Day 316?

 I promised I would post again after receiving the second dose of my vaccine.  On the morning of January 23rd I went to the large stadium that was set up as a vaccine site.  It wasn't busy at all, but it was a Saturday.  As with the first shot, I felt nothing, no needle, no burning - which is odd for a shot.  I went to the observation area where chairs were placed apart to wait for 15 minutes.  I felt like I had some flushing, and sat for 30ish minutes instead of 15.  Then I left, went through McDonald's drive thru to get a Diet Coke (i must break this habit).  Drove 25 minutes home and sat down.   I didn't feel much like eating lunch, and felt a bit tired.  Didn't do much that day at all.  The next day, I woke up with a mild headache and felt really tired.  Off and on, I felt feverish, I took my temperature and it was mildly elevated - 99.9 ish.  My arm hurt a LOT.  I took a nap, but I also did some housework and laundry.  The next day my arm was less sore, but I was still tired.  I was tired until Wednesday.

It was all very manageable and less severe than the first injection, which is the opposite of what I've been hearing and reading.  I"m day 10 from completion of the series and hopefully building immunity.  I really hope it is effective against the new variants.  We have some circulating in the county i work in, and the University.  

Day 302

 I feel a little bit like the guy in The Martian that counted down days.  It's been 302 days since my regular life was directly affected/changed/altered by the pandemic.   I'm still able to keep my part time job, it is both tiring while trying to work as well as rewarding, since it allows me to use my mind and be productive.  Most days, I'm able to work from home, but  I've been going into campus to help with a research study and meet with patients.   In December, I filled out a survey indicating if I would take the Coronavirus vaccine if offered.  My health system did not make it mandatory, but of course I answered "yes".  

On January 2nd, I received my first dose from Pfizer.  The shot was very easy compared to other IM shots I've received.  I hung out for 20 minutes after my shot and used this time to enroll in the CDC side effect tracker via my phone.  After I received it, I went to my office that I hadn't been in since March 13th and grabbed some items from my desk.   I headed home and approximately 2.5 hours later I started to feel shaky and strange.  First I had some chills, which I put on a second sweatshirt and three blankets.  Then one episode of diarrhea.  My family was playing board games which was a good distraction, but my husband encouraged me to lie down (WOW!  I never get naps!).   At one point I felt feverish, but it passed.  My arm would occasionally have stabs of pain and started to get angry.  I did more sitting around than when I have in ages.  I definitely felt I was coming down with something.  By 10:30 that night I felt much, much better.  The next day I had a moderate fatigue along with the next few days and arm pain.  On the fourth day the pain/muscle spasms moved into my shoulder which necessitated Tylenol, with relief. 

Today is Day 9 and I still have a little fatigue - mild, and tightness in the arm muscle.  It's all totally manageable and I feel incredibly fortunate to get the vaccine and obviously, have an immune response.  My second dose is scheduled for January 23rd.

Day 81 - (posted Day 97) - 20th Anniversary

We celebrated our 20th Anniversary on June 3rd, 2020.  We actually celebrated on Friday June 5th.    I picked up takeout from Miss Kim in Ann Arbor and we had drinks and time together. Our lives were so different in 2000.  We lived in three different places, 1st an apartment, another apartment, then moved to the UK and we both were in grad school.  

Now we live back in Michigan and two children and lots of love  have joined our family.  

We had a big trip planned this July when the kids were at summer camp.  We were going to visit South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and take a MeKong River cruise.    Summer Camp was cancelled and maybe we would be safer in Vietnam than here to be honest?

When things clear, we hope to take our trip (probably 2022 or longer).  While it is disappointing, I am concentrating on counting all of our good fortune during these terrible times.  

Day 66 - Birthday

Benjamin turned 8 years old on Day 61 - May 14th!

*He has boundless energy lately.  We have been trying to walk 2-4 miles a day, play in yard, do some online karate and P takes him for a bike ride too.  We walk in the rain too.  He will pace the house if he has extra energy.

*He loves Roblox and Annoying Orange.  He talks about them incessantly and has a running commentary during play.  While I'm typing this he is talking about Roblox again.

*His favorite food is pasta with butter and salt and graham cracker sandwiches with peanut butter in the middle  He doesn't have a diverse amount of food choices, recently he decided he liked a certain new kind of pasta.  So I'll take it.  He will eat cucumbers, apples, red grapes, strawberries.  So I have to get creative.

*He had a big obsession with the presidents earlier this year.  He read many books about the presidents and knows so many facts about them.  It's starting to calm down a little in favor of Roblox.

*With school being closed down, he has maybe suffered the most out of us.  He misses recess and special classes, going out to lunch, playgrounds, karate dojo,  and riding the bus.  It breaks my heart.  I try to keep him on a schedule.  He has been so helpful with chores when I am overwhelmed with working, loss of housekeeper, teaching, etc. 

*Sometimes he comes up and hugs me so hard.  It's the best.

*There is a lot of crying and frustration some days with schooling.  We are working on embracing challenges.  That's it is fun to figure out things that you don't know.

* Recently he will put himself to bed and wants to take showers instead of baths.  He is growing up and being independent.

Day 48

I have so many expanded and current roles during this pandemic.  I usually am:

mother

wife

employee

friend

daughter

sister

Now in ADDITION I am:

 2nd grade teacher

coach

counselor

chef

friend

supply procurer (challenging job in these times)

news article reader

playmate

phys ed teacher

art teacher

encouragement chairwoman

scheduler

cleaner

cook

server

laundress

housekeeper (I used to have one before the pandemic, when she comes back- raise time)

obsessive cleaner

entertainer

electronics police

worrier

common

complaints department

exhausted

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!

Halloween (late post)!

I love Holiday shirts ......

We didn't get to take as many fall walks as we have in years past.

Benny and his friend trick or treating.

Downtown Plymouth Trick or Treat.

Greenfield Village Trick or Treat.

We made this house!

Benny-ism

I took the kids to see my BIL that was in the hospital.  He had another surgery for his neuralgia and since we live close to a major medical center, he was near us.

I mentioned something to him about when he was going home.  Benny overheard and said:

"You're never going home!  you're going to stay in that room and they are going to shut the door and lock it!"

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9 years old!

My eldest child is now nine years old.  Time has went by so quickly.  To me, it seems like she should be around four years old.  It's been a bit of a challenging summer, mostly due to her brother starting Camp with her, but that also has had its benefits as well.

*She loves to read.  She is a quick reader as well.  This summer she read through all the  Weird School Books series.  At camp they had the choice of swimming or visit the library.  She almost always chose the library.

*She has started to physically grow.  She has gotten much, much taller and definately started puberty.  She is so young.  I just can't even deal with it.

*She took an acting class and had a minor part in a play.  We'd love to try community theatre, but rehearsal four times a week is something we just cannot manage as a family right now.  Last year she did dance - tap and ballet, and this year is signed up for tap and lyrical.  She could really use swim lessons and martial arts, but who has the time?

*Last year she qualified on the basis of test scores with 84 other 2nd graders in the district to be invited into the coveted TAG (talented and gifted) program at a special school.  She started there this fall and hopefully will excel and flourish.

*She still is undergoing counseling for ADHD and we've seen more emotional outbursts at home.  I am trying to manage them and assist her and getting what she needs.

*Her favorite activities besides reading are biking, crafts, and creating things (especially potions and the like).

*Her favorite foods are bagels, muffins, and crackers.  Nutrition wise, we could use some improvement.

*Sometimes she amazes me with her intelligence and her questions.  She's so bright, I feel like I need to challenge her more.

* She can be so, so good to her brother.  She takes care of him and talks to him and comforts him.  Other times he is a rival and a bother and she is unkind to him.

Preschool Graduation

When I found out I was pregnant with B, V was attending a very nice (expensive) daycare in town.  I put B on a list for the infant room, which anyone in daycare knows is both expensive and fills very quickly.  I wasn't always the happiest at V's daycare - there was a lot of turnover and I had to pack a lunch.  But it was convenient, clean, there was a gym,  she had a bunch of good friends, and she seemed to be learning.  Two kids there would run upwards of $2400 a month which I thought was silly. 

I found a new daycare that was a home based center.  It was the best of both worlds.  The owners and their son all ran in along with some support staff.  They are licensed for 42 kids and the Pre-K has it own teacher.  They are loving and kind and it's a great environment.  So I moved V there when I was 7 months pregnant with B.  She "graduated" from there and now my B did too.  So sad I won't be seeing those people every day.  They are truly like family.   B started day camp with V this year.  Two weeks in, he's still transitioning from his sheltered environment,  but I like all the activities he gets to do - field trips, playground, library, martial arts.  The lunch packing for two kids is getting old though.    In the fall it's Kindergarten time!!!

FIVE YEARS OLD

My Benny turned five on Mother's Day. I can hardly believe it. He's signed up for Kindergarten next year and I want to cry and jump up and down with excitement for him. The month after he was born I turned 39, so he's a later in reproductive years surprise, the best surprise ever after years of infertility (My daughter's story is on this blog for the background). I thought she would be the only one I was finally able to have. We were giving the crib away, and although I longed for, but never expected another child, we were blessed with our Benny.

* You are really into Lego Batman and Lego minifigures lately. You watch the opening and creation of "blind bags" on YouTube and are just obsessed with them. It doesn't keep you from losing the pieces though. One bag you received the mystery figure and wow, were you excited!

* We've been attending speech therapy for you for the last three months? You are kind of shy with your therapist, overall it's helped but we are still working on "L" sounds.

* You love your friends at Pre-K. Lilly, Jack, Abby, Landen. We've spent the last five years at a daycare that has been like family. It's tough to leave. We decided to put Benny in camp with his sister for the summer. I'm a little concerned because he is the youngest and been in a small center for his entire life. But we thought it would be good for him to be outside more and get to go on field trips. They swim everyday and he *Hates* swimming, but I was told there is an alternate activity (the library).

* Your hair is growing regularly and I really need to find someone to cut it that does a good job. It's sort of his defining characteristic.

* You finally started riding your Big Wheel and there is NO STOPPING YOU. You're super fast and go for two miles easily.

* About six months you've been obsessed with your Curious George storybook. I think Daddy is getting tired of reading it at bedtime.

*You've been a not so great eater anymore. You ask for chicken nuggets and that's about it. Often, very little of your dinner is eaten. You don't even like fruit much anymore.

* Your favorite place to eat is MOD pizza or the Coney Island.

* YOU love pop music.

* This year you took Jazz and Tap classes and really, really liked them. You watch last year's dance recital video every day and ask when dance class is. You're still the only boy in your classes.

Riding

Finally the B-man is riding something. When I was his age (and younger) we wore bikes, skates, wagons out! Maybe it was the 70's and there was less to do inside, especially after a long Northern Michigan winter. He never was much for his tricycle and we are working on his balance bike. He started finally riding his Big Wheel this weekend and then last night asked to go on it. It's great.

Friday Night Leftovers (really, Friday morning)

* The week has flown by. I spent some of it napping, which is a plus. Monday I had yet another oral/jaw surgery. It was minor with twilight anesthesia and outpatient with my new oral surgeon. I miss my old oral surgeon, but I never saw him anyway. The before was a bit rough but I'm doing okay.
* Some swelling, no bruising, and more pain than last time.
*I FINALLY had the upper implants placed (PLEASE PLEASE let them integrate with my bone), and the lower jaw plate by the molar was dissected out so we could look at the root. That later part is a little bit throbby.
*This is surgery #6 since JAN 2009.
*I'm back at work today. We moved during the time I was off. My old desk at least had some natural light and the cube area was bigger. It was much better than where I am now.
* The FDA is coming for an audit. In all my years, I've never went through an FDA visit. This will be interesting.
* It is supposed to be 70 degrees today. It's been really, really cold lately. Ready for Spring.

Reflections

I've been having some female issues for the last few months including a lot of pain in my C-section scar region. Yesterday, I went to see a Gynecologist and he ordered some blood tests an ultrasound to be followed by a uterine biopsy. He thinks it is my PCOS and I am going to need some hormone therapy. I was trying to explain to him about my premature ovarian failure. He didn't understand because I "have two kids". How did you get the kids he asked me. I told him the old fashioned and to look up the note from 2005 saying I would basically never had children. I found it myself today:



...... is a pleasant 32-year-old nulligravida female with significantly decreased ovarian reserve as evidenced by high FSH on day-10. I have explained to her the implication of having this high FSH on her low chance of success despite undergoing extensive fertility therapy. There is about 5% chance of spontaneous conception and this does not go up much
despite undergoing a fertility therapy. For this reason, I have recommended for her to look into other options to expand her family including adoption as well as donor egg in vitro fertilization.

If you read my old posts, I went to see two other additional reproductive endocrinologists with the same opinion. I also failed a round of IVF - I didn't make any eggs (extremely rare).

I was reflecting on this last night when I was exhausted and putting away some of eight loads of laundry.