Sster at Boomerific is safe and dry, as are her husband and baby. But she has not been able to return to their house yet after the flooding in Cedar Rapids. Reports from those who have been able to return and those who have surveyed damage have not been promising for household objects, though some businesses say it isn't so bad as they expected.
Certainly, things can be replaced over time, but with a little guy and an academic career . . . some of those things will need to be replaced rather sooner than later. They will be setting up a Target registry and perhaps an Amazon one as well. If only particular editions could be replaced complete with margin notes . . .