covid-19

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I tested positive

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An office photo on Thursday, 12/1. My thoughts, “Oy vey!”

The week before last, I was basking in a Thanksgiving stupor of love and good cheer with family and friends. A few days later, on Monday, I woke up with a faint, dull headache. I was scheduled off work, but decided to catch up from the holiday. I work from home anyway, so no big deal.

About 7 hours later, I felt something building up in my respiratory system and decided to call it a day. My husband, Bryan, had been feeling sick since Sunday. I went to bed early and actually got 9+ hours of sleep. I worked again on Tuesday, but only about 6 hours. Good thing I stocked up on over the counter medications because I decided to take a dose of a generic Nyquil. A COVID-19 test reported a negative result. But things got really interesting early Wednesday morning.

Rewind to the Monday before Thanksgiving. It was my first time attending an in-person, all day conference in almost 3 years. It was a leadership conference at a hotel, targeted for women in Texas state government. I was so excited to be around so many other influential women and practice some of what I learned with my team. On Tuesday, I worked and at some point at the start of my day, my son, Caleb, asked me to help him find the thermometer because he was feeling sick. He said he had been coughing all night and didn’t feel well. I told him to mask up until his symptoms subsided. He had a slight fever and against my advise, decided to go to work. He said he had to go because other people were calling in sick.

A few hours later, I heard Caleb’s voice and learned from Bryan that Caleb’s boss sent him home. We reminded him to wear masks around us and he went on to stay in his room the rest of that day. It was the next day, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, while I was in the grocery store stocking up on medications I thought to call Caleb to tell him to take a COVID-19 test. Admittedly, it didn’t occur to me to ask him to test until I was talking to a friend. When I got home, he said he took it and the result was negative.

On the following Wednesday after Thanksgiving, I was awakened to uncontrollable chills, weakness in my joints, and a pounding headache. I could barely lift myself off the toilet when I went to the restroom. I decided not to work though I signed into my laptop for a few minutes to notify my boss and team I would be out sick. I stayed in bed the whole day, napping mostly in the morning. The chills only occurred one time in the early morning. The headache refused to subside until hours later, even despite medications. The weakness steadily improved.

I woke up groggy Thursday morning, but felt much better than Wednesday. My nose was stuffy and generally felt like I had a cold. After texting with my siblings and learning two of my nieces, my great niece, and my brother in law in Chicago tested positive, I decided to do the COVID-19 test again and WHOILA! The result was positive. Since my symptoms felt more like a cold, I proceeded to work in my office for most of the day. I went to bed early and did it again on Friday.

Both Bryan and Caleb took the test (Caleb twice) and their results were negative. I’m doubtful I’m the only one in the house who has/had COVID-19 and am convinced Caleb brought it in the house. However, I had been out in public a few days before Thanksgiving too. I let our friends know so they could be aware. And actually, the Friday after Thanksgiving my friend let me know her husband was sick, but with none of the symptoms we ended up having. Our symptoms didn’t start until days later. I’ve been quarantining since the positive result last Thursday and have since taken two more tests, both were positive.

My natural instinct is to try to figure out how I got it, but it really doesn’t matter. My main concern now is recovering and making sure I don’t pass this on so we are not playing a game of hot potato with this virus. Bryan has been sleeping on the couch which has been the hardest because we are each other’s cuddle buddy. It feels weird being separate in the same house. Elise doesn’t come near me. She’s been masking up in the house and walks around with disinfectant wipes. Caleb has a lingering cough and is the most reckless among us. We told him he needs to go to a drive through clinic tomorrow.

For the past almost 3 years, I’ve wondered if the fate of most would be to eventually catch the virus. Now that I got it, I do think it’s a bummer especially not knowing the long term effects considering my medical history. However, I’m thankful my symptoms are mild, which I attribute to the vaccines. My doctor also gave me a pneumonia and flu shot in September. It all helps.

In the mean time, I will retire to bed early tonight. I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

Let me know if you or someone you know had the virus and what the symptoms were like.

Bryan being the trooper that he is! Nights without my cuddle buddy is the worst.

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Am I the only one exhausted?

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It’s been 17 weeks since I’ve been teleworking and I’m exhausted. Don’t get me wrong, I actually love working from home. However, it comes with some unexpected adjustments.

The dry erase board outside of my office 3/18/2020

Little did I know when I wrote this on my board on March 18, 2020 that on July 16, 2020, I’d still be teleworking. At the time, my agency indicated telework was voluntary. Because I’m in the high risk category due to my breast cancer history and current treatment, I decided I would telework most of the week and work from the office once or twice a week. As COVID-19 updates were rapidly changing, by Friday March 20, 2020, telework was no longer an option. It was mandatory.

Beignet and Cannoli – my office mates. LPC

You may be wondering why I took the picture of my dry erase board before I left to venture on this teleworking escapade. Well, I actually took the picture in mid-May, after a 2 month absence. My laptop crashed so I had to meet with IT at one of the state buildings. It was a great opportunity to stop at my office and pick up a few things. Who knew I’d be so excited to wear my work badge again.

My baby orchid on my desk was still alive! LPC

So what are the adjustments I’ve made for teleworking? For starters, the fact that my world has been turned upside down (slight exaggeration) with the increased utilization of every virtual platform known to man (slight exaggeration) has erupted my senses (no lie).

At my agency (state government), we are authorized to use about 3 virtual platforms. Some of the platforms out there lack the security needed to protect our information, particularly pertaining to the vulnerable populations we serve.

Though I think it’s very cool that state government is finally embracing the tools of the 21st century (insert sarcasm), it’s a lot of work for my senses. My team connects with me in multiple ways throughout the day, every day: instant message, email, virtual, and text. Add in the fact that I work longer hours and am required to participate in more meetings, you’ve got an exhausted Lucrece on your hands!

Beignet expressing my exact sentiments. LPC

I attribute the decrease in writing on my blog to this exhaustion. There is so much going on in the world right now with the COVID-19 pandemic and racial unrest that it’s no wonder I’m exhausted. This is a time for self-compassion.

Here are some benefits of teleworking:

  • Traffic stress evaporated
  • Time to exercise daily
  • Close proximity to my family
  • Mid-day snuggles from my cats
  • Safety of home
  • Easy accessibility to my team and bosses
  • No fuss about clothing  or shoes
  • Wear shorts and comfy bottoms almost daily
  • No unsolicited office snacks like donuts, cookies, and cakes

It was surreal going to the office in May because it was empty…as if time stood still. All the files, file cabinets, boxes, and shelves of just “stuff” that we thought we needed in the office, but ended up not needing when told to vacate. That alone can be a blog post in itself…a post about “stuff” we don’t need, but think we do. On that note, stay tuned for a future blog post about all the organizing I’ve been doing to keep track of all my “stuff”.

To my surprise, the plants in my office were still alive so I took them home. A little while back, maybe about a year and a half ago, I made a picture board outside my office of favorite moments with my team. I went to the local craft store to get some supplies and had pictures I took with them developed. While at my office in May, I stopped to look at their faces on the board. I remembered the lunch outings, birthday parties, and other activities. Although I see them everyday virtually, I do miss seeing them in person.

I occassionally create a space in the daily “huddles” with my team to discuss how people are feeling in the midst of current events. The flooding of news and information can take a toll on each of us. I think acknowledging it is a step towards reducing anxiety. People need an outlet to discuss these things. In this time of “social distancing”, it can feel isolating for many people. It’s important to have meaningful connections whenever we can.

Cannoli. LPC

Thankfully, I’m on STAYcation this week, making time to unplug from work and get some rejuvenation. Since my mom passed away on July 8, 2017, I’ve  taken time off from work around the anniversary of her passing. This year I decided to take a whole week off and I’ve inserted some additional time off in the next few months. This is called self-care.

Stay tuned for more blog posts. That’s my self-care too.

How are things in your neck of the world? What are you doing to cope?

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Quarantine 5, 10, 15…

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I’m trying to decide if I’m worried about the 3-5 pounds I’ve picked up since quaranteening. It’s been about 9 weeks since I’ve been teleworking and I’m not moving around as much as I used to working at an office.

I adjusted my Fitbit step goal weeks ago because I just couldn’t retain a high amount of steps when I’m moving around in this small space as opposed to a 3-story, government building with large parking lots and hallways.

Because I weigh myself a few times a week (used to be daily), it’s been one of my strategies to keep my weight in check. If the scale teeters upward for over a week, I adjust my food intake and exercise regimen. However, I’ve learned over the years, it’s much easier to control your food intake rather than trying to burn off the extra calories, especially as you get older. I also can’t overlook that I’m on a new steroid medication to help my lungs. This could be contributing to extra pounds.

It’s no wonder that I’ve become more lax in my food choices with all that’s going on in the world as COVID-19 is at the forefront of everything. I know I’m not the only one. We did celebrate a big take out, Italian feast for Mother’s Day. I’ve been generally eating more convenience type foods like fish nuggets from Trader Joe’s and Panko breaded shrimp from Costco.

My family can’t get enough of my homemade chocolate chip cookies. It’s comfort food and I think most everyone’s heart and soul needs comfort right now.

Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. LPC

So I got on the scale this morning and it was up a little. My weight tends to fluctuate daily, which is why I stopped weighing myself daily. However, I’ve noticed an upward trend. I decided to do some meal prep today and tend to focus on vegan and vegetarian foods if my weight increases in the slightest. Meal prep helps me set myself up for success because I still struggle with taking breaks during the day to eat since I’ve been teleworking. I’ll share a couple of meals I prepared this weekend.

Turkey chorizo egg muffins. LPC
Turkey chorizo egg muffins ready for the oven. LPC
Sauteed turkey chorizo…my 1st time trying. LPC

I was inspired to make the chorizo variety from the Pioneer Woman herself- Ree Drummond from the Food Network. I’ve made what I call “lil egg muffins” many times in the past using whatever ingredients I have. I knew I could remake this for way less money than the frozen item and I knew it would be delicious. I also chose to use turkey chorizo instead of pork which helps with the calories.

I tend to be low in protein and iron, so these egg muffins will be a great protein snack I can quickly warm up in between my back to back meetings.

Fennel Lentil soup. LPC

This soup is one of my ALL-TIME favorite soups to make and it’s VEGAN. I’ve posted pictures of it in previous posts. Soup is so comforting to me. This one will fill me up without lots of calories. I’m getting plenty of iron from the lentils and spinach.

Baked sweet potato, broccoli, sauteed onions and fried plaintain. LPC

Sunday’s brunch was a vegetarian play on the steak dinner I made last night. It would be vegan if it weren’t for the parmesan I sprinkled on the broccoli when I baked it earlier in the week.

Thin cut New York strip steak with sauteed onions, rice and peas with fried plaintain. LPC

I’ve restarted menu planning a couple of weeks ago mostly because we are well stocked on groceries and I want us to use them. I don’t cook Haitian foods often although it’s in my blood, so I decided to devote at least one day a week to Haitian cuisine. Rice and beans is a Haitian staple.

I made a special trip to the grocery store to purchase steak since I’ve been craving it. This could be a sign my body needs the iron so I listened. Saturday night’s steak dinner was delicious.

Marinade for two different types of steak.

A fresh marinade I tend to whip quickly in my mini food processor is fresh parsley, lots of garlic, lemon, green onion, a hot pepper of sort, extra virgin olive oil, and salt and pepper. You can use this marinade with any protein, but it’s especially good with chicken.

Sunday small portion dinner: steak, plaintains, and premade salad kit. LPC
Roasted garlic parmesan carrot fries. LPC

My husband misunderstood when I asked him to pick up carrots from Costco. He got me two large bags of baby carrots when I asked for just carrots. The expiration date was upon me, so I had to do something because I was tired of eating raw carrots. The carrot fries were good, but I think they would be better with a dip, which I haven’t found a recipe that peaks my interest yet. I’ll keep looking.

I think I have a solid plan for food this week. The only thing is my birthday is in a few days and I know what’s on the menu. I’d like to celebrate without worry. My plan is to stick to my healthy options the other days of the week and then splurge a little on my birthday. I’ll talk about exercise in a different post. I’ve been experimenting with various exercise platforms for a few weeks and it’s been fun!

Am I worried about the few extra pounds? I am a little, but in the big scheme of themes, my life is great because I’m healthy, happy, and loved by the people who matter. I’m being proactive and that’s what matters.

How are you coping? What’s one healthy habit you’re committed to doing every day?

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Blessings abound

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Even in the midst of a pandemic, blessings abound. I’m approaching my 8th week of telework already and it has been an adjustment. Yet, my stress from the work commute is zero. I’ve been meeting some work related goals such as hiring another brilliant person to my team. My family and I have been spending unprecidented amounts of time together without being at each other’s throats. My son got hired at Walmart about a month ago. I feel loved, safe, and healthy. I’m actually reluctant to return to the office whenever that is and my agency is definitely in the planning stages.

My husband, Bryan, and I have had our share of hardship over the years, but particularly since 2016. We have serious battle scars, so as I’ve indicated in previous posts, this pandemic pales in comparison to what we’ve been through. Hell, I even took the COVID-19 test and never worried about the results. We were so thrilled when we received the FABULOUS news that Bryan’s social security disability was finally approved after two years since he applied.

Bryan’s social security disability hearing with an administrative law judge was held in March… right when COVID-19 was solidifying itself as a global pandemic. I think it’s cruel for a person to be forced to wait so long (years) to get results. When I worked at an outpatient mental health clinic years ago, I saw my clients struggle with housing, food, and health issues as they waited on disability. On some level, I’m assured that the government doesn’t just grant it to whoever who asks. You have to prove you need disability. It is what it is and ours was approved during a time when many people are living through very tough financial circumstances due to COVID-19.

I’ve financially supported my household solely for almost 3 years. I would be lying if I didnt tell you it was a struggle at times, especially in the last 6 months. It did force us to be very careful about spending and stick to a budget. We’ve accumulated so many medical bills due to both of our health issues. After a while my credit score began to suffer, but I knew in January 2020 things would get a little worse before they got better. That didn’t stop me from making a plan. See my previous posts about my 2020 financial goals.

I’m so grateful to have been able to support my family and will continue to do so. Bryan’s social security disability determination puts an end to the waiting, wondering, and stressing. A huge weight has been lifted from Bryan’s shoulders more so than mine. I also find the news bitter sweet because it confirms he has a disability, but we’ve known this and are coping with it just fine. Now, Bryan gets to put this process behind him and plan what his future will be.

This past week was one of the best weeks for us in a long time because we were able to pay off some debt, add to our savings, and gift funds to our family. We did make a few purchases. The gifting was the most exciting part. We also tithed to our church. On top of that, on Thursday, my boss told me I received a raise (without asking)!!!

And the ultimate activity that almost took me over the edge on Friday was telling a few members on my team that they would be getting raises, unbeknownst to them. They were so surprised and one told me her spouse had been impacted by COVID-19, so the raise was shocking and much appreciated. I was grateful I had a window of opportunity a couple of months back to make this happen for them.

I wasn’t sure about posting this message because I never want it to seem as if I’m tooting my own horn. I struggle with embracing the good in my life with humility. If you get anything out of my message, I hope it’s that with patience, faith in God, positive action, and perseverance, you can get through just about anything. Just keep moving forward.

How have you been coping? What blessings have you seen come out of this pandemic?

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Sometimes things get worse before they get better

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I type this post as I lay in bed awakening from a nap on this lazy Sunday afternoon. I rolled over and felt the urge to share my progress. If you read my previous post, you know on Monday, 4/13/2020, a nurse called to tell me I did not have COVID-19. SWEET! That news was relieving although I was not surprised. By Friday, 4/17/2020, I had spoken to 2 more nurses and my primary doctor because I was miserable and not feeling any relief in symptoms despite taking a full regimen of antibiotics and prescription cough medicine.

Esperanza plant. LPC

I want to be as perky and bright as the beautiful bells of my Esperanza plant… I’m not there yet. Yellow is one of favorite colors. The dress in the cover photo is one of only a few pieces of yellow clothing I own. Yellow is my go-to color when I want a pick me up and I need one right now more than ever.

I bought the Esperanza plant because it was planted all over the property of a beautiful house one of my best friends rented for us in Wimberly a few Father Day’s ago. Wimberly, located just outside of Austin, is considered the “Hill Country” and it has a woodsy, lush, and lazy charm. We spent the weekend with my husband and kids, my friend, her niece and nephew, and her parents.

I’m thankful to have pleasant memories such as those to dwell on and perk up my spirits. I think I’m on the way to the other side of this thing called bronchitis, but not without more medications.

Advair inhaler

I haven’t seen the likes of this device since my son, Caleb, was first diagnosed with asthma years ago. His medications have since evolved to different types of inhalers. I’m grateful Caleb’s asthma is under control, but because of his asthma, he would be considered high risk for contracting COVID-19. I worry about him as he goes to work at the Walmart near our home. However, he’s given personal protective equipment on his shifts and tells me he washes his hands often.

I never imagined one day I’d be taking the same medications Caleb used to for his asthma. I haven’t been diagnosed with asthma, but I have significant upper respiratory inflammation. I tend to be conservative with medication and prefer natural remedies where applicable, but I need some relief. I’m not sure if I’ve noticed a change yet since using the inhaler for 2 days. I do feel a little better as my doctor also prescribed another medication for the cough.

I’ve been telling myself it is necessary for me to take care of myself and I shouldn’t feel guilty because I’m sick. I do struggle with the demands of my job, especially when I’m not at my best. I took off work Friday afternoon and I’m still not sure if I will work tomorrow. I know my husband, Bryan, would prefer I take off another day. I will see how I feel in the morning.

The main things I’m doing right now to get better are listening to my body, taking my medications, drinking lots of liquids, continuing to eat healthy, exercising, resting, and being comforted by my loved ones. If you’re in a similar situation, I recommend this regimen for you too. As with this whole COVID-19 pandemic, sometimes things get worse before they get better. One day this will be behind us and the world will be better. I’ll be better soon too.

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Self-Care 101: Lotion Up

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Who else has dry hands due to the constant hand washing and hand sanitizing? And who else neglects to moisturize those hands after getting them all squeaky clean? With COVID-19, now more than ever we need to be vigilant about personal hygiene, but I’m not complaining. I’m here to remind you that self-care is as simple as lotioning up.

I’m guilty of washing my hands frequently throughout the day and then wonder why my fingers look like PRUNE STICKS hours later. I have no excuse either because I have lotions tucked away all over the house. I love the feeling of moisturizing my skin with a luxious, rich lotion after my nightly shower or bath. The lotion PLUMPS my parched skin back to life.

I’ve tried all kinds of lotions for my different body parts. The lotions/creams pictured are my favorite at the moment, but it could change next month. My full body is represented with these products from my lips (Eos), to my face (Andalou Naturals), to my to hands (Meyer’s Clean Day), to my body (Nivea), and to the heels of my feet (Shea Moisture Shea Butter and Vaseline).

I do have some other lotions not pictured. Anybody remember Avon’s Skin So Soft (SSS)??? My mom used to “sell” Avon products. I think she was more interested in getting products for her daughters and herself rather than “selling”‘ for a profit. When my mom was last in Austin over 3 years ago, she left me a tube of SSS for the hands. It’s in the junk drawer in the kitchen. Do lotions have a shelf life?

I’ve had a long history of dry skin. I’m no dermatologist, but I believe brown skinned people are more susceptible to dry skin. I learned early on from my mom the importance of skin moisturization although I didn’t really take it seriously for my face and hands until I was a young adult in my early twenties.

I love Olay’s slogan of “love the skin you’re in”. This one body is working hard to keep you strong, healthy, and alive. It’s magnificent, resilient, and efficient. Love it by keeping it healthy.

Take care of your precious skin. It’s a simple action that goes a long way towards self-care.

What are your favorite moisturizing products?

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COVID-19 Chronicles: Test results are in

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Personally, I find there is so much to be thankful for despite this unprecedented pandemic we’re all forced to deal with at varying capacities. In a previous post, I wrote I was built for this pandemic because as a breast cancer survivor, I’ve experienced the worst news of my life at this point. To top it off my mom passed away within 9 months of my diagnosis and my husband, Bryan, has a chronic illness that blind sighted us all. I’m not one of those people who walk around FLEXing my muscles, but I am pretty strong.

Alive is a good. Thriving is better. When times are hard, being alive might be all you can manage and you can be thankful for that. My heart goes out to all people who have lost their lives to this illness, and for their loved ones who’ve not only lost them, but who can’t properly bury them. My heart also goes out to those recovering. I send my love and light to them and pray they come out on the other side, even stronger.

I never thought I had COVID-19 because of my symptoms, BUT I’m relieved knowing my test results came back negative. The nurse called to deliver the news this morning. There is no doubt my body is actively fighting some kind of illness, but I’m a FIGHTER. I will win and it will pass. In the meantime, I listened to Bryan and took the day off work (most of the day) to rest and recover.

A special thank you to my community of family and friends who’ve sent me warm, kind, and thoughtful words and PRAYERS. I need as many prayers as I can get. I also thank all of the healthcare professionals for the sacrifice and life saving work they are doing every day for all of us.

Be well. Be safe.

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COVID-19 Chronicles: I took the test

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I’ve had a nagging cough for about a week. The cough has been accompanied by aggressive heart palpitations. I’ve been teleworking at home, which means business as usual – meetings all day whether virtual or conference call. The cough has been such a pain, causing me to not finish my sentences without interruption.

I doubled down on the over the counter medicine. For a little while, I thought it was doing something. Then, it got to the point where the cough was interfering with my daily activities such as talking. People were asking me if I was ok. I could see and hear their concerns. My husband, Bryan, wanted me to take off work a couple of days, but I didn’t.

“It’s probably just allergies”, I said more than once to different people, knowing full well I was tested for allergies a few years ago and tests came back negative. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t be sensitive to certain pollens in the air, the doctor had said. It is spring time.

Last Monday, I was miserable, then Tuesday, barely a cough the whole day but my mid-section, all around, was sore. The cough persisted again on Wednesday, progressively getting worse as the day went on. I decided to end my work day early to get some rest. The over the counter medications helped me sleep at night, but the cough and heart palpitations returned with a vengeance on Thursday.

I assured a member of my team that I would likely call my doctor Friday morning if nothing changed. We said our goodbyes for the work day. But I knew nothing would change so I decided to see if I could schedule a doctor’s appointment online. I think everyone else’s concern increased my concern. I’m one of those people who prefer to tough it out, but I could admit it was time for something to be done.

On the online portal, my responses to the questions about my symptoms directed me to call the clinic. I spoke to an after hours nurse at about 6:30 pm or so. Again, I could barely finish my sentences. She trouble shooted some symptoms and said it sounded like I had a bad cold and not COVID-19, but my symptoms warranted a call with the triage nurse. The triage nurse asked me a series of questions. No, I didn’t think I had a fever, but I haven’t been able to check because the sleeves for our ear thermometer are on back order.

The triage nurse gave me the option of seeing a doctor via telemedicine that evening or waiting to see my primary care physician the next day. The pain in my chest, cough, and heart palpitations were becoming unbearable. I knew I had to see someone that evening. My telemedicine appointment was scheduled for 7:30 pm, 40 minutes from then. I could expect a call from another nurse before I met with the doctor. I texted my siblings so they could be aware.

A nurse called me at 7:15 pm, asking me more questions. She assured me the doctor would be calling in a few minutes and that he did. By the time I spoke to the doctor, I had already spoken to 3 nurses and explained my situation each time. He asked about a fever and posed more probing questions about the cough and heart palpitations. He indicated I probably didn’t have COVID-19. He put me on hold for a couple of minutes, came back, and said he would prescribe stronger medication for the cough and a ZPAC. He also said he wanted me to go to the clinic to get the COVID-19 test.

At that point, I decided not to panic and was relieved about getting stronger medications. The clinic was right around the corner and so was my pharmacy. My husband and I put our masks on….pictured and courtesy of my daughter who said she ordered 6 masks (for fashion she said…???) a few YEARS ago (I question her sense of time). I may circle back around to this in a different post. When I’m better, I plan to sew in an extra layer of fabric.

Eerily, there were barely any people out in the shopping center comprised of several businesses, including the clinic, restaurants, and a gym. I was able to walk right up and check in with the lady in full protective gear sitting outside of the clinic. A man was ahead me. We were both instructed to wait. I could wait in my car or outside. I elected to wait outside.

My state of mind was calm, yet I almost couldn’t believe with all that was happening, this COVID-19 would hit so close to home. I was waiting to take the test. I told myself this is a precaution since I have a cancer history. Three of the four people in my household are in the high risk category, including myself. It was still very surreal. The test was brief – a cotton swab swiped in each nostril. I heard the nurse say I should get a call within 24 hours, but I realized later I didn’t hear the rest of what she said about the notification.

Today is Saturday and I still haven’t received a call with the results. I’ve never once panicked. I really don’t think I have COVID-19, but I won’t know for sure until I get the results. I think my immunity has been down from a cold I had in February. I checked online to see how long it takes to receive COVID-19 test results and it showed 2 to 10 days. On my online chart, I could see the doctor diagnosed me with “bronchitis”. In the meantime, my cough hasn’t gotten any better, but I did start the prescription medications yesterday.

The light in all of this is that whether or not I have COVID-19, I will be okay. I’m grateful I was seen by a doctor so quickly. Taking the test was also quick and painless. In a situation like this, I’d rather doctors be over cautious than not. I’m also very thankful that I decided to get this nasty cough checked out and that I have quality health insurance because I know many people don’t.

I’ll keep you all posted on the results. Unfortunately, my husband has been feeling sick today too. I’ve been coughing a lot so it was bound to happen. He decided to sleep downstairs. I pray my kids won’t get sick. Today, I started wearing my bandana as a mask in the house. Although it’s difficult, I’m going to try to get some rest so I can get up to view our church’s Easter service online before my husband and I cook our Easter meal. I also plan to do some cleaning and more resting after that.

If you celebrate, how will you be spending Easter this year?

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Cooking in the midst of ‘shelter in place’

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I was made for this pandemic. As a breast cancer survivor, I believe I’ve already faced the most horrific news anyone could bare. And I survived it along with treatment. As the bread winner in my household for a couple of years, I’ve been diligent about planning our grocery shopping and meals within a budget. We will survive this COVID-19 pandemic.

I’m not gonna lie: it is a little unnerving to see empty shelves at the grocery store. There’s certainly a new normal of buying what you can find. Grocery shopping is like a scavenger hunt now. The brand of flour I like is not on the shelf. In fact, there is no flour on the shelf, except at Costco. Items that you take for granted are gone. Lysol wipes, toilet paper, paper towels, kleenex, hand sanitizer (I barely used the stuff) are the highest commodities right now. Of the items noted, last week I was only able to find paper towels.

Our Grocery Cart at Costco 3-31-2020. LPC

Our grocery shopping strategy was different for April. I decided to do most of my shopping at Costco having gotten a peak at the grocery store shelves in our neighborhood stores. Empty shelves is the theme. I have the storage capacity to stock up on freezer items and pantry staples, so I took advantage. We purchased extra food. I do this type of shopping every month, so it’s not new to me. I’m just thankful I can do it.

For those who follow my site, you know I mostly cook homemade meals. Our household budget doesn’t allow much room for eating out, so we’re not missing much with the restaurants being closed for dining. However, I’m sad for all of the people who have lost their jobs, especially those in the restaurant and hospitality industries. There are many people who have lost their jobs in other industries also.

Chicken salad on naan. LPC
Sunday dinner 4-5-2020: Chunky potato soup and chicken salad. LPC

In uncertain times like these, I hone into doing what brings me joy such as cooking. I love feeding my family. My son asked me last week to make chicken salad. He actually wanted me to buy canned chicken. I was like, “NOOOO!!! Are you kidding me! I don’t make my chicken salad with canned chicken.”

Since I was craving a version of my potato soup with my homemade chicken broth, I decided to kill two birds with one stone. I put a whole chicken in a large pot with water and added aromatics such as garlic, onion, parsley, celery, and spices. I let that boil for almost 24 hours. Then I removed the chicken from the pot, shredded it, and added the shredded chicken to a dressing of mayonnaise, chipotle mustard, pickled jalepenos, yellow bell pepper, diced celery, a dab of relish, and spices.

For the soup, I roasted 2 russet potatoes, broccoli, and carrots. In a stock pot, I sauteed onions, celery, fennel, yellow bell pepper, garlic, in olive oil. I sauteed about 2 tablespoons of flour in the mixture with a pad of butter. Then, I added my fresh chicken broth. I diced up the roasted vegetables and added them to the pot along with fresh parsley. I let that simmer a bit then added about a half cup of cream. I let it all simmer while I did some step aerobics.

Codfish sandwich and homemade french fries. LPC

My daughter’s school was providing free lunches to families a couple of weeks ago because school was out and they didn’t know what to do with the food. At that time, the schools were planning to reopen on 4/6/2020…so they thought. Although my daughter didn’t want to go because she doesn’t like their food, we made her go with us anyway. We explained that there is no shame in getting free food, especially since the school didn’t know what to do with the extra. We went about 2 days. There were other families too.

If you have no other options for food, I can see how this would be a valuable resource. My family ate the food both times that we went. However, we opted to not return. Other families need it more than we do and I’m conscientious of feeding my family more healthy options. I did greatly appreciate the fruit. The bun pictured on my fish sandwich is from one of the school meals. It took a matter of minutes to saute a small portion of cod to make that fish sandwich. It was so good!

In uncertain times such as these, I’m safe, surrounded by the people I love, and have endless options for cooking delicious and filling meals for my family. And I’m full…in more ways than one.

What do you plan on cooking this week? How are you coping?

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Bowls of self-care

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We are living in strange times indeed. The COVID-19 pandemic is one for the history books. The silver lining is we’re being forced as a human race to collectively slow down, which I hope allows for lots of self-care.

My type of self-care is nourishing myself with nutritious foods. Three of the four people in my household are high risk if we somehow catch this virus. I’m focusing on our health.

The epitome of comfort in my book is a bowl of soup.  As I’ve written many times, the activity of cooking is soothing to me. On Friday, while teleworking, I made two nutritious and delicious soups: chicken tortilla and black bean. I let my homemade bone broth simmer for hours. My pantry and freezer staples helped me rise to the occassion.

Black bean soup. LPC

In these coming months, I hope you make time for self-care and whatever that means for you. I’ll continue to cook and share, hoping you get inspired by my recipes and even share some of your self-care ideas with me.

What steps are you making to care for yourself?