Update

I've been feeling a little overwhelmed. Why is it that I'm either completely free to enjoy myself and relax, or totally swamped? If I could do an in-between load most of the time, I'd be better off, I think.

Paperwork, letters, phone calls, research, money managing for buying the house, then more phone calls, money, and time for inspections, not to mention the random problems that come up. "Oh, Ben was a consultant in 2008? That may be a problem." Well, he wasn't, he was an intern, you just have to file internship income as consulting income....more letters to write. "Oh, that water coming through your living room ceiling? It looks terrible, but it's just one little pipe that we can fix pretty cheaply." Well, thanks for the reassurance Dad and Mr. Inspector Man, but I'm not as experienced as the two of you, and this looks BAD to me. I didn't WANT to have to fix one little pipe, and certainly didn't want WATER COMING THROUGH MY LIVING ROOM CEILING!! It was pretty funny, Bee kept asking "Why is there a flood in our roof?" And J pointed to the puddles on the carpet and said "Mess, mess, mess, mess" over and over, ad infinitum. :-) But I've calmed down a bit, and I don't think it's going to keep us from buying the house.

On top of all that (like it isn't enough), I'm trying to get my proposal final-version-polished, and set up my defense. I WANT TO BE WRITING, not stuck in limbo again. I passed my quals almost a year ago, and have made changes to my drafts per my advisor's suggestions very quickly. I guess it's just a long process no matter what.

And I'm working for my advisor. That part, at least, is fun. I'm making a Spanish drama anthology/textbook of hers look nicer and getting it ready for publishing. LOVE reading the plays....it's nice that they're not ones I'm using for the dissertation. Adds to my repertoire, and is more relaxing than "take crazy notes" reading.

I think the thing that has been the hardest is losing the running schedule. Normally I run early in the mornings; if the kids wake up while Ben's still getting ready, he lets them run around. That wouldn't fly with our new (and temporary) living situation. And now (since he has a commute like a real person) he doesn't get home until 6. Which leaves little time for the running bug. But I'm still running twice a week. Better than nothing. But I'm excited to get into the new house and back to a schedule that's OURS.

Kids

I haven't posted about them for a while. Does this make me a terrible mother? I hope not...I think it just means that I've been up to other things.

The move has been difficult for Bee (and me), but BabyJ seems to be handling it all right. There are lots of new rules in this new house (I feel bad complaining about it, because it's REALLY nice of my dad and stepmom to store us until we close on the house) - don't push any buttons on ANYTHING, don't play the piano, don't wake up before 9 (which means we're banished to the basement until everyone wakes up, so that we don't disturb the light sleepers), don't make ANY messes, don't hide in the corner behind the furniture (but it's such a lovely little playhouse spot!), don't take the cushions off the couch or chairs (we do this on a regular basis at our house, to build things)....you get the idea. J's okay, just wonders why there are so many "no"s. Bee gets angry and sulky. She's been acting out a little, but I have to remind myself that if I weren't an adult with a social filter, I'd be throwing fits because of how stressed I feel, too.

J is straight muscle these days....he took a 5-pound weight in each hand and made a hilarious "I'm a straining weightlifter working so hard" grunt to lift them both up. I wish I could lift 40% of my bodyweight. :-) He's in love with my cousin Brendan. We pull into their driveway, and before he can even see the house (it's a long driveway) he starts saying "BENdan, BENdan." Love it.

Bee is adjusting to her new dance class. It's a bit more regimented and ballet-focused (which I like and she seems to be warming up to), and I LOVE her teacher (who is the most beautifully graceful 60-some-year-old woman I've ever seen). She's also been excited about her new friends at Primary and getting to see her cousins so much. Every morning she says to me "I want to go to T's house to see Colleen."

We love being home. Just can't wait to get into our own space.

HOUSE!

So, we have an accepted offer. Provided nothing crazy happens with our loan or the inspections, we'll have a house, all of our very own, on February 13th (just in time for Valentine's....I don't know that we'll ever beat that in terms of gift-age!).

Did lots of signing, stressing, researching (not in any particular order...mostly just a big mish-mash of all of them!). I don't think that I've been this relieved about anything since I finished sewing costumes about 15 minutes before the show at Chamizal (remember, AL, remember??).

*whew*

Treadmills...

....are punishment for people who know what ACTUAL running feels like.

We've been staying with my Dad for the moving/house shopping interval (I'm really grateful for them), and they have a treadmill. I tried it out today. It is NOT a good thing.

Still, when J woke up early this morning and I lost my "get out alone" chance, I guess that this is better than nothing.