We’re working on filming our routine for our first virtual Cheer competition.
He said
For some time we were aware of the possibility that as the primary caregiver, I might qualify for early wave of the COVID-19 vaccine (and Shawn as the secondary). Well, that became a reality and in a very quick way this past week. Shawn & I got the email from Oakcrossing Tuesday saying that registration for us would open the very next day. Shawn got booked in for yesterday and I was booked in for today. I was surprised that we factored in that quick, but it makes sense given that the rest of their Long Term Care facility is vaccinated, that essential caregivers are too. And given that I have been tested no less than 20 straight times to ensure their safety on a weekly basis since November, I jumped at the opportunity to ensure their safety.
Shawn was the first guinea pig yesterday and found out was the Pfizer vaccine. He said the whole operation was very streamlined and super efficient. He gave me the pro tip of downloading and completing the pre-screening form in advance which I did and that definitely sped things up for me today. My appointment was for 4:50pm—you instructed to not show up and virtually sign in more than 10 minutes early. I arrived at 4:40pm, had my shot by 4:50pm and was all set to wait my requisite 15 minutes. By 5:05pm I was booking my second dose appointment for July and on my way. I was in & out in 30 minutes—it was really impressive.
It was a bit more of an emotional experience than I anticipated. As I sat down in the truck after I was all done, it really hit me what the first dose meant and how much the last year impacted us all. Almost exactly one year to the day from when the store closed and then the rest of the world slowly closed down thereafter, here I was finally getting the first dose of the vaccine. There was so much loss and struggle in the last year. I know our family has been extremely lucky through it all—even while helping Mom & Dad downsize and move into a Long Term Care facility because their health needs had increased significantly over the last few years. But, suffice it to say I was a little overwhelmed by it all, there afterwards.
The other big thing this week was the weather has warmed up so much with Spring around the corner, I was actually able to get outside on my bike and do my cycle ride back on the Thames Valley Parkway. Thursday it was a beautiful 17º out and the sun was not going to set until closer to 7pm. I got off work at 5:00pm hauled my butt home and was out on the bike riding by 5:30pm. I ran my usual route out to the gate of Greenway Park and back and got in 18 km of fresh air on the bike and I realized just how much I had missed riding outside over in the basement on the trainer. It was absolutely glorious and since I’ve gotten in two more rides outside. And another day off tomorrow, I will be doing the same!
She said
This week were reminded that there might be a light at the end of this very long tunnel. We are far from being out of the woods but seeing more friends and family get their first vaccine and more vaccines coming into the region weekly there is a hope we can have some sort of a normalish life sometime this year.
Over this last year we have talked so much on what we have lost, what we have given up but this week I wanted to focus on what we gained. Emelia is growing up at a lightening speed. She has hit the age where she would much rather hang out with friends vs time with her parents. She wants to be a normal teenager. This year has been far from a normal life, no sense of security, no sense of normal, no sense of having all the big milestones recognized. But what this year has taken away it has also given. It has given us an appreciation for the little things, for the daily struggles seem small compared to what they were a year ago. What this year stole, it gave back some time. Emelia and I spent most of Saturday afternoon going for a long walk. Those walks are gold for me—it is where she opens up and talks about what is really in her head. Saturday, she and I went on an almost 10km walk. We talked about everything: her worries; her hopes for the next year; and, the impact on her mental health. These small gifts of time and slowing down is the one gift this pandemic has given.
Now I would do anything to have a normal life for Emelia and other kids here age. I would love more than anything that we could see our family, friends and be there to visit them freely. But this year has given us time as a family. We appreciate the small things a bit more. This weekend we our family got the gift of a first dose for John. John has been his parents primary caregiver in the nursing home since they moved in. As a family we discussed who could be there on a more involved level and it was John and Shawn that took on this role. During 2 months of lockdown that was on John mainly. There was some rules that allowed some support from other family members for medical appointments but for the most part John has had to be there. He wouldnt change this role for anything, he is happy to be there for his parents. He has had to get weekly covid tests to assure he is covid free to be allowed in the nursing home.
This weekend he got his first dose of the Covid vaccine, what we hope is that the rest of the family can get theirs in the upcoming months and with more people getting them that we can get protection to control the spread and we can move to the new normal. It’s hard to believe its now been a year, a year ago today was Emelia’s last day in school before they closed down for what would be the rest of her grade 7 year, the day where we starting the two weeks to flatten the curve. It’s been a long year, so much has changed.