Morning glories, thanks for stopping by for 10 on the 10th 01.2021. Today’s prompt: 10 memories from 2020. You might have read my post from last week 20 from 2020 where I recounted lessons I learned from that crazy year. I want to walk back down memory lane over the past 12 months and reflect on the crazy that was 2020.
10 Memories from 2020
In this post, I am revisiting some of the things that made 2020 the year that it was. Hope you won’t hold me to 10 memories. There was so much crazy to remember this past year.
January
- Camila Jean came into the world via C-section on 01.08.2020. Her birthday is the same as my nephew Andrew who lost his battle with Wilm’s Tumor kidney cancer at 3 years old.
- We learned that the Senior Helpers who worked with my mom in her assisted living apartment would no longer be under contract with Lafayette. Mom was so upset, so stressed over the changes that it caused very sudden onset memory loss and very advanced atrophy to her brain. My brother, sister and I began scrambling to figure out how to get Mom the help she needs.
- P.S. I adopted the abandoned series 10 on the 10th and made it my own.
February
- Mom continued to struggle. She told me that she just couldn’t do it any more. Worried all month trying to figure out how to best help her.
- My brother was out of town when Mom fell one morning, hitting her head and had to be taken by ambulance to the ER. They kept her most of the day and determined she had had a small stroke. When they released her late in the afternoon (no overnight evaluation or monitoring with a stroke?), we had no way of getting her home. Transportation at her apartment closed down at 4 pm, and thanks to Covid, no one from her apartment complex could pick her up. Poor thing returned home in an ambulance, barefoot, bare-bottomed, in a hospital gown.
- Thankfully, she was not affected physically by the stroke but it left her more confused and less able to communicate verbally.
- Subbed for a few days in a 4th grade class which would turn out to be the only time I would be able to work this year.
- Enjoyed the Alan Jackson concert so much; that date would be our last big date of the year.
- Flew to Phoenix for a weekend of Reds spring training baseball for PC’s birthday. During one game, we sat in front of a woman who coughed the entire time. Later wondered if she had Covid. This would be our only vacation this year.
March
- Mom was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia but something more was going on. My sister and I flew to Kentucky. Nothing Mom said made sense: that someone came in and gave her bath wearing a beautiful gown, that her chicken for dinner had come from 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue, that she had 5 then 4 feet, very concerning. Spent days with Mom at the hospital and nights cleaning her apartment, preparing to move her. The doctor said she had to move to a nursing home. Several days later, she was released from the hospital and sent directly to rehab. We made arrangements for her furniture and personal belongings to be moved from Lafayette to a personal care apartment at Country Place once she left rehab. She spent her 93rd birthday alone.
- Missed Lucia’s 4th birthday while I was gone. When I returned home, went to the commissary only to discover no meat, no bread, no toilet paper. Lots of empty shelves and military police on every aisle monitoring what customers put in their carts.
April
- Very lonely birthday. My mom didn’t remember it.
- PC’s father was diagnosed with kidney failure and put on hospice after several hospital stays determined nothing could be done to help him.
- Mom was released from rehab and got moved, by total strangers, into her new apartment.
- New Covid-related restrictions. Hand washing stations set up outside the commissary. Paul’s son has Covid.
- Facetiming to help Cady with school, to play Barbies with her, to read with her.
May
- Lauren returned to work after being on maternity leave and I began helping with the girls. For awhile life felt wonderful and almost normal. Kindercare was closed for awhile, then reopened but the kids were afraid for Lucia to go. And hoped to keep Cami home til she was 6 months old.
- Paul’s father died on 05.07.2020. He was alone in the hospital but passed peacefully. We last saw him in 12.2019. Because of the virus, the family was worried about having us come home. So hard.
- Brennyn and Cady flew home (but had to wear masks) to meet Camila.
June
- Mom battled UTIs that had her out of her head and falling much of the month. She told my sister she wished she could commit suicide. Mom hasn’t threatened that since the fall 0f 2018 and hasn’t attempted since 2016. So hard to hear. So hard to know she is miserable. Had to move her again. This time into another facility where they have assisted living and nursing available to her. None of us could be with her or help the maintenance people with the move. She is in her 4th apartment in 6 months.
- Days of 100*+ temps were difficult to deal with.
- Did Cami and Cia-sitting most days, M-F.
July
- A month of ups and downs with mom.
- Birthdays for my 3 babies: Cady on the 28th, Brennyn on the 30th and Lauren on the 31st.
- First HelloFresh box. In love.
- One of the hottest summers on record. Too hot to have to wear a mask. How can this virus survive?
August
- First anniversary of the El Paso shooting that took 24 lives.
- Cami started daycare.
- Flew to Kentucky to visit Mom as we were worried that the increasing numbers of Covid cases across the country would keep us from being able to go if we waited any longer. Valerie flew here to El Paso and then we flew to Kentucky the next day. Could only see her through plexiglass across a large table or through her apartment window. Heartbreaking not to be able to touch her.
September
- PC’s back issues became more unbearable. Was unable to play baseball. Vultures at the ball park were an ominous sign of the times.
- Mom seemed to be settling into her life at Cedarhurst, but they go from Code Yellow to Code Red. She hasn’t been able to leave her apartment hardly at all. Doesn’t even know what the rest of the facility looks like and has lived there 3 months.
October
- Record heat. In October!
- Record number of Covid cases.
- PC’s back continued to get worse.
- Anniversary of my mother-in-law’s horrible wreck. She was finally cleared of any possible jail time or lawsuits.
- Surprise October snow.
- I created my wish tree and it seemed everyone in the neighborhood left a wish.
November
- Most days Mom seemed happy, or at least content. Has a speech therapist who is wonderful and more like a friend than a therapist.
- Had a kind of surprise parathyroidectomy to relieve kidney issues and high calcium levels in my body.
- Biopsied masses show no sign of cancer. Thank God.
- Over 3000 new Covid cases in one day in our city.
- Valerie and Roby came for Thanksgiving anyway.
- Cami began walking and going to school fulltime; Lucia and Cady start back to school.
- Quiet month as I was unable to help with the babies
- Paul’s mom, brother and sister-in-law all contracted Covid
- Covid numbers began decreasing slightly
- Christmas for 2; PC and I spent the day alone, watched the babies open presents on Facetime
And Beyond
That brings us to the January and this new year and the end of 10 on the 10th 01.2021.
This new year honestly doesn’t seem a lot different yet. We are seeing lots more people out and about. Always masked but the numbers of cars in the parking lots at restaurants, shopping centers and grocery stores is alarming. Schools are still closed for face-to-face learning and have been for almost a year. Our numbers had been going down and then hovering at about 300 new Covid cases a day in El Paso. Today we had over 800 new cases in the city. Here we go again?
My mom’s beloved speech therapist has had to quit working to homeschool her children. We worry what that will mean for our mother. My 3 frontline healthcare workers – Brennyn, Mustafa, and Francisco – have all been vaccinated against Covid. They all say that second vaccination is a doozy. Take ibuprofen immediately after. Lauren and I are on the list for the next shipment of vaccinations.
Your Turn
What would your stand out memories of 2020 include? If you have a 10 on the 10th 01.2021 post, please link it up below. Or share some of your highlights or lowlights in a comment.
Off to bed. This has been quite a busy week on the blog. Thank you for spending some of your time here with me. Wishing you a restful Sunday and a peaceful week.
Hugs and kisses,
It was a hard year wasn’t it. Especially of there are health issues or even dead in the family. Lets hope this year will be much better.
Thank you, Nancy. Surely this year will be kinder to us all.
When you look back over the year month by month it makes you realise that we really had no idea how bad this virus was going to be. I’m so pleased your family have been vaccinated and that you don’t have much longer to wait.
It certainly was an eventful year wasn’t it?! It must be so hard being so far away from your mum when you can’t just go and see her whenever you wish. Thank goodness for technology though so you can see and hear family even when you can’t be there in person.
Thank you, Deb. Thank goodness for the telephone more than anything. If not for the phone, I would have no contact with mom. It would be even more difficult. Hope we are granted at least one more time with Mom all together where things feel normal and we can hold each other.
What a year, Leslie! In addition to Covid you had so much going on with your family. I hope your mom continues to settle in and good things happen for her instead of the reverse. I so miss shopping at the Commissary. They had everything!
Thank you, Carrie. We do one big shopping trip at the commissary each month then fill in with Walmart pick up in between.
Mom seems to be in a pretty good place for now. We never know from one day to the next. I hold my breath as I look at my phone each
morning. And say a little prayer.
Hi, Leslie – You’ve had a very full, emotional year with many ups and downs. Tears filled in my eyes reading your heartfelt words. Sending you, and your mom, very warm and positive thoughts for 2021!
Dear sweet Donna, I always appreciate your kind words and support, and positive thoughts. I truly do. We are so blessed in so many ways and have our health, such a huge gift. Hoping that we all get a respite in 2021.
What a year Leslie….so so sorry for all the “hard” stuff you had to navigate amidst Co-vid. Let’s hope 2021 gets better at some point.
Thank you, Kirstin. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right? Ugh. I feel strong enough…for now. Hope 2021 will allow all of us to rest, recover from 2020 and enjoy life a little.
So sorry, Leslie, to read of all the distressing things which have happened in your family and to you last year. It must have been incredibly stressful and anxiety-provoking. So sorry about your family bereavement too. I hope your Mum is settling, has good and kind people around her, and that you are recovering your health and strength. And that the vaccine makes its way to you very soon! I’ve joined in this month over here (https://simplyalexa.typepad.com/trimmingthesails/2021/01/the-joys-of-a-monochrome-world-and-10-things-on-the-10th.html) though I fear mine is a little more light-hearted.
Alexa, so glad to have you join for 10 on the 10th. These days, my mom has 3 types of therapy several times a week for which we are grateful as they are her ‘friends’ while we can’t be with her. This virus has been so hard on everyone but especially our seniors. Thank you.
So glad to hear your mother in law has finally been cleared; I can’t believe it took a whole year. What a recap of you year.
Thank you, Joanne. We were so thankful that my mother in law was cleared, too. She will forever have the burden of the memory of that horrible day and its aftermath. But we are so grateful that she was only given probation when it could have been so much worse.
What a hard you. I don’t think I realized everything that has gone on with your mom happened this year. I’m am so sorry, and am sending you a big hug, and a a prayer. Let’s hope that 2021 is better.
Thank you so much, Danielle. Things with my mom have been worrisome since her first suicide attempt 9 years ago. Well, 10 years this April. We just never know. It has certainly taken its toll on my siblings and me. Sure appreciate your big hug and prayer!
I enjoyed reading your review of 2020 – it certainly has been a difficult year for you. Let’s hope for everyone to get the COVID vaccine quickly. Cheers to a much better 2021, one that includes hugging.
Thank you, Mary Lou! Yes to lots of hugging in 2021. Praying we all have a gentler new year.
You had a harder year than most and I’m so sorry you couldn’t physically support your mom through most of it. Covid sucks in so many ways.
Thank you, Natasha. I am a tired girl. Praying that 2021 is easier for all of us.
Leslie, I’m sorry to hear about the hardship that you experienced in 2020. You’ve found a few bright spots, too. Wishing you a healthy and happy 2021.
Thank you, Natalie. Here’s to a wonderful for 2021 for all of us!!
This was such a hard year for everyone and your family seems to have been hit hard! I haven’t written my post yet, but hope to have it ready tomorrow!
Thank you, Dara. We just seem to have a lot of crazy things happen all at once. Praying 2021 will be a kinder, gentler year for all of us.
Like you, 2020 was rough for the world AND in a personal sense. I’m hoping that this year will start looking a little bit brighter. That’s great you are up next for the vaccine! Hope you can get it soon and don’t experience rough side effects.
-Lauren
Thank you, Lauren. My kids all had pretty terrible side effects with the second vaccine so I am scared. Of course, even side effects are better than a terrible case of the virus.
I agree, 2021 so far hasn’t seemed much different from 2020. Wow, reading through this makes me realize you’ve had a lot of care on your plate with your mom! You are SO good to take such good care of her, though. I am sure the birth of Camila Jean was a highlight this year for you!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Thank you, Carrie. It is just one thing after another with Mom. Spent all morning trying to straighten out mess for an insurance policy we didn’t even know she had!! Cami, Lucia and my Cady Coo make even the hardest days better. And, of course, having PC in my corner.
I need to do a late link up with this… its crazy to look back ona years worth of memories.
Hope you will link up for 10 on the 10th when you can. I used my SaD posts to help me with this month’s prompt.
Playing catch up on my blog reading. Yikes! It’s so tough to have an ailing parent, and then to add Covid on top of it. Just Ugh! I, too, am amazed at how people seem content to pack into stores and restaurants in spite of Covid. I have to wonder what they could possibly be thinking. My mom (75) is scheduled to get her 1st Covid vaccine in early February. I’m pretty happy about it. She’s a pretty active lady and this confinement has been hard on her.
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com