A little quarantine doesn't hurt, does it?

 I was being a good neighbor.   I check on my widowed 85 year old neighbor every once in a while because all four of her children live out of state - and she is alone.  Her son lives in California, her three daughters live in Florida.  She has lived in this condo over 20 years, from what I understand, moving into it with her husband who passed away I think 4-5 years ago, but I'm not sure.  And that doesn't matter.  Anyway, since she has no one, I try to check on her occasionally.

My daughter actually told me the other night 'that is what I love about you, mom, and that is you always look out for the older people who need help.' (or something like that.)  Made me think of Aunt Mae and Aunt Sue who I tried to help out on occasion.  Especially Aunt Sue.  She had no problem asking me to do stuff for her, even driving from Mesa all the way to her place here in Sun City - which ended up often being a 2 hour drive just to help her balance her check book and pay her bills, do her dishes, clean her house.

Anyway, I checked on my neighbor I think it was last Thursday to see if I could make her some fresh orange juice.  I had been picking oranges off her trees and juicing them up for her and for us.  I got the decanter and she mentioned that she had not been feeling good all week.  I asked her if she had called her doctor, and she had but didn't get an answer.  She was dizzy at times, she had thrown up after drinking coffee and orange juice (on an empty stomach) and had fixed tea in the afternoon and had spit it up.  I asked her if she had eaten - well, no, she was having trouble breathing so wasn't eating but was trying to drink a little water.  I made the orange juice and took it back to her later that evening.   I told her if she needed anything, to let us know.  Saturday I made chicken noodle soup and took some over to her.  

I always wear my mask, she wears hers, and we stand about six feet apart except when I hand her the container.

Sunday I took over some grilled chicken, mashed potatoes and steamed veggies because I was concerned she wasn't eating, which could be causing her dizziness.  She said she still had trouble breathing..... but had gotten in her car Sunday and driven to the grocery store cause she needed some food.  She forgot her mask once she got there so had to go to the dollar store and buy a mask so that she could go into the grocery store.  I chewed her out for going out when she was dizzy and not breathing well, telling her if she needed anything we could get it for her.

Tuesday I made potato soup (I think I'm getting my days mixed up) and was planning our usual girls night out with my daughter (granddaughter was taking baby in for shots so wasn't coming)  when we got the phone call around noon for us to take her to the ER.  She finally had gotten ahold of her doctor and they said to just go to the ER and get some tests done.  So I told my boss I was taking some time off and drove her to the hospital ER about 5 miles or so away.  We both wore our masks, she wore gloves and a jacket.  I actually thought she was doing better, but she said she was still having trouble breathing.  I drop her off - never making physical contact but allowing her to get in and out of the car.  When I got home, got the disinfecting wipes and cleaned out her side of the car, the car handle etc.  Around 4:30 she called and said she could be picked up, so I went and got her.  Again, she got in and out by herself, we both were wearing our masks, etc.  

You know where this is going, don't you?  I really didn't think she had COVID, and all she complained about was not breathing well - she's a tiny Hungarian woman with a heavy accent - and I was just doing what a neighbor should do.  And like I said, we were using the masks and there was no helping her in and out of the car, she did it on her own.  The hospital only gave her inhalers to use as needed.

Well, she called us last night to tell us she tested positive for COVID.  That really messes us my plans for the week.  Last night we were meeting some friends for dinner.  In fact, we were getting ready to head out when she called.  So I called our friends and explained it to them and left it up to them if we would still meet.  I'm feeling fine.  Hubby was never around her.   We went to dinner, kept our distance across the table, and didn't hug.

Today is my daughter's 52nd birthday and we had been invited over for her birthday dinner her daughter is to prepare for her.  I was to bring the salad and cake.  I sent my daughter a text last night after dinner and explained what we had found out..... and cancelled on her.   She understood and was glad that we were cancelling as the baby would be there too.  I certainly don't want to take any chances should I have picked up the bug somehow.

Tomorrow I was to have lunch with my boss and two doctors I used to work with.  We have planned this for two weeks.  I'm going to send them an email today and bail out on them too.  Sunday hubby is speaking at one of the RV parks, and I told him I am bailing on that too.  I'll see this through next week to make sure I'm not carrying anything.

In fact, I told him - and I knew he wasn't going to like it at all - I was going to sleep in the other bedroom.  If he wasn't speaking on Sunday and would be staying home, I wouldn't worry so much about it.  BUT, he is and will be around other people.  So I sleep in this room last night and slept very well.  Of course, in spite of his snoring when I got up in the middle of the night... he will tell me he didn't sleep well. LOL  

SO - you knew where this was going because of the title, I'm sure.  I helped our neighbor, and I'm glad I was able to do that, but I have obviously been exposed to COVID.  The closest we got was my handing her food and her riding in my car to and from the ER. 

We know to watch our temperatures to make sure they don't go up.  I've felt fine, although my coffee this morning made me feel a little nauseous but sometimes it does after I take my vitamins so I am not worried about that.  Coffee still tastes like Hazelnut - which is what I got for Christmas.  My taste buds are good. :-)  No fever ;-) those are good signs.  

I'm one of these people 'don't tell me I"m sick'.....  I will eat us out of house and home just to prove I'm doing just fine!  In fact, I'm thinking bacon and eggs for breakfast would be good... except hubby is still giving up bacon for the fast.... I'm doing the facebook fast this week... it hasn't been that hard, really.  I check the alerts occasionally and if someone has a birthday I will send a note, but I don't scroll.  I'm sure I've missed some important things... haha - but I don't lose an hour or so just scrolling.

It's about time to get to work so need to go get dressed.  At least I had something to share this morning.  I'm quarantined (my choice) for at least another week (I haven't been out other than going to the neighbors until last night in probably over a week).  I figure if I haven't shown any signs of sickness within another week, I should be ok, right?

But in the meantime, no birthday dinner, no lunch with my boss and friends, and no in-person church.  Oh well.  I'll probably stay home from girls night next week too, just in case.  Always better to be safe - than sorry.

Say a prayer for me that I won't get sick, please.  Hubby will quarantine me for a month if I am!  But the thermometer is handy and we're checking both of us for temps.  I wonder if I could use this as an excuse to take a nap in the middle of the day - instead of fighting it as I usually do?  I love taking naps.... just saying.  LOL

Take care of you - you never know who you are with if they are carrying a bug.  Even a little neighbor who lives alone (I don't know if she has even gone anywhere but seems like she went to church the week before).  I think I'll stay in quarantine for awhile.  sigh.  but it can be a good thing.  As long as I'm feeling ok.

Blessings!