Did you know?

Did you know that Emergency Medical Services recommends that if you let your toddler play with your cell phone that you take the battery out? Did you know that it was because you can still dial 911 even with the keypad locked?

Not that I would have any firsthand knowledge of that.

It's getting close and I don't want to say goodbye

I'm really sad about leaving today. It's hitting me how close it is. I'm truly excited about what's ahead. But I'm also truly sad about what I'm leaving, at least at this time of year. If this were January and we were still facing months of winter, this would be easier, but leaving friends would still be so, so difficult. The friends I made here helped get me through what I imagine we'll look back on as a tough 5 years. We're a long way from family. Dave worked a lot. Really, really a lot. While Dillon was 3 months old when we got here, this is where I really became a parent.

I took a walk this morning, Corryn in the stroller, Dave and Dillon still home sleeping. I got a chance to take some pictures. This is one of my favorite spots- one that we've walked to many times. I find it to be an amazingly peaceful place.


I stopped at my church where there is a marble bench behind the church and sat for a little while, crying a little, thankful for the opportunity to not have to be strong for Dillon's sake. I wanted to soak in as much as I could. I want to remember all the things I've come to love here. We're going from a yard in which there is nothing but shade to a yard in a rental house with nothing but a few ornamental trees. I'm going to miss the trees. We saw a deer staring at us from the woods behind the house the other day, the middle of the afternoon. Our neighbors called the other night to tell us there was a fox in their backyard. I'm going to miss the wildlife.



I really don't regret the decision to move to the Midwest. It's a great move for us with a lot positive going for it. Yes, we can come back and visit- and will. But right now, I'm sad really dread saying goodbye.

On a happier note

A silly grin from Corryn.

We got good news regarding our move. The hospital has increased its moving allowance to $10,000 from $8,000. We were going to owe a little over their previous limit, so now maybe we won't! We've gotten rid of a good number of heavy items, so it's possible.

I've been working really hard on keeping my own cool with Dillon's meltdowns, trying to manage my own stress through this. We got through the transition to becoming a big sister- we can do this. Dave's schedule has let up a bit (though there is still the board exam looming overhead next month), so I have been and will continue to take the opportunity to steal a little time to myself here and there. Really, a walk in the mornings once or twice a week or taking Dillon on an errand with him is all I really need. I just have to seize the opportunities where they lie and all will be well.

Tough transitions

I am not Superwoman. I am not Supermom or Superwife. I'm not Super anything for that matter, except perhaps Super tired at times. I'll confess that I often don't feel like I have the energy to get us through this transition to a new life. I have trouble with it myself- the uprooting, the having everything in disarray for a period of weeks, having to make all new friends, having to search to find all your regular foods at the grocery store. I know, poor me, so many have it so much worse- and they do. But not acknowledging that this is difficult for me doesn't make me feel anymore empathetic to others'. On top of all, I have a 5 year old that has trouble with change.

There have been so many meltdowns over such small things as of late. She has taken to yelling "NO!" at Corryn a thousand times a day. She declares "Leave me ALONE!" in one breath, then falls apart when you do- but gets more angry when you don't. Much crying, much screaming, much clinging. I just feel smothered sometimes.

How to help her through this? She brings up questions about the move occasionally- will we take her toys, why can't we just move the house- and we talk about them, but I know there's no way to completely prepare her for all this and how utter unsettling it can feel.

Inspection

All came out well with the inspection- no requests for anything to be repaired at all. We're waiting on the buyer to sign off on the inspection, but there should be no reason for her to do so.

The mover is chosen and I'm going to nail down the dates on Monday. Then I can get going on the 10,000 details required to move 1,000 miles- airfare for the girls and I, hotels, rental cars, trailer for Dave to pull....

4th of July

Happy 4th of July! I was explaining to Dillon that the 4th of July was when we celebrated our country's birthday. She relied "I think our country likes chocolate cake- can we make some for it?" Never miss an opportunity to have chocolate.

And on a related note, I wanted to give a big congratulations to my friend Karen for becoming a US Citizen yesterday!

And so it goes at my house...

Someone came out last week to do a moving estimate. We walked outside to take a look at the outside furniture and found the dog out there. She had pooped, but let's just say had not quite gotten rid of all of it. She kept trying to get inside, which, of course, I wouldn't let her do. The moving company guy and I went back inside and went through the rooms so he could assess all that. In Dillon's room, I opened the closet with the stuffed animal bin in it. On the top of the pile was her favorite stuffed dog with it's rear end stuck up in the air, neatly covered by a diaper.

Good thing that stuffed dog had it's diaper on. What if it had had the same problem the real dog did? I just hate it when stuffed dog poop gets everywhere.