"What have you been doing all day?" I asked my husband, who was sitting in his pajamas in his man cave.
His heavy lidded eyes and down crested mouth opened and said, "Nothing. I have been so drained. Working in the cold on the garage opener must have given me a cold."
"You were out there a long time." How unusual. Working as a union pipefitter in the cold never did this to him before; he has all the proper cold wear clothing. Maybe he didn't dress as warm this time. "You need me to give you some tea or something?"
"Yes, please."
That was Friday. He mentioned it started on Thursday. He wasn't sleepy. He just didn't feel like doing anything.
On Saturday while I was at work, he called me and said he used one of the home COVID-19 test for giggles. By then he had flu-like symptoms and a cough. He was positive for COVID-19. By the time he picked me up from work he said he took a second test just in case and it too was positive. The KN95 mask I wore at work, jumped on my face before getting in the car with him. My COVID-19 test was negative. That night we slept in separate bedrooms.
The next day was Sunday. I was scheduled to be communion and offering speaker at church. I shouldn't be going, I might expose someone! This shouldn't be happening right not! The Holy Spirit encouraged me to contact several church leaders. One of them was a Cleveland Clinic doctor and she assured me that exposed people no longer have to quarantine, but had to wear a mask and retest in five days. Thanks only to God those two messages happened.
Sunday and Monday went as scheduled while I wore a mask every where. However laying in bed Monday night, I thought, Is my chest a little tight? Was that a whiz? Why am I having a headache? I have had pneumonia and I have eosinophil asthma but had not had a tight chest or a whiz since 2020.
Tuesday morning I felt nothing, however during an in-person meeting with Bible leaders my body told me something wasn't quite right. It was achy, I was sleepy, and had an occasional cough. I hadn't coughed since 2021. Later after this meeting I was supposed to go to work, but the Holy Spirit said, "go home and take a COVID-19 test now." Aww man, really? Not now, I am supposed to ride with two student drivers today and two on Thursday. Plus by the end of the week travel out of town with family for my sister-in-law's 70 birthday celebration! No way! I knew in my spirit this time I was positive and the test confirmed it. Within a few hours a low grade fever joined the party.
"I hope your doctor recommends Paxlovid." My daughter texted me.
My Cleveland Clinic church doctor texted, "I recommend you take Paxlovid because of your age and lung issues."
By the time my doctor prescribed Paxlovid I had already researched the drug. I don't like using drugs. Despite the potential side effects, I was going to take it. "Pray for no side effects for this drug", I texted to all my prayer warriors.
Within twenty-four hours all my developing symptoms disappeared! The occasional cough remains. But this dry cough is nothing like a pneumonia cough. In fact I gained energy by Wednesday. From Wednesday to Saturday I attended three Zoom meetings, baked homemade bread for five meals of pizza, baked twelve homemade buttermilk biscuits, and made ten meals of buttermilk homemade pancakes. Our freezer is full. Then I wrote a blog article on my author website and walked with my husband on our street with our KN95 masks on in the sunshine.
Any time God takes me through some sort of illness or situation, I ask "what do you want me to learn through this." Every time he reveals a behavior that has to change or tweaks a good behavior. This is what happened. A few days before Dan got sick I started using Steve Harvey's L'Evate You. After Dan got sick I doubled up on my daily garlic, honey, and yogurt. Then when I started the Paxlovid I added Liposomal Vitamin C and Quercetin into my daily diet. Daily use of prebiotic and probiotic foods along with some supplements are necessary to prevent or reduce ailments. However, prayers and God's healing power healed me.
However, my release date was Sunday, too late to go to my sister-in-law's 70 birthday party.
"Darn it! I just finished wrapping your thank you for coming gift," my husband's sister said when she heard the news.
"Bummer, if my release date was Saturday, we could have come for one night instead of the two we planned. But I gotta stay here." I moaned. "I have been looking forward to this for months. But God is saying 'no' for some reason."
Dan, my husband's release date from COVID-prison was Wednesday. "I could go, but I am not going to leave you here," he said looking sicker than he was because of disappointment.
God why are we missing this once-in-a-life time event? But let your will be done. Maybe you are protecting us from something. I rationalized.
Then the Holy Spirit prompted me to contact my nephew to see if he happened to have space for Dan. He did. Immediately I texted my prayer warriors and prayed that Dan would reconsider and go with the nephew. God answered and Dan went. I stayed home alone with God. It was God's will for Dan to go, but not me.
My five-day imprisonment was the best stay-cation ever. Besides all the cooking and baking, I read, chatted on the phone, walked miles inside my house and whatever else God needed me to do. I may have missed all the family interactions, dancing, delicious food, and the travel, but I had the best time talking and walking with God instead.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34. (NIV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8 (NIV).
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