This blog summarizes our last month since returning to Turkey. We knew we were coming back to a full lockdown for a few weeks, but we did not know how beautiful spring would be when we returned, and it was beautiful!
The day before we left, while visiting with high school friends at one of their houses, Benjamin decided to play in the bushes. He got into something, and the day we departed, he had what looked like some bug bites on his arm and a small rash on the side of his face. We didn’t think much of it at the time, since there are plenty of bugs in Florida, but by the time we got home, he was very itchy, red, and swollen all over his face and arms. We talked to the doctor and he thought it was poison ivy or poison oak, given the situation and after a couple days of Benadryl and oatmeal baths not helping and the rash spreading to his chest, he was put on Prednisone, which ultimately did the trick.
Some aspects of this lockdown were pretty ridiculous, in my opinion. We were technically supposed to be in our homes for 17 days, however we are lucky to have a neighborhood that understands it is good for kids to be outside, and we were able to get the kids out to play each day. In order to drive, you needed permission from the government so very few people worked. I stayed home the entire time and Nathan only went to work a couple days each week. Kadem, our nanny, was not able to come either, but her daughters were both able to be home with them so at least they could all be together. The only thing people could leave their homes (outside the neighborhood) for was necessities, specifically groceries or medicine, and the sale of everything else was banned. These are pictures from one of the grocery stores near our house. The first picture is the banning of school supplies, stationary, and books. Who needs these things when everyone is virtually schooled?!
Banning of makeup. If you can’t go outside, you shouldn’t be getting dolled up!
No electronic devices or appliances for you!
Who needs to buy toys when your kids are indoors for 3 weeks?
No alcohol so people couldn’t drink to their misery? Surprisingly, I went to buy wine the afternoon the lockdown ended and I thought the shelves would be empty, but they were pretty well-stocked. In seriousness, we heard they banned these items because it gave the larger chain stores an advantage over the smaller stores that had to remain closed.
When the full-lockdown ended, Kadem was able to come to our house again. Phase 1 of post full lockdown was curfew from 7pm - 5am and you can drive around, but all restaurants still remained closed, except for delivery. Nathan and I were just happy to go to the forest across the street to take a long walk together. We feel so lucky to have this literarily across the street from where we live. It is beautiful and the trails go for miles and miles!
That is our neighborhood in the distance.
During the full lockdown, we were home quite a bit more, and we enjoyed hanging around together.
Playing games
The boys rearranged Eliza’s room
And lots of playing outside! Another thing that has been a big step of freedom for the boys (and us) is walkie talkies. We bought them while in the US, and the kids are having so much fun with them. We have a large field of view from our home, so there are lots of places the kids can play where we can still see them from the window. It has been a game changer for all of us! The boys love the new responsibility, and as much as we like to be outside, it’s nice to watch from the house at times.
In phase 2, that started about a week ago, more establishments began to open, curfew is now 9pm - 5am Monday - Saturday and there is only complete lockdown on Sunday (because your can’t catch COVID on the other days of the week). One of those days, Nathan and I took the boys to IKEA, the aquarium, and for ice cream.
You’ve got mail! My Aunt Eileen told the kids that she would write them letters after we left, and they recently came in the mail. They were excited to get their letters, it was so sweet and thoughtful.
Benjamin was so happy to receive Peruvian money in his letter!
One day Caleb went with me for a pedicure, then we went on a date to get coffee and sit in a park, and visit his favorite bookstore.
Eliza is such a good little helper in the kitchen and her new thing is helping with the dishes.
Bless her heart for liking to clean up...I hope it sticks as she gets older!
We have had a fair amount of rain these past couple of weeks. We love watching the storms come in from miles and miles away. It’s such a neat view!
Another bit of good news we received was that the boys could go back to school one full day and two half days, the last 2 weeks of school! One day after school, I found this in Benjamin’s bag about him and his future wife. So sweet :)
He is studying cultures and traditions in social studies. I’m glad he likes our family movie night tradition. During these Coronavirus times, we have had a lot of them!
Eliza sometimes likes to ride her balance bike, but still prefers her pink scooter.
She is a monkey and hung for almost a minute the other day.
This is called the ‘jumping place’ for obvious reasons.
Picking up the boys by taxi from a half day at school one day.
This was our first restaurant outing since Nathan’s last birthday! We went to a restaurant by our house that serves delicious Turkish breakfast!
This is what we have been up to in a nutshell this past month! We hear Phase 3 will start in the beginning of July and will look forward to more things opening up then.
