Lego Masters

These last few days during the pandemic have been increasingly busy on the work front.  In fact, I’m getting a (temporary) new job; physician lead of the logistics and transfer center, which means I’ll be overseeing the transfers of patients between facilities and will have to keep our capacity and resources matched once the COVID-19 surge begins.  Our hospital in Lebanon has 10 ICU coronavirus patients and our system has tested over 250+ patients.  Mike was on-call last week and had one scare with a patient who ultimately ruled out for COVID, but in general had a slow week.  That being said, he’s been busy helping the fellowship and heart and vascular department make their contingency plans.  Here in PA the surge is expected right around our anniversary. 

We’re doing well, although there’s no doubt that the mix of emotions continues to be a rollercoaster.  Over the last couple of weeks we’ve come to realize that it’s not just because we’re in healthcare, but the struggle to predict what’s coming and balance, interpret and respond to the daily changing regulations and recommendations is stressful and even exhausting at times for everyone.  Perhaps this has always been the case, but social media seems bounce back and forth between intriguing and disgusting me and it’s hard to know how much it’s actually informing any of us on truth.   

On the other hand, at home it seems we’ve settled into an even more comfortable routine.  We’ve become a lot more intentional about connecting with friends and family and have been really uplifted by this and our twice weekly bible study group gatherings.  On the family text chain, Catherine asked us to share one thing that brought us joy that day and after several of us shared 3 things each, the joy in the day had clearly multiplied for everyone.

We’ve probably played more games in the last couple weeks than we did in the last couple months.  Lukas’ school assignments have gotten more serious but he seems to enjoy and appreciate them and does them all completely independently.  We also all seem to be getting more creative! 

For those of you who haven’t seen it, Lego Masters is the best new reality show on television. We all love it and make it a weekly routine to watch it together; and honestly that’s a first for us as a family.  Mike and I have a few shows we watch regularly after the kids are in bed, and Mike and Luke share sports, but there hasn’t been a show all 5 of us have ever watched together regularly! So, this is a very fun new experience for us.  It’s a team based competition where the pairs build various scenes and the Lego masters judge them, and it’s been amazing and inspiring to see what they can build! 

Here are some of the best photos from our last week: 

Staircase made by Nicholas

 A Nerf Gun

Our own 30 minute Lego Masters competition where “there are no Losers; everybody has to vote for their favorite not their selves,” rules written by LFP, of course.  

The Badger by Nicholas and the T-Rex by Jacob (and Mom) 

 The Fiery Angel, by Mommy 

 The Sea Turtle, by Lukas 

 The Great Blue, by Daddy was everyone’s favorite!

This week, one of the docs from work sent around this inspiring reflection:  

Sir William Osler, an acclaimed giant in our history preached equanimity as a core character trait for physicians, meaning calmness of soul.  To paraphrase another literary giant, equanimity is keeping your head when all about you are losing theirs. 

In so far as I can control it, I’m going to continue to seek to be an example of this “equanimity,” hoping it helps those around me.  

Love and Hugs to you all.