July Fun

[August Blooms]

CoachTsWife The Covid cost savings for us has been crazy, no daycare, reduced gas and tolls. The girls are back to daycare next week so I have to say bye to my money again.

Taitai I think she had an idea the diagnosis was coming but it’s a different thing to have a doctor tell you. She seems ok, the meds have a good track record and minimal side effects so we are hoping they work and she gets to feel like herself again. She’s stressed about thinking about if they don’t and if she’ll have to quit working and not being able to take care of or play with the girls. Hopefully it’s slow moving and she will enjoy a good quality of life for years to come, she’s still young so 🤞

[August Blooms]

In happier news we are buying a new to us car. DH decided we needed a German car for our next car, we have 2 Mazda’s now. So he found a great deal on an older Audi A4 and with all our Covid savings we are buying it. We are hoping it will last a few years.

He also agreed to a mini Reno of our powder room which is right off of our main entry so we will be doing all that flooring. Well not us, an actual tiler and we will do the demo and rest ourselves.

[danvers]

I have no idea why July seems to be going so fast. We aren’t doing anything different than the last 5 months of pandemic and yet it seems to be moving faster.

We’re going to sneak a trip up to my moms for a long weekend. My brother is coming in for a few days from out of state and the girls are so excited to see him. His job is pretty isolated and he has been really strict about quarantining so we feel safe seeing him at my parents.

The girls only get to see him 2-3x a year. He is spoils them rotten and indulges all their princess games.

[Taitai]

danvers Awwwww - you have such a nice brother! I hope your girls have a wonderful time with their uncle - enjoy that family time.

August Blooms Congrats on the new to you car! Exciting news about the mini-reno too. Bathrooms and kitchen remodeling is the most interesting/fun (IMO).

[Taitai]

This month does seem to be going by really fast....how is it half way over already? DH and I need to plan a date night while the local transmission numbers are 0. Schools are in session, and it kind of feels normal - except with all the social distancing and masks.

In non-covid news, DS2 has started peeing his pants as soon as I pick him up from school the past 3 days. He’s been potty trained since January - argh! I know we’ll get him back on track, but jeeze DS2, why are you holding your pee until you see mom at pickup?

[curmudgeon]

👋 I’m trying to pop in here and there. Days go by super fast even though we don’t leave except to take the kids to daycare. I’m just outside the city of Houston in a very small town and our numbers are going crazy. People I know are sick now and it’s heartbreaking. In other news, DS2 is starting to tell us when he needs to go to the bathroom. But he does it by ripping his diaper off pointing at his penis and saying poopoo. Took me a day to understand what he meant.

Also, I’m tired of working at home with H every day. He’s constantly eating something crunchy.

[Taitai]

curmudgeon Thinking about you and all the COVID in the Houston area. I imagine that’s really stressful. I hope you and your family/friends stay safe and healthy.

Also - when my DS2 first started to tell us about having to go, he’d also say poopoo when he meant that he had to pee. It took him a good 2 weeks to figure out they were two different things. Our nanny finally explained to him, “poopoo comes out the back, peepee comes out the front,” and then he proceeded to say that line about 1 million times to anyone who would listen 😂🤣

[CoachTsWife]

We've had a few bumps in the road but it's looking like DS2 is daytime potty trained!

curmudgeon thinking of you guys. Hopefully you all will stay safe and healthy!

I think it is going to be awfully quiet when DH goes back to work and the boys start preschool/daycare. When DH is not at football, I can escape downstairs and work in peace and quiet but still hear them playing upstairs; that is the best. But it it awful when DH is at football - I'm not a good mom nor a good employee when I have the boys by myself during the work day. I'm dreading the change and worried about our exposure with DH at school, DS1 at preschool, and DS2 at daycare.  But even if DH's school goes virtual, I think the teachers will still be on site this time, and having the boys home with me 5 days a week is just not an option long-term.

I did find out yesterday that I can plan to WFH through 2020. They will reevaluate in Dec/Jan - they had previously been extending it month by month. I had been assuming such, but it is nice to have your assumptions confirmed.

[curmudgeon]

We got our district’s plan for return and school is 100% virtual the first 3 weeks. I have a feeling they will keep extending it week by week through the end of the year. I don’t know how to do this while H and I work FT. We will be home, but we stay busy seriously all day, and this rental house is not large enough for everyone to have their own space to work. 😫

[duskymonkey]

August Blooms I am so so sorry to hear about your mom's dx. If it makes you feel better, my BFF's mom was dx over 10 yrs ago and the meds are helping tremendously for her to resume a normal life. She's almost 80 and is still self sufficient along with her husband. On a good note, I am glad your province is doing well and you can be with your mom while she's starting treatment. Also congrats to your new to you ride. Audi's are good reliable cars. Hubs is thinking about a Tesla as soon as our X5 craps out - it's 18 yr old and still runs great! I think he'll be waiting for a while yet which is probably fine since many others will be rolling out Ecars.

[duskymonkey]

CoachTsWife yay! to PT success. We have streaks of a couple of weeks and then we have accidents like today. Lil fella didn't make it 2x to poop. Gah! He's just so busy and gets distracted and tries to hold it in. Pee isn't quite happening either. Looking back, DS did pretty well despite his pee problems but never pooped in his pants. Anyways I hope you've gotten your childcare sorted out. This is so hard for everyone. I would be an utter mess if I was working FT and having to make a decision to send the kids to DC or school. I hope your community is sensible and your DH and your family will stay safe. Also glad to hear your workplace is making the decision to allow people to work remotely.

[duskymonkey]

danvers enjoy the last few weeks of summer break! I wish both boys would sleep but they're up around 630 and DS would usually come crashing into our room and get into our covers. I suppose we could teach him to read a book or something which he does sometimes but that's when he's up before 630 lol! Your brother sounds like such a great person. Girls sound like they adore him too. I am also not looking forward when school starts since I'll essentially be DS' "teacher". There were some tears during online schooling. DS is excited to hear he won't be going to school even though he would still have to do school work. This pandemic is just something else. It doesn't help that the nation is such a mix bag of conscientious willing and ignorant unwilling people. It just makes me really sad that DS didn't experience K graduation and getting to go to G1 and being in a classroom and making friends. He needs to learn to do all that. I hope as a nation, we can somehow get this under control without more people suffering and loss of lives.

[duskymonkey]

Jul 16, 2020 8:49:32 GMT -6 Taitai said:

This month does seem to be going by really fast....how is it half way over already? DH and I need to plan a date night while the local transmission numbers are 0. Schools are in session, and it kind of feels normal - except with all the social distancing and masks.

In non-covid news, DS2 has started peeing his pants as soon as I pick him up from school the past 3 days. He’s been potty trained since January - argh! I know we’ll get him back on track, but jeeze DS2, why are you holding your pee until you see mom at pickup?

My mind is blown! Meanwhile it's a complete breakdown over here and we call ourselves a developed nation? Our Gov mandated masks statewide starting yesterday and several counties' police chiefs have said they will not be enforcing it. Again mind blown!

[Taitai]

Jul 19, 2020 0:19:09 GMT -6 duskymonkey said:

Jul 16, 2020 8:49:32 GMT -6 Taitai said:

This month does seem to be going by really fast....how is it half way over already? DH and I need to plan a date night while the local transmission numbers are 0. Schools are in session, and it kind of feels normal - except with all the social distancing and masks.

In non-covid news, DS2 has started peeing his pants as soon as I pick him up from school the past 3 days. He’s been potty trained since January - argh! I know we’ll get him back on track, but jeeze DS2, why are you holding your pee until you see mom at pickup?

My mind is blown! Meanwhile it's a complete breakdown over here and we call ourselves a developed nation? Our Gov mandated masks statewide starting yesterday and several counties' police chiefs have said they will not be enforcing it. Again mind blown!

Like is for agreeing with you. Why the heck are masks controversial....I just...wow. They work, just wear one FFS to be considerate - we’re in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic. It’s not a political thing here in Asia at all - never has been. Hard to see what is happening in the USA ☹️

[danvers]

We are headed home today. It’s been really fun just hanging out at my parents with everyone. We didn’t go anywhere or do anything, just lots of swimming and feeding the neighbor’s horses. Those are literally the two things we did multiple times a day 😂

I have started a list of all things I need to do to get my classroom ready by Aug 3rd. It’s overwhelming, especially because I don’t think we are going to be in person for long (see: the plan where we don’t do anything different at all 😑)

I did order DD1 some cute unicorn and rainbow face masks because I do think we will be mandated to wear them at some point to school... probably whenever the governor decides to man up and stop gently suggesting it. Our state numbers are one of the few that aren’t terrible comparatively but it’s only a matter of time I’m afraid

[curmudgeon]

I finally ordered myself a box of masks so I can keep a few in my purse/car/etc. I hardly leave the house now but when I do I’ve been known to forget a mask and have to drive back home.

Cases in my local city have remained fairly low and I haven’t known anyone personally with COVID, until a week ago when I found out a woman from church tested positive. She died this morning. It’s heartbreaking and I’m angry at the same time because her husband, daughter, and grandchildren are all positive as well but they are moving forward with a public funeral this week. The funeral home has said they aren’t requiring masks and are unable to provide social distancing. I cannot understand the thought process here.

[Taitai]

Jul 21, 2020 21:22:07 GMT -6 curmudgeon said:

I finally ordered myself a box of masks so I can keep a few in my purse/car/etc. I hardly leave the house now but when I do I’ve been known to forget a mask and have to drive back home.

Cases in my local city have remained fairly low and I haven’t known anyone personally with COVID, until a week ago when I found out a woman from church tested positive. She died this morning. It’s heartbreaking and I’m angry at the same time because her husband, daughter, and grandchildren are all positive as well but they are moving forward with a public funeral this week. The funeral home has said they aren’t requiring masks and are unable to provide social distancing. I cannot understand the thought process here.

First of all, I’m very sorry that a member of your church contracted COVID and passed away curmudgeon. That’s terribly sad.

The public funeral, including immediate family members who are positive, with no social distancing and no masks....I....hmmmm....huh.....why?

[curmudgeon]

Jul 22, 2020 8:18:48 GMT -6 Taitai said:

Jul 21, 2020 21:22:07 GMT -6 curmudgeon said:

I finally ordered myself a box of masks so I can keep a few in my purse/car/etc. I hardly leave the house now but when I do I’ve been known to forget a mask and have to drive back home.

Cases in my local city have remained fairly low and I haven’t known anyone personally with COVID, until a week ago when I found out a woman from church tested positive. She died this morning. It’s heartbreaking and I’m angry at the same time because her husband, daughter, and grandchildren are all positive as well but they are moving forward with a public funeral this week. The funeral home has said they aren’t requiring masks and are unable to provide social distancing. I cannot understand the thought process here.

First of all, I’m very sorry that a member of your church contracted COVID and passed away curmudgeon. That’s terribly sad.

The public funeral, including immediate family members who are positive, with no social distancing and no masks....I....hmmmm....huh.....why?

yep. I had the same questions and had to make sure my parents were not going because they were very close (with the woman who passed). And my retired dad works part time at this funeral home, but won’t be now for a long time. How can this seem like a good idea to anyone.

[CoachTsWife]

curmudgeon I'm so sorry to hear about the church member you lost due to covid.

PDQ

*poof*

[curmudgeon]

I think funerals are supposed to be limited to 50, but this one is not following that. So it is what it is. I’ll be staying at home online ordering from now until eternity.

In other crappy news, my car’s AC has a leak and we got the estimate back today at $2300. Yikes. We called another place and they quoted around the same. So that’s happening. The car isn’t even 5 years old. 😭

[danvers]

curmudgeon oh no about the car! The motor in the sliding doors of our van went out on both sides and it quoted around 1000. I will now do it manually forever.

Our local sheriffs dept just released a FB post they won’t be enforcing our state’s new mask mandate so I will also be online shopping for eternity too. 😑

[Taitai]

curmudgeon Ugh - sorry about the car repair bill. That sucks, and A/C is something you really don’t want to be without in TX in the summer! danvers - sorry the motor on your van doors went out too!

CoachTsWife Interesting about your connection/knowledge of the funeral home business. One of my good friends in high school had a similar experience, and talking to her about that role- it’s so important, and I am really glad there are people able to help others navigate through the process of honoring a loved one’s death. It must be a very stressful business to be in right now.

[curmudgeon]

We are getting the outer bands of hurricane Hanna, so we are stuck indoors all weekend. It’s making for a miserable time in this rental house, where all our stuff is still in boxes and the space is limited. I may have to brave the wind and rain tomorrow and drive to my parents for a change of scenery for the kids. In better news, I made gnocchi with pomodoro sauce for dinner and it was so good.

[danvers]

DD2’s daycare had a worker test positive in one of the pre-k rooms. DD2 hasn’t been there since March but will be starting back the first week in Aug when school starts back up. Daycare shut down all of last week but is reopening now with a new plan.

Any kid showing ANY signs of illness (runny nose included) must have a negative COVID-19 test before returning to daycare. It being DD2 I feel there will be a lot of nasal swabs in our future 😩

*I totally get why they are being proactive but the idea of holding DD2 down repeatedly for these tests whenever she gets a runny nose this fall/winter has me dreading our return back to public even more

[Taitai]

danvers Yep - the schools here have the same protocol. Any kid who exhibits any symptoms (runny nose, coughing, itchy eyes, stomach ache, it’s sooooo vague) is sent home immediately and can’t come back to school until a COVID year comes back negative. And we haven’t had any cases of community transmission in our country for months 😩. I am just hoping my kids stay healthy and don’t get many colds this year - the thought of having my kids get their noses swabbed is not fun. I guess we’ll see what happens 🤷‍♀️

[CoachTsWife]

danvers I'm very nervous about DH and the boys returning to school and daycare. Aside from DH going to football this summer, we've mostly been in a little bubble, and the thought of everyone (except me) spending all day around others has me feeling very vulnerable. I definitely understand requiring a negative covid test for anyone displaying symptoms, but what about kids with allergies? I get it, but feel really sorry for those kids and parents and I really hope testing improves because where we are, tests are taking 7-10 days to come back.

[August Blooms]

curmudgeon and CoachTsWife I’m sorry about all the Covid related stress. It’s a lot to think about what ifs with the kids and work and everything. We had less than 100 cases in the province today so we are trending down and I’m still stressed about school.

The girls started back at daycare last week and we have the same Covid protocols. They get their temp taken every morning and are in the same cohort all week with the same teacher and kids. DD1 sneezed as we were getting out of the car the first day and they have the screening set up outside... I was like it’s seasonal allergies!!!! Lol please take my kids!!!! I need to be freeeeeee!

[August Blooms]

duskymonkey I want a Tesla so bad but by the time we can afford it who knows what other great options there will be. I test drove the Hyundai Kona it was nice but the interior is way to small.

Now that we have settled into my moms diagnosis there are more stories like you mentioned than scary ones. Her meds are working so far and she’s upping her dose today with minimal side effects. So far so good 🤞

[Taitai]

August Blooms I’m happy to hear that the meds are working for your mom, and it’s good that everyone has had some time to adjust to her diagnosis. I hear you on the sneezing on the way to school/daycare thing too! This morning, DS1 sneezed (just from dust), and I was like - oh no, don’t sneeze again!!! You need to go to school!

[Taitai]

I’m so pissed off and I have to vent. A friend of ours came over with her 2 kids this past weekend, and one kid (her youngest) had a runny nose - which she said was “allergies.”

On Weds - her oldest kid gets “allergies” and she sends him to school with a runny nose, having a doctor’s certificate from god knows where, saying it’s just allergies.

On Thurs (today) DS2 wakes up with a runny nose, so I can’t send him to school.

I’m so pissed. Clearly her youngest had some virus and spread it to the older brother and DS2. Now, I can’t send DS2 to school until he is better - because I’m a responsible mom and don’t want to get the other kids at DS2’s school sick.

But here she is - sending her oldest to school (who attends the same school and is in the same grade as DS1)...who will probably get others sick. She was taking her youngest (18 months old - the one who started it all) to a kids play place today. I saw a pic...STILL has a runny nose.

WTF WOMAN.

End rant.