So while we were on our Spring Break vacation, we learned that the Coronavirus was turning into a Pandemic. We had very limited data and wifi. When we would get to an area where we had service, our phones would just blow-up with updates. We knew the borders were closed with China but then we got information that Trump shut down travel to and from the UK. We also heard things like toilet paper, gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, Lysol, etc. were all sold out.
Before we left, I had just dropped Mom off at a rehab facility after a few falls. I was so stressed out the whole time that she was being exposed to a large number of sick people and that she was in harms way. Thankfully, she stayed healthy and actually got very strong during her stay.
Just before we got home, we got word that school was going to be closed for a few weeks. At that moment, we started to realize how big this was getting. The markets were crashing and more and more people were getting sick.
When we got back to Pearland, I picked Mom up to take her home. I learned that Watercrest was no longer allowing visitors. I was not able to get her settled in but thankfully now they are allowing me to go up to organize her pills and do a few things for her. I'm so glad they are taking these precautions.
Now we are home and the kids are settling in to virtual leaning and Coronavirus bucket lists. Matt is working from home and I'm still working on my kindergarten book. We've had some stressful days, but it is mostly ok. It is strange how I can go from calm to total panic from day to day. I cry almost every other day hearing about how many people are dying and are expected to die. I think about all of the health care workers, first responders, people working in stores, and the essential workers and how they are risking their lives to be there for our country. It is a bit overwhelming at times thinking of all the families out there who are worried about how they will pay their rent or feed their children. I've never been so thankful to have a home where we can spread out, jobs that allow us to work from home, technology so the boys can do their virtual learning and basically an uninterrupted fresh food supply for our family. I have not idea how this will all end but I'm putting faith in God to have mercy on us and help see us all through this.
I miss church but I'm so glad we are able to watch Bishop Baron's mass each weekend. In some ways it is nice to see the mass up close. We are also watching Pope Francis' messages each weekend. I can't believe Easter is this coming Sunday. Everything is just so strange. We will try to keep life as normal as possible.
So many times I thought of Grandma and Nina and would love to talk to them again about the Great Depression and how people got through it. I have lots of stories from them about that time, but now as we are in this economic uncertainly, I'd love to hear their thoughts. I don't know if we will ever be in a "Great Depression" situation with this virus, but it will certainly take a while to recover.
We now have extra time on our hands. No practice. No commitments. No games. No tournaments. No concerts. No travel. Every night I think about if I hugged everyone tight enough, did I tell them I loved them. If you get sick, you go into quarantine and possibly the hospital. If you are lucky enough, you recover and come home. But people are dying alone at the hospital without their families and that terrifies me. I love all my people so much and pray we all get through this!
Here are a few things we have been doing while we are safe at home and trying to keep things a bit normal...and hopefully better than normal.
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| Spent the first day getting Matt's "office" all set up! |
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| Scout likes the new arrangement! |
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| Reid is in the kitchen |
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| Quinn is working in the dining room... I am working in the office. |
Taking Reid to Shadow Creek High School to practice driving.
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| The oldest man-child is growing a beard during the "stay safe at home" time. |
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| This is how I am gearing up to go shopping. We've set up a table in the garage to be our cleaning station for the groceries. I could have never imagined this. |
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| I got a new bike so we can all go on family bike rides. |
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Trying to enjoy some family time. Reid with his real stash and Quinn with a stick-on one.
Suzanne said they look like Cheech and Chong! Hee hee. |
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| This is what the grocery stores look like by the afternoon. |
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| Hanging with Scout...the one who loves this time the most! All of his people are home! |
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| I've added "professional hair cutting" to the list of things I'm doing during this Pandemic. |
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| Quinn made a great Quarantine Bucket List. It included this sidewalk chalk "stain glass" project. |
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| We did a Google 3D animal challenge. They turned out pretty good! |
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| Hanging from a snake.... |
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| Raccoon in the house... |
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Snake Charmer
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| Scout found a friend....a real one...not a 3D Google one. |
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| I started growing out my gray hair back at the end of October. Glad I started then! Now everyone's gray will be showing. |
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| The boys visiting Mom while social distancing. |
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| trying to relax a bit |
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| Mom is set up to face time! |
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| Our family challenge tonight. Create the best paper airplane and the winner does not have to do laundry this weekend. |
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| Matt won! We all had to point at someone to vote and both boys pointed at Matt because they didn't think he would win. Hee hee! |
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