My Adventures with Covid - The Omicron edition

Positive. The word that isn't actually a good thing - at least when you are talking about covid testing. And that was me, a few days after Christmas - covid positive.

I wanted to write my thoughts about it and my adventure through it so show people that there is nothing to fear and you can be normal. I feel like the media and governments have hyped this thing up SO much and all you hear about is people dying, in the hospital, etc. But there are so so so many stories of people just getting sick. The problem is, those people don't write about it and the news won't cover it because, well...it won't bring in the ratings and the ratings equal money.

A little bit about me. I'm healthy. I run...a lot. I eat the right foods and live an active lifestyle. I have gotten 2 jabs (no boosters here), so take that for what it's worth.

Day 1:

Today marks Day 1 in my Covid adventure. I am honestly feeling okay. I sweated the whole night, like literally through my clothing. I was too tired to change my clothes, or maybe I was just being lazy. I figured, I had to get up and get ready anyway..what's another hour. I woke up, took the covid test and it was positive. Immediately, went into our household covid plans, grabbed a mask and started migrating to the basement. I have a finished basement with a shower and bathroom, so I could live down here, through the apocalypse and be just fine. While my husband started to put all the sheets into the laundry and Lysol the household, I gathered the things I would need for the next 10 days and went downstairs. About 3 hours into my banishment, I forgot how much I like interaction and also being outside on a great, sunny winter day. I bundled up (with a mask and a turtle - and if you don't know what that is...well you obviously dont live in the north) and walked around the block. The vitamin D did

wonders to my body and I never saw a soul. (see being in the north in the winter sentence from before). I got home and went back into my exile. In terms of symptoms - oh, I have them. My throat feels like I am a fire breathing dragon, my head feels like an elephant is sitting on it and my nose is just stuffy (but, again, see winter in the north for this one). I take Advil every 6 hours. This helps all symptoms - so no headache, no body aches, no stuffy nose and no sore throat - after taking Advil.

The only other symptom is complete and utter boredom. I'm not a huge TV watcher, so I tried to watch some stand up comedy and watched Miracle, a movie that will get you through anything in life, and then got bored of that, so read my book until it was close enough to bedtime. I wasn't tired, but figured there was nothing else better to do. The hardest part of Day 1 - not playing with my kid and giving her hugs and kisses. It was also hard to sing her bedtime songs with her sitting on top of the stairs and me trying to sing as best as I could. My husband has been great. Both of them are negative or as I like to say, lacking super powers, so they get to take on doing everything I would be doing. Tomorrow should be better.

Day 2

Status Quo. That is what I would call it. Last night I woke up at 3am in sweats and chills. I had to get another blanket. At 6am, I woke up with a splitting headache and fire breathing dragon throat. I took some Advil and it was fine. Today was pretty much the same as yesterday. I worked and got a lot accomplished at the job. I watched, from exile, my husband play with my daughter and wanted to throw a bagel at his head because I missed playing with her. I took my vitamins and kept eating my healthy food (with some cookies thrown in there), so I would keep my body healthy and ready to fight. Mentally, I am stronger today. Yesterday was full of guilt and fear; fear that I would be hospitalized because that is ALL. YOU. HEAR. I also showered today. I made a nice salt scrub with my Vitamin C epsom salt. You mix this with your favorite soap and instant bath scrub. Since I don't have a bath in exile (missed opportunity there!), I had to shower and this was a good alternative to soothe my muscles, make my skin healthier and keep pushing the vitamins on me. I HAD to get outside today, or I might have gone insane sitting in the basement. I watched as Avery and my husband built a cool snowman. And before I get the death threats and notes that I don't care about my family - I am a mother first and nothing is going to change that - even if I had cancer, one leg or the flu, my first and foremost priority is my child and keeping her safe. So while outside, I masked up, had on my turtle and another layer on my face. I didn't touch her and stayed within 10-12 feet of her at all times. She was safe, trust me. Plus, she had her turtle on..it's cold in the north! Symptoms are pretty mild today. I've taken Advil midway through the day to deal with some body aches, which could have come from many things over the last week on top of Covid. The headache is non-existent right now. My throat feels like I took a vacuum full of dog hair and ate it. It is very tickley. My nose is a faucet today. Not surprising. My body wants to get rid of this virus and is pushing liquids out of my body. Mentally, I feel strong today. I thought this isolation would harm my fragile mind, but I've been focused on me, getting better and "taking a vacation" from day-to-day responsibilities that my husband now has to do. The worst part of the day: I love this time of year, my kid is home from school and I could do things with her. This is the week that we would go skiing and watch silly movies. I miss hanging out with her. I also bought some NES games for my husband for Christmas and we can't play them. HE can and I get to hear the sound of the NES with squinted, revenge eyes just ready to play when I'm done with this. I also am trying to avoid kissing the dogs so my germs won't spread. Not sure if that science, but I want to keep my family safe. I hate that I can't kiss them. They are adorable and cute.

UPDATE: This just in! The CDC has shortened the length of Covid isolation from 10 days to 5 days. So, unfortunately, you will only get to enjoy my humor for another 3 days. And then if symptoms are clear, I'll just wear a mask everywhere I go for 5 additional days. It's a good thing I have them in all colors and most patterns. I can make them work with my outfits.

Day 3

This must be how Tom Hanks felt in Castaway. I feel like creating my own Wilson to have someone to talk to during the day. At least my dog hasn't left my side since I've been in isolation, so there's that. She sleeps all day though and doesn't laugh at my jokes. The good news is that I didn't wake up in a sweaty puddle like the last couple of nights. What these scientists aren't realizing is that after you have a baby, you get to wake up in sweaty puddles for weeks, so basically moms are used to the symptoms of this disease and we are good. The only other symptoms I have is a slight headache - think child practicing the recorder headache and my throat feels like it has strep. The nose has stopped leaking, which is good considering I thought i was losing brain fluid with how much it was draining yesterday. I did some yoga this morning, gotta stay healthy! I may shower downstairs all the time. My hair feels very smooth and silky, which I don't get in the upstairs bathroom. One thing you should know, while it may not seem like I am suffering, I am. I loathe the downstairs bathroom. It's so white and sanitary. It reminds me of a chemical lab and the toilet is just BLAH. My husband and I (playfully) fight over this bathroom when we both have to use it. So the suffering is real, trust me. May try to escape exile later this afternoon, it's also winter in the north so maybe just hot chocolate and some football and work instead. Only time will tell. Didn't get outside, it's like a blizzard out there. So I got some much needed work done. Readers, I also discovered something today. There is a real-life Sasquatch living in my house. HINT: It's me. My razor is upstairs in the "no-fly" zone, so my leg hair continues to grow every second. Tell the Bigfoot Hunters to come to Michigan, I can't leave, so they can easily find me. 12 years of Catholic school has prepared me for this. (If you didn't go to an all-girls Catholic school, this joke is going to go way over your head. Best to just let it go.) My family continues to be negative with Covid, so at least the sacrifice is worth it. My symptoms have continued to get better as the day goes by. The leaking faucet that was my nose, is just a drippy, broken faucet. You know, the kind from the college apartments that the landlord didn't really want to fix and drove you insane because it was just dripping. The headache is completely gone. A few coughing fits here and there and my appetite is on like donkey kong.

My man servant, aka my husband, has been amazing through all of this. He has been showing our daughter the joys of the Star Wars saga and playing light saber with her. She gets to be Ahsoka, so she is thrilled. He has also cooked every meal, delivered it downstairs (while holding his breath) and has just taken care of literally everything around the house, my daughter's needs and my needs (i just need to ring the bell). All joking aside, he has been incredible and I don't know what we would do without him stepping up to the blue line. (He's a hockey player so saying plate just felt so irresponsible and disrespectful). I can't thank him enough for everything he has done. But, it's not all laughter and fun over here. He has threatened to dirty his hands and prepare my food. So, I told him I would breathe on him, but I guess biological warfare is against the Geneva Convention, so that plan is out. Maybe I'll just mock him from the basement.

Day 4

Is this how people in solitary confinement feel like? I've said this before and I'll say it again, the US Government does not want me to get captured and interrogated. Leave me alone for 3 days and I'm ready to crack. Today has been a much better day. I woke up a little dizzy, but I think that was because I didn't drink enough water the day before. I have zero symptoms. Nose isn't runny, Throat doesn't hurt. No headache. I feel like a normal person, Pinocchio. But, I still have to sit here for today and tomorrow until I can emerge as a beautiful butterfly. Until then, Sasquatch will just have to mind her business. Today was all business. I had planning meetings all day so that kept me busy. Exile is a lot faster when you are heads down in work and then look up to realize it is 2pm and your hubby has brought down lunch like 2 hours ago (still sorry for that!). After the planning meetings, I needed to get out. My mind was fried and I was tired of being inside, so I took the dog for a walk. Nothing like the smell of a Michigan winter day during garbage day. Yum Yum. My mom also dropped off my daughter's Christmas presents (see post 1 that I didn't get to spend Christmas with them) at the front door. After she was a safe distance away, the government said 3 miles right?, my husband brought them inside. The joy to see on her face when she opened her gifts is....oh wait...I'm exiled, downstairs. Her voice was excited. Thanks Mimi and Aunt Julie for the gifts I think she likes. You may be asking what have I been doing to pass the time..what am I binging? Nothing. Literally nothing. Some football, mostly work, I read a lot. I'm a boring excuse for a Sasquatch that is no help to you when you go into quarantine. I still hear a lot of Star Wars happening at my house. There may have been pictures of a Jedi butterfly running around earlier, but I can't confirm or deny it. Photoshop is out there, people! For all those still worried about what Covid the Omicron edition will do to you, honestly, I'm feeling super. I could run a 5K. I may actually do that, cuz I'm a little bit crazy and a little bit rock n roll. Tonight, I am sure I will hear the NES going, this time Top Gun. I'll just be sitting here in exile watching the Curse of Oak Island and playing Jeopardy.

Day 5

Here we go, the last day! Today is the last day in isolation as I have had no symptoms for about 24 hours, I can make my escape tomorrow. Per CDC guidelines, I will continue to wear my mask for 5 additional days, but I don't have to stuck in exile anymore!

This photo to the left is me trying to make my escape. Just get ready, I have a plan.

It was another day of feeling good, but being trapped. At least I had to work, that kept me pretty busy all day. Think about all those losers that had vacation this week....pppssh. I worked on a puzzle, since I feel like my brain in melting from the boredom that I am going through. I also did my exercise by taking down all the Christmas decorations, and sanitizing them. But they are down and the house is in pre-Christmas shape. All the outside lights are taken down and I felt ammaazzzing getting some exercise and seeing another room in the house! You know what else passes the time? Lego. Built some stuff, also stepped on legos. Lego 1 Jean 0. Next time Lego, next time. Now it's finally time to turn the TV on and to watch the Michigan State Spartans take on the Peach Bowl...tomorrow...Fire Up Chips! At least something entertaining in on TV. Get ready...tomorrow is freedom!

Day 6