I think everyone can agree 2020 is not the year we expected. Many of us hoped by the end of the year things would be better and that we could celebrate the holidays like we usually do. Alas, it won’t be a “regular” Christmas for most of us. We knew Covid-19 was out there but we personally didn’t know anyone close to us who had it…until now. Warning, this is a long one!

Let’s rewind back to 7:00am the morning of Nov. 30th. We were notified of a case inside our school’s daycare. We kept our kids home that day until we felt it was safe for them to return. After getting more information, they went back the rest of the week like normal and Evie attended one physio session. Should note no one works outside the home.

On Dec. 6 we were notified by the school again. This time it was that our son’s class had a positive Covid-19 case. We know the little one exhibited cold like symptoms one evening after school. Their parents decided to test their child to be safe and they isolated, but the class was closed for mandatory self-isolation until today (2 weeks after the students symptoms started).

Since we had two kids in school, we asked about Evie. We were told Evie could still go to school (if no symptoms), even if a sibling had been exposed. We felt that was risky since she is a close contact with her brother and we did not know if he was infected or not. We chose to keep her home as we felt that was the responsible thing to do until we knew more. On Tuesday, Dec. 8th the four of us got tested. It was encouraged to get our son tested but we figured we better all do it. Both kids were rock stars (this was Evie’s second test as she had a cold in October) and they handled the test well! This was my 3rd test and for those curious, it isn’t horrible, just feels weird, like water up your nose. It is over before it gets too uncomfortable.

So Thursday I started checking for our results (2 to 5 days after test they said). I was so relieved when I saw my son’s come back negative! Woo-hoo! I was practically planning my first trip out of the house as we hadn’t left all week when I checked Evie’s. A big red POSITIVE for COVID-19 was staring at my face. To say I was shocked is an understatement!!! I immediately checked again. Positive. I started calling out for my husband who was on a work call. I was shaking and could barely check his results or mine. We were negative. I was thinking but Evie has been acting fine. She wasn’t part of the class with an exposure. I will note the only weird thing for her was the day of the test one of the corners of her eyes was bloodshot but that could be anything. She also seemed tired BUT she has Cerebral Palsy and is often tired! Plus our routine that week was a bit off. There was nothing indicating she was sick.

The first thing I did was notify the principal of the school. Evie hadn’t been there since the Friday before but since they closed my son’s class I wanted them to know ASAP (Note: They did not close her class as they only look back to 48 hours before a test result/symptoms start for contact tracing. They did say she would have caught this the week before). Then I got the first of many calls from Public Health where they described what we needed to do and how the next few weeks would look. Evie is considered contagious 10 days after her positive result/symptoms start. That means December 18th will be her last day of being “infectious.”

IF she was able to isolate fully (ie. in a room, completely separate from the family, PPE) then the rest of us being “close contacts” could leave the house 14 days after our last exposure. However, she is a young child with a disability and often gets anxious. We knew there was no way that could happen. Public Health knows this is a challenge. They told us then we are to self-isolate a further 14 days after the last day of her being contagious. They said we could get Covid from her up until the last day so the day our family can finally leave the house is January 1st! We were told we were not allowed to leave our house/property until then. So thankful for having a back yard! We also get checked in on a lot. Now that the rest of us are all close contacts with a positive case, we will each be getting calls to see how we are doing in addition to Evie getting calls (honeslty, I feel for these nurses and contact tracers, they are kind people).

Since this news we have put measures in place over the last few days. My husband is the “designated” support parent and spends the most time close to Evie (the girl needs comfort!). It hurts my heart not to hug her right now but since my son and I have asthma, we felt my husband was the better choice. He wears a mask. Evie has been wearing a mask in the house outside her room. She has certain seats she can sit in and we even taped areas on the wall for her hands to go when using the stairs (we have many levels). This makes it easier to sanitize and we are doing A LOT of that. So much! A risk of not having her fully isolated from us is that the rest of us could in theory get infected at different times and then this would restart this whole thing.

I am happy to report that so far Evie has been feeling fine and acting like herself. When we first got the news on Thursday I couldn’t sleep that night. I was worried someone would wake up extra sick and be struggling to breathe. With each day that passes I am feeling a bit less stressed (though worry is in the back of my mind). Anytime I feel a bit off, I get worired. Stress does a lot to your body too I remind myself, and there has a been a lot of stress for the parents in the house. I am hoping our measures can keep the rest of us healthy and when her contagious period is over, I plan on hugging my girl like crazy!!!!!! As long as no one has symptoms, they said no reason to test. Also we were told Evie’s swab came back with low amounts of Covid on it so I think that is good.

Even though Evie has Covid-19, I am just so THANKFUL she has a mild case and is asymptomatic (and hopefully stays that way). This makes me realize that Covid-19 is out there more than we think. Not everyone gets a mild or asymptomatic case and people are dying from this. It is horrible and my heart goes out to all the people affected. I am also sending a lot of LOVE to the health care and front line workers who are seeing this devastation everyday and are risking their own health to help others.

I felt it was important to share our story, especially with the holidays coming up. It takes a villiage to protect our children and we need to look out for each other. I feel awarness is important. If you or a member of your family feel ill, please stay home, consider getting tested and be safe.

We will be celebrating the holidays with family and friends virtually this year and I can’t lie and say it doesn’t suck, it does. Thank goodness for technology! Thank you to everyone who has checked in on us, did errands for us, dropped goodies off for us and have mailed things for us (I will no longer take the freedom of walking down to the mailbox for granted again!)!! We really really appreciate it all and makes this whole thing easier!!!! And yes, the idea of being cooped up in the house for what will end up being 26 days by the end of this is daunting, but honeslty, I feel grateful for so so much!! If we exit our Quarntinemas all healthy, I will be one happy Momma!

If you are still with me, thank you, I know this was long!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!! May 2021 bring you happiness, love, health, fun and WAY more time with the ones you love and doing the things you enjoy!

All the best from our family to yours! 🙂