The beginning of the Christmas season started with some fun:
40th surprise birthday for our good friend Emily: This was the first day after Little Peanut moved out, so the kids got to stay home with no babysitter!
Christmas service projects at school: Matthew's class made care packages for a local pregnancy center. Hannah's class made cookies and cards for the school teachers and staff. [We later learned that there was both a case of strep and of covid in Hannah's class that day, as well as two other classmates who had family member test positive. Her class wore masks and were extremely cautious for the last week of school!]
Making gingerbread houses:
Took L and sis to Akron zoo lights:
Making cookies for neighbors and teachers:
Then on Thursday, we got a text from Matthew and Hannah's school saying they were on lockdown due to a gunman in the area. (Turned out to be a domestic disturbance involving drugs that escalated.) It was terrifying for the parents, but my kids seemed relatively unphased. Matthew's biggest take-away was that he got permission to run in the hallway because he was not in his classroom when the lockdown was called. Hannah assumed from what she heard that it was a car chase, and I chose not to correct her. Here's the full story, if you're interested.
They were locked down for about an hour and half before the police gave them the all-clear. The school decided to go forward with the Christmas concerts planned for that afternoon because "there was no better time to sing praises to the Lord."
On Friday, Matthew and Hannah had class parties
Scott had tried to get his covid booster shot two weeks ago, but because of a scheduling error, he actually got it Friday afternoon.
That night, we took Micah and our neighbor to their indoor soccer game. The neighbor spent the night at our house while his parents were out.
Saturday, Scott was supposed to go to the Browns game, but it got postponed until Monday. He felt a little off from his booster, so we were glad for the change in plans.
Sunday we finally got our turn to bring dinner to the Hays. We ate with them and played games and loved on baby Ashlynn.
And then, on Monday while Scott was at the Browns game with friends, we got the dreaded text. Although our neighbor was vaccinated, healthy, and cautious, he happened to sit next to someone at lunch who was asymptomatic. He woke up Monday morning feeling unwell, and tested positive for covid.
When Scott woke up Tuesday morning, he did not feel well, but tested negative on a home test. We kept him isolated anyway (whatever he had, we didn't want it!) The next few days were stressful: checking in regularly with our friends that we may have infected, over-analyzing any minor symptoms, warning our family of a possible change in plans, trying to procure more tests, etc. I still made the food I was supposed to bring to Indiana, but I didn't pack my clothes. (And I reserved a grocery pick-up time slot for Friday morning, in case we needed food for staying here over Christmas.)
A few hours before we were supposed to leave on Thursday, we tested Scott again. He was positive this time. My heart broke for the kids. When your family is spread out across the country, they only get to be all together once or twice a year. To miss out on that time yet again was really sad. Nonetheless, these kids are tough. They handled the disappointment gracefully and have been making the most of our quarantine.
We did a group zoom with everyone in Indiana, and the cousins spent a little extra time chatting with each other.
I gave Hannah a make-up kit for Christmas, so she treated me to a makeover.
On Monday, our wonderful family drove hours out of their way to bring us our goodies from Indiana and have a quick distanced visit out on the porch.
Then on Tuesday, we had second Christmas. (Side note: this is how I'm making cinnamon rolls from now on! So easy and amazingly delicious!)
Scott is finally starting to get his energy back (he does NOT recommend getting the booster and getting exposed to the virus on the same day). Hannah has had a sore throat for a week, but has tested negative for both covid and strep. The rest of us seem healthy. Many of our friends have been ill (some covid, some not), but most everyone seems to be through the worst of it.
We're waiting out our time with games, food, movies, reading and SO much building/creating. (Seriously, the legos, perler beads, and other craft creations will need their own post.)
I still worry, and I mourn missing out on what we had planned, but my faith and trust remains in God. The One who loved us so much to give us His Son, is worthy of our praise.
