Towards the end of January 2020, I first heard little snippets of news about a novelty virus that originated in Wuhan, China from a bat that infected a human and was quickly spreading. Like many viruses- SARS, Swine, H1N1 etc. I didn't pay much attention. In February, Jon and I did discuss the American cruise ship that was stranded at sea because no port would take them due to the virus and everyone was stuck, quarantined on the boat. This caught our attention because we talked about what a nightmare that would have been for us, grateful we already enjoyed our cruise. It was all so far removed from us. News continued to grow bigger about this now-named Corona Virus. It had made its way to the US and by March there were many reports of American citizens infected and dying from the virus. Then Pres. Trump banned all international travel to and from China. I ran to Sam's club that first week of March because we were about out of toilet paper and paper towels. I made my way to the back of the store where the giant floor-to-ceiling shelves of paper towels and toilet paper are stocked and was confused to find it completely empty. There was one pack of paper towels on it's side on a nearby shelf, so I put that in my cart. Huh.
On Friday, March 6th Paisley complained of a toothache. Of course it hits on Friday. We tried some different things to get her comfortable. By Sunday she was absolutely miserable. I told her to just hold on until we could get in to the dentist on Monday. Sunday night a neighbor came over and he and Jon gave Paisley a blessing. I went to bed worried about her, I felt so bad for her miserable state. I woke in the night to Zeke crying by my bedside with an earache. This was random. I was up most of the night trying to get him comfortable, but not much helped. By morning I was so frazzled for these two babies, and called the dentist first to get Paisley in. I think Zeke's eardrum had ruptured because he said while the pain was gone, there was some liquid coming out of his ear. I took Paisley to her dentist appointment, where we were directed and set up with an endodontist for later in the day for a root canal. Paisley felt so relieved to be finally out of pain!
The next day, Tuesday March 10th I set up an appointment for Zeke with the pediatrician. He indeed had an ear infection and was prescribed amoxicillin. This is his second ear infection this school year.
There was some talk from the school district that school could possibly be closed for a week or two to slow the quickly spreading virus in the US. This seemed a bit extreme to me, but figured we'd just wait and watch. I went to Fresh Market in Provo after the pediatrician appointment to fill Zeke's prescription. I remembered to grab a pack of toilet paper, which I hated to do at $9 for twelve rolls. Sheesh.
Wednesday the 11th I dropped Paisley to tennis, I had a lash appointment and my lash lady and I chatted about the lack of toilet paper everywhere craziness, who in the world is hording this??? Then that evening I met with my presidency and the 6th ward new Young Women presidency for a training meeting. We had a great discussion about implementing the new church guidelines holding youth activities and letting the youth lead.
Thursday may have been the day they announced two Utah Jazz players were indeed infected with the now termed "COVID 19". This is getting a little crazy!
Friday was announced that all schools would be closed for at least a week to slow the spread. It was reported that while children didn't seem to be as high-risk, they certainly can spread germs and it is best if everyone just stays home. I helped out at a different school that day where we joked that the week felt off because of the trifecta: Daylight Savings time change, full moon and Friday the 13th. I rushed out of work to my hair appointment with Dev- more chatting about the craziness that seemed to be changing by the hour- then run Paisley to tennis.
I was hearing the stores were getting a bit crazy, which made me nervous because I have a habit of shopping week-to-week and we were out of basic staples I just simply didn't feel like shopping for. I thought I'd run in to Win-Co to stock up a little so I'd feel better. The parking lot was packed to the max. I haven't even seen it like this at Holiday time. I parked way out by the restaurants and as I walked in and my jaw dropped. There were no carts in the coral entrance- that's fine, I'll just grab a few items. The lines were all the way back to the back of the store and starting to curve around the perimeter. I picked up a couple of things, then realized I was not prepared mentally for this, and left. I felt so uneasy driving away from there!
That night the Ward Spring Party was cancelled. The new direction was no gatherings over 100 then 50. I dropped Adren off to a friends for the MORP dance he had been asked to. Provo High had cancelled the dance that day, so the groups were gathering on their own.
Saturday I spent the day working on Paisley and Zekes room, painting and organizing. That night Jon and I went to friend Kelly's big 50th Birthday celebration at her house. Her husband had sent out an email saying if we felt too uncomfortable attending, no worries- But the party was happening! We chatted with neighbors and I wondered where in the world they had been able to shop for the spread before us. Must have been purchased at least 3 days before.
Sunday church services would be cancelled, due to "Social Distancing" guidelines. Strange! I had SIX meetings lined up due to our Stake President wanting to complete all ward conferences by May. It was so nice to be home! Jon and Adren prepared and blessed our sacrament and Eli served. Then they did the same at a families house in the ward as per our Bishops direction. We had our "Come Follow Me" lesson and it was all really nice! Really nice. Home church is the best.
All schools are closed now, but school meals must still be served. Breakfast at 8am, lunch at 11am. Tresha texted me to just come in as soon as I could, it was an "All hands on deck" situation. The kitchen was busy with teachers lending a hand as we assembled sack breakfasts and lunches, then kept track of how many we handed out. Parents were instructed to just pull up to the curb where we would hand them the lunch through their car window. The demand for sacked food increased daily as businesses were now shutting down to "Flatten the Curve".
I ran to Hobby Lobby to get some metal 3-D puzzles and other craft items. Good thing, it closed right after! These kept us all busy for a bit.
With kids at home now, we had a family meeting and I went over our "Quarantine Schedule". Chores and school work will still need to be done daily. Knowing my kids, this could turn into a "Sleep until noon, then watch shows and play video games all day" real quick. I knew I needed to set the tone on Day #1.
Paisley and I went to Lakeview Elementary School to check out two Chrome Books for home study.
It was nice to walk in from work to find them all showered for the day, dressed, chores done and working on their assignments. (This wouldn't be the case every day, and we had to have several family meetings to re-emphasize our expectations.)
The kids adjusting to quarantine. As the sun began to shine and days got warmer, it all felt much more bearable!
Work became much less monotonous working in the kitchen, preparing fruit and vegetable cups, setting up bags for next days breakfast and interacting with grateful parents. It feels good to be a part of this important program. Tresha and Carmen would not come back, one because her health is at-risk, the other age~ in her 80's! When I arrive, I just jump in where I see a need. I've learned how to run the automatic dishwasher, I'm filling the mop bucket, putting away laundry, constantly sanitizing surfaces, rummaging in the stock room and walk-in refrigerator, figuring our where everything goes. It's been fun to chat and get to know the teachers I've only seen a few times in passing. These are great ladies!
Every day after work I try a new grocery store. I am on the hunt for flour, yeast, toilet paper, hand soap- all the high demand items I simply let us run out of. Most of the shelves are empty. No canned items for sure and the baking isles are practically empty. No bread, no peanut butter or meat and the produce is real picked over. The parking lots are packed and the lines are long. I would lay in bed making a mental checklist of items I would need to find to stretch meals. I really have no food storage. I don't have storage space for storage. This gave me an uneasy feeling every day, even though we were fine for the present. Really, I knew we were just fine. I'd like to get a little stocked up, regardless.
Tuesday, March 17th was St. Patricks Day. It was pretty uneventful, under the circumstances. Most of us wore a little green. My mind was pretty preoccupied but I ran to Day's Market after work and was able to find a bit of canned goods and fresh meat. I also filled a box with festive green sprinkled donuts for the kids. This really is all getting so weird!
Wednesday, March 18th: I woke to Jon getting ready for work. I laid in bed, thinking about how I needed to go out and find flour and yeast and I could do some baking. All of a sudden I felt a rumble. It was a big rumble that didn't stop- then it felt like a wave. I saw Jon pause what he was doing and look at the flickering lights in the bathroom. We both looked at each other and said, "Earthquake!" At that moment I felt a little like the whole world was falling apart! Indeed, it was a 5.7 in Magna, Utah at 7:10am. I felt so unsettled going in to work that day! Of course, everyone was talking about it, and it seemed the line for free meals doubled.
As I go out to different grocery stores, I am so mindful to not stand next to someone- or breathe in as they pass. So much talk of airborne droplets- yuck. I wash my hands vigorously every time I come home. The kids are just at home all day, so if this virus were to enter the house, it would be from me or Jon. Or Adren, who continues to work more than ever at Papa Murphy's. I am gradually able to find pretty much everything on my grocery list as stores are restocked (except flour, yeast and toilet paper.) I had to chuckle at Adren. He loves reading any and all books with an apocalypse theme. He's writing a book himself on this subject and we'll chat story lines sometimes. He has expressed many times to me how fun it would be to live in an exciting and dangerous world in survival mode with a band of friends. As things in real life are progressing I see him in the corner rubbing his hands together, grinning.
During all of this time, poor Zeke has developed an allergy to his Amoxicillin. His cold first got worse, then he developed a horrible fever, and then hives. He came to me in the night on fire! Of course, thermometers are nowhere to be found (at home or stores) but he is so burning hot. Jon was able to find some calamine lotion, benedryl and an ice pack early one morning at Walgreens. He laid in my bed in my spot while I rummaged for medicine and cold water and set him up on the floor beside me. When I crawled into the spot he was it was still so warm! I was so worried about him. The hives were so miserable and itchy, and he started to swell. I kept calling the nurse each day, not wanting to bring him in at all, just mainly needing reassurance. I've since read that when swelling is involved they can turn septic. Gulp. It was a solid week of the miserable hives and until Zeke's face looked normal to me and he had his appetite of 90% sugar back.
Then I worried I had the Rona! (I'm sure everyone has been there.) I had a cough, sore throat, headache, and it felt like I had a fever, but it's hard to tell on yourself with no thermometer. I assumed we'd probably all get it, at the rate it seemed to be spreading. It seems the best route is to pump ourselves full of vitamins and get our heart rates up every day through exercise to strengthen our lungs. We had to cancel a bridal shower for one of our Laurels who is scheduled to marry next week.
I have to say, seeing a full calendar each day felt weird to know none of that was happening. I sort of really have loved it. Well, once Zeke got better, I felt better, and my cupboards were stocked with necessities. At that point, quarantine for me is really living my best life!
Paul and Sharon got wind that I was on the hunt for flour and toilet paper and kept telling me to run over to their Springville house and take what they had in storage. One Sunday we decided it was a great day to drive over and found these items in their basement storage. The next night I made biscuits, the one I ate tasted a bit off and I wondered if I doubled the baking soda on accident. They didn't get eaten, so I threw them out. Then I decided to make homemade crescent rolls with the last of my precious yeast. I pulled them all golden brown out of the oven and brushed melted butter over them. The kids were so excited! We all took one bite and knew something was terribly wrong. I grabbed the bag of flour to see that it had expired in Nineteen Ninety Nine. Flour does go bad, people! Even if it's always been wrapped tight and kept dry. I dumped those two pans of fresh glistening rolls right into the garbage. It was a sad moment. No worries, however. I did find flour at Fresh Market, which I took as a real good sign that things may be creeping back to normal. As these items come back in stock, there are signs posted throughout the store to limit them to TWO per household. Most stores have these signs posted on empty shelves. Jon runs in to Winco in the mornings to grab some lunch and has started to find toilet paper! We've really never been without anything or wanting this whole time.
I was able to find a package of napkins- so we do have back-up if we get there.
I had a huge grocery pick-up scheduled with Walmart. They were 3 days out! Even so, there was some comfort in this. Then the day before my pick-up they informed me they had to cancel my order because they just didn't have enough items in stock.
A little Zoom with the CRU friends to catch up and talk through everything. Love these ladies!
It took a little bit to wrap my brain around quarantine. Stay home. It's all we hear: Do our part to help flatten the curve. Social distance. Stay 6 feet away from everyone. Stay home. Only go out for the necessities. Wear gloves. Wear a face mask. Wash your hands all day. Use hand sanitizer. (which cannot be found anywhere) Only businesses considered essential can stay open. If it is not essential, don't go out.
Friday, April 3, 2020
Gas price a mile from home was $2.29
School cancelled - yes cancelled
Self-distancing measures on the rise.
Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (6ft) from each other.
Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors.
Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.
Parks, trails, entire cities locked up.
Entire sports seasons cancelled.
Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.
Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled.
High school graduations cancelled
No masses, churches are closed.
No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, now 5 or more.
Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.
Children's outdoor play parks are closed.
We are to distance from each other.
Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.
Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.
Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towel no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer.
Shelves are bare.
Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.
Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.
Fines are established for breaking the rules.
Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.
Press conferences daily from the President. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.
Government incentives to stay home.
Barely anyone on the roads.
People wearing masks and gloves outside.
Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.
Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.
5.7 Earthquake hit Utah (Magna) March 18th 2020.
This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 11th, 2020.
Usually the traffic up University in Orem is stop and go, sometimes you have to wait through two lights on a busy Saturday. It is so strange to see it totally empty on a Saturday.
Strange to think of the two dinners Jon and I had out just the weekend before, one in a packed Texas Road House with an hour wait to be seated, then to get Sushi in a crowded restaurant. Tuesdays are our movie night. We always go- and we miss it! With my friend Mary hosting Book Group and not wanting to cancel, we held it over Zoom. My first Zoom. She sent her husband door to door, dropping a bag of treats and a drink off to each house.
Speaking of someone at the door- There never is! No friends knocking all evening long. (I love that!) The only time there is a knock now it is UPS dropping a package. (which has increased, under the circumstances.)
We had a family game night on Zoom. It was fun to see all my siblings in their cozy homes with kids hanging around. Cash hosted some real fun games.
April Fools Day just felt like an ongoing joke on us all. I crept in the kids rooms early before heading in to work and put stickers on their faces and heads. The big boys were impossible and kept stirring, looking at me all blurry-eyed and confused. I'd just smile and whisper, "See you after work! Love you!" I got a few on Paisley, most ended up in her hair. Zeke, however stayed stone still while I covered the whole half of his face. When I finished he sleepily rolled over to expose the other half of his face. He-he.
Zeke turned ELEVEN during this crazy time and Eli turned FIFTEEN. I will give them thier own posts, but Zeke was real sad to not see friends and have a party. He is still young enough to be real sad about such things. I think we were all a bit worried about finding gifts~ Thanks to Amazon it all turned out real great. I keep thinking how hard it would be to have little kids during this time! My goodness, cooped up inside all day! And they wouldn't understand not being able to play with friends. That would have been a whole different ballgame for sure! Turns out I've produced a group of real content homebodies.
I was most anxious for General Conference Weekend. It sure is great to hear from our Prophet, Pres. Nelson and other authorities. It was one like never before, that is for sure! All the talks were great, but it was the part at the end where new temples were announced I was struck so deep in my heart that the gospel does and will move forward in all circumstances. I knew this, but to hear it and feel it at this time was so energizing and powerful to me! I am so grateful to have the knowledge of a Living Christ, to have made covenants that bind me to my Savior, Jesus Christ and to know those promises are sure! Even when times feel so unsteady and so uncertain, my Savior Jesus Christ is constant. I will never take that feeling for granted again!
Spring Break came. This is so welcomed because everyone is tired of home school and definitely ready for a break. It's intense. It is sad because we will not be driving out with the cousins to the resort in Lake Tahoe for the week. I was really looking forward to the drive, the resort, seeing the area, and especially sister time. We all texted our sadness about that. Bummer.
Easter Sunday was... nice. It's as nice as you make it, I suppose. I put together one big family basket that was DI-bound full of family snacks and treats. Everyone seemed real happy and satisfied about that~ except for Zeke, who was real sad about no egg hunt. (I was avoiding the crawl space, people!) Oh dear. We still were able to have a real nice sacrament meeting and Come Follow Me discussion. I tell you what~ Seeing Jon and the boys in their Sunday best, in the Family room blessing and serving the sacrament to our little family is so precious! I love that they are experiencing this and will surely remember for the rest of their lives. We all will! I personally have loved our gospel discussions. This past week we have discussed Christs final week each night. I made a breakfast casserole, then I made sugar cookies and frosting for the grandparents and we all wrote them cards including our testimonies of our Savior. Jon barbecued hamburgers before we headed out for our deliveries. We stopped at Mommy and Daddy's, Granny came to the door in her cozies. We chatted briefly from the car and waved. Then we stopped at Paul and Sharon's Springville house and did the same- they also in their cozies- and beards, my goodness!
I miss them all! It was good to see them and leave a little cheer.
Back to school and work was hard! I keep getting random emails from teachers concerning each of the kids about not seeing them log in to their class for a while, or behind on school work. They are doing their best (well, that's probably not true) but covering so many classes in one day is a lot! Especially when they are all sharing computers and all together distracting each other. I think it's been a bit stressful. I finally had to tell Paisley she has to stop at a certain point in the day. She was working herself all day long, and practically in tears for all the work she had to do. We've been working through all of that. Then there's Zeke's teacher who emailed me six weeks in to say they've never had Zeke log in once or turn one thing in. His response: "Ok, fiiiiiiiiine." He was caught back up by the end of the day.
I gave lots away to friends, and we were able to have a real classy dinner with it.
I have felt so out of touch with my calling and my presidency. We've had a couple of meetings over Zoom and I try to touch base with them every now and then. I tell ya what- I do not miss all these meetings! We'd be up to our eyeballs with Girls Camp preparations by now (which doesn't look like it's happening- or any of the summer plans for that matter.) It's so different being on a Stake level. I have to keep reminding myself that. As a Young Women's President, I would not have expected or needed anything from the Stake YW President. We have opened up some new ways to keep in touch with the ward presidents, however.
Paisley goes on walks and picnics with Josie and Esme. Louise (Josie's mom) made them all cute masks so they can gather- outside, of course.
Well, ok- once or twice inside...
I thought this was cute- these friends miss each other!
Reminds me of when they were all little and wold hang over the fence to talk.
In the meantime I've recovered my couch in the front room, cleaned up the yard, and done my general fussing about the house, rearranging, decorating, cleaning out closets etc. I'm living my best life!
Jon doesn't feel like life is much different. Rocky Mountain Windows and Doors is considered an essential business and he's been getting up and going the same time each day, busy as ever. He comes home to dinner and family, business as usual.
I say to my kids multiple times a day- or just out loud to anyone,- "Quarantine! Amiright?"
At this point we've learned school will not resume this school year. I feel relieved that none of my kids are in a significant grade. Paisley will still be at Dixon next year, and Zeke will finish off Elementary next year. So we aren't missing any milestone "graduations" there. Adren and Eli are just finishing up 9th and 10th. But I sure feel a pang in my heart for the graduating seniors! Ava and Alivia, and all my girls in the ward. And no Seminary graduation! As a Stake Leader, I would have helped plan the agenda, refreshments, and pinning flowers on the graduates as they walked. No Prom (not that Adren would have gone.) But still, it's been hard to watch so many great kids realize all this tradition would not be happening. So many weddings and baptisms in limbo- and funerals! It's all just so surreal, really. None of us can say that enough.
Now the questions are- Will school be able to resume in the fall??? What does the "New Normal" look like? Can Jon and I go to a movie in the near-ish future? Can church just stay cancelled from now on?
The school teachers from Lakeview Elementary put on a "reverse parade" It was fun for me and Paisley to cheer and wave from the porch as they drove by.
As the State of Utah moved from RED (STAY HOME FOR HEAVENS SAKE) to YELLOW (Number of gatherings increased, wear masks everywhere, stay 6 feet apart, most businesses opening) and we wait for GREEN (which will not be OUR normal, but the NEW Normal) It has been nice to venture out more, although to pull up to a store and see a line formed outside, with everyone standing on the tape mark to keep 6 feet apart, waiting for people to leave the store so more can be let in is discouraging.
We were feeling bold and brave and invited Mommy and Daddy and Paul and Sharon over for Mothers day for dessert and chat. It was so nice to have people over! We talked and talked and it was so great to see everyone!
The kids are seeing friends more as well. It's cute to see the reuniting!
I was so shocked and excited to see business actualy OPEN. Those doors are open. There's people inside. Whaaaaat???
Our CRU decided it was time to gather- safely, in a park. Kelly made us all lunch. I mean, she kept pulling courses out of her bag! It was so good to see everyone and catch up in PERSON.
I tell you what- I don't know that I will ever not appreciate a fully stocked grocery store shelf. Even though this was short-lived, I can't imagine that not entering my mind for years to come, if not for the rest of my life. The next/ first time I am in a crowd, how can I not marvel? Not that it is much of a comparison, but I can see how our grandparents who lived through the depression and World Wars were deeply impacted for the rest of their lives. I can see better why they rinsed ziploc bags out to reuse, saved every ice cream and sour cream container to house something else~ and saved food storage long after the expiration date. (I'm looking at you, Gertrude) When you have a family relying on your common sense, adaptability and resourcefulness, it impacts you! I myself have vowed to be better prepared and figure out some sort of storage space. I would like to be able to help others more during times like this.
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| Sookie is always such a comfort... |
The next day, Tuesday March 10th I set up an appointment for Zeke with the pediatrician. He indeed had an ear infection and was prescribed amoxicillin. This is his second ear infection this school year.
There was some talk from the school district that school could possibly be closed for a week or two to slow the quickly spreading virus in the US. This seemed a bit extreme to me, but figured we'd just wait and watch. I went to Fresh Market in Provo after the pediatrician appointment to fill Zeke's prescription. I remembered to grab a pack of toilet paper, which I hated to do at $9 for twelve rolls. Sheesh.
Wednesday the 11th I dropped Paisley to tennis, I had a lash appointment and my lash lady and I chatted about the lack of toilet paper everywhere craziness, who in the world is hording this??? Then that evening I met with my presidency and the 6th ward new Young Women presidency for a training meeting. We had a great discussion about implementing the new church guidelines holding youth activities and letting the youth lead.
Thursday may have been the day they announced two Utah Jazz players were indeed infected with the now termed "COVID 19". This is getting a little crazy!
Friday was announced that all schools would be closed for at least a week to slow the spread. It was reported that while children didn't seem to be as high-risk, they certainly can spread germs and it is best if everyone just stays home. I helped out at a different school that day where we joked that the week felt off because of the trifecta: Daylight Savings time change, full moon and Friday the 13th. I rushed out of work to my hair appointment with Dev- more chatting about the craziness that seemed to be changing by the hour- then run Paisley to tennis.
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| I sent this to Devron when she said she was worried for her business. We NEED her! |
That night the Ward Spring Party was cancelled. The new direction was no gatherings over 100 then 50. I dropped Adren off to a friends for the MORP dance he had been asked to. Provo High had cancelled the dance that day, so the groups were gathering on their own.
Saturday I spent the day working on Paisley and Zekes room, painting and organizing. That night Jon and I went to friend Kelly's big 50th Birthday celebration at her house. Her husband had sent out an email saying if we felt too uncomfortable attending, no worries- But the party was happening! We chatted with neighbors and I wondered where in the world they had been able to shop for the spread before us. Must have been purchased at least 3 days before.
Sunday church services would be cancelled, due to "Social Distancing" guidelines. Strange! I had SIX meetings lined up due to our Stake President wanting to complete all ward conferences by May. It was so nice to be home! Jon and Adren prepared and blessed our sacrament and Eli served. Then they did the same at a families house in the ward as per our Bishops direction. We had our "Come Follow Me" lesson and it was all really nice! Really nice. Home church is the best.
All schools are closed now, but school meals must still be served. Breakfast at 8am, lunch at 11am. Tresha texted me to just come in as soon as I could, it was an "All hands on deck" situation. The kitchen was busy with teachers lending a hand as we assembled sack breakfasts and lunches, then kept track of how many we handed out. Parents were instructed to just pull up to the curb where we would hand them the lunch through their car window. The demand for sacked food increased daily as businesses were now shutting down to "Flatten the Curve".
I ran to Hobby Lobby to get some metal 3-D puzzles and other craft items. Good thing, it closed right after! These kept us all busy for a bit.
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| I once heard their dad call out the window to his kids- "Get back from the fence, boys." |
With kids at home now, we had a family meeting and I went over our "Quarantine Schedule". Chores and school work will still need to be done daily. Knowing my kids, this could turn into a "Sleep until noon, then watch shows and play video games all day" real quick. I knew I needed to set the tone on Day #1.
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| In line at Lakeview Elementary School to pick up Chrome Books! |
Work became much less monotonous working in the kitchen, preparing fruit and vegetable cups, setting up bags for next days breakfast and interacting with grateful parents. It feels good to be a part of this important program. Tresha and Carmen would not come back, one because her health is at-risk, the other age~ in her 80's! When I arrive, I just jump in where I see a need. I've learned how to run the automatic dishwasher, I'm filling the mop bucket, putting away laundry, constantly sanitizing surfaces, rummaging in the stock room and walk-in refrigerator, figuring our where everything goes. It's been fun to chat and get to know the teachers I've only seen a few times in passing. These are great ladies!
Every day after work I try a new grocery store. I am on the hunt for flour, yeast, toilet paper, hand soap- all the high demand items I simply let us run out of. Most of the shelves are empty. No canned items for sure and the baking isles are practically empty. No bread, no peanut butter or meat and the produce is real picked over. The parking lots are packed and the lines are long. I would lay in bed making a mental checklist of items I would need to find to stretch meals. I really have no food storage. I don't have storage space for storage. This gave me an uneasy feeling every day, even though we were fine for the present. Really, I knew we were just fine. I'd like to get a little stocked up, regardless.
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| Lunch time! |
Tuesday, March 17th was St. Patricks Day. It was pretty uneventful, under the circumstances. Most of us wore a little green. My mind was pretty preoccupied but I ran to Day's Market after work and was able to find a bit of canned goods and fresh meat. I also filled a box with festive green sprinkled donuts for the kids. This really is all getting so weird!
Wednesday, March 18th: I woke to Jon getting ready for work. I laid in bed, thinking about how I needed to go out and find flour and yeast and I could do some baking. All of a sudden I felt a rumble. It was a big rumble that didn't stop- then it felt like a wave. I saw Jon pause what he was doing and look at the flickering lights in the bathroom. We both looked at each other and said, "Earthquake!" At that moment I felt a little like the whole world was falling apart! Indeed, it was a 5.7 in Magna, Utah at 7:10am. I felt so unsettled going in to work that day! Of course, everyone was talking about it, and it seemed the line for free meals doubled.
As I go out to different grocery stores, I am so mindful to not stand next to someone- or breathe in as they pass. So much talk of airborne droplets- yuck. I wash my hands vigorously every time I come home. The kids are just at home all day, so if this virus were to enter the house, it would be from me or Jon. Or Adren, who continues to work more than ever at Papa Murphy's. I am gradually able to find pretty much everything on my grocery list as stores are restocked (except flour, yeast and toilet paper.) I had to chuckle at Adren. He loves reading any and all books with an apocalypse theme. He's writing a book himself on this subject and we'll chat story lines sometimes. He has expressed many times to me how fun it would be to live in an exciting and dangerous world in survival mode with a band of friends. As things in real life are progressing I see him in the corner rubbing his hands together, grinning.
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| Paisley's dream mask. |
During all of this time, poor Zeke has developed an allergy to his Amoxicillin. His cold first got worse, then he developed a horrible fever, and then hives. He came to me in the night on fire! Of course, thermometers are nowhere to be found (at home or stores) but he is so burning hot. Jon was able to find some calamine lotion, benedryl and an ice pack early one morning at Walgreens. He laid in my bed in my spot while I rummaged for medicine and cold water and set him up on the floor beside me. When I crawled into the spot he was it was still so warm! I was so worried about him. The hives were so miserable and itchy, and he started to swell. I kept calling the nurse each day, not wanting to bring him in at all, just mainly needing reassurance. I've since read that when swelling is involved they can turn septic. Gulp. It was a solid week of the miserable hives and until Zeke's face looked normal to me and he had his appetite of 90% sugar back.
Then I worried I had the Rona! (I'm sure everyone has been there.) I had a cough, sore throat, headache, and it felt like I had a fever, but it's hard to tell on yourself with no thermometer. I assumed we'd probably all get it, at the rate it seemed to be spreading. It seems the best route is to pump ourselves full of vitamins and get our heart rates up every day through exercise to strengthen our lungs. We had to cancel a bridal shower for one of our Laurels who is scheduled to marry next week.
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| The Neighborhood participated in a little scavenger hunt, we added some silly faces one day ;) |
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| The memes coming out are GOLD. |
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| Cozy in Quarantine. |
I had a huge grocery pick-up scheduled with Walmart. They were 3 days out! Even so, there was some comfort in this. Then the day before my pick-up they informed me they had to cancel my order because they just didn't have enough items in stock.
It took a little bit to wrap my brain around quarantine. Stay home. It's all we hear: Do our part to help flatten the curve. Social distance. Stay 6 feet away from everyone. Stay home. Only go out for the necessities. Wear gloves. Wear a face mask. Wash your hands all day. Use hand sanitizer. (which cannot be found anywhere) Only businesses considered essential can stay open. If it is not essential, don't go out.
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| I sent this one to my boys ;) |
Friday, April 3, 2020
Gas price a mile from home was $2.29
School cancelled - yes cancelled
Self-distancing measures on the rise.
Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (6ft) from each other.
Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors.
Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.
Parks, trails, entire cities locked up.
Entire sports seasons cancelled.
Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.
Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled.
High school graduations cancelled
No masses, churches are closed.
No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, now 5 or more.
Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.
Children's outdoor play parks are closed.
We are to distance from each other.
Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.
Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.
Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towel no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer.
Shelves are bare.
Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.
Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.
Fines are established for breaking the rules.
Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.
Press conferences daily from the President. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.
Government incentives to stay home.
Barely anyone on the roads.
People wearing masks and gloves outside.
Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.
Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.
5.7 Earthquake hit Utah (Magna) March 18th 2020.
This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 11th, 2020.
Usually the traffic up University in Orem is stop and go, sometimes you have to wait through two lights on a busy Saturday. It is so strange to see it totally empty on a Saturday.
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| SATURDAY. |
Strange to think of the two dinners Jon and I had out just the weekend before, one in a packed Texas Road House with an hour wait to be seated, then to get Sushi in a crowded restaurant. Tuesdays are our movie night. We always go- and we miss it! With my friend Mary hosting Book Group and not wanting to cancel, we held it over Zoom. My first Zoom. She sent her husband door to door, dropping a bag of treats and a drink off to each house.
We had a family game night on Zoom. It was fun to see all my siblings in their cozy homes with kids hanging around. Cash hosted some real fun games.
April Fools Day just felt like an ongoing joke on us all. I crept in the kids rooms early before heading in to work and put stickers on their faces and heads. The big boys were impossible and kept stirring, looking at me all blurry-eyed and confused. I'd just smile and whisper, "See you after work! Love you!" I got a few on Paisley, most ended up in her hair. Zeke, however stayed stone still while I covered the whole half of his face. When I finished he sleepily rolled over to expose the other half of his face. He-he.
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| I sent this to my kids, they didn't buy it. |
Paisley and Zeke LOVE Mayo ;)
Zeke turned ELEVEN during this crazy time and Eli turned FIFTEEN. I will give them thier own posts, but Zeke was real sad to not see friends and have a party. He is still young enough to be real sad about such things. I think we were all a bit worried about finding gifts~ Thanks to Amazon it all turned out real great. I keep thinking how hard it would be to have little kids during this time! My goodness, cooped up inside all day! And they wouldn't understand not being able to play with friends. That would have been a whole different ballgame for sure! Turns out I've produced a group of real content homebodies.
I was most anxious for General Conference Weekend. It sure is great to hear from our Prophet, Pres. Nelson and other authorities. It was one like never before, that is for sure! All the talks were great, but it was the part at the end where new temples were announced I was struck so deep in my heart that the gospel does and will move forward in all circumstances. I knew this, but to hear it and feel it at this time was so energizing and powerful to me! I am so grateful to have the knowledge of a Living Christ, to have made covenants that bind me to my Savior, Jesus Christ and to know those promises are sure! Even when times feel so unsteady and so uncertain, my Savior Jesus Christ is constant. I will never take that feeling for granted again!
Spring Break came. This is so welcomed because everyone is tired of home school and definitely ready for a break. It's intense. It is sad because we will not be driving out with the cousins to the resort in Lake Tahoe for the week. I was really looking forward to the drive, the resort, seeing the area, and especially sister time. We all texted our sadness about that. Bummer.
Easter Sunday was... nice. It's as nice as you make it, I suppose. I put together one big family basket that was DI-bound full of family snacks and treats. Everyone seemed real happy and satisfied about that~ except for Zeke, who was real sad about no egg hunt. (I was avoiding the crawl space, people!) Oh dear. We still were able to have a real nice sacrament meeting and Come Follow Me discussion. I tell you what~ Seeing Jon and the boys in their Sunday best, in the Family room blessing and serving the sacrament to our little family is so precious! I love that they are experiencing this and will surely remember for the rest of their lives. We all will! I personally have loved our gospel discussions. This past week we have discussed Christs final week each night. I made a breakfast casserole, then I made sugar cookies and frosting for the grandparents and we all wrote them cards including our testimonies of our Savior. Jon barbecued hamburgers before we headed out for our deliveries. We stopped at Mommy and Daddy's, Granny came to the door in her cozies. We chatted briefly from the car and waved. Then we stopped at Paul and Sharon's Springville house and did the same- they also in their cozies- and beards, my goodness!
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| Paisley's Easter outfit arrived quite late (as does everything now) It was fine, made it less obvious I didn't get anything for the boys ;) |
Back to school and work was hard! I keep getting random emails from teachers concerning each of the kids about not seeing them log in to their class for a while, or behind on school work. They are doing their best (well, that's probably not true) but covering so many classes in one day is a lot! Especially when they are all sharing computers and all together distracting each other. I think it's been a bit stressful. I finally had to tell Paisley she has to stop at a certain point in the day. She was working herself all day long, and practically in tears for all the work she had to do. We've been working through all of that. Then there's Zeke's teacher who emailed me six weeks in to say they've never had Zeke log in once or turn one thing in. His response: "Ok, fiiiiiiiiine." He was caught back up by the end of the day.
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| Most Random: A friend from work told me she picked up too many cases of salami in her panic buying and begged me to take one. FORTY POUNDS. |
I have felt so out of touch with my calling and my presidency. We've had a couple of meetings over Zoom and I try to touch base with them every now and then. I tell ya what- I do not miss all these meetings! We'd be up to our eyeballs with Girls Camp preparations by now (which doesn't look like it's happening- or any of the summer plans for that matter.) It's so different being on a Stake level. I have to keep reminding myself that. As a Young Women's President, I would not have expected or needed anything from the Stake YW President. We have opened up some new ways to keep in touch with the ward presidents, however.
Paisley goes on walks and picnics with Josie and Esme. Louise (Josie's mom) made them all cute masks so they can gather- outside, of course.
I thought this was cute- these friends miss each other!
In the meantime I've recovered my couch in the front room, cleaned up the yard, and done my general fussing about the house, rearranging, decorating, cleaning out closets etc. I'm living my best life!
Jon doesn't feel like life is much different. Rocky Mountain Windows and Doors is considered an essential business and he's been getting up and going the same time each day, busy as ever. He comes home to dinner and family, business as usual.
I say to my kids multiple times a day- or just out loud to anyone,- "Quarantine! Amiright?"
At this point we've learned school will not resume this school year. I feel relieved that none of my kids are in a significant grade. Paisley will still be at Dixon next year, and Zeke will finish off Elementary next year. So we aren't missing any milestone "graduations" there. Adren and Eli are just finishing up 9th and 10th. But I sure feel a pang in my heart for the graduating seniors! Ava and Alivia, and all my girls in the ward. And no Seminary graduation! As a Stake Leader, I would have helped plan the agenda, refreshments, and pinning flowers on the graduates as they walked. No Prom (not that Adren would have gone.) But still, it's been hard to watch so many great kids realize all this tradition would not be happening. So many weddings and baptisms in limbo- and funerals! It's all just so surreal, really. None of us can say that enough.
Now the questions are- Will school be able to resume in the fall??? What does the "New Normal" look like? Can Jon and I go to a movie in the near-ish future? Can church just stay cancelled from now on?
The boys were more comfortable inside. Zeke said it felt weird to have teachers know
where he lives.
As the State of Utah moved from RED (STAY HOME FOR HEAVENS SAKE) to YELLOW (Number of gatherings increased, wear masks everywhere, stay 6 feet apart, most businesses opening) and we wait for GREEN (which will not be OUR normal, but the NEW Normal) It has been nice to venture out more, although to pull up to a store and see a line formed outside, with everyone standing on the tape mark to keep 6 feet apart, waiting for people to leave the store so more can be let in is discouraging.
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| Lot's of drive-by birthdays and celebrations. |
I tell you what- I don't know that I will ever not appreciate a fully stocked grocery store shelf. Even though this was short-lived, I can't imagine that not entering my mind for years to come, if not for the rest of my life. The next/ first time I am in a crowd, how can I not marvel? Not that it is much of a comparison, but I can see how our grandparents who lived through the depression and World Wars were deeply impacted for the rest of their lives. I can see better why they rinsed ziploc bags out to reuse, saved every ice cream and sour cream container to house something else~ and saved food storage long after the expiration date. (I'm looking at you, Gertrude) When you have a family relying on your common sense, adaptability and resourcefulness, it impacts you! I myself have vowed to be better prepared and figure out some sort of storage space. I would like to be able to help others more during times like this.
