The Hannah Family

This blog is all about us

Who are we?  A family of 14 -- 7 people and 7 pets:  G. Pat is 74, Mark is 54, I'm 51, Matt is 25, Katie is 23, Claire is 15, and Dave is 13.

Katie's pups are Maci and Cage. Our 3 sweet cats are Oreo, Jack and Jill. Chloe is our 1-year-old lab-shepherd-husky mix. Claire's Winter White Dwarf hamster is Ozzie. Never a dull moment around here!

Latest on outbreak

Up to 63 confirmed cases, only 4 are active. Mom's second covid vaccine will be administered on 2/2/21. 

I know this blog is outdated and neglected. I will give it a facelift when I have time. Currently every moment is being consumed with grading and finishing out Quarter 2!

Mom

Rex Covid outbreak is up to 61 cases, only 8 are still active. They are administering the Moderna vaccine Monday. I gave consent for Mom to get it. The second dose is scheduled for February 2. 

Covid update

56 covid positive during this outbreak (19 of these are currently active). The vaccine cannot come fast enough.

Two calls from hospice this morning

Scott called to say he noticed it was Mom’s birthday yesterday, and he misses sitting with her. He also said “Your mom is tough. I have worked for hospice for two years, and your mom is the only patient who has been there the whole time.” I already knew Mom must have broken records for longest continuous hospice patient.

Megan (hospice nurse) called to say she saw Mom. Mom was sitting up in her wheelchair, vitals are stable, everything is the same. It’s sounds unbelievable, but it’s true!

 

 

Mom is 76 today

I will not be permitted to visit as planned. The current covid outbreak includes 51 infected, but suddenly the facility says only 14 are active so that sounds a lot better!

They will begin vaccinations on my birthday (1/11). Mom remains pain-free, eats about 30% of her spoon-fed meals, and is sleeping even more. I try to be grateful and mostly succeed. Then more and more tears. It’s a soul-sucking chasm in which we’ve been caught, and the release is obviously going to be worse.

4 years ago today

Christmas Eve 2020

I’m missing Mom extra this year even though she is only a few miles away. It’s a relentless tug in my heart of responsibility and worry - doesn’t matter that I’ve done everything possible. I know she’d like to be watching Hallmark movies and football, making phone calls, choosing gifts, wrapping and mailing, complaining about the cost of postage. The loss is always raw, but it’s worse on holidays. 

 

Meanwhile, life marches on. Pat’s last (fabulous) dog was Gretchen, a black lab Peter brought home. This year Matt introduced us to his purebred chocolate Labrador puppy, Layla, who is growing like a weed (4 pounds to 12 pounds in their first month together). Our 3-year-old yellow lab mix, Chloe, is jealous of the baby, but tolerant overall. We’re hoping when Layla returns “full size,” Aunt Chloe will remember and welcome her new niece...

Rex Covid cases

They’re up to 49 positive cases. Obviously no word on when the walled off visitation room will be reopened.

42 positive cases at Rex

Mom is okay, same status.

 I survived my first 3 months of teaching during 2020! Remotely first, then hybrid with a mix of in person and remote. Add in asynchronous days where we have to provide content, but we can’t teach live — with remote learning days where we have to teach remote classes live all day. Covid cases are climbing so we’ll be back to “live remote” for everyone for at least the first half of January. This is a good thing because my 8th graders and I are reading Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in January and February. I need everyone on the same page, so to speak.

 I look forward to going “old school” when it is safe with all my students in the classroom. That’s what I signed up for, borrowed a ton of money for, and so not what I’ve gotten (but I’m in it for the long haul).

 

Latest

40 people positive for Covid at the SNF.

I got Mom recertified for Medicaid.

The hospice chaplain called and said she’s eating a reported 20% to 50% of her spoon-fed meals. Pat is comfortable and sleeping longer than ever.