Last Week of Working from Home

It seems like a good time for a Covid update, since not only is it officially my last week working from home, but Reina had her first Covid test last week and Will might be on the way to getting his second test this week.  It's been a weird few weeks.  Reina's test was negative, as was an influenza test and strep but she was pretty sick for several days and after some steroids and an antibiotic, she's better.  I wasn't too worried that she had covid because most of her symptoms weren't covid-related but she also knew of at least 3 other kids in her class who were sick so we got her tested to rule it out.  Will has similar symptoms as Reina this week but he's not as sick and the desire to not miss more baseball practice might get him back to school tomorrow.  He does have a baseball teammate who has covid right now, so we are keeping an eye on him.  While most of the adults we know have been vaccinated, we are still waiting on an opportunity for the kids.  I hope we can all make it through this without anyone getting sick.  I'm pretty sure I must have typed something like this a year ago and yet here we are.  Almost out of the woods but not quite yet.  

I'll be back in the office full-time next week. I have mixed feelings.  It will be nice to see my co-workers in person but I'll miss my comfy clothes and the quiet of working from home.  And I'll miss the pets.  I traveled for work last week (right as Reina was getting sick which is how that timing always seems to work) and I enjoyed it.  It was a quick overnight trip and the weather cooperated, which always helps.  Being fully vaccinated also helped me feel more comfortable about staying in a hotel.  I conducted an all-day meeting and everyone wore masks the entire time.  It really felt normal after a while.  

Glenn just returned from a turkey hunting trip in Kansas and proudly brought back a giant bird. He didn't go turkey hunting last year because of travel concerns so he was pretty happy to be able to head out.  I stayed here and watched Will play baseball on Saturday and in typical Lucy fashion - I didn't think I needed a jacket and instead had to wrap myself up in three blankets I had stuffed in the trunk of my car.  So fashionable. 

We've had rain most of the day today and it's been a welcome sight.  I'm very thankful for the moisture and also thankful that I didn't have to watch any sporting events in it. Here's hoping that Will wakes up feeling 100% and everybody stays healthy.   

The rest of April so far

Baseball practice, baseball scrimmages, volleyball practice, volleyball games, dance lessons, piano, work, talking about the weather and repeat.  That's our April.  In between all of those events, I got my second Covid vaccine last week.  I started to feel pretty tired in the few hours after my shot and when I woke up the next morning, after sleeping through Glenn getting both of the kids up and out of the house, I texted my boss something like "bad headache, super fatigue, no work" and went back to sleep.  Just like most everybody else I've talked to, by the next day I was back on my feet and feeling normal two days after that.  I'm glad I'm all vaccinated up!  I hope we can get the kids their vaccines too.  I'll breathe a sigh of relief when that is done.   

My view post-vaccination.  I had giant hot water bottle dogs to keep my company.  

Easter Sunday didn't quite look like Easters of past years but we had some fun.  Church on zoom still for me (Glenn and Reina braved in-person).  Then we had a spur of the moment Easter egg hunt with the little cousins because I had too many eggs for just a tween and a teen.  It was short-lived but very, very sweet.  

Not sure who had more fun here - the uncle or the nephew

Finally, a random picture of the cat.  She has staked out the chicken coop as her domain to hunt for mice.  The chickens don't seem to mind and so far the body count is just one mouse.  But that won't stop her from keeping watch.  

More snow is expected this week. Not measured in feet like the last storm and as always, we will welcome the moisture.  Springtime in Wyoming. 

Spring Break in One Day

 The kids have had been on Spring Break all week but we unfortunately we aren't sunning ourselves in exotic locations.  Will had baseball practice through Tuesday so we decided to stay home this year and combine a work week with some fun activities. I took today off and the kids and I zipped down to Denver.  It was one of those days when everyone was cheerful and we had fun!  Fun with a 14-yr old and a 12-yr old and a mom who's always tired!  Fun!  We hit a lot of stores.  Will needed more baseball equipment and his collection of sports sweatshirts is always looking for new additions.  Reina found some clothes she liked and got her very own volleyball too.  We went to the Natural History Museum and stayed there as long as tempers would allow.  There's a cool exhibit on Stonehenge and Reina and I could have stayed in there for hours. We'll have to go back on our own again.  On the way home, Will and I listened to the Rockies game on the radio while Reina played a videogame in the backseat.  It was baseball's Opening Day and the Rockies beat the Dodgers which is always an amazing way to start off the season.  We shopped on our way home for more baseball stuff, tried a new (to us) cookie store and come home completely stuffed.  While the rest of our Spring Break has been a blur of work and driving kids to practices and play dates, this day made it all worth it.