What a difference a week makes. Since last week our world has started to close down. All non-essential business are closed, the world economy is tanking, and the government is offering billions of dollars in aid packages for families and businesses. We are still in quarantine because of my illness, but now the rest of the world is slowly having to follow suit. Everyone is being told not to leave their homes unless it is for groceries, pharmacy or exercise. One million people applied for unemployment in Canada.
I am now two and and half weeks into my illness. The doctor checks in with me every few days. I have been to the ER. I spent three hours in a vehicle line for a drive-thru coronavirus test only to find out that one minutes before I arrived they changed the testing criteria (again) and I no longer qualified. The tests are in short supply.
The doctor says I likely have COVID-19. I tend to agree. I have what would be characterized as a mild-moderate case. It has lasted 17 days now. This week I ended up in the ER twice when breathing got difficult. The doctor listened to my chest and said he could tell it had fluid in it: pneumonia. Pneumonia is a secondary condition of the coronavirus, when the virus gets into the lungs. I was given one round of antibiotics in case the pneumonia is bacterial. If it's viral, however, there is nothing to do but wait it out. The antibiotics are supposed to make symptoms better within a day or two. At the end of the course of medicine I was getting worse, not better, so back to the ER today. They watched my oxygen levels and took a chest x-ray and a COVID-19 test finally. There is some fluid in my lungs. A new round of different antibiotics just in case, but not test to determine either way. The doctors are all still assuming it is coronavirus. I am home resting and praying for improvement. I have times during the day that I feel fine, that I think I must be on the mend. Then I walk for 5 minutes or climb the stairs and have to sit down. Or I have a nightmare during the night where something was crushing me and I wake up unable to breathe. I take lots of deep breaths, like I just can't fill my lungs. The cough lingers, dry and hacking. Today, day 17, has bene the lowest point of the illness. I am trying to not read any more online, because the stories are scary and I need to not think about it. I pray for healing, and I feel like I spend every minute self-monitoring: am I slightly better or slightly worse than a minute ago? Which way is this heading?
We have now had two weeks of full isolation. James goes out to pick up groceries that we order online ahead of time. He pulls up and they load the bags into the car and he returns home. I watch friends online posting about how hard it is to fill the time, how strange it is to have to stay home. I think for our family everything has a different colour to the experience because I am sick. For many people, who are healthy and ordered to stay home, they are finding the whole thing boring. For us, we see first hand what this illness can do, and why we can't go out and possibly infect others.
This week also marked the beginning of a homeschool schedule. I say schedule, but it's very loose. Learning time happens in the morning. For the younger three (Caleb, grade 7, Benjamin grade 5, and Juliette grade 2), from 9-10am they have 20 minutes of reading, 20 minutes of writing (free write or journal prompts) and 20 minutes of online math. From 10-11am, it is self-directed learning time. Caleb has spent most of his time at the piano, using online YouTube videos to learn modern pop songs and classical favourites. He is also taking time to do more coding. Benjamin took a liking to magic and has been learning tricks to put on a magic show. He also loves a fishing show from National Geographic and learning about animals. Juliette wanders a little, but usually lands on drawing, even creating her own tutorials she posts online for her cousins. After lunch is outdoor time - we turn off all the devices and we walk or bike or the kids trudge through the conservation in the back. We took down the ice rink we had up in the backyard and there is more soccer, Quidditch (inspired by the Harry Potter books and films), and a host of backyard fun. Evenings go between family movie nights or family board games.
Truthfully we are enjoying the time. We have always enjoyed family time, and other than a few extra-curricular things that we usually have on the go, we like to be home. We soldier on for now.
Saturday 28 March 2020
Saturday 21 March 2020
2020 Quarantine - Week 1
Last week, the World Health Organization declared a worldwide pandemic in relation to a new virus, COVID-19, or more commonly, coronavirus. We had been hearing whisperings, seeing international news stories, observing statistics, and yet it all seemed far away. It was entered in China. It only affected those who had travelled. There was something going on in Italy.
Then, Thursday March 12th, our world turned upside-down. We were about to be on our one week March break from school. We had local travel plans to see my Nana in Bobcaygeon, sleepovers with cousins, and play dates with friends. Instead, the province announced that schools would be closed for an additional two weeks after March Break, until April 5th. Anyone showing signs of illness needed to self-isolate, along with those in their families. Self-isolation meant staying home and not going out unless necessary: which basically meant groceries and pharmacy.
I was showing signs of illness.
We are trying to understand this illness. We are tuned into the radio all the time, desperate for information. And for me, being sick with signs of COVID-19, I'm scrolling through endless internet sites, desperate to understand what is going on in my body.
It's scary. I am rarely sick. I haven't taken a sick day in more than 4 years. I don't get the flu, I don't get colds. Once a year I usually get strep throat, but only characterized by a very sore throat, with none of the common fever symptoms. My body is generally healthy and fights off possible infections before I even know I've caught them.
I have a cough and shortness of breath, classic signs of the new coronavirus. I may have had a low grade fever, but this illness started with five days of the most intense headache I've ever had, so I was only a steady stream of ibuprofen, which often hides a low-grade fever. I lie in bed and scroll through online feeds, searching for some sign that I don't have the virus. I cannot get a test. Currently they will only administer the scant tests they have to those who have travelled to one of the coronavirus hot spots (China, Italy, Iran) or if you have had direct contact with a patient with a positive test. Right now, my doctor is saying to simply self-isolate. The truth is, it doesn't really matter if it is coronavirus or not - the treatment is the same. Self-isolate and monitor. Go to the ER if you struggle to breathe.
On March 17 the province declared a state of emergency. Things around us are slowly closing down. No public event of more than 50 people. Libraries, theatres, movie cinemas and daycares are closed. Restaurants can only provide takeout or delivery. Those who are able to do their work from home are asked to do so.
We are still officially in the period of March break, but we as teachers are waiting to hear what will happen. We assume at this point a two week closure after March Break to give us a chance to smother the virus, give it nowhere to go. I wonder if they are waiting to see how powerful it is, how fast it spreads, how deadly it is.
The real thing is that we don't know much about it. From what I've heard, it's a virus that is new to humans, so we don't have any immunity. Plus we can be symptom free for two weeks when we are infected, spreading the virus silently around us.
There is a lot of debate, and I assume it will rage on. There are lots of conspiracy theories. There are people who say it's no worse than the seasonal flu. There are people who despise the government flexing it's muscle to control the people. I try to come to these sorts of events with an open mind. I usually err on the side of medicine and against Big Brother conspiracies. I've never been one who can operate under fear. Yes, some might call it oblivion, but I would rather say that I want to keep my focus and energies on what is real, tangible and important to me.
I remember some years ago my grandfather, Dave Martin (my dad's father) calling all his children and grandchildren. There was a new virus in town: H1N1. He was a doctor for many decades, and then travelled the world as a medical consultant and expert. He called to ask us to consider getting the flu shot this year. It's a bad flu, and the vaccine is a good match, he said. He had never called with medical advice before. In fact, he lives in British Columbia, hallway across the country, and the great distance had meant that we only interact a few times a year. I heard the seriousness in his voice. My grandfather is a very even-tempered and intelligent person - probably the one person I know and trust on issues of the world. I never feel like there is enough to time understand a fraction of the knowledge in this world. Sometimes you just have to trust someone that they know more about a topic than you do. My grandfather is that someone. From this, I developed a trust of the medical industry, of local doctors who see and understand the human body in a way I don't yet. If he was alive today, I feel he too would be communicating the seriousness of the coronavirus.
And so we are here, in our home. My mother-in-law, who has an apartment in our home and who usually eats dinner with us, is isolating away from us completely. This virus is especially dangerous for the elderly, and given her weakened lungs from smoking we need to be vigilant. We are blessed with a large home, an empty basement, a big backyard and conversation land behind us. We have movies and board games and each other. We even got to scraping the wallpaper and painting Juliette and Colin's bedrooms this week.
At this point, we have been told we have an additional two weeks off school. Interestingly, I am part of many online communities for foreign language teachers. I am watching schools all over the world being closed and teachers moving to online learning platforms. So far, we just have an extra two weeks vacation. There are no plans yet to move school online. The Ontario government has released a few online learning resources (mostly links to educational videos and games) and our school board put out a few links as well to encourage students to continue learning in the two week furlough.
I have a sense the history is being made. Just last week I spent the day with Neil Orfford, an educator who created a fantastic high school experiential program around the Spanish flu of 1918. During that pandemic, an estimated 50 million people died worldwide. Quarantines were strict and life completely altered. This is a record of the history we are living today.
Then, Thursday March 12th, our world turned upside-down. We were about to be on our one week March break from school. We had local travel plans to see my Nana in Bobcaygeon, sleepovers with cousins, and play dates with friends. Instead, the province announced that schools would be closed for an additional two weeks after March Break, until April 5th. Anyone showing signs of illness needed to self-isolate, along with those in their families. Self-isolation meant staying home and not going out unless necessary: which basically meant groceries and pharmacy.
I was showing signs of illness.
We are trying to understand this illness. We are tuned into the radio all the time, desperate for information. And for me, being sick with signs of COVID-19, I'm scrolling through endless internet sites, desperate to understand what is going on in my body.
It's scary. I am rarely sick. I haven't taken a sick day in more than 4 years. I don't get the flu, I don't get colds. Once a year I usually get strep throat, but only characterized by a very sore throat, with none of the common fever symptoms. My body is generally healthy and fights off possible infections before I even know I've caught them.
I have a cough and shortness of breath, classic signs of the new coronavirus. I may have had a low grade fever, but this illness started with five days of the most intense headache I've ever had, so I was only a steady stream of ibuprofen, which often hides a low-grade fever. I lie in bed and scroll through online feeds, searching for some sign that I don't have the virus. I cannot get a test. Currently they will only administer the scant tests they have to those who have travelled to one of the coronavirus hot spots (China, Italy, Iran) or if you have had direct contact with a patient with a positive test. Right now, my doctor is saying to simply self-isolate. The truth is, it doesn't really matter if it is coronavirus or not - the treatment is the same. Self-isolate and monitor. Go to the ER if you struggle to breathe.
On March 17 the province declared a state of emergency. Things around us are slowly closing down. No public event of more than 50 people. Libraries, theatres, movie cinemas and daycares are closed. Restaurants can only provide takeout or delivery. Those who are able to do their work from home are asked to do so.
We are still officially in the period of March break, but we as teachers are waiting to hear what will happen. We assume at this point a two week closure after March Break to give us a chance to smother the virus, give it nowhere to go. I wonder if they are waiting to see how powerful it is, how fast it spreads, how deadly it is.
The real thing is that we don't know much about it. From what I've heard, it's a virus that is new to humans, so we don't have any immunity. Plus we can be symptom free for two weeks when we are infected, spreading the virus silently around us.
There is a lot of debate, and I assume it will rage on. There are lots of conspiracy theories. There are people who say it's no worse than the seasonal flu. There are people who despise the government flexing it's muscle to control the people. I try to come to these sorts of events with an open mind. I usually err on the side of medicine and against Big Brother conspiracies. I've never been one who can operate under fear. Yes, some might call it oblivion, but I would rather say that I want to keep my focus and energies on what is real, tangible and important to me.
I remember some years ago my grandfather, Dave Martin (my dad's father) calling all his children and grandchildren. There was a new virus in town: H1N1. He was a doctor for many decades, and then travelled the world as a medical consultant and expert. He called to ask us to consider getting the flu shot this year. It's a bad flu, and the vaccine is a good match, he said. He had never called with medical advice before. In fact, he lives in British Columbia, hallway across the country, and the great distance had meant that we only interact a few times a year. I heard the seriousness in his voice. My grandfather is a very even-tempered and intelligent person - probably the one person I know and trust on issues of the world. I never feel like there is enough to time understand a fraction of the knowledge in this world. Sometimes you just have to trust someone that they know more about a topic than you do. My grandfather is that someone. From this, I developed a trust of the medical industry, of local doctors who see and understand the human body in a way I don't yet. If he was alive today, I feel he too would be communicating the seriousness of the coronavirus.
And so we are here, in our home. My mother-in-law, who has an apartment in our home and who usually eats dinner with us, is isolating away from us completely. This virus is especially dangerous for the elderly, and given her weakened lungs from smoking we need to be vigilant. We are blessed with a large home, an empty basement, a big backyard and conversation land behind us. We have movies and board games and each other. We even got to scraping the wallpaper and painting Juliette and Colin's bedrooms this week.
At this point, we have been told we have an additional two weeks off school. Interestingly, I am part of many online communities for foreign language teachers. I am watching schools all over the world being closed and teachers moving to online learning platforms. So far, we just have an extra two weeks vacation. There are no plans yet to move school online. The Ontario government has released a few online learning resources (mostly links to educational videos and games) and our school board put out a few links as well to encourage students to continue learning in the two week furlough.
I have a sense the history is being made. Just last week I spent the day with Neil Orfford, an educator who created a fantastic high school experiential program around the Spanish flu of 1918. During that pandemic, an estimated 50 million people died worldwide. Quarantines were strict and life completely altered. This is a record of the history we are living today.
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