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amyg's LiveJournal
Nov. 20th, 2005
06:56 pm - I have moved!
But this time it's an internet move, not a physical move.
I decided to head over to Blogspot so I can link to all of my friends over there as well as over here (if they don't mind). I will definitely still be checking in here on Becca and Cry and Kelli, to see how everyone is doing.
You can all find me here:
http://dismantledmommy.blogspot.com/
I hope you'll visit!
happyNov. 14th, 2005
09:07 am - Drugged
I'm so medicated now I'm not functioning well. I have been suffering through a kidney stone since last Thursday. It wasn't so bad until Friday, when I called my doctor. They got me an appt with a urologist for tomorrow, and luckily I had some hydrocodone to get me through most of the weekend. When I ran out of that my dad hooked me up with some of his stuff, of which I am currently drugged to my toenails with and I can't seem to hear well and the world is fuzzy and when I sit still for too long I immediately fall into a deep sleep.
I have to drive across town to Wake Forest Rd. in about two hours to get a flu shot. I'm a little concerned about this falling asleep thing. Hmm.
A little over three years ago, when I was about 5 months pregnant, I started experiencing some twinges of pain in my nether regions. I thought nothing of it, since I had been experiencing twinges of all kinds of things since I had gotten pregnant. It was the day before my 20 week ultrasound, the one where we were to find out whether Ian was a boy or a girl. My mom was on her way up that day so that she could be there for the big ultrasound the next day. (This, too, was Sept. 11, 2002, so it was not a happy day for anyone.) That morning I found a small amount of blood on my toilet paper when I peed, which of course scared me. I rushed to the ob's office in extreme pain and scared to death that I was miscarrying. They did the ultrasound early and told me it was a boy ("Who cares, I just want to know if he's ok."). They could not find anything wrong with him, thank goodness. Finally, the kind nurse practitioner who came in to check on me post-ultrasound listened to my symptoms and told me she would bet money that I had a kidney stone. I think I was the first person in history who was happy to hear this news.
And they also told me it was the closest pain to labor that I would experience prior to labor, so it would be a good time to practice my breathing exercises. Thanks.
But I think this is the same stone. I know that sounds crazy, but every time I have had problems with it I can tell that it has progressed slightly further south. Now it feels like it's right there where it could pass, but it just won't.
Sorry if this is TMI. Like I said I'm feeling kinda fuzzy right now so the thought processes are fuzzy as well.
Hope everyone else is having a pain-free Monday!
numbNov. 10th, 2005
01:26 pm - Nasty MoFos
Sorry it's been so long since my last update. I have been swamped with unpacking and then we discovered mid-move that our computer was on the fritz again.
It's been pretty dramatic all the way around. The day before the move, after having spent two weeks trying to get Uhaul to verify my pick up date and time ("Someone will contact you the day before your move to verify that information, if you don't hear from them call us back here") I finally get someone to tell me at 5:50 pm that my truck will be waiting for me in Roseboro. Roseboro? What? Where the hell is Roseboro??? Turns out Roseboro is about 2 and a half hours from where I was, south of Fayetteville. I spent 2 hours on the phone with Uhaul trying to find a truck closer. We finally located one in Smithfield, a mere 30 minutes away, same size as the one in Roseboro (and why, you ask, didn't they assign us that one in the first place!?!? I don't know.)
My dad and Scott left the next morning to pick it up, only to discover that it would not start. The incapable woman running the business there could not make anything happen with Uhaul; it took Scott calling the regional office (at my insistence) and demanding someone come out to fix it before someone actually did show up. All it needed was a little squirt of starting fluid and we were ready to go. Unfortunately we had been held back a good three hours, which is why we were still unloading boxes into the new house at 11:30 that night.
The next day we were all so very sore. Scott and I limped out the front door to take the blasted truck back and found that it did not want to start again. Luckily the gas station down the road had a bottle of starting fluid, and Scott was able to get the cursed thing up and running again without calling the dumbasses at Uhaul. So we returned it to the "TransIMssion Store" (yes, that was the professionally done sign by the road) in Clayton and headed back home.
I'll tell you, those previous owners put on a good damned show when we came through for the first time. That house was spotless when we put in our offer. After that they brought in a band of apes to live there, I'm thinking. I guess we should have opened up the drawers and cabinets during the closing inspection to see the condition there, but we were so wound up about making sure all the major repairs had been completed that we didn't think to do that (this purchase, if nothing else, has made us MUCH smarter, we'll do much better next time). So our moving in was delayed three or so days by the fact that we had to clean up after the louts. There was a full beard in one of the bathroom drawers. The kitchen cabinets and drawers have horrible awful ugly contact paper that is rotting and peeling up, not to mention leftover utensils and crumbs. The paint in the bathroom was scuffed and dirty. Not to mention all the places where their paint rollers hit the ceiling and left bit paint marks that they did not bother to paint over.
So we spent the better part of that first week just cleaning. I still have not removed the nasty contact paper because it was such a big job and I had a toddler hanging around for a good bit of the time. That is the Veteran's Day weekend project. Ian will be going to Grandma's house tomorrow and we are going to use the time to pull all that shit out of the cabinets and start fresh. I am hoping we can just remove the stuff completely and not have to lay down new paper, because the shelves were in great shape before they put that stuff down, but I have purchased new liners just in case.
We repainted Ian's room the day before we moved in, a bright beautiful yellow to match the comforter set I bought for his new twin bed a few months ago. He LOVES his room. I couldn't be more pleased with his reaction. Hell, he loves the house. He calls it "Ian's new house" and he just seems to really enjoy having his new big bed and a room he can call his own.
We repainted the master bathroom one night last week, and we still have to finish up on the trim. It was a matte slate blue, a color that picked up every nick and scuff and it was just really ugly. It bothered me so much that I used the guest bathroom for the first few days because I couldn't even stand looking at it without getting extremely anxiety-ridden. We picked a similar blue, much prettier IMO, but it was a semi-gloss so it doesn't pick up scuffs and stains nearly as bad. That is the other project we have to finish this weekend.
And then Scott knocks our computer tower over while it is sitting on the living room floor. When the Time Warner guy showed up last week to set up the high speed internet, cable, and digital phone, the computer would not boot. So we took the thing to my friend Jatana, whose wonderful husband agreed to take a peek at it and see if he could get it running. His prognosis? He thinks the hard drive has gone bad (so the fall did not break it). This is the second time this year that this has happened and Scott just decided that it was time to get a new computer. (Gulp) And then we find that the huge monitor is too huge on our new (smaller) computer desk, so he just "picks up" a 19 inch flat screen monitor on his way out of the store. Bastard. But I have to say, I love it. Too bad we actually have to pay for it all.
So we're in the house, all the boxes are out, the place is starting to look liveable, and we have high speed internet again. My commute has been shaved down to half an hour, which is so wonderful.
And how is Ian adjusting? Well, it's been somewhat traumatic, but nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. He took right away to his new room. He still seems to be mildly interested in potty training (more so, actually, than he was before we moved), so that's a relief. Daycare is another story entirely. The first week and a half he sobbed and screamed the minute we turned onto the road that the daycare is on. He was usually a wreck by the time we actually pulled into the place, and leaving him there involved a teacher literally prying him off of me some days. I went back to the house that morning (I had taken the week off to unpack) and tried to work out a budget so I could afford to keep him at home. But there's no way, especially not now with our shiny new mortgage (and computer, and computer desk, and furniture, and and and).
But I am happy to say that this morning he only whined a little when we turned onto the road. He cried when we turned into the parking lot but I think it was mainly because he had not finished his breakfast at that point. So I sat with him in the car and let him finish eating, and then he was good to go. He did cry when we got to the room and I had to go, but the teacher assured me that it never lasts long. I think we'll have our good and bad days, but today definitely gave me hope.
So I'm very excited about this weekend, getting more projects done and making the home look even more like ours.
optimisticOct. 27th, 2005
09:18 am - D Day
So we're here. And my excitement has been tempered somewhat by a mistake I made two months ago during the inspection process. The inspector noted that a minor repair needed to be made, and when the sellers sent over their written documentation of what they would repair that tiny detail was not noted. I, however, agreed to their offer and they fixed what they said they would.
Last night we saw that the minor thing had not been fixed, but the sellers won't fix it now because we already agreed in writing to their other offer for repairs. And I can't blame them. They specifically wanted a written agreement with us so that things like this wouldn't come up at the last minute.
So oh well. We'll have to pay to repair the problem ourselves, but it's not something that is threatening the structure or anything. And to be honest, if the sellers had paid us to have it repaired we would have most likely used the money for something else that will invariably come up with the move.
But the good news is that we overpaid our closing costs so we're getting back $300 today! Woohoo! We celebrated last night by going out and buying a new computer desk after realizing all the stuff we plan to fit into our extra bedroom is not going to fit if we keep our huge corner computer desk unit. Anyone local need a nice corner computer desk??? You've got till Saturday morning to let me know, then it's going to Goodwill. :)
I probably won't update for a few days after today, but the next time I do it will probably be from my new high speed connection! No more dial-up! I can actually upload pictures again and it not take three hours!!!
excitedOct. 25th, 2005
01:26 pm - Going through the motions
This week is tough. I don't think I've been this anxious about something since right before I got married and, then again, right before I gave birth. I can hear the minutes ticking away, but they seem to be going by so slowly. The process begins tomorrow night, with our closing inspection at the house after work. Then I have to come here and pretend to concentrate for 7 hours on Thursday, before picking Scott up from work and heading to the attorney's office to sign the paperwork for the closing. COME.ON.ALREADY.
Ian said something this weekend that made me laugh till I cried. Scott is both an atheist and a fried fish lover. Sunday afternoon while we were running errands (for the house, gasp) Scott insisted that we take him to Captain D's to get his fried fish lunch. The drive thru intercom person never acknowledged our presence, so we pulled in to one of the front spots so Scott could run in and get his heart attack in a bag. While we waited Ian pondered the existence of the big red fish building in front of him, and promptly stated it to be "Daddy's church". Because, yeah, it does look like a church. But it's red and gives out one helping of coronary artery disease with the purchase of every combo meal. I started laughing, and Ian realized he had done something funny, so he continued to talk about "Daddy's church" and I continued to laugh until I had tears streaming down my face.
I guess you had to be there.
We've been spending mass quantities of money again. We dropped $250 at Walmart Sunday on basics for the house, a Swiffer, cleaning supplies, storage containers, odds and ends. Then we ordered a replacement frame for our futon yesterday, there goes another $200. We have even more expenses coming up with the closing, and I hope like hell that the house we bought has a money tree growing in the backyard.
listlessOct. 19th, 2005
01:35 pm - Trick or treat
So Ian's Halloween costume arrived on Monday. He hates it. He screams when it is shown to him. He demands that we "Put it back".
So now we're at a loss as to what to dress our little man up as for Halloween. He hates wearing hats. He doesn't like to be messed with to wear something unusual. I think I'll dress him up as a petulant toddler.
T minus 7 days till closing. Next Wednesday we are meeting our realtor at the house for the closing inspection. Next Thursday I am leaving work early to pick up Scott and go to our attorney's office for the closing at 4 pm. After that we are going to go to our new house and dance around a bit, then head off for a celebratory dinner that we cannot afford. I'm thinking sushi. Friday we don our best crapwear and head off to the house to paint Ian's room yellow, not the shade of lavendar that currently festoons the walls (not to mention the unicorn and dragonfly stencils). Saturday we pick up our big-ass moving truck and bring all of our belongings to their new home.
So. Damned. Excited. Trying to breathe normally. Let's just hope the damned strongest hurricane ever in history in the Atlantic basin doesn't rain on my parade, literally.
excitedOct. 14th, 2005
03:14 pm - Ragged
I am so wasted and tired. I was on the phone with a very close friend last night until 1:30, then climbed into bed thinking that I would be okay with only 4 and a half hours of sleep. Who knew that I was to have so much less???
Ian woke up at 2:00, and then continued to wake up and whine every fifteen minutes thereafter. In sheer desperation we brought him into our bed and Scott went to sleep on the couch. Our bed is bigger but not THAT much bigger. He woke me up constantly. He finally let me sleep at 4:00, but woke me up at 5:20 asking for me to "Read books." Hell no. I slept for 40 more minutes, then climbed out of bed and started my great day.
Ian, on the other hand, got to go to Grandma's room and sleep in. He didn't have daycare today because they are having a teacher workday, so he slept in till shortly before 8:00. Let's see, where was I at that time? Oh yeah, fighting my way through I-440 traffic, Dunkin' Donuts latte IV inserted into my vein. I most certainly was NOT in bed.
I had made it through the day at a pretty respectable pace, I thought, until just a few minutes ago. I was sitting here on hold with one of our insurance companies, staring at my computer screen, and the overwhelming urge to crawl under my desk into the darkness overwhelmed me. So here I am, typing while on hold, trying to not pass out.
This weekend we are taking Ian to Ken's Korny Corn Maze. I had never heard of it, but evidently it has been taking place in Garner for years now. It's a 10 or so acre maze made out of corn. Crazy shit. Our friend Karla and her three year old son Luke are meeting us there, so the boys will hopefully have a great time together. It's supposed to take a little over an hour to get through the whole thing. We'll see. I'll update with my time next week. :)
So everyone have a great weekend, and let's celebrate: Fall is making an appearance (sort of).
exhaustedOct. 10th, 2005
08:23 am - Decisions of a 2 year old
So here, we are, back to the grind for yet another Monday. But that's ok, and do you know why? Because everyday I work for the next three weeks gets me this much closer to moving to the new house.
Scott and I are getting very excited. Every once in a while it hits us that very soon, we will have our own living space again, and we just get all giddy. We got word from the realtor this morning that the sellers are having a termite treatment done, so that obstacle has been surmounted. I know there are so many fine little details to take care of in the next couple of weeks, but at least the bulk of the big stuff is done.
We ordered Ian' halloween costume yesterday. Scott and I had been planning on attempting to make him an Oswald the Octopus costume (because we have been totally unable to find one pre-made), but with all that we will be doing the next couple of weeks I just did not see how we were going to fit that in too. We are already planning to use the sewing machine to make Ian's curtains this weekend, so I don't want to bog us down with too many projects.
So we tried to get Ian involved in the costume-picking process. The last two years I have chosen his costumes for him. When he was 8 months old he was the cutest Eeyore that ever was. Last year we bought him the Tom Arma turtle costume, which he loved and wore for days before Halloween. This year, though, I thought I would let him pick it out since he is the one who has to (refuse to) wear it.
At first it looked like the bumble bee was the winner, but then he decided he liked the Darth Vader (Scott was thrilled). Then he saw the fire truck and liked it. But then he saw the airplane and liked it too. THEN he was fixated on being Santa Claus. Our little test went something like this:
"Ian, do you want to be a fire truck for Halloween?"
"Fire truck."
"Ian, do you want to be a fire truck for Halloween?"
"Fire truck. Not yet."
"Ian, do you want to be Darth Vader for Halloween?"
"Dar Ader."
"Ian, do you want to be Darth Vader for Halloween?"
"No. Not yet."
"Ian, do you want to be Santa Claus for Halloween?"
"Sanna Cause!"
"Ian, do you want to be Santa Claus for Halloween?"
"Sanna Cause, not yet."
You get the point.
Finally, we found a police motorcycle costume. We performed the above test, never got a "No" answer, and hours after we ordered it he was still talking about the motorcycle. So hopefully when it gets here he will love it and, most importantly, wear it.
exhaustedOct. 8th, 2005
02:42 pm - Minutiae
I'm sitting here at my mom's slow-assed computer, printing out 66 change of address announcements. I have been working on these cards announcing out new home move since August, slowly but surely. I found the design I wanted to use back in January, bought the design book just to have it on hand for when our inevitable home purchase occurred. If I keep working the way I have been they should be ready to go by next weekend. I'm not mailing them out until we move, though; we still haven't heard back regarding the termite thing.
Ian is taking his nap right now. Once he's up we will venture out to get the last few things for the house: a trash can for the kitchen, curtains for Ian's room, bedside tables for our room, and new phones. We also have to order a new futon frame but we'll wait till we get to the new house so we won't have yet another thing to move.
I helped my friend Tara get a job at Gymboree in Asheville this week. She recently quit her job at the credit union branch I used to work at to stay home with her one-year-old son Ben. She decided that she wanted some part-time work, and having worked at Gymboree in the past I told her that they would give her better pay than most and the very very decent 40% discount. Hopefully she'll still have a paycheck when the time comes; I know how hard it can be to resist those adorable clothes. I might just have to ask her to hook me up with the discount. :)
artisticOct. 7th, 2005
08:38 am - I made it
I wasn't sure if I was going to make it to Friday this week. It's been one of THOSE weeks, where the days seem to creep by. I've also been somewhat sick for most of the week, so that has made the drudgery all the more intolerable.
It's raining, and I really want to go back home and crawl into bed. We got stuck in a traffic jam on I40 this morning, so it set us back about 25 minutes on our commute.
Three weeks from today we will be standing in our new house with paint rollers ready. Three weeks from yesterday is our closing date, and I celebrated by calling all of the utility companies to set up power, water, garbage collection, etc. The water company is archaic: turns out I have to GO to the Land Use Company or something building in downtown Smithfield between 8 and 5 Monday through Friday (totally DOES NOT work with my schedule) and fill out an application. I have to pay a $20 app fee and a $50 deposit (because I can't provide a letter of credit from another utility company since we stopped all utilities in our names when we moved from Asheville six months ago, drat). Even the fucking garbage collector had a website where you could register for service and pay your down payment. Stupid. So now I have to work out some comp time at work so I can get this water thing done. Gotta have water.
We took Ian to the Wayne County fair last weekend. He had a ball. He rode so many rides all by himself, like a big boy. I was so surprised that he was so brave. We also took turns taking him on the big slides, the ones you ride down on the burlap sack. The pictures are really funny - he is crying in the first ones but by the time he has made his way down the slide he's grinning like an idiot. I got one of the worst sunburns in my life because, well, I'm an idiot from the mountains who, even though I'm used to spending a great deal of time in the out of doors during the fall months, I'm not accustomed to having to wear sunscreen in freaking October. Dumbass hot part of the state. But it's healing. And it's raining this weekend so it's not likely we'll be out getting sunburns again.
Turns out we do own critters in our house. The sellers are shopping around for quotes on termite treatments. Everyone is so concerned that they won't fix it and the deal will fall through. The way I see it, they can't sell the house to ANYONE until they get rid of the bugs, so it's something they'll have to do. I don't care if they drag their feet, just so it's done by the time we close on the 27th. Plus I'm sure that by now they have purchased their own home that they need to move into, so they would be stupid not to just finish this deal out. But hey, if it falls through it falls through and we'll move on.
I spoke with the director of the daycare I wanted Ian to get into yesterday and she finally was able to promise me a spot. I tried to get over there yesterday after work to put down his deposit and pick up his paperwork but some guy called me four minutes till closing to purchase life insurance on he and his wife, so I left here 25 minutes late and we couldn't make it on time before they closed. So that's first order of the day this afternoon.
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
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