The Rona Strikes Again

 

I truly had started believing I was immune to this virus. After all I had been in close contact with 2 infected people, 3 if you count Reagan back in Nov 2019. (There's no proof she had it but makes sense that she did. That's a story for another time.) It's hard to say from where or from whom I contracted the dreaded thing but it found me. It found Olivia too! We kept quiet because of our experience when Chris got sick. The haters, the know it alls, the judgy-judgers, those more "woke" were too much to take but it's time to tell most of our story.  I don't ever put everything in writing.

How it started: One night of fever. One day of a tickle in my throat. And then the headache, oh the headache! Which symptoms did I have? Almost all of them. Was I horribly sick? No, but I started to say I might die. Chris disagreed with my diagnosis of possible death. I wouldn't wish anyone to feel the way I felt but I am glad I finally got "it" and it's over. Remember Chris had Rona back in November? He didn't get it again from me...he has the antibodies. People forget, that is a real thing!!! My body hurt, my head hurt, my eyeballs hurt. I wasn't hungry, everything tasted terrible. I lost 15 pounds but then most of it managed to find me again. :(  I couldn't think. I was lonely, except for the cats. Still, I am glad we got it. Olivia, of coarse, wasn't as bad as me. She's a kid and although there have been a few serious cases in (healthy) children, they typically bounce back in no time. The quarantine for Liv might have been worse than the actual illness. 

How it ended: One day I was sure I might die and the next I was 97% better. How? My dear friend brought me a bag full of remedies. Bone broth, Emergen-C, Gatorade, Zinc and a couple meds that have been around for ages. Guess what? THEY WORKED!!  Guess what else? THEY ARE CHEAP!! I almost didn't take them because I was fearful. As I sit here remembering those days I am almost in tears. It was awful but here's the thing, I could have been better days sooner if I had taken the TWO doses of medicine earlier. 

Why are people dying and suffering needlessly?

Do you really want to know?

$ $ $ .  POWER .  CONTROL

We could be healing the majority of Rona victims.

This breaks my heart.

(Btw, we can disagree and still be friends, that's still a thing too)

Walking from the living room to the back deck was all I could handle for many days but the sun brought comfort. It's important to get up and walk even though it's the last thing you want to do. Keep those lungs working and any tiny bit of endorphins you can produce will help (emotionally) make it through to the next day. Pray for those who are sick, lonely and fearful. This thing is here and it isn't going away. No mask and no jab will make it disappear. 

Pray

Eat to fuel your body

Exercise

Laugh

Turn off the news

All these things will help you feel better

Concerts Can Happen

The fine arts have taken a huge hit during this Covid Crisis

This week Liv and her freshman choir finally performed for us. The were on stage and we were in the auditorium seats. It felt like a Christmas miracle. The school allowed only 2 attendees person child singing and the kids all wore MASKS while they sang. I’m rolling my eyes right now as I write this! 

My girl

“Voce” the freshman choir

Next week Liv has 2 showchoir performances. Again the Rona made things weird, no costumes and yes they will be wearing masks 😷 while they dance and sing. Oh Lord in Heaven, save us from our stupidity!!! I will post pictures of the SCATS Showchoir performance next week. 

First Collegiate G O A L

It’s finally college soccer season in the BIG TEN and we are having a blast supporting our favorite Husker! 

There’s nothing like having the family together on game day!

Not pictured is the ever faithful Papa and Nana.

(Best fans ever)

Aren’t my girls beautiful?

In the Husker’s home opener vs the Purdue Boilermakers on Thursday (3/4) Reagan and teammate Eleanor Dale connected for the team’s first goal of the season. The pure joy on Reagan’s face was priceless! Somehow Reagan managed to maintain possession of the ball through several defenders and then sent a beautiful cross to the back post where El put a head on it, straight to the back of the net.

First home game

First team goal

First assist for Reagan

First Win

#7 celebrating with teammates

In Sunday’s (3/7) home game vs Michigan Wolverines Reagan scored her first GOAL!!!! It was an ill played ball by the Michigan defense which Reagan capitalized upon. Unfortunately #21 in blue got tired of defending Reagan and took her out of the game. I just hate dirty soccer! The 2-2 game went into OT and the Huskers lost by one. What a heartbreaker. 

An injured right arm and strained MCL in the left knee leaves us wondering if she will be playing this Saturday (3/12) as they take on the Wisconsin Badgers. Sidenote: previous club teammate Porter List plays for Wisconsin. 

Game 1 was exciting because I just couldn’t believe she had finally made it to college game day, we had waited so long. Like Emma said “we have been talking about her playing college soccer since her freshman year of HS.” Poor Regs was a ball of nerves. 

Game 2 in Michigan was awesome because I got to be there in person but in a dome. 

Game 3 was the home opener on grass and I could see Reagan was more comfortable on the pitch. 

But watching Reagan play in Game 4 was thrilling! The nerves were gone and she knew she deserved that spot on the field. She was a play maker! Love it!!!  

Several parents made comments about her speed, her smart play and being a difference maker on the field. Then I got a text from a mom that said, “Melanie I had no idea just how good she is. I really only got to watch her play high school soccer. Don’t get me wrong, she was good at HS soccer, but holy moly! She is a force on the field and a true asset to Nebraska!” Wow! Such kind words.

 G O   B I G   R E D  ! ! !

Daniels Davids Esthers and Peters

This isn’t original with me but well worth the read. I don’t want to forget it so I wrote it in my journal tonight and writing it here for safe keeping and easy access. 

Blessings to you my friends, family and fellow blog readers. 

+++++++++++++++

“Don't feel sorry for or fear for your kids because the world they are going to grow up in is not what it used to be. God created them and called them for the exact moment in time that they're in. Their life wasn't a coincidence or an accident. Raise them up to know the power they walk in as children of God. Train them up in the authority of His Word. Teach them to walk in faith knowing that God is in control. Empower them to know they can change the world. Don't teach them to be fearful and disheartened by the state of the world but hopeful that they can do something about it. Every person in all of history has been placed in the time that they were in because of God's sovereign plan. He knew Daniel could handle the lions den. He knew David could handle Goliath. He knew Esther could handle Haman. He knew Peter could handle persecution. He knows that your child can handle whatever challenge they face in their life. He created them specifically for it! Don't be scared for your children, but be honored that God chose you to parent the generation that is facing the biggest challenges of our lifetime. Rise up to the challenge. Raise Daniels, Davids, Esthers and Peters! God isn't scratching His head wondering what He's going to do with this mess of a world. He has an army He's raising up to drive back the darkness and make Him known all over the earth. Don't let your fear steal the greatness God placed on them. I know it's hard to imagine them as anything besides our sweet little babies, and we just want to protect them from anything that could ever be hard on them, but they were born for such a time as this.”

-Alex Cravens, refers to himself as “just a dad”

My Dad: My Hero

This guy.

My first hero. 

My first role model. 

The one who loved me unconditionally. 

The one who gave me away but never left me. 

And then November 11, 2020 my heart broke. 

I would like to have something profound to say but I don’t. Oh my gosh, this hurts!!! I thought watching dad slowly fade away over the years would prepare me for his death. 

N O P E

Everyone says, “I bet it gives you comfort that he’s in a better place now.”

N O P E

I miss dad more now than ever. Covid took the last ten months away from us, we were not allowed to see him, touch him, reassure him. I’m mad. I’m hurt. I’m sick of Covid and all the ridiculous crap that comes with it! 

Even in my anger I keep looking for the silver lining. Mom was with dad 3 of his last 4 days and I got to spend 2 days with dad in the hospital. Surprisingly, Emma and Reagan both had the opportunity to say goodbye to their Opa. (Admittedly I had to be pretty forceful at the hospital. Those nurses may have a special name for me) Thank you Lord for going before us to make that happen! 

I know Dad slipped out of this world and landed in the arms of Jesus, his personal Savior. Without that knowledge the devastation would be nearly unbearable but right now I selfishly miss my dad. 

A Not So Happy Birthday

This guy...
• Has Covid 

• Birthday

• Father-in-law died  

• Birthday meal: Casey’s pizza 

What a rough week! 

It’s difficult to watch the one you love suffer but then to tell him he has to stay away from you 100% of the time, that’s just mean. At the time this picture was taken, Chris was a couple days away from ending his quarantine but still so weak. I took a quick picture, he pulled his mask up and headed right back to his quarantine spot.  yuck!! His spirits were low from a lack of touch and feeling crummy. We both really needed hugs! 

I love you Chris Raabe! This birthday celebration was not so spectacular but the guy we celebrated, he’s pretty great. I’m thankful for you! Let have a re-do when life rebounds. 

Rona 2020

I know people are calling it Covid-19 but I'm working on not being a follower!

It's challenging to put into words what this world-wide pandemic means to me or has done to me or has done to us. I have mixed feelings about who is speaking truth. Furthermore, those who are in charge or making suggestions do they even know the full truth. 

Let go back two months. On the morning of Thursday, March 12th we were packed and ready to head south to Oklahoma and then on to Arkansas to watch Reagan play in her first D1 collegiate soccer game. A couple days earlier she had text me looking for encouragement, she was FULL of nerves. Her first time EVER taking the field in a Husker jersey and she would be facing the SEC 2019 champions. Nebraska was full of injuries and Reagan thought she would be playing the full 90 minutes. What a huge undertaking for our little freshman. While the excitement of Reagan's dreams coming true was on our minds, the Corona virus had penetrated US boundaries. What was once something infecting thousands in China had become a threat to the entire world. 

The TIMELINE...

Thursday 3/12 Morning: could we take Olivia's friend with us or would they let only family attend college games

Thursday: Our local school district cancelled school Friday and the following 2 weeks and then all classes would move to eLearning

Thursday Noon: SEC cancelled the game 

Thursday Afternoon: NCAA cancelled all college sports through the rest of the school year

From there on things would change daily or hourly. Stores closing. Social Distancing. Stay home mandates. It became the norm to have things taken away without discussion, it just happened. But when I look back to that Thursday morning, I can't believe the incredible amount of change in just 8 hours.

All 3 of my children are (we’re) doing on-line schooling. Chris is (was) teaching online. Nobody really likes it and I doubt that there is a lot of learning happening. This isn't a cliche, I am praying for school (the kind they physically attend) to start up on time in August.

What am I doing? Oddly enough I started out this time of quarantine/stay-at-home, leaving the house everyday to work in the office. My co-worker was quarantined due to a sick child so I became a 45 hour per week employee. Let me say "thank you Lord for a job" when so many are now on unemployment but those hours kicked my butt! 

I am not scared of the Rona but I do fear what the cure is doing to our country. Ten million plus people went on unemployment in the matter of one week, I have no idea what those numbers are now. Calls to the suicide hotline are 600 percent above normal. People are missing important events. Surgeries are shut down. My friend's mom is suddenly dying in the hospital and they are unable to go say good-bye. The stock market has plummeted. Neighbors are calling in to report gatherings of people, even children in a park. We need to get the world open again. Nebraska shut down early and doesn't have the enormous population of New York or California so we don't have the same problems they have.

Oh come Jesus, bring a revolution to this hurting world. I pray for families to reunite, the more simplistic life to be sought and lives to be redeemed in Christ Jesus. 

Here are a few pictures from the last coupe of months.

Moving Reagan home but
thinking it was temporary

Quick trip to see Emma

Churches Closed
Online church

This is how we hang out
with friends . . . ZOOM

Lots of Family Time

What families do now...

eat together

play games

take walks

watch movies

***maybe God is rebuilding the family***

Keeping our immune systems strong

Almost seems like TRUTH

Reagan's Husker meetings

Omaha gets 8" of snow on April 16th...that's weird!

This is what eLearning looks like

Easter with Nana & Papa

Flowers from a friend after oral surgery

Planting all my outdoor pots

Mother's Day was complete, all 3 girls were home.

Nebraska is slowly opening back up. I finally got a hair cut and we have gone out to a restaurant a couple times. Lots and lots of people wear masks, for the most part, I don’t. I’m concerned about the mental health of so many, including myself. This is hard but God is good. My bible verse today was Matthew 6:25. The first line says, “Therefore do not worry about your life...” Yes, this message is one I need daily.

I am sorry for anyone who has had a run in with the rona.  I hear it’s really bad for a few people. I am certain Reagan had it in December right before going to college. She was awfully ill but recovered like a champ. I’m praying for healing of body, spirit and mind. Lord, may we look to you and trust in your ways.

Be well & Be a blessing!

COVID - 19: the number of pounds we will gain for sitting around

Update: I wrote this in early April but didn't post it until today (May 20) so I am back dating it.

I remember feeling it was important to be positive, today I have a different perspective but I am posting this anyway.

*****************************************

This picture has become a very familiar image. I see it everywhere...

news casts

magazine covers

commercials

and in my nightmares

Coronavirus or Covid-19 has taken this world by storm.

Right now I don't like our "new normal" and I pray we go back to some kind of the "old normal" soon but to be honest I am so curious to see what changes permanently. 

Mother's across the nation are praying for kids to go back to school and maybe they will ban together to give teachers a raise. I'm guessing parents everywhere are realizing "it was the kid's fault after all!" Joking...not joking!

So much has changed and some of it for the better.

Our family calendar isn't crammed full of activities so we always eat dinner together and 6 of 7 days we go for a walk.

Sunday mornings are now a little more lazy but we still get church in as a family.

Online school...ok I'm not sure what the positive is with this one. ha

Businesses are closed and I'm saving money.

I miss seeing friends.

I miss my kids' activities.

I miss dates with my hubby.

I miss my hairdresser.

I miss giving hugs.

I miss going to church.

But I refuse to let fear take over.