...but with Illinois extending the stay-at-home order through the end of May, it looks like my poor planner will stay blank[ish] for another 31 days. ^^ Maybe "2020 planner origami" isn't such a bad idea after all!
Last Saturday was a 12-hour shift on labor and delivery for me. Things at the hospital [from my perspective] are still out of sorts; while the pregnant/OB community hasn't been impacted too terribly by COVID-19, there are still patients who've tested positive that we care for and there is still endless chatter surrounding the new hospital policies and PPE guidelines, etc., as well as just constant discussion of the pandemic in general. The unknown is always scary, and there are still plenty of unknowns with this virus. Co-workers say they are sick of talking about COVID, yet in the same breath it's all they/we can talk about for the entire shift. And when everyone's heightened emotions and opinions and experiences are piled together -- that means the emotions and opinions and experiences of physicians and nurses and management and patients, too -- it can really make for an emotionally taxing day. It's definitely not a "fun" time to be at work, but I also admit that being on the clock at a large hospital in the thick of a global pandemic is not the death sentence I originally imagined it would be. In fact, the ONLY plans scribbled onto my May calendar right now are those hospital shifts, so in some ways keeping to a fairly normal work routine and being forced out of the house 3 days/week has been good for me [and probably good for my family, too]. The enormous fear that was here for me in March is dwindling down quickly. Just over a month ago when all of this erupted, I considered writing a letter to my kids in case I died on the frontlines [don't laugh; there were many nights I lost sleep wondering how my family would function without me when I died from the novel coronavirus]; now, after seeing [mild] COVID-19 in the flesh and hearing personal stories of many friends and co-workers who have also recovered from mild cases of the virus, I kind of just want to "get it" --> and recover --> and develop antibodies --> and start giving the community some herd immunity so we can get things back to normal as soon as possible. A vaccine will not be here any time soon, and the country cannot stay on lockdown forever. Living in fear and sheltered inside our homes for months on end is not a long-term solution! I'm very intrigued by the frequent conversations re: herd immunity and would most certainly love to hear other health professionals' thoughts who are more educated than I!
OB/GYN humor... Sorry, I had to! Anyway! I mulled all of that ^^ over and over in my mind on the commute home and swallowed most of my thoughts before coming home to strip/shower/sanitize as usual.
Sunday was a new day with a clean slate and a fresh attitude! We cleaned up breakfast and hit the road to collect our first curbside pick-up order from Michael's. SCORE!!! Call me crazy [or call me lazy?], but this service was amazing and I'll definitely be a little bit sad if it doesn't continue after the social distancing orders are lifted. We put the crafting supplies to work immediately on a few Mother's Day gifts! More to come on this but don't want to spoil any gifts...
We also colored pictures of Mary to submit for the school's May Crowning video. The principal created this in lieu of how class would present flowers to Mary together if school was in session. H&S were being sooo silly, and it took several tries to get a photo that was good enough to submit, hahah!
After an afternoon nap x3 [which felt soooo good]...
...and a family trip to Market Basket for more rocks...
...we continued the landscaping project and enjoyed an afternoon of beautiful weather. Harper also completed the Ice Bucket Challenge that she got nominated twice for! She was so proud of herself and watched the video several times afterwards.
Harper woke up a couple hours later and just in time for her weekly preschool Zoom meeting. The unit of the week was "nutrition," so each student was asked to bring their favorite food to show and tell. Harper chose a cheese stick and then ate it after she showed her friends. :)
After the Zoom sesh, we topped off the crock pot with one of our favorite recipes: chicken taco soup...
...and then headed out to Home Depot to grab a few supplies to get our new water softener up and running. Harper donned her brand new mask [thanks, Aunt Emma!] and skipped inside with Brian; she was soooo excited to be out and about, and rightfully so since this was her first time going anywhere outside our house or car since March 13!!! Whoa. Adventures to Home Depot AND Market Basket in the same week?!? Livin' SO LARGE.
Today [Friday] is May Day and also would've been the May Crowning at the school that I was talking about above. I got a little sad today realizing how much I truly miss our parish family and school community, but as the Bluejay Prayer says, we are "strong of heart, gentle in spirit, and courageous in adversity." My heart swells so big for these God-loving, sweet spirited girls; we will do everything we can to help them grow in faith while "Mass and class" aren't an option.
[^^ Mariology 102 begins next semester...LOL!]
After Brian wrapped up his work day in the basement, we shared popsicles on the porch...
After Brian wrapped up his work day in the basement, we shared popsicles on the porch...
...and also hit up Market Basket [again] for MORE rock and a few flowers! The girls got right to planting when we made it home.
Hopefully at least one of these girls grows into more of a green thumb than their momma is! ;) :)
And thattttt's a wrap! What a week! I'm off to clean up dinner and mix up a little Friday evening cocktail!
To be continued...
