The Amazing Race

Stacie planned what we hope to be our 1st Annual Amazing Race. She was our "Phil", the distributor of clues and master mind of the days events. She divided us up into three teams of three. 

• Team 1: Uncle Patrick with Kaylee and Trace. 
• Team 2: Keri with Andrew and Aliyah. 
• Team 3: Trevor with Aunt Shelli and Kianna. 

We started at our house and received our first clue which led us to the Jupiter Lighthouse. We then played the fastest round of mini-golf ever. From there, we headed to Frigates, where we were to eat a specific appetizer. From there, we headed to Palm Beach Island where we had to get our pictures taken with the Worth Avenue Christmas tree. We then headed to Benny's on the Beach as our final destination and the winners were Trevor, Shelli and Kianna. We ended up back at Stacie's house for pizza to rehash the days events. What a fun day full of memories! 

 

Thanksgiving

Once again, we have much to be thankful for. We hosted Thanksgiving this year and had a full table. We had way too much food and enjoyed the nice Florida weather by the pool. We are blessed indeed.

 

Drive Shack

 

Our fun with Aliyah continued at the Drive Shack. It was her first time swinging a golf club and she discovered it's a lot different then swing a bat. We had lots of laughs!

Beach with Aliyah

 

The kids had a fun time introducing Aliyah to boogie boarding. Lots of laughter and even a Thanksgiving sand turkey to be festive.

Kaylee's Sweet Sixteen

Well like the rest of this year, Kaylee's 16th birthday was unique, since she was on Day 8 and I was on Day 9 of our 10 day quarantine since testing positive for COVID. Trace had just come out of quarantine the day before. Despite the unusual circumstances we made the day as special as we could. I took her to get her driver's license. We decided it was safe, since she would be driving in her own car, along with me, while the instructor was on speaker phone outside the car. She's so excited to have her license!!! 

Kianna did a great job of making Kaylee's birthday special by making Kaylee's chocolate chip banana bread cake with peanut butter frosting. She also bought Kaylee the hanging plants she had been wanting for quite awhile, thanks to Aunt Stacie taking her shopping. We ordered takeout from our favorite Italian restaurant, Del Pesto! Kaylee and I decided to come downstairs, so we could celebrate with the others. We ate in the dining room with Trace and the non-Covid people (Trevor and Kianna) ate at the breakfast nook. We also watched a movie together while we stayed socially distanced and masked. It felt really good being around each other again!

We had to postpone Kaylee's friend party until the following weekend. She invited Camryn Nelson, Lauren Quintana, Lilly Doster, Lilly Hass and Ella Boncimino to stay over. Unfortunately, due to COVID Lilly Doster and Ella weren't able to come. The girls had fondue for dessert, which was a hit! 

Here's the latest on Kaylee:

• Very academic- enjoys school and gets mostly A's. She is a very hard worker and challenges herself with difficult classes. She definitely wants to go to college, but has no idea what she wants to study. Although, she is confident it will not be in the health field. She's still traumatized by her experience with Grandma Becki severing off part of her finger back in 2018.
• Basketball- Kaylee loves basketball and is frequently shooting hoops out in the driveway. She is a great defensive player and is often asked to defend the opponents best player. Kaylee's offensive game continues to improve, as she has had private lessons with Keyon this fall to work on her footwork and shot. Kaylee is extremely coachable and has so much heart.
• She also enjoys spending time with her friends, reading, and watching movies. She especially loves the Twilight, Hunger Games and Harry Potter Series. She also loves playing games.
• Good friend- Kaylee is very thoughtful and is an excellent friend. She thinks of others and is very self-less. She enjoys making thoughtful gifts and homemade cards.
• Wise beyond her years- Kaylee often seeks the advice of others and thinks before she acts. Although, not always with her siblings. 😉 
• Faith- Kaylee's faith in Jesus is important to her and is lived out in her daily life. 

We are very proud of our sweet girl and love her with all our heart!!!

COVID Chronicles

Wednesday, October 28th

• Trace unknowingly was exposed to COVID by a kid in Math and PE.

Saturday, October 31st

• Trace attended soccer practice. 
• Trace played in his flag football game. 
• We hosted a Halloween Party with 15 people. 
• Kids trick-or-treated with friends.
• Trace got a tummy ache and mild fever after his friends left.
• Girls had three friends spend the night.
• Kept Trace away from girls and friends.

Sunday, November 1st

• Trace continues to have a fever of 99.9. He also complains of a tummy ache and sore throat. 
• Trace stayed home from church, but the rest of us went and had lunch at our new church, Family Church Jupiter. It's only our second time there and we participated in the welcome dinner. They socially distance and wear masks, other than when we're eating of course. Very friendly people. Great worship!
• Girls attended youth group that evening. Kids love new youth group! It's a solid group, the people are friendly, it has good lessons and fun games.

Monday, November 2nd

• Dad works 12+ hour day from home office.
• Trace stayed home from school and did school virtually.
• Girls went to school.
• Mom went to work and saw five patients. 
• Mom began feeling a little off while at work. Nothing serious- flemmy throat and head groggy. No fever.
• Girls went to basketball practice.
• Kianna went to soccer practice.
• Mom picked Kianna and her friend up from practice while wearing a mask. They sat in the back seat.

Tuesday, November 3rd

• Trace tests positive for COVID with 15 minute rapid test. Trace quarantined for 10 days from the 31st.
• Mom and Trace pick Kaylee up from JCS before her classes start.
• Our lives goes on hold for 14 days as we begin to quarantine.
• Dad's first work trip gets canceled.
• Trace and Kianna cancel their Naple's soccer tournament.
• Kaylee's birthday party gets postponed.
• Keri stays home from work for two weeks.
• We let everyone we came in contact with know Trace is positive.
• Mom starts getting more symptomatic. No fever, but gets a headache, begin coughing slightly, and flemmy throat continues.
• Kaylee begins feeling sick. Fever 100.1, upset stomach, sore throat and headache when she moves her eyes or head. 
• The three of us isolate in our bedrooms. 
• Kianna serves us meals willingly.
• Dad works in the office as usual and begins sleeping in the guest room.

Wednesday, November 4th

• Dad works 12+ hour days from home office.
• Kaylee and Mom test positive for COVID with 15 minute rapid test.
• Mom quarantined for 10 days from the 2nd.
• Kaylee quarantined for 10 days from the 3rd.
• Kianna rides with us while double masked and hiding inside her hooded sweatshirt and seated in the back row.
• Kianna tests negative for the 15 minute test and receives the 2-3 days test. Asymptomatic.
• Kianna quarantined for 14 days from the 4th.
• Trevor quarantined for 14 days from the 3rd.
• Kaylee continues with above symptoms.
• Mom comes home and sanitizes the kitchen and bathrooms before isolating herself in her bedroom.
• Mom gets a stabbing pain behind my right eye when she sits. Very congested and coughing.
• Kianna continues to serve us breakfast, lunch and dinner sweetly. She made us salad, egg rolls and sushi for dinner.
• Trace begins feeling better.
• Mom loads dirty dishes in dishwasher, so Trevor and Kianna won't touch contagious germs.

Thursday, November 5th

• Dad works 12+ hours from home office.
• Kids do school virtually.
• Trace back to normal.
• Kaylee feeling better, but not 100%.
• Mom feels like crap: Stabbing eye pain when sitting, congestion and coughing continue. Mild labored breathing.
• Kianna tired of serving us. No more snacks. Ask for everything you want at one time or else...
• Mom feels like Kianna's starving her. 
• Mom's afraid she's getting a blood clot because she's been lying down so much and has a little pain behind her right knee.
• Kianna serves us cold frozen pizza and caesar salad (an hour later).
• Aunt Stacie surprises us and brings frappuccino's and healthy meals!!!!!
• Kaylee and Mom begin watching Downton Abbey together.
• Trace and Mom begin watching Survivor- Season 1 together.
• Dad and Kianna watch Oceans 12 together and continue to hide from the positives.

Friday, November 6th

• Dad works 12+ hours from home office.
• Kids do school virtually.
• Mom tries to sit up more. Congestion and headache much better. Lethargic and mild labored breathing. Mom feels better at the end of the day.
• Kaylee's head hurts worse today when she moves her eyes or turns her head. Mild sore throat.
• Trevor, Kianna and Trace asymptomatic.
• Dad serves Mom breakfast and lunch.
• Kianna takes care of all the kids.
• Aunt Stacie drops off groceries and McDonald's french fries.
• Kianna serves us the yummy meals Aunt Stacie brought over.
• Downton Abbey and Survivor continue
• Dad and Kianna watch "The Abyss".

Saturday, November 7th

                                                    

• Dad works outdoors cutting down loose prawns to prepare for Tropical Storm Eva.
• Kaylee shoots baskets outdoors.
• Mom goes for a very slow walk with the dogs.
• Trace rides his bike around the neighborhood.
• Kaylee and I still aren't 100%, but I'm so much better. I'm no longer congested or short of breath. I haven't had a headache all day. Kaylee still has a headache at times.
• Were all tired of being quarantined.
• Aunt Stacie and Uncle Patrick bring us Beef Stew, corn bread, yellow tulips, and some puzzle books to keep us busy. So sweet!

Sunday, November 8th

• Tropical Storm Eta provided high winds and rain, so stayed indoors.
• Church online at 11:00 am.
• Dad worked and watched football.
• Kids did homework and watched TV.
• Mom did laundry and cleaned up the house a bit. Starting to come out of room a bit to help with meals for the positives.
• Mom woke up with low back pain that worsened as the day progressed. Hurts when she takes a deep breath. Hard to get comfortable, as it hurts in all positions. Pain is achy and sharp across low back and into both hips.
• Kaylee's headache is finally gone. She feels 90% overall.
• Ordered DoorDash from TooJays, dessert and all.

Monday, November 9th

• School cancelled due to Tropical Storm Eta, although in reality weather is fine. Not as windy as yesterday and no rain so far.
• Dad works from home, preparing for big meeting on Thursday.
• Mom's back pain continues. She struggles to get comfortable.
• One of Mom's patients becomes symptomatic with a fever, sore throat and dry cough despite testing negative for the rapid test and 2-3 day test. 😒
• Kaylee feeling better other than a little bit of a stuffy nose.
• Kaylee and Mom walked the three mile loop with the dogs.
• Aunt Stacie brings us picadillo and garlic bread for dinner. Stops at Starbucks for the kids.

Tuesday, November 10th

• Dad continues to work from home.
• Virtual school for kids.
• Trace is in his last day of quarantine.
• Kaylee's feeling good. She goes outside and shoots hoops.
• Mom's back pain continues and Mom's clearing her throat a lot. Occasional coughing.
• Mom completes an online continuing education course for work.
• Ordered Dominos pizza and wings for dinner.
• Fabi makes oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and brings a few over to share.
• Mom and Dad do our first walk together. Dad's in the street and Mom's on the sidewalk. So good to be together again!

Wednesday, November 11th

                                          

• Dad continues to work from home. 
• Trace goes back to school in person today! Excited to be out of quarantine. Dad and Kianna are excited to have another helper. Dad refers to Trace as our butler.
• Mom's back pain continues with some gradual improvement. Other symptoms are gone today.
• Girls do school virtually.
• Trace had a good day back at school.
• Kaylee and Mom went for a drive to the beach, so she could get some practice before her driving test tomorrow.
• Dad and Mom went on another walk together.
• Ordered food from Noble Thai for dinner.
• Dad moved the recliner to the opposite side of our bedroom so we could watch TV together again, while being socially distanced.

Thursday, November 12th

• Kaylee's 16th Birthday
• I took her to get drivers license. She passed! Yay!!! We have another driver in the house.
• Ordered take out from Del Pesto.
• Kianna made Kaylee's favorite birthday cake for her.
• Kaylee and I came down and ate in the dining room and the others ate at the breakfast nook.
• Watched a movie together in the family room, while socially distanced and wearing masks.

Friday, November 13th

• Yesterday was officially my last day of quarantine, but I was a little nervous to come out of our room today since I'm still not 100% symptom free. I feel fine, but am nervous about infecting Trevor since I still am coughing and am my back hurts.
• Today is Kaylee's last day of quarantine.
• Trace left today for a Wyldlife Retreat near Oscala, FL. Wyldlife is the middle school equivalent of Young Life. He went with his friend, Caleb Carley. He returns on Sunday. Excited for him. Lots of fun activities like zip lining, kayaking, gaga ball, etc.,
• More socially distanced TV in the evening with Trevor in our room.

Saturday, November 14th

• Quarantine Ended for Kaylee.  She's free today!
• I spend half the day in my room and then decide after researching it that its safe for me to come out after Trevor agrees.
• So excited to be out of my room!!!!
• Trevor and I go to Home Depot and spend the rest of the day together. We missed each other!!! 
• I cook for the first time in 12 days. I make Kaylee's favorite penne pasta dish for dinner.
• Quarantine if officially over and Trevor and Kianna stayed healthy!!! Thank you Jesus!