Understanding the Preparation

 This year I welcome Thanksgiving, the first one in my new home. I get giddy just thinking about that statement. Especially considering what a year 2020 has been!

The guest list is small, but also just right. Thanksgiving with my parents and my boyfriend. Oh, then multiple family Zoom Thanksgiving video chats!! 

So tonight I'm doing preparation, cleaning, laundry, organizing, and planning. I'm walking in and out of rooms muttering to myself, "Now WHY did I come in here?" and also " Darn it, I forgot to put the lid down on the washer, an HOUR ago!" 

It flashed through my mind, that all this preparation, it is not burdensome, it actually is a joy. To have family to come, to have a home for them to stay. I am a blessed girl.

I then thought back to all the times that my grandparents would have family gatherings. Old homes, full to the brim of family. Those, "get in where you fit in" kind of gatherings. I appreciate the preparation so much more now. The tidy bathrooms, the clean crisp sheets, the full fridge, full stove, and over-full hearts. 

I get it more now, the preparation of having what you need, then also what your family/guests need, and trying to anticipate their wants (popcorn and Neapolitan ice cream anyone lol). I get it now, the lists, and more lists, and super last minute shopping trips. 

If this holiday you are having Thanksgiving in any home that is not your own maybe you could do something (pick 1 or so).

1. Take time and pull your hosts aside and thank them for the meal, the preparation, the effort, and the love.

2. Don't come empty-handed. Flowers, a card, food, a small trinket. Just a little something. That thoughtful gesture will go a long way. These small mannerisms are fading away, but we can bring them back.

3. No phones out while the meal is being eaten. Enough said lol.

4. Get the photos, have the conversations, let love flow. Be inspired by the recent story of Will Smith and Janet Hubert who recently buried the hatchet after a 20+ year bitter feud. Speak in love, act in love, grace and forgiveness. Don't let Election 2020 wreck your family anymore. Take back your family. Invest in your people.

To all my family, I love you to the moon and back, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

To all my friends, I love you dearly, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

To all those who are struggling, lonely, fearful, unsure, anxious or mourning. You are NOT forgotten. You can let the feelings come, and you can also release them so that you can press on. You are strong, you are worthy, and you mean a lot to me and so many others! HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

My Covid Journey- 1 month later

 Hello!

 I wanted to write a final post about this journey with Covid. Again for everyone I meet that has had it, their story has different elements. Also, as a reminder I had a moderate case. I did not have any of the 4 symptoms that would alert you to go to the ER.

 I'll start with a celebration. Today marks 1 month since my positive Covid test results. What.A.Month! Thankfully my only lingering side effects are reduced energy and my savory taste buds are still off kilter a bit.

 I wanted to share some things that helped me on the path to feeling better. Some you can do now as we will enter cold and flu season, to strengthen your immune system. An ounce of precaution is worth a pound of cure.

Here is a list of all the meds and vitamins I took or still take-

*Vitamin C

*Elderberry gummies and capsules (Amazon)

*Vitamin D

*Motrin (or any fever reduction meds)

*Airborne

*Multivitamin (Costco)

*Tessalon Perles (prescribed by my doctor for cough)

*over the counter cough medicine (CF)

*Regular Aspirin ( doctor suggested this for 1 month after a positive COVID test, to reduce chance of blood clots)

Other recovery tips-

*HYDRATION especially water

*Toothbrushes ( I used a new toothbrush every few days, it felt cleaner than brushing with the same germs I was coughing up)

*Wash anything you think might be contaminated (clothes, bedding, I even washed all the rugs in my house)

*Start a very detailed cleaning regiment ( think about everywhere your hands touch often, think about the distance of the particles of a sneeze or cough....clean everything!) Remember good old bleach cleaning was good enough for our grandparents, and still works to this day.

*Get a good thermometer (thermometer covers were so helpful in keeping it sanitary between uses)

Surprises-

*I will not get TMI here, but as you listen and learn your body you know what is normal. I definitely had some abnormal signs that alerted me that I was ill. One was the mucus I was coughing up was brown! The first time I saw that I panicked and called Mel who called our nurse friends. It was a normal sign of infection, but man I was so scared.

*Just how much you will sleep when your body is sick. I am a go-getter, always liking to be busy, but man oh man, I spent days in bed.

* As I recovered I kept thinking about the critical cases. The type of pain you would have to be in to go to the ER. I was really humbled because I could have been another story in the news. Like I said, it has been quite the experience.

* Lastly, the best kind of surprise was the overwhelming love that was critical in my recovery. Just imagine not being able to go out and get anything you need. I live by myself, my parents and sister live in other cities, my boyfriend was sick. And yet, I was provided with every SINGLE thing I needed. I am a testament that God is faithful. My family, church and friends were his literal hands and feet as I recovered. 

As I look back on my sickness, I remember the worst night. It was 3am in the morning and I was burning up, then shivering and achy, and coughing so much. Tossing and turning and feeling like I was going to vomit. And I remembered the Scripture that if you call out to God he will hear you. And so that's what I did. I cried out that I felt so bad, and that I knew he could help me to feel better. I cried out in sickness, and some fear, and just in being so weary. A month later I know, I know with all my heart and spirit that he heard me that night, and he heard all of you that prayed and he delivered healing to my body. To God be the glory!

Psalm 34:17

New International Version

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.

Reflections on my COVID-19 experience

I am writing this down, one because I write to process, and two because there are so many COVID stories out there, and I want to share mine in hopes that someone might learn something that will help them if they experience this illness.

A few facts to start, I know who I got the virus from, and that person knows where they got it from. So at least that is a not a mystery. Also, this is day 9 since I got my official positive test results back, and I am feeling better, getting more energy daily, but still definitely not 100%.

I can't pinpoint the beginning. In all honesty I was worried about someone I love who was not feeling well so I don't think I noticed that I was feeling odd. I do remember my energy starting to lag, coughing, and feeling like I was burning up. I took my temp and it was 97 degrees so I told myself, I was just being crazy and feeling "sympathy illness". One day I also remember ordering pizza, and it looking SO delicious, but it tasted super salty. I remember that's all I could taste was salt, and thinking that was odd.

Well I started to cough more, get more and more tired and weak. I'm a talker but I was avoiding all phone calls because I didn't want to alarm anyone with a coughing fit. These were wet/mucus coughs so I started taking cough medicine.

Then it kind of all hit at once. Total exhaustion, sore throat, no smell or taste, yucky cough, nausea and diarrhea, body ache and chills. I went to get a COVID test. I had already started my quarantine because I knew something was wrong. I have general good health, so I knew this was the worst I had ever felt.

As I waited 3 days for my results the symptoms got worse, I finally told my family and close friends what was going on. After 2 nights of no sleep I called my doctor and I had to advocate for myself,to get some stronger cough medicine. At first they said to take over the counter meds but I had already done that. So I called back in my feverish anger and said, NO, I need something stronger, because I am not sleeping and not eating and I feel terrible.

I got my positive results back on a Saturday, and my parents, family and friends started getting me everything I needed. Soup though I could not taste, unsalted Saltines because even the little salt on Ritz was unbearable, vitamins, drinks, care packages, cleaning supplies, everything. I was so weak and tired, I'd be winded just bringing stuff in from the porch to the living room.

Here is one thing that I tell everyone. Make sure you have a thermometer that works! Mine was old and incorrect and so by the time I got a new one my fever was 101, but I know during those bad days it had to be higher.

So I stayed in, slept a lot, drank liquids because I was feeling so dehydrated, slept more and prayed, not just for me, but anyone at all who was dealing with COVID. Having it definitely increased my understanding and empathy. I will say I had a moderate case, I did not have the symptoms that required going to the hospital, but I definitely was sick.

I started to recover. As the fever left so did the nausea, and I could get some crackers and soup down. Still no taste, but I needed energy. The energy started to come back and I could actually walk to the laundry room without feeling depleted. I was able to talk on the phone more and text. This entire time, I had the most amazing network of loving family and friends, who dropped off everything I needed on the porch. Also, my mom and sister nursed me from afar. Ice cold ginger ale was my very best friend:)

So today is day 9 since my positive test. Almost all of my symptoms are gone or decreasing. I will be at 14 days of official quarantine this Saturday. I have made plans to get the 2 retests I will need to return to work.

I will never forget this situation. I will do another update once I feel all the way "normal" and return back to work etc. I am so grateful for my health and for the loving support that uplifted me when I could not uplift myself. If you start to have symptoms, do some online reputable research (CDC, your state Dept of Health) and go get a test if needed. Also, go ahead now and make sure you have cold/flu meds, a thermometer, and cleaning supplies.

Home: Month 3 Volume 1

Follow me on a 12 month journey, from house to home. This is my space to reflect on the process of becoming a first time homeowner. I can't always promise pictures, or even paragraphs, but I can promise a true look at this season of life, and my exciting purchase.

March, oh March 2020. What a year...I mean month you have been. I am so glad I am making these posts to reflect back on my first year in the house. Here is a recap of important events.

My Home became my Office- If you had told me on January 1, that I and a good portion of America would be working from home, I would have said...umm nope. But in the span of weeks, we all learned more and more about the spreading pandemic of the coronavirus. And so here I sit, and the view into my backyard is lovely and relaxing, and the transition to working at home has gone pretty ok. I miss the interactions, the laughter, and the extra focus working at the office brings. But I am thankful beyond all measure to have a work place (TCC) that has allowed us this option and to still be getting paid. Working from home has many perks but my waistline needs to protest the close proximity to tasty snacks, hahaha:)

Daylight Savings and Being Neighborly- I loved that there has been more light in the evenings. I have been out taking walks in the neighborhood and meeting my neighbors. It's been pretty fantastic! I'm a social girl, and I want to be a good neighbor and have good neighbors:) I've learned about the history of our little street, and probably more than I needed about who owned what house for how long, etc. But I am feeling connected so that is beyond great. I definitely moved to the right place and I am thankful for that. 

Last but not least is the great outdoors and the shed!- Yes, besides my wonderful home, there is also a shed or barn if you ask my mama, on my property. It's a nice size, and March was the month I recruited help to get it started to being useful. When I bought the house, they were supposed to take out the remaining "stuff"in the shed but they forgot and honestly so did I. Anyway, thank goodness for an old friend who does my yard work, he came in his truck and with his brother, took all the "stuff" to the dump. A whole truckload, yuck, I get itchy just thinking about it clutter, and dust and who knows what else. Anyway, it's definitely rustic, and needs some work but I can put outdoor things in it now, so that's a win. Stay tuned for more details on that. 

And just like that, the first quarter of 2020 is complete! Looking forward to what lies ahead, knowing normal life will not be normal for quite a while. 

Home: Month 2 Vol 1

Follow me on a 12 month journey, from house to home. This is my space to reflect on the process of becoming a first time homeowner. I can't always promise pictures, or even paragraphs, but I can promise a true look at this season of life, and my exciting purchase.

The best and brightest part of February in the house, was my 2 housewarmings. Even though it's a short month, I opened my home twice to amazing family and friends. The love, and support made my heart sing. The planning and prepping made me a smidge nervous and irritable. The kind gifts reminded me that I am loved by generous people. But both times fell on perfect sun shiney days, and the house was filled with sun and love and I will always remember the joy of showing off my house:) 

February was also the routine start of bills and grown up things. The blah things of life like insurance, that make the world go round. To stay within my budget, I went back to the drawing board (Excel sheet) and recalculated figures based off of month 1. I was not too far over, though I was over in my electricity bill, but Stephen says that is because I always have on lights in multiple rooms, though I can only be in 1 at a time. I'm a light bright, what can I say:) 

The snake! So I live further out now and expect to see more critters off and on. So this is just to document I saw my first snake. YUCK! I know it's just a part of living in a semi rural area, but still, YUCK! It was your average, garden snake. And thankfully he was dead, rolled over by either a tire, or trashcan wheel....who knows. Anyways I screamed internally when I saw him, jumped back about 5 ft, and had to take a deep breath before I embarrassed myself right there under my car port. Anyway, anyway, whew what an adventure. So my mom who is always ready with a suggestion, recommended some stuff called snack -away. So we shall see how Mother Nature and I mesh. 

Do you hear that? Hammering, muttering, home repair YouTube tutorials. Yep, that's me, learning to do small things around my house. Replacing knobs on the dryer, taking somewhat inaccurate measurements, as I try to fit furniture in like Jenga pieces. But all in all, I give myself an A for  effort and a B- for skill. I think I am so satisfied because between me and the amazing help I have been given, my vision of what I dreamed the house could be, is definitely becoming a reality. 

February flew by so quick. I'll report back at the end of the month March. 

Home: Month 1 vol 1

Follow me on a 12 month journey, from house to home. This is my space to reflect on the process of becoming a first time homeowner. I can't always promise pictures, or even paragraphs, but I can promise a true look at this season of life, and my exciting purchase.

Where it all Began:
 I signed for my house on Dec 18th. Not as scary as I imagined, but definitely the most adult I have felt in a long while. In true Sabrina fashion, that night I had friends over for a "painting party/project night"! And from there the next 2 weeks were like off to the races! Moving and holidaying was quite the combination. It was a holly jolly, packing and snacking good time, and I used the 2 weeks "off" to pack in a ton of things at the house. I readily admit that first week I went to Wal-Mart or Home Depot every SINGLE day, but I've mellowed out now. It's just a lot you need going from a 1x1 apartment to a 3x2 house with a bonus room.

January 1st welcomed 2020, and in my new mindset, I enjoyed time with lifelong friends, then all I wanted was to be home. That's something I was not imagining. Just how much I love to be at my place:)

Adjusting to the house has been pretty smooth! One thing I did not account for was my body adjusting to the nature that surrounds me. There are all types of plants and bushes and critters in my new neighborhood. So I had 2 itchy allergic reactions, before I changed my habits. So now I take allergy meds daily, wear work gloves and long sleeves if I will be out side doing yard work etc. And it's helped a lot!

I have planned my official housewarmings in February, but January started me having small groups and individuals over. It's different hosting in a new space, and so I would find myself frustrated over tiny things like, running out of napkins....just to find a whole package, in a random spot, that I just had forgotten. But I have loved showing my house to friends and family. It's cool seeing their reaction to this dream come true.

To wrap it up, I've developed patterns for cleaning, and bill pay. I've unpacked all but 1.5 boxes. I've not hung too much stuff up on the walls (still figuring that out). I've hammered, and youtubed, and gotten help and new knowledge on keeping my home in tip top shape. One example, is that you need to treat your septic tank once a month with something like Rid-x. Who knew??

So there you go January. Thank you and I look forward to the next 11 months of life.