We have spent the last 6 months doing everything we can to avoid Covid hitting our family. We wear masks every time we go into public, even if others aren't. We wash our hands and use sanitizer. We have been really careful. We decided Sunday dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Sproul's needed to be every other week and no one comes if they are sick at all. What else could we do?
I have to admit, my eyes were watering once she pulled it out. It really didn't hurt, but it tickled/irritated my throat enough that I felt like I needed to cough.
Getting tested was strangely satisfying. For months, millions of people around the world have been tested and I was glad I got to have the full experience. Douglas, Daisha and Amelia all opted for spit tests that day. Then we all waited.
On September 13th, we had a lovely dinner at my parents. Well, it is not my favorite meal but the guys really like it. The girls enjoyed visiting inside while the boys sat outside eating crawfish and shrimp. My dad pulled off his annual boil.
That's the event that put us in the history books. We received a group text from my dad the following Tuesday evening and I quote:
FYI: I woke up Monday morning shaking like a dog trying to pass a peach pit. I was coughing like crazy and I didn't get back to sleep because I knew I had just given my family COVID. So yesterday I got tested and was negative. It's just a crappy bug. I am so sorry if you get sick because of me.
We were all a little relieved but sad that my dad felt so lousy. And then mom got sick. We got another group text on Saturday afternoon:
Hi Family, FYI, Mom has had an on and off fever this past week and I assumed it was because she caught my bug. This morning just to be sure she had a Covid test and it is positive. She starts her quarantine today. I will have another test soon.
Craziness!! Covid was in our family. We went about our Saturday, mowing the lawn and cleaning the basement for Stockton to come home. My sister, Kelly, called to see if they could come over and show us their new puppy. Of course I said, yes!
We decided to get some dinner together so we grabbed some Chick-fil-A and had a parking lot picnic since their lobby is still closed due to Covid restrictions.
Sunday morning, Russell had to get a Covid test for an upcoming scheduled colonoscopy. He got there first thing and was back in no time. We were supposed to pick up Evelyn (his 87 year-old mom) and bring her to our house for dinner but Russell just wasn't feeling good about it. With a positive test from my mom and his own pending test, we made arrangements for someone else to feed her. I am SO glad we did. The next morning, Monday September 21st, Russell was confirmed positive with Covid 19. We were shocked! But, kind of not. He had not experienced any symptoms that would have made him go get tested but looking back he remembered a bad night's sleep and eye pressure for a few days leading up to this. Luckily, so far his case was very mild. I called Kelly and she left work immediately since she is a teacher and we are all trying so hard to keep schools safe so in-person learning can continue. I also pulled Mason out of school after attending his first two classes for the very same reason. We were officially quarantined!
Mason and I decided we needed to get tested. There are a few ways to test for Covid. You can spit in a cup and test your saliva but the lines are super long because that is the less frightening was to do it. Then there is the good old swab! Mason was nervous but I decided to go for the swab. Luckily, Russell had done it the day before and was able to prepare us for the experience. He said it was easier or the same as getting a flu shot. Well, we just did that so no problem! Mason went first. There is a super long flexible swab stick that goes through your nose, down to your throat and they twist it back and forth for 10 seconds before they pull it out. You can feel the swab flipping around in your throat. It's kind of creepy. Mason was a champ! He gave me courage.
They tell you the results will be back in 24-48 hours. Amelia found out she was negative on Tuesday evening. It took until Wednesday morning for the rest of us to get our results. Douglas and Daisha were positive. Russell actually logged in and got our results before I woke up. I was positive and Mason was negative. The list of Covid-19 symptoms is very long but one of the most unique symptoms is a decrease or a loss of taste and smell. I started tasting metal about the same time Russell was having eye pressure. I could still taste my food but I had that along with it. I also was experiencing neck pain that made it hard to turn from side to side but it was something I wasn't using medication to relieve. We didn't have the bad cough, fever, aches, difficulty breathing, chest pain, sore throat and congestion that was associated with the virus. We really were amazed and so grateful we were feeling well. In fact, we felt well enough that we never quit exercising.
My sister Kelly tested positive as well as my brother, Dallas. Their families all ended up being negative. Quarantine starts from the day of your first symptom if you test positive so Monday the 21st was actually day 5! That's why we wear masks in public, just in case you are walking around with the virus and have no idea. Kind of like us!
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