Covid Update

 Patrick is sleeping. 

[He still has headache, body aches, cough, fatigue but seems to have more energy in short spurts.]

Emerson is playing operation, knocking down the fortress of the pigs and listening to a magic treehouse book.

[No actual symptoms]

Duncan is listening to a book, playing computer games, eating day old pancakes and pining over the lack of cookies in the house.  He is keeping the fires burning and has taken over spelling and other school tasks with the boys via zoom. (Wishing it wasn't a week off school so there would be more to occupy his time!)

[No actual symptoms]

Whittaker is listening to Nancy Drew mysteries, and arts and crafting.(He has created a pen catapult launcher, many Christmas ornaments and some random sketches.)  He looks forward each day to time on the computer and the chance of a chat with Ava.

[Angry rash on his hands, sore throat and a tightness in his chest, but good spirits and plenty of energy to make frequent requests for more tea, for paper, paints, glue, empty toilet paper rolls, a new book, water refills, any snacks?]

Jim is bored, and inventing new covid symptoms like, bruising easily, inability to heal after a burn and the need for frequent urination (may be tied to the constant supply of tea I've been providing).  He is productively working in spurts and suggesting activities like charades from our respective doorways.  He has thrown caution to the wind and decided to eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. In other words, it's not a no sugar week!  He has lost self-control and eaten an entire container of peanuts in two days.  

[metallic taste in his mouth, had a slight headache, had a tickle in his throat, had a tightness in his chest, sporadic heavy limbs.  All symptoms are in past.. mostly.. very minor and isn't eager to do any exercise.. is winded easily after simple exertion.]

I am creating a symptom chart (None of us can register a temperature at the normal range... we all have unusually below normal temps.  Whittaker winning with 95.3) and I'm justifying ice cream for breakfast since I had lots of leftover heavy cream by adding granola and berries.  I'm paranoid that the mice will have a complete lack of respect for my days of cleaning and rodent proofing efforts.  I'm catching up on years of neglected slothfulness and am not getting dressed until noon... if I get out of my p.j's at all.  

[metallic taste in mouth, fatigue, body aches, slight cough, cold sores, nagging headache, stuffy nose, swollen throat glands and hands that constantly smell of bleach]

Figaro has increased her efforts of laziness and when she isn't lounging on Emerson's bed or meowing annoyingly at the door to be let out for 3 minutes, she has taken up residence on Patrick's side of the bed.  She also sneezed twice last night so I charted it and we'll monitor it closely. 

Noella is baffled by the lack of interaction by the humans and has quarantined herself to the couch by the front door.  She is afraid to make her presence more publicly known due the shame she feels for NOT capturing the elusive kitchen torturing mice!

I had other plans...

Life had other plans... 

Frozen drain = no showering or laundry (which isn't good since we all stink and I need to wash a certain unnamed young man's bedding for the 4th time in a week)

So with Patrick giving instructions Duncan and I turned off water valves, baled water out of the bathtub and plunged the drains, we ran heaters next to the new plumbing fixtures and Patrick went under the house to add more insulation wrapping to the pipes.  

Frozen pipe = no cold water.  (Unless we wanted scalding hot showers, we had to wait.

Signs of mice = have to empty the cupboards, wash every dish and bleach the cupboards, board up the back of the cupboards and now go on a hunt for how they're getting in.  (The signs of mice were neat rows of cat food inside my baking cupboard with ... droppings!) These cupboards were empty and clean just two weeks ago when we moved them for demolition day so this is a very new circumstance.  

So.. much of the day was spent washing dishes... once we had water and drains restored.  The cupboards are all smelling of bleach and the back of the cupboard has been more solidly covered... but I still don't know what the point of entry to the house is for the rodents.  We plugged in a high frequency rodent deterrent that we used successfully in the green house this summer.  Perhaps the vermin will simply leave.  

Covid19 exposure (Patrick) = quarantine everyone to their own corners of the house and now have to deliver food, water, supplies.. keep the fires going and find entertainment for boys in separate areas.  Also need to sanitize all dishes that come back from Patrick so I don't accidentally pass the covid fork or plate at the next meal.  (trying to keep exposure risk at home to a minimum to keep severity of the illness at a minimum)  Loss of job means he's not missing work I suppose... But he can't find work either from his confining corner of the house) He did drywall his confinement quarters though.  

Still not finished with the renovations = need to keep both wood stoves stoked.  (it's warm in here!)  So I'm cooking many of the meals on the wood cookstove.  Much greater appreciation for the women of yesteryear who literally slaved over hot stoves to cook their meals.  The whole stove radiates and the fronts of my legs get toasty when I'm browning meat or stirring soup.  

My actual plans for today had included taking a shower, planning Dec. menu's and finalizing the shopping list for the upcoming Utah trip.. (which is now postponed..), chat with Miles when he calls, tidy up and organize my office area in anticipation of moving to a new location..  prep a few meals for ahead in case I end up with Covid so we can all still keep eating.... help Whittaker finish up his crochet project and do some writing and watch a pre-recorded class on natural yeast bread making and maybe even try baking some.  

Maybe tomorrow!?

A second bathroom

 One of the reasons we embarked on our renovations ( besides the sinking, stinking pantry off of the only bathroom), was to build a second bathroom.  A second bathroom has been needed... a few times.

As construction progressed it became a much appreciated comment anytime there was a wait for the bathroom for people to call out loudly, "Build another bathroom Patrick!"  

It was our delightful way of letting him know how much we appreciated his efforts.. to encourage him to get to the 2nd bathroom completed stage faster and add a little fun to his life.  This calling out has been going on for 5 months.  He's definitely not tired of hearing it 😆.

A couple weeks ago, the plumbing was at the stage that the toilet could be installed.  

We may have been more excited than should be allowed for a toilet.  He thought it would put an end to our cajoling.

HA HA HA HA... 

We just change to, "sure would be nice if there was another shower... or it's not much fun using a toilet in a room without any lights... the ambience in here isn't what we had in mind"...  but mostly we say... "Bathrooms ought to have walls Patrick." 

Our support is indispensable.

But it's true... Bathrooms really ought to have walls.

There was a time almost a year ago.. when guests were coming to visit for Christmas.  The only thing they requested of us was if it was possible that the bathroom door could maybe, if it's not too much trouble, could we please get a lock on the bathroom door.  I can't imagine their comments on this bathroom situation!  

It really is an open concept bathroom.  I can stand in one place and see the living room, the kitchen, the bathroom and the front door.  I've heard open concept is all the rage these days.  Perhaps they aren't referring to bathrooms though...

We solved the lack of privacy issue simply enough.  A quick sheet hung did the trick.  Walls really are overrated.. I hung the sheet in under a minute... it's taken Patrick weeks to build walls to this state.  

As penance for being such a slow wall builder, when he was put into mandated quarantine from his Covid19 exposure we set up his cot in his yet unfinished area.  It's really ideal for him.  He has access to the new bathroom and is able to continue building the walls and finishing the interior work while staying in his designated quarantine space.  We have even hooked him up with lights and opened the windows from the living room so there's heat flow.  We are generous and caring after all. 

Just a Routine Visit

Every three months we make a trek to Utah for Dr. appointments, visit friends and family, run all the little errands that we can't do in our new rural life... and stock up for the next three months on supplies that have run low.  We were scheduled to do just that next Monday.  Then some conflicts came up (all of which have been cancelled... but not the point!), and we rescheduled for last Monday.  We rearranged a few things and then wondered, up until the moment we left, if we should go at all.  We went.  Unfortunately people in Utah heard we were coming for our regular, routine stock up run and all stormed the stores before we could get there.  (Pandemic may have played a role also.)

We were successful in some of our other errands.. 

We dropped off a bucket of fireplace ashes for a friend.  We kept our distance.  Left the bucket by the garage.. took a photo of where they were and texted when the drop was completed.  

We delivered the glass recycling.. always a highlight of our trip!  No one around but us.

We attempted to stock up at other grocery stores and encountered some overly protected shoppers.

We celebrated Kenzie's birthday.  Played a phone version of Scrabble with each other.  

Sang a Covid-19 version of Happy Birthday.

And then returned home to the official location of 'Social Distancing'.. 

Wyoming.

We were greeted with this... 

The first signs of spring.

I admit, I was grateful we weren't home when these chunks slid off the roof so our car wasn't in it's normal spot.  There are large chunks like this all around the house.  I wonder if they all fell off at the same time.  That would have been quite a noise.  It's noisy enough when the icicles fall.

Farewell, Antelope, Nuts

Forgot to post this one... thought I had

There was a lot of getting ready for Miles departure.  From the day he opened his call we had 67 days to prepare for travel and for being apart for two years.  There were immunizations and shopping.  There was early Spanish lessons and advice to give.  Last laundry lessons and cooking tips.  There were driving records to send and travel visas to arrange.  He needed interviews and to attend the temple.  There were of course day to day, work and living and preparing for winter to see to as well.  Most importantly there was enjoying the moments that we had.  Tina arranged for a last Wyoming family supper the Sunday before his departure.

Through all the preparations I was remiss.  I took very few photos.  I regret many missed photo opportunities.  How I managed to not even think of them I can not understand.  We attended the temple in West Jordan.  no photo...  We attended the following week the Star Valley, WY temple in a snow storm... no photo.  Tina's farewell supper yielded no casual ranch photos.

We went shopping and he was fit for suits.  It was a family occasion... no photos.

We went to the clinic for shots, had a background check performed and driving record ordered.  We marked all his belongings with Miles sewing most of the markings on his clothing himself... no photos.

I did take dozens of photos of the window replacement project..

... and subsequently Caleb and Sarah visiting to say farewells!

The day before his departure we awoke to over 40 antelope on our hill.  And!!!.. They finally used our salt lick that we put out for them!!!  THAT I have photographs of.

We began the day watching the antelope as they grazed just feet from our living room window.  We sat in the new window nook and were excited to see them enjoying the salt lick and pond.  We watched as they frolicked on the hill.

Then we had a farewell breakfast of croissants and hot cocoa.  We had a relaxing day ahead of us with no where to be.  We intended to savor our moments of Miles and then... a banana chocolate chip cookie came between us and our enjoyable day.  Duncan had a cookie.

In jest, over the last year or so, Miles has claimed that he wanted to be the one on hand to stab Duncan with the epi-pen should the need arise.  Always warning him not to get into nuts unless he was around.  Well.. Miles was around.

When it came down to the moment of stabbing, we discovered that it was not as simple a task as had been joked of.  Neither Miles nor I were eager to the task.  We both knew it was needed and that time was of the essence but truth be told it was more difficult to do than we supposed.  This was Duncan's worst reaction ever.  He was wheezing, sneezing, vomiting violently and shaking terribly.  On top of that he broke out all over in hives.  He couldn't stop vomiting or shaking long enough to have been able to give himself the epi-pen as he always supposed he would be able to do.  While he was hunched over the toilet bowl, Miles and I held him as still as we could and found the location for the epi-pen and then went for it.  It was the longest 10 seconds.  (how long it has to be held in place for the medicine to go in)  Then the bundling everyone up quickly so we could make our way to the clinic while keeping an eye on Duncan to see if the epi-pen had indeed made a difference and was keeping his airway open enough.

This also... I took photos of.

We drove to the clinic.  Miles sitting beside Duncan with another epi-pen ready if needed.  After x-rays and an i.v. to administer more epinephrine and some steroids, we waited. 
The hives were causing him a great deal of discomfort and he didn't look good.  He was on the mend, but the ever present worry... each reaction increases in severity.

After hours of monitoring, we were sent home.  We stopped and picked up some more steroids for the week and noticed a sign at the bakery.  Only two days since Miles stopped working... Difficulties in re-staffing after Miles has left the town without doughnuts.

Back home again in time for supper, we noticed the antelope again... grazing on the grass by the house.  They had enjoyed the peaceful day we had planned.

We haven't seen them since that day.  It was as though they came to say farewell to Miles.  Winter migration time will see them gone again until May when they will return to have their babies in the Spring.  I have an appreciation for the native Americans and first settlers who told time more by the migration of the animals and the seasons than by the pages of calendars and hands of clocks.  Miles will return again when the antelope go to their winter home twice hence.  And even with our concerns of travel and safety and of Duncan's survival.. the animals will continue their patterns and the babies will come in the spring.  There is hope in that..   As difficult as our day may seem.  As much as we wish we could slow things down and stop the struggles.. the days continue.  The sun rises and sets, whether we see it or not, life plods along.

Children grow up and go out into the world.  It is as is should be and things continue.

Foxy Kitty Tails

While visiting in Manti an extra guest arrived on the doorstep.

A foxy, furry kitty.

He and the resident cat, Frisby, got on surprisingly.  Whittaker was quite taken with the fluffy  tailed feline.  He and Emerson spent a lot of time observing the antics of the kitties.

In fact... Whittaker insisted on a photo with the temporary furry guest before we left for SLC once again... so he wouldn't forget about him.  

I took very few photos while in Manti...  and most were accidental photos I wasn't even aware had occurred.  

These odd photos I came across on my phone afterwards were of nothing exceptional... 

This one was taken on purpose.  Elowen is talented on both the piano and the cello and you can tell that she enjoys playing music.  I enjoyed listening.   I thought I was taking a video of her playing a song I liked... apparently it was a photo.  I'll just hum the song when I look at the photo. 

Other adventures, that I didn't take any photos of... because when I relax I don't think to snap pics of .... relaxing.... in Manti included;

• a trip to the library in the historic building on main street... as many books in a bag for a dollar.. can't resist!
• a trip to a used book store... I'm not a reading addict... I don't think.
• a trip for Mummy and Amber to the Manti Temple
• lots of visiting and thoroughly relaxing
• keeping tabs on Jill and Duncan's travels... or non-travels as they were

While at the used bookstore, I became engrossed in looking at lots of books... odd that.

Elowen had been feeling under the weather the week before our arrival but was beginning to perk up.  So it was perplexing to discover Emerson -- not sleeping and not feeling sick (his slurred and sleepy words-- on the floor in one of the book aisles.   It couldn't have been from Elowen... we'd barely arrived the day before but he definitely looked sick suddenly.  He was warm and couldn't keep his eyes open.  So we left.  By the time we returned to the house he was feeling better and was hungry.  After eating he was content to go to sleep.  He never became worse as the week went on but he had a lingering cough and sniffles.  

We learned the next day that Miles also had felt under the weather... so Elowen was absolved of spreading the germs.

I was so glad to see the Manti temple... going in and seeing the beautiful architecture and the furnishings, it was like stepping back in time and I couldn't help but consider the pioneers who must have toiled after long days on their own fledging farms to build such an enormous testament to their faith.  Giving time, resources and energy to build this lovely temple.  I am told it will soon be shut down for renovations and retrofitting.  I hope the character is not lost in updates. 

Made up

Dress rehearsal. It was successful.  On the way home he wiped makeup off his face with wipes. We had been home about 20 minutes when I came out of the kitchen  becauseI heard a crashing sound.  Duncan was on the floor.  He seemed disoriented.  "How?"  I asked what happened.  He didnt know.  He stood up and felt light headed and then he was on the floor.  

He was fine the rest of the day. 

Then the first performance for the middle school was today at noon.  It ended at 3.15.  I was across the street at cub scouts from 4-5 so told Duncan to walk over there to have supper and rest before he had to be back for evening checkin at 5.30.  Somewhere between 3.15 and changing out of costume and walking across the street..  he started feeling dizzy and having trouble with his vision.  

I sent him to lie down and drink water.  I found some tylenol and prepped some food. He fell asleep which was good.  But only for 30 minutes.  He woke up and ate but looked awful.....  and not just because of all his stage makeup.  

It was time to head back across the street.  He said he was better and returned to the school.   My plan had been to wait for Patrick to collect little boys from scouts and then go to the school to sit in a quiet room for the long evening ahead.  We have tickets for tomorrow's performance.  

I arrived at the school at 6.15.   45 minutes after Duncan. I decided to check in on him before I settled in for the evening.  As I crossed the auditorium to go to the locker areas I saw the director.  I asked how is Duncan?  He looked confused and replied.  Fine.  Isn't he?  Then the band director from the orchestra pit saw me and called up..  "Duncan is throwing up."

I looked at the director and said.. "and that's why I'm here."

I found Duncan back stage leaning over a garbage can with a dozen 1920s clad girls clucking over him.  "He's shaking".  "He looks pale"  no one looks pale with stage makeup on.   "Did someone feed him nuts"  "get him a cold cloth"  "he needs water"..  there were two cool wet cloths and a glass of water and a chair brought within seconds. 

Boys were all standing further away....  their conversations were as follows...  did he really just hurl?  What did he eat, that stinks.  Who else knows his part?  His mom got here quick.  

After weeks and weeks of practice, we didnt have time to be sick.  With 45 minutes to show time..  we found a quiet, dark room to lie down in.  Pure peppermints.. massaging his head...  some ginger to settle his stomach... we removed as much of the thick makeup as we could without changing his look... more water.. more cool cloths...   another tylenol...  at 10 minutes to showtime he was having trouble standing without feeling dizzy and his head was pounding.. light bothered him. (Stage lights??!)

I left him and headed to the audience.  I recognized a few men from church and approached them.  "We need a blessing back stage."   

7.00 showtime.  Duncan was in the opening scene.  He wasn't as vivacious as he had been in many of the rehearsals but after the evening was over..  friends and family from the audience were shocked to learn he had been sick.   I sat back stage for the entire show.  He looked better and better as it went on.  He rested when he could and sipped water and we kept the cool cloths ready.  The cast were concerned but the show went on.  

Bows and well wishes in the foyer and then changed clothes.  Finally on our way home.  He slept in the back seat.  His head was pounding again.  Finally able to wash his face completely.  He said he felt better with his face clean but all he wanted was dark and to sleep.  

Tomorrow night...  we think we'll forego the heavy makeup.  It's the only thing in common with each problem..   and I also don't do well when wearing heavy makeup in a similar manner.  Hereditary makeup aversions?

Photos taken an hour apart.  

Should have taken one when he was curled up in the backseat on the way home.

Because I love my Lips!

There's been some agony in our midst lately.  It began with Whittaker, then Duncan and finally Emerson... Sarah ran screaming for the hills.  (Duncan wasn't cute enough to photograph)  The illness was a fever, severe lethargy, headaches and absolutely not least... mouth sores.. both cankers and cold sores.  And we're talking ten to twenty of each!

Duncan simply holed up in bed and read his books, slept and tried to eat soft bland foods.

Whittaker used all his will power not to pick at his sore lips, played until he simply had no energy left at all and napped several times a day.

Emerson wanted to be held.... constantly.  He simply could not stop picking at his sore lips which sent him into panicked fear when the bleeding began.  He finally conceded to snuggling next to me on his bear chair with a blanket, or a bag of books.  He did not eat... one bite at the beginning of each meal was all he would do... he fortunately was willing to sip juice and water through a straw.

Just couldn't resist saying this over and over.  

It lasted a solid week.  Emerson's lips however took much longer to heal since he had been relentlessly picking at them.