The kids got it! The vaccine, that is, not the virus.

We went after school, in a complicated collection of who's getting who, and met at the clinic. A couple shuffles through where to sign up, get the shot, and recover, and we were done! COVID vaccine and flu shots at the same time, one arm each.

They've been waiting to get theirs, with hopes of being able to do some of the things we discourage or forbid, like shopping trips, eating in busy restaurants, and visiting grandma. Grandma is self-isolating, even though she's fully vaccinated, and has been avoiding any visitors to help keep risk down. She doesn't want to be the one to accidentally carry the disease to infect someone, especially the grandkids. We've planned to meet for the holidays if everyone's fully vaccinated, including their few weeks after their last shot. So Thanksgiving is out, but we could visit before and for Christmas. The kids have been digging that thought, so although it meant getting shots, they were ready.

The kids were troopers. The big went first, to show how it could go. She little barely grimaced or flinched, asking for a hand to hold, and trying hard not to watch, ultimately commenting only "I didn't like it." The little little was prepared, but resisted and fussed a little at the approach of the needles, but developed the necessary resolve to let it happen, and did a loud "hey" at the poke. But when all was done, his tone turned tough and he said "that was it?"

So we did an "everyone got vaccine" chant and little spinning dance (originally developed for potty training, but it works in many situations), and happy thoughts returned. The nurse said that was a unique way to celebrate. They were concerned because they got shots in each shoulder, and bemoaned the soreness that was already setting in, and afraid they wouldn't be able to use their arms. The nurse explained it can be better moving and flexing their arms to ease the pain. She got them bending and straightening, lifting and lowering, and turning their arms as if preparing to throw a ball. Reasonable ways to move and flex.

We had them flap their arms like ducks as we walked down the hall, and strike various muscle poses. In the waiting room, we sat out our 15-minutes of observation while they played with some magnetic games that are mounted on the wall. Some rounds of tic-tac-toe, and a spinning-wheel led count-the-squares race to a movie theater, and the time ripped by. And they were having enough fun that they protested when our time was up and we were free to go.

Now everyone in the house has had at least one shot. Ma and I have had our booster already. Our intern guest is waiting until boosters are available to get hers. the kids get their second rounds in a few weeks. They're ready for it, and can't wait to get to see grandparents again.

So far, none of us has caught COVID. We test weekly, as the school recommends, in accordance with CDC recommendations for screening. We pledged early into this lock-down that we would welcome the ability to test as early and often as possible. It takes a few seconds of someone swiping a cotton swab in your nostrils now, not the deep nostril penetration to scrape the back of the throat. We're still waiting for the home self-test kits, where we can swab our own nostrils, and maybe wait for the color of the swab to change, like the TV "is this blood?" tests.

It also seems to be the recommendation or requirement we face looking forward for returning to offices, as we both work at companies with well more than 100 people. If the vaccines and variants and treatments all get aligned, and we can reduce or forego the tests, we'll do that. Same with masks. We said that in the beginning of the thing, and even though it's been a long and wearying road, we're staying that course.

Everyone's healthy.