COVID Sucks

Earlier in the week, we got word that my Grandma was diagnosed with COVID. She was not having any symptoms, they just found it on a routine test they performed 12/31/20. I had been checking in with my mom to make sure Grandma was doing well, and as far as they knew she was. However, on Friday, mom called me to let me know that the hospice nurse had called her and told her Grandma was not doing well. She had quit eating and drinking and was not herself. Apparently they did a chest x-ray and didn't like something they say (I assume COVID related) so they had her on medication. I asked mom to please have dad see that if I came to Kerrville, could I go in and see her and if so, I would be there. Now let me back track. Once COVID was in full swing, they asked my dad if they could put Grandma on hospice so that if something happened, we would be able to go in and see her, despite COVID restrictions. We thought that was a great idea and were glad they offered that to him. So dad called and they told him that yes, I could go in through the back doors and would have to don full PPE, but that I could. I called my sister to see if she wanted to go with me and we headed out Saturday morning.

Once we arrived to my parents, my dad had bad news for us. About an hour prior to our arrival, the nursing home contacted him and told him that the corporate nurse had arrived there and said that we could not go in and see her. UGH!!!! Believe me, I get it, I do. I am a nurse and understand what they are doing to keep people safe. However, if Grandma has COVID, it is not like we are going to give it to her and if I am willing to take a chance on getting it from her (which by this time she was at the end of her contagious period), then that is my prerogative. All I wanted to do was touch her and hug her neck for like 5 seconds. But instead, we had a window visit, my least favorite way to see her. We again had our dry erase board in tow and were ready to communicate through the glass.

My parents had not seen her since several days before her birthday, which was Christmas Day. She looked a bit tired, but she was happy to see the four of us. My grandma and my dad always banter back and forth during their visits. As he does every time, my dad asked my grandma how old she was, knowing he could get a rise out of her. As per the norm, she wanted someone else to answer the question. So she told dad to "Ask Mary K". So after deferring the question to my mom, dad wrote on the board that she was 103. Bless her heart she just closes her eyes and shakes her head in disbelief. Dad asked her why she looked like a defeated bull? LOL. She just laughed. She then asked, "I don't look that old do I?" And his response was the following:

He has always loved giving her grief - good thing she has broad shoulders and can take it (her words, not mine). :) It was a good visit and I am so glad I got to see her.

We take a selfie every time we are together.

As the four of us sat at a Mexican restaurant that night for dinner, it dawned on me that we have not been together, just the four of us, in forever. Melissa and I have spent more time away from our parents than we have the original family of four we once were. As a parent myself, I don't think about the future like that. It made me stop and think about how I really need to absorb every ounce of time with my boys because before I know it, we will no longer be the family of four sitting around the kitchen table talking about our day (insert big sigh).

This morning, Melissa and I got up and had a few errands to run before returning to home. We woke up to sleet, which then turned to snow. It snowed for quite sometime before we left. We ended up leaving in the snow and by the time we were half way home, it was raining. I can honestly say I never once turned off the windshield wipers the entire trip. Such a fun ride home.

My dad still takes care of me!