COVID update

 Well, of course we got it.  I mean, COVID is super contagious.

So far we are doing really well.  I have had symptoms for a week now and while I am incredibly tired and have headaches and (oddly) chilled feet, I have no breathing problems and no coughing and no fever.  Swine flu back in 2009 hit me way harder so I am very thankful.

Kevin is also sick. Very tired, occasional headaches and body aches.

Lydia is sick.  Very tired with headaches and body aches.

There is a theme, isn't there?

The younger 7 kids are showing a few signs of fatigue and Isaac seems to have COVID toes.  It is 10:23 a.m. and none of the six girls have emerged from bed so I'm guessing they are sick and tired.

But really, so far we are doing great.  I've done some poking around and a 51 year old woman and a 50 year old man with 9 kids under 21 should all do fine with this. But still, it is a SCARY disease so if we sail through this with a couple weeks of extreme fatigue and aching, we'll be happy.

Various kind people are bringing us food when we need it.

Oh, Naomi is recovering. She was the sickest (so far) and is past the headache stage though she is still very tired.

COVID-19!

 Naomi has coronavirus!  

She works retail so it isn't a HUGE surprise.  But it is still a surprise. It is and it isn't.

She got sick about ... 10 days ago. I heard about the headache but a lot of people have had headaches thanks to allergies and the like. So like a dolt, I ignored it.

A week ago Saturday they sent her home from work as she had shared her symptoms, which included headache, fatigue, and aches and pains. NO COUGH NO FEVER!

How are we supposed to know someone has COVID when the symptoms are so variable?  It is just RUDE of the virus.

So Monday she got a test and Friday they finally told her she had COVID.

So all this time we have sort of been quarantining but...not really. Because I convinced myself she did NOT have COVID.  No one else has been sick and COVID is horribly contagious so...yeah.

Now we are super quarantining.  So far no one is obviously sick.  I have had a mild headache and very occasional nausea but I also have a lot of allergy drainage.  So yeah.

Naomi has been working and/or in her RV a lot but we still have had exposure.

So we will see how the next week goes. Naomi has done great.  She feels lousy but no problems with coughing or shortage of breath so we are thankful for that.

Thursday

 

1 Timothy 2:1-4 ESV

 

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Like most people, I am not fond of uncertainty.  As of this moment, it seems almost certain that Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States but it isn't quite over yet so yes, we will see.

And I am disappointed since I don't like his political views, or those of his VP Harris.

Yesterday as I was trying not to be anxious, I remembered the verse above. What can I do, Laraba, about our country's future?  I can pray for our leaders.  I can do the job I am supposed to do, which is to raise my children to love God, serve him, and serve other people.  I am just a midwestern woman with a passel of children. I am not a world changer and I won't be.  There is no point in freaking out about a future I cannot change, but there is every reason to pray.

I am finishing up another Pride and Prejudice book; this one is called Darcy Sails After Her.  I have found that most of my books have themes; this particular one is about love and devotion, and recognizing that one cannot fix everything that is wrong around us.  We all have tasks and we all have seasons in our lives.  During one season we may be at home a lot (well -- that describes most of us through COVID-19!) and another season we might be singing worship on stage at church or feeding the homeless in the streets.

I am, I admit, quite passionate about this issue which is no doubt why it has popped up in my writing. There seems to be a general feeling in the Church of Jesus Christ that the only true way to serve Jesus is to serve within the church community. Simplistically, that seems right. Of course you have to serve God's children if you are a Christian?

But what if the children in question are YOUR children.  I have had littles ones for literally decades now.  Rose, who is 6, is not happy when Mama is gone a lot.  Balancing the needs of 9 children is like a tightrope.  There are days when my brain is whirling much of the morning with trying to help 9 kids with this and that.

If I tried to add on an outside ministry, I would neglect my primary calling during this season, which is my family. I am very certain of this.    

Tired

 It has been a busy and hard week.  I am still mourning our cat Steve, who died recently of an upper respiratory infection. The other 4 kittens are in the sun room and all are on antibiotics now. The girls seemed Ok until yesterday, when Peach (our all orange one) started looking lethargic.  We have enough meds for them all so I decided to just cut to the chase and start dosing the girls as well.

Of course, the cats are not ecstatic with having antibiotics forced down their throats but we know they need it.

Here they are ALL piled in one box.

I am also stressed over the presidential election.  It sure seems like Biden will win but they thought that about Clinton. I do not want Biden to win; I am an ardent pro lifer and Biden's pledge to push abortion right up to full term is horrifying to me. 

Having said that, God is on his throne. I realize that many people I like loathe Trump for different reasons. Some of them are pro-life but to them, it is not the major issue; they are more concerned about immigration and women's rights issues and so on.

Whatever happens, God is on His Throne. I believe sometimes nations get it wrong (we do have free will as voters) but He can work even with a really horrible leader.  Hitler comes to mind.  The dude was actually ELECTED by the German people, which must go down in history as one of the worst democratic election decisions in history. The Holocaust is one of the worst things that ever happened but in the midst of it were people like Corrie Ten Boom and other brave souls who risked their lives for the freedom of others.  

Thankfully we do live in a republic so even if it is a sweep for the Democrats, the Republicans will be able to provide the brakes on occasion. 

And vice versa. If the Republicans do pull out a win, then the Democrats will provide the brakes on occasion.

I think I will be happier on Wednesday just knowing which way it is going to go, one way or the other.

Kids have had a lot of doctor, dental, eye, and orthodontist appointments lately. That is one oddball thing about having a huge family; there are just a lot of random appointments.  Of course, we could just not go to them but we are responsible parents.  Teeth are important. Eyes are important.

So I go.  But it is stressful to be gone a lot from home.

But what a blessing to be able to have my kids cared for well by medical people!  Every time I get whiny, I remind myself of that!