Checking In...

I don't know how long nothing has to happen before it's time to check in and let everyone know that nothing has happened, but now feels like a pretty good time. =)

It's been a pretty crummy month here at the sick ward. Mom brought home a pretty nasty cold bug several weeks ago, and the rest is a blur of antibiotics and codeine. She got sick, then I got sick, and got it bad. By the time the guys got sick I was just starting to feel better when I got hit with a second wave. I've been hovering between the sick and the well ever since.

Dave has been doing pretty okay. I guess you could safely say he's been living about as normally as a guy who's faced death and lived to forget about it could. He's been practicing his normalcy by being lazy, flipping through various magazines, and hogging the steering wheel.

He thinks he's pretty darn cool stealing my car. I miss driving, lol.. but he's so proud.

Four out of ten times I turn around Dave looks just like this. The other six times.. he's asleep, =) lol.

And.. the only decent picture of me taken since Christmas. Everyone says I'm angry. o.o

I've spent a solid month shopping on-line for houses. Browsing and waiting was about all "the committee" would let me do. I thought we were all set and good to go, but I was wrong. I asked our trust manager for three full weeks for advice, a budget, and Realtor suggestions and she had nothing for me. She told me to take care of things on my own and submit our findings for review. I dutifully found my own way, but the very day I found our Realtor, they applied the brakes. We had to wait three weeks for the budget committee to meet, (which was last Wednesday), and another week to meet with Cindy, the real estate officer, who, as it turns out.. is very nice, and more than ready to go to bat for us and get us the best deal on the best house we can afford. Somewhere along the way, I've managed to get our trust manager frustrated enough with me that she doesn't email me anymore unless she absolutely has to, lol.. I'm continuing to keep an open mind, and "Trust" that once we get settled, she'll come around.

We met Cindy, officially this afternoon.. and she twisted my arm and made me agree to meet with three Realtors so we could interview them and find the best fit for us. She gave us the three most recommended Realtors in the city. I was quite pleased to see the name of the Realtor I had already spoken to. At the end of the day, all three were armed with 25+ years of excellent experience and glowing credentials, but I stood by my choice, and made Becky our Realtor officially this afternoon. On Monday we have an appointment to look at our favorite six houses on the list. I'm nervous, but excited. Dave is ready.

Meeting with a Realtor was an interesting experience. It's definitely going to take a lot of the guesswork out of buying our first home. She's already knocked my initial list down to half today. Two were already sold, one family decided not to sell after all. Dave's favorite pick flooded last year, and has yet to recover. We don't even want to get into the ballgame. I was glum to remove my own favorite from the list as well. Apparently, there's a very active railroad track a few feet from the end of the property. That's a headache we just don't need. Another one of our favorites was built by an unqualified individual who had the money to burn, but lacked experience of the significant house building kind. He just wanted to "try it," lol. Good to know. They definitely don't tell you these things in the listings. What Becky won't make easier for us, Cindy will. There won't be any forms to sign, or dealing with number crunching, inspectors, appraisals or anything of the like. We were instructed to just find the home we love, and call her when it's time for the work to begin. We have six favorites left on the list, and they're adding new homes on the market every day. I know the house that was meant for us is waiting out there somewhere, and I'm anxious to start looking.

On Friday we're heading back to the speech therapy room for a limited, one time engagement. Elaine called us this week and asked if we would consider coming and talking to her students that she has shadowing her this semester. Almost two years after the accident, Dave still seems to be the poster-child for therapy rehabilitation in our area. I'm sure this won't be the last time we're called to make an appearance. She wants Dave to show off his speech appliance, and talk to the students about his accident and his recovery, and what speech therapy has done for him, so it should be an interesting afternoon, (for the students anyway, lol).

That's about the extent of the comings and goings from our little part of the world this month. Stay tuned next month for another exciting account of every day life that we're so very grateful to be living. Until next time.. Much Love, Many Hugs, and Good Night to You All.