The Brandleys: COVID-19

This is definitely something that I think needs to be documented. What has been going on in the world is different than anything I've ever lived through before. It's hard to know where to even start. In December a new virus began to spread through out China, COVID 19 or the coronavirus. The virus is like a fast spreading flu that specifically hits the lower respiratory systems, fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. It hits older people and people with weakened immune systems the most. It began to spread to countries near China, and then all over the world really. Maybe around the first part of March people started going crazy. That's a pretty good way to describe it I think. I noticed first that toilet paper, soap, and cleaning supplies started disappearing from the stores really quickly. It became nearly impossible to find these things for quite a while in stores as well as online. A few weeks later it seemed like just everything was flying from the shelves in stores. Bread, rice, canned food, meat, eggs, flour, sugar, yeast, diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, medicine. I really wasn't worried about the virus, but I felt like I needed to stock up too because things were leaving the store so quickly and things were taking longer to be restocked. We got extra formula and diapers, and a few food items.
In the middle of March is when things started changing even more. Over one weekend the church closed down all Sunday services and other activities worldwide, and schools were shut down in our state. (and all over the country) We were given permission from our Bishop for Louis to bless and administer the sacrament in our home. We were asked to stay home as much as possible. To not go to visit extended family, especially older family members, to keep a distance of 6 feet apart from each other. (social distancing) Being younger and not having a weakened immune system, we really don't have much to worry about even if we were to get the virus, what we are being asked to stay home for is to protect those who would be more susceptible to getting this virus and would have a harder time fighting it, as well as not to overwhelm the hospitals as they are being in parts of the country.
Since March things have continued to change, it seems like almost daily sometimes. The entire NBA (and other sport leagues) completely closed down their season. The Church sent home thousands of missionaries back to their home countries. They have closed down all temples. General Conference was closed to the public and moved to a small auditorium on Temple Square with only 10 people in the building at a time. Businesses that were classified as "non-essential" were shut down; salons, gyms, theaters, etc. Indoor eating at restaurants has been shut down, but there is still drive thru and take out. Playgrounds are closed. Disneyland closed down. There have been travel bans put in place. We've been asked to wear masks when out and you can't "social distance" like at a grocery store. I'm sure there are many more things that I have not mentioned because so much has gone on in the last 5-6 weeks.
The kids have now been out of school since March 13. The first month we had a packet from their teachers that were not required, just something for them to keep up with. Now the schools here are closed until at least April 30, so this last week we have moved to online learning. It was a lot of new things to learn, but we have done a fairly good job navigating it I think. Louis started working from home a few weeks ago and that has gone well. He is set up in Logan's room because it has the most open space and is in a place where the kids won't bother him. We have Logan napping in the guest room while Louis works.
All of this has of course been hard at times. It has been one adjustment after another for all of us. I think out of all of us, Avery has had the hardest time. She loves her friends and she loves being around people, right now she can't be. Thankfully the snow here has melted and we have been able to spend time outside and that has helped. We have been doing a lot of chalk, riding scooters, and jumping on the trampoline. With the hard, there have been wonderful things as well. We have obviously been able to spend a lot of time together as a family. My kids have had more time to play together which is a lot of fun to watch and hear. People have been finding beautiful ways to serve each other and the community. New movies that were supposed to go to theaters are being made available to rent through different streaming services. Having church in our own home has been an extremely spiritual experience, especially being able to have the sacrament in our home. There have been two worldwide days of fasting and prayer, including many faiths.
Things are slowly starting to come back to the stores. You can actually find toilet paper now, but I haven't seen hand sanitizer in over a month. We made our own hand sanitizer because we ran out. I don't know what is to come, what other changes will come, or when things will normalize a bit. We're just taking it one day and week at a time, trying to stay healthy and keep others healthy.