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About fran pitre

Welcome everyone! My name is Fran Pitre ... I'm the wife of a great guy, mom to 6 amazing kids who all happened to come in sets of two, I'm a graphic designer, published author of “TWINS x 3” (2019 Edition now available!), singer/songwriter, and clinical massage therapist. If you've come to this site looking for support, info and inspiration as a parent of twins, you've come to the right place!

Road Trip, Wedding, Road Trip

With our daughter Kathryn’s wedding coming up on Friday evening, October 22nd, we packed up and left for a 3 and 1/2 day road trip from Jacksonville, FL to Tuscon, AZ. We didn’t, however, all ride out together. Based upon Erin’s and Brandon’s work and school schedules, they both flew out and back at various times. So Bruce, Lauren, Sean, Benjamin and I hit the road early on Saturday Oct. 16th.

We had a great time traveling out westward, stopping to explore San Antonio, Carlsbad Caverns, and a glimpse of Mexico over the Rio Grande.

Remember the Alamo! (San Antonio TX) l to r: Benjamin, Sean, Lauren and Bruce
The incredible Carlsbad Caverns.
You can see Mexico from here!

When we arrived in Tuscon on Tuesday afternoon and finished hugs all around, Kathryn and all of her bridesmaids hit the road to Scottsdale for a two day bachelorette party … to replace the planned girls’ trip to New Orleans back in late August that was cancelled due to hurricane Ida. The groom took all his groomsmen up Mt Lemmon just an hour away for a little guy time. We went to our rental property to settle in …it was absolutely perfect and wonderfully spacious! Bruce’s brother and his wife plus my mother-in-law Sylvia arrived to stay with us, as did my brother Scott, our family Catholic priest who would be celebrating our bride and groom’s nuptial mass. Thursday evening was slated for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, which all went very smoothly until …

… until we arrived back at our rental home and my 82 yr old mother-in-law, while approaching the back door that entered the house from the garage, fell after failing to see the small step a few feet before the door and practically cartwheeled to the floor. I saw this happen from the passenger seat of our car because I’d not gotten out yet having just pulled in. Sylvia is always the first to get out and bolt quickly to whatever destination at which we’ve arrived! I was the first to arrive to her, and I could immediately see and very superficially feel that her left shoulder was completely dislocated. I not only knew from my medical training, but having had three dislocations myself. She expressed severe pain and I could see it clearly in her face. Well, long-story short: after she was transported via ambulance to a nearby hospital, she was not released, but told she would need surgery … full shoulder replacement surgery because she had not only dislocated the humerus from the socket, but had broken her humerus in 4 places and it was beyond repair. Fortunately, she was in the perfect medical center because it sat adjacent to the best orthopedic hospital in southern AZ.

The very next day was our daughter’s wedding, so Bruce’s brother Bert and his wife Vickie were designated Sylvia companions. One of the visiting cousins live streamed the wedding for Sylvia to view from her hospital bed.

The wedding was beautiful, emotional, and at times, hard to believe that it was happening after so planning, cancellations, then finally here. We are so proud of Kathryn and of Jonathan. Jon and Kathryn met in 2014, and have gone through so much together, and now made the commitment and vowed to love each other by celebrating the sacrament of Holy Matrimony.

Jon and Kathryn’s wedding with my brother Scott Circe officiating.
The wedding party including Lauren (maid of honor next to Kathryn) and our other daughter Erin, next to Lauren, and our son Brandon, to the left in the photo of the man in shades (Jon’s brother Stephen).
Bruce and I (father and mother of the bride
The six Pitre kids
Daddy and daughter
Mom and her girls! l to r: Erin, Fran, Kathryn and Lauren

I wished my own mom and stepdad could have been with us, but the distance was too much with my stepdad’s failing health. But aside from Sylvia’s accident, everything went smoothly and safely.

The evening after the wedding, we had a barbeque at our rental house for all, then it was time to start heading home for a northern route road trip this time. We rode up to Flagstaff and then on to the Grand Canyon, then into Colorado. We dropped Brandon off at the Flagstaff airport, and Erin off at the Denver airport, then the remaining five of us headed through Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and finally back home to Northeast Florida. All in all a very beautiful, memorable trip.

Seven Pitres at the Grand Canyon (I took the pic) l to r: Lauren, Brandon, Sean, Benjamin, Bruce and Erin
Gorgeous Colorado country
The St. Louis arch! St. Louis, MO

I will admit that arriving back home was FANTASTIC! Our pup Simon really missed us although he was in good hands with Brandon’s girlfriend Kat and Erin’s boyfriend Josh. Poor Simon turns 15 in November this year, and although we know he has slowly failing kidneys, he’s still loving his walks, eating like a horse and loves his family despite his failing eye site and hearing.

Thank you for reading this blog post … it’s a typical proud momma story. We now have one child of our six officially married! We thank God all went fairly flawless and that everyone made it home safely. Sylvia had her surgery and flew home under the care of Bert and Vickie. She’s doing well and healing slowly but surely, thank the Lord.

Summertime Bridal Shower

We got through the school year and we’re enjoying the last of summer break trying to take it easy. No big summer plans since we’re saving our pennies for our big trip in October to Tuscon for Kathryn and Jonathan’s wedding. As it stands now, we’re probably going to drive and enjoy the road trip there and back, and rent a house for the several days that we’re there.

I’ve been working freelance graphic design work, writing music, having gigs and taking the boys up to our neighborhood pool as often as I can pull their gaming devices out of their hands.

Bruce is still working from home having completely taken over the room that used to be my office. Luckily I still have a corner to keep my music equipment. I work on my laptop in various places in the house and on the patio.

Our daughter Lauren (twin sister of the bride-to-be) lives not far away sharing a rental home with two friends. She currently works for an insurance company from home and schedules patients for radiology procedures. She is still writing and enjoys creating music and drawing. I believe she has her sights on joining the computer story gaming industry on a creative capacity. She sells some of her artwork on Etsy!

Our son Brandon is not only full recovered from his long-haul covid experience, but is very focused on wellness and fitness. He started a job with Audi Corporation as a brand specialist last Feb, and is learning the ropes quite well. He currently has three semesters remaining to earn his bachelors degree in business/economics. He is still dating the girl he took to prom his senior year in high school, named Kat. She’s a doll.

Brandon’s twin sister Erin will also begin her last year of college in the fall in the field of criminal justice. She’s interested in the Parks and Forestry field and is hoping for a local internship next year. She currently works as a shift manager at a local escape room.

Sean and Benjamin aren’t in a hurry to begin the next year of middle school. Sean will start seventh and Benjamin, eighth. Each are practically joined to their Switch consoles, but also enjoy hiking, biking, bowling and eating! Benjamin has stuck with Boy Scouts and his goal is to become Eagle one day. His plans since younger childhood to become a chef still hold true. He helps me in the kitchen and often has ideas for meals that we try! Sean, not sure yet, but he loves all things robotics-related and has joined the robotics club at school which he’s looking forward to returning at school.

As for Kathryn: we had a beautiful bridal shower for her! She flew into town and we showered her at an historic resort at the beach. So many wonderful family members and friends attended, including my mom and sister-in-law from Orlando, and my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and nieces from Louisiana, her mother-in-law-to-be from Ft. Lauderdale, and lots of local friends.

Bride-to-be Kathryn
Bridesmaids, l to r: Erin (my daughter), Riley (cousin), Jenna (cousin), Kathryn (bride), Alana (friend), Lauren (Kathryn’s twin and maid-of-honor) and Tiffany (friend)
Kathryn’s grandmother (my mom), Kathryn and me
My mom Virginia Circe Owens, Kathryn and Bruce’s mom Sylvia
Elegant celebration and delicious food!

Post-shower note

Hurricane Ida was on its way to Louisiana while our Louisiana family was here in Jacksonville for the bridal shower. They left Jacksonville and drove back home in order to help secure their homes and be with the rest of their families. They did not evacuate. The damage was horrible … no electricity, no water. No injuries, thankfully

The following week, Bruce and I met Bruce’s brother Brian half way between Houma, LA and Jacksonville so we could pick up my mother-in-law. We took Sylvia back home to Jacksonville so she could live a couple of weeks with us until the power and water was restored in Louisiana. At 82 years, no A/C and no running water was just too hard on her.

As a mom, my 2¢ on the COVID injection and all things COVID19

If you read my lengthy blog articles when my son Brandon became so sick with Cov19 last summer (June 2020), you may recall my thought process when it came to the treatments we sought and were denied. I am not a medical doctor, but I have enough medical training in anatomy, physiology and pathology to hold a medical practitioner license in the state of Florida as a clinical manual/medical massage therapist in the field of physical therapy. On top of that, I believe my 26 years as a mother provides me with even more experience and credentials as far as a caregiver ensuring the well-being of my family.

Just like the rest of the world in early 2020, this pandemic took me by surprise and threw everything off kilter for our family. News coverage and the government spokespeople voices had us shaken, concerned and aware that this was serious. I didn’t believe the rumors it was all a hoax of some sort, because I knew people were getting sick. I saw that when doctors all over the world came forward explaining the success of protocols they were following, my ears perked up, and I sighed with relief because although we couldn’t possibly see a vaccine for years (because it does take YEARS for development, trials and approvals), we would have safe, proven, successful therapeutic medications to help us through this crisis.

But.

But then those tried-and-true medications were suddenly discredited despite dozens of doctors assuring their safety and success. When my son was so ill and I was laser focused on his recovery, the medications that I’d heard were safe, used for decades and inexpensive were suddenly ABSOLUTELY unavailable. I begged our family doctor to please let us try, and the doctors office we’d trusted for over two decades, flatly refused.

Hmmm.

And then I realized … the innoculation is the goal.

I researched. I learned. I researched and cross-referenced. I read and read. My eyes were opened. I put puzzle pieces together. I didn’t go to one resource, I went to hundreds. I asked questions. And then I watched as people that I agreed with become censored and become cancelled. Punished, discredited … all by the familiar mainstream media and by social media.

Oh my God. This was really happening. Division, hate, threats, fear-mongering.

When the time came for my age group to have the “blessed opportunity” of the miracle vac_cine, a FASTER THAN EVER in WORLD HISTORY immune drug I said ….

No.

I could go on and on, but I will not. I choose to respect others for their thoughts, their decisions and their actions. I only ask the same in return. Again, if you read my earlier posts, you would know that I passionately believe that making us wear masks over our noses and mouths not only did NOT protect us from others and vice versa, but actually would cause us harm by reducing our oxygen intake, increasing our carbon dioxide and increasing our likelihood of contracting a bacterial pulmonary infection such as pleurisy and pneumonia.

But back to the syringes … I’ve never been an anti va_ccin_er. All of my children have received their full schedule of shots over the years, but this was different. When those opposing it for various reasons (health, religion, distrust) became shamed, I saw that coming. When they became vilified, I saw that coming, too. When people started to lose their JOBS, I was floored. And at the same time, I was further awakened. This whole thing was always about a shot. Always about weakening, dividing and controlling us.

I could talk about the reported cases of injuries and death from this injection, but you can do your own research. It’s hundreds of thousands worldwide. People that I know and love have gotten the shots and have gotten ill from it. I will not have my children injected. I have left our pediatric office of 23 years due to its persistent insistence on having my children injected. I could talk about the evil forces that are behind all of this, but I won’t. Just believe when I say that this isn’t about keeping anyone healthy. It’s quite the opposite, sadly.

I’ve learned of doctors and nurses having their medical licenses threatened for not promoting and performing these injections. I learned that their jobs were also threatened had they promoted or prescribed the forbidden therapeutic medication. When I learned that the same source from which the virus itself originated was the same source who created the syringe contents, it all made sense. When I learned that the syringe contents were created and patented before the virus was created (and it was not naturally created), it made even more sense.

As time has gone by, I’ve become more and more firm in my beliefs and relieved that we did not receive this injection. Sadly, one adult child has, and her health has suffered for it. My goal with her is to cleanse her body of the toxins and other harmful components of the two injections.

I respect those who have followed their hearts and their need to protect their families by getting the injection. If you want to wear masks, go ahead and do so. But no one should force anyone to do so.

At this point, all of us in my family have gotten the virus over the past year. We’ve all been sick, we’ve all recovered and we’ve all built a robust immunity. We don’t want the shot, and we all should have the right to make the decision as to getting it or not. At this point, now that we’re being coerced and FORCED under threat of job termination, my husband is wondering if he will possibly lose his job as a healthcare facilities architect. Only time and events to come will tell.

So, as with everything that comes along in my life, I turn to God for strength, for wisdom, for discernment of the truth, and for guidance in making decisions. I know we will all get through this somehow. I keep my eyes up, my heart open and my faith rooted firmly in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I will not put my trust in any human leader, only my God.


BUSY, FABULOUS WEEKEND!

Just had to share that this past weekend, May 27 and 28 was INCREDIBLE!

I had been asked by the executive director of the crisis pregnancy organization where I volunteer if I would sing “GOD BLESS AMERICA” at their annual fundraising gala. Well, this is not little gala … it’s a 500+ person, elegant event held at the Renaissance Hotel ball room at the World Golf Village, with guest speakers, cocktail hour, TV cameras, hobnobbing and networking. It’s the single biggest source of funding that our center receives for all of their locations around town.

Well, I couldn’t do this without first consulting my #1 music collaborator, my songwriting composer right hand, Kenny. He composed an original backing track with piano for me to sing with and, although I was probably as nervous as I’ve ever been in my entire life, I pulled it off! As I was about to be introduced by the event’s MC, (a former “voice of the Jaguars” sports announcer) I believe than anyone in a 10 foot radius of me could hear my heart pounding. Bruce and I attended the gala together, which was very special because it fell on his birthday.

Quite an honor to be asked to perform “God Bless America” at yearly fundraiser gala!

ANNNND, the very next night our band had another gig, but no ordinary show … My kids and I planned a surprise for Bruce at the gig! I invited a bunch of his friends and co-workers, ordered a spread of food from the gig venue, and our daughter Lauren helped bring the cake I ordered! It was a huge success … he had no clue! He was quite happy!! Successful night #2!

Happy Birthday, Babe!

Performing again!

Sooooo excited to report that my band, Fran Pitre and Class Act is back to performing live after a 7 month break! I won’t be blogging about all of our upcoming performances on this site, but for this first one we performed at a local venue that warmly welcomed us, and so did the house! I cannot begin to express how happy I am to get the band back on stage!

For anyone interested in following my musical journey and upcoming events, please visit: franpitresings.com and follow my band page on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FRANPITREandCLASSACT

Thank you for understanding how incredibly JOYFUL this opportunity is for this mom! Please remember to follow your dreams when the time is right. Remember that our dreams weren’t given to us by mistake.


Our daughter’s wedding is back on!

Just a quick post to announce that, despite all of the craziness this past year has brought us, Kathryn and Jonathan feel confident that proceeding on with the new wedding date of October 22nd will work!

So, I’ll be hosting her bridal shower this summer (probably August) along with her twin sister Lauren and younger sister Erin and other bridesmaids including cousins in Louisiana. With Kathryn already in Tuscon, and me here in Jacksonville, it will be long distance planning and assisting in any way that I can. Since I must be honest, I admit that I wish soooo much that she wanted to have her wedding in her home town and home state where most of her family live, especially those who don’t feel comfortable traveling these days with flight restrictions, etc, plus the fear of getting sick. But, it’s not my wedding, it’s theirs. So, I’ll do everything I can to help, all the while wishing I could do more hands on.

Because it’s in October, we’ll have to take the boys out of school for a week or so. I don’t know if we’ll be driving or flying, but we’re looking into both options. Ultimately, we are so looking forward to celebrating our first born (older than her twin by 1 and 1/2 minutes) and her husband to be!

Volunteering again!

Once the kids began school, I jumped into the volunteer helper role pretty quickly because I wanted to stay active and close to them. I was a homeroom mom several years for several grades helping their teachers with activities such as projects and field trips. I volunteered in the cafeteria, helped with fundraisers large and small, and from pre-K through high school, I was happy to use my creativity to help both our schools and our church as the yearbook committee chairperson and as a member of our church choir.

With the passage of time and the growing up of my kids, plus the added aspect of this crazy world where everything feels off, imbalanced and full of so much confusion, I felt a pull to reenter a ministry that I hadn’t been actively involved in for years: that being the PRO-LIFE movement.

For years prior to our having a family, Bruce and I were actively involved as trained counselors at a crisis pregnancy center in Northern Virginia. Over the years as our family grew, I would step in to help with office and newsletter work at our local center here in Jacksonville, but I hadn’t stayed consistently involved having been so busy with our young children. But the time felt right to put myself back in the role of pro-life counselor. I contacted our local center, met with the director and some of the other staff members, became familiar with recent industry practices and protocols, and read up on everything. I went through training and shadowing of other counselors and then began to help women in crisis

What an honor and humbling experience this decision has been. Many people that come to our center are simply in need of a proof of pregnancy form signed by a healthcare professional so that she can apply for Medicaid. But, as expected, many come in out of fear that they are facing an overwhelming situation that was not expected.

As counselors, we are faces and voices of nonjudgmental people who understand, who listen, the repeat back what our clients are telling us so they know that they are being heard and understood. We assure each person who has come to us for help that she is safe, she is validated, supported and she is not alone. We offer a vast amount of information and resources for her to make an INFORMED DECISION if she is experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Each person is completely individual in social and health situation, history, family dynamic and either family support or lack thereof. Ultimately, we provide food for thought and enough support that decisions can be made. Faith is a component of our counseling session if the client has expressed religious beliefs while we talk about her options.

This role is difficult and wonderful at the same time. It’s frightening. Before entering the counseling room each time, I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide my words. I pray for each client and for the baby she is carrying. I am in awe and very humbled that God can use me as his instrument to help another woman in need. For now, I will volunteer a full day, once per week, and we’ll see where this may lead.

What a DIFFERENCE a year makes.

Well, it’s been a year, folks! And here we are, one year since the start of spring break 2020 when so many questions were flying around about what was going on … what were we all going to do? Would we keep the kids home from school for a while? What about our jobs? How long was all of this going to last? Sigh. You know what I mean.

Just like everyone else, we just didn’t know what was out in front of us. There were so many questions, and there was so much to worry about.

If you keep up with my blog or if you scroll down and catch up, you’ll learn that we experienced COVID-19 in this family in a very serious way … just as so many families did. And in the beginning, we all felt stopped in our tracks, stunted, somewhat paralyzed and all harboring a constant level of fear and worry.

But as time went by, the Pitre family started to breathe and decided to stretch our legs, open our windows, and get back into life.

Never intending to debate political items on this blog (or anywhere, really … it’s not my thing), my take on wearing masks have never been one of “YES”, and the reason for that stems from my life as an asthmatic and from my knowledge and education in an aspect of medical field with focus on health and wellness. Our bodies were created to breathe, and not to live behind pieces of cloth that prevent sufficient and healthy oxygen intake and which cause us to breathe in our own bacteria, causing respiratory and pulmonary disease. However, my family and I complied with the safety mandates issued for protection out of respect for other people, businesses we entered, and so on. I absolutely was not (and am still not) a fan of long-term wear for health reason of the wearer, which was one reason I kept my youngest boys (our 3rd twin set) home from school all last fall.

But, time proved that our boys needed to return to school for both academic (Benjamin) and social (Sean) reasons. I know our college kids Erin and Brandon have had a touch time maneuvering college classes completely online, sometimes not moderated by any teacher or professor at all.

So our youngest boys returned to school after Christmas break, and have been doing very well. I try to put the image of them in masks all day out of my mind. I wash their reusable supply of masks each night in hospital strength antiseptic, and then let a hot dryer kill any remaining bacteria. So far, so good!

So, as we rounded the turn of 2020 to 2021, we exhaled and knew that somehow we’d all get through these very challenging and unique times in our lives. I do look back on 2020 and, although I really didn’t know what was all going to come of this global situation, I’m proud of how most people, once the shock had worn off, went on with life. And so did we.We adjusted … my husband Bruce is still very busily working from home as an architect and project manager of many local hospital projects and attending several meetings per week; the kids are all thriving through the school year; boy scout meetings, projects and camping trips have continued; our middle twin set, Erin and Brandon have each started new jobs; I’ve picked up some consistent contract-based graphic design work for extra income, I’ve studio recorded my updated book TWINS x 3 to be produced as an audiobook hopefully in about a year, and I survived 2 spontaneous shoulder dislocations and a third surgery and extensive rehab on that shoulder. Oh, and my music collaborator Kenny and I completed and released a second album of original music in Nov 2020.

Life continues to go on, and when the bouts of confusion, frustration and disappointment with interruptions occur, I just take a breath, pray for continued discernment, wisdom and the TRUTH, and most of all rely on my firm belief that God has all of this.

We all feel very secure and blessed. Yes, very blessed.

Yes, very blessed.

Life is meant to be lived, come what may. Get out into it. Breathe.

We are sooooo fortunate to live so close to the coast … only 7 miles from the beaches, and oh yes, we enjoy them all year round.

I was so excited when my kids agreed to work on one of the songs on the music album that was released just a few months ago. During 2020, the music always continued. The music performing was very stop and go, hit or miss, but my co-writer and I worked hard and put out a second album in November 2020. I’ve also been working on my updated book’s audio book recording. Completing that project will be jumping to the top of my project priority list soon!

In 2019, I wrote a song called “JUST LIKE THAT” … that life can change in the blink of an eye, but together, we can face anything. How appropriate for 2020. Here are 3 of the six recording harmonies and backup vocals on “JUST LIKE THAT” in the recording studio, Sept 2020.

As a family we hold tight, we pray a lot, we attend Mass online each week, and we get outside as much as possible. Bruce and I need to continue to reassure our kids that things were going to be okay, that no matter what, we stick together, even if things feel unsure and scary. So we keep our projects going, our lives as familiar as possible, and keep the course moving ahead, steady and strong.

Our eldest (1st born/1st set) daughter Kathryn and her fiance Jonathan decided to have a small, private marriage ceremony in Tucson last October (without family because we couldn’t travel), but we will all be going out there this coming autumn for an official marriage blessing and Mass celebrated by Kathryn’s uncle, our family priest (my brother), Scott.

Lauren (2nd born/1st set) lives away from us now in a house here in Jacksonville with two other girls, works full-time from her home office, but spends many weekends here at our home. For a while, when everyone was completely locked down and quarantined, it was torture not being able to be with her. Thankfully, that didn’t last too long. I plan to FINALLY visit my Mom and step-Dad soon, and hopefully we’ll be able to visit Bruce’s family in Louisiana soon, as well. Gosh it’s been 14 months since I’ve hugged my mom.

On a very personal note, this year has been a year of extremely powerful and exponential spiritual growth for me. Never in my life have I prayed, read my Bible (I read the One Year Bible each day) and dug down deeply to gather strength, conviction and determination to live. This past year has magnified and reinforced my dependence on God, and the ever-growing realization that I simply cannot survive and thrive without God’s guidance, comfort and support, but I also know that I can get through anything, that ALL of us can get through anything that this life throws at us, through Christ who’s strength empowers me.

Let’s choose to live with renewed purpose, love and a whole new level of appreciation for each and every person, and every single day.

I’d love to hear how your year went.

CLICK HERE If you’d like to check out our song “JUST LIKE THAT” and all of the new music!

If given the choice between distance learning and in-classroom learning, what do you choose?

When the new school year began this year, we parents in the state of Florida were given a choice when considering the threat of contracting Covid 19: do we keep our children home and continue distance learning, or do we equip them with face masks, hand sanitizer, and strict instructions for correct social-distancing practices and send them back to school?

Well, the good news, as I already stated is that here in the state of Florida, we were given the choice to either continue distance learning or allow our children to return to a brick-and-mortar school, back in the classroom. As parents, we should consider either determination of this choice correct. There is no correct or incorrect option considering this choice. The important thing is to choose what is best for your children, for your peace of mind as a parent, and for what you feel is best for your family.

Following the traumatic summer of older son being being very ill with the cornona virus, when August arrived, I was simply not ready to send my youngest two boys back to school for fear that we’d be inviting another case or two of this virus into our family. So we decided to continue distance learning from our home. Sean and Ben have been attending 6th and 7th grade via Microsoft Teams through a secure site on our county school system’s site referred to as “Home Room”. Our teachers (God Bless them all) are teaching students in their classroom along with those who have opted to learn from home.

After a few weeks of adjustments and tweaking, my boys and I fell into a groove of getting up, getting dressed, eating breakfast and then sitting down at 8:30 am to begin their first scheduled classes. The days continue through their classes with a few breaks (and lunch), followed by my orders to “now go out and ride your bikes!” when the school day is over.

As the weeks and months have progressed, I’ve done my best to help each child stay on top of their classwork and homework assignments amid computer issues and internet disruptions. I received many assignment pages to print out, and then to upload once completed. Different teachers approach assignment tasks differently than others, and there have been changes, inconsistencies and problems to solve throughout our experience. It’s been frustrating, and as time has passed, I’ve questioned effectiveness of long-term online learning for my middle-school students. Are my boys truly learning well? Are they able to connect with their teachers, ask enough questions, feel that they are participating and keeping up with the subject matter? In some instances, their grades and my discussions with their teachers have indicated that they are, but in many instances, they’re not.

So I started to weigh the options again between distance learning and possibly returning them to the classroom, and again, I feel very fortunate to live in a state where we currently have the choice between attending school either in the classroom or virtually.

Where I stand today, my plan is to transition our boys back to the classroom after the Christmas break, at the start of this school year’s third quarter. The boys will be equipped with fresh personal protection equipment recommended by a friend who works healthcare, which has successfully protected her and her children so far.

What changed my mind?

I realize that there is a current surge in corona virus cases due to weather changes, as it would align with this year’s flu season, and that I, as a mother, must do everything I can to protect my children. And as parents, we must take into account all factors of our children’s well-being. I’ve realized that as the school year has progressed, my boys have demonstrated the symptoms of isolation, of frustration, irritability, most likely due to their lack of socialization. I’ve begun to wonder if my desire to keep them from getting ill from this virus (a survivable virus in more than 99% of cases) has been causing my children harm and in more ways than the virus, if they were to contract it, would.

I feel slightly more confident to move in this direction of sending them back to school for two reasons. 1- it appears evident that the virus is mutating and weakening. Those that I personally know who have become ill, do not appear to be as ill or for the illness to be as long-lasting as it has been in during last winter and in the spring/summer; and 2- therapeutics and medication protocols have tremendously improved as compared to treatment guesses that were enlisted last spring. In fact, therapeutic approaches have improved significantly and are more readily available even compared to July and August when my son Brandon was sick. I plan to continue the preventative measures we have been using for months: Vitamins D and C along with daily zinc supplements together with healthy nutrition and plenty of sleep. And if our two healthy young boys are to contract the virus, we and our doctor know what measures to take for their recoveries.

And if others in our immediate family catch the virus, hopefully we’re young and health enough to manage well.

For now, starting our second school quarter, and as we approach the holidays and the end of this incredible year 2020, we plug along just like everyone else, making the best choices for our families, staying positive and faithful, and looking forward to a safe and healthy 2021!

What are your thoughts on this subject? How are you handling your children’s education today? Please share your comments, questions and thoughts for further discussion!


Rest, Recuperation and the Road to Recovery

It’s called a ‘novel coronavirus’ … a “new” virus never experienced before in the history of humankind. Some healthcare professionals say that it is, however, approximately 78% the same as common coronaviruses responsible for common colds and influenza. This number obviously leaves a significant 22% of unknowns, unpredictables and sleepless nights.

I know there are many who have had a much worse experience than we have, families with several members sick at the same time, and the loss of many loved ones. I’m simply sharing our particular, present experience with the hope that something about it can be helpful to someone else.

(Warning: Brief Digression) I have strong beliefs about the evil reasons behind this virus’s very existence, but don’t we all? Being denied access to in-person medical care by our 20-year primary care doctor while Brandon’s status was “positive” (when he needed them the most), as well as being denied access to the until-recently-available, 65-year-old, safe medication that multitudes of passionate, reputable, front-line practicing physicians all over the U.S. have proven can actually prevent (protect), shorten and cure this virus, has been an experience that I find very difficult to accurately and sufficiently describe. I’ve recently contacted our Florida governor, both senators and our district’s house representative to request new legislation that will ensure our rights as citizens the availability of requested medications that are being blatantly withheld. If you agree with me, please contact your legislators, as well. This mother bear has been angered and has been growling for many weeks.

Ok, enough of that.

My objective for this post is to share which therapies we feel have proven beneficial for my son as far as immunity boosters and other medication treatments are concerned. Doctors everywhere are perplexed, so there is little proven (available) protocol to follow yet. So, while following advice from professionals, and through some personal trial and error, parental instincts and common sense, we’ve arrived today at Brandon’s current status of “starting to feel better”.

I am not a doctor, and I am not making recommendations for you nor for your family members. Only you and your doctor know what is best for you. However, the following is a list of supplements/medications that Brandon has taken throughout his journey with this virus, and he is, thankfully slowly recovering.

1— Zinc and Vitamin C
The 13.3 mg of zinc found in products such as Cold-eeze, and Airborne, for example taken 4 times per day (with food) has provided a significant decrease in Brandon’s symptoms. Zinc on the vitamin aisle in pill form will provide your full day’s dose with just one tablet. Additional vitamin C is also beneficial for immunity support. He’s been taking Emergen-C Immune which contains 1,000 mg vitamin C.

2— Baby Aspirin
One daily dose of an 81 mg baby aspirin seems to have improved and prevented further problems with his circulation. He had complained of cold feet and hands in the beginning. Blood clots are a common occurrence with this virus and can occur when patients are bedridden. For Brandon, X-rays and CT scans (complete with contrast imaging dye injections) at his two ER stays ruled out any blood clots in his lungs, abdomen and extremities.

3— Tylenol (acetaminophen)
There was initially the belief that ibuprofen (ex: Advil, Motrin IB) worsened COVID cases and led to many deaths, but later that belief was deemed false. We didn’t want to take any risks, so we simply continued the use of acetaminophen to help reduce fever and body aches.

4— Corticosteroid oral inhaler
Qvar RediHaler is an inhaled medication (beclomethasone dipropionate) that Brandon was prescribed last fall to help treat a chest cold. He located his inhaler and started using it from the onset of his COVID symptoms to prevent congestion and possible pneumonia and to encourage lung function to properly continue its ability to effectively oxygenate his blood. I truly believe this inhaled steroid has played a big part in keeping his lungs clear.

5— Albuterol (via nebulizer breathing machine)
Due to having six children and many cold and flu seasons, we bought our own nebulizer machine many years ago. We asked our doctor to please prescribe Brandon albuterol sulfate liquid vials for use in the nebulizer. For several weeks, he gave himself nebulizer breathing treatments twice per day or when needed to further aid in bronchial and lung health tissue dilation. He hasn’t needed to use this treatment in the last week.

6— Molecular Hydrogen (dissolving tablets)
Dissolved in 16 oz of water and consumed 1-2 times per day, OTC (search online: “molecular hydrogen tabs”) as a powerful method of providing hydration at the very cellular level, and is the most powerful antioxidant on the planet, preventing free radicals from forming which become harmful cells, and destroying the free radicals that already exist. When we hydrate every cell of our bodies, we allow them to work at their full active potential, and we can turn illness around and prevent further disease. I’ve given Brandon this supplement every day since he got sick. He now is a true believer in its benefits.

Sincere Appreciation to Healthcare Professionals

We also depended upon and were eternally grateful for the health care he could received. Thank God the ER doctors and staff came to his rescue twice when he most needed them. They are our heroes, without a doubt. When Brandon received his second consecutive negative COVID test early last week, he was only then finally allowed to see our primary care doctor for an in-person examination. After the examination, the doctor ordered blood work to assess his overall wellness, and prescribed him a broad-spectrum antibiotic to treat a suspected sinus infection which was probably behind his lagging sore throat. Our doctor also prescribed him some further anti-anxiety medication for use only as needed. Anxiety and fear has played an enormous part in all of this, especially at night.

Simon, our family’s rest and recuperation expert and role model

All along, Brandon has remained well-hydrated and well-fed when his appetite allowed. He rests and sleeps as much as he wants to (taking our dog Simon’s nonverbal advice), walks around inside and outside our house to encourage circulation, and to start rebuilding his stamina. When it’s not too hot outside, he opens his bedroom window to bring in fresh air. We’ve isolated him completely, or rather, he self-isolated himself, until he received his second negative test, and we’ve been careful to disinfect surfaces all along.

Although he’s feeling better, reports the return of his ability to smell and taste, and that his hair and nails have begun to grow again, he still says he’s far from “feeling good”. His skin still feels hot and sensitive to warm temperatures (especially around his core), and is peeling in places. He still has joint and muscle pain. His blood test results were given to him over the phone, and indicated that all was normal, with no sign of the COVID virus still in his blood.

We pray that he feels like himself again soon, that he has no long-term health problems as a result of this virus’ effects. It’s clear to us that he had a significant and dangerous case. We know it could have gone in a completely different direction, and we’re so thankful that it didn’t. We pray that no other family members nor friends become infected and sickened, especially those who are older.

We also pray for the thousands people going through this right now. Many homes include multiple sick family members, and it’s so frightening and truly dangerous when the elderly are exposed and sickened.

Many thanks to all who ask for updates, and for your continued prayers. We are blessed that our boy is slowly recovering. Despite the frustrations we all feel about this pandemic, I have no doubt that we will persevere through it. In the meantime, we’re concentrating on taking care of each other, trying to remain patient, praying to God for guidance and protection, and keeping our faith strong.