We really only do the bunny and candy parts of Easter, and plan for a day at home because it's easier than figuring out what might be open. Which we have to do this year anyway because of COVID.

Unlike the last two years, where we might have stayed home because of Easter and the pandemic, it's because we all have COVID this year.

I misrepresented, based on misunderstanding, yesterday. The wife had taken an at-home test on Friday night, which was negative. I then thought she tested again Saturday morning, but she was repeating the previous night's results. She made a PCR appointment for later on Saturday morning, and received the results by e-mail about 2AM this morning.

She's in the positive club.

She's had some allergy-seeming symptoms, increasing since about Thursday night. Thursday night we both got a little bit of a dry cough, and thought it was due to irritants and changes in humidity with the plummeting temperatures. I'm not sure if our HVAC humidifier was keeping up. Friday she kept to her self in her office, and had an "occasional tickle" with some minor congestion, which caused her to admit "there's something in the air." She's been separating from us at every opportunity, masking when in common areas, and eating and sleeping separately. The kids and I have given her as much space as is possible in the same house. We have two floors, and plenty of room. But, there is only one HVAC, and while it does have an air filter, which I've washed and changed a few extra times in the last week, it's not a virus-level filter quality, and barely keeps dust at bay...

Everyone's still doing well, symptomatically speaking. A few sniffles from those of us with congestion, more sniffles with more congestion. The usual. My sinus headaches are lessening, but other, uh, distasteful parts indicating some kind of sinus infection happen. Icky snot, really, is all it is--the wrong green, and bitter taste, indicating the bacterial infection. Or maybe now a viral infection.

I am taking the anti-viral PAXLOVID, to help keep the virus from becoming dangerous. I fit into their "at risk" categories because I'm fat and sedentary. I'm older, too, but not older enough. I've got a little bit of high glucose in my last tests, but not diabetic. I don't have, nor have ever had, any of the other conditions or diseases on their list. But old, fat, and lazy (not really lazy, but my job is pretty stationary, and I don't get out to do more like I should, so at least for this purpose, "lazy" isn't too far off) are enough to be at risk.

The wife is going to talk to her doc on Monday. Kids are on their own, as they're too young and small anyway.

So, now we're checking our calendars and trying to figure out the best break from our quarantine.

I started showing symptoms first, which is what they used for the timing of the PAXLOVID; I tested positive and called the next day, which was the last day of their window based on the symptoms. So, by their rules, I should be "quarantine free" today, but should keep a low profile through the 5-day regimen. Today is day 3, so call it Tuesday night because of the treatment.

The little little tested positive first, but had noticed symptoms (slight fever and cough due to congestion) the night before, so last Tuesday, so his window ends today, and he could return to school Monday, by their rules. He's still got a slight cough and congestion, but also seems to follow me in airborne irritant or allergy sways. So, we're debating whether this means he's free of symptoms (the fever being the real deal breaker). We'll check with the school, of course, for a final ruling.

The big little has remained asymptomatic, with an arguable slight fever approaching 99°F one temperature check one day, but solid 96-97°F since. So just counting from the PCV test she was found positive, later in the day after the antibody test result was negative, with that questionable fever the same day, she needs to wait until Tuesday.

The wife, just failing her first test on Saturday, and she's exhibiting a clear congestion bevy of things, just started her timer. She needs to quarantine through the week, at least until Thursday or Friday. And by quarantine, we're meaning just isolating in our home until the time passes. No hazmat suits or oxygen tents, or anything like that.

Really, the big calendar collision is "do we send the little little to school alone on Monday," or keep him home with his sister? A little because we haven't sent him on the bus alone. He'd be fine, I'm sure, with the bus and school parts of it; that's all routine. But there's the big scary of doing that kind of stuff for the first time, exacerbated with knowing it's happening because of stupid COVID, that is really the stress point.

Secondary to that, since mom has to isolate and normally takes the kids to the bus in the morning is "does dad do that and pick-up, or can the kids go to the stop (at the end of the block) alone (which they like to do)?" Clearly I can do that, but since I'm supposed to isolate through my antiviral treatment, I shouldn't go to the corner with them, and the other parents and kids. Even if they went to the bus alone, who would pick up the kids on Monday and Tuesday? I could drive there, and they could come out to the car, but that's not how pick-up really works. Or should we just keep everyone home until Wednesday, when I should be in the clear (enough) to take it all on.

At least things are a little more normal at home. We're all moving freely about the house now, joining for meals and social activities like watching television. This is about all we can do with the weather and COVID isolation keeping us inside. Plus it's cold and is supposed to rain later. Everyone has devices so they can separate and connect with others, or play games, or work, or blog...but we're stuck at home.

Thankfully, we did have some Easter distractions. We don't do the church things, and while we have all of the religion-related reasons for the holiday in our backgrounds, and even in conversations with the kids, it isn't part of our Easter tradition. We do the Easter Bunny thing. Bunny brings candy and baubles and toys for the kids. Because of the dogs, we haven't done the hide things to find later hunt kinds of things; the dogs are too good at finding the food things, and aren't good at knowing that's for the kids. So this year, Bunny left baskets for each of them on the dining room table. A little less challenging, but they seem fine with it.

The kids are still aware that we're "trapped" in the house. Weather and illness are keeping us from even riding our bikes in the street. We're not going out to buy things or get food, or even just drive around. There were some days in the early pandemic where just a drive for scenery seemed like such a joyous escape. We're past that, and have gotten better. It's just that we've got things forcing us into our situation that makes it less appealing. We're mostly good, but aware of it. We'll get through.

Plus we've gotten good at contact-free delivery. While we don't often go out, we do occasionally get take-away or drive-through food. We're not doing that, which has caused a wave of "unfair" from the littles, so I offered delivery pizza later. Whether for lunch or dinner remains to be seen, but the "out food" reward is strong with my littles.

Everyone has COVID. No one is really visibly sick. No fevers, just some congestion and coughing. And not everyone has those, and none of that is really bad.