Hows everyone doing?

Life is looking a bit different these days isn't it.

COVID-19 is raising havoc in everyones life... 

What WAS normal, looks very different!

Our way of living has changed dramatically, especially with family!

Who agrees....

Social distancing is horrible when it comes to family

I miss my grandbabies so much!

I do (rarely) get to see the Rochester kids, but we keep our distance and NO HUGS!

Sometimes we just drive by in hope of getting a glimpse  :)

Last night we went to a big open park and watched C fly his kite...

Click on the arrow to see how grandpa keeps his distance

they usually cant keep their hands off each other.

My daughter does a great job of posting photo's for us to see the littles  :)

 Our Granddaughter's sidewalk art

Found this in our mailbox one morning last week <3 p="">

We won't see our Twin Cities little ones for quite awhile. 

The social distancing would not work with a 3 year old that loves 

to be held and wrestle around with his grandpa. 

Little Lew playing with his stackable robots.

We miss them so much but our son is doing a great job of sending videos and photo's.

We also video chat about once a week.... it helps but it's the hugs I miss.

They have a nice trail near their house, they love to explore.

We are thankful our family is safe and healthy, we will sit tight knowing that is the best for everyone.

We had our 1st family video chat this weekend, several of our family members were able to join.

Rick and I went over to my parents to set them up too so they could be involved

We wore masks to protect them.

I've been cooking....A LOT 

 I can cook, I'm just not a big fan of it.

I have not spent this much time in the kitchen since the kids were still home.

Hand-written letters to friends and family....

 A little letter in the mail is usually good for a smile

 Rick and I put a puzzle together

This one has a lot of things we love in it!  

Cabin, firepit, s'mores, snow shoes, skiis, quilts, snow, mountains, etc!

  I cleaned my flowerbeds

This is my bleeding heart plant.

My daughter and I continue to work in the hospital.

Please pray for us..... 

2 of my co-workers were exposed to and took care of a patient who was quickly there-after hospitalized with COVID-19. They were quarentined for 14 days and thankfully had no symptoms.

Brianna is an ICU nurse who has worked in close proximity of patients with Corona. 

***Recently her ICU has closed and a core group of nurses are staying at home for 2 weeks. 

My daughter is one of them.... I am so grateful. They will most likely rotate.

I am still doing Lumbar punctures, but only those deemed urgent. 

Our patient population has been dramatically reduced

For that I'm thankful!

Because our patients are few, we are currently being trained to tee-up patients for video appointments and we are answering on-line portal questions from patients.

This is all new to me, so I'm having to learn a lot....ugh. 

I will not complain... I still have a job.

How's eveyone doing?

Please stay safe and healthy!

What do the words toilet paper and social distancing have in common...?

... COVID-19

I get the social distancing part, but not the toilet paper crisis. 

So weird!

Earlier this week we heard over the grapevine of social media the Rick's Dad 

was nearly out of toilet paper. Luckily we had some extra!

 Not the hoarders-kind of extra, but enough to share with our loved ones if needed.

We delivered and he seemed glad!

This has been a week of more seclusion as the virus continues to spread in Minnesota,

but there is still life to live, family to communicate with, silliness and 

trying to stay sane for this girl who doesnt like to sit still...UGH!

 We got a new car, this has been in the works for a while. 

 We finally bit the bullet and got ourselves a 2020 Nissan Murano...we love it.

Keeping it positive, not gonna let these times get me down....

 Last night we spent some time with our families on video chats

I read a book to S & L and chatted with A & C. 

It really warmed my heart to see them and hear their little voices

 I scored some hand sanitizer at Target this morning! 

My goofy son held it to his mouth and said, "how many squirts"?

I love his sense of humor.

Practicing Social-Distancing...

My daughter's family lives about 1 mile from Rick and I. 

This morning we stopped by to drop off a new game that I

got for their family to play during this Ho-Hum time.

After the drop off, we decided to take our new car for a legitimate drive

Its got all the bells & whistles....still learning.

 It was good to get away from the house and enjoy the surroundings.

 Back home for a little "Positive energy" and snacks.

Sweet Tangerine

 My Day Lilies are emerging from the cold ground

Spring is coming!

What are ya all doing to keep sane during this time of social distancing?

A movie at home is on our adgenda tonight.

Do not let your hearts be troubled

I've heard it over and over and I'm starting to get tired of it.

I'm done listening to the media and it's negative repetitive reports!

Social Media isn't any better.... 

I think we should be socially distancing ourselves from Social media!

I'm only choosing to read those postings that are uplifting and positive.

I will not read the things posted that have already been drilled into us.

NO, I'm not ignorant or aloof about the severity of this Pandemic. I get it... 

I'm a nurse, it's mandatory for me to show up for work where there are more than 10 people gathered. 

I'm one of those health care professionals that doesn't  have a choice, we are required to be among a lot of people, people from many different states and countries, people that have come to the Mayo Clinic for 2nd & 3rd opionions. They are looking for answers and it's taken them awhile to either get to our city or just plain get an appointment. Rescheduling isnt easy for a lot of them, but

that would be the ideal if possible.

Pray for the health care workers everywhere, it is hard for us to practice "Social Distancing" while at work, in fact most of us work very close to our patients, how else would we care for them?

 Last week I was given a hug from a 14 year old that was so glad to be done with 

his procedure, and "it didnt even hurt"....how can I distance from that????

We can't shut down everything, and I just cant worry.

 I will do my best to do all of the things to keep my patients and myself safe!

Though all this distancing we also have to practice humanity, tenderheartedness and mercy.

There is a lot of hand washing going on people <3 p="">

I chose to pray to a power that is bigger than all this, 

God says in Isaiah 41:10

Do not fear for I am with you;

Do not be dismayed for I am your God;

I will strengthen you and I will help you.

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

I wear this verse around my neck, a gift from my daughter.

It is my go-to bible verse, especially when things seem scary and uncertain.

My life verse.

 I pray a lot, I know God hears my prayers so I'm gonna talk to Him.

This morning a read from my "The power of a praying grandparent" devotion,

it felt pertinent with whats going on in the world right now.

My 4 grandkids, my 5 kids, my husband and my family are at the heart of my prayers

 Please Dear Lord protect us from this spreading virus, keep all of us safe and give us peace as we go through the next several weeks of unknowns and concern.

Our faith and trust is in you!