Friday, March 13, 2020

Number of COVID CASES in Illinois:  46    Number of Deaths in IL: 0

Today at 3:00pm Governor JB Pritzger announced that he was closing the schools for at least 2 weeks due to a new virus called Coronavirus (COVID-19). When the announcement was made I felt a sense of relief. For the past week I had been sending Jack and Lucy to school and praying fervently over them because I knew this virus had begun to spread into the United States. It was no longer a virus overseas in China, it had arrived in the US.

Immediately I was flooded with emotions of excitement that my kids would be home, terror that my kids would be home, and every other emotion possible. What was this period of “staying at home” look like? How long would it REALLY last. So many unknowns…..

As someone who likes to have a sense of control, this was really sending me into a tailspin. But all I could do was take a breath, make sure I was informed, and do what I needed to protect my family. I knew I had enough food as I had been to the store twice that week making sure we had a little extra of a few staple items (not stockpiling, but extra ). Luckily 2 weeks before all of this I had purchased 2 new club sized packages of toilet paper, which was now almost non-existent on store shelves.  I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw rows and rows of paper products – EMPTY! But this was just the beginning. I could feel it.

Now to make plans for the kids since we are all going to be inside, together, at home…..

New terminology — Social Distancing (3-6 feet apart in public places)

 

Saturday, March 14, 2020

Number of COVID CASES in Illinois: 64     Number of Deaths in IL: 0

I shouldn’t be anxious or worried, but I wouldn’t be completely honest if I said I wasn’t. Trying to surrender all of this to God – but I am asking for His help today. Today wasn’t supposed to look like this. Lucy was supposed to have her very first dance competition in Chicago today. Thankful we aren’t having to travel that direction since the virus has begun to spread in that part of Illinois, but sad because she is missing this milestone.

I can’t peel myself away from the news. I know I should since it is making my anxiety spin out of control, but I just can’t. What if I miss something important? What if something worse happens? What can I do to help reduce the spread of COVID-19?  Is it in the Peoria area yet?  And then I saw it…. The first confirmed case in Peoria county today.

Today I have been praying a lot for God to help me with placing my trust in Him. It’s harder when the world seems to be crumbling around you in panic. So I am asking Him for extra help and I have immediately received a peace. While I am not scared or afraid of the virus itself, I am concerned for our world right now as we are facing something new. People are reacting by buying extra toilet paper and water… why that? It’s just a crazy, scary mess and we will take it one day at a time.

My new handwashing routine — to the right!

 

 

 

 

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Number of COVID CASES in Illinois: 93     Number of Deaths in IL: 0

Today is deemed a National Day of Prayer from our President. What a wonderful thing to see the nation as a whole coming together to do the most important thing we can do, even before washing our hands or social distancing…. PRAY!

This morning we went to church in our living room. Our church (along with many other churches around the country) have moved their services to streaming online to protect their congregations. So thankful for the community, even if we aren’t together in body, but just in spirit. It was comforting to know that all of the families we know and love from our “family of the heart” were worshipping with us at the same time from their homes.

The afternoon is spent making lesson plans and trying to scramble things together for the kids. Since schedules and structure are good for our family, I made a schedule of what “Wurmnest family homeschool” will look like. I am feeling a sense of control and relief by doing this.

 

The numbers continue to climb….. we watch the news now religiously at 3:00pm for the governors address and I make sure when President Trump is on the TV live we are watching for any new news. Today Pritzger announced the restaurants and bars will closedown to become carryout/delivery facilities only. No dine in allowed!

 

Monday, March 16, 2020

Number of COVID CASES in Illinois: 105   Number of Deaths in IL: 0

 

Tomorrow all restaurants and bars will close down to become only carryout/delivery venues. This will definitely look different and we need to look for ways to support local small businesses. Many bars are continuing with their St. Patrick’s Day celebrations a day early which I feel is irresponsible. This virus is here… it’s not going to wait until the celebrations are done. But we press on anyways… And go figure – the first COVID-19 case in Peoria county happened today. It’s here….

We also started the Wurmnest family homeschool today. We dove in this morning with the Free Scholastic website and a free Raz-Kids guided reading account! We learned all about spiders today. Not sure which is scarier – COVID 19 or spiders? LOL The kids read about spiders and then got to create a new species of spider using adjectives and a drawing.

After that we had movement time, free play, and chore time. We enjoyed a hot lunch of chicken nuggets, pineapple, chips, and yogurt. After lunch we had Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems who is one of our favorite children’s authors of books like Elephant and Piggie/ Pigeon drives the bus, etc. What a fun time! This will become a daily routine if we can work it in for art!

We had math time on our new Osmos from Christmas which was a great interactive time. We also had quiet time and free time in the afternoon which is essential.

So far so good! I may like homeschooling more than I thought.

 

 

Tuesday, March, 17, 2020

Number of COVID CASES in Illinois:  160        Number of Deaths in IL: 2        Cases in central Illinois: 4

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from home! Lots of green and shenanigans going on today even from the isolation of our house. There is honey/stout roast beef, carrots, and potatoes in the crockpot and there will be Irish Soda Bread today! Also watching Darby O Gill and the Little People on Disney+ tonight!

Today they announced the first death in Illinois….  A woman in her 70s in Chicago with underlying health conditions. It’s getting more real than ever. It was inevitable this would happen sooner than later, but now it has. Our state mourns her life because it is an all too real encounter of what could happen to several people we know. As we mourn her death, we mourn for what normal life used to look like. We know this is a “new normal” for an undetermined amount of time.

Homeschool presses on and is going really well. The teachers began to send e-learning activities home and we are incorporating them into our routine and curriculum as well. It’s nice to hear from them. Makes life seem a little more normal.

URGENT Prayer request: It’s getting to close now to people I know.

Dear Prayer Warriors,

My aunt’s step-daughter is in urgent need of your prayers. She was sent to Mayo’s ICU in Minnesota from another hospital because she has pneumonia and is now on a ventilator. They think it is from Coronavirus but are waiting for test results. She is there alone because her immediate family is quarantined and she cannot have any visitors. Please pray for her recovery and for a shield of protection for her family, the medical staff and anyone she may have had contact with. I’m asking the Holy Spirit to surround this young lady and her family and to show us supernatural healing.

Thank you in advance for your prayers. She is in her mid-30’s and has young kiddos and a husband being isolated at their home (they cannot go with her!)

 

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Number of COVID CASES in Illinois: 288

Nothing new to report. The days are starting to mirror themselves. It’s like living in Groundhog Day but it gets worse…

But there are fun pictures from our time of staying at home…. Today Jack continued making his paper chain. I wonder how long this thing will get by the time we are out of here? Lucy did math flashcards on YouTube today. We also took a field trip to Disney world and went on space mountain in our magical laundry baskets! LOL

UPDATE: Wednesday, March 18
Her dad heard this morning that Beth’s night nurse felt like she was doing better. Your prayers are working! Please continue to bless Beth and her family with more.

 

Thursday March 19, 2020

Number of COVID CASES in Illinois:  422

The numbers begin to climb and our death toll begins to climb. There is one case in McClean county – just one county over. Praying for all involved in these hospitals.

We start homeschooling every morning in my office where we enjoy learning something new from Scholastic’s learn at home videos and books. Mitzi even joined us today!

We had a beautiful sunny day so of course we took a short family walk! We can still do that while in quarantine! I am thanking God today for the beautiful weather. I think with His provision of beautiful sunshine we can make it through anything. I am looking forward to Spring (today is the first day!) Can’t wait to see all of the beautiful flowers start to bloom around the yard. I will appreciate it with more gratitude than every before I have a feeling. Life looks a little different now. Things we took for granted are more precious than they ever have been.

 

 

Friday March 20, 2020

Number of COVID CASES in Illinois: 585                   Number of Deaths in IL: 6

Update on my Uncle’s Stepdaughter, Beth:

Update on Beth. Her test for corona virus (COVID-19) was positive!
So now we know what we are dealing with. Today her vitals were good and temp is dropping. 👍🏻 Expect her to be on ventilator 3or 4 more days. Thank you for your prayers and love. ❤️😘

Today the governor issued a “Shelter in Place” order. Nothing really changed for us since Chad’s job is considered “essential.” Lots of tension on that issue because their plant isn’t even running. But I will have to get over this too. No use in fighting over things I can’t change. But it doesn’t’ make it any easier. I just want to know that the 4 of us are safe and are in quarantine together. I am nervous that unknowingly he will bring this invisible enemy home. So is he. But together we will get through this.

 

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Number of COVID CASES in Illinois: 753   Number of Deaths in IL: 6

PRAISE REPORT…. Update on Beth: They took Beth off the respirator today! Hallelujah! Your prayers are working. She still has a way to go but we will celebrate this milestone right now!

Update: March 21, 3:34pm
Just got word that Beth is off oxygen!

I only got 20 out of 45 items from my Kroger pickup today because they are out of stock for so many items. Many people are hoarding and stockpiling which leaves the rest of us empty. Oh well. IGA had everything that I didn’t get so we are being provided for. We are lucky with so much food available still. Many countries don’t’ have this type of provision on a normal basis. So for this I am thankful. Today we are happy for board games! It was game night in our house… We played Yahtzee, Pass the Pigs, and lots of checkers. They love checkers all of a sudden.

Observation: So many uplifting posts including people sharing their gifts of playing the piano or singing have been posted lately. Wouldn’t this be great if THIS part were the new normal? People are really coming together overall to encourage each other – even from a distance.

 

 

 

 

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Number of COVID CASES in Illinois: passed 1000 cases today (4 times than 1 week ago)    total:1049

Number of Deaths in IL: 9

The woman in McClean county that tested positive just a few days ago dies today. It’s hard to have hope when you see things like this, but this is normal now and will continue to happen.

Today we had church again online. Pastor Sarah gave a great sermon and the worship was very much needed. Then later in the evening we had a special treat! Brian W and Julie C from church had a hymn singalong and were taking requests live on Facebook. What a blessing it was to get to sing songs that are so dear to my heart. We also had a meet up on ZOOM with our small group this afternoon! What a blessing to see some of our best friends and get to share in this together. Brandon gave us some of the grim realities coming up that he is observing from a healthcare professional standpoint. But overall we are staying upbeat and will continue to meet on a weekly basis.

I have finalized all lesson plans this week and am ready to roll. Homeschooling has given me something to take my mind off the rest of the world. Such a blessing!

In other good news… My Sam’s Club pickup order went through. Still can’t get everything on my list, but got 8 important things including the kids vitamins and flavored water! Yum!

I also ordered an Apple TV device today to assist with homeschooling and being able to pull things up on the TV quickly from my phone as we become more connected digitally.