Isolation Week

23/3/22

2 years ago to the day was when we first started Home Learning due to Covid. Facebook kindly reminded me in the morning with a memory of James' post about my day plan for the kids after Gladys said to keep the kids home from school if you can. Now there is a big part of me that appreciates Gladys making that call, that valued the protection that we had then and the freedom in our time at home (still being able to go for walks, rides, play in the street).

In the morning Alexander sounded a little stuffy in the nose but I didn't think too much about it because he has had a bleeding nose 3 times over the past couple of days so it was bound to be a bit blocked. He was fine at school, headed to swimming and again was fine and as we walked to the car he said 'My throat is a bit scratchy'. I told him that we'd do a RAT when we got home just to be safe but it is probably just from not drinking much water over the day.

When we got home Alexander did a RAT test (with screaming, tears and resistance). Within a couple of minutes I noticed a faint 2nd line starting to form on the RAT. Crap. He has COVID. 

1 of the 14 000 people who tested positive

The line got a bit darker. Our hearts sank, our plans for the next week out the window. Alexander and I hopped into the car to go get a PCR to confirm that he had it. We arrived at the gates at 5:45, just when they closed. Bummer. The PCR will need to wait until tomorrow. We got home and Alexander headed to his bedroom while James and I tried to get our heads around what this next week will look like. Emails needed to be sent to many, new plans needed to be made again - how much contact will he have with the family? Does he just stay in his room? Are masks worn? Do I take one for the team? 

We decided that he was too little to just lock him in his room and not really have contact with him. Alexander is such a social little guy, he wouldn't cope with being by himself for the week. Also, if he got too sick I'd feel horrible not being with him. Fortunately he hasn't felt too bad, still just a scratchy throat so I haven't had to be right with him the whole time. We decided that he can have meals in the back room with us, but sit on the other side of the room at the little table. 

We decided that in a few days he can sit on a seperate couch in the lounge room to watch a movie or some sport. If he's out of his room he needs to wear a mask. I will take one for the team and be the one who goes to him. I will wear a mask when I do and hand sanitise - so much hand sanitiser! My hands are going to be so poor after this week. We also moved Daniel and Eliza to our bathroom so Alexander has his own bathroom.

After a few emails and phone calls to cancel us going to events over the next couple of days (James' gig being a big event) and messages to Mum and Dad to let them know after seeing them that morning we got our act together to make dinner. Alexander sat at the little table for dinner and was quite happy still being around us even though he wasn't at our table. He had his shower and did his teeth. I checked his temperature and it was totally normal. Then we read a book and he went to sleep. The little champ slept right through.

24/3/22

In the morning I opened many windows and doors to try and have fresh air inside. I emailed a few more people including school to change more plans. I also emailed Andrew to let him know that I won't be able to start my Admin role on Monday. His reply was funny that I'm chucking a sickie on the first day. Ha! We had breakfast and then hopped into the cars for us all to get PCRs. I had Alexander and then decided that just I'd get one. James had the other 2. When we got home I cleaned up the back desk and set up so that we were ready for home learning. I started by reminding each kid of my favourite rule from last year's home learning '1 Mummy + 3 Kids = patience! Alexander had the little table put into his room and I moved the rocking chair into our room. 

We are using the nsw.edu digital learning resources which the school recommend. It's not too bad. Similar to last year but just more general. There is a day plan for each week. Hopefully we don't have to do too many. Daniel and Eliza had similar activities just differentiated to their levels. They have lessons Monday-Friday. At the end of the day for Alexander I noticed that I accidentally had him do a weeks worth of learning in one day. For some reason, Kindy has all the activities in the week on the list. Oops. He enjoyed it and it kept him busy so he didn't mind. My only concern is that there are 8 'weeks' of lessons so we could only do it for 8 days if needed. I will see how we go tomorrow with how much he does. 

Daniel wanted the day plan up like at school so made his own one for us

Daniel and Eliza did some good writing and reading online. They each played a fun maths game - Daniel's was a place value game that I used at school. Eliza's was called 'Garbage' and was a pretty fun game to lean number order 1-10. Alexander was learning about the number 1 and enjoyed watching Number blocks once he finished his first maths video. A bit of me hopes that they pick up the learning a bit and challenge the kids a bit more, but also I get they need to make it easy enough for kids to try and achieve on their own and across all of NSW. Anyway, the kids enjoyed it. They each did Get Active at the end of the day too.

Maths activities - Garbage with Daddy and number activities on the iPad

Shape puzzles

Alexander was great at working in his room. He then came out to have morning tea and lunch in the back room and then headed back to his room after. He did find it hard to know what to do in his room and was a bit bored. I do feel bad having him do that but also want to make sure that we're trying to contain the virus to just him. After learning time Alexander did some writing about all the people who he loves. It was very cute. Daniel and Eliza made little activities and notes on the computer for their siblings. Alexander then headed outside to do some cricket on the back pavers. It was good for him to be outside. 

We also had 2 beautiful packs from friends - Amelia dropped around some tonic water for James (at my request so he can enjoy some of his gin) and included some other gifts too. Then Elise dropped around some P2 masks for me to wear to try and avoid catching it as well as some very tasty looking donuts. Beautiful friends. They brought tears to my eyes with how generous they are. 

The first day of isolation has been ok. The kids have been pretty great. Alexander has been amazing at wearing his mask and sanitising his hands. He has been happy to work in his bedroom for the lessons and quite likes having a desk in his room. Eliza and Daniel have been helpful with their learning too. I'm hoping it continues to be a good rest of the week.

Daniel also wanted to make dinner for us so he made spaghetti and meatballs. He did an awesome job!

25/3/22

Today was a bit of a tough day. When I woke this morning I felt flat. I felt drained and unmotivated. I felt overwhelmed and tired. I think all that has happened this past week with my new job, AFL coaching starting up, COVID isolation, cancelling different events, getting my head around Alexander's home learning (so that he doesn't do a day's worth but so I know what he has done and what is left over for Tuesday), starting work at a later date. Just a lot going on and not keen to get the day started.

But I got up and got breakfast for the kids and then sat down to get my head around Alexander's day. The kids were super keen to start home learning - asking if they could start at 7:30. If I'm honest it was quite annoying the amount of times that they asked, even when they could see that I was busy. Anyway, I told them to wait until 9am to start home learning. The set up was the same - Alexander in his room and Daniel and Eliza in the backroom. I sure got my steps up as I walked from one room to the other repeatedly when the kids called out 'Mum.' They did pretty well with waiting patiently while I went to Alexander or while I was working with the other 2.

Today Alexander struggled with being in his room more. Stuck for ideas of what to do, wanting to be around people, finding it hard that Eliza and Daniel could play together but not him. He still did pretty well with wearing his mask, but at times he would come out of his room without it. I would crack it and he'd go back to get it and then come out again. He is such a social little guy he wanted to be with people. The rain did hold off a lot of the day so he did enjoy riding his bike with the other 2 and playing basketball. He also played handball against the wall. It was good for him to be outside so much. 

The day improved a lot. I got into a better headspace (thanks God). I was quite emotional though. Felt very blessed by friends dropping around and messaging. Fi sent a beautiful message just touching base with me, Mum and Dad dropped around to give Eliza her birthday present and drop off some Vitamin C's, Amy messaged to see how Alexander was today, Jens messaged to see how our day went today and how I was feeling, Carol dropped around some treats, Cathy dropped around some friands and Lani dropped around a DVD and some books for the kids and chocolate. They are just so beautiful and we feel very blessed and surrounded, even though we are isolated. It is a bit overwhelming though.

Eliza opening her present with Nana and Poppy

Then the afternoon was full on though. Eliza and Daniel were playing really nicely together and then they would just fight. They'd shout at each other, they'd hit and push. It was just ongoing. I got to the point that I decided to just ignore. They'd come and dob to me, then they'd go and keep playing. After them fighting loudly for over 10mins James actually came downstairs and sent the kids to their rooms. He couldn't put up with it anymore and he was upstairs. 

The kids then were in their rooms listening to music, reading, playing. Alexander put on some music and started to sing at the top of his lungs (what scratchy throat??). He was belting out One Way. It put such a smile on my face listening to him sing and knowing that he was doing actions and pretending to drum. He put it on repeat and just kept singing along with it. Too cute.

We have done our first online shop which will arrive tomorrow. Hopefully we get all that we've ordered but I have heard that sometimes it's interesting what actually comes. 

Tonight James and I missed out on being at a very special event - Buddy's 1000th goal at the SCG. Mum and Dad went, with Mum representing us and we watched from home. Would have been amazing being there but oh well. It is what it is. Glad we were able to watch it from home at least. Well done to Buddy.

Masks still on as I read with Alexander at bedtime

No-one else has shown any symptoms yet so we're hoping it will stay that way. 2 days down, 5 to go.

26/3/22

Today started with a bit of a lie in. Chilli came and had some cuddles with me and the kids were pretty good at playing in their rooms and then were keen to watch last night's AFL game where Buddy kicked his 1000th goal. James and I eventually got up and got breakfast for the kids and then I headed outside to start gurneying the back pavers. James was amazing and was there for the kids so I could just focus on the back pavers. When we set it up James asked if there was another part for the nozzle. I responded that it was the same as we had used last time (which wasn't very powerful so I'd spray and then sweep the pavers). He then looked at the gurney again and noticed that there was an extra nozzle. Ha! It was so much more effective!! We had a good laugh at ourselves. I managed to clean half the back pavers and the wall before we had a blackout in the street. James and the kids had been watching the cars. Maybe the black out was a sign that we needed to spend some time with the kids... I had a shower and then hung out with Eliza doing some origami (from the book that Lani kindly dropped around). This almost broke us both because she wanted to make a 6 pointer star but it just wouldn't go together. It was very frustrating. I eventually had 2 halves of a star and Eliza sticky taped them together. Close enough.

Power came back on and I headed outside to finish the back area. It looks so much nicer! Tomorrow I'm hoping I can do the side pavers. I'm trying hard to make the most of this time in isolation to clean and get things organised before I start work. 

We also did a RAT for Alexander. This one came back negative. Hopefully that means that the virus has finished being contagious but who knows. We will still have him have a mask and try and distance. We will also get a PCR on Monday to see if he is negative. Then he can hang out with us all for the last couple of days of isolation (and hopefully the rest of us are still negative).

The kids also enjoyed some time chatting with Lachie, Ems and Flynnie over FaceTime. It was cute to watch them giggle and enjoy catching up. You had Alexander and Flynnie play scissors, paper, rock. Eliza and Ems enjoyed chatting and showing different craft that they have made during isolation. Daniel and Lachie enjoyed playing music to each other. The kids were each fantastic with finishing their chat after 10mins each. Legends.

The kids were very hypo at dinner time. I guess it's a sign of being stuck inside with rain on and off today. But James did really well with keeping calm. We then did showers and bedtime. Alexander read 2 books to me (he is loving being able to read!!) and I read his Bible. After prayers he then said to me that he doesn't like COVID. He wanted to have a cuddle. I decided that we could have a cuddle. I held him and we spoke. He told me that he missed my cuddles, and I told him that I missed his. He asked me if he could have some more cuddles over the next few days before we're out of isolation and I told him that he could. He told me that it's just so hard having COVID because you can't be near others and you have to wear a mask. I agreed with him and told him that if anyone else catches COVID they will have to do the same thing. I told him how proud I am of him for how he has been handling this time in isolation, for how responsible he has been with wearing his mask, for mostly social distancing, for sanitising his hands lots. He has really surprised me with how well he has been going. But it did break my heart a little bit to know that he is missing his cuddles too.

27/3/22

This morning I woke and felt that it was going to be a good day. No clue why but it was nice to start with some positivity, especially after a couple of tough starts to the day. I did my quiet time, had breakfast and then headed out to the back pavers. I wanted to gurney but didn't want to start too early being a Sunday morning so got some sand from the sandpit and swept it along the back pavers to fill in the cracks. Meanwhile the kids enjoyed being a band.

I set up to do the gurney and then it started to rain. The rain really got to me today. I just wanted to be productive but it kept starting and then stopping. Anyway, we sat down to watch church online instead. While Church was on, Alexander cut out some things from his Bluey Magazine to make a Chip Shop. He did such an awesome job cutting out! He also stuck the bunting down. I got a box for him to make the shop and then James got his creative juices flowing making it into a shop, able to open and close the shop window, locking it when closed, making it so the shelf could support things on it. Alexander made a bowl for his chips and made his tomato sauce. It was so so cute!

He made a sign for onto and Daddy made it so that his shop can open and close

After church was morning tea. He gave everyone money and you had to go to buy some chips for morning tea. He then played with it a bit more.

I headed outside to start gurneying. It was a pretty long job but also rewarding to get it done and clean. I worked on it until 6pm from 11am. It looks so much nicer now though. It was also nice to be out of the house. James and the kids enjoyed watching the racing cars for most of the day. 

While outside we had Mum and Dad drop around to deliver some slice and some groceries that we missed. The Howies also popped around to drop off Eliza's birthday card and also some other things in the bags. I had Mum and Dad drop a couple of things off at Anne's place for the kids so had a quick chat with them over FaceTime as they said thanks. Ben also popped around a gift from his family (Ellie, Toby, Tess and Erin) to occupy our time. We have been so very blessed by many during this time. I mentioned to James that I wonder if this is like when you have your first baby, everyone comes to visit but 2nd and 3rd baby, you don't get many visitors because the excitement has finished. Ha. We both had a good laugh.

Today we basically stopped separating from Alexander. He stopped wearing a mask from around half way through the day. He started to chase and catch the other 2. He had dinner with us at the table. I'm a bit nervous about it if I'm honest. We did RAT tests and we are all negative still, but I really hope that it continues to be negative. I hope that he doesn't still have some COVID that can spread to us. I have no clue if he does, but I hope he doesn't. Time will tell I guess. 

It was a good day. It was productive and I'm exhausted but it was a good day.

28/3/22

Today I woke and my tooth was a little sore. I just pushed it aside and kept going with my day. Carol popped around to pick up Mainly Music resources for tomorrow (she was going to run it for me while I was in iso) and she also dropped around some baked treats. Very kind! She and I had a quick chat about doing an Easter activity at church on Sunday for the kids program and then she asked if I could write it. Sure! Make the most of my last couple of bonus days doing MAP. Meanwhile the kids had a blast playing in Alexander's chip shop. They set it up in Daniel's room, made a cubby, attached a torch as a light and had the saucepan. They also made a lot more chips to 'cook'. They then got their toys, gave them some dollar bucks and had them line up. Eliza also made a love ray gun out of the textas and enjoyed shooting love to everyone. 

We started doing school work and the talk and my tooth started to hurt more. At morning tea time it was so sensitive. When I bit it would throb, even to touch it would hurt a lot. I decided to call Poornima to see if there was a chance it could be seen. They said that they would call me back once she was spoken to. I continued on helping the kids but was avoiding food. Even having a small bit of the apple scroll, it hurt way too much. 

Alexander had fun taking photos of T objects. I loved his excitement to take a photo of his toes! 

Daniel needed to make a larger version of something - he chose his penguin Pingu. He did an awesome job using a soap bottle, paper, sticky tape and water colour paint. James and I were very impressed. 

Meanwhile Alexander and Eliza decided to make boats out of the recycling. They were excited that they both floated.

The kids enjoyed playing in Alexander's chip shop too, even setting up a line for the toys to wait in for their orders.

Poornima called me back and said that the earliest I could get in was Monday. I started crying. That was not what I wanted to hear. I asked them if they could suggest someone else to see if I couldn't get in earlier. The pain was too much. I wasn't even keen to eat because it hurt too much. They kindly called back and said that if I tested negative on a RAT then I could go in at 2:45 tomorrow. I was so glad. What a relief. I also took some Panadol which helped it feel a bit better so I could eat a couple of things. Of course this happens during isolation!

29/3/22

Last night my tooth was mostly ok. It hurt at times and woke me but I also went back to sleep and slept until 7am - unheard of for me lately! We got up, got ready and then headed to get out PCRs. The car beside us happened to be Tamika. We had a quick chat with her while getting our tests and then headed back home for breakfast and a little playing before home learning. The kids set up a band and had fun playing a concert. So many songs, so much noise, but they were having a blast.

The kids worked well today. Alexander did a great drawing and used his knowledge of high frequency words to write a sentence. 

Eliza had fun making and using tangrams and loved the story about how Tangrams came to be. 

Chilli enjoyed the band set up by sleeping in the box. Glad she wasn't in there when they played! Daniel also enjoyed his work, and made some 2 truths and a lie questions for maths. 

I headed off to the dentist at 2:45 and walked in and they said 'So are you ok with us pulling out the wisdom tooth'. It was causing the problem and the pain. Apparently I'd just feel a bit of pressure and then it will just pop out. It was a bit more work than that, but overall wasn't the worst getting it out. The numbing worked really well!

When I got home I looked at what the kids had done for their afternoon work. Daniel didn't follow the instructions and copied information from the internet to write an information report on possums. I was quite upset with him because I told him it would be a narrative and he also didn't change any of the words, he just copied them. I told him that tomorrow we'd re-write his narrative and do it properly. I don't get this kid. He finds it really hard to write when asked to, but then at night he will choose to sit and write and he will do an awesome job! It drives me crazy! Anyway, his narrative was great and he only had a tiny bit of direction from me. I was really proud of his writing in the end, his length and his descriptions in the story.

Working on his narrative at nighttime

Eliza also didn't get around to doing her narrative. She wasn't keen to do it so I told her that she would need to do it in the morning. She was fine with that. 

Anne, Lachie and Flynnie popped around in the afternoon to drop off some groceries. Anne thought we'd have fun making pizzas. We will enjoy that later in the week. Was so lovely to see their faces. 

The kids had fun painting their canvas pictures which they received at Christmas. It was a good activity to do while we're at home. 

I enjoyed having some cuddles with Alexander and Chilli. I missed my Alexander cuddles. I was also resting a bit after having my tooth pulled. Dinner was also a smoothie because it was soft food.

30/3/22

Last day of Isolation for us, and everyone was still testing negative on the RATs which was such a relief. It was a bit of a cruisey school day for the kids. Eliza and Alexander started with a game of Sleeping Queens.

Eliza then finished her narrative from yesterday.

Alexander did more work with his high frequency words, writing them in sentences.

Then his letter for the day was 'A' so he enjoyed going around the house taking photos of a objets.

He also made patterns with fruit.

To celebrate the end of isolation and no more Covid cases in our family the kids had pancakes with ice cream and berries and also enjoy watching the Trolls movie (the one that Lani dropped around).

To celebrate the end of isolation, James and I were still able to head out to Jimmy Rees, 'Meanwhile in Australia' show. It was quite fitting as this show came about because of Covid and Lockdowns. It was a funny show and nice to have a night out together after the week that was.

This time in isolation was hard at times, but also fun at other times. I had a lot of anxiety about Covid spreading through the family, mummy guilt about separating Alexander from the family and not giving him cuddles, had frustrations with work for the kids, anxiety about not being able to start my job and do 2 weeks of handover with Ruth. Writing continued to be a challenge with Daniel, motivation with Eliza, but Alexander enjoyed learning (however, I found structuring his work challenging too). My expectations were a lot lower this week compared to lockdown last year. I loved seeing the chip shop come to life in being made (especially seeing James' creative side to make the window and serving shelf) and seeing the imaginative play come out with the kids. 

Again, I was so proud of Alexander and the way that he continued to wear his mask, especially in those early days. I was so impressed with how mature he was and how he cared about the rest of us with wearing his mask, keeping his distance, understanding why we put different strategies in place to try and protect the rest of us.

I'm glad that Alexander's experience of Covid wasn't bad for him, and wasn't more than a scratchy throat. I'm really glad that no-one else caught it so that we could head back to school and I could start my new role.