Today has been much less eventful than yesterday, but for all the right reasons. Today is our Devin's 10th birthday, and we are lucky to be able to celebrate him. We had a big party planned at the arcade, but that was obviously canceled last week, long before this escalated to even the point we are at now. He cried. He was disappointed, but we have made the most of it.
Ice cream, cake, presents, funny balloon games, and "What is in your mouth?" challenge. We have laughed more today than all the other days combined. It is gloomy and rainy today, and the kids have only ventured out to get mail and take the trash out. It is always hard when you don't get to be in the fresh air to reboot yourself.
I was able to venture out once today, I donated plasma this morning. It felt weird to have minimal interactions in a place that is normally bustling. They have cut down on the beds that are available to ensure that everyone is staying a distance while laying donating. In a few days this could be our only source of income, unless they follow suit and close with the rest of them.
Paul is still trying to find locations that haven't closed yet, pulling all the money out to live in on the meantime. He comes home exhausted, mentally and physically. It is weird not having contact with the outside world, living in a bubble you almost forget why we are doing this. The reality is harsh when you come face to face with it when you work.
I was thankful for Savannah's therapist who is doing phone appointments. She had hers today, and I was glad that option was available. He will be calling weekly until we have a change in situations. That is what scares me the most in all of this, our mental health will suffer. We have all been working so hard for the past 4+ months with our therapists, Doctors, etc.
We were shaken awake by a 5.7 earthquake, besides Drake. Poor Drakey was in his bedroom by himself getting ready for the day when it hit, and he came screaming/crying into our bedroom. I hurried and grabbed him, Paul ran down the stairs to the basement where our 3 older kids who were huddled together scared out of their minds. We got everyone in our entryway/door frame until the shaking stopped. It felt like all hell broke loose after this. Anxiety is a problem in this household, everyone handles it so differently. We had 2 boys immediately get stomach aches, and need to throw up. There have been too many aftershocks to count, but the last one had us running to get under our kitchen table when it clocked in at a 4.6 magnitude.
We spent most of the morning/early afternoon snuggled on the couch trying to calm nerves. Paul still had to work, and it was so hard to watch him drive away knowing I was the adult in charge to make sure these 4 kids are safe.
Things settled down enough for some outside time, even though it is chilly. We started home school late afternoon, and are plugging along on projects that need to go back on the first day, whenever that happens.
Paul can't get to his locations fast enough, and some have already been closed for almost a week. Dentist appointments were canceled today, my freezer meal party canceled today, Drakey had a little operation scheduled for next week...canceled. Our lives consist of what meals we are going to eat next, what show we all can agree on, and memes that get us through with a good dose of laughter.
Trying to have semi-normal life, even though everything around us is changing. We celebrated St.Patty's Day, the corned beef wasn't a hit, can't win 'em all. We decorated our neighbors doorsteps with gold coins and confetti, we are trying to spread joy. Our neighborhood had everyone hang a clover in the window, so when you were out on walks/drives, you could find them all. Everyone in our group came up with a different number, but I am realizing the simple things are bringing us large amounts of happiness.
Paul is working crazy hours, because any day, everything will be shut down and we will have zero income. When you leave the house it is eerie, no crowds - places are closed - people losing their jobs. I cried when one of our vending locations wouldn't take their commission money from us. Life is hard, but we are blessed. I know Heavenly Father was preparing us for his exact situation months ago.
Home school is going well, we have a really loose schedule that works for us. We are enjoying the sunshine when it makes an appearance. We are working on projects that have been put on the back burner for so long, but we suddenly have time for. We are catching up on shows/watching movies, spending lots of time all huddled in one room.
