Our House. A Work in Progress

Our house is finally coming along. The insurance adjuster has been a pain in our butts. Only wanting to replace the bare minimum of what was damaged. He was trying to get out of replacing damaged drywall, imsulation, kitchen and bathroom cabinets. We finally got through to him when the mold started showing its ugly face and the paeticle board started crumbling. I am hoping to be home tomorrow night and have the house finished by the time my vacations starts next Tuesday.

So ready to have my house back!

Our House - A Work in Progress

While we were away in Lubbock the big winter storm hit!  Unfortunately, our house was hit in the process.  A pipe, that ran through the attic burst sometime during the night.  My mom found it the next morning. BUT, it was too late.  The dining room ceiling was already on the floor and carpet throughout the entire house was soaked or at least somewhat wet.  It was a disaster!  We hit the road and ventured back home from Lubbock.  It was one long, trecherous drive with icy roads. We finally made back. We had to stay the night with my parents.  Obviously we couldn't stay at home.  Hole in ceiling, water on the floors, no electricity and temps in the teens = not a happy woman! Friday morning we got up and prepared to be devestated.  This is what we found out the house.

 This is the dining room. The insulation was everywhere and the floors were soaking wet.

This is the dining room ceiling. You can see the 2 holes where the ceiling fell. More ceiling fell before workers were able to tear it down. You can also see the water outline of the soggy ceiling. 

This is the dining room after the floors have been pulled up. Carpet was torn up in the dining/living, master bedroom and hallway. Scarlett's room needs new padding under the carpet.

The ceiling after it was torn out.  The ceiling in the master closet and the AC closet will also be replaced.  All walls in the the dining room are being replaced.

The house is a work in progress. Monday we should have a final estimate from the insurance adjuster. Then we will be given a check to work on all the repairs.  We have been out of the house for a week now.  The adjuster says it could be 3-4 weeks before we get back into the house! We're making it. In the meantime they have put us up in a hotel and we're surving. Everyone is happy (all things considered) and healthy.  That's all I can ask for.

The Mom In Law

On Sunday, January 31st, Rassie's mom had a heart attack.  Family took her into the ER and everyone prepared for the worst.  Rassie and I drove into Lubbock, kids in tow, Sunday night.  Monday Morning his mom had an angiogram.  It revealed that she would need bipass surgery.  For a while it was up in the air whether she would need triple or quadruple bipass surgey.  Monday night the surgeon came by to talk with the family.  He said Rassie's mom would be scheduled for Tuesday morning and that she was only going to need triple bipass.  Don't get me wrong when I say "only", bipass surgery is a BIG deal. Tuesday morning came and went.  The surgery went well.  We all go to see my mother in law that day.  The doctor's plan was to have her up and walking, at least a little, by Wednesday.  Things did not go as planned. She was still in too much pain to walk on Wednesday, but they did get her up and sitting in a chair for hours at a time.  Finally, by Thursday she was up and walking.  The idea was to have her home on Saturday/Sunday.  That didn't go as planned either.  During the night for about 15-20 minutes, her heart rate would race excessively.  After a few nights it stopped and she was able to come home.   She is doing well in her recovery.  Physical therapy and home health are coming in and working with her to get better. 

I would like to thank everyone who said a prayer for her and our family.

A LONG Time

It has been an extremely long time since I have blogged on here. Things are going well.  The kids are growing way too fast.  Scarlett turned 3 this past weekend and Lane is coming up on 18 months.  It seems like only yesterday I was bringing one or the other home from the hospital.  Both of my babies bring me great pride and joy.  I absolutely could not imagine life without them.

Scarlett is 3 going on 16.  She has a BIG personality.  She's sassy, smart, stubborn, mean... you name it she's it.  But I love every bit of her.  How boring would me day be if she didn't keep me on my toes.  She has become quite the little mommy herself.  Her imagination is growing each and every day. I love watching her play make believe.  She also has a memory you wouldn't believe.  She can remember things from months ago.  Things I didn't I thought she was too small to remember after a few months. She has definitely proved me wrong.  Scarlett is also my sick baby :(  Sad, I know.  She always seems to be coming down with something or another. Poor baby.  Most of the time its related to cough and congestion. I am learning this might actually be allergies.  She broke out into hives again a few weeks back.  Her pedi referred us to the allergist where she was test for 60 allergies.  All which came back with a teeny tiny red dot but no major reactions.  Not that this is a bad thing but it told us absolutely nothing about where her hives are coming from.  Best guess 1) her body is trying to fight off infection and in return causing hives 2)she is drug allergy and therefore she is not allowed to have motrin/ibprofin for the next 6 months.  Drug reactions can last up to 6 months and motrin is high on the list for causing hives.  In the meantime she is on Allegra in the a.m. Zyrtec in the p.m., zantac to counteract the hives and nasonex to help her breathe.  It's only been a week but her breathing is crystal clear and no more hives! At her 3 year well baby she was up to 33 lbs and 38 in.  My on my she is getting so big!  I also have a fear her anemia is coming back. I have been making sure to give her a daily vitamin with iron.  I have a feeling I'll be requesting blood work sometime in the near future :-/

 

Onto Lane!  He is just about 18 months.  Growing like a weed.  He's talking! It is so exciting. And its not just one word phrases. He is putting words together and forming sentences.  I love it.  Of course you probably wouldn't be able to understand but I'm the mommy and I know what he's saying :)  He melts my  heart.  Today I told him "love you" and he said "lub ya" back. This went on and on for about 2 -3 minutes and each time we said he giggled.  That boy really knows what makes mommy happy.  He loves playing outside. He seems to be slightly allergic to mosquitoes but that doesn't keep my baby away from the dirt and mud.  He loves getting dirty!  Lane is also a complete momma's boy and I am a sucker for flirtatious smile.  He is going to drive all the girls wild.  He likes to play make believe too.  He has a teddy bear that he calls baby and it has started going everywhere with him.  Lane can't even sleep without Baby.  He feeds him, pats, sings to him.  It is just too cute.  I am raising 2 wonderful babies and I couldn't be prouder.

Now for Rassie.  With leaps and bounds he's doing so well.  Rassie is in remession and if I remember correctly he has been since...May? I will have to look back at my blog. They didn't explain to us until his September appointment that he was in remession though.  As for his accident, he's up and walking.  He uses a knee brace, more of an athetic one now rather than the prosthetic one like before and a cane. He's doing awesome and I am so proud of him for working as hard as he does.  If you want more updates on Rassie you can visit his blog at http://www.wishesforrassie.blogspot.com/

As for me.  I'm doing pretty good.  Working nights for the local 911 center.  Right now I am only taking 911 calls and as of late I am training someone else on call taking.  They tell me that I will soon be trained on Fire/EMS dispatch. That's pretty exciting.  I really like the job.  The people, not so much.  I also hate the hours! Yes I work nights when my family is sleeping.  And yes I sleep during the day when I would be working a regular 8-5 but it's just not the same!  I wish I could work days and sleep next to my husband each night.  For now, I will take what God has given me.  And that is a happy, healthy family that I am willing and able to help support and take care of.

God Bless