So first of all, I want to make it very clear that I thank God every night that my family remains healthy. As of this blog post, COVID-19 case numbers are staggering, reaching around 70,000 new cases per day and close to 1,000 deaths. I've heard horror stories from patients who work in hospitals about how what was once a "COVID floor" has now overflowed into patients all throughout the hospital with triage deciding who has the greatest chance and deserves the vent and ICU bed. All I can do is squeeze my kiddos and take things day by day.
So home school finally ended (though about to start back up - back to that in another post!), and the kids and I were beyond done with it. As much as I love the twins, I am certainly not a trained teacher and definitely do not have the gift of patience that teachers possess. We made it through, and the twins are officially first graders. While originally planning to do summer school, I finally pulled them out when the schedule still hadn't been decided until a few days before and I had to assign my patients to my work schedule. We try to do a little school at home, but the twins are full of dramatic sighs about such dreadful things as - reading - because it remains very hard for them.
Here's the thing, though: I don't want to dismiss this entire time of COVID because (and I mean absolutely no disrespect here to those who are sick and those who have lost loved ones) there have been silver linings and special movements. The twins learned to ride two-wheel bikes (HUGE for preemies!). Hannah finally got her ears re-pierced a year after they unexpectedly grew shut due to a mom-fail at dance recital. The twins are becoming absolute FISH in the pool. I started a new job at a pelvic health specialty clinic that I absolutely love. When our trip to California got canceled, we drove to Arkansas and had an absolutely amazing time swimming, boating, and fishing. Hannah lost her first tooth.
I was worried the twins would fight more during quarantine, being together so much, but oddly (knock very firmly on wood), they've actually become closer. They have "sleepovers" in each other's rooms about half the days of the week. I hear them having little conversations with each other. Don't get me wrong; they are still siblings and I do hear lots of "Han-NAH!" but overall, I've been pretty impressed.
Wear your masks, people. Protect preemies and others who are at-risk. Wash your hands. Then wash them again. Stay home if you're sick or if you have been exposed. Think of others and not yourself. My children have been on ventilators - trust me, it's not fun for anyone - let's all help each other out and be in this together.
