Covid Diary- 8 May 2020

It's time I really got writing or this will all be over and I'll have forgotten what it was truly like. I'll back track and fill in what we've done each day since we've been in isolation as I find the time.

It's so strange, we have more time at the moment as we don't have commitments (or they are extremely few) outside the home and yet I feel busier than ever. There's never a quiet moment and I'm never alone! I decided to keep a diary and to share it on here because one day we will look back on this, or others in the future will look back, and wonder at how surreal life was. How things really were during the Covid-19 pandemic, so what better time to write than when I am living it day to day, right now?! Even if no one else reads this I will treasure these accounts for myself when this is all over. It'll be a steadfast reminder that we made it through. I've already learned to cherish the simple things in life and not to take anything for granted and I'm excited for what else I will learn and the personal growth that I will gain during this crisis. This is a period of truly giving thanks to God for what we have and not taking anything for granted, I pray that I never forget this time of utter dependence on Him and the way that He is providing.

I woke up bright and early with hubby, as I usually do. I've done this almost every day in our 10 years of marriage- I figure if anything happens to either of us during the day I want to be sure I didn't miss a moment that I could have spend with him. I want to leave no room for regrets and I want to ensure I have plenty to give thanks for. My alarm went a 5.25 and I hopped out of bed at 5.30. While he showered, I made his oatmeal ready for coffee time, I packed his lunch- left overs from our tea last night. This part of my day is so routine and normal, it's hard to believe there is anything upside down happening outside of our home but it's when my little people rise it really dawns on me how strange life is. There are no coffee mornings, there are no trips to the play park, there are no markets to plan for, there are no trips to the library, there are no play dates etc. It's just me and my little people day in and day out. After hubby left for work I hoped to go back to sleep but there is so much to think about, things are starting to open up next week all being well. What should we do about the Strathmore Centre Market? The vendors really need the business opportunities but I don't want to do anything rash that could contribute a further spread of this virus or a second wave. How do we pick a date when things ahead are so uncertain? There is no solid time line and what happens really depends on how each stage goes, I guess there is even a chance of us ending back at square one with everything aside from essential business shut. So much is unknown and there is no predicting what will happen. Did we catch things early enough in Canada/ Alberta that there won't be a second surge if we re-open to early, etc. I feel like it's time wasted all this pondering, but, at the same time we have to get the ideas together and take time to think and process so we are ready when the time is right. I feel like I have nothing to show for my time from when hubby went to work until 7am yet I don't feel like I relaxed, it's just such an odd feeling and I have it so often at the moment.

My Mum called me at 7, and it was such a nice surprise. It's great if I can catch a phone call when the kids are still asleep. Even a very short call is so refreshing. When they're awake, I feel like as soon as I reach for my phone a battle for my attention commences even if I've spend the last hour or more giving my children my undivided attention. When my parents are at home I talk to them almost every day. We video call while the kids eat breakfast, we catch up on the news and they get to see the progress with the kids. But, my parents have ended up stranded at my Grandma's house up in the north of Scotland. Travel restrictions over there (in UK) prevent them from travelling back home and there is very limited cell phone signal at Grandma's. The only time we can talk is if my Mum calls when she's out doing essential errands. In the UK they are only allowed out for essentials and one hour walk a day. I'm extremely thankful for the situation here in Alberta. I had a short chat with her before the little people woke, then they got to talk with Grandma and let her know what they had been up to. Mum was so surprised at how the little lady's speech is coming along!

Today I am exhausted but there is so much to do. The housework is backed up as I spent yesterday cooking all the time that I wasn't entertaining the kids. The 5 love languages presentation with Gary Chapman was fabulous and it's given me lots to think about. While it's fresh in my mind I want to work through my notes. What changes am I going to make in my life to further enhance my marriage? What can I apply to make my marriage stronger and further my personal development? etc.

The kids loved yesterday evenings tea party so much that they requested a "tea party for breakfast". I gave them left over mini quiches and scones with cream and strawberries and they were happy. I felt a little guilty not making them a proper fresh breakfast (usually they have oatmeal with fruit and natural yogurt. I figure there's so much going on at the moment that as long as they're happy and healthy some things are OK to just let go. While they ate their tea party I put the garbage out, again nothing out of the ordinary but then the chaos hit!

I haven't been out with the kids for a couple of weeks, it's so hard even being out for a walk; When the kids spot someone they know they instinctively rush over to greet them and trying to rope them back in is a challenge. They don't understand, and why should they. We bring them up and provide them with opportunities to develop their social skills and grow and suddenly there are restrictions in place. The only people they can now hug are Mummy and Daddy. They can't visit grandparents, uncles and aunts, friends, etc. This is a strange time for us all and especially them. It opens up lots of opportunities for talks and education but there is so much beyond our comprehension as adults, how can we possibly expect our children to be ok and understand. I feel like today they've finally had enough and so have I. I'm at a loss for what to do!

They were running wild around the house as it was pouring rain outside. I'm very thankful for the indoor space that we have, I know many others do not have this luxury- this is the kind of thing I no longer take for granted- I specifically give thanks to God for this provision for us. I tried to figure out what to do while they entertained themselves but with the running, shrieking, bashing of toys, it was so hard to concentrate! They were having fun which was the main thing so I let this go on until they began to fight and wind each other up when I resigned my work, poured myself a cup of real English tea in my "In everything give thanks" mug and suggested story time. They grabbed a very fitting book to start, "Five Minutes Peace" and climbed onto my lap. We read stories and talked until nap time. I treasure this time with my little ones, stories open opportunities for more questions, activities, education and growth and I'm very thankful that they both love to listen and engage. We really miss the library for being able to learn about things in more detail so I've resorted to youtube videos too expand topics for them!

Following story time I gave them their snacks and thankfully today they both took naps. Wee man is beginning to resist his and I am so not ready for him to give it up entirely, I encourage him to at least take a quiet time out as he really needs the unwind and reset time (and so do I!).

After nap time we went on an adventure in the truck! When we do go out it feels like it takes even longer to get ready than it did before as we are so out of routine! Thankfully everything we have to go out for at the moment has very flexible timing! As we drove wee man gave me a guided tour around the town, he was filled with excitement. "Mummy this is the pizza place Daddy goes and this is the high school- Mummy did you know I'm big now- I can go there..., oh there's the pool Mummy we really should go there again etc." Our outing was to collect our good food box. Even this was different and had required additional planning. Before leaving I had to prepare the box of the pick up to keep people contact to the minimum for everyone's safety. We pulled up to the civic center and there was a one way system to drive around. We had to pull up to the front doors and stay in our vehicles, a volunteer wearing a mask and gloves came and took our names then our good food box was brought out and put in the back of the vehicle for us. It seems so strange writing this, like it can't possibly be the truth yet just a few hours ago this is what happened and this is the new normal for the foreseeable future, it's just crazy. I feel so thankful to those who do volunteer and risk their lives and health to do what they can for the community. I also feel so helpless staying home as much as I can, just looking after my children and minimizing my contact with people. Yet, this is me doing my part to flatten the curve. All I can really do is be thankful, show my support for our essential workers and volunteers and pray for them.

We stopped at the mail box on the way home and the parcel from my Grandma with sweaters she knitted for the kids (she sent it at the end of March) still hasn't arrived. This is another challenge we face at the moment, shipping takes FOREVER! Even my Epicure orders are taking longer. More and more people are shopping online whenever they can, this puts strain on the companies fulfilling the orders and the delivery companies and staff as they are even busier than normal with restrictions in place to minimize the spread of the virus. It's so crazy and I am just so thankful for them all.

We got home with the box and it was time for the return from groceries regime.... But with my little people in tow this time (this added a whole other level of challenge- "You can't have grapes until they're washed, don't touch the box, oh you grabbed xxx, now it's time to wash your hands...). Usually I leave the kids with hubby while I groceries shop and I have everything washed and put away before I go and see them, I want to do all that I possibly can to reduce the risk of us coming in contact with the virus or carrying it to others. Here's my groceries shopping routine.

Once this was done it was time for dinner and I had no plan. I've completely fallen off my healthy eating plan this week and I'm really paying for it with my mood and energy. Weekends are a dreadful time for me to get back on track, hubby often cooks and it takes so much restraint to resist all the yummies he makes so I'll wait until Monday then get back on it. I asked hubby what he wanted and he requested tater tots that he got from the store yesterday, my little man requested that he cook "wearing mine Epicure apron" so we went with tater tots, meatballs in a satay sauce with a side ranch salad.

We're having our family "porchtraits" done tomorrow so I got the kids bathed and into bed then planned the outfits for the family before trying to get as much laptop work done as I could.