My Last Day at Mom's

I'm feeling a bit sad to leave. It has been so nice to have the time to rest and relax here. I feel completely isolated from my "real" life here.

I talked with Alex on the phone today. He was chatty for Alex. He is enjoying gymnastics camp-they are planning to paint today and wondered what shirt he should wear. I'm glad I'm still useful from afar! I tried to talk to Joseph, but he isn't very patient with the phone. So, I asked him to say MaMa and I got to hear his voice. I need a big Joseph hug. Tomorrow! Grandma told me everything they had eaten for dinner all week--it is clear they are eating better without me than with me!

I've met all my modest goals. I have a several new jackets for work--and a new skirt. I have much softer feet. Who knew soaking just a few days would make a big difference. And I've typed some new recipies out of mom's cookbooks.

Great news!!!

No Cancer, it was a goiter!!!

We are all very happy here.

I'm sure Dave and the boys are stressed, since I'm gone for a few more days, but--my reservations were made without all the information!

Dave called today for advice on how to make the TV remote work right. Last night he called to find coffee filters for grandma. I'm glad he misses me for all the right reasons.

And again, I try to get back to blogging

Since the last post I've started my new job. I can't believe how busy the days at work are as I try to get oriented to my new responsibilites. I've had three full weeks. My books are unpacked, but I've not put any pictures on the walls to make it feel like my office just yet. I've put out most of the fires that were waiting for me. My immediate boss was out of town for a week starting my second day, but I handled the problems that came up in her absence. One of my colleagues noted that I had two computers on my desk and an illegible signature so I was surely "going places."

I have time to blog today because I'm at Mother's house. I flew in on Friday for her surgery. Not knowing what to expect I took a full week off work. (With the blessing of my boss, thankfully, and Dave's blessing also. Grandma Helen is staying with Dave and the boys all week to help him!)

Mother came through the surgery like an ablolute trooper! Now we wait for the pathology report and pray for good news. She spent two nights in the hospital and came home yesterday. She was up early, fixing her own coffee, dressing herself, and in general acting like nothing happened. I can hardly believe they took a 5 cm tumor out of her neck on Friday!!!

I'm feeling a bit guilty about staying here 'till Thursday. She doesn't really need me, and I have so much to do at home. I guess the forced time to slow down is important for my soul. My goals for the week? Shop for some new clothes to wear to work. Soak my feet every night and try to eliminate the callouses with daily pumicing. (Too much information???) Look for new recipies online--Mostly on Sarah's blog. Keep up with work email and other work i brought. Oh, and take care of Mom. Okay, I guess I'll be busy enough here, and I don't need to fret!!!

I'm sort of back

I can't believe it has been a month since I blogged. But it has been a busy busy busy time.

Updates-We are moved. We are not completely unpacked, but it is getting close. The move was a nightmare. The house is beautiful--my dream come true. So, the nightmare was worth it. I'm still married, but there were a few rough spots. We met three new neighbors all within a grade of Alex. He is feeling better about the new house now. I started the new job on Monday. I've a lot to learn. I miss my old neighbors. No one is even looking at the old house--so the money drain will be wide open in our lives for awhile. Oh well, can't take it with you and we don't have time to spend it. Have I mentioned the woods in the back of the new house? Joseph has been fine. He has adjusted better than any of us.

Moving update

You've not heard much from me and you won't for a week or two. Official move day is next Tuesday. That is also the day they are to move me out of one office and into another at work. Could we please have scheduled these moves for two different days?

I packed 19 boxes at the office today. All books and files.

I've moved almost everything from the kitchen, many of the books and decorative items from the house. All the photos and pictures from the walls. The house looks very bare.

The original estimate from the moving company was for 8 men, 2 trucks, and 12 hours. Not only was the fee over my original budget, I couldn't imagine spending 12 hours watching them carry and unload our stuff. I'd have been a basket case. So, I've been carrying van loads every chance I get. Anytime I need to go near the new house, I have a van load of stuff with me and I put it in the garage. Then, when I get a chance, I unload the boxes and take them home for more. I told the moving company I'd moved 75% of the boxes, all the pictures, etc. and he revised the estimate to 6 men, two trucks, and 10 hours. I still hope to be done in 8, but I suppose I should plan for 12 and be happy with 10. Maybe I'll just take the boys to the movies and let Dave deal with it. But, of course he doesn't know what I want to leave behind for the give away pile or a possible garage sale, and he doesn't know where anything is supposed to go in the new house, so... I'll have to stay and micromanage this one. How can movers do the job if there isn't a semi-hysterical homeowner hovering over them at all times!

Stress and Dave

Ah--Even the never stressed out Dave can lose it and it is worth a second blog entry on this very busy Wednesday.

I just sent him off to the office--but only after a solid 20 or 30 minutes of speed whining. Peppered with comments like "you know none of this is directed at you." Ah--it was bliss. 99% of the time I'm the one in our relationship venting and whining and telling him that he just needs to listen and not take any responsibility for any of it. I know it is all related to being overworked--but still I marvel at his threshold for stress and pressure. I would NEVER let myself get into the jams he gets himself into because I couldn't take it. He is so relaxed and easygoing all of the time that he just takes on more and more and more 'till finally he has to let off steam. The sad thing is that he will be fine tomorrow, or maybe the day after. It would take me days or weeks to recover and I'd expect to be treated with kid gloves until I did. He ain't perfect, but I count my blessings!

Messiness is not all bad

I read a great article about being messy the other day. The gist was that some clutter is a good thing for children--helps them be creative. Also, we can find things faster if they are not "organized" because our filing schemes--like alphabetizing--are random and not intuitive.

I wish I had a camera in my office, 'cause the piles of junk on the floor are getting way out of control.

Meanwhile, I spend every possible moment at home packing, sorting, stacking, moving, and wondering if the green couch will really look okay with the new blue carpet, or will it bug me and I'll end up putting the green couch in the basement anyway so I might just as well have the movers put it there in the first place.

My dear friend Lynn Anne visited over the weekend. We moved kitchen things and started organizing the new kitchen--and then we sat on the screened porch. Just sat and looked at the trees and enjoyed the light breeze the ceiling fan on the porch makes. She wondered where Dave was going to take the children when she visited the next time. It is not that she doesn't love our children. She does. She treats them as if they were her nephews. But, she sees the value in sitting on the porch listening to the birds and not doing a blessed thing.

As you can see, even my thoughts are messy and disorganized these days!