Day 34

Here we are.  It's Day 34 of this pandemic/quarantine/flatten the curve/stay at home/twilight zone.  I'm thrilled to report that we are all well.  Except for some flare of my migraines, a case of some sort of thumb issue, and some moderate allergies for B.   The kids are working hard on school.  This week finally we have some assignments posted (marked optional - not for my kids they aren't).   I had ordered some workbooks and especially B and I had been working our way through them.  He really flourishes with some one on one attention during school.  The days go by relatively quickly with a schedule.  Except the days that I work from home, those can get rough in the afternoons.  On nice days, I try to have more outside time.  I'm tempted to take them to a hiking trail, but going out makes me very anxious and I can't trust other people to maintain social distance.  Especially on a warm-ish sunny day, these places are full of people. 

We've done a great deal of outdoor walking as a family.  Usually go late afternoon.  On a nice evening, again, you are dodging people.  I've gotten in a few walks alone.  Since this started I've walked 61 miles (about 50 with everyone) and did some basement workouts.  P has been working out like crazy and he is getting so buff.  We would love to bike as a family, but again on a nice day, you're dodging people. 

We are hanging in there.  I hope everyone is well. 

Day 24

It's Day 24 since we curtailed our outside activities and basically stayed home.  I've been out once to a  smaller local grocery store on Day 7 - I went at 7:10 am and people were NOT social distancing and being careful, and they were out of Diet Coke and basically most of the meat.  On Day 15 (?) I went to a CVS, I had gotten my prescription filled for three months at a time, and CVS Caremark sent it to a Pharmacy with no Drive-Thru.  I was there at 8:00 am in gloves and mask.  I grabbed Diet Coke, snacks, and some Z-quill for Paul.  After both times, I left the non-perishables in the car for days, and washed and wiped all the perishables I could.   I then took a shower and washed my hair immediately.   Several times I've had to go through the Pharmacy Drive Thru.  I wear gloves, remove them carefully (Health care background) and then sanitize with my precious sanitizer bottle I have left.

By weekends I am exhausted and need takeout.  We are also trying to help our local businesses, some just tiny ethnic restaurants.  Unfortunately, more of them are closed by every weekend.  I'll call the order in, pay over the phone with a tip, and then ask them to bring it out to my car when I arrive.  The trunk is popped and I can remotely close it.  When I get home, I have newspaper on the counter, we deposit the goods there.  I transfer them into new bowls, throw away the packaging, wash hands.

Why I am the person to go out?  1.  I have worn masks and gloves in my previous healthcare roles, so I am more comfortable than P.  2.  I am a bit crazy about germs, bordering on OCD.  I wish I was kidding, but it is probably good to be paranoid right now.  3.  In normal times, I do most of the shopping so I know what the kids will consume and where things are.  4.  P is a "face toucher".  Not a good thing to be right now.

What a strange time this is.

My Day (technically 2nd day home) but 1st day of school

I mean to start this journal on the 1st day we stayed home.  Instead I'm starting it on Day 5.

Let me preface that I wanted to become a teacher.  I SHOULD have become a teacher.  This isn't the way I though I would get my chance.  There is so much to say and I will have to address this at a later time. 

I'm trying to keep a schedule.  Every day it changes depending on if I am working from home or not and what dad's schedule is (also working from home). 

Today was:

8:00-9:00  - Get dressed, eat, some phone time
9:00-10:00 - paper learning from workbooks/reading
10:00-11:00 - creative time.  Today we worked on a puzzle and practiced shoe tying
11:00-12:00 - we went outside to hit the wiffle balls and walked 1.3 miles.
12:00-12:30 - supposed to be chores - but I had to nag for help unloading dishwasher
12:30-1:15 - lunch prep & eating (I did everything)
1:15-2:45 - online learning, Khan Academy, Mo Willems video, IXL
2:45 - 3:45 - Geography and Life Skills w/Dad
3:45 - 4:45 - snack and free time (if we can make it this far w/o a snack)
5:45-6:30 - Karate - streaming
6:30 - dinner

It's a bit crazy because my housekeeper is not coming, I'm trying to work, keep an eye on food, keep the house clean, the children engaged, teach, cook, check the news a million times (not a good time to be a news Junkie), do laundry, and parent.  When you think about everything you realize -  I have no problems, really.

Hang in there everyone.

11 Years OLD

I started this blog before I was even pregnant with this now 11 year old child.  She's so grown up.  It seems like she just finished the princess stage, and the Kindergarten stage, and even the 8 year old stage.  But here she is.  Eleven.  Halfway through childhood. 

*She is currently really, really into Harry Potter.  She asked me about a year ago why everyone likes Harry Potter so much.  She didn't understand.  We had all the books from when we lived in England with British covers.  She started reading and couldn't stop.  She thinks she's a lot like Hermonie Granger.  Studious, non-smiler, serious, reader. Yep.  I agree.

*The kids started karate a year ago.  I really did it for Benny, who was very interested.  Well, she is really good.  Her forms are very crisp, and she was invited into elite leadership team before her brother (lots of crying).  She's doesn't love it all the time, but it's so good for her.  So I told her she can't' quit.

*She also does Math Club, and dance again (year 7).  Dance is just recreational, but she takes Jazz and Lyrical.  For fun.

* She's tall - 5'1".

*Her academic performance is still stellar.  She's at the TAG school and it's a great fit for her.  Last marking period she earned all A and one A- (in Phys Ed). 

*As she ages, not only does she look like her father, but also is like him in personality. 

*She has went to summer camp the last two years for two weeks.  She LOVES it there.

* Last time we went to the library and she had too many books on her card.  She wasn't allowed to take out more.

                             Luna Lovegood Costume she put together herself.  I just ordered the Spectraspecs.

Happy Summer 2019

Hello!


It's already the end of July.  We met friends at Greenfield Village on a cool day.  They are very grown up.

Happy Valentine's Day

Many changes have been going on in the past year.  A big one is that I switched jobs and I work three days a week instead of five.  I'm not at work on Mondays and Thursdays.  Benny really likes me to come into his classroom to help with things.  It's tough to do even working part time.  I made it for his Valentine's Day Party, it's a good thing too.  Due to all the snow days and illnesses there were only two of us helping.   V's class doesn't seem to have parties anymore, which makes me sad.  Benny picked out his outfit himself and I thought it was rocking.  V is almost five feet tall now.  She's wearing MY leggings BTW.    And so it begins....

Also in the picture is Rollie, the kissing puppy.  Benny asked for it and received it at Christmas.  I thought he would never play with it, but he takes it everywhere. 

Happy 2019!!

Yes, we are all still alive.  It's been a very busy year.  V is now 10 years old (!) and Benny is 6.5.  Here's to a great 2019 and more communication!