COVID-19 Outbreak in Ohio: Week 3

Tuesday, March 24: We've all been reading a lot.

Wednesday, March 25
Play dates in this new era -- my next door neighbor called and said she and her two kids would be in their backyard. Would we like to go to our backyard and let the kids talk? They spoke along the length of the driveway that separated us, far greater than the prescribed six feet. It was nice to catch up.

Thursday, March 26

Friday, March 27
I've never been so stressed from getting groceries. I spent a good deal of time making my list on Thursday, hoping to get enough for three full weeks. (That includes Easter, so I made sure to fill in the blanks for Easter baskets and a somewhat special meal.) I've never had such a full cart -- overflowing, plus a few odds and ends on the shelf below the basket. I wanted to shout out that I was NOT hoarding! For the most part shoppers gave each other a wide berth, taking turns to grab their milk or turn down an aisle. A few didn't maintain good distances, which made me anxious. Luckily the Aldi shelves were well stocked, with the exception of absolutely no toilet paper or paper towels, and some of the freezer stock was bare.

An empty fridge (and freezer, below) the night before.

A full cart of groceries. I bagged them at the trunk of my car.

My block had plans to have everyone eat on their own porches at the same time for supper, but the rainy, dreary weather kept a lot of people inside. Nevertheless we were out, along with a few neighbors. We could wave but not say too much -- the rain drowned out words. It was a nice reminder that we're all in this together.

Saturday, March 28
A beautiful day that got into the 70s. Usually the neighbors would all be outside mingling, taking advantage of one of the first lovely days of the season. The kids would all be running from one yard to the next. Instead we're stuck talking from afar. We did get some yard work done though.

After the kids went to bed, Paul and I watched one of my favorite movies -- "The Painted Veil." Had second thoughts when I remembered it was about a cholera epidemic. Watched it anyway.

Sunday, March 29
Another day spent largely outside. Talked to the neighbors, each of us keeping our distance. The kids blew bubbles and were on their scooters all day long.

I'm determined to reread all of my Jane Austen books during this time of isolation, in the order in which she wrote them. Finished "Northanger Abbey" tonight. In movies, Paul and I seemed to do a study in opposites. "The Painted Veil" last night, "Smokey and the Bandit" tonight!

Monday, March 30
This was the first day that Edith started to really have questions. Would we have to stay away from people all spring? What about the summer? Would she go back to school? Would she have school in the summer? What about Field Day? And she misses her teacher. I think it's starting to get real for the kids now too. I wish I had better answers, but I did the best I could. And wouldn't you know it, the governor announced today that schools are now closed through at least May 1.

COVID-19 Outbreak in Ohio: Week 2

Tues. March 17: Edith modeling a couple of recently lost teeth!

As the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing continues in Columbus, Ohio ...

Tuesday, March 17
Watched the entire "North & South" miniseries tonight -- 200 minutes. Why not? It seems that all we have is an abundance of time anymore.

But our days are still filled with homeschooling, and we're all becoming used to our new schedule. "School" starts at 9. Edith continues to work on her reading, writing, math and other special activities. Atticus is practicing kindergarten sight works and how to write lowercase letters.

Wednesday, March 18
Rallied my neighbors to make a bulk order from a brewery in a Columbus suburb that a couple of close friends are affiliated with. Worries abound, but it's nice to help even a little bit where we can. It's a weird feeling to buy so many local beers in such a short amount of time purely in hopes that they will make it through these difficult times.

On a lighter note, I made chocolate chip scones after the kids went to bed. I often do this, but I hadn't lately because I wasn't completely sure I could replenish my ingredients when I next go to the grocery store. But I feel pretty confident, and by all accounts the supply chain is keeping up.

Thursday, March 19
The governor's afternoon press conference has become a part of my daily schedule. As of today, Ohio has 119 confirmed cases. Still on the "upslope," said Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Department of Health.

Friday, March 20
Heavy rains overnight meant that a number of homeowners in our neighborhood awoke to inches of water in their basements. We had some spots of water, but nothing in the finished part of our basement that some special time with a dehumidifier couldn't fix, thank goodness. Clean-up and setting up the dehumidifier meant that "school" started a little later than usual.

The weather reached 70 degrees today, so we got out the scooters and took a trip around the neighborhood. Many others did the same, but everyone was extremely careful to stay the prescribed 6 feet away from each other. I saw another mom I know with her two kids -- we spoke to each other from practically across the road.

Ohio announced it's first COVID-19 death. 169 cases.

Sunday, March 22
And today's numbers were 351 cases and 3 deaths in Ohio. DeWine announced a "stay at home" -- or shelter in place, whatever you want to call it -- order that goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. Monday. If things weren't real before, they are now. But all in all, the order doesn't affect our daily life -- or at least what our daily life has become in the last week or 10 days. As a bank employee, Paul is an essential worker and can still go to the office. (He expects to work from home more and more, but he simply doesn't have remote access to some of those essential tasks. Not ideal, but at least he's secluded.) Thinking more and more about all of the friends we have in the medical profession and how their lives are likely to change much more than ours every day.

Monday, March 23
On the edge of feeling overwhelmed -- by Edith's schooling, but how long this is going to last, by what comes next. But it's all nothing when I hear that Ohio now has 442 confirmed cases and 6 deaths, including 2 in the county in which I live. Perspective.

How Social Distancing Affects Our Family: A Diary

What a difference a day makes, especially when it comes to how COVID-19 is affecting us here in Ohio. Every day lately has brought more changes and restrictions to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus throughout the state.

Last Thursday it was announced that school would close for three weeks. By Friday we had cancelled Atticus's weekend birthday party. By the weekend, things had gotten even more serious and social distancing had started for real.

I have decided to keep a diary of sorts on this blog to chronicle how our family (and, to some extent, the city of Columbus, as well as the entire state) is dealing with these changes. It's a crazy, scary time. While news is flying fast, we are doing our best to keep some bit of normalcy for our family while also trying to keep us all healthy and safe.

I expect to update this blog every Tuesday like normal, although I may add some other posts in between if I have a lot to say. Here's how COVID-19 is affecting our family so far.

Day 1: Saturday, March 14
I dyed my coat. I'd been meaning to re-dye it for awhile, and what better time than while we were encouraged to stay inside. Just before noon I also learned that Columbus had its first case of the coronavirus, and the person had recently come back from a cruise. Our family has a cruise booked this summer, and its not looking good. It seems we will be able to get refunds or credits for our cruise, flights and hotels, but we haven't cancelled anything yet. The businesses are working with customers who have more immediate reservations, so we're trying not to even think about it at the moment.

I also finished my first book, although I was already half done before all of the cornovirus announcements. The Columbus library system announced Friday that it would close at 6 p.m. that day for three weeks -- preparing for the kids being home, I visited the local library before the announcement and checked out a stack of books for us all to add to the ones we already had at home. Now I'm wondering if it will even be enough. Later that afternoon, there were pictures floating around Facebook of the library's empty shelves.

Day 2: Sunday, March 15
We watched Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on CNN this morning saying that school could possibly be out for the rest of the year. Now I'm starting to be concerned about this enforced "homeschooling," worried about how I can keep my kids from falling behind. Edith came home from school on Friday with five weeks worth of papers (in case the closure goes beyond three weeks) and a log-in for a computer program they use at school. But if this goes on even longer ...

Later in the day DeWine announced that bars and restaurants would be take-out only starting at 9 p.m. Hoping to help one of our favorite bars in the neighborhood, Paul went to Lineage Brewing and bought 15 32-ounce crowlers. We kept four and sent emails to our neighbors selling the rest for $5 apiece, the price we bought them for. Paul also left a big tip. Hoping an infusion of cash will help them withstand the issues to come. It felt good to do something concrete to help.

Day 3: Monday, March 16
Started the day with a call to the pediatrician. Edith began coughing at suppertime the night before. At any other time it would be off to school for her -- it's not that bad, and she played outside in the cold air for an hour or so on Sunday. But with everything going on, we wanted to be safe. Paul was on hold for 20 or 30 minutes and talked to a nurse -- she doesn't have a fever or any known exposure, so she's fine. Paul got the all-clear to go to work. (Later in the day, Edith also got a runny nose, which seems not to be a coronavirus symptom, so I'm not terribly worried. We're staying inside for a while out of an abundance of caution.)

I'm not thrilled that Paul is going to work, but I'm not freaking out about it either. He has his own office with four walls and a door, so he is pretty secluded, or can be. There's also not too many people who work at his building, maybe a dozen or two. He's also preparing to work from home if needed. As a commercial banker, he's expecting a busy week. A few busy months, actually.

Today was our first day of homeschooling. As I write this at noon on Monday, everything is going well. I spent this weekend making out a daily schedule, and so far we've followed it well. (Right now, it's recess.) But how long will I play at teacher? Believe me, I did NOT sign up to homeschool for a reason!

Ohio had 37 confirmed cases as of early this morning, with 50 as of the governor's afternoon press conference. The widely repeated number, however, is that some 1% of the state's population could be infected, or 100,000 people.

Spring Is Here!

65 DEGREES.

That was the temperature when Atticus and I walked to Edith's school yesterday to pick her up.

Amazing.

They were barely in the house for the following three hours. We got out the bikes and scooters. Friends and neighbors stopped by to play and chat. We even ate supper on the front porch.

The kids reluctantly came inside a bit after 7 and would have stayed out even longer had it not been time to get ready for bed. And it sure didn't take them long to fall asleep.

Welcome, spring. You've been missed.

Edith is ... The Princess in Black

Edith’s school had a “dress up as a book character” day last month, and Edith chose The Princess in Black. Not bad!