It could be worse, I suppose

JoseyWales

That's what I thought today, as I turned on the hot water in the sink. For a just a moment I thought my hot water heater had gone out, "The water's not hot yet!" and then hot water came pouring out of the faucet.

And, in the midst of what I feel is a life of misery, I had a moment of joy. My hot water heater isn't broken. 

I'd like to focus on the positives in my life, but everything else drags me down. DH and I have both tested positive for Covid. The good part - it's super mild. I had almost no symptoms except that loss of smell. DH has a runny nose, and has forgotten how to blow his nose so he goes around sniffing. But that's his only symptom. We can deal with it. And our quarantine will be completely during my school break. No need for sub plans, and DH's caregiver was already planning to not be here.

Of course that means DS won't come home for Christmas. We will miss my family's gathering, that I was so looking forward to. We'll participate through video. So I'm thankful for technology.

I had not yet purchased most of my Christmas gifts. Instead, I shopped online and had it all delivered to my trunk. No contact. So easy.

DH is still not sleeping well, some nights 2 hours at a time and then up for 2 hours. But the positives again are that I'm on break so I can continue sleeping on his schedule a few hours at a time.

I tried to put a Christmas tree up after Thanksgiving. It stressed DH out so I took it down a few days later. I guess the positive there is I don't have anything to clean up after Christmas.

Seriously, I feel completely lost and hopeless. DH doesn't do well at home, the medicine he FINALLY got less than 2 weeks ago is only slightly helping and he doesn't understand why we can't go shopping. I have a mountain of paperwork for Medicaid and DH doesn't leave me alone to work on it. I planned a full day over my break for the caregiver to come so I could work on it, but now that won't happen. 

But I have hot water. 

Ed1937

JoseyWales wrote:

But I have hot water. 

That is probably the best ending I have seen to a post from somebody who has been going through everything you have. Focus on the positive!

I'm really sorry you have both tested positive. Hopefully it will stay mild, and soon be over with for you, and you will have antibodies from it.

 

M1

Hope your cases stay mild Josey.  So sorry.  But like Ed said, you're doing an amazing job of finding the positive!!!

Quilting brings calm

Josey

There is an expression that I almost never use that describes your post  - embrace the suck. I think you have the concept perfectly.  Seriously though - you are trying so hard to find the positives where you can.  Hot water is not a small thing. 

I’m sorry you won’t see your son at Christmas.  I hope your covid experience stays mild.  Please try to relax as fatigue can be present too. 

Christmas will be different for several of us this year.  I know those of you who are farther down this path than me feel a greater urgency to have ‘ one last great Christmas ’ and I am sorry that you won’t get that.  

June45

Josey, I had to smile at your "positives".  It sounds like me. "Oh husband just pooped on the floor; at least it was the tiled bathroom and not the carpeted bedroom!"

And get well soon; hope your Covid illness continues to be mild for the both of you and you both are well soon!

Lorita

Hi Josey,

 You certainly do have the right attitude.  I laughed about your hot water.  So often I feel the same way when the water runs cold and then all at once it's hot and I take a deep breath and say "thank you".  Trying to be positive really helps when you're a caregiver.

 Sorry about you and your husband testing positive but so glad your cases are mild.  Take it easy and rest all you can. 

Mint

Josey I’m always thankful when the water becomes warm too.

If I remember right you guys are vaccinated.  Hope we are seeing that vaccinations are doing their job.  Keep us up to date.  Hope you guys are feeling all better soon.  This is how we learn.  Cars were not developed to fly.  These vaccines were not developed to prevent infection, they are here to prevent hospitalization and death.  If they do that we have been blessed with more hot water and I’m thankful.

Marie58

JoseyWales wrote:

 And our quarantine will be completely during my school break. No need for sub plans, and DH's caregiver was already planning to not be here.

As a former special education teacher, I know what a huge blessing that is! Not how you wanted to spend the Christmas break, but it helps. I'm sorry you're going through all this. Hope your cases stay mild. Blessings

JoseyWales

Thanks all - you all really do get it.

Sayra - You remember right - we are both vaccinated. We were going to get our boosters this week. DS was home with Covid 2 1/2 months ago. We didn't catch it then, so I guess the vaccine immunity does wear off. DH still has a runny nose and a slight fever. But he's still his active, wanting to go somewhere self. And he wants to go CONSTANTLY. Keeping him away from people is a huge challenge. Getting rest is also nearly impossible. I'm just glad I have it so mild.

Marie - you picked up on what is probably my biggest "thankful" in my entire post. And I bet most people just skimmed that, but NO SUB PLANS is huge! All of us teachers - especially special ed teachers - get it. And no rescheduled IEP meetings, no behavior plan fails because I'm not there to support.... There has to be no good time for Covid, but there are worse times. 

I so appreciate the support from those of you here. Hoping you all stay healthy!

Paris20

Several weeks ago, my water softener died, the ultraviolet filter went with it, and there was sone mold and water in my basement, the result of heavy rain. And then my clothes dryer died. This all happened within just a few days. My husband assured me he’d take care of everything. HAH! He can’t even use our landline or TV remote anymore, and cannot tell the difference between the two.

I replaced the dryer, called the septic company (who are known as being #1 in the #2 business). I brought in the water softener people and replaced the machine and filter, renting all new equipment. Finally, I contacted a mold removal specialist. 

I’d been proud of myself for taking care of all these maintenance problems, which my husband had handled in the past. When the mold guy came, he repaired and sealed a crack in my foundation and replaced the stuff that had become wet because of the leak. When the bill came and it was under $500, I was so thrilled that I wanted to party. I guess one advantage of being a caregiver to a LO with AD is that small favors can elicit great joy.

Beachfan

Josey,

I admire your attitude.  It helps to try and put a positive spin on things and there’s a lot to be said for hot water!  You can bet that I didn’t skim by your biggest thankful - - NO SUB PLANS.  As a long time special ed teacher and later a supervisor, I don’t know which I dreaded more, planning for my own sub in my absence as a teacher, or dreading when one of the teachers under my supervision was absent and the substitute teacher pool was less than stellar.   

I hope your COVID cases remain mild and resolve quickly so you have a little breather during your break.  I don’t know how you do it, teaching and caregiving simultaneously.  I hope your  supervisor appreciates your *$%&.  

White Crane

Josey, praying your cases stay mild. I admire your finding the positives. I , too, am always thankful for hot water.

Buggsroo

Hey Josey,

I get it about the hot water. It sounds like your Covid is very mild. I had covid in 2019, one thing I found was that I slept for hours on end. That really helped. My sense of smell and taste returned after a few months. I hope you have a restful holiday and I am sorry you are not seeing your son. 

French

Hi josey,

Before leaving I emptied my jacuzzi. When I will be back I won’t have to hide every other evening in the hot water in my garden so that to have a good moment for me before going to bed. I will relax on the sofa without somebody vibrating near me. 

abc123

Merry Christmas Josey!

LadyTexan

Josey - I love your positive attitude. You are an inspiration! Thank you for reminding me to appreciate what is good instead of getting stuck on the bad. Merry Christmas!

David J

Josey and others- Hot water is the best! Our shower is in an addition to the house and about as far from the hot water heater as you can get. That “ Oh cr*p” moment when the water continues to run cold, then the “thank goodness!” moment when it warms up!

Freshly showered (in hot water!) and visiting my wife in MCF for Christmas. She’s still sleeping, but will find when she wakes that Santa has paid a visit. I’m having Christmas with good friends later.  Whatever you all are doing today, have a Merry Christmas! 

Dave