines are  at this  point, is a little odd. Because Preston, Quincy and I are vaccinated, and we do not have symptoms, we do not have to quarantine.  We only have to monitor for symptoms, and wear a mask in public.  We have quarantined Jim, Saige and Harper to the back of the house, although we have definitely all been exposed, since we thought Jim was negative for 3 days.  The good news is that he is feeling ok.  Definitely not good, but considering what he has wrong, he is ok.   The girls seem to have mild cold-like symptoms at this point.  We have set up a tv in Saige’s room, and with food and drink delivery, they aren’t really suffering that much.   I hope the rest of us will be spared, but I don’t have much confidence at this point.  The mayor has closed city hall until Monday, so hopefully Jim will be able to rest and not have that worry.   Andrew was able to get a couple days off, so we don’t expose Evelyn any more than we already have.   With her not being vaccinated, we are worried about her.   

For now, we are ok, hoping it runs through here quickly and leaves us behind.   

We made it almost 2 years without catching this junk.  Omicron seems to be running out of control.  We will do our best not to spread it more.  

Weekends of fun

Yesterday, Saige was supposed to have a basketball game.  We woke up to a text saying the game was pushed back, followed a little later with a text saying the game was cancelled. I was looking forward to watching her play, but the weather was crap, we kept hearing thing about the roads being terrible, and I was glad they chose to cancel it.  With the game being cancelled, that pretty much freed up the whole day.  Saige somehow decided that it was Ollie’s 4th birthday. She baked him some cookies.  She made chocolate chip, baked a few without the chocolate chips, and then after she got some for the dogs, she added the chocolate chips in for the rest of us.  The dogs were delighted by this. Jim drove Quincy in to work, and Saige rode along.  She somehow convinced Jim that the dogs had to go too, and that they had to stop off for birthday doggy treats.  I think the dogs had a good day!   Ollie really is a good dog. He honesty has the best manners of any dog I’ve ever met.  He always minds.  He is deserving of a special day.   

This morning was one of those mornings that even if you hate winter, you have to admire the beauty.  The freezing fog left behind a stunning winter wonderland.  Too bad we had to go out in it rather than looking at it out the window of our warm little house!   We went to mass, then dropped Quincy off at her boss’ house.   Last week, they asked her if she liked monster trucks.  She told them yes, so they bought her a ticket to go with them to the monster truck jam.  She was so excited to go!  She told me that they had a great time!   I cracked up because after the truck show, they stopped off to eat Mexican food at a restaurant in KC.  One would think, if you own a Mexican restaurant, that given the chance to eat out, maybe you grab a burger, or some Italian food.  So funny!  

Cameron was in Kansas City to see Lauren today.  She somehow got them tickets to the Chief’s game. Lauren loves the Chiefs.  Cameron does not. 

Which is why I was shocked to see him wearing red!  She must have some magical powers!   I’m sure they are having fun!  

Evie is spending the night tonight.  The girls have all been begging for a couple weeks.  I went back to see what they were doing around 8, and they were in bed and sound asleep.  I sure hope that doesn’t mean a super early morning on a day I don’t have to get up as early!  I do have to work tomorrow, Jim and the kids have the day off.  I have fingers crossed that the long weekend allows some people to get well, so that this week goes a little better at school.