Spoke Too Soon

It was Friday, September 4th, around 1pm.

I received a text from the kids’ dad, confirming we were still planning on flying to him that evening, after work and school. Yes, that was still the plan, and everyone was healthy and good.

A short time later, around 3:10pm, I receive a text message from April, asking if she was supposed to be picking up Autumn, as she was not outside in front of the school building. I thought that was weird, but yes, she was definitely to pick her up that day.

It was not even 5 minutes after that, when I received a phone call from the school, stating that she was being quarantined in the building, as she had been exposed to someone who had tested positive for COVID-19. I was devastated. This meant a 2 week quarantine for this girl, and she didn’t even do anything, except attend school. Sadly, this was just the beginning of the lengthy story.

We came home, assessed our options, decided to take her to get tested the next morning. However, late Friday night, my oldest daughter approaches me and says she doesn’t feel well, and thinks she has the virus. WHAT?!!! I couldn’t believe my ears. She said she was experiencing 2 of the symptoms; runny nose and cough. I personally had not noticed those signs on her. So, I decided just to rule out the virus, in thinking it was just allergies, I would take her to get tested also. We had to leave EARLY Saturday morning to do that, so off we went.

We spent about half the day at the urgent care clinic, in our car. I stood in line to get paperwork, filled out the paperwork, stood back in line to drop it off, have the girls vitals taken, and get back in the car with our number, waiting to be tested. After 2 hours, they finally got tested, then we waited another hour for results on Allie. Allie had symptoms, so she had the rapid antigen test, and Autumn did not have symptoms, so she had the PCR test. When the doctor called my phone, we stepped out of the car, walked to the outdoor tent, where he read the results. Allie was POSITIVE with the virus!!!! I couldn’t believe it. Autumn would have to wait 5 days for her results, since she was not symptomatic. WOW. just WOW.. We heard all the to-do’s and not to-do’s, and went on our way.

I had so many calls to make. My dad, step-sister, school district, principal, and then wait on the health department and contact tracers to call me this week. It’s been a whirlwind of a time.

Our quarantine end date for Allie was originally scheduled for 9/14, and ours was 9/21.

Today, after our 2nd tele-med call, they have extended our quarantine dates to 9/21 for Allie and 9/28 for the rest of us.

We have been isolating for 1 full week now. Everyone is separated, and it’s been a task to do school with the 2 younger boys. The girls seem to have their schoolwork and responsibilities down.

I’m all alone here, dealing, managing, surviving, teaching, cooking, cleaning, working, working out, trying to rest, keep sanity and be strong for these kids.

This is the most stressful time of my life to date.

This is not for the faint of heart.

Blood pressure has been high and low; and this virus.. omg.. don’t even get me started on that..

People ask how they can help during this time. There’s nothing anyone can do. Just be support.. if I need to vent. have an ear open, and just be there.. that is all I can ask of anyone.

Understand that I am beyond frustrated, angry, sad, anxious, and all the feels…

Yes, we will get through this.. Yes, I need to be the strong one, and yes, I know this too shall pass.

Until then… O.M.G!!!!

And also.. to those who want to make sure I am NOT breaking the rules of this quarantine.. rest assured.. I am in my house, or taking “social distancing” walks with my kids on OUR own property.

I am avoiding all people and public places, so WE are doing our part to contain this virus, and stop the spread.