COVID exposure

Well, unfortunately, Cora has been exposed to COVID.  We got the call Friday around lunchtime from the nurse at school...  what a shock to the system, what a terrible phone call.  I was so overwhelmed.  

According the rules, Cora needs to be quarantined from school for 14 days (because she was un-masked at the time of the exposure).  Again, the whole thing is just crazy to me... and is scary too.  But regardless, because she was un-masked, her return to learn date is November 12.  It makes me sick just thinking about it...  I hate this and hate the fact that we've done so well, and then she is exposed by someone else.  :(

Cora was tested Friday afternoon... (waiting on results)

as of now, Saturday night - she still has no symptoms and is fine.  I pray every second that she continues to have no symptoms (along with the rest of us), and that the next 14 days go fast.  I just feel awful for her. 

More to come... 

Halloween 2020

Last night (the night before Halloween) is considered "Beggar's Night" in West DSM/Waukee...  the kids were ready. 

Cora dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, and looked amazing.  So cute, what a great little costume. 

Kayson dressed as a good old football player (but then he said he was just a 'fan'!).  He is getting a little old for this, so this year, he decided on this --- AND got to hang with his friends!  I think he was excited.  He went to Caleb's with Hud and Nolan... did their own thing, and had a good night.  It ended up being a sleepover too (which didn't surprise me!), but man, we didn't see him much!  I'm thankful he has great friends (and their friends have good parents!)

Cora trick or treated with her wonderful parents.  :)  We decided it would be best for her to just go with us... and be safe, and she had a good time.  It was a great little night.

Weekend

Friday, we enjoyed a night in... and it was great.  It's starting to get cold, so we just chilled at home. 

Also Friday was the 4 year anniversary of losing Mom.  Seems impossible, seems like yesterday.  I just can't believe it.  I hate that she's gone... hate it.  I know it's 'better', but I can still hate it. I am so blessed with amazing friends who sent messages, and flowers, and just thought of us... I love that, and am so appreciative. 

Saturday - the housework stuff always!  Laundry, cleaning, organizing (I swear that's all I do, and stuff is still out of place!!)  Saturday afternoon we went to Daughtery's for Joe's 40th birthday!  It was a nice time... lots of people there, so I really did try to stay '6 feet' away from most...  hard to.  The kids had a good time... plus Cora's good friend, Zoe was there!  Nice to have friends with the same friends as us!  So that was fun for them.  It was also the first Iowa Hawkeye football game!  Unfortunately it was a loss, but fun to have football back on (well, a team that we root for!)

Sunday - church, groceries, errands... and that's it.  

Kayson 6th Grade Fall Conferences

With COVID, we now do parent/teacher conferences online.  Not going to lie - it was nice.  Each one was about 5 or 8 minutes, you are at home (comfortable), and just seems like the smart way to do it anymore.  I enjoyed it. 

So with 6th grade, you actually get a choice of if you want to do conferences or not, and with whatever teacher(s) you want.  You could chose 1 or 4 or even the 'extras'.  We went the route of choosing to have a conference with each of Kayson's main teachers. 

Advisory & Math (Eddy): he's considered 'secure' and is doing a nice job.  She says he has good behavior and she enjoys having him in class. 

Social Studies (Harvey): She, too, said K is doing a nice job... good kid were her words.  This was a good one, as I got to know a little more about how to keep connected with what they are doing... using the specific apps and just understanding due dates, etc.  I haven't done a very good job of that!  

Science (Keller): She said K was a little chatty at first (beginning of the year), but he has is completely under control, and she loves having him in class.  

English/Language Arts (Smith): This 10 minutes was interesting... (as I'm not a big reader), the teacher asked Kayson a ton of questions about the books he's reading, and the 'deep study of character'.  I was shocked!  haha.  But he did great, and seems to enjoy the class. 

Overall, all was great...  Very proud of him. 

Weekend

Gosh, another weekend has gone by.  Cora even said yesterday afternoon - "Why do weekends go so fast??"  True sister.  It stinks. 

We actually didn't do much at all...  just chilled at home and did things around the house in between dance.  Cora and I did get out Saturday afternoon - got her nails done.  We had her toes done before school started, and they were LONG.  They needed some attention.  So she was pampered, and I just enjoyed watching her and having some time with her. 

Sunday we got our first snow here...  yuk.  I mean, it was kind of pretty, but not for long.  ha.  Flag football was cancelled, which was a bummer.  So we didn't have much going on Sunday either.  

Not much for pictures either...  We just haven't been too exciting! :)

Weekend - Friends & Dance & Flag football

We are trying hard to get back to 'normal' around here... seeing friends if we can, etc.   But we still kind of take things easy and stay home a lot, when we can.  And I don't mind. 

Friday night we did have Koch's and Showalter's over for pizza...  hadn't really seen them in awhile and was nice to catch up.  Kids did pretty well, besides Kayson - he's struggling a little.  I think it's a 'pre-teen' thing, and I don't know what to do with him!!!  I know it's normal, but he makes things tough sometimes. 

Saturday we started our day by sleeping in a little, and it was great. 

Cora had her first Saturday production dance practice - 2 hours, and she enjoyed it!  During that time, I picked up Hudsen and Caleb so K could have friends over...  they played and laughed nearly all day.  I enjoyed having them here - good kids.  Cora and I did a little shopping for her...  she is growing like a weed, and needed some shoes.  

Caleb stuck around with us all day and into the evening...  we went to the church for a little campfire, then that was our day.  Busy, but also productive and nice. 

Sunday was church, then quickly we were into the afternoon --- dance again, and K off to flag football.  Man it's fun to watch those boys/friends play flag football together.  They have fun too!  Was nice to sit with Sarah, Jen and Tiff too...  I needed a little friend time. 

Sunday night we got the new that JeanAnn wasn't feeling well, and she was in the hospital in Creston... unfortunately, she was transferred up to Des Moines just for safety precaution, as her chest and lungs are full of blood clots.  Scary... but she's in the right place.  Unfortunately, with COVID, no one can be with her...  Mike can only be at the hospital, but not even in the room with her.  Just sucks...   Regardless, we need to pray for her that the meds she's on with break up those blood clots and she'll start feeling better.  

Not many pictures...  oops.

And we are on to another week.  I can't believe it.  It's the middle of October already...  

Cora - lost tooth #8

 and the other one FELL out too!  I knew it would!!!

Cora - Lost tooth #7

Cora's tooth FELL OUT.  Literally, FELL OUT OF HER MOUTH!  

She was in the bath...  she has a couple loose teeth, and she was just finishing up, and all the sudden she says - "my tooth just fell out!!"  Awesome!!!  I was so excited!!!

My guess is the other tooth (#8) will be out in a day or so!!!  #crossingfingers

Our new routine

Now that school has been back in session for about 6 weeks (which is amazing!), we are on a pretty good schedule here.  I'm thankful for that, and am really enjoying it. 

In order to really start the day off right, I'm still getting up early (before the kids) to get myself ready.  That's one thing that I haven't really skipped on since working from home.  I have to shower, I have to get ready... otherwise, I'm not very motivated!

We get Kayson up about 6:45, and thankfully, he's easy in the morning.  He gets up fine, doesn't give us a hard time...  gets dressed, eats, and he's ready.  Bus picks him up about 7:15ish.  

Ryan heads to work then, when he's in town. 

About that time, I start my work day (which is significantly earlier than I've EVER worked before!!)  When I had to drive downtown, there were times (most times), I wasn't logged in til after 8:15!!  So I start working and plugging away as soon as I can... and get quite a bit done that first 45 minutes or so. 

Cora sometimes wakes on her own, but most times, I'm waking her about 7:45/8:00.  I guess it depends on how work is going!  She's a little slower in the morning...  but I give her plenty of time.  She'll watch a little show, eat her breakfast... then she'll get dressed, etc.  Sometimes, if we have time, I'll actually 'do' her hair - braids, pony, curls.  That's kind of fun, I like that extra time, just her and me. 

We head out about 8:30 to school - if the weather is nice (warm), then we will walk to school... Boomer in tow, which both of them love.  Otherwise, I'll drive her. 

Then it's full blown work for me...  I'll take breaks about 11:00, lunch time, then again about 2:00 (depending on meetings, etc.) and walk Boomer or just step away.  It's going well, I'm enjoying working from home... I enjoy not being rushed in the mornings... I enjoy having the news/shows on in the background... I enjoy having music going sometimes... I enjoy diffusing oils... I just enjoy it. I'm very thankful that my employer is allowing us to work from home, to continue to keep us safe.  

Kayson gets off the bus around 3:20, him and I talk quickly about his day, then I'm off to pick sis up.  Sometimes we walk, most times, I sit in the 'pick-up' line.  I've gotten used to it...  a good quiet 15 minutes in my car!  

Then our evenings start!