A Baffling Bug - Week of Apr. 20th

"'Tis healthy to be sick sometimes."  "There is one consolation in being sick; and that is the possibility that you may recover to a better state than you were ever in before." ~Henry David Thoreau
It's funny how you assume that if you are staying home and staying safe, you are immune to contracting an illness.  We have no idea how or from what, but Cam became quite sick on Monday.  Although he completed his walking routine, something was off.  Before he could even begin his homework, he didn't feel well and things steadily worsened throughout the day.  His stomach couldn't retain anything and he just felt awful.  Most of the day, he was on the couch, fiercely protected by Stella who chose to watch over him.  After a rough 24 hours, Cam was feeling more like himself and easing back into things.  By Wednesday, he declared he was feeling great again!
In the evenings, a new project had begun in the garage.  Chris and Cam have a new device to use called a CNC (computer numerical control) machine, recently acquired for project creation.
A CNC router is a computer-controlled cutting machine related to the hand-held router used for cutting various hard materials, such as wood, composites, aluminium, steel, plastics, glass, and foams. Instead of routing by hand, tool paths are controlled via computer numerical control.

On Saturday, a very special event was planned.  Ms. Amanda was getting married to Mr. Nick!  Their large gathering was rescheduled for July but they still wanted to have their planned ceremony on their original date.  To help all guests feel connected, the couple set up a private Facebook live event.  As a surprise, a few of us gathered in the church parking lot to watch from our vehicles.
The current state regulations only allowed for 10 people to be inside the church, but we were thankful to be able to see and witness their vows.  As we waited for the newly married couple to emerge from the church, we talked about how awesome it was to be a part of it all, even if though it was virtual.
We decided to get out of our cars and stay by them so we could show our excitement for the Mr. and Mrs. when they walked out.  As soon as we saw them, the cheering began.  Mrs. Amanda spotted Cam and ran over to see him!  We snapped a quick picture before adhering to social distancing.  The most difficult part of the day was not being able to give our sweet Amanda big hugs.

As a treat for the couple, we made some homemade goodies and decorated a box to put them in.  The homemade sign designed by Chris and Cam was our favorite gift to give.  They sent us a picture that evening to show how cool it looks in their new home.  A strip of remote-controlled LED lights was added to the back of the signage so that the happy couple can change the color whenever they wish.

Saturday evening, our family sat together to watch a movie.  Although it is tough not to spend time with our friends and extended family, the silver lining has been the extra time spent with each other.  A quote found this week: "Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure."

Camology Quotes:

Cam prefers to follow all rules.  Chris enjoys joking with Cam.  One evening, Chris appeared in Cam's bathroom with a tape measure keeping himself exactly 6 feet away from Cam.  Cam asked what in the world he was doing.
"I'm social distancing Cam."  
"Not funny when we are in the same family, Dad!"

Feline Focus - Week of Apr. 13th

“Cats are connoisseurs of comfort.” ~James Herriot

Without a doubt, the family member experiencing the biggest benefit from Michigan's quarantine is our cat, Stella.  Cam is beyond attentive every day, making certain she is let out of her room early in the morning and checking her litter box and water intake multiple times a day.
Stella looks at Jane as if to say "Thank goodness someone is paying attention around here!"
Each morning after breakfast, Cam is ready for his round of walking.  He seems to have newfound enjoyment in the exercise and happily completes his 10 minute stroll around the house as shown in the video below.
We all settle into our respective "offices" around 8am downstairs.
His virtual schooling officially began on Wednesday of this week.  Our routine kid first checks his activity homework list on an iPad app called "Seesaw."  Once he completes the items, he moves onto two other apps- Epic for reading and IXL for math and language arts.  He will request help if needed, but has typically finished everything within a few hours.  His daily FaceTime chats with Ms. Amanda and Auntie Karen usually take us to lunchtime.

Three afternoons during the week, Cam is tutored by Ms. Ann via a zoom meeting.  Near the end of the work day, it is time for Cam's stretching and more exercising.  Sitting and balancing as well as standing are all on the agenda.
The work days are long, but the "Cam check-ins" to each of his parent's office areas makes the time much more interesting for Chris and Jane.

A warmer Sunday offered the chance for a stroll in the park.  These outings seem more meaningful for us all in these days of isolation.  It is a reminder to continue to appreciate all of the simple things we take for granted.  Be thankful and be safe :-)

Camology Quotes:

Jane has been a remote worker for years, accustomed to filling her days with video meetings and conference calls.  She is not as accustomed, however, to having office mates.
~Jane mumbles about a spreadsheet of information missing data ~
"What mom?"  
Sorry, I'm talking to myself Cam.  
"That's ok- I do that a lot!"

Virtual Appointments - Week of Apr. 6th

"We all live every day in virtual environments, defined by our ideas." ~Michael Crichton 

Oma on her first video call!

Cam has grown up in a world of technology.  He has never had to use a typewriter or worry about how long it will take his camera film to be developed.  He will never know the joy (or frustration) of rewinding cassette tapes to hear a lyric over and over again to figure out exactly what they are saying, and then realizing years later you still had it wrong.
Cam knows the virtual world of asking "Alexa" to play a song or turn off lights or start a timer.  He can operate an iPad better than most adults and is fearless when it comes to using technology.
It seems only natural then, that a virtual appointment is something Cam would gravitate towards.  Tutoring with Ms. Ann, checking in daily with Ms. Amanda and Auntie Karen are on his list for connecting with others.  PT with Mr. Patrick and watching a magic school virtually with classmates were all on the schedule this week.

A surprise 'drop-off' from Uncle Jon really made Cam's day.  Our uncle's car stayed in the driveway a couple of months ago during a trip they took.  They had picked up the vehicle some time ago, but we still had their spare set of keys.  The swap was done without interaction during this 'stay home stay safe' period.  Cam was elated when his dad showed him the bag left by Uncle Jon containing a personal note and peanut butter cup treats.  Needless to say, his snack choice was an easy one.

A milder Saturday called for some driveway biking.  During the winter months, Cam's bike has been at school where he has ridden it in the gym and other areas.  With the building shut down for the remainder of the school year, the principal allowed Chris to set up a time for pick up.  It was good to see our kiddo excited to show us his skills.

Easter Sunday was the first time we can recall not being with Oma and Opa for the holiday.  For the last several years, we have attended church with the Raisch family.  The service was held virtually and we were present from our own homes.  Afterwards, though, Mr. Steve recommended a social distancing walk in the park at the end of our former street.  It was the first time we had seen our close friends (from six feet away) in a month.  Patti requested a family picture and then Cam asked if he could be in it too.  Although odd to maintain our separation, we still felt together.
As the sun set that evening and we saw the speck of brilliant color, we are reminded to count our blessings and to look forward to the brightness of a new day.

Camology Quotes:

To maintain regular routines, using one's manners is part of each day as well. Cam occasionally needs to be reminded but is pretty good at remembering to say please and thank you and excuse me.  It seems he came up with a substitute this week though.
~big burp heard from Cam immediately followed by...~
"Pardon the interruption!"

Ready, Set, Zoom - Week of Mar. 30th

"Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress and working together is success." ~Henry Ford
Our new normal of home life seems to be hitting a stride.  Although work is hectic, Cam is doing his best to keep himself busy with homework and visit his mom and dad in their respective offices.  A new fun activity he has discovered is following our cat, Stella around to see where she will lead him.  Interestingly enough, she seems to know her presence is needed now.
Grabbing the daily mail used to coincide with school bus pickup and drop off.  Now it is a task set aside and one to look forward to, especially when there is something for Cam.
When he opened the card from his teacher, Ms. Konkle, he was very surprised to see a "Save the Date" for her August wedding.  After his screams, he told his parents, "This is such an honor to be invited to your teacher's wedding!"  Chris and I agreed that the teachers miss the kids as much as the kids miss school and the teachers.

With the governor's directive to stay home and stay safe not only in Michigan but across the country, many people, including schools, have embraced videoconferencing technology.  In March alone, there were 62 million downloads of video apps.  Ms. Konkle sent out an invite to her group of 7 kids to connect via a Zoom conference.  The classmates stayed on together with their teacher for almost an hour, excited to see each other and talking about different things they had been doing.  At one point, Cam turned to us and said "I think everyone is going crazy because we miss each other."

It is strange that being outside seems a bit of a luxury these days.  On a warmer, sunny day Jane asked Cam if he wanted to go for a drive.  They ended up at a nearby park that was practically deserted.
An older couple was in their car and commented (from 6 feet away) "It is such a nice day."  Jane and her son agreed and Jane said "Are you staying safe?" The older gentleman said "Oh yes and don't you worry, things will be fine."  As Cam and his mom made their way to the sidewalk, Jane told her son that it was so good to hear the man say that.  Cam led the way and they ended up on the boardwalk down by the river.  There they stayed, in silence, both looking at the river.  Cam said "This is so relaxing."  It is ironic that in 'normal' times, this outing would be a rarity.  Even more rare is the absence of people.  In all of the chaos in the world, Cam truly seems more at ease.  Maybe it is because of the pause in the hustle and bustle of normal activity.

At Cam's request, our big weekend outing was to the backyard for our son to feel relaxation once again, but this time in our hot tub.
While we were all hanging out, Cam said "Thank you for getting this, Mom!"  I reminded him that the hot tub was a birthday present to me from he and his dad.  Cam smartly replied, "I guess you need to thank us again then!"

Camology Quotes:

With the daily changes in the news and multiple announcements from our governor, Cam has taken a keen interest in hearing the formal addresses and has actually asked to watch the news a bit in the evening. He is very intrigued by the concept of an 'executive order' and decided he would create his own at bedtime.
"This executive order says that you must pay me $8 for 5 hugs and then you will need to get my permission."

The Silver Lining - Week of Mar. 23rd

John Milton coined the phrase 'silver lining' in his poem Comus: A Mask Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634: "Was I deceived, or did a sable cloud Turn forth her silver lining on the night?”

Having our whole family in the house each and every day is a new experience.  Chris is now working full-time from home as well due to the governor's announcement for a stay at home order for Michigan.
When Jane was taking a quick break from work, she and Cam decided to check out the guest rooms.  Jane noticed the alarm clock hadn't been changed and went to work setting the time on the desk device.  Cam started shouting, "Mom, look!  Look up!" She turned around and saw what her son was looking at- water dripping from the ceiling and a completely soaked guest bed.  They went to get Chris from his office and he went to work opening the ceiling.  Sure enough, a pipe was leaking.  It was a big mess but would have been an even bigger debacle had mom and son not decided to venture around downstairs!  Thanks to Cam, repairs are in process.

Stretching is on the daily agenda and a part of Chris' office is our workout room.  Cam happily spent 30 minutes stretching on floor.
This helps his muscles not feel so tight and hopefully he can convince his parents to do a little exercising during this time as well.
A sunny day signaled a stroll outside while walking inside remains a key part of Cam's day.  Fortunately for us, our sixth grader enjoys homework and has actually asked for more!
He continues to tell his parents how much he misses school, his routine, his teachers and friends.  It seems when we are all told we cannot do something, the need feels greater.

As the weather continues to inch towards a warmer spring, we were able to get outside again over the weekend.  Chris and Cam used the powered leaf blower in an attempt to move the leaves out of the backyard.  Even though Cam's dad is hopeful for a very strong breeze to push them over the embankment, in the meantime, father and son made a nice dent in the clean up effort.  There was one casualty during the task...Cam's chair found some muddy patches in the yard and it was completely caked on.  As our positive son noted, "at least my chair will be extra clean now!"

Always, each and every day, find the silver lining!

Camology Quotes:

It is still a bit odd to not be rushing around every week day morning helping Cam get ready for school.  Typically, our son is consistently reminding his parents certain things need to be done.  As he left the kitchen one morning, Jane reminded him he needed his vitamins.
Cam- I can't believe I remembered and you did not?
"That's a first!" (said with genuine surprise and not sarcasm)

Prep, Plan, Prepare - Week of Mar. 16th

Some say that a cardinal is a representative of a loved one who has passed. When you see one, it means they are visiting you. They usually show up when you most need them or miss them. They also make an appearance during times of celebration as well as sadness to let you know they will always be with you.

It was our first full week of Cam home from school, adjusting to staying in and keeping busy.  Homework reigns supreme, but there is "free choice" time and Guess Who is definitely Cam's top pick for a game.

We quickly realized that many others in our community were in the process or prepping and planning by visiting stores and stocking up.  What we did not expect was the sheer emptiness of shelves with various items completely and utterly missing.

On a quick trip with Cam to the grocery in a less busy hour, he exclaimed "Whoa, you have got to see this!"
Even though we weren't able to find everything on our list, Jane was able to grab bread and toilet paper at our Walgreen's and with a freezer full of meat, we felt much more prepared to remain home as much as possible.
On Thursday, Cam was able to take a
road trip with his dad to Lansing where they needed to drop off equipment at a satellite office.  Father and son were gone all morning and returned at lunchtime, thankful for a change of scenery.

With zero activities on our weekend family agenda, we all pitched in to make one of our favorite pasta dishes first made by cousin Coco.  It's called Pasta Panache, but we call it Coco's Premiere Pasta since she first introduced us to it.  The recipe is a delicious combination of garlic, prosciutto, asparagus, cream cheese, and light cream.
Once all sauteed and combined, you put Jarlsberg and fresh Parmesan cheese at the bottom of a bowl, pour in the other ingredients and combine.  A cup of pistachio nuts on top and mixed together make this recipe one our all-time favorites!

Over the weekend, Chris needed to test out a new monitor for videoconferencing from his home office.  Luckily, he has the best technical assistant available.
Cam practiced muting and switching views and checking himself out in the monitor.  Jane and Auntie Karen were both a part of the conference too, accessing from other devices.
We had quite a few laughs and enjoyed our virtual time together.
Cam awaits your meeting request- his calendar is fairly open these days!

Camology Quotes:

Cam has been listening to some of the news regarding the health crisis.  He has asked many questions and absorbed the information.  When his parents went to check on him in his bathroom one evening, he immediately announced:
"Mom and Dad, Back up"
"Keep backing up.... more"
Cam- is there a super stinker in there?
"No, I am practicing social distancing!"

In the Blink of an Eye - Week of Mar. 9th

"What a Difference A Day Makes" ... Or "a month," "a season," "a half" -- just pick your time period. It's meant to convey how things have changed dramatically for a team or individual, usually in a positive manner, but not necessarily. This is one of those cliches that has been so pounded into the ground that the source has been lost to obscurity. It's from the song "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes," a hit for Dinah Washington in 1959 and then again for Esther Phillips in 1975. 
What a difference a day makes 
Twenty-four little hours 
Brought the sun and the flowers 
Where there used to be rain

On Tuesday, March 10, Jane was scheduled to fly to New York City for a work conference.  At 12pm on Monday, March 9, the conference was canceled as well as company travel due to the growing concern over the coronavirus, Covid-19.  Thursday evening right before midnight, Cam's parents received a district-wide message that schools would be closed from Friday, March 13 until at least April 6 due to our Michigan governor wisely ordering closure.  Yes, what a difference a day makes.
Cam has had many questions and a cough or sneeze follow with his immediate inquiry, "Do I have the corona?"
We are constantly reassuring, but also being honest in that we do not have all of the answers, because this is unknown for everyone.
Like our son has shown us consistently in so many ways, we are choosing to remain positive.  Because of his outlook, we enjoyed a weekend of practicing walking, cleaning the house and fulfilling chores.
On Saturday, Cam arrived at his scheduled haircut at Jude's Barbershop in Cascade.  His stylist, Heather, was wearing a mask and gloves as a protective precaution due to her pregnancy.
When Cam saw himself in the mirror upon completion, he exclaimed "Wow, this is awesome.  Look how awesome I look!  Thank you Ms. Heather!"  She genuinely told him that he absolutely made her day and she certainly wished all of her clients would be so ecstatic!
Stay positive, all, and please, make someone's day brighter 😀

Camology Quotes:

Chris has worked to adapt so many different things for Cam.  After a few attempts in the past, a system was devised for our son to be able to take the garbage down the long driveway to the curb.
When asked to assist or help with these types of projects, he is eagerly asserting his independence...
"I'm on it, mister!"