and then...

Well troops, how is it there in the trenches of Covid-land for you? Are you avoiding the arrows that are flying at you? Are you dodging the punches?

Good for you! (I hear there are some who can still say -- "Covid hasn't touched my family." But I'm not hearing that too often these days.) Keep your masks in place and don't go out anywhere! What? You have to work? You need food? You need childcare? Oh, well, gosh, that's a problem. Keep your fingers crossed then! But don't hold your breath.

We got hit here, in my Wisconsin family. A babysitter with Omicron. She only had contact with Sparrow and Sandpiper, but that was enough. Both kids are now positive. Snowdrop had been with me on that day, and more importantly, she is fully vaccinated. She's negative. So far. But depending on who you ask, you get all sorts of prediction: once one soldier falls, the whole barrack will follow. It's a question of time. That's one prediction. The other? Well, the babysitter was fully vaccinated and boosted. Maybe her load was low. The brothers are thus far asymptomatic. So maybe their load is low. It'll all blow over in a few days. That's another guess.

Ed and I are both vaccinated and boosted, but our booster shots came in September (when they were first approved) and so according to one set of outcomes, we are long past the period where we could proudly say "we wont get it." Chances are we will get it, if and when we are exposed. Just not so severely as to needing to update our wills right now (according to most data on this). 

The question is -- who can we safely see? Certainly not Sparrow or Sandpiper. The other members of the family? They all tested negative on several rounds of testing. But it could be early. And testing is good for a full blown infection and less reliable for early stage infection.

All this to say that everyone on the planet has their hands full with Omicron spread, and we are no exception.

Breakfast, before any positives landed, so leisurely and carefree...

And then POW, KAZOOM! Two kids infected! Now what?

In the end, I decided to play it safe, somewhat. I would still pick up Snowdrop, but I would wear my best KN95 in the car and crack the windows open whenever her protests (Gaga, it's cold!!!) subsided. I would not bring her to the farmhouse. I would pack a book or two and a picnic snack and take her straight to a park to try out her new ice skates.

Hi Snowdrop, I have some good news and bad news, which do you want to hear first?

(Does ANYONE EVER want the good news first? She went for the bad, followed quickly by the good, of which there was plenty: no one is feeling sick, mommy and daddy and you are negative (so far), and guess what -- no one will bug you to play with your brother more in the next few days! She liked that one!

Going ice skating proved to be far more difficult than I thought, given that we're in a town that prides itself as being home to two Olympic skating medalists. My first try was a nearby park where my daughters first learned to skate with me.

No ice there this year. Thanks, Madison.

Next -- I know for a fact that all our big lakes are frozen over (it's been THAT cold!). Why don't we go to the boat ramp at Lake Monona and skate from there?

 

 

What a dumb idea. The ice is horrible by the shore. Horrible. You'd have to be a pro to get past that. I do know that there are better spots to enter the lake, but I dont know where they are and the girl is starting to feel cold and less interested in skating.  (Gaga, look at this gorgeous ice brick!)

I have one more idea! How about the pond by her old preschool? I've skated there once or twice, years ago...

We drive through the old neighborhood where she once lived and this is Snowdrop for you: a girl of big feelings. I miss my old house! -- she tells me, as tears swell in her eyes. What stands out for you that you miss? I don't remember anything, but I miss it! She cracks a smile through her tears.

The pond turns out to be a pretty good place to take a beginner. Not perfect -- the ice is not smooth and there is nothing to hold onto  -- but good. With a bench at the side that's perfect to lace up the skates.

She is wobbly. And though I consider myself to be a very good skater, I'm feeling wobbly too. We wobble together.

She gives up.

She tries again. 

I get my balance back. She hangs onto me with all her might and I'm surprised we dont both fall flat on our backs, but we don't.

(Confidence takes hold: look, I can stand on one foot!)

 

And then there's the hot chocolate and her chips and fruits and a few mini marshmallows too. Always end tough lessons with treats!

I take her home.

We have a bit of a wobbly week before us, with lots of question and few certainties. I'm putting in an order for more mini marshmallows and hot cocoa as we speak.

(Hello, evening farmette visitor!)

 

With love...