Describe the year 2020 in one word. Challenging.
What was your worst moment of 2020? It was all so stressful to deliver during COVID. There’s this added stress that (the hospital tests) you do before you go to deliver. If the mom tests positive, then the dad can’t be with her. So all these months, you’re thinking, ‘If I test positive, I’m going to have to give birth without my partner.’ So thankfully, I tested negative, and (my husband, Adam) was with me for the whole thing. And it doesn’t make sense — if you’re there and you’re positive, then your partner is, too. But it’s hospital policy, and you have to wear a mask. You’re going through the worst pain of your life, and you have to have a mask on. I remember being in Publix, eight months pregnant. I was waddling around and couldn’t breathe. Wearing the mask is a lot.
And having to explain to the kids we had to stay home? That was tough. We kind of, like, explained it very superficially. We said that there was a sickness going around, and we couldn’t go out. They understood but they still kept asking, ‘When are we going to the museum? When are we going to the library?’ They kept asking and asking. It was hard to tell them every time, ‘Soon … soon … soon …’ And I wasn’t even sure when that was going to happen. At some point, they stopped. They just accepted it.
And I had to do all the doctor appointments by myself. Adam couldn’t come with me like in the past, like listening to ultrasounds and the heartbeat. That was a big part of this pregnancy that COVID took away from us. In the doctor’s office there are signs that said we could Facetime, but it’s not the same.
Do you know anyone who got sick from COVID-19? Yes. Adam’s aunt and uncle got it. They are in their 50s or 60s and live in Denver.
Do you know anyone who died from COVID-19? No.
Did you experience financial stress in 2020 due to the pandemic? No. Adam’s the only one who works, and he works for the public schools. So he was pretty busy with all the virtual learning. He never missed a day, thankfully. Thank god.
What got you through the stress? My family. My husband, for sure. My husband is my rock. And my friends. There’s a really, really good community down here. I think everyone contributed a little bit to make things better. We got together on video calls and tried to get the kids to talk. That was all helpful.
Do you practice social distancing? For the most part. Where it’s required. But we’re trying to teach the kids that this is not normal. We wear masks where it’s required, like going to the grocery store. But in our normal life, we try to go back to normal. We don’t want them to think that this is how life is, because it’s not. We were pretty good about handwashing and hand sanitizer before the virus. I feel this is how people should be all the time.
Do you think the social distancing works? I don’t know.
So why do it? I honestly don’t know. I think everyone should have a choice of doing what they think is best for them. Common sense. I understand there’s a part of the population, elderly and people with risky conditions, that we should think about.
Did you notice any physical symptoms from stress? I think I was very sad at the beginning when there was so much unknown. That was really tough. As for other physical symptoms, I wouldn’t know if the stress affected my body because I was pregnant. But I was sad, maybe a little bit depressed. I don’t do well all day at home.
What was your best moment of 2020? Giving birth to Penelope. The day we brought her home was a very happy day for our family, when the kids held her and we were finally settled at home. That was the day that our family was finally completed. That’s a very happy memory.
Did you gain the “Quarantine 15”? No.
How did you avoid that? I was pregnant half the year, and then I had Martin and Miranda to chase around so (laughs)…
