Coronavirus: Day 155

It's been awhile my sweet friends, but I am here.  I can hardly believe this is the 155th day of the coronavirus having an impact on our daily lives. I never would have thought or believed that when the quarantine began 155 days ago, that we would still be dealing with the virus.  Our daily lives have changed dramatically.  Our world looks different.  My children were supposed to return to the classroom this fall...but distance based learning will continue.  Last March, I would never have predicted we would continue online learning at the beginning of the new school year.  But here we are.  Here we all are.  

There isn't one person that hasn't been affected by this virus.  That thought is both comforting and unbelievable.  Never in my lifetime did this possibility ever enter my mind.  Despite the changes, and masks, and social distancing, and mandates and new rules...life continues on.  My dear readers...since life goes on even during the craziest of times, this is my attempt to catch you up on the goings on of life in our Dahlhouse.  Enjoy.

Let's start with the littlest Dahl.  Matthew is nearly 4.5 years old.  Wait...he is 4.5 years old today!  Crazy.  He is my little ray of sunshine, my sweet buddy and shadow...that is unless dad is around.  Then, I don't exist.  He has finally fully potty trained, even at night.  Bless! He continues to be obsessed with trains and vehicles.  Our house is one big area for building railroad tracks...upstairs, downstairs, tables, couches, under furniture, down the stairs...doesn't matter.  If there is open space, Matthew sees an opportunity to conduct his little trains all around the tracks.  He is at the age where he is looking for validation and feedback from adults.  So it seems every two seconds, "Hey mom, look at __________."  I respond to him and then the next five seconds, "Mom look at this cool railroad track," or "Mom are you proud of me?"  He has really began verbalizing and expressing himself where anyone can understand now.  In early September we have an appointment for another evaluation for feeding therapy at a new clinic.  I still feel there is work to be done in this area.  I have promised myself that I wasn't going to worry or "borrow trouble" over the lack of variety in his food choices during the coronavirus.  But, I would be lying if I didn't mention that those thoughts exist in the back of my mind. 

The littlest Dahl lady is our regular comic relief.  I continue to write down all the amazingly humorous comebacks she has.  Bella enjoys helping me around the kitchen, jumping on the trampoline and playing with her best friend on our street.  I am so thankful that she has a sweet friend to play with.  I often find them creating elaborate stories and worlds for their dolls.  It makes me smile as I eavesdrop on their conversations.  I am so glad they just get to be kids right now, even in the midst of a pandemic.  Bella has been very artistic and dabbling in just about every form of art medium there is.  She has also taken to rearranging her room four to five times since March (just like her mama).  

Grace is our in house baker and has been making the most delicious baked goods.  Snickerdoodles, brownies, banana bread, cowboy cookies, no bake cookies, rice crispy treats.  She is amazing.  Grace is very into Kpop these days (Korean pop music) like most of her friends.  She enjoys her group of girl friends and I am so thankful that they have been able to get together more and hangout.

Luke has spent a lot of time learning the ways of Minecraft.  I enjoy hearing his conversations from downstairs while he is playing with his friend.  Well...mostly.  My boy can be LOUD!  Every so often from the family room I hear Luke upstairs yell, "Yaaaaaa.....let's GOOOOOO!"  or "I need help, I need help, I need help."  It makes me smile.  Luke and I have played a lot of board games.  Currently, Sequence is our fav.  I think I am on a winning streak right now.  I do not go easy on my kids when it comes to games.  Lol.  We've also dabbled in a bit of Monopoly too.  

Mark has been working tirelessly for BNSF.  He will celebrate his 16th year with his company in October.  After nearly two years working the road and traveling with the trains, he is coming back to the yard to work a predictable schedule and have set days off.  It is time.  We all miss him terribly and the weird, unpredictable hours have been more difficult for him.  Also, with this year going to be distance learning for awhile with four kids, Mark's help will be extremely valuable.  He looks forward to doing projects, hunting and fishing and finally being able to ride his motorbike.  I am so, so grateful for his hard work for our family.

I have been keeping things together here at the Dahlhouse, or at least attempting to.  I started a new independent contractor position with a company called Outschool.  It's been amazing so far.  I am writing and creating classes and teaching them via Zoom.  It has been awesome to not have to get up at 4:00am and also get to tap into my creative side.  I'll be scaling back some of my classes this fall because I have to make certain that I am fully available for my kids and their distance learning schedules.  I continue to go to my weekly therapy sessions with my counselor.  I am so thankful to have someone to help with my mental health during this time of the Coronavirus.  I am certainly not ashamed to say hey, "I need help."  It makes me a better mom, a better wife, a better friend and a better version of myself.  

As we begin gearing up for fall, I am reminded that this season of pandemic will end.  It will not be forever.  I am holding onto that thought, and believing for brighter days ahead.

Coronavirus: Railroad Wife Edition (Day 66)

Someone asked me the other day, “when is Mark going to be on a “normal” Work schedule again?”  Oh if I had a dollar for every time I have been asked that in the last 18 months!  LOL.  I wish I had answer and knew.  Believe me...there is no one who wants that more than this girl right here.  I think the best answer I can give to that question is when I decide to go back to work as a teacher.  Even part time teaching would be enough money for Mark to work in the train yard instead of traveling on the trains.  The train yard equals a set schedule with set days off.  You see...I had this plan...we had this plan.  I have worked all school year on taking the necessary requirements to renew my teaching license.  I finally finished this past month and submitted all the necessary documentation to the state. But as we all know...the coronavirus is here and has disrupted all our lives.  They really aren’t hiring any teachers right now. Ive applied for a few jobs, but have heard nothing.  VIPKid has decided to cut teacher pay across the board starting August 1. Finally, I had enough bad news and called my mom yesterday and just let it all out (vented, cried, laughed...all the emotions).  Now...we just wait.  

What is it like to live an “on call” schedule with a family?  Mark works for the BNSF Railway as a train conductor.  He has been doing various positions within the company for the past almost 16 years.  My favorite position was when he mentored in Kalama, WA, and my least is him working the “road” or traveling with the train to Pasco and back.  

We have learned to exist in this place where we literally cannot plan anything ahead of time.  Everything, except for his vacation weeks, is done last minute.  Birthday parties, dates, meeting with friends, making appointments, holidays, school events, etc. is all decided last minute.  For example, last week was my birthday and mom is wanted to plan a BBQ.  Mark decided to take some personal leave days last week so we could make plans to celebrate my birthday, otherwise it would have been up to the railroad gods what would have happened.  Mom is great about being flexible and making things work too.  

Sometimes I am relaxed and go-with-the-flow and sometimes I HATE it so much.  It is difficult to not be able to plan, And it is also difficult to know exactly how long he has off between trips.  Mark gets a specific amount of “rest time” before they can call him again.  Sometimes Mark can predict when he will get his call for work, and sometimes he is way wrong.  The phone can ring at anytime day or night.  Many nights he kisses me goodbye at 2am, 4am etc.  We just never know.  

Mark and I are planners.  We want to plan.  We want to go out with friends.  But sometimes it just doesn’t work out.  Ive learned to be okay with it mostly, although some days it gets to me (like everyone else).  Ive learned to live in the space of the unknown and needing to be flexible.  When Mark leaves for a trip to Pasco he is usually gone 36 to 48 hours (occasionally sometimes more).  I am on my own.  I have learned to be more self-reliant.  I have fixed vacuums, rescued toddlers from locking themselves in bedrooms, repaired broken trains, fixed TVs, navigated tire rotation, emergency trips to the ER, and I am sure a zillion other little things.  I manage the house, the kids, the bills, the appointments and everything else. 

In the beginning of our marriage Mark worked for a high voltage electrical testing and maintenance company.  I would often spend days and weeks on my own as the company traveled to different work sites.  I think the longest trip apart we had was a little over one month.  He traveled to Texas and then Ohio.  I learned to be independent and self reliant.  It is more different now with kids.  I navigate the physical, emotional and now educational needs of these fabulous four kiddos.  Most days go by in a blur.  Me moving from one task to the next in a kind of choreographed dance.  From dressing, cooking, potty training, and Zoom meetings...to wiping floors, tables and sticky hands...to managing medicine, appointments and behavior...to cleaning toddlers and toilets, clothes and floors.  And before I know it finally to drop into bed at night only to rise in the morning and do it all over again.  

I am not really sure where I am going with this post only to say parenting is hard.  Whether single parenting or both partners together, foster parenting, grandparents raising kiddos...caretaking is hard work.  We all face our challenges, especially in this time of pandemic.  Carry on my fierce friends...we got this!

Week #10 @ The Dahlhouse: Vegas Vacation & Grace's 13th Birthday

I now have another teenager in the house!  Grace recently celebrated her 13th birthday.  She had a wonderful Saturday where her and her friend hung out together, got pedicures, dinner and a movie.  I sure enjoyed my time with them (even if I was the mom and the money).

On her actual birthday, I took her balloons, Krispe Kreme donuts and lunch to school for her.  She was very happy.  I enjoy her company, her heart for caring for little ones and her sense of humor.  She challenges me, but in a good way, and I pray we keep laughing together through these upcoming teenage years.

The very next morning, Mark and I got up very early, headed to the airport and flew off to Vegas.  We take an annual vacation just the two of us and I look forward to it all year.  Last year was Honolulu Hawaii, and this year Las Vegas.

This year was even more special because my brother and sis-in-law joined us.  Whenever the four of us are together we seriously have the best time!  Having never been to Vegas before, my brother pulled out all the stops and I was blown away by his creativity and generosity.  It was nice to have long talks with Katie and not be interrupted by little people who wanted her attention as much as me.

Every time anyone needed to use the restroom, we would return to a scene such as the one above.  "When in Vegas...right?"  We were joking by the end of the trip asking, "How much did that bathroom break cost?"  Lol.

I felt dwarfed in this huge city (both in height and personality).  It was amazing to take in the lights, color, sounds and yes...even smells.  Ok...maybe not so much amazingness in the smells, but I am now able to correctly identify the individual smells of sewer, cigarettes and marijuana.  

My brother is the literally the best.  We fought like crazy when we were growing up.  I never wanted him in my room, around me, or touching any of my things.  But now, even though he is younger, I look up to him.  He is a very accomplished business man, and extremely successful.  However, he is humble and generous and oh how I wish we lived closer.  I appreciate his candor and ability to call something like it is.  He doesn't beat around the bush, and is quick to the point.  This past week, he opened the world up a little wider to me.  Me...a stay at home mama whose weekly outings are a grocery store, therapy and if I am lucky Target.  And there is nothing wrong with any of those things, but I appreciated the culinary skills of the chefs who made the most amazing food I have ever eaten, the art work in the Bellagio, music in the Venetian, and the acrobats who performed the most mind boggling show I have ever seen (Cirque de Soleil: KA).

To be able to have an uninterrupted conversation with Mark is a gift in of itself.  We normally either pause to pick up the conversation at a later time, or talk over the loud circus we have going on in our home at times.  What a gift to have all the attention and not have to share.  I will be treasuring this trip for a very long time.

The Bellagio had some of their amazing Chinese New Year decorations still displayed.  Even though the main display was "dark" the week that we were in Las Vegas, I was able to enjoy the symbols of Chinese New Year that I have come to know and love.  And all the red lanterns!!!  It was a sight to see.

At Bally's I won big...big for me!  I decided video poker is my calling in terms of Casino games.  Haha.  I did manage to get 4 Queens and walked away with $75 dollars.

I equally enjoyed my time with Katie.  The sister I always wanted.  We laughed so much I was crying at times.  I will never ever forget the cab ride.  Lol.  She is an up lifter and encourager.  I know whenever I need her she is there for me.

The first night we were in Vegas we ate at Morimotos.  My kids and I were avid Iron Chef watchers and he was our favorite.  Luke was just a little bit jealous we were eating there.  The food was amazing!!!  The Hamachi tacos will go down in history as one of the very best appetizers I have ever eaten. And I am usually not a fan of raw fish.

(Sisters at Morimotos)

(It is called, "The Angry Chicken")

(Brothers)

(The two events we attended the first night in Vegas: Morimoto and KA)

David scored us amazing seats at KA!  (Third row).  I could see the sweat pouring off of the performers, and look up and see them flying over us.  I wish I could have taken pictures of the amazing acts, acrobatics, moving stage and flying, but no photography allowed.  At one point, the moving stage went completely vertical and the fight scene that ensued was amazing.  It was as if you were watching it from above, looking down on it.  An amazing experience I will always remember.  

(The world's biggest chandelier at the Cosmopolitan). 

Top Golf at the MGM Grand was another experience organized by my brother.  It did not disappoint.  If you ever have a chance to go and have zero golf experience, GO!  It is like a driving range and bowling morphed into one.

Seriously...the food doesn't stop!

Mark was able to see the race trucks/cars/bikes that were getting ready to race the Mint 400.  He had been looking forward to this for a very long time.  He was happy!

M+M Store.  27 colors of M+Ms.  I had no idea.

Another amazing dinner was had at Capo's.  An Italian eatery and speakeasy.  Seriously you guys...you entered from a side door and they opened a smaller slider door so you could only see their face and ask you what the password is!  So.much.fun.  High backed red booths and mobsters photographs adorned the walls in the restaurant.  A magician came to our table and entertained us with his magic and baffled my husband who was trying to figure out how he could do these tricks.

I found the cupcake ATM machine, because seriously we watch Food Network and I had to try cupcakes from the Sprinkles bakery.  The cupcake did not disappoint and was probably the best cupcake I had ever eaten before in my life.

No trip is ever complete without a visit to In and Out Burger.

Overall, our trip to Las Vegas was everything I was hoping it would be and more.  I was so thankful to have that time with Mark and David and Katie.  We came home to very happy children and very clean home (thanks to my amazing mother).  I want to learn how to clean like her when I grow up.  The kids did very well while we were gone.  So did my mom.  So thankful to my village that steps in and helps.  I love that others root for our relationship. 

I am still adjusting to this weeks realities which have included: dental appointments, an IEP meeting, therapy and speech therapy, vomiting children, cooking and cleaning.  I find myself reliving the past week over and over again in my head.  Or having thoughts such as, "last week at this time I was.....".  However, mostly, I am just thankful.  So very, very thankful.