The Almost Green Mom

Anyone else get 8″ of snow last night? Welcome to Denver weather – it was 90 degrees just a few days ago. Yours truly was up all night shaking the snow off trees (which, I thought was a joke my brother told me until I moved here).

Also, anyone else get hit with that nasty adenovirus and / or COVID this past month? We got the former which circulated in our house for a good month. I’m going to take the silver lining and say our immune systems are all the stronger for it.

On the COVID front, I got my 2nd booster a good month or so ago, and my 8 year old will get her booster next week. A lot of comments have been thrown my way about how the virus has mutated and the vaccines don’t apply anymore. While the virus has mutated (that’s what they do to survive!), a vaccine is still, BY FAR, the best protection against serious illness and hospitalization / death due to COVID. So, sign me up. I’ll take mild symptoms over a vent any day. I am STILL waiting for the under 5 vaccine for my spunky 4 year old. Come on already!

So, we’re looking forward to summer – hopefully no more snow, a much deserved vacation to our happiest place on earth (cabin), mountains, BBQs and friends.

Stay safe. Stay smart. Smile. Commit to random acts of kindness.

I have one child fully vaccinated, and she’s close to 2 weeks out. My other child isn’t yet eligible, so we’ll wait until most likely early / mid next year.

It’s been interesting to hear people’s responses – close friends and family are of the congratulations camp. Some people are not. I respect people’s views, but one that has been interesting is this one: well, ok, one of your kids is vaccinated, so you guys are good to go! We’ve been invited to several indoor birthday parties and other indoor events and turned them down. We’re so close, but not there yet.

Call me crazy. I could care less – truly. As I always tell my girls, if I lived my life by what others wanted me to do, I would never be as successful or happy as I am right now.

So, let’s review why this is my decision…AGAIN. (1) I have one child who isn’t vaccinated; (2) vaccinated people can still catch COVID and pass it along; (3) Delta and Omicron are even more transmissible and are the dominant strain right now; and (4) I and my kids don’t want to be responsible for spreading, and even potentially mutating, COVID to any at risk or unvaccinated people

So, we will continue to mask everywhere. We won’t complain about it (it’s a piece of material; get over yourselves). We will keep ourselves and other safe.

And, when the time comes to get back out, travel, etc. we will, as my youngest says “party like it’s 1999.”

This will be short one.

My unvaccinated, young 4 year old caught COVID. For anyone who thinks it’s a minor cold and that kids aren’t really affected, YOU ARE WRONG.

My child spiked an almost 104 degree fever, was vomiting, lethargic, sweating through pajamas and more. This lasted for a few days. Doctors came out to the house to monitor her vitals, and they volunteered to come back a 2nd time to check because they were so concerned.

Delta is everywhere. Everywhere.

How do we stop this madness? (1) Get vaccinated – if you are not, you are a petri dish enabling this virus to continue to mutate and infect others. This isn’t just about you – you are making other people, like my daughter, sick; (2) Continue to mask in public and continue to socially distance – even if you are vaccinated, you can carry the virus and pass it along. (3) Don’t make this political – you are being offered a life saving vaccine. This is in NO WAY similar to the holocaust (just stop), no one is out to get you, the government isn’t hiding data, schools have been requiring vaccines for a loooong time, kids don’t mind wearing masks (for some reason parents are going ape sh*t about it – get a hobby), vaccinated people aren’t shedding things, just stop. stop. Trust the experts, not some random person on Facebook, YouTube, etc. These experts go to school for years and years and years – that person on Facebook is most likely not a PhD in epidemiology and may be spreading random rumors while eating flaming hot Cheetos.

You don’t want to see and go through what I did a few weeks ago. COVID is real. Grow up. Do the right thing.

After what seems like endless weeks and months of loud TV static, times are a changin’! I know I haven’t posted for a very long time, as I have struggled with providing uplifting messages and positivity throughout this f’d up past year (I drop a lot of f bombs – I pay my kids when I swear, and this past year I prepaid).

As friends and family know, I am immunocompromised, which meant keeping my oldest home from school while most of her classmates attended in person class for most of the year (we are very fortunate to have found an amazing school which invested heavily in protocols to allow in person learning to continue all year). I also had to unenroll my 3 year old from her preschool. So it was me, a 7 year old and a 3 year old at home since last March 16 (the date is burned in my brain!).

We managed, we slipped up a lot, but we also thrived. I consider ourselves fortunate to have been able to stay at home together and ride things out.

So why am I now extremely hopeful?

(1) Change of leadership – I can take a deep breath, look my girls in the eyes and tell them with honesty that we have a leader who is serious about covid, equality, inclusion, climate change, preserving public lands / indigenous rights, healthcare, compassion and many more things.

(2) Vaccine – brilliant scientists developed one of the most effective vaccines in history and in record time. Think about it – this time last year we were at square zero, with a president that didn’t believe the virus was real, still going about our daily lives and spreading the virus like wild fire. And now? 2 vaccines with over 90% efficacy being jabbed into the arms of millions worldwide. Because of my personal situation, I am getting my 2nd vaccine shot this Saturday. This means, for me, that 2 weeks after I can send my oldest back to in person learning. Not much else will change – we’ll still wear masks, stay mostly at home, etc. This virus isn’t over yet. Oh, and don’t be selfish – get the f’ing vaccine. If you don’t, my kids could get your virus; your friend could get it; oh, and you could end up in the hospital on a ventilator (this isn’t a joke). This isn’t just about you. Wake up.

(3) Friendships and revived connections – many of my closest friendships have grown even stronger during this pandemic. I had the time to really invest in those people and relationships that matter, and it was reciprocated. It gave me the push I needed to reach out to people I haven’t connected with in years and grow those relationships. A silver lining indeed.

(4) General well being – I struggled during this pandemic as many have. Mental health issues are real, and I took the time to reach out to professionals for help. I reached out to friends for help. I cried on virtual shoulders, I laughed heartily over phone calls / zooms. The point is – I survived and actually leaned on people I trust and love to help me through. A true life lesson.

So, heads up everyone. Things are looking up – the weather might totally suck where you are right now, but take several amazing, deep breaths and focus on the positive. And roll up that sleeve and get the jab!