Winds of Change

Sooooooooooooo many things have happened since I last wrote. I won't capture it all, but here are a few highlights.

My lucky day has generally been Fri the 13th. It was in June this year for sure! Our house was on the market about 5 days, and we had 2 offers on it! One we were able to accept! They wanted to close July 11th, and we still didn't have a place to go. So, it was a mad hunt trying to find our own house to buy. That was a struggle, but we did finally find one that didn't have other offers on it, and placed an offer. Surprisingly, it was accepted. They wanted to close Aug 15. So that would put us homeless for several weeks, to say the least, and with 2 kitties, that complicates it even further... So, that was stressful for a while. But then, when the home inspection came in, the place we were buying had polybutyline piping, and since I've already been through that nightmare with my current place, there was NO WAY I was going to do it again. I was ready to walk. Of course the realtor tried to convince us that it wasn't that bad, but since I had had my own experience with it that was a nightmare, I wasn't going to be persuaded, so Larry and I decided to walk on the deal. Once we told them we were walking, they came back stating they would re pipe the place, as well as make the other repairs we wanted, AND moving closing date up to July 30th (the same date we had moved our closing) which means we wouldn't be homeless! So, the deal was back on. I was disappointed in some ways, but happy in others. There are definitely pros and cons about the place, it's not perfect, but we'll be able to make it work.

It's a 4 bedroom townhouse in Manasses, VA. Right across the street from a very good elementary school, and close to the main part of Manasses with all the shopping. It's very small, master bedroom is dinky, and the kitchen is even smaller, the 2 things that I would want HUGE space in. But, I'm creative with storage and space, and will have to make it work. And over time, make it ours, as we won't have any money to fix it the way I'd like, as we are going to be majorly house poor.

Another highlight (in a twisted way of thinking) was my root canal. Yes, surprisingly. I have never had a cavity, or problems, though I did start invisalign 1.5 years ago. Since that time, discovered I had some kind of childhood trauma to my teeth, and needed a root canal. But, my dentist was hoping to play it conservatively, and hold off until invisalign was all done, but once I was pregnant, that went to the wind. So, the second I was in my 2nd trimester, I went in for my root canal. And yes, I was barfing all day long, and warned the poor doctor. Here is the crazy part that is just fitting for me, if you know me well. My tooth being done, well, that, along with the 2 partners on each side of it, have extremely long, twisted, curving, crazy roots. The kind that has never been seen before, and that required special tools, the best guy in the metro area, and even that was still risky, per him. He was afraid even he couldn't do it. Thankfully all went well, and pics of my teeth (and the roots) are being shown and discussed in discussion groups, and being put in textbooks.

Another health front update. My entire pregnancy, I've been barfing up a storm, nauseated like crazy, weak, unable to exercise, and quite sick. Everyone told me it was going to go away in the 2nd trimester. Even before the 2nd trimester hit, my nausea was getting worse, and the number of times each day I was throwing up was increasing. By the 2nd trimester, I was throwing up 15-20 times every day, and still could have done more. I haven't been dancing, I've been so sick, and have barely been able to make it to work and back (and the long commute). I don't even cook or clean anymore, poor Larry! My doctors would see me every week to 2 weeks, due to the "high risk" nature, but would do nothing, other than see me for 30 seconds to weigh me and say, "Oh, you're loosing more weight!" NO education, no listening to my symptoms, no concern, because everything was normal. SO they thought. When I went in for the special sonogram to determine if the baby has downs syndrome, the doctor was very good, and gave me some good advice, and also suggested I might need to get an IV treatment for the nausea. Of course my doctors didn't care or want to discuss anything. Due to us moving, I had to find a doctor closer to work, so went to a new doctor office last week. I threw up several times just trying to get there (throwing up walking to the car, throwing up once there, etc.). The doctor there was actually concerned, listened to my symptoms, and did some educating. Seems I wasn't as "normal" as my other doctors thought, and that if the nausea couldn't get under control, I'd be placed in the hospital for an IV insertion and treatment. They put me on Zofran, which is a nausea drug they use for people going through Chemo Therapy. They said if it didn't tone down the throwing up within a week, I'd need to go to the hospital. Thankfully, it has helped. Yes, I am still sick, still nauseated and weak, still throwing up, but not to the extent and horrible intensity that I was before taking the medication. Lucky me, instead of the nausea going away in my 2nd trimester, it has become even worse! And, I've lost weight every week, despite my growing belly and inability to fit into any of my clothes.

Today, my day off, I had planned to go buy some maternity clothes, so I don't have to wear the same 2 things every day forever... But I've been so weak and sick, I haven't even done that. Plus, I think psychologically I know there is much to be done with my weak nauseated body. I have to pack up my house, and MOVE this month. Sure, everything sounds so exciting, I'm pregnant, I'm moving. And I do think if I felt better, I'd actually feel excited. Instead, I'm weak, feel terrible, dread what my body has to endure through the move, as well as the pregnancy, but am trying to not hate those words everyone keeps saying "It's all going to be worth it in the end!" Bah humbug. :) Ok, not really, but I hate that saying right now.

But, I DOOOOOOOOOOOO believe that GOD is helping, His hand is greatly involved, as it is HIS help that got our house sold so quickly, and to find another in a good neighborhood. I'm grateful for that, and cannot deny the miracles that are involved in all of this. :)