REALLY?!

When, oh when will this craptastic luck of ours run out? I am exhausted from riding this obnoxious roller coaster of a year and I think my family deserves some stability.

Our luck was not in fact changing... This weekend we found the home of our dreams, in our price range, in a fabulous location. We were ready to make an offer on it this morning.

Literally 30 minutes before the realtor called us back, our "tenants" called to say they were all set and decided not to rent or purchase our home. They got approved for a mortgage and were going to instead look for a better home than ours (funny, ours was their dream home just the day before). While DH reeled and stressed about that I continued my work day, distracted, but still effective.

Then I checked my mailbox at lunch. I got a form letter from my former principal (I switched buildings this year) saying they would not have me teach summer school this year (a program I RAN and designed for the school for the last 5 years) since I wasn't coming back to teach in their building again.

So just to recap, our dream home is no longer an option, DH is out of work for week 13 and my summer income that I count on (and NEED since DH is out of work) is not an option due to politics.

Seriously, how much more can we get kicked right now? We are down, stop throwing crap at us.

Vent done. Hoping for a happier post next time...

Might Our Luck Be Changing?

The first part of the year has been tough. My husband's grandmother (and Gab's namesake) passed away just days into the new year. Not only did she pass away, but he was there with her and he was the one who had to help the undertaker put her in the body bag. He had months (still has in fact) of nightmares. We went on a vacation which was mostly nice except Gabs and I got VERY ill just before we left.

Once home we met with a realtor to sell our home. It's small for our family. The realtor basically told us, we'd have to bring over $20,000 to closing just to unload it.

Beginning of March, Gab's daddy lost his job and he's now been unemployed 12 weeks.... and counting.

Oh, did I mention the roof began to leak in mid February? And that we weren't sure what I'd be doing for next year, and we had to pull Gabs out of full time daycare which was very hard. It was a really shitty first few months of the year.

But then, out of the blue, we got a call from an old colleague of Gab's daddy and they are interested in buying our home. They'd like to do a rent to own for 2 years then purchase it. My job situation has not only been settled, but it's better than I could have ever imagined, I am taking off the summer for the first time since I was a child, and it just all of a sudden seems like our luck is changing.... could it be?

DC Part 1

For April break this year we took a road trip to Washington DC. We were really headed down to spend Easter with Gab's aunties but we also took some time out to do some awesome sight seeing and to hang out at the White House! Yes, THE White House! See photos from our trip!

This fountain looks like fun.... but will daddy get mad if I get wet?

Who cares?! It's SUPER FUN!

I LOVE the Easter Bunny!

Mommy wanted to go to get cupcakes at Georgetown Cupcakes but I fell asleep as we pulled in. I let her shop while I snoozed!

Our tickets to the White House.

To Be Continued...

What a day!

Another wonderful day with my family. I am really enjoying these weekends so much. Here are some photos of our weekend... Enjoy!

Visiting the Moo Cows at Smiling Hill!

Playing on the cool dinosaur!

Swinging at camp!

Visiting Great-Grand-Memere and Great-Grand-Pepere at the cemetery with my Great-Aunt and Great-Uncle

EXHAUSTED!

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

I have been looking forward to this long weekend for months :-) And the improved summer weather that Memorial Day often brings. Not a TON planned this weekend, lots of family time which I appreciate so much.

Today we took the Gabs to the farm. She LOVED it! When I was a child, this is the farm my parents took me to. It had closed when I was a teenager and remained closed until last year. I was so glad to share my memories with Gabs today and to begin making some new memories. We WILL be back again.

Tomorrow will be nice, going to Gab's Godmother's camp for the afternoon and a cook out. Monday, enjoying family some more. Picture Post coming soon!

Watching You...

Dear Gabs,

Last weekend at your Memere's graduation I had a rare opportunity to watch you. You were so happy to be there, and proud of your Memere. As the graduates stood to receive their diplomas, you clapped and cheered with abandon when each name was called. You threw your whole body into being happy for these strangers, friends, and family as you always do.

Gabs, you teach me much about living in the moment and about being exactly where I am. There is much I can learn from you and by watching you. My darling, you are amazing to me each and every day. I am so blessed to be the mommy of a wonderful, funny, smart, beautiful, clever, 18 month old.

Love,

Mommy

Sick Mommy

Since FL I've not been right.

I was so sick that last night with what we thought was food poisoning and then came down with a cold right away that was hard to shake. Once it morphed into bronchitis I had an allergic reaction and just lived through the scariest week of my life.

About 2 weeks ago now, I developed a pretty rough cough and rasp in my chest. I took some OTC medications and broke out in hives. I dealt with the hives for a couple days then decided to go to the Dr. They told me to take Benadryl although I did tell them I've had a reaction to it in the past.... Less than 12 hours later my hands were swollen and I was covered head to toe in itch. Dr prescribed a steroid over the phone which took care of the swelling but not the hives. As I decreased the steroid a few days later, the swelling came back, and was in my face, and making it hard to swallow...

GD took me to the Dr. right away and they sent me straight to a dermatologist (Yes, a dermatologist, I think it should've been an allergist but whatever) and the dermatologist was going to send me to the ER but was afraid they'd put me on Benadryl and kill me. So back on more steroids...

Steroids do not make people feel good. I was having HUGE mood swings, and although I wasn't itchy on the outside, I was really bITCHY on the inside. About 3 days into that course I decided to see if I could take a reduced version of the steroid but within an hour I had to take it since I was breaking out in hives again. Today the Dr. said I could decrease the steroid and so far, I am ok... haven't had to use the Epi-Pen they gave me, and hoping that over night tonight I don't swell up...

This has truly been the scariest week of my life health wise. What if I were to stop breathing, how could I possibly leave my Gabs so soon after I've gotten her... just to be safe though I've been thinking about things and how to let Corey know how I have taken care of them through life insurance and setting up a future for Gabs. It sucks that this had to be what brought on my getting my act together, but at least it's getting together. With a little baby, and one as fab as Gab, we need to be sure she's taken care of.

So, hopefully this decrease on the steroid will go well, but if not, I will be back at the Dr, allergist, dermatologist, and whomever else can fix me, and keep my body going.