Getting Settled, sorta

For those who have been reading this blog or have had a conversation with me recently, you will know that we are technically homeless.  Because of mess ups with the house, we got out of our apartment lease and couldn't get back in.  We should be signing a contract to buy our house on September 8th, but until then, we do not have our own place.

My brother and his wife (newlyweds), are allowing my family of 4 to live in their guest room and office.  This weekend, we spent time organizing and tidying up to make things easier on us.  The formal living and dining was littered with boxes and bags and toys.  Now, everything is in a box tucked behind the dining room table and is out of sight.  Our lunch making station (non-refrigerated items) are laid out on the table so that we can pack lunches quickly.  Then we moved upstairs.....

The girls' clothes are in rolling carts in their room and are organized so that D can help get clothes out each night for the next day.  We have a "changing station" on the floor next to the bathroom for Little L as well as one downstairs so that I don't have to go up and down the stairs more than necessary.  We unpacked our suitcases and organized our clothes so that we don't have the morning scramble each and every morning.

These little things that we did to make us feel a little more settled have helped more than we can imagine.  Husband and the girls have left on time (and even early!!!) for the last two days, instead of Husband being stressed out and late because he takes the girls to school!  I have been at school earlier than ever!  Things are looking calmer, and that is the most important thing.

Counting My Blessings

Yesterday, I went back to work full time.  As we hustled to get lunches packed, a cranky child dressed and fed, etc. we were tripping all over each other in our little two bedroom apartment.  After husband and Little L left for school and work, it was just D and I at home for a little while.  I dropped her off at Adventure Kids (where she had an amazing time), and I had a drive into work by myself. 

I decided to turn off the radio and count my blessings.  Here they are in no particular order and I am sure that I have forgotten several, but it is a start.

1.  My parents have been watching my dog while we are living in the apartment and will keep her until we are settled in the house.
2. My parents drove up the DFW to help us move into the house (when we thought that we were moving in the beginning of August), when we couldn't move into a house, they helped us move into storage units.
3. My brother helped us move into the apartment and into the storage unit.  That is two different moves that he has helped us with in a relatively short period.
4.  My brother and sister in law are allowing us to live with them and take over the second story of their house for three weeks until we can close on the house.  This is completely selfless and kindhearted on their part and we are truly appreciative.
5.  My husband has been patient, kind, considerate, and de-stressing as we have gone through all of the drama with the house.  He has kept me calm and has dealt well with my hormonal mood swings since I am now 22 weeks pregnant.
6. My children are amazing!!!  The girls have taken to living in the apartment so well.  Even though it is crowded, they find ways to play so creatively and nicely together.  They have taken all of the chaos in stride and are so resilient.
7.  My friend and coworker has cooked my family two dinners.  She delivered one when we moved into the apartment and then another one when my parents were in town because she could see that I was unraveling quickly.  The dinners were delicious and even included Challah for Shabbat and dessert.  This same woman even helped orchestrate two play dates for our kids to get us out of the apartment and to let my kids have a fun time.
8. I am blessed that Husband and I not only have jobs, but we both have jobs that we love.
9.  We are also blessed that our family members are in good health and good spirits.  The entire buying a house, delaying moving in, etc. has brought us closer together.  We really are a family filled with love.

The Air Goes out of our Sails (or Bed)

Last night was not a good night in our household.  We spent yesterday doing everything we could to be ready for today, since it was Little L's first day back at school and Husband had Convocation and meetings all day today.  We went shopping for everything Little L would need for school including a new lunch box and sippy cup.  After bath time last night, I laid out her first day of school outfit, packed her supply bag full of wipes and diapers, and changes of clothes, and made her lunch.  We were feeling good about how ready we were for today.

Then, around midnight, D woke up screaming.  She said her stomach hurt.  We tried going potty, rubbing her tummy, laying in a different position, etc.  She ended up getting a little sick, but felt much better afterwards.  Since we wanted to keep an eye on her, we moved her into our room. 

This weekend my parents and brother helped us move the big furniture that we couldn't fit into my car and put it into a storage unit since we will be transient for a while before we can move into the house.  This of course included our queen size bed.  We have an inflatable bed that has legs attached so that when it is full, it is the size of a bed.  Well, we think it must have a hole, because around 4:30, there was no air left in it.  The rest of our night was spent sleeping on the floor.  Let's hope that tonight goes better for us!

When it Rains, It Pours (in the middle of a drought!)

Once again, chaos has ensued at my apartment.  On Thursday, we found out that the house was in the worst flood plain even though the survey said it wasn't.  According to FEMA, it is.  We are seeing what we can do to fix this because lenders make you pay for flood insurance and for the level of flood plain it is, wowsers!!!

Then on Friday, we found out that we couldn't close on Monday, as anticipated.  There is a federal law about homeowners having to own a home for 90 days before they can sell it.  This started due to Mortgage fraud and such and has been a law for about a year.  Even though everyone suspected that it was a flipped house, no one caught how this would affect closing.  That means the flippers didn't know the law, their realtor didn't know the law, and our realtor didn't catch the problem. So our closing date has been moved once again.h

Then, we took the girls to the doctor because they both had coughs.  D's cough was sounding more like a drainage cough, but she was diagnoses with a sinus infection and allergies.  Little L was diagnosed with a cold where we "treat the symptoms".  Little L breaths like Darth Vader and has a barking cough, but didn't get any medication.  D broke out with a full body rash today, two days after she went to the doctor.

While the pregnancy is going pretty well, the stress and anxiety from everything else going on is wearing on me.  Hopefully, things will feel settled soon.

Ketchup or Catch up?

Do you ever feel like the more you do the more there is still left undone?  I feel like I have done laundry for a week!!  Today, the hampers are empty, the basket that I carry from the laundry room is empty, and the clothes have all been folded and put away.  Finally!  Then, Little L got smashed up banana all over her shirt and D spilt bright pink (thanks Colgate) toothpaste on her pajama shirt at bedtime.  I see another load of laundry in my future. 

Tomorrow, we have a dinner play date with a coworker of mine and her son, which D is super excited about.  During the day, I will start packing boxes of items that we did unpack since we thought we would be at the apartment for four full months.  I am ready to feel settled, but until then, I can be comforted to know that as unsettled as we are, we still have some aspects of being settled.  Things like dish washers to empty and clothes to be washed.  They will still be there in the morning.....

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men

Today was Husband's last day of vacation before he heads back to work.  We wanted to do something fun as a family, so we loaded up the minivan and headed to Grapevine Mills to check out the aquarium.  After standing in line for a few minutes, we decided to ask how long the wait was to get in.  The guy working said, about an hour, and that was the shortest wait of the day!!!  There was NO way that my girls were going to stand in line for an hour, so we ditched those plans.

The day wasn't the fun, exciting, memorable last day before work that I wanted it to be, but we did get to spend it together.  We spent the day running errands and grabbing some great deals (2-pocket folders with brads for a penny!!!).  Even though it wasn't what we were hoping for, it was nice to spend the day together and my girls were exhausted when they crawled into bed.  We were only called in once and it was by Little L who thought she deserved to stay up later.  D slept through the entire thing.  Ah....

Now to face the next week and a half with just me and the girls.  Anyone have any cheap, air conditioned ideas to help a mother out?