Coronavirus Chronicles- Week 1

Where do I begin?  I guess, at the beginning.  

Coronavirus.  COVID 19.  

Now a global Pandemic.

I think I first heard that word back in January.  It sounded scary, but at the time was something far, far away.  We were chugging along with normal life, even talking about going to south Florida, maybe Miami and the Keys for Spring Break.  I was looking at flights and hotels down there, kids were in school, sports, Jimmy working away.  Life as usual.  

Rewind to 2 weeks ago to Wednesday, March 11th.  I am sitting at McCallie while Keatyn was swimming when Cristin said she just got an email about UT/UTC/MTSU closing because of corona.  What??  Then Kim, another mom and Orange Theory Coach, got an email that their OTF incentive challenge was changed because it was just announced that the Final Four were no longer playing in front of fans.  March Madness still on, but no stadium fans allowed. What??  

I came home and turn on the news to find things quickly changing.  The next day, I take the kids to school, go work out at OTF and have a MUCH NEEDED hair appointment to get my grays covered. The buzz in the salon is all that is now being cancelled, postponed, closed.  Are schools next?  How worried should we be?  Then we hear of several elderly dying in Seattle after Coronavirus tore through an assisted living facility.  Just like the one my beloved Nanny lives in.  They were dying.  What??

 Jimmy calls while I'm sitting with hair color on and tells me Timber has yet to come out of his box. It's noon.  Something is wrong.  He calls the vet and gets an emergency appointment for 2:30.  I rush home and get him and we go to Riverview Animal Hospital to see Dr. Krabbendam.  Jimmy was going to get the kids from school. Good plan, because 2.5 hours and $755 later, I leave the vet with no real answers as to why he squeals when he's touched or shivers in pain, or suddenly can't jump up on the bed without wincing.  But she ruled out the scary stuff with X Rays and blood work so at least we got that.  

While I was in the vets office, my phone was blowing up.  An ongoing text with Cristin and a group text with the Fab 5 with Jill walking into a principals meeting about schools closing and a teacher possibly having COVID 19.  By the time I left, Hamilton County was cancelled until after spring break and CCS sent out an email that there would be no school tomorrow (Friday) and to wait for further instructions.  This was getting crazy!  Of course, I get home with my still sickly dog and very excited children.  More cases, now in California and New York.  

We went through the weekend not really sure what was happening but cautiously optomistic.  Trace went to Callen's sleepover for his birthday that was planned a month before and then spent the night with Jack on Saturday.  Keatyn and I went to Lowes to buy paint for the basement so I could paint it while we were couped up and to Hobby Lobby to get her some crafty stuff to do on her "break."  Everyone was still out and about but wiping down buggies and a little more cautious.  Jimmy went fishing to practice for the CBA the following weekend. They told us that weekend that CCS would too be closed through April 14th as well and that homeschooling would begin Thursday, to come get all of their school stuff on Monday.  Churches were closed on Sunday as precaution and online services were offered all over Facebook.

  

So, Monday afternoon we pick up Jack (since Leslie is home with baby Henry) and go to school for them to get all of their things to begin homeschooling.  When we got home, I had them dump their backpacks out in the garage and Lysoled everything down.  We left it all to "air out" for several hours before then dumping it all on the dining room table. This is were it remained until school started.  The "old teacher" in me got a plan together.

I spent the weekend setting up work spaces in their rooms.  Everyone needed a quiet place to work. With a door.  Trace didn't have a desk in his room so we brought one up from the office.  We cleared off Keatyn's desk and brought up some lamps and chairs.   With Jimmy working from home (primarily the living room couch) I knew we needed some individual space where everyone could concentrate and have a door to close when on with teachers and working.  We were ready...

 I posted a prayer I found on FB over their work stations that was written especially for this pandemic about using this time to draw closer to the Lord, to help others and to show grace and mercy while we are quarantined together.  My prayer is that this will lead more to the Lord, people will cling to him and he will use this pandemic for his glory.  All the churches are now closed until further notice, it feels like the devil could creep in at any minute but our faith is strong and we can clearly see from what is happening around the world that people are GOOD, they are coming together, healthcare workers and first responders are putting their own health on the line to save sick patients.  Car companies are offering to make ventilators and plants are offering to make masks and gowns for nurses and doctors to wear.  This global pandemic is terrifying, but the Lord is STILL in charge and hopefully through this, more people will come to know and love him.  

We made a pillow nest in the floor and all piled in for Cheaper by the Dozen, which we loved!  We now have watched the sequel which we loved as well and have a running list of movies to watch during our quarantine time.

School started on Thursday morning.  We weren't sure exactly how this was going to look.  Trace is expected to be "on" from 8:20-3:20 on Monday, Tuesdays and Fridays and can conference with teachers and do google meets when needed.  Mrs. Levenger sends Keatyn's assignments every week and I print them off and I've loaded her iPad and my laptop with all the websites she uses daily for her work, like Moby Max, Think Central, Seesaw and others.  They also have sent related arts activities and we are trying to get our PE and Art in each day as well.  (Trace couldn't care less about Art, but Keatyn would do it all day if I let her.)  So far, we have been fishing off the dock, played tennis, walked the dogs a lot, been to the Hixson track and run stadium stairs and done long jumps, played basketball and tennis in the driveway.  It is FINALLY sunny and warm today after a lot of rain over the last few weeks.  We are loving the sunshine!!

Lots of news coming in.  I honestly could get sucked into Fox News if I let myself.  Luckily, the kids school is keeping me busy and I can't dwell on the news all the time.  Things like...

Monday was particulary hard.  The teacher in me took it a bit too far with Keatyn's lessons and it took forever.  Example A...

She was great, it was all me.  I need to learn the KISS method and stick to the script.  By the end of the day, I needed a minute.  Jimmy was fishing and the kids work was finally done.  It had quit raining and I leashed up Timber, put in some airbuds and blared Kenny Rogers as I walked up and down our street alone.  BTW... to add insult to injury,  Kenny Rogers died over the weekend and I spent 2 hours having a musical tribute to him with the kids while we worked a puzzle. 

 

When I got back from my much needed walk, Cristin had sent me this.  See the Lord really knows just what we need sometimes and sends his angels to deliver it...  Perspective...

We are so blessed.  We are together, healthy, and have everything we need. There are so many struggling.  So many alone and without resources they need.  I am trying to keep my perspective and remember our blessings everyday.  I miss seeing our families because we are pretty much in lockdown and choosing not to see our parents because we don't want to expose them to anything we may carry.  Andy and Kadi are in Florida with Kadi's family and are finding things to keep the boys entertained even though the beaches and pools are all closed.  They were there for Spring Break when all this started and I don't blame them for staying.  We are just trying to be extra smart and safe and not take this lightly.  Being home so much has allowed for some down time to do some special things.  Trace told me he wanted to make an apple pie.  So...

Jimmy caught a bunch of crappie the other day and at 11 p.m. the other night, him and Keatyn were cleaning them in my kitchen sink.  They made for a wonderful dinner last night when we fried them up on the back porch...

I am cooking a lot.  We actually haven't had anything "out" since 2 Saturdays ago.  The restuarants are all closed for dine in customers, only for drive thru and curb side service.  This was my comfort meal, baked spaghetti and spinach and artichoke dip.  Not healthy, but good!

We did ZOOM with the Fab 5 the other night and it was so good to see everyones face!  Social distancing is hard when you are a social person like myself.  But we laughed and caught up and even got to see sweet baby Henry.  Technology is amazing!

Sword fighting in the yard...

PE in the living room...

Typing app...

Math homework with Dad...

The dogs are loving having us home!

Timber has now discovered there are horses across the street he can see from Keatyn's window.

There are lots of memes and sillies going around about all of this.  Honestly, you have to keep laughing and a sense of humor or this dark time can get scary quickly. These were mainly going around before the reality of how many were dying was known.  Nothing about this is funny anymore. However, the amount of food I had in this house 2 Sundays ago reminded me of this.  I have GOT to keep moving to counter act all the carbs I am putting in my body.  I heard someone say today on TV the "Corona 15" as in the freshman 15 most girls gain when they go to college. It is a little dangerous having this much food in the house.

And of course, with the salons, nail places and shops shut down, the natural look is coming back into style...

And ALL the sports have been cancelled.  It is crazy, but this is funny!

So that's a look at our week 1.  We have a long way to go, as the Govenor, Bill Lee, just called for all schools in Tennessee to be cancelled now until April 24.  I'm doubtful we will even go back at all this year. I can't imagine that but we will have to wait and see.  Praying people do what they are being told and this can be over with quicker than they are predicting.  I need to turn off the TV and stop watching the ticker on the side of the Fox News screen that shows the number of infected across the world/ how many have died worldwide (it was over 20,000 this morning) and then under it the cases in the US with over 800 deaths so far in our country.  So many prayers for our world and our country.

Father Daughter Dance, February Birthdays and everything in between

I can't believe it's already March.  We leave the holidays and fly straight into Father Daughter Dance mania and then birthdays and before I know it, it's half way through February.  Keatyn was SO excited to get to play basketball for school this year.  It wasn't exactly what we had hoped for in the end with but it was a good experience.  The set up was different and she kept asking when she would get to play against another school team but the new set up was where they just played each other on Saturday mornings after a practice.  She was so tall that she got moved up to the 4th grade girls but she did well.  There was an unexpected snow the last morning of the season so the final "game" got snowed out.  I hope she falls in love with this sport and wants to continue.

Her team won the little scrimmage and she got a medal!

We went shopping after that for her dress for the dance.  She fell in love with this one.  The color, the shoulders and the twirl.  It's always about the twirl...

Emerson  spend the night and finally made friends with the dogs!  It was a big step.

On January 20th, we celebrated her birthday a few weeks early.  She really wanted a party at Ice on the Landing at the Choo Choo.  It was SO cold but such a fun night!

On January 25th, we had the annual Father Daughter Dance at school.  This is the 4th year I've helped with it but this year the 2 ladies that were always in charge had daughters that moved to middle school so it was ME in charge.  Luckily, another mom, Cherith, jumped in and she is super crafty and creative!  It turned out great and was such sweet memories!

Playing with Roman...

The Sharks came to CCS one day and Trace jumped in for a selfie...

Our church bought tickets for True Girls (aka...Promise Keepers) for moms and daughters to attend together.  It was such a special night.  I realize so far this post has been all about my girl...

On her birthday, I brought cupcakes to school.  Such sweet kiddos!

And for her big day, she requested crab legs.  The girl has good, expensive taste!

And on Friday, it was my boys 13th!!!  HOW did that happen so fast?  We officially have a teen!

And why does he look like a grown man in this picture???  I absolutely adore this big boy of mine!

Our last girls night out before baby Henry arrives...

On February 7th, Henry Grey entered the world.  He is so already very loved and I think is still quite the surprise to his parents.  Lol!  I love that he was born on Trace's birthday!

On Saturday the 8th, we woke up to this...  It was gorgeous and we had a ball playing in it.  I was expecting 11 boys for a sleepover that night for Trace's birthday so I was glad it came and went quickly.  Sadie's first snow.  And she loved it!!

The huge snowballs that stuck to her feet didn't slow her down one bit.  She stayed out there for hours playing with the kids. And I didn't realize just how dirty my "white" dog was until I saw her in the snow.

Later that night, this crew showed up to celebrate Trace's 13th.  Sweet Carol offered up her heated pool with a dome over it to help entertain them.  They loved swimming in February with snow on the ground.  Then they all jumped out of the pool and ran with wet heads and bathing suits to play basketball in her back yard.  That STRESSED me, but they didn't seem to feel the freezing temperatures at all!

The next day, we celebrated Papaw's 70th birthday at Carol and Larrys.  It was such a fun and special night.

Valentines in Mrs. Levengers class...

Jimmy and some partners bought a BIG house on the back side of Signal Mtn with 40 acres. So one day we loaded up the 4 wheeler, jeepster and some guns and went up to play.  I told the kids we were like the redneck Kardashians for the day...

Keatyn is finally old enough and tall enough to ride in the front seat.  This was her maiden voyage.  You should hear all the bickering this new adventure has caused between my two.  Ugh...

And now it is March 15th and the coronavirus has taken over the world.  Our schools have been closed until April 14th, after Spring Break.  We are pretty much in quarantine for the next month.  It is unknown exactly what we are dealing with and it is really scary.  We are trying our best not to panic and to stay in (which if you know me, is NOT easy!)  We are praying for this entire situation and trying to stay optomistic and healthy!