12/08/2020, Tuesday

Still no test results...ugh. I had a break from the diarrhea yesterday, but it is back today. We both lack energy and continue to be achy, so laying low at home is not too difficult. Part of me hopes it is just seasonal ick, and part of me wouldn't mind earning some antibodies at a low cost. There was an educational component to being scheduled for a test here. The nurse said one thing that was a twist on the information I thought I knew. She said that if you slip your mask down for a brief bit of air when alone inside anywhere, Covid droplets can be present for up to four hours after an infected person has left that space. The Vet who came for Thanksgiving is also a possibility.

Miss Bonnie, welcome home ! So sorry to hear you lost your dad. It sounds like your experience with Hospice was positive too. I'll bet Swanny is stuck to you like glue. Liz, glad your recovery is progressing. Bonnie, your trees are glorious. Santa pictures with no tears...score! Ceci, it sounds like you found some fun landscapers ! Pictures of the before and after, please ! Peps, great job enlisting your enabler ! I agree with Bonnie, your VSG is but a chapter in your book. DD, your DS's GF is blessed to have you and DH in her life. Your genuine compassion warms me ! DD & Miss BB...a few weeks ago, I did make it in to a fabric shop for the first time since this all began. All previous purchases were online. I, too, am a toucher...usually taking the bolt off the rack to feel a single layer of the fabric and to really see how the pattern repeats. That made me think, so I just googled it. Covid can live up to two days on fabric. I ALWAYS wash my fabric when I get home, but touching contaminated fabric and then my face on the maskless ride home or prior to washing... Too many possible vectors in life. I'll be as careful as possible, but not obsessing !

Sorry you still aren't feeling well and that you still don't have test results. It has seemed to me from the beginning that access to quick test results was important and I still feel that way. I wanted to be able to tell the people I warned about possible exposure whether I was positive or not so they would take action (quarantine and/or testing) ASAP. It is still surprising that Florida has been better at this than Massachusetts as the governor here has not been my favorite...

Anyway, we are in our last day of quarantine. I will finish cleaning the house today which I am happy about as I hadn't done a thorough cleaning since I returned in October so it really needed it. This way when I return in January, I will be returning to a clean place. We almost ran out of food - we certainly got bored with it. But it didn't seem to make sense to get another food delivery at this point. I have some frozen chicken meals that we will use tonight, then tomorrow we can go to the store again!

And one week from today I fly back to Massachusetts. I am really looking forward to going home and I think a break from Mike is a good idea. Too much closeness too quickly. I will have to see how I feel over my three weeks home to decide how to handle things once I get back in January.

But for today, I need to clean and work on getting my sense of taste/smell back more. It really is weird to have them dulled when I am not congested.

Stay safe, healthy and Covid free!

Perhaps the "too much closeness...." feeling is due to the stress of obligatory 24/7 relating to each other in sickness. It is enough to grow new close to some one in health, let alone both being ill at the same time. A break may well be a good thing - will bring a return to a right perspective. Is Mike staying in FL?

Yes possibly so I think the break is a good thing. But I did have some concerns before we were thrust into quarantine. He is supposed to go back for a short time but may cancel it. Regardless we would be in separate places back in Massachusetts.

Diane O-oh no, really praying it's not covid. But I guess even if not, I'm sure sorry you're dealing with illness.

Miss Bonnie-So sorry about your dad's passing but what a blessing that it was peacefully.

Peps-I'm glad that you are having optimism about the future. I guess I didn't realize you'd had covid. Trying to take care of children while sick is enough to make me want to be more cautious--about anything viral!

Liz-woohoo on house cleaning. Can you come to mine? ;)

My weight continues to be up. 155, 156. I'm sure I did gain a couple pound over thanksgiving, but probably more accurately like 154.6. But I can feel swelling in my ankles and calves and that concerns me. I'm sure I'm dehydrated. I'm always dehydrated. I was never a water drinker, then I had vsg and was told not to drink with meals (which was really the only time I used to drink), and now with kids trying to tip over water glasses, and when they aren't around it's usually coffee then wine!! That's a problem. But I don't know if it's related to my swelling. Like my legs feel tight. I didn't even feel this way in pregnancy. Not even at the end.

So another minor complaint but a big one for me. My hands are painfully chapped. I cannot seem to get them to heal. I keep re-injuring them from countless diaper changes, hand-washes, hand sanitizer. One spot opened in the middle of my hand. Someone called it a "Jesus mark" and it began as though there was a splinter trying to work its way out. But now it's just rough skin that is very itchy and keeps opening and bleeding. I was once told that I had "fingers that danced on lakes" because of my thin, long, delicate fingers that would glide across the piano. They were a source of pride because even on my large body, my wrists were thin and my fingers the opposite of short and stubby. Now they are the source of pain and embarrassment and between body swelling and chapped knuckles, it's hard to get my wedding ring on. I guess just a vent because it sounds so stupid but it's actually becoming depressing!!

I did go for a walk yesterday with the girls. The day was nice but the sun begins to set so early and it turns cold very quickly. I had an outdoor by the firepit book club yesterday. We're reading a book called Educated. Have any of you read it? It's really fascinating story about a family who was essentially obsessed with Ruby Ridge.

Today I am going to try and do some secretarial work for my parents as they are very far behind since their secretary passed.

Boo chapped hands! Have you tried a "bee balm"

Dehydration definitely causes me to retain water and puffiness. Seems like water in promotes water out. As if a tap opens and everything in the system goes into right order.

It sounds like you may have developed Excema? I suffered from it on my hands for years especially when the kids were young and my hands were constantly wet. It went away eventually though I still get a spot or two when the air is really dry in the winter.

Your poor hands! I really do love Aquaphor. It's petroleum jelly based with other stuff in it, but it's like magic. Our humidity right now is 8%. Normally my cuticles are bleeding and my lips have a hard shell of chap on them, but since I've switched to Aquaphor I have neither.

That's what I used on my skin everyday after radiation. My skin held up well. My hands are super chapped too. I keep meaning to put some acquaphor on, and then some gloves to really let it soak in. I do that for my feet with socks, and it really helps.

This is exactly what I did last night! I got in my amazon gloves and lathered on the aquaphor. I now have quite the collection of different salves and jellies. I do think I have sensitive eczema skin so I'm beginning to wonder if "working hands" I'm allergic to. Anyhow, the cracks on my knuckles and overall skin is softer, albeit quite a way left to go. HOwever the center of my hand crack (which may now be infected?) got all lubed up and made it so itchy that I woke up to find myself clawing it to the point of bleeding.