outbreak: a sad tale

it's been a while since i've had 1.)a free moment, 2.)internet access, 3.)enough of my brain available to write something. if you're reading this, you're family, and you already know our sad tale of woe (andrew has pneumonia and is quarantined in our apartment, while ben and i are staying at mom and dad's).

but what's a sad tale of woe without some bright spots? here are the good things that happened today.

i talked to andrew and he sounds considerably improved. his temp is down in the 99s, which is still high, but lower than the 101s. he sounds steadier, stronger, and clearer, though still coughing. two dear friends, anna and michelle, brought him some delicious homemade food yesterday, which is as much a consolation for me as a source of sustinance for him. it's been very frustrating to hear him suffering and not be able to do ANYTHING to help! so his improvement is an encouragement to all of us. we are tentatively planning to go back wednesday, if he continues to feel better.

ben is hale and hearty, and generally a funny old bean. we make endless conjecture about his resemblance to various family members. is it michael's mouth and chin? ali's eyebrows and forehead? a bit of emily about the eyes? tall like brenda? thank the lord he didn't get the schroeder cheeks, the helmer hook or the dibvig head, say the grandparents. or my sausage fingers.

we are looking forward very much to going back to iowa city so we can be with andrew and get acquainted with our new normal life. please pray for andrew's continued improvement and my adjustment to being a mom. the support of mom and dad, and mike and brenda, has been absolutely wonderful, so cheers all around to the grandparents!