#I am being infected with baby fever and I need this virus to go away I am Not Responsible Enough for another human being!!! | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sweetcherrymoon22 · 2 years

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You should write something where maybe one of the other boys gets sick and y/n is taking care of them maybe even letting them lay against her and Harry gets super jealous and y/n has to go and talk to him and he’s just acting like a straight child all like “Get away f’me.” and pouty ahahha.

A/N: I'm finally back!!! I had to leave for a while to focus on ending the year strong but I am now back and hoping to post every-other day until I am done with the requests in my inbox!

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1.9k

Tw: sickness, slight angst, fluff at the end

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now anyone in or out of health care knows this one little fact. Men are absolute babies when it comes to being sick. By now I was used to it. The “y/n my stomach hurts, i'm going to die!!” and the *sniffle* *cough* “are you okay?” “oh my god, yes i’m fine why would you even say that!” To be honest most of the time I ignore fifty percent of their complaining, treat their symptoms and by the next morning they are fine. But every once in a while they aren't being dramatic.

“Mhhh” Even from the opposite side of the bus I could hear him groaning in his sleep.

“Niall?” no response. It couldn't be that he was sleeping and making those noises at the same time.

“Uhhh '' Alright so maybe he was. We had been driving for about ten hours when Niall fell to the bug. I had been doing my best to keep it from the boys but somehow despite my best efforts, it made it through. He was the first so far, but probably not the last. If one boy gets sick, the others always get it. The bug had been moving quickly through the crew staff, hitting at least three people a week. My once solitary and quiet med bus was now full to the brim with groaning patients. The other unfortunate side effect of this; I couldn't no longer sleep in the same bed as my boyfriend. Well, at least not until this infection is out of the way and I'm not scared of him getting sick.

I walked out of the back rooms to see Niall passed out on the med bay couch, face down and groaning louder than a truck horn in his sleep. I had seen Niall sick before. Hell I've had to wipe vomit off of his face before, but this shit was brutal. And I won't lie, the toll of not being able to escape it at all for the past few weeks has been getting to me. My sleep is constantly interrupted by alarms on my phone going off to remind me to check everyone on the bus, refill their fluids, check their temperatures, and administer medication if needed. I haven't been able to talk to my boyfriend in weeks for longer than five minutes. At this point I was almost praying to get the virus just to have a week off. Except maybe without the fever, and then sore throat, and the nausea. So maybe not.

“Ni” I shook his shoulder lightly to attempt to wake him up. Nothing.

“Niall” Again, nothing. I could only be grateful that right now he was the only one sick. Finally with a big snort and a flip onto his back his cloudy eyes opened.

“Hey bud, how ya feeling?” He groaned once more and shut his cloudy eyes.

“Nope. None of that. I know you're going to hate me but it's time for more meds.” Nothing but another groan.

An hour or two later we finally found ourselves at a hotel, a wayside stop for a few days until everyones feeling better and the boys are able to perform. The second we got off the bus- me with several bags of medical supplies along with my actual suitcase, and Niall with a single backpack underneath the blanket he had wrapped around himself like a cloak- Harry came up to me with a frown on his face.

“Long time no see love bug” He moved in to kiss me but I gently placed a hand on his chest and pushed him back a step.

“I will not get you sick. Remember how bad it was last time? No way. I love you, but no.” He pouted like a child being told no and hung his head.

“Baby, I promise the second Ni is better we’ll be spending all day together, we just have to be careful, that's all” while his head was still facing down I thread my fingers through his hair and gave his scalp a little massage. After I was done speaking I gave him a light kiss on his head.

“Now come on, let's get inside so we can all get our keys and go to bed, Okay?” Still pouting, he nodded at me and continued in without saying another word.

~~~~

Once we were all inside Paul was standing at the desk waiting with keycards in his hands to give us our rooms. He started with the crew and then once they had all filed off to their rooms he gave the other boys their room keys. Lastly, he handed one to me. The last one.

“Sorry y/n they’d only give me one key for the both of you” Harry standing with the other boys around me walked forward.

“Don't know what you mean Paul, I’ve got the other key right here?” I signed and turned to face him.

“Haz-”

“Oh. you'll be sharing a room with Niall then, won't you.”

“Yes. I need to keep an eye on him tonight make sure his fever doesn't come back-”

“Whatever” I took a step back, feeling the lash of his tone on me. Did he really think this was fun for me? This is my job, the whole reason I get to be here touring with him in the first place, it doesn't just suddenly disappear whenever he wants it to. I took a deep breath. It's fine. He's just frustrated, just like I am, that's all. This cant be easy for him either.

“We might not be able to share a room tonight but I do hope you’ll still come say goodnight before you go to sleep?” I tried to reach out a hand and was coldy rejected.

“Maybe. I wouldn't want to disturb the both of you.” I made a surprised scoff and looked over at Niall who was standing behind me with an equally surprised look on his face. Before I would even respond, he was off to the elevators without aso much as a look behind him.

~~~~

After a few hours of television watching and unpacking in our hotel room it was time for Niall's least favorite activity. Taking his meds.

“Niall?” I found him again face down on one of the beds in the room, not asleep this time, just hiding from the light.

“No. I won't do it this time.”

“Hate to tell you but I have dealt with non-compliant patients before and usually it ends up worse for them than it does for me.” He dramatically flipped over and layed starfish on the bed for a moment before slowly pulling himself up to a sitting position.

Twenty minutes after he had taken his meds, like always with Niall; he began to groan my name while I was attempting to take a shower for a moment of peace. Like any good physician I ignored the first two and after not hearing a third, went out to check on him.

“Ni? Are you okay?” He was in a fetal position with his eyes closed taking deep breaths.

“Puke. definitely going to puke.” I cringed a little and grabbed one of the anti-nausea meds from my bag.

“Here. Put it under your tongue, it should work pretty quick.” He did as I said and continued groaning. In a moment of pity I grabbed my book and hopped onto the bed beside him.

“What-”

“If you're going to be miserable it's the least I can do to not make you be alone” I moved up on the bed and patted my lap with one hand.

“Come on, you big baby” He placed his head on my lap and I opened my book, beginning to read from the page I had dogeared. Not twenty minutes later Niall was fast asleep and I left him laying with his head on my lap as I read my book in peaceful silence. Peaceful that is until a certain someone knocked on the door.

“You can come in Harry, it's unlocked.” He stepped in and right away turned what looked like a sorrowful- even remorseful- look, into one of pure fire.

“Really, y/n”

“Haz- '' I didn't get the chance to say another word before he was out of the room and walking quickly down the hall. I carefully untangled myself from Niall- who by some grace of god was still asleep- and chased Harry down the hall.

“Harry!” I grabbed his arm and he pulled away.

“Get away f’me”

He continued walking down the hall, and I almost let him until I snapped.

“Harry Edward Styles don't you dare act like a child and walk away from me right now!” He stopped in his tracks at the tone in my voice but didn't turn around.

“Do you think that this is fun for me? Not being able to see you at all for weeks, having to stay away from everyone and anyone just in case I could get them sick. Having to constantly be on call and working for days at a time?”

Now he turned around.

“While you have been out there, acting like a pouting child with the rest of your friends I have been trying to make poor Niall feel even the slightest bit better!” I paused for a breath. “So don't you dare try and make me feel bad about comforting our friend. Dont. you. Dare!”

I realized then that a few tears of exhaustion and frustration had slipped down my cheeks. I swiped them off and waited in buzzing quiet as he walked toward me. His head was facing the ground when he finally got over to me.

“Im stupid.” he finally said in a small voice. He reached out and put both his hands on my arms, still respecting the distance I wished to maintain, but allowing some sort of comforting touch for the both of us.

“Yeah, you have been.”

“Does it help if I say that I'm sorry and I never should have acted like a child because you were just helping Niall?”

“Of course it helps Harry”

“Are you still mad at me?”

“I mean, a little. You acted like a douche.” he let out a disappointed huff, but still nodded in agreement.

“Are you mad enough that we should talk about it more before we both go to bed?” I thought for a minute but the second I looked up at his cinnamon roll curls I knew the answer. I let out a dramatic sigh and opened my arms.

“No. come here” after a hug that the both of us had been waiting for over weeks, he released me and gave me a short kiss on the top of my head.

“Goodnight love.”

“Goodnight.”

So finally I made it back to my room, turned out the lights and settled into my own bed. It was colder without him in it.

~~~~~

“y/n/n” someone whispered in my ear and I jumped awake. Harry stood over me pale and looking half dead.

“Oh no. oh god no. you've got it don't you.” he did a slight nod before throwing off his shoes and jumping into the bed with me. One part of my brain went warm, comfy. The other was screaming expletives at him and myself for not being more careful. He nestled up next to me and placed his head in the crook of my shoulder.

“Well, at least now you get to hang out with me

#harry styles fluff #harry styles #harry styles imagines #harry styles one direction #harry styles one shot #one direction #oneshot #onedirectiontour #anxiety comfort #blurb #sickfic

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morceid · 3 years

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Snowy Sniffles

💡SPENCER REID X DEREK MORGAN💡

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Summary: Derek gets the flu when he and Spencer are snowed in on a case in Colorado.

Word Count: 2k

Category: fluff, slight angst

Content Warnings: swearing, sickness, case details

A/N: enjoy my otp being cute and cuddly for my first day of 12 days of moreid :)

The snowy mountains of Colorado. A serial killer as cold as the air was out there, and It was the job of the BAU to catch him.

The team boarded their plane like normal, occasionally Derek coughed and cleared his throat. Not enough to realize what was happening, but enough to get a “You okay?” from JJ.

There weren’t many hiccups with local police, except for them withholding information about the victims. Derek and Spencer were sent to profile the dump site, JJ and Emily to interview victims' families, while Rossi and Hotch set up at the station.

The dump site was in a clearing next to a mountain frequently used for sledding. A visiting family from Texas was recommended the mountain by a friend and since they weren’t familiar with the area, the mom got lost and they came across the body. Thankfully the kids weren’t there to see it.

Spencer and Derek walked out of the black SUV and ducked under the police tape in their fleece jackets and large boots.

“The victim was Hannah Gentry. She was a fourteen year old girl who ran away from her abusive father. No sign of sexual assault, but there were signs of restrains on her thighs and around her stomach.” Spencer walked around the area the body had previously been found, searching for anything left behind by the unsub.

“Maybe he thought he was saving these girls. How old were each of the victims?” Derek said, pulling tissues from jacket pocket.

“Ages ranged from 13 to 19. All had someone abusive close to them. You sure you’re okay?”

Before Derek could reply he was coughing and gagging into the torn kleenex in his hand.

“I’ll be fine,” The stuffiness in his nose was apparent in his voice now. “Let’s go back to the station. I’m sure Rossi and Hotch are at the M.E. now.”

The two walked back to the car and headed towards the police station. On the way it started snowing and Spencer said something about growing up in Vegas without snow, and how in Virginia they never really saw the snow fall, they just woke up to it on the ground and in the streets.

Between the snowfall rapidly increasing, the windshield wipers not doing anything to help, and Derek driving in an unfamiliar area, he began having a coughing fit and swerved off the road.

They didn’t get hurt in the accident, just a large rush of adrenaline, but the car wasn’t in the best shape. The engine made a sound that contorted Spencer’s face.

“We should probably check that.”

Derek tried to push his door open but he had driven into a ditch and snow was piled up tp his window. He rolled it down and shoveled some of the snow with his gloved hands. He got the door all the way open with a little wrestling of the handle. The boot of the car was opened and steam was rising from it. Spencer had crawled across the center console and got out from Derek’s side.

“Do you think we could get an officer to pick us up?” Derek sniffled.

“I think the snow is coming down too hard now.” Spencer’s black coat was powdered with snow that he didn’t bother to shake off, knowing it would be back there in an instant.

“I’ll call Hotch.” Derek fished his phone out of his pocket.

“You fell in a ditch? Morgan, this is a very time sensitive case. This guy kills every three days and it’s been the second day since the last body was found. We need you guys here.” Spencer overheard Hotch’s near yells over the phone.

“Okay, dad, calm down there. I’ll call up Garcia to find us the closest hotel and we’ll crash there. Reid says snowing too much for an officer to come pick us up.” It was around 7:30 and the sun was starting to set.

“Alright, we can send someone to get you tomorrow.” Hotch hung up and Derek called Penelope.

“Hey-llo my chocolate thunder! Anything I could do for you?”

Derek coughed a couple of times.

“You okay, Derek?”

“Yeah, uh, me and Reid got stuck in the snow and we can’t get back to the hotel. Are there any near us that we can crash at?”

“You’re in luck, Derek Morgan, There is a motel only a seven minute walk away from you. Anything else?”

“Not right now, baby girl, take care of yourself.”

“So what are we gonna do?” Spencer had begun chewing on his fingernails and pacing in a circle around the car.

“Kid,” Derek took Spencer’s cold hands into his warm, gloved ones. “Stop your worrying. I can see all of those gears in your head going a million miles an hour. Garcia found a motel near us and we can walk there and stay the night until someone can pick us up. We’ll be okay.”

“I know I’m gonna be okay, it’s you I’m worried about, Morgan.” Spencer took his hands out of Derek’s and leaned into the car to grab his bag.

“What do you mean? I’m fine.” As if on cue, Derek started having a coughing fit.

“I’m talking about that, Derek. You’re showing signs of getting the flu. Your heart rate has sped up by 39% in the last couple of days. You constantly have a running nose and you won’t stop coughing. I am not getting sick, I cannot afford to get sick, especially on a case, so I hope this motel has two beds.” Spencer pushed away from Derek and began walking.

“Wait!” Derek ran to catch up. “Pretty boy, you’ve already been with me for almost 24 hours. I think you are already infected. Besides, you, my friend, are shivering. Now let me give you one of my coats.”

Spencer slowed his walking and let Derek drape his second jacket over his thin, purple one. Having a crush on your coworker was the worst.

When the pair reached the motel the sun had fully set and they had snow covering their shoulders and resting on their heads. They brushed it off before entering, where they were bombarded with the overwhelming scent of perfume as what could only be presumed as the owner tugged them in with both of her arms. She was short and wore a sparkly pink dress not unlike one Penelope would wear.

“What can I do for you kind fellows today? Did ya crash on the side of the road? Lots of people did tonight. Can I get you a room? Was it your engine? Faulty car?” The woman rambled.

“Um, we fell in a ditch a little bit back. We just need two rooms for the night,” Spencer looked down at her nametag, “Sasha. Thank you.”

“Well, boys, I am sorry to disappoint but we only have one more room for the night. You’re just gonna have to share.”

“Are there at least two beds?” Spencer whined.

“Sorry,” Sasha took Derek’s credit card and punched in the numbers on a computer that looked almost a decade old. “You good there? You look like you could throw up any second?”

“I’m fine, ma’am. Just give us the room key please.” Derek cleared his throat.

“Alrighty, there you go FBI guys.” Sasha handed them the room key labed 7B.

Given the overwhelming personality that brought them in, neither had a chance to look around and profile the front office. When they got to the room they realized just how miserable the stay would be.

The heater seemed to be turned off resulting in the room being colder than the outside. Complementary water bottles on the nightstand had frozen, expanded, and exploded. The pipes in the walls creaked and whined. Derek moved towards the bed, which when he pulled up the sheets, they were stiff and barely moved at his touch. Spencer moved past the bed and to the kitchen, where he found a coffee machine and cups in the cupboard.

“What are you doing?” Derek coughed.

“Making coffee. It’s something to keep me warm.” Spencer still had Derek’s jacket across his shoulders.

“Alright well, you might be right. I think I’m starting to get a fever. I’m gonna hop in the shower. Hopefully it’s just the reverse air conditioning that’s broken.”

Derek’s observations were proven correct as he unexpectedly walked into the spray of a nearly boiling shower. His muscles relaxed as he began thinking about the events of the day. His nose ran more than it had in the cold weather and it reminded him of a moment in the office that happened some while ago, back when Spencer first joined the BAU.

It was a slow day in the bullpen. With Spencer being nearly fresh from college, Derek wasn’t expecting him to take the best care of himself, no one was. Derek looked up, ready to throw Spencer a rolled up note about how bored he was. Instead he was greeted with an empty desk. After asking Hotch where the boy genius was and getting a surprised ‘I don’t know’ in response, he went in search of him. Spencer was found laying on the couch in an empty office. HIs skin was red and burning to the touch. Derek gave him a couple of shakes and he woke up, groaning. Spencer had gotten the flu and didn’t know how to deal with it at work. Not wanting to disappoint Hotch by skipping a day for something so insignificant as a virus, he settled in an office he correctly assumed was vacant. He insisted that he was okay but Derek refused to believe him. He dropped Spencer off at his apartment and immediately knew. He was in love with Spencer Reid. And he wanted to spend as much time with him as possible.

When Derek was in the shower for at least 15 minutes Spencer presumed that the shower was warm, so he called Sasha at the front desk from the phone in the room. She wouldn’t be able to get someone to come fix it for another day. He sat on the bed, spreading his arms and legs out in an attempt to warm the sheets. Letting his mind wander, he started asking himself questions. Why did he like Derek? He was just his coworker. Just someone in his life. An attractive person in his life, but just like anyone else in his life. Did Derek know how much he meant to him? Would he ever know? Would he be given the chance to let Derek know that he loved him and wanted to spend his life with the other knowing?

He was taken out of his day dream when Derek came out of the bathroom. Derek was shaking. He wore thick, flannel sweatpants and a grey hoodie, along with his socks, not wanting to leave a single part of his body too exposed.

“Uh, I know you’re super germaphobic and probably want nothing to do with my running nose and sore throat right now, but kid, all of my muscles are aching. Do you mind if I-”

“Not at all.” Spencer wrapped his arms around Derek’s middle as he sank onto the bed.

Derek let out a sigh of relief and settled in Spencer’s arms. It wasn’t long until his breathing evened out and he fell asleep in the lanky man’s arms.

“I think I love you, Derek Morgan.” Spencer whispered.

The next day Hotch called Derek to let him know that they caught the unsub. He was an amateur child groomer who left a hair in his latest victims mouth. An officer picked up the pair from the motel and they boarded the jet. Derek’s flu passed as soon as it came and he was better in the morning. A little cuddling with Spencer was just what the doctor ordered.

“Hey, Spencer.” Derek sat across from him after everyone on the jet had fallen asleep.

“Yes, Derek?” Spencer noted the use of his first name in his head.

“We need to talk about last night.”

“What about it?”

“I heard you, Spencer.”

“Wh-what are you talking about? Heard me say what?”

“Spencer,” Derek put his hand on the other’s knee, “I love you too.”

In a panic, Spencer leaned forward and pecked Derek on the lips.

“I-I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.” He stammered.

“It’s okay. We can do that if you want.” Derek leaned back in for a real kiss from Spencer. He still tasted like the cheap hotel coffee.

“We can do anything as long as we’re together.”

TAGLIST: @greenaway-lewis @pretty-b0yy @w0rmpi3 @sunflowrly @fuckshitupm8-deactivated3728 @the-sassy-one @endetit @adhd-lesbian @nobody121113 @stalinthestripper

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jelzorz · 4 years

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I know that this situation is causing a lot of people to be anxious, but I’m worried about my pregnant friends specifically. As someone who works in a medical setting and is expecting, what are your thoughts? I really appreciate it ty

There's no evidence so far of the virus being transferred from mum to unborn baby. Obvs this is all super preliminary and no large scale studies have been performed yet but so far, it looks like it isn't transmitted through the placenta. The biggest worry I think is the tendency of infections to bring on a fever which isn't super good for baby but can be managed easily and safely with acetomeniphen. If you have a fever that can't be managed with acetomeniphen, you should see your healthcare provider anyway, even in the absence of a pandemic.

Breastfeeding mums who test positive should wear a mask while feeding, at least until symptoms go away, and it's of course really important to practise good hygiene by washing your hands and sneezing into your elbow, but that's basically all the information my midwife gave me. I can update you guys if any of it changes or if any new info becomes available but in the meantime, and I cannot stress this enough:

STAY HOME.

Corona is not the end times and our main priority is to control spread so that we don't overwhelm the healthcare workers who, unfortunately, don't get the luxury of working from home. Most symptoms can be managed effectively from home anyway using standard cold and flu measures so please don't present to your hospital unless you're in actual distress. We don't have the kits or the beds or the staff to look after all of you and we need to prioritise those who urgently need the care.

Please don't go out unless you need to. Please skip that bbq or cancel that birthday party or work from home if you can. I know it sucks (believe me, I just had to cancel my baby shower) but it is the safest and easiest precaution you can take for yourself and for your friends and family. Just stay home! Enjoy your staycay!

I am still at work for you. Please please please stay at home for me.

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thesummerstorms · 4 years

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So my district's response to Covid so far:

Teachers and staff will be expected to self-screen their temperatures before arriving to campus. Parents enrolling their children will be given "screening questions", as will parents coming to campus to pick up their student early. Students' temperatures will not be taken.

I purchased my own infrared thermometer and a pulse oximeter, both in the interest of daily self screening, and in the belief that I am very likely to contract the virus if school opens without dramatic changes to the plan .

Hand sanitizer will be available on campus... at main entrances to the building. As of right now, there is no plan to purchase hand sanitizer for classroom use.

I am stockpiling my own hand sanitizer, from my own salary, instead of paying off debt or purchasing household items or entertainment.

Students will be encouraged to wash their hands. Teachers will be responsible for instructing them on handwashing the first day of school.

I am awaiting email clarification if our classroom sinks will be provided soap this year, or if there's some way that any of the sinks accessible to students could be altered to use hot water. I am also advocating for the hand dryers to be replaced by paper towels.

Students will be encouraged to sneeze into a tissue or their elbow. No mention has been made of the school providing tissue.

I have a few boxes I had bought in February in my cabinet at school, and am planning on asking my relatives to purchase Kleenex for me in lieu of any birthday celebration in August (along with hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes if possible).

The schools will be "regularly deep cleaned". No mention of specifics, of who will be cleaning between classes, when cleaning between classes is expected to occur if we maintain a normal schedule as has been stated.

I am stockpiling sanitizing wipes whenever and however I can get them, though I don't think I'll have enough to sanitize high touch areas or even all used desks between classes. Technically, I am not supposed to have said sanitizer in the classroom due to allergy concerns.

It has been decided social distancing is not possible. Plexiglass barriers or sneeze guards will not be provided. Students will be encouraged to frequently wash their hands instead.

I have put my 32 desks in front-facing rows. I will move my desk as far away from the sink as I can manage, and pray.

Students over the age of 10 will be required to wear face masks if so ordered by Governor Abbott. The district refuses to commit one way or the other when asked if elementary school students will be made to wear PPE or if masking will continue when Governor Abbott's order expires.

My mother is sewing me cloth face masks, and I have ordered my own face shields from Amazon. I'm praying it will be enough, even though the mask protects students from me, not the other way around.

I pray that my administration doesn't try to shame me out of wearing PPE in the name of "normalcy for the children".

Schedules, including four minute passing periods where all 1000+ students are in the halls fighting to use the same three bathrooms at the same time, and including lunches where grade levels eat in groups of roughly 300 at a time, will not be altered.

I try to avoid thinking about this one. I'm afraid. I will probably be eating in my car, if I eat or drink of campus at all.

Students whose parents are uncomfortable have the option of at-home all online learning.

I regret the fact that the district has refused to offer any at-home option to staff whatsoever, and that their unsafe plan was deliberately released after the last day I could exit my contract with no penalty, even though I know the odds of my finding remote work to pay rent were low.

I regret that I trusted them to come up with some way to at least try to protect us.

I try to come to terms with the fact that I, a Type 1 Diabetic, am now at extreme risk for catching Covid and for possible hospitalization or death. It isn't as if I have another way to pay the bills.

Students with "Covid like" symptoms are expected to stay home. If a nurse checks a child and finds they have a fever, the parent will be "expected to immediately take them home", as if I haven't had students come to school dosed up on Tylenol because their parent has to work, or sent a child to the nurse for vomiting on the floor first period only for the to remain at school all day with no phone calls answered and arrive promptly again for first period the next morning.

I wonder if my school nurse, in her 50s and diabetic, will return this year. I wonder if she has the flexibility of a choice.

If a student is confirmed to have Covid, only the parts of the school the student regularly accesses will be closed and only for 5 days of "deep cleaning".

I think about students skipping in wrong-grade-level bathrooms, fixing each other's hair, play-fighting, sneaking snacks, taking selfies .

I wonder about the cafeteria. The gym. The band hall. The hallways a student need to be in, but wandered down anyway because they hate going to their science class, or because they wanted to talk to a friend. I wonder about lockers.

I wonder if the district ever actually intends to address what will happen if a teacher comes down with Covid. If we'll be paid when we run out of sick days or if we'll have to hope we took the disability insurance and it will pay our bills.

I wonder how other classes are supposed to continue, knowing another child likely now has the virus, somewhere else in the school, and doesn't know.

I wonder if we'll even be able to get a Covid test and see our results in five days.

I wonder how many times my hall will be shut down.

I wonder if our custodians, hourly workers with 30 minutes or less per room, will get hazard pay. I wonder about our food service workers.

And a bonus:

Parents flood the social media of the district.

Some are angry, and demand information on how they can get an exemption to the masking order for their child "because a mask is more dangerous for kids than the virus". Danger to teachers is not mentioned.

The inevitable people wanting a "refund on their taxes" if the school is forced to close flood the comments. No one talks about the expense of providing technology to the students who are remote learning and don't have their own. Or about what the costs will be when multiple teachers become too sick to teach, especially of we can't find subs.

So many people question why teachers think they're better than "other essential workers". I wonder if those parents will contribute to the classroom supplies this year, or if on top of my own sanitizer and PPE, I will still be expected to use my salary for pencils and paper. I wonder how many of those parents have been locked in a room with no windows and thirty year old ventilation for an hour at a time, tightly packed with 30 other people whose infection status they do not know. How many of them do so for seven groups of thirty people, for seven consecutive hours.

People threaten to leave the district if any restrictions are placed whatsoever on sports, music, the things their kids "need". I think about a student athlete getting sick and permanently scarring their lungs too badly to play. About the coach with the new baby son. About our elderly choir teacher. I think I might be relieved if the parents followed through.

People tell us that there's never life without any risk, so we should stop whining and get on with life. I wonder how many of them are considering buying a $200 filter for their work place, on the off chance it makes them and their children the slightest bit safer. How many are spending their own salary to clean their own work places, on their own PPE.

I wonder how many are telling their children the virus is a hoax, and how many twelve year olds will think it's "funny" to aggravate their teachers by purposefully being unsafe this year. I wonder how many will get sick.

I wonder how many parents would notice or care if I got sick, if I , a type one diabetic with no other financial means, was hospitalized or died. I wonder how many would just be angry at the disruption to their lives.

I start preparing myself for the likelihood I will get sick.

I wonder why no one with the power to fix this, to even mitigate it, seems to care.

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redwallslikeyou · 3 years

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My dearest little pie

The past week must have been hard for you. Battling a high fever, getting poked at places you don't like, taking endless doses of medications, and doing hourly checks by strangers you fear of. Mummy and Daddy's heart is breaking for you, and the tears you shed - Mummy and Daddy shed too.

I want you to know how brave you have been. I want you to know how proud I am to be your Mummy. When you walk around the hospital wards waving to all the nurses and doctors who know your name solely because you were just so cute, I want you to know how proud I am to tail you from behind and see just how loved you are everywhere you go.

The first day in the hospital was tough for you. We went to SKH and had to do a blood test twice because of how much you were struggling, because of how much you hated the prick on your finger. Your fighting spirit puts Daddy and I in such difficult positions but I know this very spirit is what that will tide you through tough times in the future. I hope you never lose it.

You braved through the x ray wearing that cute little vest. You thought they were taking a picture and so you smiled like they were. Even in such worrying times you make Mummy laugh and smile. I don't know if you know but your laugher and smiles are what that helps Mummy through the difficult moments. Your spirit lifts me up. And I thank you for that.

Unfortunately, the x ray revealed an infection in your chest and the doctor said it was bronchitis. Suddenly we were stepping into unfamiliar grounds because Daddy and I never had anything remotely similar before. We were given medications and puffs to go home with. Your raging fever of 39 degrees finally dipped to 37 degrees and the doctors found you fit to be going home. It was a tough few hours in the hospital and you were already tired from a lot of crying. We were looking forward to a good rest at home.

Then came night when things took a turn. Your fever came back raging at 40 degrees. Even with ibuprofen it did not subside. Daddy, Mummy and Mama were all so worried that we decided to make another trip to the hospital despite it being already close to midnight. We quickly changed our clothes and left for KKH. Mummy wore extra comfy shirt and tights because somehow something tugged at my heart telling me it's gonna be another long night.

At KKH, Daddy and Mama were not allowed to enter due to covid restrictions. So you and I both toggled between going into the A&E area and coming out to be with Daddy and Mama. After 3 hours of waiting, forcing you with the inhaler, and more medications, a decision was made to have you warded. Then the bomb was dropped that you would be required to take a covid test. At that point it felt like my world stood still. As harmless as it was, the thought of having to swaddle you tight and force a swab up your nose was not something Mummy could bear emotionally. Yet a choice was not given.

The isolation ward, as per covid procedures, was only ready by 4am. You were already fast asleep before the ward was ready. Mummy carried you up and stayed by your side while Daddy drove back home to prepare the necessities for your stay. At 5am, the phone rang, and a very sleepy doctor asked for details of your illness. At 5.30am, nurses came in to check on your vitals. Your oxygen levels have fallen to 92% and so oxygen support was given to you. I though my heart could not be any more broken but at 6am, I was proven wrong because it was time for your swab.

You needed to do 2 separate swabs, 1 for covid and 1 to find out exactly which virus was attacking your little body. When I asked the nurse if it was only 1 on each nose, she said she had to do both noses for both swabs. That is 4 swabs in total. My heart broke even more. The nurses and Mummy had to pin you down for the swab and your cries were different. It was not one of being upset, but one of fear. You cried over and over again,"Mummy bao bao! Mummy bao bao!" At that point you must have felt abandoned and confused. Why is Mummy allowing strangers to pin you down this way? Why is Mummy not picking you up immediately like how I always do? I bit my lips to hold my tears. In my heart I knew this had to be done, for you and your health.

When the nurse did the swab you choked on your cries and said,"I don't want to dig nose! I dont want to dig...!" When your words trailed off I knew the swab was in. I bit my lips harder to hold back my tears.

After what seemed like forever, the nurse finally said it was done. I immediately unswaddled you and carried you away. I hugged you tight, hoping you could feel that Mummy loved you so so much. You cried and cried. Then you tried your hardest to compose yourself to say this,"I want to go outside to see Papa. I want to go outside to see Papa." In your 2 yr old mind, you already knew Papa was always waiting outside, ready for whatever you needed him for. In this moment, Mummy broke down crying. Because Papa was not outside. Because this was an isolation ward. And Mummy don't know how to say it to you, my 2 year old baby.

When Mummy cried, I told you I love you. You sobbed silently. I knew you lowered your crying to hear Mummy cry. It must have been confusing for you. Why is Mummy crying?

When Mummy told Papa what happened, Papa cried too. You were his baby, and he couldn't be there physically to hold you. Mummy could only say to you,"Tomorrow afternoon we can see Papa already. Papa loves you so so so much ok?"

Shortly after, you fell asleep. It had been a long difficult day for you. Mummy stayed up monitoring your oxygen level. Daddy and Mama waited at home, both having terrible sleep that lasted max 3 hours. At 8am, both Daddy, Mama and Halmoni texted Mummy for updates. The isolation room sounded so peaceful with just you and me, but outside, the chaotic worry carried by everyone was far from peaceful. I gave everyone updates and the nurses continued to come in hourly to check on you. You woke at 9am and had little breakfast. You were chirpy as always, thankfully, and asked to go outside to see Mama. You made Mummy laugh when you told the nurse,"Nurse I want to go outside! Nurse! I want to go outside!" It was Mummy's first time hearing you say the word "Nurse". Haha. That alone made my day.

You continued to cry to leave the ward but there was still no COVID test result. You ate terribly again for lunch, only 3 potato wedges to be exact. And then you fell asleep and took a good long nap, still exhausted from everything that took place the day before.

While you were asleep, Mummy received news that your COVID test was cleared. I was so happy that I couldn't wait for you to wake up to tell you the good news - we could finally leave the ward!!

I looked outside the window and suddenly everything seemed brighter. It was 1pm and Mummy was amazed by how much of energy I still had within me, despite having no sleep for the previous night. Through the night Mummy prayed for your health, and always ended the prayer with,"The joy of the Lord is my strength." The power of prayer is amazing indeed.

1pm also meant that Mummy has held on to my pee for more than 10 hours! I slipped away to the toilet within the room, and when I was done, I felt a wave of happiness and relief. It was going to be a good day!

When you finally woke up after a long nap, Mummy said we could leave the room and your face lighted up! We went to the admission area for a transfer of ward to the normal wards. Mama came to look for us shortly after and your face instantly lighted up when you saw her! You shouted so loudly,"MAMA!!!" from a distant and rannnnnnnn to her with all your might. Remembering that moment brings tears to my eyes. The love you have for Mama is one that was special.

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ltwinks · 4 years

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wear your fucking mask

So here’s a post I never thought I’d have to post. And it’s a long one, so buckle up.

On Sunday evening, my husband came home from work with a fever. We got some fever reducers into his system, gave him a cool bath, and went online to schedule a COVID-19 test. An hour or so later, we realized that our son felt hot and took his temperature; 100.7. We immediately gave him Tylenol and a cool bath.

We’re just being cautious, we reasoned. There’s no way it’s anything other than a flu, and they both have it. That’s all.

Their fever broke that evening, but we still went Monday morning to the test site because that’s the right thing to do. It was a self-administered test, and he said it wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be.

We’re just being paranoid, we told ourselves. COVID-19 symptoms don’t just stop.

Over the course of the day Monday, other symptoms began to present. He got a dull headache throughout his skull, his body ached, and he couldn’t stop sweating. We went straight home after the test because that’s the right thing to do.

He doesn’t have a cough or a sore throat, and his breathing is fine, so it can’t be COVID-19.

And we’ve been doing the right things all along. We’ve washed our hands religiously, we wore our masks, we destroyed our hands with hand sanitizer (I have actual chemical burns; I appreciate alcohol distilleries for stepping up and making sanitizer to help fill the gap in supply, but they had no business making chemicals they weren’t trained to make), we social distanced. Everything that we could do, we did, out of an abundance of caution and to protect ourselves and others.

Late Tuesday afternoon, he got an alert on his phone that test results had come back. We opened up our computer, fully expecting and hopeful that it would have good news.

“Test results: POSITIVE for COVID-19″

......what?

..........................what?

We called our workplaces and received instructions on what to do next. We called my mom. His brother called him. We arranged for me to get a test done the next morning.

It was my husband’s birthday on Tuesday. Happy birthday; coronavirus got you a present.

Wednesday morning came. I went by myself to the testing site and got my own test done. It is mildly unpleasant, but not as bad as the Facebook memes want you to think. Please don’t avoid getting tested because you think it’s horrible. While I was out, my husband called our son’s pediatrician. Oh, have I mentioned yet that we have a toddler? Because we have a toddler. The pediatrician told us to take him to an Express Care so he could be tested too. She said it was very important that he get tested, in case he has it and his condition worsened.

I can’t describe to you what it’s like, holding your 21-month-old baby tightly to your chest while he struggles against the swab being put up his little nose. I can’t describe the tears, both from him and from me.

It was a fifteen-minute test, and the machine was in the room with my son and I as we waited, alone (it was a small exam room and for safety purposes and because ‘close contact’ is defined by the CDC as within six feet for a sustained fifteen minutes, the nurse could not wait with us, and for that she profusely apologized). He was on his best behavior, acting so sweet and so cuddly and not at all like he might have a deadly virus coursing through his little body. When the timer beeped, I couldn’t even look at the machine.

The nurse returned to the room and looked at the machine, and she said to me, “I’m going to have the doctor come down and take a look at him.” As she turned to leave, she paused and looked at me and added, “Since your husband tested positive and your son tested positive, you can assume you’re positive too. You don’t need to get tested.”

All of the air rushed out of my lungs. The machine had a big red + on the display.

The doctor came into the exam room in full PPE: two masks, a face shield, two gowns, two pairs of gloves with the sleeves tucked in, and goggles. He listened to my son’s lungs and said he sounded fine. He gave me some information, but I retained none of it. I was handed a few sheets of paper with that information typed on it so that doesn’t matter.

My baby has coronavirus.

My husband has coronavirus.

As I type this, my test results haven’t come back yet, but I probably have coronavirus.

Let me return for a moment to Friday, two days before all of this began.

My mom called me and told me that my Nana was really sick. Like, really sick. Like, “Come say your goodbyes” kind of sick. We made plans for me to take my son to see Nana on Saturday afternoon; she was in the hospital on Friday and was going to be brought home on Saturday so she could die at her home.

Saturday morning, I was at work. My phone started going off with texts around 7 AM, but I couldn’t look at it. I knew, but I didn’t want to Know, y’know? Like, it’s one thing to understand what a barrage of texts mean, but it’s entirely different matter to see the texts and read their awful truth.

My Nana had passed away early in the morning, surrounded by her five children.

I showed the texts to my manager and he told me to take off for the day.

The wake was on Wednesday. With my husband’s test result Tuesday afternoon, and then my son’s that morning, we did not go.

The funeral was today. We did not go. We had to watch my Nana’s funeral on a YouTube live stream.

My Nana was such an influential person in my life. She was kind and generous, but also iron-willed and brutally fair. She would listen to you when you had a problem and she would give you excellent advice, even if it was not the advice you wanted to hear, and she would stay on your case until you followed that advice. She was the principal of a boy’s correctional school for over twenty years. She was the only member of my family who really listened to me when I needed to talk about the emotional damage being an adoptee did, and she was the only person who took me seriously when I was infected with Lyme disease; without her practically ordering my parents to get me tested for Lyme, I don’t think I would have gotten a diagnosis until after I moved out on my own and could get it done myself. She was the matriarch of the family and truly, the center of it too. She cared deeply and loved deeply. She loved the Boston Bruins and the Boston Red Sox.

Because of coronavirus, I couldn’t be there for her wake or funeral or graveside memorial. I couldn’t be there for my grieving siblings and cousins and aunts and uncles and my mother. I hate it so much. Her death and our diagnoses couldn’t have happened at a worse time.

I’m starting to have symptoms too. I’ve had a headache that won’t go away. I’m fatigued but I can’t sleep. I am not feverish or physically overheating, but I can’t stop sweating. Weirdly, my hearing in my left ear is almost gone, which I’m learning is a rare symptom; it feels and sounds like I need to pop my ear, but I can’t make it pop. My sense of smell isn’t completely gone, but all I can smell is saw dust, which makes no sense because there is no saw dust in my home. And my chest feels tight.

For the moment, we’re okay. My husband has developed a bit of a cough, but it’s minor and controllable. My son is very tired and really only wants to cuddle. Both of their fevers broke Sunday night and haven’t come back. We ordered a forehead thermometer for our son, because apparently he’s suddenly terrified of our regular thermometer, and an oximeter online.

My husband and I did everything we possibly could to avoid infection. And I’m not saying that those things don’t work, because they do and we need to keep washing our hands and wearing our masks; I’m saying that at some point, there was a crack in our defenses. I don’t know where that crack could be.

Was it the coworker of mine who claimed she was perfectly healthy at the daily wellness check but secretly coughed a ton in our office? Was it the customer who told myself and another coworker, we were ringing him up, that he felt bad that his son was in quarantine due to a classmate testing positive, to whom it didn’t occur that if one member of the household is in quarantine, the entire household is too? Was it our apartment neighbors, who keep having to be scolded by the landlord for not wearing their masks in the common areas of the building? Was it just a chance encounter that neither of us have any memory of?

I really don’t care about your perceived “rights” that you think are being violated. I don’t really care about your political leanings. I don’t really care that you haVe a MeDiCAl cONdiTiOn aNd caN’t wEaR a MaSK because that’s bullshit and you know it.

My baby has COVID-19.

Wear your fucking mask.

#coronavirus #covid_19 #wear your fucking mask

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yosttravis · 4 years

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Checking in on Bill Mitchell, The Godfather of Being Wrong

I thought the Krassenstein Twins era would be the low point of Twitter. Remember the shirtless cartoons? Remember all of the conspiracy theories? I suppose Seth Abramson is still chugging along. While the worst part of Democrat Twitter is hunting for the latest and greatest ten-pronged Donald Trump conspiracy theory, the worst part of Republican Twitter is doing what they do best, full and unadulterated gaslighting. No one does this better than takist Bill Mitchell. Bill prides himself on Being Right All Of The Time -- he’s a few months away from betting Diet Dews against Skip Bayless. Anyways, the best of the best gaslighters in this niche do two things well: they signal boost when they were right, and they bury where they were wrong. Burying comes in the form of either pretending they never said that (Mitchell is an exceptional tweet deleter), or moving the goal posts (he’s even better here). Mitchell has had a lot of takes on the coronavirus outbreak. Like many of us, he has zero subject matter expertise. That didn’t stop him from screaming to a rabid, half-million follower base about the danger coronavirus didn’t present to the American public. Of course, as the obvious severity of the issue has become more and more obvious, Mitchell just changed his tune -- April has seen him spending his days begging for an economy open-up, pretending death counts are fake, and calling out people like Anthony Fauci as Deep Staters. It should be noted that math isn't particularly Bill's strong suit.

Interesting that ActBlue raised an average donation of $30.38. This would imply people are donating in uneven numbers, including pennies, which would be odd. OR it would indicate untraceable foreign donations and an exchange rate translation, which would be illegal.

— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) April 21, 2020

But it wasn’t always like this! One thing about Twitter is you can just .. kind of .. go back in time. January and February were reserved for occasional thoughts about the virus, China’s role, and the like -- mostly boilerplate stuff. In March, as limited cases spread into the States and concerns grew over the preparedness of the United States, Mitchell took it upon himself to carry as much water as he could for the federal government and their role in the pandemic. As time elapsed, Mitchell predictably transitioned his arguments and measurement criteria to whatever looked favorable for Donald Trump on a given day. Even a thirty day snapshot of this is comical. This is a daily collection of tweets from as far back as .... March of 2020.

Can you imagine the absolute PANIC if COVID-19 numbers were as bad an COMMON FLU numbers? https://t.co/hVzlwlbxWZ