Who's Trying to Sell Da Murphdawg?

What is THIS?

Are Mike and Murph not getting along this summer? Or whoe else is trying to pawn my dog?

I can't believe there's such an exact Murphy twin running around and moreover, that someone doesn't want him or her.

Seriously ... here is the close up:

If I wasn't 100% confident Murph was at home snoozing on the front couch where she shouldn't be right now, I would be worried!

We Wouldn't Even Have to Forward Our Mail

...If we moved across the street to 7617 Suffolk Avenue, one number up from our address, to the big house across the street that's for sale for a pretty great price.

It leaves a bit to be desired on the outside. But the inside is 2,000 square feet (that would be about 70% more house than we have now) and its FAB. It's got a great lower floor plan, it's sort of circular and just flows nicely. From the entry you see the little sitting room (aka playroom, aka office, aka place for the piano) on the right, and to the left, you go from a nice living room with fireplace, to the dining room (all of which is light and updated with redone wood floors and white trim) back to a big kitchen with big pantry and big eat in, and room for an island.

There's a little back porch that's covered in this cute red trellis, but you could screen it in also. That's IF your dogs don't repeatedly ran their heads against it like current owners' did. Wait, what am I saying ... Bogey would be coming with us, wouldn't he ... Anyway, it has a fully fenced yard, leading back to a two car detached garage.

Back inside on the main floor, there's also a master bedroom downstairs and (here's one hitch) the one full bath that's in the finished part of the home. Upstairs, no bath, but three bedrooms. One's big, one's medium and one's smallish (but oh so perfect for a nursery or my eventual home office; sadly, does look across the street right at ours which COULD give me mental problems, but I'm willing to risk it.) The bigger BR's have two closets each. Plus there's a big crawl space (supposedly a "selling point" because apparently lickety split - at least, according to the agent - you could just whip up another bathroom right there. I'm sure.)

In the basement, there's another full bathroom with shower but that's the only finished part. The rest is huge but unfinished, with that cellar feeling thought it's painted a clean white. There is some "dampness" that comes in during heavy rains (aka, you could easily see the wet spots, but to Tim's point, this sucker's 85 years old. She'll have her little issues, I imagine. At least it's got copper not knob and tube wiring. It's a start right?)

Okay, so ... I don't know why I'm typing all of this. It's not like we're going to run out and buy it. Timing wise, this is all wrong. We are supposed to fix ours up to sell ... all the while continually St. Louis neighborhoods for a potential fit, and fine tuning our list of "must haves," by visiting open houses for a few more months. Then list ours next spring and THEN find our perfect dream home in the Shrewsbury/Webster/Kirkwood area. Right? That's how it'll go, RIGHT?!?

In any case, we are NOT supposed to find something now. Someone took that order down wrong.

Anyone who knows me knows I love my street and wish I didn't have to move from it. I've said before, if I could wake up tomorrow and have a much bigger mortgage and a second story ... or an add-on master bedroom/bath where part of our backyard/patio are now ... I would be a very happy camper. But I also know there's lots of nice neighborhoods and I shouldn't be so attached to this one just because i'ts familiar.

I just, well, am, and so when this house came up (which I'd always threatened to Mike that I'd want to snap up the minute it went on) I was like, OH! Course, I was always half kidding, because I figured it'd be kinda dated and "okay but not great" inside like the outside. But now of course (like so many Sunday open house "browsers" have fallen into the trap before me) I am thinking, I sure wish we could do this house.

It would just be, er, challenging financially to take on a bigger payment, just yet. We'll be in a much better position by next May once our ginormous (for us) car payment ends. And semi-better even after December when my GE Penance Payments end. (Sidebar: The story is that GE kept paying me for a couple checks after I left. Because despite bringing good things to life, they are apparently idiots. I convinced myself (against my goody goody nature) that I was justified to, well, keep it. Because they also sca-REWED me on my incentive comp when I left and basically didn't pay me according to our gentleman's agreement of a comp plan that never got nailed down. (Hint: Don't ever do that. Make people write things down.) So natch, once they realized they overpaid me, we all had a difference of opinion, with their opinion being I owe them every penny and mine being I sure don't want to pay them but can't remotely think about hiring a lawyer to fight something I am probably on paper in the wrong about anyway.)

And so we've paying basically the value of an extra ginormous car payment since spring, through December.

Oh little house across the street. I wish no ill on you or yours. But maybe you will CHOOSE to sit stagnant on the market, for at least a few months ... the owners are just downsizing because all the boys are in college now so they're not necessarily in dire straits.

Maybe they will be hit by a giant wave of nostalgia and wrestle with the idea of really selling it, their sons' boyhood home (well, kind of, they moved their in high school. NONETHELESS!) and turn down all the reasonable offers that come in. Right up until the moment they realize, crap, we must sell this albatross. And to who better than that lovely young couple across the street, who really do look a little cramped but like they'd take great care of our former home ... and who clearly could use about, oh, a $30,000 discount. "Krisantha (yes that's their agent's real name), write up the papers!"

Realizing from the Television that I Am Blessed

Now I'm quite certain, what with my whining about being "sooooo BUSY" lately, the last thing I should have done the last two hours is what I did. Which is watch two hours of Tivo'd Babies: Special Delivery which airs on the Discovery Health Network.

Now, I only learned about this show as I was setting my "Baby Story" Tivo Season Pass this weekend. Because I have decided it's time to get reobsessed with that show. And NO it's not because I'm pregnant or close to it but YES it is because I'm heavily thinking about that topic just lately again.

Again: NOT pregnant or close to it, YES have babies on the brain. Okay ...

So Babies: Special Delivery was right there winking at me in the alpha list of shows to be Season Passed and so I did and WHOA what a fascinating show. In two shows I saw like nine families undergo what might be some of the most traumatic s-h-t-you know what that you can. Your TINY infant, in some cases your FETUS basically is born and needs immediate urgent care. In some cases the MOTHER is at risk as well and is swarmed with doctors checking her LIFE AND HEALTH.

This is instead of just getting to sit there and bask in your "I made a baby!" glow and have nothing more to fret over than the "Should I try to breast feed in the first half hour? Can I finally order some room service? How CUTE IS MY BABY?! How soon do I get my push present?" stuff most of us get to enjoy.

Even if your birth experience is less idealic or like a few friends of mine, even nauseous, barfing and in pain from your C-section ... I imagine some part of you is still elated knowing your baby is HERE and is off being cared for or maybe even being snuggled by Daddy. And in all cases is healthy and well until next you cuddle him.

But not these new moms. They and the dads (and to some degree, entire waiting rooms full of families) are as worried as worried can get.

It makes me think, in order:

How lucky I am to have has such an easy birth and healthy newborn son and overall, great pregnancy experience.

How much emotion and fear and just - EVERYTHING - my friends Renae and especially Eileen, who have had babies in the NICU in the past year and a half, must have felt. Renae's Max was there for about 10 days and Owen, closer to a month, I think. (Sorry guys if I have those dates wrong.) It's a whole different world to experience your newborn and becoming a parenthood, in that NICU, with the not knowing what's coming next for your baby, your sweet teeny little thing, and the wires, beeping, machines, nurses, and constant and I have to imagine, sometimes just piercing, worry.

And how lucky I am that Matthew today is a healthy, strong little boy growing up right on track. We just had our 15 month appointment with Dr. Jagler tonight. Aside from discussing how do we begin to tackle discipline, and are we ready for only one nap? I had nothing on my mind worrying me, and she was extremely happy with him. And he was happily driving his truck over the wall and loving life. The way all kids SHOULD get to be.

I think of that, and then compare it to the sweet beautiful little baby I watched tonight on TV that was born with spina bifada, who had to have surgery to basically tuck his spine back into him, in his first hour of life. In a specialized children's hospital across town from where his recuperating from her C-section mommy was.

I don't mean to get all drama, for people I don't even know, on a carefully edited to tug at the heart TV show. But it really was emotional watching what some of these little babies had to go through in their first few hours of life. And watching what ALL the parents went through, fearing for the worst but hoping for the best. I guess once you've had a little baby pull at your heart, you just can put yourself in their shoes (to some degree) and just ... imagine what they're feeling.

It makes you wonder why some people go through what they do. And it makes you stop and THANK GOD or whoever you please, for your 100% healthy little baby snoring in the other room peacefully.

And to realize that you don't KNOW from stress until you have a sick child.

Okay, that was my upper post for the day. Anyone want to talk about clowns or rainbows or puppies riding on unicorns now?

Finally a Break

It has felt like a whirlwind since a week before vacation, and here it is a week after, and I'm just NOW posting about vacation.

Work has been WORK since before and since I've been back. But today is Saturday and now .... Matt napping, Mike golfing out of town, me happily drinking my cold coffee, downloading photos and finally updating this blog.

The rest of the vacation, well, was about as smooth as the first part. Unfortunately, my family got in a car accident on Friday of vacation. They are OKAY, they are, but they are sore and having to be careful from the fallout of a bad five car accident. It's pretty scary to think about obviously and no one got seriously injured. But when I think about what could have happen, if the (God help me) golf clubs hadn't been in the trunk to cushion the blow, well, it's just not worth it to go there, is it.

Anyway, my poor Mike was in the back seat and got the brunt of it. Now he's feeling alternatively sore/painful in his back, then neck, then stomach, then back ... etc. We're ready to send him to the chiropractor next week so get him checked and possibly X-rayed, just in case. He's also has PT buddy who's going to check him while they're on their golf trip this weekend.

He is OKAY but still, the whole thing still sucked. Did I forget to mention, Bob and Dale's (my in-laws) car was totaled? The trunk was smashed to about 6 inches.

And I know I did mention but shall say again: the golf clubs SURVIVED! The will power of this family to golf is incredible.

SO, needless to say, the trip was a bit hampered. Luckily Bob and Dale were able to get a loaner car from a co-worker who's out of the country, so I hope they're still able to use that to get around to manage their very busy, doesn't-stop-for-a-car-wreck real estate businss. (Side note: It was a sweeeet white Escalade. It was like a swanky lounge on wheels. My bed is not as comfortable as that back seat captain's chair.)

Overall it was a good trip for seeing family and getting lots of baby/aunt/uncle/grandparent time. Just not the stress free relaxation you'd hope for. But that's life, right? Speaking of "life," the whole accident, and the luckiness of the outcome, was emphasized by the fact that we'd all gone in to set up our WILLS the day before. Yes, day before giant traffic stopping for miles on the highway accident they had.

Bob and Dale had arranged kindly to let us and Scott and Fernanda (my bro and sis in law) use their lawyer to document our wishes for Matthew, power of attorney, etc. It's something any new parent probably knows they should do but doesn't get around to, so it was a very healthy exercise.

But as my Muldrow family knows, the experience (especially the health care/living will parts) freaked me out big time. And to put an exclamation point on that, they get in this accident the next day ... Deep breath. They're fine.

To shift gears and LIGHTEN THE MOOD of my first post in over a week, so you'll come back again in the future, here are photos of all the FUN family and baby cousins moments:



Cousin Danny has his own Brazilian/Fernanda style but he is definitely a Muldrow through and through (and in his expressions, at least, a doppleganger to his older cousin).



He is a sweet, funny, happy and ACTIVE baby right now. And despite Mandy and Tucker's best efforts to rebuff him, a natural (sorry, Fernanda) dog lover. I believe that although his parents live in a clean dog free zone, this kid is destined to be covered in hair and sneaking kibble just like his cousin. A future of dog lovin' vacations at his grandparents' and aunt/uncle's definitely lays before him.

Two For Two ... Unfortunately

I don't know what vacation voodoo we're under. But this is now the second vacation in ONE MONTH tainted by baby sickness.

The night before we left for CO - the MIDDLE of the night - Matthew woke up and wouldn't stop crying. We usually ignore it but after a while of drifting in and out we realized, hmm, how long has this been going on? Mike ended up getting up and (I didn't even realize this, but) giving him a bottle, in an hour and half process. This hasn't happened since ... I don't know ... 4 or 5 months old?? (I was allowed reprieve due to the 5 a.m. wake up I had scheduled to finish up work before our trip.)

The next morning, I'm up working. Baby wakes up, Mike gets him. I greet them and think, whoo hoo, happy vacation day! And then realize, Matt's hot, really hot, and red.

He had 101 point something temp. Come to find out, "Oh yeah, he had 103.3 last night. I think that's why he was up."

!!!!!!!!!!!!

The doctor's office said, it's fine to travel, just give him Tylenol cold. He was probably in the one or two days preceding coming down with something. Greaaatttt. We are going to hang out with his nine month old cousin Danny. And supposed to be running around Colorado Springs having fun with the family, not be sick! But okay, so far, no biggee. Kids get weirdo fevers sometimes.

Several hours of traveling, and semi-crabby baby behavior later (is it sick? is it being stuff on your mom's lap on an airplane?) we get to the Muldrows. Then kinda realize, gee, he's REALLY red, really hot. And come to find out he now has 103.7 temp. Now, our doctor's office says, it's still not a problem. Just wait and see if the Tylenol (very frantically delivered after the temp taking) kicks in.

Well, it must have. Two hours and one (hard fought for) nap later, he's down to 101.3.

Grea... wait, another hour later, 103.8.

Now I don't know if this number strikes fear into other baby mommy hearts. But my son hasn't had temps at all much less "high" ones. I was a little worried. We promptly picked up Motrin because I know it's worked better for a few people for fevers.

But we still also logged another call to the doctor, looking for answers. She put the decision to take him in to urgent care in our hands. She wasn't saying worry and take him but she wasn't saying not to. Was he irritable? Um, well, YEAH! Was he vomiting? No, thank goodness. Lethargic? No, thank goodness. Heavy breathing? Well, his breathing does sound funny but a nose full of boogers tends to do that.

We decided to wait it out, a bit more. One semi-cold shower and lots of sobbing tears from said shower later, he was down to 100.5 and we decided we'd try to make it through the night.

The next morning, a 99 point something made us happy .... followed by a 101.8 two hours later! Ahhh, kid, are you sick or not?!??! Help a mother out.

The one - no two - savings graces have been:

Motrin. Has unbelievable (never before seen by me with Tylenol) effect to lower his temp within 1/2 hour of dosing. Then he feels great and runs around like nuts. Probably making himself feeling sick again but as long as he's happy ...

Which is the second saving grace. He's been in a relatively good mood most of the time, so I can't believe he's TOO sick.

That said, he's been more randomly crabby than I'm used to. He'll look tired, I'll take him to the other room to wind him down. And he throws a giant teary sobbing red faced FIT. It's hard to deal with and hard to watch, because I know he's not happy.

I assume it must be an illness, or the altitude. Either way, I feel bad for the kid. Because we're also having napping challenges. He never does well in a strange place but this week its compounded with things being noisy with three families, another baby, two dogs and one construction project on Grandma's bathroom.

And did I mention that every meal is turning into "Let's Make a Deal?" Please Matthew, one bit of banana. Or, I can trade you for TWO spoonfuls of yogurt? Okay, you can TAKE the graham cracker into the living room where you're not supposed to, but you have to drink the whole THINNNNGGG, come on DOWN. Mostly Matthew is making the deals, though, and the deal is, he's not eating much. Enough to know I shouldn't completely freak. But not enough to give Mom a little peace of mind. Or a restful relaxing vacation.

All I know is, I was wound a little tight when I left St. Louis. If all body temps don't stay below 100 for the rest of the trip, I just might squish myself inside out. Wish us luck!!!

Activity is fun!

For the last two days, I actually exercised. All these months of dieting, this is what's been missing. Now I'm playing sand volleyball on Mondays. And we swam again last night. Twenty minutes and ten laps. I nearly felt ill at the end (which I realize is super duper sad).

But I also felt like, ah, movement! This is what I'm supposed to be doing! Stretching and exercising and using my muscles!

In the past I've always lost weight via exercise. Hardly through dieting at all. This is only the second time, and definitely the most successful, I've done it through diet alone. But now I'm hoping I can kick it into gear and get going at least three times a week. Especially now, when I'm getting more stressed at work, I think it's healthy.

Of course so is the big ol' bowl of ice cream I just ate. But that's neither here nor there.

Tired

It has been a loooong post vacation week. I have worked A LOT OF HOURS in the last 6 business days. I am nowhere near where I should be on several projects. I am right this MINUTE making a deadline get later by not working tonight. I WILL be at work at 7 a.m. for the second time this week tomorrow to hit a "first thing in the morning" deadline. I DID send an SOS e-mail to co-workers who have the next piece of work with my project, advising them of its lateness and to be ready for their instantaneous turnaround once they get my piece.

I cannot believe how far away our beach vacation feels ...

GUESS THAT'S WHY I HAD TO PLAN ANOTHER ONE NEXT WEEK!

We are off to Colorado Springs next week, so it's CRUNCH time this week. That and a co-worker having her last day today, and it being our normal "busy season" anyway but this time with extra sugar on top because of several other projects that happen to be hitting at the same time this year. And the other random "Can you help with this?" that always pop up at the wrong times.

(Don't blog about work, don't blog about work.)

Okay, that's it. Had to get it out. "What's on my mind" is WORKKKKKK. Lots of it.

And really, I don't mind. Push time, crunch time, whatever your call it. I'm game, I'm ready. It has not been too busy for quite a while. I'm taking two mini-vacations this month. But. It's just that seeing my son for a total of 4 to 6 hours this week. Well. By Thursday, it's wearing a little thin.

Thank God for weekends, getting past deadlines on Fridays, and DA POOL.

I am really looking forward to some R&R with my little man this weekend. I know he loves Daddy. I know they're having the flipping time of their life. But I know he misses and needs him mommy too. So I've decided that this weekend, he gets me. Fully, and undivided. I have already decided I'm not running errands, doing bills, checking e-mail and blogs (where did the last two hours go?) or any of the usual distractions that keep me from hanging with him. We are doing fun mommy / baby stuff and I will replenish.

And then as a result, have to hit it all double hard on Monday. But so be it.