You may recall that the hardest thing for me in this time of quarantine was not seeing our grandchildren, especially the toddler I had been taking care of almost weekly for months. Well, in the last few weeks we have seen all our children and all our grandchildren at least once. It helped so much. We decided that, before the protest gatherings could come to fruition as regards COVID-19, and before certain states opened their doors and businesses more, we would go to Maine and visit. We had previously visited Eldest and Fam, outside. And after a brief outdoor visit a couple weeks ago, this past weekend we had two grands here for an overnight.
We had pretty much decided that our family, all being careful, would be our bubble.
However... As Youngest dropped off the kids, ages 7 and 4, he mentioned that his wife's brother would be "dropping by" their house (while we had the kids) as well as another friend they consider family (he used to live with them). We were a bit jarred by that, but as it seemed the visitors would not interact with the children, we were fairly safe. But then we learned from the children that they had already been with their uncle. Then we saw on Youngest's wife's Facebook page a post from yet another friend who thanked them for the great time. When we brought the children home, wife's brother was there. And it was only after that that we learned he does not live in NH but rather Boston! So they went against the State's guidelines that say folks may come if their home location has 400 or fewer active cases.
We have since discussed with them the need for *informed* consent (!) and that good communication is key. They have agreed. So, with an eye to better disclosure, they told us the children are going to resume swim lessons next week...! They have been taking private lessons at the teacher's home, indoor pool. But even if they switch to an outdoor pool (not sure they are, just hoping), they would be in regular contact with the teacher who has regular contact with other students and their parents.
This is so far beyond the best practice guidelines for creating a Bubble, that it looks like we cannot see those three grandchildren for the time being. (The youngest is the toddler!) I'm really sad.
I'm sorry this clash of concepts has come up, Listener. You and your sweetie have to do what is best and most comfortable and/or safe for you. You can't control other people's perceptions or actions, just your own. It does puzzle me that kids of yours would have such a different take on what is safe, but there it is. To my way of thinking, you're right about this and they are not only wrong but foolish, especially where children are involved. You can't live their lives for them though. I hope this difference in viewpoint doesn't cause a breech, since that would be very painful for you. Still, all you can do is advise and suggest. They're going to make their own choices. I hope those choices prove merely to be foolish, not dangerous.
At least in Illinois, the protests had no noticeable effect of Covid-1o spread. Any such effect would have shown up by now, and it hasn't. The fact that these protests were open-air events with at least a majority of the participants wearing masks seems to have blunted any effect.
And I think that setting rules on the basis of the number of new cases per state is nonsensical. On a per-capita basis, 400 cases a day in any of the New England states would be significantly more than the current 600 per day in Illinois.
All I know is that you cannot control the actions of anyone but yourself. They sound like they think that if they know the person that is enough to be safe. It is not. Since they have already shown you that they do not give you all the information you need that is pertinent you will have to decide best protection for yourself. You cannot protect anyone else. And I know what it is not to see grandchildren. I have not seen my granddaughters for six years because we live too far apart and are all too poor to travel.
The situation is getting too risky, listener. At least you *have* grandchildren, and the current situation will pass in time. *With a bit of luck* a safe and effective vaccine will be developed. By taking precautions for yourselves you also protect others (known and unknown) by not spreading the disease to them.
Yeah. I find myself imaging visiting that toddler (at least when she is in college) and explaining to her why I stopped spending alone time with her. I miss that sweet connection so dearly. And the way she looks at me, shyly and wistfully, when we are briefly together just breaks my heart.
You are being responsible, staying away from the children because you love them and want to protect them. Seems to me this is a better thing to explain in after years than that one of them died because, in your eagerness to have contact with them, you inadvertently gave them Covid. It is the children's parents that are being highly irresponsible, certainly not you! And, you can stay in touch by telephone and social media. Frankly, communications make this so much easier. I was about seven when my dad was in Vietnam, and I didn't see him for a good eight months. He was only able to call home long distance a couple of times during that period and only for a few minutes. Communications are much better now. It doesn't replace a hug, but believe me it's a whole lot better than nothing which is essentially what there was in 1972.
Oh! I love that folks happened to comment on my first post beneath my second post, because when I read your comments the next thing I read was “That garden is all mulched now.” I will endeavour to keep the Grand gardens mulched until we can be more surely together again. 💝 Thanks so much for companioning this experience. You’re worth your weight in gold-pressed latinum!
OHIO: As of Thursday afternoon, there have been at least 47,651 confirmed or probable cases in the state, 2,772 deaths, and 7,502 hospitalizations, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
Over at politicalwire.com [Click] there are so many good auguries for the Dems that it isn’t sensible to list them here. Go take a look and enjoy. (With caution, of course!)
After only 25 years, the catch on our rural-style mailbox broke. Replacements are unreasonably expensive and plastic. I replaced it with a drawer handle pull for $2, and didn't do a bad job at all. Just hope I don't have to replace it EVERY 25 years! [grin]
While taking our morning constitutional today, I noticed that one of the two Devin Nunes campaign signs on the street had been tossed into the trash (today is garbage pick-up day). The other one had disappeared, but the "Your Choice--Trump or Socialism!" sign next to it is still there. So that's progress.
A good friend of mine over at Fun Trivia had Covid. She recovered, and has donated antibodies. But she had a terrible time. Here, let her tell it in her own words.
Hey, Cat, I'm glad you wrote me! You're on my list of people to get my mass mailing update. What is it about? First, I'm fine. I've been fine for a couple of weeks but that takes some getting used to. Really, I'm okay. Honest. I had coronavirus. It was full blown in early March and I don't remember much of what happened in April. In May I started to rejoin the land of reality.
I had pneumonia in late January and early February. I'm not a good patient in hospitals & it brings on stress and severe anxiety. Since I've gotten pneumonia more than once a year since I was 12, my doctors know I recover better at home. But I got sicker & we, my Drs and I, thought it was a sinus infection. It was arranged that I would get IV antibiotics at home for 4-6 hours a day. I also got a home care aide. It was from the same place that helped me after I had surgery while in the apartment. They knew & loved Quentin & Princess. They thought I was nice too.
But I kept getting sicker & my temperature hit 103.8 and stayed in that range for five days. By that time the hospitals were being cleared out from Covid only patients or the most severe emergencies. That last group has some rooms available in two of the 14 hospitals in my county. All the rest were for Covid only. My temp settled to around 102.5 and my Dr ordered a covid test for me.
It took a ridiculous 17 days from when he requested the test until I got the results. Seventeen days. No wonder this thing spread like wildfire. Even worse was the high false negative rate, 30%. And that's what happened to me, my result was negative. But the fever stayed on & I was having more of the covid symptoms. I was prescribed two inhalers & told to use each four times a day at a minimu instead of the usual twice & once & got one of those mini oxygen carry arounds. I later found out those inhalers were the treatment given to the "lesser" cases of covid in hospitals. We didn't have lesser cases where I live so I had to stay home.
Because of two months of high fever, an antibiotic & cough medicine known to make me hallucinate (I've taken both in past years), and another weird covid symptom, I had little idea most of the time who was here, who I was talking to or texting. I do remember quentin and Princess fussng over me :). Cats make very good nurses. Both made sure I stayed in place, in bed or at least resting, and sleeping as much as possible. Sleep wasn't much at all really, another covid symptom. Lack of sleep didn't help mental state either. It wasn't a constant every second of every day being out of it. But it was for a large part of every day!
Eventually i did get a sexond covid test which came out positive & a chest xray. Covid creates cottony filaments in the lungs. It seems to be the only sure way to tell if someone has covid. Why that isn't done as THE test, I don't know. I've heard one reason is "fear of excessive exposure to X-rays". What nonsense! Instead we've got sick people wandering around infecting others. I'm fine. I've been tested twice to prove that. I've already donated antibodies.
Poor Mira! I was horrified to hear how terribly ill she had been. The only good thing is that she apparently had good care...thank God! She is fully recovered, as evidenced by further comments:
"As for the idiot in Chief, how on earth can anyone still support him? "he's good for the economy". No he wasn't. Lots of low paying jobs that a person can't live on are not something to build an economy on. Those are the jobs that have been added for years, low paying service sector jobs. I loathe the idiot phrase "job creation". Hiring a cashier for the local 7-11 isn't "creating a job". The job was already there. All that happened is that someone was hired for a minimum wage job. In one way I miss those daily white house "covid" updates. Every time the idiot opens his mouth it became fodder for a Biden campaign ad. And that bible stunt? He wanted to do that earlier but it took a few days to find a bible that had an asbestos covering so it wouldn't burn up in his hand."
That's my Mira! So all's well that ends well but, really, I am profoundly thankful she survived. Her experience was perhaps rather extreme, with the preceding bout of pneumonia and her bad reaction to some of the meds. Still scary as all get out!
Ohhh, such a rough case of COVID-19! It is pretty hard on folks with an underlying respiratory issue. Poor Mira! I'm so glad she is back and kicking (DT)! Her asbestos comment was hilarious. And I agree that cats make excellent nurses. I immediately picture our Mizzen and Spinnaker in little nurse's caps! Ha!
My oxygen level is 98. Every time I've done the reading it's been 98. Every time Wil does it, it's 96. I wonder if there is a gender difference or it's just coincidence.
I am sure the difference is well within the uncertainty of the method, and insignificant to boot. It could be down to slight differences in the skin or how much pressure is exerted.
Lots more headlines at politicalwire.com [Click], seemingly all bad for Trump except for the ones that are good for Biden. I was particularly taken with the report of the “BLACK LIVES MATTER” street mural [Click] to be painted right in front of Trump Tower NYC. Trump now has “LOSER” stenciled all over him, and Biden is sounding like an incumbent president.
Mind if I vent a little bit?
ReplyDeleteYou may recall that the hardest thing for me in this time of quarantine was not seeing our grandchildren, especially the toddler I had been taking care of almost weekly for months.
Well, in the last few weeks we have seen all our children and all our grandchildren at least once. It helped so much. We decided that, before the protest gatherings could come to fruition as regards COVID-19, and before certain states opened their doors and businesses more, we would go to Maine and visit. We had previously visited Eldest and Fam, outside. And after a brief outdoor visit a couple weeks ago, this past weekend we had two grands here for an overnight.
We had pretty much decided that our family, all being careful, would be our bubble.
However...
As Youngest dropped off the kids, ages 7 and 4, he mentioned that his wife's brother would be "dropping by" their house (while we had the kids) as well as another friend they consider family (he used to live with them). We were a bit jarred by that, but as it seemed the visitors would not interact with the children, we were fairly safe. But then we learned from the children that they had already been with their uncle. Then we saw on Youngest's wife's Facebook page a post from yet another friend who thanked them for the great time. When we brought the children home, wife's brother was there. And it was only after that that we learned he does not live in NH but rather Boston! So they went against the State's guidelines that say folks may come if their home location has 400 or fewer active cases.
We have since discussed with them the need for *informed* consent (!) and that good communication is key. They have agreed. So, with an eye to better disclosure, they told us the children are going to resume swim lessons next week...! They have been taking private lessons at the teacher's home, indoor pool. But even if they switch to an outdoor pool (not sure they are, just hoping), they would be in regular contact with the teacher who has regular contact with other students and their parents.
This is so far beyond the best practice guidelines for creating a Bubble, that it looks like we cannot see those three grandchildren for the time being. (The youngest is the toddler!) I'm really sad.
Am I missing something? Any thoughts or idears?
I'm sorry this clash of concepts has come up, Listener. You and your sweetie have to do what is best and most comfortable and/or safe for you. You can't control other people's perceptions or actions, just your own. It does puzzle me that kids of yours would have such a different take on what is safe, but there it is. To my way of thinking, you're right about this and they are not only wrong but foolish, especially where children are involved. You can't live their lives for them though. I hope this difference in viewpoint doesn't cause a breech, since that would be very painful for you. Still, all you can do is advise and suggest. They're going to make their own choices. I hope those choices prove merely to be foolish, not dangerous.
DeleteTotally aside from your real point, but:
DeleteAt least in Illinois, the protests had no noticeable effect of Covid-1o spread. Any such effect would have shown up by now, and it hasn't. The fact that these protests were open-air events with at least a majority of the participants wearing masks seems to have blunted any effect.
And I think that setting rules on the basis of the number of new cases per state is nonsensical. On a per-capita basis, 400 cases a day in any of the New England states would be significantly more than the current 600 per day in Illinois.
That garden is all mulched now.
ReplyDeleteAll I know is that you cannot control the actions of anyone but yourself. They sound like they think that if they know the person that is enough to be safe. It is not. Since they have already shown you that they do not give you all the information you need that is pertinent you will have to decide best protection for yourself. You cannot protect anyone else. And I know what it is not to see grandchildren. I have not seen my granddaughters for six years because we live too far apart and are all too poor to travel.
DeleteThe situation is getting too risky, listener. At least you *have* grandchildren, and the current situation will pass in time. *With a bit of luck* a safe and effective vaccine will be developed. By taking precautions for yourselves you also protect others (known and unknown) by not spreading the disease to them.
DeleteYeah.
DeleteI find myself imaging visiting that toddler (at least when she is in college) and explaining to her why I stopped spending alone time with her. I miss that sweet connection so dearly. And the way she looks at me, shyly and wistfully, when we are briefly together just breaks my heart.
You are being responsible, staying away from the children because you love them and want to protect them. Seems to me this is a better thing to explain in after years than that one of them died because, in your eagerness to have contact with them, you inadvertently gave them Covid. It is the children's parents that are being highly irresponsible, certainly not you! And, you can stay in touch by telephone and social media. Frankly, communications make this so much easier. I was about seven when my dad was in Vietnam, and I didn't see him for a good eight months. He was only able to call home long distance a couple of times during that period and only for a few minutes. Communications are much better now. It doesn't replace a hug, but believe me it's a whole lot better than nothing which is essentially what there was in 1972.
DeleteVT: 1191/56 (+7/ 0)
ReplyDelete197 active/ 0 x 8 days
Recovered: 938 (+8)
In Hospital = 3 (-1)
Tests 60,709 (+849)
Oh! I love that folks happened to comment on my first post beneath my second post, because when I read your comments the next thing I read was “That garden is all mulched now.”
ReplyDeleteI will endeavour to keep the Grand gardens mulched until we can be more surely together again. 💝
Thanks so much for companioning this experience. You’re worth your weight in gold-pressed latinum!
I hadn't heard of latinum, gold-pressed or otherwise, so looked it up. Thanks for the education!
DeleteLOL Listener. I didn't know you were a DS9 fan.
DeleteOHIO: As of Thursday afternoon, there have been at least 47,651 confirmed or probable cases in the state, 2,772 deaths, and 7,502 hospitalizations, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
ReplyDelete5.817%
DeleteOver at politicalwire.com [Click] there are so many good auguries for the Dems that it isn’t sensible to list them here. Go take a look and enjoy. (With caution, of course!)
ReplyDeleteWhat the New Surge in [Sunbelt] COVID-19 Cases Means for Trump [Click] “The uptick in the Sun Belt’s largest cities and suburbs could accelerate their movement away from the GOP.”
ReplyDeleteHell of a way to do it. *sigh*
DeleteGranted. I am reminded of the old story about getting the mule's attention.
Delete
ReplyDeleteUnder certain conditions, black holes may merge with light of a trillion suns [Click] Gee!
After only 25 years, the catch on our rural-style mailbox broke. Replacements are unreasonably expensive and plastic. I replaced it with a drawer handle pull for $2, and didn't do a bad job at all. Just hope I don't have to replace it EVERY 25 years! [grin]
ReplyDelete[chuckle.wav]
DeleteI donno, Alan. Nothing's made to last anymore. *grin*
DeleteWhile taking our morning constitutional today, I noticed that one of the two Devin Nunes campaign signs on the street had been tossed into the trash (today is garbage pick-up day). The other one had disappeared, but the "Your Choice--Trump or Socialism!" sign next to it is still there. So that's progress.
ReplyDeleteChris Cillizza: Why Tuesday should make the Senate's top Democrat very nervous [Click]
ReplyDeleteI'm a viral immunologist. Here's what antibody tests for Covid-19 tell us [Click] Long story short: At this point they are only good for elucidating the spread of the virus.
ReplyDeleteA good friend of mine over at Fun Trivia had Covid. She recovered, and has donated antibodies. But she had a terrible time. Here, let her tell it in her own words.
ReplyDeleteHey, Cat, I'm glad you wrote me! You're on my list of people to get my mass mailing update. What is it about?
First, I'm fine. I've been fine for a couple of weeks but that takes some getting used to. Really, I'm okay. Honest.
I had coronavirus. It was full blown in early March and I don't remember much of what happened in April. In May I started to rejoin the land of reality.
I had pneumonia in late January and early February. I'm not a good patient in hospitals & it brings on stress and severe anxiety. Since I've gotten pneumonia more than once a year since I was 12, my doctors know I recover better at home. But I got sicker & we, my Drs and I, thought it was a sinus infection. It was arranged that I would get IV antibiotics at home for 4-6 hours a day. I also got a home care aide. It was from the same place that helped me after I had surgery while in the apartment. They knew & loved Quentin & Princess. They thought I was nice too.
But I kept getting sicker & my temperature hit 103.8 and stayed in that range for five days. By that time the hospitals were being cleared out from Covid only patients or the most severe emergencies. That last group has some rooms available in two of the 14 hospitals in my county. All the rest were for Covid only. My temp settled to around 102.5 and my Dr ordered a covid test for me.
It took a ridiculous 17 days from when he requested the test until I got the results. Seventeen days. No wonder this thing spread like wildfire. Even worse was the high false negative rate, 30%. And that's what happened to me, my result was negative. But the fever stayed on & I was having more of the covid symptoms. I was prescribed two inhalers & told to use each four times a day at a minimu instead of the usual twice & once & got one of those mini oxygen carry arounds. I later found out those inhalers were the treatment given to the "lesser" cases of covid in hospitals. We didn't have lesser cases where I live so I had to stay home.
Because of two months of high fever, an antibiotic & cough medicine known to make me hallucinate (I've taken both in past years), and another weird covid symptom, I had little idea most of the time who was here, who I was talking to or texting. I do remember quentin and Princess fussng over me :). Cats make very good nurses. Both made sure I stayed in place, in bed or at least resting, and sleeping as much as possible. Sleep wasn't much at all really, another covid symptom. Lack of sleep didn't help mental state either. It wasn't a constant every second of every day being out of it. But it was for a large part of every day!
Eventually i did get a sexond covid test which came out positive & a chest xray. Covid creates cottony filaments in the lungs. It seems to be the only sure way to tell if someone has covid. Why that isn't done as THE test, I don't know. I've heard one reason is "fear of excessive exposure to X-rays". What nonsense! Instead we've got sick people wandering around infecting others. I'm fine. I've been tested twice to prove that. I've already donated antibodies.
Poor Mira! I was horrified to hear how terribly ill she had been. The only good thing is that she apparently had good care...thank God! She is fully recovered, as evidenced by further comments:
Delete"As for the idiot in Chief, how on earth can anyone still support him? "he's good for the economy". No he wasn't. Lots of low paying jobs that a person can't live on are not something to build an economy on. Those are the jobs that have been added for years, low paying service sector jobs. I loathe the idiot phrase "job creation". Hiring a cashier for the local 7-11 isn't "creating a job". The job was already there. All that happened is that someone was hired for a minimum wage job. In one way I miss those daily white house "covid" updates. Every time the idiot opens his mouth it became fodder for a Biden campaign ad. And that bible stunt? He wanted to do that earlier but it took a few days to find a bible that had an asbestos covering so it wouldn't burn up in his hand."
That's my Mira! So all's well that ends well but, really, I am profoundly thankful she survived. Her experience was perhaps rather extreme, with the preceding bout of pneumonia and her bad reaction to some of the meds. Still scary as all get out!
Wow. She got clobbered. Think I will go check my oxygen saturation...
DeleteOxygen saturation 96%. I have discovered that using my index finger for the test slows things down--probably because the skin is thicker and tougher.
DeleteOhhh, such a rough case of COVID-19! It is pretty hard on folks with an underlying respiratory issue. Poor Mira! I'm so glad she is back and kicking (DT)! Her asbestos comment was hilarious. And I agree that cats make excellent nurses. I immediately picture our Mizzen and Spinnaker in little nurse's caps! Ha!
DeleteMy oxygen level is 98. Every time I've done the reading it's been 98. Every time Wil does it, it's 96.
DeleteI wonder if there is a gender difference or it's just coincidence.
I am sure the difference is well within the uncertainty of the method, and insignificant to boot. It could be down to slight differences in the skin or how much pressure is exerted.
DeleteLots more headlines at politicalwire.com [Click], seemingly all bad for Trump except for the ones that are good for Biden. I was particularly taken with the report of the “BLACK LIVES MATTER” street mural [Click] to be painted right in front of Trump Tower NYC. Trump now has “LOSER” stenciled all over him, and Biden is sounding like an incumbent president.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the sweet comments, folks. That really helped.
ReplyDeleteCat! Well, I have lived with up to 6 Star Trek fans, and learned more about the various series than I ever intended to. 😂