An Eventful Time: Week 6

Looks like I'm writing about every other week.  At least I'm still writing, right? 

Anyway, it has been a bit of a crazy week here.  The week before was pretty normal, whatever that is anyway. 

We had Easter Day on our own, which was a little hard for me.  I miss my kids, sooooo much!  Sunday dinners are much easier to prepare and clean up after, but I miss the banter and laughter, and the hugs.  I very much look forward to the time we can be together again. 



But this week?  Well.... 

There are people doing different things during quarantine, things that otherwise wouldn't happen.  Us, too, apparently.

The boys, Andrew especially, have been begging for a dog for years.  I keep saying no.  There's not time, there's not a fence, there's not, well, whatever.  Too busy.  Except now we're not.  (I guess.)  So we've been casually looking, and then it wasn't quite so casual.  Andrew really got into it.  He'd spend hours each day looking at classifieds and on rescue pages.  We even had a beautiful German shepherd come out for a "visit."  He was a sweet dog, but not a good fit for us.  And then he found him. 

Meet Simba!  Initially his name was "Lucky" but by the second day he'd warmed up enough that he was pouncing on things, and crouching before!  He even saunters and runs and plays like Simba. 

The boys are loving him, but also learning about sharp puppy teeth and getting up in the middle of the night to take care of him.  It's a learning experience. 

And Jonathan graduated this week.  Finals over, he and Avanlee came out for a porch visit and it was good to see them, but hard not to hug.  Right now, they still plan to move to Saudi Arabia so he can pursue a Masters/PhD in mechanical engineering in August.  But no ceremony, no party, just a hike to the Y on the mountain for the two of them.  I'm so glad they have each other.

Aaron continues to do really well.  His school nurses come work with him each school day for a few hours.  He goes on walks, does physical therapy and is working on counting and understanding coins, among other things. 

Long overdue pictures put up.

I've gotten a start on my own course work, and the Andrew and Michael are moving forward with their own lessons.  We got some sad news as two favorite teachers at the middle school won't be back next year.  We already knew we were losing an amazing principal.  This whole lack of closure is so hard!  We didn't know the lasts were going to be last.  I wasn't even at the schools the last couple days because of the ballroom competition down at BYU. 

I don't know where this whole Covid thing is going to go.  No one does.  Right now, people seem to be saying there's a whole lot of over reaction, blowing things out of proportion.  The medical personnel don't seem to agree.  I just know I don't want to take a chance with Aaron's life, or anyone else's.  I'm more than a little worried that we'll follow the 1918 flu pandemic where the initial wave, the one in the spring, really wasn't that bad, but then when things were relaxed, it all blew up in the fall.  I've gone over my boys' schedules for next year wondering which classes are going to be very difficult to do online.  You know, choir, band, that kind of thing really needs a class. 

But at the same time, the slower pace is also kinda nice.  I like waking up about 7 and relaxing in bed for a little while before getting up and going.  There would be no chance for a dog with all the school and soccer and scouts.  Everyone is at dinner each night.  We've watched more movies in the last six weeks than probably the last six years.  Everyone knows when bedtime is, and it's late enough that there aren't (many) arguments.  Aaron spends a lot more time out and about with us because he's not so tired after being at school all day, and neither are we.

It's just a new, strange way of life right now.  But we're all still alive, and enjoying life, while also missing the old stuff.

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, 

we are challenged to change ourselves." 

~Viktor Frankl

Week 4: Hitting our Stride?

I know, I know, I missed week three.  It happened, trust me. 

We're hanging in there.  Funny, in a lot of ways, we've been prepping for this since Aaron's birth, but preparation and execution aren't always the same thing. 

Last week (week three), we got into some routines.  School work was being done (mostly) and chores were not.  Sound about right?  I signed up for my online class and started looking at things.  Aaron continued working on his school with his nurse. 

This week was spring break, and we took it!  No school for the boys, a bit more "projects" that have been languishing, and lots more movie time.  I finally got my closet (where Aaron's meds are kept) organized and cleaned out.  Now I actually know what we've got.  Amazing, huh?  And I started my class, got assignments and started turning them in.  We'll see if I've got what it takes to go back to school after almost 30 years. 

Aaron and his brothers even got hair cuts.  Yeah, it was past time.  Pretty sure I did them last during winter break.  But hey, it happened this week!

Aaron is doing pretty well.   Allergies are kicking both of us, but we do what we can.  I have started trying to put into place what needs to happen if I get sick.  From what I'm hearing, many struggle just to walk a few steps, or even sit up.  I can't be out of commission like that.  Not that I'm planning on getting this, but then neither was anyone else.  I'm trying to transition him away from his blended diet.  If I get sick, or if he ends up in the hospital for any reason, it would be incredibly difficult to maintain that.  And I don't want to have to make changes when things are already stressed. 

It's quiet around here, especially on Sundays.  I miss my big kids.  They don't come around because we're trying to keep everyone safe.  But Sunday dinners with five of us instead of 14 or 15 is a bit of a change.  I guess it's six, because Aaron is here even if he's not actually eating with us.  He does now have room to be at the table, and thinks it's really funny to put his feet up on it.  His brothers laugh at him while telling him that's not nice.  I don't think he's going to learn anytime soon...

I made masks for everyone this week.  They're cotton with a double layer of non-woven interfacing for filter.  The good news is, they're also easily washable, and each one is different, so it's easy to tell them apart.  I never thought I would put medical masks in Easter baskets.  But I also never dreamed that I'd be dropping off Easter boxes to my kids who don't live here.  Later today, we're going to go out for a drive and do just that.  We packaged them this morning and then we'll call each one as we put their box on their porch and wave at them.  Oh, boy.  This one is kinda hard. 

My cute granddaughter is six months old!  I'm so glad she was born six months ago, and not during this thing.  We got her to wear a mask by sewing a binky into it.  She still wasn't quite sold, but it was much better than the looks she gave me when I tried to see if I was making it the right size.  It was like, "Gramma, you're trying to smother me??!!??"  Shocked, worried, a little scared...  Yeah, it was kinda funny. 

I'll be honest, I'm kinda struggling.  It's hard being home all the time, never going anywhere.  I love my family, and there aren't even that many of us here right now, but to be with the same people, day in and day out, not see others...  One of the reasons I love subbing is that I get to interact  with soooo many people!  Here, it's me, William, the kids, and whatever nurse is here (although usually they're here while I'm sleeping).  Sometimes Linnaea comes up so her mom can work.  But that's it.  And it leaves a lot of time for thoughts and feelings and, well, whatever.  But also no real "alone" time, which I also miss.  I'm learning more about who I really am, and some of it is pretty good, and some I'm not that thrilled with.  I suspect that's the way it is for most of us. 

So this Easter, like this spring, is kinda different.  I'm grateful for the opportunity we had to fast yesterday in a world-wide fast.  I'm so glad for the chance we had to watch General Conference last weekend and the messages that were imparted, messages of hope and courage and strength.  I know where my strength comes from, and when I am still and listen, I feel the peace my Savior brings. 

I have no idea what the future is bringing.  No one does.  But with my Savior's help, I know I can find the strength and peace to make the most of it. 

I know not what the future holds, 

but I know who holds the future.  

~Author Unknown