COVID-19 found us

We had done our best to avoid it, but the inevitable happened last week, and COVID-19 finally found its way into our home.

My experience

On the Monday night our son complained of a “sore brain” and sore legs, and was running a mild fever. Instantly, we knew we had to test him.

The thing is, there’s a severe Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) shortage in Australia. I won’t get too political, but let’s just say the government cocked it right up. Badly. So basically the tests are extremely hard to find. Thankfully I had done something smart and ordered 3 packs of 2 tests, which we had been hoarding at home for emergency reasons. We had calculated it was enough to test each of us once when we were sure we were positive, and once at the end (at the time you needed one to leave quarantine).

As soon as Luca mentioned his symptoms we broke open a test.

Positive.

Shit.

Two days later I noticed my sinus felt off, and I was a bit more tired than usual. I told my husband my instinct said I was positive. We hadn’t tested ourselves yet because, again, due to the shortage we wanted to wait until we were certain. My symptoms weren’t too bad, but I just knew that I had it.

Once again we ran the test – positive.

After that first night of symptoms, my son had been barely affected. He was a bit moody on the Tuesday, but then he settled and was fine. My husband and I were taking turns working from home while the other took over parenting duties. We were managing to keep things going.

By Thursday I was going downhill. When it was my turn to work I instead went to bed and fell asleep. I napped for a couple of hours, got up and got back to work.

Friday I managed only a couple of hours of work for some crucial meetings. When it was my turn to parent I was on the couch trying to watch movies with Luca, desperately attempting to stay awake. Finally, my husband finished his meetings and I went straight to bed.

During the week we had also managed to secure another 5 tests from a friend of my husband’s (catch is they were brought in from overseas and not cleared for sale in Australia yet, but from googling they were pretty high quality tests). My hubby decided to test himself, since if he was positive he would be quarantining from the date of the positive test, and he didn’t want to drag it out any longer.

Negative.

Concerned the test may not have been any good, he grabbed one of the tests purchased earlier – also negative.

Once our 4 year old had tested positive we had made the decision we were both forego isolating our son with one of us, wearing masks and freaking him out etc. We took the risk in going through this all together. So how was it possible that he was able to get away with it and remain negative?

Saturday I didn’t get out of bed, I was exhausted. By this stage I’d also gone through mild fevers, the sweats, a sore throat, struggling to focus, swollen glands around my throat (short lived) and a runny nose. I was miserable. I was just so grateful that my husband was able to pick up the pieces while I slept.

Sunday morning and my brain fog shifted. Suddenly I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. For the first time in days I felt OK sitting upright. I had the energy to play with my son. I lasted until lunch time to take a nap! We were going to get through this!

Monday morning arrives, and there was only a couple of days left with quarantine.

My husband took a test – positive.

Dammit.

Meanwhile I was suddenly starting to feel almost back to normal. I still felt myself tiring faster than normal, but it was nowhere near like it was. Monday was the first time since Thursday that I hadn’t needed to nap. My spirit improved.

Today, it’s Thursday. I’ve reintroduced walking sessions on the treadmill, and my son returned to daycare today. I was extremely nervous about either of us being out and about, but our government rules state that once you’ve had it, even if you’re a close contact over the next 4 weeks, you don’t need to test or quarantine again (after 4 weeks you do). I was adamant we were all staying home, but ultimately after careful consideration and encouragement from friends, I was assured the risk of my son or I transferring through touch/surfaces was extremely low. As one friend put it we’re possibly the lowest risk out there because we know our status, compared to the many other people unknowingly sharing it because they haven’t tested (either mild symptoms or inability to find a test). Our own state government have said our numbers are likely 3-4 times higher than reported because of the lack of testing.

My husband is doing well. He varies from the tired “I could nap right now” status to the “I feel fine” status. I’m glad he’s not a complete write off like I was – he doesn’t do well sitting still! He’s had the sweats, felt dizzy, and the runny nose. His throat was a bit sore and he’s got the rare cough. But otherwise he’s going to be quite alright.

Our saving grace

Before we got COVID I had started a little stockpile of toys in the bedroom, designed to be our “desperately need to entertain our child” stash. We went through that pretty quickly early on (mistake), but I was grateful that we had some stuff there.

By far though, our friends and family were beyond incredible. I had a few tears during the week just feeling so incredibly humbled and grateful that we were surrounded by good people.

• I lost count of how many offers we got of people asking if we needed anything delivered – friends we haven’t seen in a long time, friends who live far away….every single offer was appreciated
• I had friends checking in, some daily!
• A friend went out of her way to pick up some engaging, interactive toys for Luca to help occupy him
• My mother picked up a click & collect order for me and dropped it off along with some fun treats and food
• Other friends pooled together and dropped off a care package with jigsaw puzzles, colouring books, toys for Luca, lollies, chocolate, pumpkin soup, tea….the list goes on. They were so incredibly thoughtful!
• My aunt, currently overseas, organised a gift box to be delivered that was filled to the brim with lollies and a colouring book, which had my 4 year old son literally bouncing around the kitchen with excitement
• My sister received my SOS when I started to get a cold sore and I didn’t have any cold sore cream, and not only did she and my sister-in-law deliver with cream and medicine, but they also dropped off alcoholic ginger beer (my turn to bounce around the kitchen with excitement)

Honestly, I was blown away.

The prospect of catching COVID-19 kept me in a constant state of anxiety for 2 years. I’ve been watching the news closely, looking at case numbers daily, getting political over border closures and policies. I have been so scared, and we did almost everything we could to avoid it. We were staying home as much as possible. I was working from home again, my husband has been working from home for over a year now.

And yet it still found us.

We still don’t know where for certain, if it was daycare (a teacher there tested positive a week earlier) or from a chance encounter at the shops. It could have come from anywhere. It was inevitable.

I am just so thankful that we got the mild Omicron version. I’ve nearly lost a family member to a more severe case, and I have many friends that have lost loved ones.

The politics of COVID have divided us a lot. I’m pro-vax, and pro-choice (I believe the best way to encourage vaccination rates is through education and scientific fact, I’m not OK with forcing things). I have had heated words with people who choose to believe questionable sources, or suddenly become conspiracy theorists. I empathise with those who are overwhelmed and struggle to find logic when we’re bombarded with information from every angle and it’s a struggle to know to believe from one day to the next.

But here are the simple facts.

I am so thankful for the science that allowed me to get through this – my vaccination, the painkillers, even my own body.

I am so grateful for my family’s health, and that we are OK.

I am so grateful for the flexibility in our workplaces, and the ability to continue to earn wages when we are sick or looking after our child at home.

I am so grateful for the village we are surrounded by, our friends and family, who bring so much sunshine into our lives during dark moments.

COVID-19 sucks, no doubt about it. But I appreciate the chance it gave me to look around, and realise just how bloody good a life I have.

Stay safe everyone, and we’ll get through this together.