COVID 19 - Week 3

DAY 15
Monday (3/30)  Mondays are always long and this was no exception.  The babies still aren't feeling well.  Maddie's breathing seemed to be labored as we went to bed last night so I woke up every 4 hours to give her a breathing treatment and I'm praying I see improvement soon so that we don't have to take a trip to the doctors.  Thankfully the big kids played really nice today.  In fact they spent almost the entire day in the boys' room building lego mobiles and playing games.  Hazel and Evie played nicely too, mostly Barbies and baby games.  They also worked on a little more fingerprint art.  Our plan is to make their favorite creations into magnets.  Oh and they got out all of their school supplies.  We are going to give online schooling a trial run tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

DAY 16
Tuesday (3/31)  Well today was a doozy.  The kids were so excited to try online schooling and I tried to let them after breakfast but things quickly got out of hand.  Let's just say not enough computers, not enough independent workers, not enough Mommy, and WAY to many fussy babies.  It basically ended shortly after it began with tears from Mommy and that was that.  We will try again tomorrow and with a little more of a plan.  I don't know what I was thinking?  In my defense though, one of our biggest hang ups was how terribly fussy the babies were.  Maddie seemed a little better today but they're soooo grumpy.  I'm just not sure if it's because of the cold, teething, or maybe even earaches.  All I know is I need them back to themselves ASAP.

So after my meltdown we headed out to enjoy a few minutes of sunshine, as we haven't had much lately.  The kids rode bikes down the driveway again through our only puddle.  This quickly escalated from riding and spraying water, to jumping in the puddle, to intentionally filling their boots with water.  It ended up being a big mess but it was good to be outside and laugh.  The babies didn't really nap but I was able to squeeze in a little time to plan for online schooling tomorrow.  We also spent some time video chatting with the Wallaces today which was fun and Grammy sent us a video of her reading aloud a book.  Hazel LOVED it and watched it at least 3 times.

DAY 17
Wednesday (4/1)  Schooling went much better today.  Of course we didn't have to get through an entire day since we did do a little yesterday, but still I think it was a better rhythm.  We started our day at 7:30 with breakfast.  Then from 8:00-9:00 while the babies ate and the little girls played the Bigs did an hour of work.  Then it was free time until lunch.  We ate at 11:15 and then at 11:45 I put Evie up in her room, the babies to bed, Hazel on the couch for more story time with Grammy, and this basically allowed us to do another hour of online schooling from 12:00 - 1:00.  Thankfully the babies actually napped today so we were able to finish all of their work for the day and I still got a few minutes of down time, which felt so much more doable.  After school the little girls had tablet time and the Bigs kept watching Little House on the Prairie.  We just started reading our 3rd book in that series and they seem to really be enjoying it.

DAY 18
Thursday (4/2)  Today we did school again.  I learned how to scan and turn in work for the kids and Hazel started "homeschooling" with Grammy.  She loves sitting and Face Timing with Grammy while the older kids get their afternoon school work done.  Grammy also stopped by for a minute to drop off some Easter crafts.  We maintained social distancing which felt really strange.  The kids just wanted to give her a hug, but we're doing our best to abide by the guidelines so the kids sat on the couch and she showed them the projects she prepared for them.  Today we made the wreath Grammy brought over with a bird in a nest.  It made a huge mess but the kids loved it.

Daddy had to run up to Winco for a few groceries.  He went right when they opened to try to avoid any crowds and came home with a little bit of ice cream.  I guess this is how we plan to survive the next few weeks.

We played Uno with kids after dinner.  Games just really don't work for us right now but the kids had fun!

Today marked 1,000,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus world wide and 50,000 deaths.  So sad!  New York is still the worst place here in the U.S. and the past few days they've been loosing between 250 and 500 people a day and almost every day there are close to 30,000 additional confirmed cases in the U.S.  The numbers just keep growing.  Praying we flatten this curve soon.

DAY 19
Friday (4/3)  Today was long!  I guess it's bound to be like that some days.  Everyone woke up kind of grumpy and although school has been going a little better the days are just too full.  There's no space to breathe and no relief.  Brandon's overwhelmed with all that he has going on at work, I'm overwhelmed with the kids, and it's just hard.   Someone quite literally ALWAYS needs something and most days it all just feels like too much!

One fun thing today was that Grammy dropped of supplies to make Robert the robot.  Hazels letter of the day is R.  So the kids had fun making and eating those after we finished school.  We also started jellybean necklaces, rode bikes, and in the afternoon we made surprise flower deliveries.  We dove out to EZ orchards and picked up tulips.  (They are selling tulips for the Woodburn Tulip Festival which didn't get to open this year.)  Then the kids each got a turn dropping flowers at someones door, ringing the doorbell, and running back to the car.  I also got some tulips which made me happy.

Today called for a hot chocolate break.

Grumpy twinnies!

Robert the Robot

Everything feels a little better with these in the kitchen.

DAY 20
Saturday (4/4) Saturdays still feel like Saturdays which I'm thankful for.  We slept in a little, Daddy made skinny pancakes, I cleaned both of our bathrooms while Brandon helped with the twins, and then after lunch the kids played outside for a long time while I worked on this and listened to some videos by Jen Hatmaker which always make me laugh.  I especially loved her homeschool plan.  I could not stop laughing, which reminded me of this that Ashley sent me last week.  Pretty much sums things up.

Shaken Not Stirred!

DAY 21
Sunday (3/5)  Another week of church from home.  This week I got a little over ambitious trying to find 45 minutes to actually sit and listen to the sermon and the whole thing fell apart.  I tried putting Hazel and Evie in the bath, assuming they'd play the entire service, and gave the babies their breakfast by the T.V.  Unfortunately, the girls only lasted 15 minutes so we had to pause to get them out of the bath and then by the time I had them set up at the table with their Sunday school lesson the babies wanted down and the big kids were tired of sitting.  So this week was pretty much a FAIL!  Live and learn I guess.

Brandon treats us to the yummiest food on the weekends!

My tulips are really beautiful today!  I'm so glad I planned them this Fall.  I never could have guessed how much I would have needed their bright cheer!

Things still feel hard with my family which stinks. I've progressively over the past years struggled more and more with who I am and where I fit within my family so this has been a tough 3 weeks for me.  I'm probably just tired, but it feels important to me, and I'm trying really hard to figure out what God is teaching me through this time of being alone rather than just pushing the hard feelings away.  Sometimes I feel like I'm doing that pretty well and other times, like today, I'm really struggling.  I feel like I have no one that I can turn to, I don't feel like anyone understands me, and I just feel so out of place even in my own life and so in some ways I'm feeling lost and yet in a strange way I simultaneously feel like I am being freed to stand on my own two feet.  I have a strong sense that for me personally there is much more to this than the simple surface disagreements which have stirred these feelings.

I think one small part of this might be learning to own my own feelings and convictions, not in an angry or judgmental way, but simply allowing myself to feel what I feel rather than always pushing my feelings down in order to please those around me.  I'm learning that I'm not good at feeling anything on my own and I'm only happy when I'm making someone else happy.  When I feel like I've failed to make someone I love happy or that I've disappointed them in some way my emotions and self esteem seem to always come crashing down.  I don't know who I am if I'm not helping or pleasing the ones I love and I don't think that this is entirely good because way to much of my worth and joy ends up being tied up in pleasing, and not rocking the boat or upsetting anyone.  I'm realizing more and more that this just is not always possible and this feels like a huge weight being lifted from my soul.  I can't always please my husband and my family and I can't live a life that is both full of conviction and one that never rocks the boat.  So today I'm allowing myself to grieve and be sad for the things I'm missing, and for the ways that I feel I'm disappointing my family, and for the discomfort I think I'm causing them by making a choice that's not the same as theirs.  I'm also choosing to intentionally be thankful for the wonderful blessings that continue to come amidst this really, really difficult season.

I saw this on Facebook and thought it might be an interesting thing to keep.  It really is interesting to know that we are living history.

Just so I NEVER forget..... April 2, 2020

Gas prices at a record low.
School cancelled till April 28th...but I doubt they will go back this school year.
Self-distancing measures on the rise.
Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers 6ft from each other.
Limited number of people inside stores, therefore lineups outside the store doors.
Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.
Parks, trails, entire cities locked up.
Entire sports seasons cancelled.
Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.
Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled.
Churches are closed.
No gatherings of 100 or more, then 50 or more, now 10 or more.
Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.
Children's outdoor play parks are closed.
We are to distance from each other.
Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.
Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.
Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towels and no hand sanitizer.
Shelves are almost bare.
Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.
Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.
Fines are established for breaking the rules.
Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.
Press conferences daily from our Governor and our President.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Fauci gives daily updates on US’ new cases, recoveries, and deaths.
People wearing masks and gloves outside.
Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.
7,000,000 applications for Employment Insurance as people go without.

This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 11th, 2020.

Why, you ask, do I write this status?

One day it will show up in my memory feed, and it will be a yearly reminder that life is precious. To not take the things we dearly love for granted.

We have so much!

Also loved this...

COVID 19 - Week 2

DAY 8
Monday (3/23)  Daddy worked from home and it went pretty well.  The kids painted again.  The little girls played with play dough, and the Bigs played Catan with Daddy in the afternoon and Skippo with Mommy in the evening.  Today the governor ordered strict stay at home orders punishable by misdemeanor.  Generally the kids felt worse today.  It's still just the 3 coughing, but Hazel and Wyatt were warm and not themselves.  I'm trying not to feel anxious but it all feels very overwhelming if I let myself think about caring for 7 sick children with everything so upside down in the world.  There are so many concerns about our healthcare system failing and I've had to back way off reading and listening to the news and watching the numbers.  Instead I've used my time today to listen to podcasts by some of my favorite pastors and just intentionally do what I can to stay grounded in the truth.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ~ Isaiah 41:10

DAY 9
Tuesday (3/24)  We made sand art again today, played the Game of Life, and the kids enjoyed more Skippo games and time outside.  Brandon had to lay off his first people today which was hard and I got to talk to Tina for awhile which was really nice.  Sadie, Wyatt, and Hazel are still coughing and  Wyatt and Hazel are still warm, but overall their energy seems up from yesterday which is encouraging.

Also Wyatt had another ZOOM meeting with his class.  They had a dance party!  His teachers make school so fun!  They also took prayer requests which was really sobering.  There are really heavy things on 3rd grade hearts right now.  Their prayer requests were almost all centered around the Coronavirus.  They were asking for prayer for grandparents that they were worried about, and siblings who don't live with them who they are worried about, and for parents who are health care workers who they are worried about, and for the president, and for people generally not to be scared and overwhelmed about the Coronavirus, and for parents who are getting lots of calls and texts from their bosses and who are just really stressed out.  At the end one of the kiddos prayed:

Dear Jesus, I pray that everybody would be safe and for grandparents and family members that they would stay safe and for the world to know that you are with us and you are powerful and that you will help us through this.  Amen
Yes!!!  AMEN!!

My girls love to play baby games.  Today they were out taking their babies for walks and bike rides.

We do our best to get out every afternoon.  While the Bigs play on their tablets, the babies and I take a little walk to get the mail, say hi to the animals, and just get some fresh air.

ZOOM

We are desperate to find ways to entertain these babies of ours who wish they were walking but instead are becoming experts at falling and as a result crying.  Today their entertainment of choice was Sadie playing her flute for them.  They also enjoyed watching Daisy through the window.

This seems to be their own little language for now.  They love making it and it almost always gets the other one going.  So cute!

DAY 10
Wednesday (3/25)  Today was a very lonely day.  Brandon has so much going on with work as jobs are closing and he is responsible for so many people and decisions.  His work day today was something like 6:00am to 5:00pm with a break for dinner and bedtime, and then back at it until just after 8:00.  On top of just a really long day I stopped by the dairy to pick up some groceries Robert had grabbed for me a few days ago and found out that the rest of my family is continuing to get together.  While I know I shouldn't let this bother me, I know we are all allowed to make our own choices, it still in this moment makes me feel so much more alienated than I was already feeling.  I realize we will probably never know the role our actions play in this, which makes it hard, but what I landed on for me is that I just have to keep reminding myself that I'm not staying at home for me or even for my own family, but for people I love who this could harm.  I stay at home for Dale and Tina and Jenna, for Janelle, for Knox, for Quincy, and for Grandma and Grandpa and while I know I won't save their lives I really do pray that there is a person like me living near them who will save their life by staying at home too.  It is hard to ignore the numbers and what the experts are predicting will happen here in the coming months.  They may be wrong or it may all be a stupid conspiracy.  Honestly I don't know!  I don't know what to believe and I pray that "they," whoever "they" are, are wrong.  I guess in the end if this was all a big waste of time and the worst thing that happened was I missed out on a few things and experienced some loneliness, then I guess I'll have to see that as a good outcome but man my heart is conflicted and heavy today.  It's so heavy as I read stories of elderly people in Spain being abandoned in retirement homes by their caretakers only to be found days later by police, and doctors in Italy having to choose who lives and dies, and hospitals in New York where as of today women are no longer allowed to have a support person to be in the room with them during labor.  How is it possible that in the 21st century, in America, this is what is happening?!?!  Yet in light of all of this I recognize that I blessed!  I'm so thankful that this isn't severely affecting children, and that Brandon has a good job, and that we have space for our kids to run around, and that they have each other.  Hazel seems to be hanging in there with this cold or whatever they have, and I'm really thankful for that.  Sadie also seems to be improving, but Wyatt was worse, and the twins are starting to cough.  Praying again that this passes quickly because man am I tired.

Like I said we are desperate for new forms of twin entertainment. Mommy is all out of ideas and energy so almost anything goes.

DAY 11 
Thursday (3/26)  Today was better.  We had some sunshine which was nice.  In the morning the kids rode their bikes down the driveway, we played with sidewalk chalk, and in the afternoon we took a quick trip into Salem.  The hospital was looking for volunteers to sew masks.  They had put together kits to make 10,000 masks and were going to pass them out from 1:00-3:00.  So we headed up to pick up a kit but when we got off the freeway at about 1:30 traffic was stopped.  We figured it was an accident but as we got closer to the lot where they were passing out kits we realized that it was primarily all people trying to do the same thing.  It was backed up in literally every direction.  So we headed back home, but it was encouraging to know so many people wanted to help.

The kids had a lot of fun today riding their bikes down the driveway and through the puddle.  Even Evie got into it, although she's a bit of a wild child on that tricycle and we were all waiting for her to crash.

My first tulip bloomed today!!!

Maddie got to work with Daddy for a few minutes today.  She's a big help I assure you.

Getting Our Wiggles Out!

DAY 12
Friday (3/27)  Today marked 100,000 confirmed cases of COVID 19 in the US.  It's really so unreal.  So far the US has only had 1,579 deaths but its hard to even imagine what to expect when today alone Italy has lost 919 people.  Incredibly sad!!!  All this reminds me that we have no right to complain about anything.  We have it so good to be stuck at home with the ones we love.

Today Sadie had her first ZOOM meeting with her class and I think she was excited to show off the Twinkies.  The twins have been pretty miserable today which is sad.  They're feverish and coughing but the others are starting to feel better so that is good, and we finally made our chocolate chip cookies and started watching Little House on the Prairie.

Today it was Aubrey's turn to work with Daddy.

Oh Alexa or as Hazel calls her MaLexa...

DAY 13
Saturday (3/28)  Cooper had his first ZOOM meeting with his class today.  He was pretty excited!!  Also I got google classrooms set up for the oldest 3 so I guess that means we are ready to embark on the next leg of this journey...online education.  We also made a quick trip to Home Depot for pellets and charcoal.  Only Daddy went in, but we all enjoyed leaving the house for a drive.  The babies are still coughing a lot and didn't sleep well.  Hopefully just one or two more days and they will be back to themselves.  Everyone else seems to be doing well.  Oh and Daddy and Mommy played some Super Mario Brother's with the kids and Daddy got a little bit more demo done on our bathroom.

DAY 14
Sunday (3/29)  I can't help but keep thinking how much slower life feels right now.  Days seem long and though there are still many things undone I've also had time for things I wouldn't have if not for the situation we are currently in.  So today I choose thankfulness for those things.  For games played, and cookies baked, and podcasts listened to, and pictures taken, and beauty noticed, and conversations had, and time enjoyed, and things learned, and subtle changes felt, and most importantly for more unhurried time with the Lord than I can remember having in probably the past decade.

Today we watched church online again and this time the little girls watched their own lesson and did an activity sheet, Mommy was feeling a little more ambitious on week 2, we also walk outside to check on the goats with Evie and the babies, and my tulips are starting to open up.  Yay!!!  Bigger kids are feeling much better but babies seem to still be feeling lousy :(  Oh and we ended the day with Star Wars and a pizza party even treating ourselves to pizza from both Papa Murphy's and Little Caesars.  We couldn't come to a unanimous agreement and figured why not???  We've got time!

Kids Church Online

A few encouraging things I came across week:

Carloads of Christians took part in an amazing prayer event at the Cartersville Medical Center in Georgia.  They came to pray for patients and the medical teams who are taking care of the patients.  Horns honked, those praying held up encouraging homemade signs, while atop the hospital, some staff members appeared to say thank you and even take part in the mass community prayer.

As "Waymaker" played on radios that were turned up loud, believers prayed and worshiped.  Videos from Facebook show the enthusiasm and solidarity as prayers to God connected all.

Doctors and Nurses Singing "Waymaker" Over Their Hospital

Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, Light in the Darkness

That is who you are!!!!

Also loved this letter written by an Author I love Ann Voskamp:

Dear Older Neighbor,

I just wanted you to know that every evening, when it grows dark on these empty streets, I see the light flicker on over your dining table & I see you there through the window.

And in the middle of a global pandemic, I needed a way to tell you:

Don't be afraid of what is outside your doors.

Because we are all going to war against this virus for you, because you've waged wars for our freedom, for the comfort of our lives.

You've battled through recessions for us.
You've rationed for us.
You've gone with less for us.

You're the generation who taught us what sacrifice and grit and kindness really was.

And exactly because you taught us well - we won't fail you now.

We will fight this virus exactly the way you've taught us to fight for what is right.

You're the ones who taught us to do whatever it takes to rise for the vulnerable & now we will band together to do hard things for the kind of life & values that matter.

You're the generation who was birthed after the last World War & we promise we will not let your generation die without us going to war with the world against this virus.

Your very lives are at stake & you can count on us to care more for your lives than for our stocks.

The cure isn't worse than the problem - because sacrifice is never worse than the privilege of protecting lives.

And we know:

If we sacrifice anyone's health for the health of the economy, it's our own collective soul that needs healing.

We are all in this boat together & together we will find ways to hold on to all of us through this storm - because there is no pushing anyone out of this boat.  Or parts of all of us go down.

When I saw you through the window tonight - your crowned white glory there in all the light - I just couldn't wait another day to somehow thank you, somehow say:

Don't be afraid, Older Neighbor.

You've taught us well:

We will protect you with our very lives - as you've given your very lives for ours.


This has been a great reminder to me in the lonely moments when I find myself wondering if staying home even matters.  When at times this week the decision to stay home seemed hard and sometimes silly and possibly just not worth the cost, this reminded me that even if it only saves one life it is a small price to pay.  This generation has laid down their lives for our freedoms and we can temporarily set aside some of our freedoms for their lives.


Finally I came across this quote from C.S. Lewis book Screwtape Letters written in 1942.

Satan:  I will cause anxiety, fear, and panic.  I will shut down business, schools, places of worship, and sports events.  I will cause economic turmoil.

Jesus:  I will bring together neighbors, restore the family unit, I will bring dinner back to the kitchen table.  I will help people slow down their lives and appreciate what really matters.  I will teach my children to rely on me and not the world.  I will teach my children to trust me and not their money and material resources.

God is at work!