Pirate Party

My Aidan is an avid reader.  However, since he was a pre-schooler, he has never enjoyed the library programs, story times, etc.  He would rather look for books and play in our local library's play area.  They stock it very well with legos, puzzles, trains, etc.  I have always had to ask him to go in the summertime so that I could take Ainsley.  She loves story time, craft time and most of the other library activities.  Yesterday, everything changed.  The library hosted a pirate party where the children were  encouraged to dress up, play games, have snacks, and the like.  It was crazy!  There were so many children!  Aidan loved it!  We stepped out after a while to look for books as we had already participated in all of the games.  After a few minutes he asked to go back!  He stayed until they wrapped things up.  Unbelievable!  Next week, the library is wrapping up their summer reading program with a magic show. Aidan is already asking to go!  Ainsley is usually asking to go, but the tide has turned.  It will be crowded but because he asked I will take them.  Finally!

Feeling...

sorry for myself this morning.  I have another open house this weekend and I am tired.  Tired of keeping my house spotless for people to come look at it.  Tired of people saying that they are very interested in the house and then nothing coming of it. Tired of praying for the sale of my house.  It feels so selfish...however, we are selling for way under what we paid for it so not terribly selfish, is it?  I love where we live, but with the start of school beginning to loom over me I am feeling ready to go.  To be settled again.  Even though I am starting over again, I am tired of feeling at loose ends.  I can't plan too far in advance.  So much so that my family hasn't come to visit this summer with the thought that we would be in the middle of moving or gone already.  I guess what got to me was a sign I saw yesterday on a house on another street that I believe has been listed much longer than mine has...Any reasonable offer considered.  Really.  Are we to that point that the market is so bad that we need to put that on a sign?  I think it is.

Once again sorry for the rant.  I am generally a pretty happy person even though it may not seem like it here.  That sign just got to me yesterday.

Mom and her Monkeys

We were so hot on this Sunday outing during our week in Cleveland.  We all had a great time though and the zoo was very nice.  I hope we will make other trips to this zoo in our future as we make our home in Ohio.  No offers on our house yet, but we are still busy with showings and some are quite promising.  Something is bound to happen soon.  At least that is my prayer.

My in-laws are here this week and I think we have worn them out!  I just don't know...I tried to plan some outings to get us out of the house to balance the kids energy and desire to play.  Nothing super strenuous, a trip to the beach, a trip downtown shopping during the sidewalk sale day in town.  They really needed a day to recover even though the outings were only a few hours each.  Yesterday they took the kids swimming and to play putt-putt for the afternoon while I went to the grocery store and worked at church.  They were falling asleep on my couch after dinner.  I just don't know how to balance activities with them without the rest of us going stir crazy.  This visit has made me realize how active a family we have become in the summer time with walks, bike rides, lake outings, park outings and the like.  I am thankful that my family is not as sedentary.  B and I have made a promise to each other to keep each other accountable in staying as active as possible as we get older.

We have a house showing this afternoon at 4 so I will be taking the kids over to their RV to "hang out".  I would rather have taken the kids to the playground or something, but I may just take them anyway just earlier in the afternoon.  Well, I hope all are well this week.  I am counting my blessings.  I hope you are too.

Cleveland week...

Well, we had a good week, but exhausting.  We did find several potential houses but our favorite is bank owned so they won't take a contingency offer.  If the Lord planned for us to have that house then it will be there after we get a contract on ours just like this one was.  Speaking of contracts, we have a couple coming back for a second look see today with a contractor in tow to see what they can do remodeling wise to my kitchen.  It is rather small, but it is not so small that it is not useable.  Anyway, they want to see what they can do so I am hoping that means that a contract is on their minds.  They are coming by rather late tonight to which I am not thrilled about but what can you do.

My in-laws are coming in for a visit on Thursday and they will be staying for a week.  They are towing the trailer so I am assuming that they are already on their way.  I am going to try a bit harder this year to get the kids out and about with them this year than I was able to last year.  Their schedule just never meshes well with mine.

I do have pictures of our Cleveland trip to the zoo which was very nice.  Of course we went on the hottest day of our trip to Ohio.  Go figure, but we all had fun.  It is a very nice zoo with very neat exhibits.  Our favorite was the butterfly house and Aidan especially loved their summer dinosaur exhibit.

So on to my day yesterday...which did not start out as planned.  I woke up about 3:30 in the morning having chest pains!  I could breathe so I new it wasn't my heart, but it sure did hurt to take deep breaths.  I ended up finally waking B up and he took me to the ER.  He had to cancel his trip out of town for which I felt awful, but I was glad he stayed.  Everything is fine, they checked my heart and checked me for a blood clot in my lungs and they decided that it is an inflammation of some of the lining around my lungs.  They sent me home with a prescription for steroids.  I was feeling better at first and was going to send B on his trip but then the stomach issues started.  I always have trouble with pain killers but either the nitro patch or the contrast dye for my CT gave me the same reaction as well.  I spent the rest of the day throwing up!  Awful.  By evening I was starting to feel better and keep some food down so I will be starting my steroids today.  I think for the long term I am fine and my Mom seems to think this is a stress reaction.  I scared everyone to death and for that I feel awful.  I kept apologizing to everyone for wasting everyones time.  Why do I do that?  I had every right to be concerned for my health.  Chest pain can be serious business which is why they always treat it seriously at the hospital.  I am supposed to see my regular Dr.  for a follow up this week.  Thanks all for letting me unload a but here.  I am sure this is going to get around town soon.  All the people at my hubby's work know and I am sure it will get around rather quickly as most things seem to.  Anyway, that is my rant and whine for the day.  I have to return several phone calls as my friend T, my Mom, my Aunt, and my sister were all calling to check on me.  Between sleeping and running to the bathroom I did not get to talk with anyone to tell them I was okay.  Thankfully my husband stayed home and manned the phone and managed the kids after our babysitter brought them back home.  Praising God today for a good nights sleep and that I am pain free today!