Hec, here is your adulting badge!

My daughter was exposed to Covid on the bus today and had to be picked up so she can quarantine, wheeeeee. I'm waiting for a call back from the school nurse to clarify the quarantine rules (I thought fully vaxxed kids did NOT have to quarantine) but OTOH maybe it's best that she just stay home all week because Omicron?

Steph, how is Tim's dad? How are you two?

Tim visited him yesterday, and he's not in any pain from the surgery, which is great, because bedsores happen in places where recovery might be painful (trying to not sit on an area, etc). His white blood cell count is sky high -- the nurse said when he was admitted, she had never seen a WBC count that high (like 46,000, and normal is between 5,000 and 7,000) (I kind of can't believe he didn't develop sepsis). It's slowly coming down, though -- last night it was at 25,000, which is still sky high but a significant improvement.

Tim and his brothers had a conference call last night about issues that need to be addressed with the nursing home going forward (ie, he was supposed to have an air mattress on his bed that's designed to help prevent bedsores -- but he didn't have it [and that's only one example of shit that didn't happen before things got worse]). The nursing home is attached to his (former) assisted living facility (you know, the one that ignored an 84-year-old man HAVING A STROKE), so I can't say I'm surprised that aspects of his care are being neglected on the nursing home side.

Tim and his brothers are only just now building up some anger and litigiousness about the neglect he's been experiencing, and because one of my worst character flaws is that I always, always need to be right, I am working VERY hard to *not* say anything like "Shoulda sued them into oblivion when they ignored his stroke, and then maybe this wouldn't have happened."

But aside from the essential I-Told-You-So-ness of my nature, this all just sucks. I feel like so much of this could have been prevented, or mitigated to a significant degree, by the nursing home, but because it wasn't, my FiL's quality of life is lousy. He's not eating much, and that's scary, but the hospital is aware of it and trying to address it.

This is a fucking complicated mess to deal with, and the best I can do is support Tim, but I really feel like there's actually nothing I can do that will make a difference. And also I'm letting A LOT of my feelings about being my Dad's caretaker bleed over and influence how I'm dealing with this emotionally, which is, of course, not well at all, so Merry Fucking Christmas.

What a mess, Teppy! I'm glad there has been some improvement. I think you get points for silencing your "Shoulda sued them into oblivion" urge (which -- THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE).

Jessica, I hope your daughter stays Covid-free. If it doesn't make everything too difficult, I'd keep her home, but I am a known wimp.

Hey, I know people were talking about masks earlier.

Here are some legitimate mask and test resources

Project N95 on Twitter: [link] ; website: [link]

You can buy real, NIOSH approved N95 masks and more, at good prices.

I have used them, repeatedly. Good service, no problems. My youngest son needed N95s for class, because that reaction he had to his Crohn's med back in May (IgA vasculitis) has become an ongoing problem, which resulted in a hospitalization in August, required more immunosuppressants, a switch in Crohn's meds, even more immunosuppressants still, and a delay of his third Covid shot (not a "booster" for him), which he finally got 12 days ago.

If you can't find a mask you like on Project N95, Aaron Collins, aka a "Mask Nerd" on Twitter [link] and YouTube [link] tests KN95 masks and KF94 masks and the like, and rates his preferences. Legitimate KF94s come out of Korea, and he links to real sellers of real masks. Twitter doctors who are verified users have linked to Aaron's work (which is how I found him). Aaron also tests masks for kids.

Basically, you have to sift through his YouTube videos to find the ones in which he talks about the styles of masks you like. On that video's YouTube page, there will be a link to a spreadsheet which includes links to legitimate sellers.

To save you some work, if you like KN95s, Aaron likes these ones. He links to the seller in this YouTube video's description. [link]

Teppy, these white Powecom KN95 Respirator face masks are AFFORDABLE! $8.80 for ten masks. Price goes down with bigger purchases. [link]

We've been buying these KF94s for my daughter (who is working as a pharmacy tech). [link]

Kollecte USA's Korean masks ship from the US, so you're not paying exorbitant shipping fees from South Korea. They're a legitimate seller.

The Abbott BinaxNOW COVID‐19 Antigen Self Test is selling for $14.00 (for a box of two tests) at Sam's Club. If you're not a member, you pay handling (which I think cost me $15-ish bucks for 12 boxes). Compare this to about $24 at Walgreen's and CVS.

Sometimes, Walmart also has them for $14, but sometimes they have them for $24. It's a crapshoot.

The upside of buying the rapid antigen tests at Sam's Club and Walmart online, is that you can buy a bunch. Around here, if CVS has them in stock, you can buy one or two.

Project N95 on Twitter: [link] ; website: [link]

You can buy real, NIOSH approved N95 masks and more, at good prices.

Thanks, Cindy! I definitely want to get N95s for Tim, who is also taking immunosuppressants. He's fully vaxxed, including the 3rd dose, plus has some natural immunity from having Covid, but we're all obviously finding out, practically every day, that we don't know what we don't know about the coronavirus. So since he works with a lot of people, he always wears a mask, but so far it's been KN95s. Time to switch to N95s.

Cindy, you are awesome (for many reasons), and thank you for this great info!

How are you and yours doing these days?

Teppy, I'm so sorry for all of this that Tim's dad, your dad, and you all are going through. I hear echoes of some of the crap we went through with my mom's care and place, and it's enraging, and frustrating, and sad, and I'm sorry for all of you.

Teppy, one of the N95 mask brands that Project 95 carries is from Indiana Face Mask.

Indiana Face Mask is listed for $35.00 for a box of 25 (which is a pretty good price). [link]

I happened upon Indiana Face Mask's own website yesterday, and you can buy a box of 25 for $25 (I don't know about shipping). [link]

We haven't bought that brand yet. I tried two brands (DemTech and Protective Health Gear) that were available and affordable before Chris started the fall semester, and then because he liked them, and they fit well, we just stuck with them.

No matter which brand you choose, one thing to consider is how Tim wears his hair, if it is still long.

N95 straps go around the back of the head. They're not ear loops. You can work with this, but some people with long hair don't like to. That's why we settled on KF94s for my daughter (my preference would be that we all wear N95s, any time we are out in public).

Cindy, you are awesome (for many reasons), and thank you for this great info!

How are you and yours doing these days?

Sorry I missed this before, Jen. We're doing all right. I feel better now that Christopher has had that third Covid shot (and, unlike his Tdap booster this summer) it didn't land him in the hospital.

I have a little good news I was waiting to share, but what the heck. sj and Cashmere know, already.

My oldest son is engaged to be married. I think they might be booking their wedding for October 2022, but that's not yet final.

Cindy, that's exciting news about your son's engagement! Congratulations!