Day 8, 9, 10 October 27th-30th

Day 8 October 27th

We had plans to head over to friends/family for a birthday dinner. Nothing huge, people we have been around prior to all this a few times. Because I was told I had a sinus infection we went and enjoyed ourselves. We were outside for a little bit but the cool air felt amazing. I felt a little better as I had worked that day but again took a nap at lunchtime and a quick one before we left. Once we got home we did our nightly routine with the kids and got ready for the next day as I had to go to work. Mind you, I have not been around the kids much as I didn't want them to get sick with a cold due to Kane's Asthma and how bad Reagan gets tonsillitis. Really had no issues that night just a little bit of scratchiness in my throat and when I would breathe in I would cough a bit.

Day 9 October 28th

I got up like normal drove into work and was fine. Stopped for something to eat and drink and just went about my day. We had a staff meeting, that I wanted answers to questions I had but decided to wait and find those on my own as I have always done. We ended up having to move furniture back into our classrooms after taking all the clutter and junk out to make room for a particular amount of children.

I was sweating so badly that under my mask was wet and I kept changing my mask and washing my face and hands. I should have known something was off when I came in and my temperature was 93.7. My normal is normally in the 97s but thought I was in the AC of the car when I got to work and that was why I was so low.

By the time lunchtime came, I was irritated, tired, and just in a bad mood. I just assumed it was all the changes we were going through at work and the fact that none of us really had an idea of what was expected of us. I was frustrated and called Mike to vent because if anyone knows how I feel it's him when it comes to finding policies and questioning them.

I decided after lunch to go back to my classroom and just bust out what I could, but I kept having the need to cough, and whenever I would cough I couldn't get my lungs to expand or what it felt like expanding. It would actually start to hurt in my throat. I had a big of heartburn earlier from breakfast and thought it might be that.

My aide sat and watched me cry like a baby and then noticed I was having issues breathing. She had grabbed her keys and was on the verge of taking me to Barstow Community Hospital or urgent care in town. My supervisor at that point came in and they were asking questions me on how I felt. I knew they wanted me to go home but they also know how stubborn I am. However, I broke and called Mike. They both told me to call them as soon as I got home to make sure I got there okay because I do live in Victorville and work in Barstow. While it's not a long drive when you're coughing your lungs up it feels like forever. I got home and Mike took me straight to urgent care, there was enough time for me to go pee and that was it. The only way I could get comfortable in the car was to recline my seat all the way back.

I sat in urgent care for what felt like hours. I got there at like 3 and was not discharged till about 8 pm. The two nurses who were working that night were there Monday and I have seen them every year at this same time for what I was diagnosed with Monday. I kept falling asleep in the chair and coughing but didn't think anything. The nurse came in and said the doctor wanted to swab me for covid and flu and of course I freaked out as I was doing this alone due to protocol which I totally understood and agreed with, it just sucked. After what seemed like hours the doctor came back in and said I was negative for the flu but positive for covid. To which at that point my exact words were "You are fucking kidding me, I don't go anywhere".

Of course, at that point my phone was dead and I just needed to start making calls to my boss, those I was around, my family, and getting Mike and the kids scheduled for testing. We also had to call everyone I was around on Tuesday to let them know. During all this, the anxiety was getting the best of me and I was losing it. I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach as I had been doing everything I could to keep it from coming into our house. I spent the night trying to figure out where I would have gotten it and the only place I had been was to Walmart, Target, and Arizona to my in-laws. But each time I went anywhere I was masked, used hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes. I even wipe down my ATM card.

Anyways, it meant I was to go home and stay in my bedroom till I was cleared. Mike moved stuff out and we told the kids that they had to stay away from us. I continued my medication as prescribed by the first doctor as prescribed by the second doctor. I was kind of annoyed at the fact that I was not tested on Monday as this would have prevented so many issues and possibly would have allowed me to start my recovery sooner. I was pissed off as this killed Halloween which happens to be my favorite day of the year and I knew due to being sick the kids kind of got ripped off.

My emotions were all over the place, I was pissed off over those who can't comply with the simple task of wearing a mask and wearing it the right way. I was pissed off that I had to stay in my room away from everyone as that creates a sense of loneliness. It was a mental mind game that I was not ready for. As I got home I stripped down through all my clothing into the washing machine(well Mike did) and I took a shower and scrubbed everything in hopes that it would get the germs off..yea I know kind of stupid thinking. I climbed into bed and went to sleep. At around 3 am I woke up not being able to breathe the right way. I didn't think anything of it as I sleep with the fan on, so I turned it off and went back to sleep.

Day 10 October 29th

I slept all day bugging Mike for help as my breathing was getting worse. I was having a hard time getting up to just use the restroom. I kept trying to push liquids and soups to get some type of nutrients in my body but just sitting up in bed was a chore. I slept not that I had a choice my body wouldn't let me do anything. At that point, I had bought an oximeter and was tracking my o2 stats. It would raise from the low 90s but any time I coughed or moved for that matter I would drop into the '80s. I attempted to do deep breathing to expand my lungs a bit but it wasn't working. However, I didn't want to go to the hospital because I was scared of going alone and I had a feeling they would keep me. I just wanted it to go away and go away on it's own. I forced myself to sleep but I had to get up and about passed out in the bathroom. I yelled for Mike the best I could but I don't think he could hear me so I crawled back into my room and just pulled myself up on my bed.

If I only knew what was about to happen.