COVID Continues

You guys, normally I'm proud to be a Wisconsinite. We're the dairy state, so cheese and ice cream abound. We have four beautiful seasons (although winter sometimes wears out its welcome). We don't have nasty big critters like grizzly bears or panthers that want to eat us alive, nor do we have many smaller, nastier critters like poisonous snakes, scorpions or spiders. We're also Midwest nice, which means little things like holding doors for people, waving at neighbors (or anyone in rural Wisconsin), lending a helping hand and more.

Unfortunately, "more" doesn't include wearing masks (despite a state mandate), physical distancing or limiting our social gatherings. Wisconsin is breaking COVID records daily and weekly, topping national lists for hotspots, and we're feeling the impact. Our hospitals are enacting crisis plans as they're near or at capacity, our schools are closing their doors, and the impacts are close and personal.

Last week Oshkosh schools transitioned to virtual learning. That had no impact on us as AJ was already in virtual learning for the school year, and Teddy's 60 minutes a week are still intact for now. Last week our church did virtual sessions for catechism due to exposure. Again, that had no impact on us because AJ is doing a homestudy program, thankfully with my mom, via technology. See the pattern here of how we've intentionally reduced our interactions and risk?

Yet, despite all our efforts, COVID still impacts us. We have two in-home childcare providers that ensure the boys are alive and well while we work. We're extremely blessed to have two young ladies who are beyond wise for their years, care deeply for our children and take COVID very seriously. Still, two weeks ago, one of our providers tested for COVID, which meant she was unable to work until she was cleared ... and that we spent much of our time worrying until she was cleared. Ironically, the same day she was tested our other provider learned that her two roommates were both quarantined due to known exposure. Fortunately she hadn't had direct contact with them since their exposure, so she was still able to work but didn't have a good place to safely quarantine from her roommates. So, she temporarily moved in with us into our spare bedroom that was overran by AJ's LEGOs. 

Two of my my kids' favorite people. I think I like them even more than my kids.

It worked out remarkably well for us because all AJ's LEGOs were picked up, perhaps not perfectly, but the room actually had space to move around. Our provider had a safe place to quarantine, and our boys absolutely loved having some extra time with her in the evenings. I don't think Teddy fully realized that she was living here, as she would often intentionally "disappear" before bedtime to ease with that transition. The look on Teddy's face when she came upstairs in the morning was  priceless each time. We're grateful she was willing to take us up on our offer of a safe place to quarantine as it certainly made our lives easier.

We continue to be fortunate that most of our family and friends have been safe from COVID. The last few weeks have been stressful, but we'll deal with the inconveniences and the stress and remain grateful for our blessings.