C*vid Got The Copelands! Here’s How We Pushed Through!

Well...The Copeland household finally got hit with Covid. This is not how we planned to start the year, but…it happened. 

 Luckily for us, we were together, we didn’t get major respiratory issues and didn’t need hospitalization. 

We wanted to record this episode for you and share our experiences because 1)  the Covid cases are skyrocketing here in California and the entire country. Many people have their travel plans disrupted or canceled. 2) It’s easy to get angry and bitter when things don't go your way or as planned; especially in this situation. 

We're hoping by sharing our story and our experience with you that we can offer some encouragement for whatever situation you may be in. It might be Covid or another setback you are facing, but it will all come to pass. 

We're not always in control, even with the best-laid plans so rather than being angry, when things don't turn out how we want, here's your friendly reminder to surrender when things are out of your control. 

We hope you enjoy this episode and read on to hear what happened, our TOP tips and how we PUSHED through when Covid caught up to us. Enjoy friends!

Here's how it all went down... 

On Dec 25th my nephew Logan spent Christmas with us, and had a cold. (He’s only 3, and he and his parents all had no symptoms and also tested negative for Covid prior to coming over.)

On the 26th, Jasmyn (our oldest daughter), started developing cold-like symptoms, so we thought she might have caught his cold.

On Dec 27th we spent the day with my brother and SIL, who were in town from San Francisco. 

On the 28th we spent the day at Disneyland, with double masks, we socially distanced, and washed our hands and used hand sanitizer all day. 

That afternoon, Dec 28th while at Disneyland, my stepmom (who spent Christmas with my brother and SIL), tested positive for Covid. My brother and SIL got tested immediately and were both negative. But their 11 month old son, who was in San Francisco at home with his grandmother, tested positive. 

While at Disneyland, Jasmyn started to get really congested. We drove home with her wearing a mask in the car. The following morning, on the 29th, we all took covid tests, and everyone tested negative, including Jasmyn, even though she was pretty sick. (Flu-like symptoms: Chills, congestion, cough.) 

On the 29th, my brother and SIL started to develop symptoms, but their Covid results were still negative. Even though they were now back home caring for their child who had Covid. 

On the 30th every one of the Copelands was still negative and the 4 of us felt 100% fine. (We only tested again because Jasmyn was so sick, and she had been home with us for the previous few weeks.) Since the 4 of us felt fine, everyone except for Jasmyn got our BOOSTER SHOTS. 

Jan 1st, Jasmyn went back to her apartment to self isolate. The rest of us had some side effects from the booster shot, but just fatigue and chills.

The morning of Jan 2nd, Kaylah took a PCR test to be able to travel back home to Scotland. It was negative. However, around 8pm that night, Kaylah, Eddie, myself and Jordan noticed we had slight coughs and scratchy throats. We all took antigen tests at home and Jordan tested positive (with a VERY faint line. Like a line that we BARELY NOTICED). However, everyone else tested negative. (Jordan has NOT left the house to go anywhere except Disneyland! So how the heck did SHE get it?)

24 hours later, on Jan 3rd at 8pm Eddie and Jordan both clearly tested positive. Jasmyn and I both still tested negative. Even though all our symptoms were exactly the same. 

Kaylah was traveling all day on Jan 3, (again, only because she was negative when she left). As the day progressed, her symptoms were worsening just like the rest of us. 

Jan 4th Kaylah tested as soon as she got home to Scotland. She tested positive. I was STILL NEGATIVE.

Jan 5th, we heard that people who were testing negative on antigen tests were swabbing their THROATS, versus their noses, and were finally coming back POSITIVE. So I took a test the night of the 5th and swabbed my throat. I was POSITIVE.

My brother and SIL never tested positive. (But also never swabbed their throats). My nephew or my daughter Jasmyn never did either (even though in hindsight, they all had the exact same symptoms.) 

Moral of the story… If someone is sick, assume it’s covid. And swab your throat!

Also, if you’ve been in contact with someone who has tested positive, DO NOT test immediately. It can take up to 5 days for you to either develop symptoms, or test positive. 

Now maybe you’re not terribly worried about Covid’s effects on you personally. But — it’s crucial to do all you reasonably can to avoid spreading it to others right now, especially the elderly, immunocompromised, or unvaccinated. 

Testing capacity is currently very strained and some hospitals are already running out of staffing and beds. It’s really important that we do not contribute to that crunch.

Some tips: 

1) I just found out I’ve been exposed to someone who tested positive — what’s the first thing I should do? Don’t run to get tested. Again, you won’t test positive immediately after it. So if it’s only been a day or two since your exposure, the thing to focus on first is not testing, but the possibility of needing to quarantine — and the certainty of needing a good mask.

2) When should I take a test? What should I do if I have difficulty getting a test?

The best time to get tested seems to be about five days after exposure (or at any time after a fever develops). Just remember that tests — especially rapid antigen tests — are not foolproof. And since the Omicron variant is less severe, symptoms can be mild.

3) If I get a negative test result, can I trust it?

No. Being negative one day doesn’t mean you won’t be positive in another day or two. These test results are highly inaccurate, particularly due to the new variant. If you have ANY symptoms, assume it’s Covid. 

Work - Most jobs will work with you. This is a tough time not just for employees, but specifically for employers and business owners. 

If you own a business: Your safety and the safety of your employees needs to be your top priority. There are thousands of businesses struggling right now.. We had a local restaurant post that they would be closed from Jan 1-14! 

Family - Do what’s right. Lots of people are canceling plans. If there are any hesitations, go with your gut feeling and sit that event out. 

Here is my list of our Covid Essentials:

Food - We immediately placed an Instacart order: Tons of veggies for soup (I made minestrone soup and bone broth chicken vegetable soup), garlic, lemon, roasted chicken, crackers, fruit, jello, ginger, green tea, cough drops, Pedialite /Gatorade, etc. 

We ordered fresh squeezed GREEN JUICES and ginger shots with lemon to be delivered.

Our neighbor dropped of TONS of fresh, homegrown blood oranges and grapefruits that we juiced!

Medicines / Homeopathic Remedies - 

Tylenol PM for fever, headaches, and body aches - https://amzn.to/3tptRrb

Lypo–Spheric Vitamin C Packets - I swear by this stuff! Even for just a simple cold it works wonders! I added one packet to a shot of fresh squeezed orange/grapefruit juice, and we had these twice a day. - https://amzn.to/3qihRp8

Deep Lung - For congestion - https://amzn.to/3FiXxIO

Colloidal Silver - Put under the tongue, good  for immunity - https://amzn.to/31OmgH2

Zinc -1000mg - 500 mg in the morning, 500 mg at night https://amzn.to/33whXAU

Green ginger tea with honey - Green tea = Antioxidants! Drink 2-3x a day. https://amzn.to/3fiEaVD

Water, tea and Gatorade - you will quickly become severely dehydrated. Drink even when you’re not thirsty!

Cough drops - https://amzn.to/3nhT1UI

Thermometer - https://amzn.to/3Fe4gnj

Mucinex - Ok to take if congested. To help loosen up mucus in chest (which we did not have) https://amzn.to/3FhOFCX

Hot Tea Recipe

Green Ginger Tea: 

Fresh ginger 

Cinnamon sticks

Fresh garlic 🧄 

Honey 

Lemon juice 

A friend shared this recipe with me for Chicken Bone Broth. I made it and then added tons of vegetables, spices and shredded chicken from a rotisserie chicken. It was delicious! https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/11994-cold-cure-soup 

Some good TV Shows, books & puzzles: We watched The Morning Show, Swan Song, ALL the Star Wars movies, Long Story Short, Otherhood, Resort To Love (last 3 are Rom Coms! Janelle’s pics! lol)

Lots of hot baths and long naps!

Stay safe and take precautions! 

Sending all our love,

Janelle & Eddie