Day 391: Thursday, April 8
On Monday April 5, Florida opened up vaccine distribution to anyone age 18 and older. Previously, it was only open to 40 and above. I'm the oldest in the house and missed the 40 and up cut by just over 4 months. Besides, we decided it would be best if we could all go together. Especially if we needed two doses. Otherwise, for the next 3-5 weeks my life would be consumed by vaccine appointments and possible side effects.
But registering four adults for the vaccine at a time that would work for all of us was tough. But, the FEMA site in Tampa was walk in. And after Monday, most people were reporting little to no wait at the site that could give out at least 3,000 doses a day.
Of course, Asa works his long hours Monday and Tuesday. And the way Calib and Peyton's sleep schedule has been going (they basically go to bed when we get up, at this point), was not conducive for Wednesday after work.
So we kind of all collectively decided we would try on Thursday. That Asa and I would get up earlier if Calib and Peyton would stay up later- meaning they'd get their shots at the end of their days, and Asa and I would get them in our normal morning.
I did sleep kind of terribly on Wednesday night. The anxiety of getting the shot was getting to me. Less about the shot, more about the side effects, and just motherly worry about the rest of the family. I was up, wide awake at 6 and couldn't go back to sleep. I woke Asa up about 7:30. And then we did our normal breakfast, coffee, and doggie parent stuff.
Then Asa went to run an errand- the car registration was a disaster this time around. We got the run around about why we couldn't register on line. We were told it was because we owed some tolls (like $30- which I have no recollection of- but whatever), so we paid that and it STILL didn't work. Eventually, thanks to slow mail and idiots, Asa was forced to go in to the DMV which we had been avoiding for weeks trying to renew online and over the phone. Though Pasco county has rescinded the mask order, the tax collector offices were still requiring masks and only letting a limited number of people inside at a time. They even had what Asa equated to a bouncer telling people to pull up masks. So, it wasn't too bad. Once that was all straightened out, Asa came home to pick us all up.
So, after all of that, on Thursday morning, on the fourth day of our eligibility, after morning traffic in Tampa subsided, we piled in the car, leaving poor-non vaccine approved-15 year old-Hayden at home with the dogs.
It took us just about 25 minutes to get to the FEMA site in Tampa. FEMA is running a few mass vaccianation sites around Florida in all the big cities: Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and Miami. They are open 7am to 7 pm, 7 days a week. And, like I said, no appointment needed.
In Tampa, the FEMA site is at the old Greyhound Racing Track (we voted to outlaw greyhound racing a few years ago), and we arrived just before 10 am. (Picture lifted from Twitter)
When you pull in, there's one of those giant construction sign flashing, letting us know that the Johnson & Johnson one dose vaccine was all they were giving out. Tuesday they had switched over from Pfizer to J&J. Of course, you could still show up for a second dose of Pfizer, there was a separate line for that and everything. We knew it would be J&J, and I'm not vaccine picky. On the down side, the efficacy may be a little less (though it was tested against the variants). On the upside: it's one dose. And besides, Dr. Fauci says it doesn't matter which one you get. You get the one that you can get first. And that was J&J, so here we were.
Monday, on the first day of 18 and up eligibility there were long lines. But, they subsided over the week.
When we were there, there were plenty of cars, but moving through pretty quickly. It wasn't a drive thru site, but a walk thru with various tents staged in the parking lot. Still, when you arrived, they asked the car a quick series of questions (have you had COVID symptoms in the last 24 hours, things like that), and asked to see our FL IDs. We flashed them all, they put a green checkmark on our car, and directed us to park, with guys waving flags like you were at a concert or something.
We parked, put on our masks and headed toward the "enter here" sign (also lots of 'no video' and 'no still pictures' signs, so you won't get those. I only broke the rules a little.) The big white tents were manned by various military (it is the federal FEMA site after all), with a giant American Flag hanging off the first one. There was something oddly patriotic about the whole process.
Heading toward our first tent, someone over the loud speaker repeated an announcement to wear a mask, and have your ID out. There was a steady stream of people, but there wasn't a line. At each tent you went to, for various checkpoints, there was maybe one or two people in front of you. So, it moved quickly.
Our first checkpoint was before we entered the first tent. They were just checking our IDs for our birthdate. The woman who checked ours noted that Peyton "just made it". I suppose. He's nearing 19, though. But yea, and the start of COVID, I guess he wouldn't have been eligible, at least for Johnson and Johnson (Pfizer is approved for 16 & 17).
Tent #1 we breezed through. There was a lot of metal fences for cue lines, but nobody there, so they had us walk right through. There were 'X's in masking tape on the ground, presumably six feet apart to help you keep your distance.
Exiting Tent #1 there was a little open space and then Tent #2 where military members would stop each group and direct them to a numbered table. We had to split up here, because they only put two people per table. I went with Calib, Asa went with Peyton. And we sat down and had our IDS scanned, gave our birthdates and gave her our phone numbers, so she could print us out a little barcode sticker we attached to our shirts.
Calib and I were done first, and off to Tent #3, where they again verfied our ID against the little stickers on our shirts. There was a cue here too, but completely unused.
So then it was off to Tent #4: the vaccine tent! Each table with the vaccines had six chairs spaced out around it (six feet from each other, six feet from the table), and they directed three people at a time to sit in chair #1, #2, and #3.
I sat down first, and Calib sat down to my left. Then they ask you what arm you want it in. I went with my left. (I sleep primarly on my right side, and I'm right handed- so it was an easy decision). Calib blurted out 'left- no right!' because he claims I peer pressured him into doing his right arm, because he didn't want to look like a sheep and also say left. I say he doesn't know what peer pressure means then.
Either way, I was the first to get poked, just a few minutes past 10 am. I was more anxious about the side effects than the shot itself. But, when I sat down I started to get nervous. The woman was like 'I'm not going to lie to you, it might hurt a little bit'. Apparently, I was the only one of the four of us to look at the needle. It wasn't huge.
Still, it stung a little. Not terrible. But by the time it registers that it hurts a bit, it's over. When she said 'you're done', I thought 'oh, that's it?' Calib went right after me, and as they handed us the coveted little vaccine cards, Asa and Peyton were walking into the vaccine tent.
After they jab you, they send you to Tent #5. It's the waiting tent. When we got to the doorway, they scanned us to say we'd received the vaccine. There was a couple people in front of us being scanned when I told Calib to back up a little (we were awfully close to the guy in front of us). And Calib jokingly said 'What? I have the vaccine. I'm immune now'. (He obviously knows he's not- and that's not how it works- but you know, Calib humor). And a military woman overheard us and, less than amused, said: 'You can still get Covid."
After we were scanned, they direct you to some chairs to sit and wait to make sure you don't have any adverse reaction. There was a couple of people in giant yellow vests with orange wands to wave you to a seat. There were a couple of two-seat-sets and a bunch of individual chairs. Calib and I got to sit together.
The bright orange vest woman than told us that they advise you wait 15 minutes to make sure you don't have any reactions, but if you feel fine, you are free to leave whenever. A few minutes later Asa and Peyton walked in to sit together too. (Peyton went first- in his right arm like Calib-, making Asa the last of the four of us to get the vaccine. Asa chose the right arm like me).
When the giant clock in the room had told us we'd been there about 10 minutes, Asa got up and came over and said he was good, and we could leave. We did all have sore arms, but other than that, were A-Ok. They scanned us one more time (The military guy told me he felt like he was shooting people with a laser, and I told him there was worst jobs to have), and off we went.
We did take a couple pictures in the parking lot. Of note: Calib and Peyton showed up in the pajamas and flip flops after staying up all night.
Before we left the house that morning, I said "you're really wearing pajamas", and they argued there wasn't anything MORE appropriate to wear to symbolize the past year. Fair point. (Calib also noted his license picture/compared to him now is like a 'before and after' of quarantine- what with the long hair and shaggy beard he's got going on).
So, you know, 391 days is A LOT of days. It's felt like A LOT of days. But 391 days to wait while a vaccine is developed, researched, tested, and distributed to basically every adult population but us is like nothing. In that aspect, 391 is remarkable. I do get a little emotional thinking about it. I had a few tears in my eyes yesterday. So, thank you, Science. (And of course scientists, and medical professionals, and basically everyone who has made this entire thing- from the development to the distribution- possible. Society owes you a huge debt of gratitude).
I won't live my life much differently for awhile. Hayden is still not able to get the vaccine.
I know we're still supposed to social distance and wear our masks. And I absolutely will. But, maybe I can feel free to nose around Costco just a few minutes longer. Maybe the library will seem less intimidating. Disney feels like less of a risk. I want to go rent kayaks again, and pick some blueberries, and go to the pool without feeling so vulnerable. Maybe we can have drinks outside with neighbors who are also fully vaccinated. Just, you know, simple things.
But back to the vaccination process. The whole thing- start to finish, was *maybe* 25 minutes, including the time we waited at the end. It all went by so fast. The process was simple, friendly, and running like a well oiled machine. Kudos to everyone involved.
Peyton passed another class about two weeks ago, and we still owed him Taco Bell as a reward, so we swung through the drive-thru for an early lunch (I passed on that- Taco Bell at 11 am is not my cup of tea).
We got home, everyone ate, Peyton walked the neighbors dog (which he does every afternoon) and then Calib and Peyton, who hadn't been to sleep yet, went to bed. We were all feeling pretty good, except for feeling like we got punched in the arm. We moved ourselves to 'Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood', while poor unvaccinated Hayden kept himself on Groundhogs Day.
Asa and I just hung out. And drank a TON of water. We were both tired, but less likely from the vaccine than the poor nights sleep the night before. And we monitored ourselves for side effects.
By about 5 pm, my neck was getting really stiff, my arm was really sore, and I was getting a slight headache. Peyton woke up and said he was feeling fine. Asa complained his arm hurt if he pressed down on something, or a dog happened to climb on him. But otherwise, not too bad. (And I also took this funny picture of Dipper hanging out on top of Ellie).
We decided to treat ourselves to Instacart delivery instead of curbside pick up. Lost in all this was pay day- so we definitely needed a grocery run. I wasn't feeling sick to my stomach, per se, but I wasn't feeling hungry at all. All I wanted was strawberries. And my Publix Instacart shopper failed to deliver them (despite charging me for them). So, we placed a Costco order too, and I ended up with strawberries. Asa also made me some soup in a bread bowl. So that was nice.
I also made some jello and cleaned fruit so if I was feeling worse later, that stuff would all be ready to eat.
But then I realized I had no thermacare wraps. My back has really been an issue the last two weeks. So, the stiffness from the vaccine wasn't helping. I have a normal backrwap heating pad. But if I'm really having an issue, a thermcare heat wrap is the way to go. At that point, Walgreens was the only deliver option, so we got heatwraps, and a bunch of gatorade, just in case we needed it.
By 8 pm, my stiff neck was worse. It had creeped into the back of my head, my jaws, and my ears. My headache was worse too. Nothing unbearable. But not too comfy. Peyton still said he was feeling fine, a sore arm at times, Calib was still sleeping, and if you're wondering how Asa was doing- at this point, he was posting superman gifs in a group chat with some of my cousins.
By 9 pm, I was showered and in bed, with a thermacare wrap around me for my back, and the regular heating pad on my neck. I took some ibuprofen and vegged out on the DVR. I was tired, but again, it felt more like due to my lack of sleep the night before than a side effect.
Asa came to bed a little before 10. And then just after 10 there was a knock on our door. Calib was awake. And he was clearly feeling it. Just by looking at him you could tell he had a fever and the chills. It had been almost exactly 12 hours since we had gotten the shot.
We got him an extra blanket and he went back to bed. And then, within five minutes, Peyton was also struggling. He said he was fine one second, and could barely sit up the next. Exact words from Peyton: "Hit me like a truck". He was dizzy, could barely sit up, chills, fever, nauseous, weak all of it.
Day 392: Friday, April 9
(A new count on the board: Days since vaccination)
By 11:30, Asa and I were out like a light. Slept like a rock... for about 5 hours. At 4:30, I got up to go to the bathroom (again I drank a TON of water) and I tossed at turned the rest of the night. Totally restless. The same thing happened to Asa. But he was REALLY tossing and turning, so much so he kept shaking the bed and finally I was very inconsiderately like 'you have to stop.' But, he took it well and got up and came out to the living room.
He was also feeling very warm. Not feverish necessarily, just hot. And he runs hot anyway, but still. So he turns the air down (which didn't help Calib and Peyton who were now in full on sweatshirts, hoodies, socks and under a couple of blankets with the chills). Calib said he turned off his fan, he was so cold. And he was shaking a lot.
By now, him and Peyton both had some bad headaches too. Peyton took ibuprofen, but Calib (who hates to swallow pills) held out. Asa stayed up with Peyton as this point who was really weak and said he couldn't even sit up in his computer chair. I'm secretly glad I wasn't awake for this, or I might have been *really* worried.
By the time I got up at 7:30, Calib and Peyton were feeling a little better. Still chills, still a little fever. But not nearly as weak. Asa was still feeling a little warm, and I was still a little sore, but better than I had been the night before.
Calib and Peyton seem to be doing a little better this morning. They still have chills, and are tired. But, it's not nearly as bad. Peyton has been uninterested in food, but Calib asked if it would be too much trouble to make a Mickey Waffle for breakfast, so I obliged. Mickey Waffles make everything better.
By the time Hayden woke up, he was like 'so.... how's it going guys?'. He had a nice sound slumber and came out to us all looking a little rough.
I like how the boys describe it though, Calib is like 'I had to turn down Youtube, the Music was just SO loud", and Peyton's like 'It was so bad, I couldn't even sit at my computer.'
Our highly scientific theory comes from Calib: 'Right Armers' = Bad side effects, 'Left Armers = Mild Side effects. (He's been telling Hayden to get his in the left arm when it's his term.)
But, in all honesty, I think there are a couple of other factors at play. Peyton does not weigh a lot, and he's had it probably the worst. And the younger you are, the worst it seems to be. And I know the boys drank some water, but Asa and I drank a ton of water. I'm talking, needing to go to the bathroom because you're just drinking SO. MUCH. WATER.
Also, I've read about 50% of people have serious side effects, so that checks out for us.
At least so far. I'm writing this at about 24 and a half hours since our shots. I'll update along the way.
By 1pm: Calib and Peyton were back in bed. Calib makes an occasional appearance for some gatorade (which he's too weak to open, and has to ask Asa for help). Asa, who is still feeling alright ran to the library to pick up some craft bags and a book box for us. He also swung by Panera to get me a bread bowl to have with my soup for lunch. Because now, I'm not feeling so great. A little chilly, but a warm face. At times I'm a little dizzy. Asa also walked the neighbor's dog for Peyton, who I haven't seen since this morning.
On the upside, the stimulus check came. It was mailed March 26, and we have no idea why. Our other two direct deposited to our bank account just fine. So, it's been a bit annoying that it's just been out there. And after all that checking the mailbox in the last two weeks, it was Hayden who checked the mail today. But, um, hey government, you might want to SEAL a check for that much money. Holy geeze. I feel lucky it was still in there.
And so much for updating along the way- I'm about two and a half weeks out now. But, I can tell you I spent most of Friday feeling kind of miserable. Just aches and pains, and general low energy. I never got a high fever or serious chills though. Just felt completely wiped, like I was coming down with something. But, Porkchop knows whats up. He's a good buddy when I'm not feeling 100%
By that evening, Calib's chills were coming and going. Peyton was up and around, feeling better, but still not great.
That night most of us were in bed by 8:30.
Day 393: Saturday, April 10
By the next day most of us were feeling about the same. But, by dinner we were all getting back to our normal selves: Peyton was loudly complaining about politics, Calib was listening to music so loud on his headphones he couldn't hear you shouting for him. Me asking everyone what they ened from the store only to have everyone say "nothing" and then two minutes after I place the order everyone's like 'Oh... you know what we need'...
I did still have soup for lunch. But that was more because I was excited about another bread bowl.
And, Porkchop did still keep me company.
Asa for his part never really had anything. We joke he didn't actually get the vaccine. His Superman gifs held strong through the weekend. Lucky duck. My reaction was mild, but constant, and annoying. But man, Calib and Peyton had a rough go.
Still, we're grateful to be vaccinated. It almost didn't feel real for awhile, it was like the Bucs winning the Super Bowl.
Day 394: Sunday, April 11
After being down for a couple of days, I was excited for maybe a bike ride, or something fun. But instead, we got a very, very rainy dreary day. Porkchop was now the one that needed consoling. We call him 'Weather Man Choops' because we always know when a storm is coming in, thanks to his whining.
It was dark all day.
And it rained, and it rained, and it rained.
And Porkchop was terrified all day.
Day 395: Monday, April 12
After the rough weekend, Hayden and I decided we were going to wrap up 9th grade early, and transition to summer work. This way, maybe we could enjoy some out of the house things before it gets too hot and too crowded to enjoy the out of the house places.
So, of course, to wrap it all up, we did 9th grade Jeopardy.
Calib was kind enough to also take part, for the competition of it all.
Since we had such an off weekend, Asa took part of Monday off to run some errands with me, so we treated ourselves to some Wawa!
And we also went out for dinner, because Asa's birthday Moe's coupon was about to expire, and it was Moe's Monday.
Day 396: Tuesday, April 13
A pretty chill day. Asa was back at work, and I was doing my usual boring stuff around the house. But, Hayden did thank me for doing laundry by making me fancy coffee, complete with some of his chocolate bunny from Easter shaved in.
We also started to work on taking the pictures down from the back of the couch. We dispersed that thoughout the house so we can frame some of our puzzles. It does look very weird though.
We also took everything out of our cabinets for a special pest treatment. Our pest control guy screwed up our appointment time (twice!!) and so he offered us a heavy duty spray, no charge. The only downside is you have to take everything out of your cabinets. Still, worth it. It really gets in there. And, it was free, so we figured why not.
Day 397: Wednesday, April 14
However, the next morning, Calib complained he couldn't find anything (all the dishes were all over the house), and so he ate cereal out of one of my good serving bowls.
And then of course, when pest guy came, the dogs were just so sad to be shut in my room.
But, eventually they were free. Porkchop is especially loving his bed in its new spot.
For dinner that night, since dishes were still everywhere, we decided it would be the best time to get Calib's choice of dinner for winning the family March Madness Bracket. It's the first time in at least the decade of filling them out, that Calib was the winner. He picked Hungry Harry's, so I wasn't too upset about it.
He picked Gonzaga to win the whole thing, though Baylor actually beat Gonzaga (and Gonzaga had been undefeated), he already had the win thanks to the rest of us dropping our champions early.
For prosperity, here are our 2021 brackets.
Asa also got his new phone- his old one was TERRIBLE. Like, it took forever to do anything, if it did it at all. This one is much better. He can get directions on his phone, and download all the food apps for rewards again!
And, I spent my day laying down a bunch of mulch. I could still use some more, but this was a good start.
Now, I'm also finishing up our vaccine blog on April 14th, because that's the day the CDC paused the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Yes, the vaccine I had JUST gotten, because of concerns over 6 people with blood clots after getting the vaccine. I did not love the news.
First of all, I did what I was supposed to do- when it was my turn, I got the first vaccine I could. And now, just after I didn't have to be anxious about side effects anymore, I now had to worry about blood clots for the next 6 to 13 days. Now, I know, it's not really a rational fear. 7 million doses, only 6 reactions like that (we later found out that it was 13). Still, I didn't love it. Especially because most of the reactions came from women under 50 (later, they announced most of the women were between 30-39, so I especially didn't love that).
But, you know, there are risks with everything. And weighing my options, I would still get the vaccine when I did. My chances of contracting Covid are way higher than a blood clot. And, it's just the right thing to do from a public health stand point.
So, there's that. And now they're resuming the vaccine, albeit, with an warning.
Still, I'm vaccinated. Asa, Calib, and Peyton are vaccinated. And, we're starting to feel like we have some freedoms back. Spoiler Alert for the next blog: Calib went to Publix by himself! Asa has run into the store a couple times! I went to Costco by myself! And Calib, Asa, and I all went to Epcot together! The benefit of that one dose shot was two weeks later, we're considered good to go! We don't have that inbetween period. Although, we have heard our antibodies will peak in 28 days, so we've got that countdown going now too!
