Stumbling Through Adulthood

You know those minor things that annoy but are really nothing in the larger scheme? Well, this is about one of those.

Every year, probably because of some long ago cold in December, we run out of tissues at Christmas. We then purchase a gigantic quantity at Costco, in holiday themed boxes, and.... repeat the exact same pattern the following year. This has been going on for.... probably close to a decade.

I'm not overly font of the Christmas patterns to begin with, but having to use then in June was just insult to injury.

My mom has allergies so we finished last year's selection in the summer! Finally, I thought, the cycle was broken!

Then came Covid with her and dh sick (Linnea didn't have many symptoms, just some sneezing). Then came dh's cold that I caught.

I had to buy tissues again this Christmas. And about half the boxes have a Christmas pattern. Feh.

But!

Then I came up with a wonderful idea.

I did a tissues transplant! When I finished the box by my bed, with a flower pattern, I procured a new Christmas patterned one, carefully slit open the old box, tore apart the Christmas box, and transplanted the tissues from one box to the other. Resealed with tape (couldn't find any glue) and this should work fine. And I don't have to look at Christmas trees for the next three months when I wake up.

🤣

Perry and I got our Covid shots -Novavax- today at noon-ish.

Last time, with Pfizer I was in bed with a fever and chills by evening, and he was miserable. I remained in bed for the next two days, fever just under 103F, chills, headache, nausea, body aches.

Fingers crossed Novavax is different. I mean, I'd continue to get vaxxed no matter, because I saw poor dh with Covid and nope, don't want to do that, but it would be really nice if it could be a bit less dramatic of a reaction, LOL.

That said, I never got sick and neither did Perry, so eh. MDs have told us that the strength of the reaction has zip to do with how much immunity you end up having, but we're the only two of 12 with known exposures not to have gotten sick in the family group so?

Yay! Novavax updated Covid vaccine wins FDA, CDC backing, paving way to reach Americans within days.

I am planning on getting that one. The mRNA vaccines have served me well (Perry and I either didn't catch covid or had zero symptoms when everyone else who could caught it), but they're also brutal on my system. Each vaccine after the first has meant about 48 hours of fever, chills, body aches etc etc etc. So, eh, I'm going to try Novavax to see if my body reacts any better.

1. I really think Autumn is my favorite season. I love Winter and Spring and absolutely despise Summer, but somehow, the clear, crisp days of Fall always speak to me. I love hiking in the fall as well, though it doesn't look like we'll be doing much of that because....

2. My sister's remodel was late and going to be even later. At this point, it looks like she won't be ready to take my mom until early next year. I don't know how we're going to manage; this house is just not set up for an extra person who doesn't spend time like the rest of us... I mean, we're all able to sit in the same room and give each other our own space... my mom chatters, hums, and is otherwise... disruptive, putting stress on all of us. Noise cancelling headphones work, but she just talks longer and louder, so NSM. To be fully honest. Had I know it was going to be for this long, I would have argued harder for memory care, something my sister wanted to delay. Days like yesterday, which was gruesome and started at around 3am when my mom marched upstairs to the living area, turned on all the lights, all the while shouting that here she was, mom/hanna, and wouldn't go back to bed. Then woke up a few hours later with some serious delusions, left the house to look for "her children", and was distressed all day because "her children" didn't come home. It's... hard.

3. Dh is still testing positive, sigh. House still wide open, I'm still sleeping in the living room, dh, Perry, and I continue to mask. It looks, at this point, like Perry and I managed to dodge this bullet, not quite sure how.

On Sunday, Perry and AC rowed in a mixed double in the Pink Ribbon Row, the current incarnation of Row for the Cure, dunno why the name change.

They rowed in a masters even, so despite having by far the fasted time, they came in third once the massive handicaps were applied. They're both pleased and it was nice to know they'd rowed together!

The phots aren't great, but here they are:







Anne-Chloe bemoaned her posture and Perry admitted that he was rushing to the catch.



Quick update here: my mom seems to be getting better quickly, dh not as far, and he's far more tired than I'd like. I'm actually worried about it. O2 levels are fine for both of them. My aunt, in Vancouver, is doing better as well, as is bro and family is Louisiana. Linnea is fine. Sis and BIL still fine.

Perry and I are still ok. He's sure he's escaped, I'm still waiting to get sick. Probably after everyone else is better, LOL.

I am still so sad about my camping trip. But eh.

Linnea is skipping off to B'ham tomorrow, leaving me with the sickies. I'm a bit irked at this. Not that I need a lot of help, but I can certainly use it, and Perry is rowing and coaching in the mornings, and coaching in the afternoons and evenings.

We were supposed to be headed camping at Crater Lake today. David tested (+) for Covid, after several (-) tests and ironically at about the time he started feeling a bit better.

So.

Before we went on vacation with family, we all tested. I had tested Linnea before because she'd had an exposure and she was sick. BUT. It was a lot of gastro symptoms, after eating flax seed and fish oil pancake her friend's parents made. Needless to say, flax seed and fish oil are a 'oh hell no' for my "ramen and mac-e-chee from the box" child, so the gastro side-effects were not unexpected. I did test her a few extra times, 2 and 4 days after exposure. She was (-).

During the trip, she was feeling fine, though sneezy for a day or so at one point or another, but by a few days in my nephew wasn't feeling great. I'm not sure if her sneezy and his starting to feel cruddy came at the same time, it was mild stuff for both of them, but it was about 48 hours after we got together.

Note that during the trip, because of the way things worked out, Dh and I had Linnea, niece, and nephew in the car with us pretty much everywhere we went, and the five of us went on a few excursions without the others. Some of those with my mom, sigh.

So. On the way home, nephew started really feeling cruddy, when we get back to my place, (+).

Linnea also tested (+).

I think it was separate exposures, tbh. Nephew started feeling cruddy too soon after getting together with us for it to have been Linnea, I think. If the incubation period is less than 48 hours (which would have been needed for when he started feeling cruddy and when we all got together), Linnea should have tested positive on at least one of the tests. I suspect both were exposed independently, and Linnea not on her known exposure. Since my MIL is also sick (and she wasn't around Linnea), as are two other people I know who've avoided it up to now... I think community spread is a lot higher than we know. Sigh.

So. Everyone masked up, we isolated the two positives as well as possible. We all did our best, stayed outside as much as possible. We did our best.

Bro and family flew back to Louisiana. They called the airline, and no dice on getting rescheduled because of Covid. WTF? Oh, they could rebook for next week... at $1000 per person.

Yesterday, my brother felt crappy, as did my niece. And my SIL. (+), all of them. That said, all of them are feeling a lot better today.

My aunt and dh were coughing, but both feel more or less fine (no fever, not other symptoms). Both tested (-) yesterday.

I drove my aunt up to Vancouver yesterday. She was terrible about wearing her mask or wore it improperly. I kept the car fan on, and a window behind me cracked, and my mask on. But it was still three hours in the car with her. I gave her a home-test kit, hopefully she'll use it today.

Dh woke up this morning feeling a lot better, though still coughing. And tested (+). Fuuuuck.

So no camping trip to Crater Lake. If it was just the two of us, we'd go, but we're supposed to meet up with my sis and BIL and bring my mom. They had Covid just recently, so might have some protection. I don't feel comfortable taking my mom, though. Especially since she would be sleeping in the RV not a nice airy tent! She doesn't need to expose them.

Plan for today: get dh Paxlovid if that's what his doctor recommends, see if I can get an Rx. Still in a panic about my mom and aunt. I don't know if I can give my mom a test, my SIL did it (she's a nurse), and get reliable results.

Fuck this shit. So fucking stupid.

I'm still feeling fine. I expect it's just a matter of time, since Perry and I are the only ones of the trip with no recent Covid and still feeling ok. Perry and AC are rowing together tomorrow, I hope he stays healthy for that. Or at least tests (-). Or something.

ETA My mom tested negative, but she is coughing. Her meds mean no Paxlovid. I guess I should take her to urgent care to see if they will prescribe Molnupiravir or metformin? It's hard to know.

All of a sudden, a whole bunch of CPR related trending items popped up on twitter.

I checked it out, of course.

A football player (Damar Hamlin) was injured during a game and needed CPR/AED before being transported to the hospital. No words on his condition at this point.

What shocked the snot out of me? I saw the news very early, without 10 minutes of his being hurt etc. And SO many, too many, of the posts were immediately about how it was probably vaccine related, just like "Died Suddenly" or whatever their misinformation drivel movie is called.

Because of Elon Fucking Mush (sic) they get to spew their lies, and can't even be reported, this is no longer a covid misinformation path.

Ugh.

I hope the young man is ok in the end, though it looks pretty dire.

I am generally so very impressed with how Linnea manages to adult. She truly does a decent job at it, and even more so when you consider the learning issues.

And then...

It took 10 days to get an appointment for her vaccines. She went today. And only got the flu vaccine.

Why didn't she get the covid booster? Because she could not remember the name, and because the map I sent showed flu prevalence. Even though I've been telling them to schedule both at the same time.

Why the eff didn't the pharmacist at least ask, sigh? I mean, when I snagged the walk in appointment at Costco, I asked for Covid, and she immediately followed up with "do you need a flu shot as well?" even before I could ask.

So now she has to try to schedule another appointment. She leaves next Monday for Baton Rouge. :( UGH. I'm really pissed with both her and Perry for totally neglecting this, despite numerous reminders.

And Perry has done zip about either vaccine. I'd tell him he can't come home without them, but he'd just wallow in total misery in Bellingham.

Spent a few hours this morning going to 4 different pharmacies to try to find covid and flu vaccines. Either they had one, and not the other, or they didn't have any appointments until next week.

I gave up and went to Costco to do some shopping. Figured I'd ask there and... they were able to get me in right away.

To: bivalent vaccine and flu shot aqcuired.

That was about 7 5 hours ago.

Nausea has hit, as have the chills. Don't think I have a fever, though.

Going to make gingerbread to make sure that at least is done.

Phew. Not looking forward to the next 24-36 hours, if things go as they have in the past, but I really wanted those vaccines done!

ETA I had the vaccine at about noon. I was writing at about 5. That's 5 hours, not 7. Corrected title and post.

In Flanders Fields
John McCrae - 1872-1918

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

See this post, written last year. Nothing much has changed, though you could add Republicans and MAGA white supremacy to covid as the plagues half of Americans are siding with.