Like many I was smug, together with my family I’d dodged Covid-19 alpha and delta variants.

We had endured almost three months of homeschooling and all the baking and reality TV watching of the covid-19 lockdowns.

On Saturday that smugness was replaced with dread as I watched the bright red lines gain thickness on my husband rapid antigen test. 

Omicron had found us. An unwelcome visitor to my little party of four and one that wouldn’t leave.

The kids jumped on Facebook messenger to their cousins in Earnscleugh: ‘Dads got covid!’ they squeaked excitedly.

For them this meant a three week holiday from school. They were happy to all be home together again.

Resolute that a pesky virus would not beat me I jumped online - grocery shopping, toilet paper, popcorn, ibruprofen, and powerade.

Day two and three hubby is in bed for stretches of the day, then drags himself up to watch the Grand Prix then Angry Birds 2 with the kids.

Scoffing painkillers like jellybeans he said he felt pretty bad. 

Day four I’m the only one still standing. Mr 5 and Miss 7 were positive for covid-19 yesterday, but largely asymptomatic. I feel like I have razor blades down inside my throat but I’m still negative. 

My mother-in-law drops food at our gate, including raspberries, ice cream and hot cross buns. Thank goodness as I can’t face any more time in the kitchen. 

Day five I’m awake at five in the morning thinking about how to tire out the kids so I can attempt to work a bit and convalesce with lozenges, the couch and the TV.  

I test positive around lunchtime…. It takes a minute or two for the lines to show up…. It still might be a false positive?

Day six and seven for hubby (day two and three for me) and it's a good thing he is feeling a bit better as I have fatigue as if I’ve had an all night bender. Just lifting my coffee cup is tiring. 

The kids play Roblox and watch Happy Gilmore. They decide that they can put themselves to bed for the first time ever and there is no bed time story read by mum or dad. 

The razor blades are gone for most of the day but there is a lot of pressure in my ears, eyes and nose.

One of the neighbours mows their lawn and it feels so loud, akin to a drill at the dentist. I’m sensitive to light, my head is pounding and tomorrow it’s Easter Sunday.

Some wonderful relatives hide some eggs for the kids in amongst the garden. Easter bunny still visits in covid times, he is like Santa like that. 

Isolating in isolation at Fraser Dam. PHOTO: Anna Robb

We take the dog to Fraser Dam for a fresh air break, no one is around, we wander mask free in the sunshine and soak up the beauty of the autumn colours.

A few days later I receive a text from Ministry of Health, I can leave isolation! I’m left with a sniffly nose, and I’m back to work. After two years of build up and anxiety and angst about catching covid-19 it feels like a bit of a let down now it has passed by. 

My family jokes that we are now ‘super immune’. I hope that for many in our community their experience has been as ours – enforced family time (12 days of it when we are all finally cleared), movies, easter eggs and another long weekend to look forward to as ANZAC day approaches, with more time to rest and recover.

If you have any questions about COVID-19, self-isolation, or what you need to do if you test positive, please call Healthline on 0800 358 5453. 

If you are self-isolating and require welfare support such as help getting groceries, please call 0800 512 337.  

There were 71 new positive covid-19 cases at 11.59pm April 18, and a total on 525 active cases in Central Otago according to Southern District Health Board's recent media release. For the Southern region there were 989 new cases and 6432 total cases. One person was in Dunstan Hospital, one in Waitaki, 8 in Southland (one in ICU), and 24 in Dunedin (1 in ICU).

If you have a similar story of how you've managed with covid-19 isolation to share please email: [email protected]