Pandemic Update

Well the second half of March has brought about a ton of change - and something we could have never imagined being a reality. The world has been swept by a Coronavirus - Covid-19. We were asked to quarantine and officially put on a stay in place order from the government 2 weeks ago. Right now the stay in place order goes until April 30th but most likely that will be extended again. There have been so many cases worldwide of the illness and unfortunately a lot of deaths. Currently in Ohio alone we have 2,200 cases and 55 deaths BUT this is nowhere near the true number of cases because testing is very limited and so many people can have it and not show symptoms for up to 2 weeks. Joe and I are both working from home and into our 3rd week of doing that. Jacks school has been closed until May 4th but it Is assumed that they probably won’t go back this year. We had seen The Meyers and Mom and Bill a few weeks ago but for now have been staying put. We sadly had to cancel our spring break trip to Cleveland and are also really missing the March family. This time has been scary, stressful, lots of unknown, sadness for the world and the economy that is crashing. But in all that there have been a few positives in my eyes - lots of extra family time, a very simply unscheduled life, lots and lots of walks and hikes, Facetime conversations with friends I haven’t talk to in a long time, and house projects being completed. We have been having a great time at home and really enjoying the spring weather and for that I truly can’t complain!!

Our neighborhood has done a few fun things to keep the kids (and adults) entertained. For St. Patrick’s day lots of neighbors put shamrocks in their windows and we had a great time walking the streets counting and recording all the shamrocks 

One of our neighbors is a photographer and completed part of a bigger nationwide project “the front steps project” she offered families free front porch photos in exchange for letting her submit the photos to the project! the Dannenfelser’s and our family even made the news!

The kids have spent hours a day be adventurous outside, reading books, baking with Mama, playing many board games and puzzles, writing letters to Papa and slipping them under his “office” door, using their imagination in the backyard woods and playing “family” in the basement, and hours and hours of trampoline jumping, bike riding, walking and hiking! It has really been a great time! We have loved having Jack home!

Sadly there are signs posted all over closing playgrounds and equipment. Such a strange sight to see. 

One day the kids lesson was how to read a recipe from start to finish, find the ingredients, get them out, read and make the recipe, clean up the kitchen, and remove the hot stuff from the oven - they did a great job and that’s a glimpse into the type of school lessons we are doing 

It’s been such a strange time. A time we can learn a lot about ourselves and lean on our immediate families for love and support. A time to find connection through phone calls and video chats, a time to realize how much you actually do love going to events and being involved with others. I have still been running (a ton!) with a few running friends in the early mornings at a very socially distanced space and that has been doing wonders for my

Mental health! Joe and I plan to sit down tonight on this first day of April and make some family goals, personal goals and project goals for the month of April since we now know we will be in the shelter in place order for the whole month of April. Stay safe, stay healthy and wash your hands!!