Sunday, Day 16 of Quarantine

Neko's been adopted. This is not what I signed up for. I'm not doing this back and forth. I want to help but that's not going to work.

Jay had to be separated from Neko all day. Then Buddy wanted to hide. Then Spot had to be put away. Neko's a lot. When I told Maggie he had been adopted, she bawled. I felt awful. I was worried about this. . . when I first started fostering. Why Neko? She didn't care about any of the other pets. So I feel bad but he's going. If Jay weren't sick and in need of bed rest, I might not mind so much. But I can't let Jay die.

Sunday was a blah day. We didn't do much. We took Neko on a long walk and the girls minimally complained.

I wanted the first couple of episodes of Tiger King. Holy cow. It's crazy. You keep thinking, well nothing else can happen, but you're wrong. You're always wrong.

Me and Laurie and Jeff and Angie met up on Zoom. It was so nice to see other adults.

Saturday, Day 15 of Quarantine

Everyone slept well last night. We got up on time and got ready. I did my workout. Ruby's Kindle was dead because she left it under a blanket. I need to make sure I have her put it on the charger at night.

I'm putting together yet another schedule. It feels like things are constantly changing, which they are. Nothing to it but just keep rolling with the punches.

I had another session with one of my clients. This time I kept the Kindles from the girls until it was time for my meeting and it worked! Ruby came in once and said hi and that was it. Much better.

School work is coming in for Maggie and I need to work to organize a schedule. I must admit I prefer blocking her time by assignment rather than time spent. You can drag your feet and just play games, etc, but if you are done as soon as you finish your assignment, that's a nice motivating factor. I'm going to work again to get Maggie outside. I'm finding the Kindles highly motivating so it'll just be contingent on getting the kindle. We'll see.

We had made a noon appointment with the FW Animal Shelter to come get a foster dog. They are trying to clear their shelters to prepare for shutdowns and I figured this is something I can do to help. We got up there at noon and I had the girls stay in the car. I tried to stay away from everyone but I doubt I did as well as I would have liked. I told them I had a dog undergoing heartworm treatment and needed an older and/or super calm dog. They said they had just gotten a little dog and would that be okay. They said she would probably get adopted but I took her. I got her home and she took zero sh!t from my dogs. She had fleas so I had to treat her. Then at 3ish I got a call from the shelter because she'd been adopted. This is not what I had in mind for helping out. I'm not going back and forth. I took her up there and they said they had a husky that was calm and would I take him. I took him but if he gets adopted or whatever I'm not replacing him.

He's beautiful and extremely gentle. He's scared of stupid Spot who keeps growling and snapping at him even though Neko could literally eat him. Maggie named him Neko and she's in love with him. He's been a huge motivator. I told her we cannot keep him unless she is willing to help with his care, including coming with me to take him on walks. We went on a 35 minute walk this morning with minimal complaints. Neko has ticks! I'm not impressed FW. You couldn't even check??? So I treated him and removed a bunch. Now they are dying. It's so disgusting. I'd never seen a tick in my life. I had to google to figure out what they are. They are the nastiest bugs ever. They pop. I mean. . . that's a bit much.

He's not at all aggressive. He hid from the cats at first. I was scared he would eat them but so far he hasn't. Jay was over the moon, which is bad. He's on bed rest and he was being ridiculous. Finally, I locked him in my room. He had to calm down. Then at bedtime I made Neko sleep in the kennel. At first, he cried a lot but then he was fine.

Friday, Day 14 of the Quarantine

Ha! Wanna hear a funny joke? Ruby slept fine last night. Guess who couldn't sleep? UGH!!! I'm better but blah. I just need Ruby to sleep. It messes everything up for days and I don't have days!

The Kindles are here. But you can either do parental controls and no video calls or video calls and a free for all. Very annoying. I think I can set up different profiles and put the video thing on a different profile. I'll look at it at some point. I'm very annoyed because I specifically looked this up and it said I could. Whatever.

I figured out the Kindles. I put a separate, locked profile (my personal profile) that I can put FB kids' messenger on, which I did. I think I'm going to set aside specific times when they will be on that. An hour or so a day, where that's what they are doing. Because otherwise it's going to be nutso trying to connect with anyone.

Thursday, Day 13 of Quarantine

Ruby was up super early, screaming and pounding on her door. I eventually just went and got her. I'm so tired.

Gosh, I don't even know. We are alive. There was tv and work and groceries came. I don't know.

Wednesday, Day 12 of Quarantine

No pain! My headache is gone and my lower back isn't threatening me. I was able to do a full work out. I slept better. I only had one or maybe two wake ups. Once I was convinced Maggie was sneaking around my room. This is new but I've had it a few nights in a row. Usually I think I see a stranger in my room.

I did my full workout. I let the girls watch PBS. I guess it's better than Netflix. Work was insane today. The girls fought a lot. On the plus side, Maggie did all of her school work. The girls ate a ton.

I got super stressed in the afternoon so I did a hard walk on the treadmill to feel better. It helped. News about Covid is bad. Really bad. I keep looking at how horrible Italy is and they put a country-wide lockdown in place extremely quickly. We're up to 50,000+ cases and still nothing. Just hobbled together by governors (shit! we're shelter in place by our mayor!). I can't imagine how bad this is going to get. And we're still not doing anything. I called my reps and asked them to urge the president to actually do something besides making suggestions. I guess at least I'm doing something.

Fort Worth Animal Shelter put out a call for emergency temporary fosters. They have to empty their shelters of ~800 animals one way or another. I know we're already super busy but we all have to do what we can. I feel like I'm doing the least I can do. Not that I know what to do. Great Britain is asking for civilians to volunteer in hospitals to prevent the medical system from collapsing. I have to take care of my kids first but I want to help.

After work, Ruby and I took a bath. Then Maggie talked on the phone with Nana and Gran. Ruby and I sat outside for a little while. Then we all watched some more of Captain America. Ruby started getting whiny so I decided she needed to go to bed. Boy, she cried over a book issue. I mean like full on screams. Then I finally got her to calm down and she went to bed.

Maggie and I watched a bit more of Captain America. Then Harry Potter, The Good Place, James and the Giant Peach, blog posts, and The Office.

Tuesday, Day 11 of Quarantine

Much better night. I did wake up several times but mostly went right back to sleep. I know that's not ideal but I don't know how to stop having those fear responses. The girls slept well.

When I went to do my workout, I realized my lower back felt super iffy. I decided to just warm up and stretch and hope for the best. Not a great time for my back to go out. After that, we cleaned. The house gets dirty so fast. I guess that's how it goes but man, that feels like another full time job.

The day went pretty well. Both girls are well rested. They ate and played and watched PBS and a documentary. Maggie did her school work. I tried to get her to go outside but it was not successful. She went outside three or four separate times and came back in within a few minutes for all different reasons. I finally just gave up. The first time she came outside, I turned to look at her and she was in only a shirt. And then was shocked at me that I was shocked and made her put on pants. Pants are totally optional, but only inside the house. Good Lord!

Still, it's been a good day. Not too much fighting or screaming or any of that. Not perfect but that's unlikely to ever happen.

When I finished my full time job, I did yoga with Ruby. Then we all just kind of laughed and played. I had a video conference with a client for my other job. Oh my! My kids were all over me. The pets were in the video. The dogs were barking. It was ridiculous. I am truly not sure how this will work. Oh well I'll figure it out later.

After that, I made my dinner and got Ruby applesauce and we ate outside. Maggie still doesn't want to go outside. It was a beautiful day.

Then it was time for Ruby to go to bed. We did her full bedtime routine. Right now she is wanting a Marley book and Bambi every night. We always sing Twinkle, twinkle and You are my Sunshine.

Then Maggie and I did our routine. I meant to cut it down because I have a stupid headache even though I took medicine for it hours ago. I guess I did cut it back a little. We read Harry Potter, James and the Giant Peach, and a couple of passages from the blog books, but we only watched The Good Place.  I am so tired. Hopefully I can sleep better tonight.

Monday, Day 10 of Quarantine

We had a good start to the day. Oh wait. Well, I had a hard time sleeping, which maybe is just the new normal. Ruby was up super early screaming and pounding on the door. I ignored her.

Once we got up, things were much better. Everyone got ready. I did my work out while Ruby kinda hung out with me. Once I was done, I got Maggie got set up doing school work and started Ruby on her first "school" thing: Cosmic Kids Yoga. She mostly ignored it but occasionally followed them. We'll see.

Today has been okay, I guess. Maggie did a lot of school work. I think. She's on there for a certain amount of time and she has things she can go on. I don't know what she's doing exactly. The girls took a bath but I made them get out because someone was picking on someone else. They're both super tired, which is not surprising. Maggie is actually napping right now.

Maureen is sick. She let Laurie and I know that she had been exposed and was being tested. She found out on Saturday, was tested on Sunday, and sent a message today that she is sick. I don't even know what to say. It's not a death sentence; it's just very scary. She doesn't get her test results for 4-10 days but she is sick with Covid symptoms.

Ruby was in the bath, playing with her toys for hours. She just loves to be in water. After I was done with work, I made popcorn for the girls (they are obsessed with popcorn right now) and then we watched a movie together. We talked to Grandpa on the phone. Ruby went to bed a few minutes early and was literally falling asleep while I was singing to her.

After that, Maggie and I read Harry Potter, James and the Giant Peach, and a few posts in her blog books. We watched an episode each of The Good Place and The Office. After that I let her watch YouTube for a little while. I made her get in bed when I did. I was scared she wouldn't be able to fall asleep (she took a long nap) but she went right out.

Sunday, Day 9 of the Quarantine

I had a hard time sleeping last night. Scary dreams and stress and all that. It's hard but what are you gonna do?

I let Maggie sleep in and basically have done almost nothing today. We all took a bath and I did a ton of dishes. Side note: it's amazing how often we are running the dishwasher. I guess that's what happens when we are all home all the time.

I set up Maggie's Mac so she can start doing her homeschool on it. Last week I set it up on my computer, thinking we could share, but I'm working constantly so that's not going to work. I also researched some ideas for Ruby. I made a big list of screen ideas (kids' exercise and activity videos, learning games and songs, etc) and non-screen ideas for both inside or outside. That way, hopefully, I can just keep moving her to the next thing. We'll see.

We did a video call with Nana and Gran. It's amazing how normal this all is for Ruby. She just laughs and shows her toys. She has no concept of how insane this is, which is great. She loved showing Nana and Gran her Baby and Dolly. I'm hopeful that once their Kindles show up, I can download Skype or something and they can call people whenever they feel like it. Particularly, Ella and Jill and maybe other kids for Maggie.

As soon as we got off the phone with Nana and Gran, Grandpa called. We connected on FB so we could do a video call. I think it's the longest I've gone without seeing Dad since the Marines. That's super depressing, so moving on.

Maggie was a mess. She stayed up late on Saturday night and was exhausted on Sunday and just a complete grump. I got her in bed early and hopefully Monday will be better.

I heard Cuomo told NY that he is being told the shelter in place could last nine months. I've already come to terms that my kids will be doing Easter with just us. I'll try to take video and make it as fun as possible, but man, that's tough. But the idea that their birthdays, Halloween, TG, maybe Christmas. I just feel sick. But I've got to do the AA thing. One day at a time. I can't project or think about how we'll do this for nine months or even one month. We'll get through it one day at a time. And we're so lucky. We have a home and a yard. We have each other. We have all these video apps so we can see and talk to everyone we love. I have two jobs where I can continue working. I can continue my schooling and Maggie's schooling. There are a million things for Ruby to do. We have food and sweet pets. Most important, we aren't sick. To say things could be worse is the understatement of the century.

Saturday, Day 8 of Quarantine

Ruby woke up like five minutes before I opened her door anyway and started knocking. I should have ignored her but I just let her out. I'm sure I'll regret that tomorrow when she knocks at 5 am. I asked her about my blanket and she went straight to it. She picked up a 20 pound blanket and put it in my bedside stand's drawer. Ruby!

Ruby wanted to know about chickens and Maggie perked up and started telling her. And I guess she enjoyed it because she said ask me about another animal. It was so cute. She was like, kangaroos are hopping mammals and they have large, powerful feet that enable them to hop. . . Like a little encyclopedia.

I've been cooking and cleaning and exercising this morning. I have to do school and set up therapy appointments. My other job (CK) has approved us doing tele-appointments with our families. I need to figure out Maggie's school.

At 6 pm, we met with Laurie and Jeff and their girls on Microsoft Teams to have dinner together. It was super glitchy but so nice to see everyone.

After Ruby went to bed, Maggie and I read for a while. We read a chapter of Harry Potter, a chapter of James and the Giant Peach, and a few old blog posts. I think we're in 2009. After that we watched an episode of The Office.

Friday, Day 7 of Quarantine

I had trouble sleeping last night. Of course, Ruby did great. Oh well.

I'm working like crazy. The girls are struggling. Ruby wants to talk and laugh and be near me and was quite confused why I don't want that. I'm trying to just mute my phone as much as possible and not be too mean when I get frustrated. I keep reminding myself, this isn't Ruby's fault. Her life has been turned upside down too.

I keep seeing people on social media talk about how bored they are and, man, I wish. I am doing so many jobs, I can't see straight.

I'm trying to be available to my kids anytime I'm not working. During lunch, I read our chapter book and some from the blog books.

When I went to bed last night, I realized by weighted blanket was missing. That thing weighs 20 pounds! I asked Maggie and, no surprise, she didn't take it. Ruby was already in bed but me and Mags searched the house but no dice. Is Ruby secretly the Hulk???

I thought I should write a little about what's going on. When I read this back, I might want that included. It's so far past scary, I barely know what to say. Hospitals across the country are so desperate for supplies, they are sending out requests for people to sew CDC-approved face masks. I don't know how to sew but I hope people who can are able to help.

NY is being drowned. They are already calling up any medically trained people to come back and work. When I first heard that, I didn't believe it. I just didn't believe that could be true, but it is. Now it's all I can think about. Will Laurie be called up? Without proper personal protection equipment (I think that's what it's called, masks and gloves, etc that protect our hospital workers from getting the diseases of the people they are treating), how quickly will our medical personnel get sick? If Laurie were to go, she couldn't go home at the end of the day. Ok, I'm going to stop, I'm getting ahead of myself for no reason.

I talked to one of my neighbors. They are doing well, just scared, like the rest of us. I'm going to call another of my neighbors today. They are older and may need help.

I have to keep reminding myself that this is reality. This isn't a movie or a book, but really happening. As frustrating and overwhelming as all my jobs/responsibilities are, it does keep me from obsessing about all this. Watching the numbers of infected and dead tick up faster and faster is horrifying. NYT released an article about the projections in the case of no changes made, some changes (social distancing), and drastic changes (shelter in place) and they are dire. We aren't doing enough. The whole country should be shelter in place and we aren't. Not even close. The fear isn't so much about too many people getting sick; it's too many people getting sick all at once. If the hospitals collapse, we'll have people dying of appendicitis and infections.

My plan right now is to keep us home almost no matter what. Hospitals are dangerous right now and unless things are dire (and Laurie tells me to), we wouldn't go to a doctor or hospital. We've done shelter-in-place (mostly, we had a few things we had to do) for a week. Is that enough? Could we avoid getting sick? I don't know. I saw a thing saying they think Covid can survive on cardboard for 24 hours. So if I'm having groceries delivered. . .

I'm trying to exercise a lot to prevent spiraling and anxiety. Or, I guess, lessen. I'm listening to funny podcasts and books to try to have something light. The girls are still fine. I guess that's it for now.

Thursday, Day 6 of Quarantine

Ruby woke up early again today. This time I didn't go in. I gotta break this habit now. But she was super tired today and by 2 or so she was awful. A lady is sort of training me via phone and Ruby was a banshee. Ugh.

 This was while I was on a conference call. Super chill. Thank goodness I was almost exclusively listening and had my phone muted.

Trying to spend time outside. Jay is my shadow. He's rarely more than a foot from me.

Maggie seemed sleepy too. It doesn't help that she doesn't do anything. She refuses to come outside (it doesn't help that she is now always naked). She is sitting all day. I am exercising as much as possible to stave off back and hip pain and not go freaking crazy.

Speaking of nudity. . .

Jay went to the other volunteer. I think he got dropped off (at the vet) Thursday morning and got surgery today and he'll get his heartworm treatment tomorrow and go home. I'll pick him up from the other volunteer today or tomorrow.

I talked to Aunt Susie. She can't visit Mamaw and Gene anymore to lessen the chance of someone introducing the coronavirus.

Maggie just almost set the house on fire. She made waffles and forgot to turn the toaster oven off. Jeez.

Maggie doesn't really get what's happening. I've given her some information and she knows I'm worried but she doesn't get the significance. Of course, at 11, things just seem normal. Schools being cancelled all over the country doesn't seem crazy to her. I give her bits of information here and there but mostly just that we need to wash our hands and she probably won't go back to school this year.

Ruby knows there's a bad bug out there which is why we can't go anywhere and no one can come over. She's mostly stopped asking about school. She was super unimpressed that we can fight the bad bug by washing our hands.

This is Ruby teaching a lesson to that little purple toy. It was so cute. I would have videoed it but I was on a work call.

Wednesdsay, Day 5 of the Quarantine

Ruby had trouble sleeping last night. She has that light that lit up when she could leave her room or yell to me that it was on. At first, it was great, but eventually she decided to try to hack the system. So she opened the back and just messed with it until she messed up all the settings. She did that so often I just stopped using it because I was sick of resetting everything every day. It was still in her room (it has a bright nightlight that can be turned on by pressing a big button, which is great when I have to go in there) and last night it just came on. It wasn't making noise but somehow she woke up and saw it and freaked out that it was time to get up. I unplugged it and made her go back to bed. Then she woke up early this morning and would not stop yelling.

Anyway, all that to say, I'm tired. I have more meetings today. I think this week or possibly next week I'll be calling families and doing either phone or video reading sessions with students. I cannot imagine how that is going to go. But I guess we'll just hope for the best and ask for patience.

It's bananas. I'm so busy. I don't even remember this day so I'm going to write about today.

Tuesday, Day 4 of Quarantine

Last night was better. I'm still having trouble falling asleep. Ruby woke up early. I guess I need to go back to bribing her not to yell or bang on her door.

We got up and got ready. I did the dogs' food and Jay's meds. Then exercised. Maggie decided to sit in the shower for a long time. Ruby and I went outside for a while.

Today was the day to start school for Maggie and work for me. Oh my! I had work calls and video calls and it was just crazy. Maggie was a pain about her school work. Her school is doing a great job of putting work on their site but Maggie was indignant. She wanted to know why we couldn't just hang out.

The whole day was just nutso. Maggie freaked out about school. Ruby was everywhere. I was on work calls for hours (luckily I was mostly listening so I could mute my phone). I know we'll figure out something but the expectation is that I can work my full time job, work my part time job, attend grad school, homeschool Maggie, and wrangle Ruby, plus cooking, cleaning, etc. I just have to accept that there is no way that's going to happen. I am one person and that's at least four full time jobs. With that in mind, I have to figure out priorities and just do my best. The whole world is dealing with the same issues and I'm hardly the only single mom out there. ALSO, I am so lucky to not be in the situation where I don't know how I'll pay my bills. Just writing that made me feel better. I need to remind myself of that every time I feel overwhelmed.

I should mention: I am scared about this whole situation. It's scary and unpredictable and everything could change tomorrow. But! I'm not panicked or hysterical. I'm writing on here to keep up with everything and am writing when I have the worst moments. But things are okay. I'm not like breaking down in front of the girls (I did cry once in front of the girls when the schools closed).

Monday, Day 3 of Quarantine

I tried to sleep in but I just can't sleep. I can't follow our plan today. I'm going easy on myself I guess. Things are scary and uncertain. I started hearing about Coronavirus in January and almost 7,000 people are dead. I'm so scared.

I was able to make a grocery order, which should have relieved my panic but it didn't. I'm going to give myself today to panic and then tomorrow I'll be back to it. I don't know how to navigate this. I can't lose my shit because the kids have no one else. No one in and no one out. We are quarantined.

We talked to Grandmo. She is still having to fly but has been told that by next weekend, probably, all flights will be grounded.

Laurie has a fever and doesn't feel well. Or rather, did yesterday. I called her this morning and her fever is gone and she feels better.

Maggie's school put up some more work. We got an email from the district that the governor has cancelled STAAR testing for this year.

We talked on the phone with Gran and Nana.

I feel much better now. The panic has definitely subsided. I have to keep it together. Maggie was obviously freaked out this morning because she could tell I was freaked out. No more checking my phone for an hour or two before bedtime. I might put it somewhere else entirely. I need sleep and I need to follow our routine. We could be quarantined for a while and we have to maintain our sanity and this is how we do it.

I have to get insulin for Spot and then I'm just going to have my groceries delivered.

Sunday, Day 2 of Quarantine

Getting up was easier today although still a pain. I thought I heard Ruby a few minutes after 7 but when I went in there she was still in bed, however, that woke her up. Oh well. We played and I kept messing with Maggie, trying to get her to wake up. We were up by say 7:35ish. Not bad. Everyone brushed teeth, got dressed, brushed hair. Then we came to the living room. Jay is taking steroids to prepare for his heartworm treatment (which they assure me will not get cancelled) so he's starving. I fed him immediately. Then I exercised. The girls were annoying but day two is always harder.

Maggie refused to get off the floor and kinda slept. I kept yelling at her to get up. Ruby and I listened to maybe five minutes of our audiobook and then just went outside. We stayed for a while but it was cold. We read a little. Then my annoyance was too much. Time for Ruby's movie. They watched Frozen II. Thank you Disney for putting it up early.

After the movie, we tried to do FB Messenger with Ella. Ruby was a mess. She kept crying if you took the phone away but she wouldn't talk when it was in front of her. She's never really used it and didn't seem to have a great understanding. I'm afraid she doesn't fell well. Laurie, keeps telling me we WILL all get sick so I'm hyperaware of our health. I feel fine. I think Ruby's allergies are bothering her. She's sneezing (which is not a COVID symptom) and has dark circles under eyes. Who can say?

After that, we ate lunch. We read from our book and from the blog books. We did laundry and cleaned some more. Throughout the day, I told the girls they had to eat leftovers. They are so spoiled about food. They are picky and I usually just give them whatever they will actually eat but we cannot do that anymore.

Then it was time for our family movie. We watched Iron Man 2. It was so much better than I remembered. We took a bath in the middle and got dinner. Then it was time for Ruby to go to sleep.

Maggie's school sent an email that they are starting to move work for the kids onto their site. That's not the right word. It's like a whole thing. The kids can log on and they have all these tools and sites but it's all protected. Laurie is thinking about putting Ella on the online school because it's most likely school will not open again this year. CDC released a recommendation not to have gatherings of more than 50 people for at least two months. I just don't know.

Maggie fell asleep pretty quickly again last night. I made the hugely regrettable decision of looking at my phone right before I went to bed. My grocery order was cancelled and every other way of ordering I tried (different stores, pick up, delivery) wouldn't go through and said it wasn't available for at least seven days.

Panic gripped my whole being. I felt sick. I couldn't sleep. I just lay there and panicked. I tried to direct my mind elsewhere but it was no good.

Quarantine: Day 1

I started hearing about COVID-19 in January, I think. This may be the only time in my life I saw the future, acted decisively and was right. I did two things pretty quickly. One, I stocked up. I got toilet paper, not a ridiculous amount but hopefully enough to take us through, and extra non-perishables of things I hope the kids will eat. Frozen stuff too.

Two, I got a job with a salary. This is going to go down as the smartest thing I ever did. I knew shit would be bad and I started applying in early February. Then I had some good luck. I got several calls immediately. One place called and said they had filled what I had applied for but had another open position and would I come interview. Even though I wasn't too interested in that position, I went in. THANK GOD! I interviewed with four people and they offered me the job on the spot. I filled out paperwork the next day and my salary starts tomorrow. Truly so lucky. I don't know what I would have done because CK is great but it's all contract based on face to face contact and I would have been sh!t outta luck.

Friday was a bad day. When the NBA closed, it felt scary, but still far away. When the schools closed, I panicked. It felt too real. Too close to home. I've never seen schools close. Maybe for a snow day now and then but this. It's scary. After crying and panicking, I used my anxiety tools. Mainly, I made a list. I made a routine for us. How we would order our days and all the things we could do? I know if we fall into a screen free for all, we'll fall apart. We can't do that. So, I let myself freak out and check out and whatever on Friday but Saturday was day one of quarantine.

So, Saturday!

I got up at 7 am. That's our new time. Unfortunately Ruby wasn't up yet and I can't bring myself to wake her. So I read on my phone for a few minutes until I heard her. Maggie was up late the night before so I let her sleep in a little too.

Ruby and I got ready and went to the living room. I fed the dogs and then exercised. After that, I made Maggie get up. We sat at the table and had breakfast (kind of) and I tried to play an audiobook. It was not wholly successful. Ruby doesn't really get it and she just keeps talking. So then we went outside, while Maggie stayed inside doing art.

Our neighbor's daughter just turned one and her birthday party was today, but they had to cancel. Bummer.

We are reading James and the Giant Peach. Ruby is doing better at listening to that. She understands to not talk while I read and can pay attention (I'm not sure how much of the story she is getting but whatever). Maggie loves it. It also helps Ruby that he does very short chapters.

After that, I let Ruby pick a movie and Maggie and I kinda did our own thing. Then lunch. Ruby helped me cook.

Oh also we're cleaning a lot. We deep cleaned the couch. Cloroxed and Lysoled everything twice. Did pick ups. Dishes. Laundry. We can't fall apart. This isn't Christmas break. We gotta keep up and active and so on.

After lunch we did more cleaning and then reading. Maybe art stuff. Then Maggie picked a movie and we all were quiet. Then we did yoga. Free quiet (screen-free) time. Read alouds. I read from James and then I thought we would read through the blog books. It's almost 12 years of posts about them. Fun stuff.

After that, it was time for my movie. We're starting the Marvel movies. Everyone likes them. They are fun and easy. After that, we can do Star Wars. We watched the first Iron Man.

Then dinner. Ruby helped me cook again. We did more cleaning. We all sat together at dinner. Oh we took a bath too. Maggie and Ruby were getting along so well and it warmed my heart.

Maggie has a basic idea of what's happening. I told her I need her to be a team player. We're in this together and it's just us for who knows how long. We have to take care of each other and be kind. Ruby doesn't really understand. She's asked if she's going to school most mornings. I've just told her we have to stay home. We can't go out and no one can come over. I plan on doing a Skype time most days so they feel a little less isolated.

After bath and dinner, we continued my movie until Ruby's bedtime. We did our usual routine and she went right out. Then Maggie and I finished Iron Man and had quiet time for a little while. I made her get in bed by 9 pm and she was out.

That's day one. Here's hoping we can look back at how scared we were and this will all be over soon.

Found in drafts from last month, maybe.

Monday

Everyone appears healthy. No one wanted to go to school, of course. I made a new screen rule. The rule had been one hour a day but it was very hard to keep up with. I got a device that was supposed to do it for you, but it stopped working. Then I was reading this book and it suggested going by day. So the new rule is Monday through Friday: no screens at all unless we do a Friday movie night. Saturday and Sunday, free for all, after chores and when we aren't doing stuff. All screens off by 8 pm.

I got the girls around 4 pm. Maggie had a playdate with Dessie at 5 pm so I told her to get her chores done, which she did. Ruby likes doing her chores now because I let her color in the box by each chore. Hey, man, whatever works. They didn't eat much dinner. After Maggie left, Ruby and I played Chutes and Ladders but she was so obviously tired.

As soon as Maggie got home, I put both girls in the bath and put Ruby to bed. She was exhausted. Maggie and I read Harry Potter and then she fell asleep. Tired girls.

Tuesday

Oh what a morning. Maggie was a mess. Her socks were killing her. They burned and hurt and itched. It sounds funny but it wasn't. She cried and I felt like crap. I know it's real for her. I don't know if she just doesn't feel good or what but it sucked.