January 27, 2011 moving along

Good Morning.

A quick update before my day begins.  The snow plow just went through.  I haven't gone outside yet but my guess is we didn't get much snow which I'm grateful for!  We need a break.

Things seem to be moving along with the house purchase.  We had the inspection on Tuesday morning.  That went well... few small things need tending however no "deal breakers".    While Bob "oversaw" the inspection  I decided to do some shoveling in case we did get the storm that was being talked about. I'm anticipating getting into this house before the snow melts and I needed to make a few paths.   I shoveled the back deck as well as some paths in case I bring the pups there and they need to  "go".  The snow was about 4 feet deep and you could actually "see/feel"  the different storms while I shoveled..the heavy wet stuff near the ground.. the crunchy layer from last weeks ice/sleet...soft fluffy from the most recent shower.   I got a good workout!

I requested permission go to the house  and start cleaning. It doesn't need much but I still want to go over it.  My permission was granted so that will begin soon.

We also requested a "sooner rather than later" closing so my lawyer is working on that.

Olivia is better now.

I hear little footsteps upstairs...that' the family rooster..NATALIE!

more later...

January 24, 2011 Happy New Year!

Hello everyone,

I, once  again am going to apologize for not writing in the past few weeks.  I’m having all I can do is to keep up with the household responsibilities as well as  now SHOVELING.  I love the energy of a storm--it’s exciting--snow days---hunkering down--- however I am now “snow weary”. I need a break!   It’s quite an effort trying to keep shoveled areas for the dogs to be able to walk, paths so the propane can be delivered, paths for  the oil delivered..blah blah blah...even though our driveway gets plowed there is still plenty of other snow moving to do!  The other day those “naughty” puppies got away and went way behind the pond...I had to go get them coaxing them with treats.  They seem to like the apple tree there.  Getting them was quite a project. The snow in many areas is 3-4 feet deep.  My boot kept coming off when I lifted it to take another step.  I was EXHAUSTED when I got them and walked back. They were all excited and playing and carrying on and I could hardly walk.   They say MORE SNOW this week....eeeeeek!     I can’t imagine deeper snow!  YIKES!  I’m taking many precautions now to avoid them getting out the door again and Bob installed a run last weekend. Sophia really likes it but the pulley sound freaks Chloe out..plus she doesn’t like it this cold. ...neither do I!!!!

Bob went back to work on the 3rd and he’s doing well.  At first he was going in late and coming home a bit early however now he’s pretty much doing full days. He still goes in a bit late.   He still doesn’t have his full energy back but each week--with the blend of good days and bad days--there is an improvement each week.  I think the improvements feel tiny to Bob but they are improvements just the same!  He is going forward not backward!

Eating is still a challenge..he eats regular food...doesn’t “enjoy” it though he does it anyway.  A certain part of it  for him is “powering through” eating.    His taste is not quite right which makes eating a bit strange.  With the lack of saliva you can imagine that adds to the challenge of eating and swallowing normally.   He has to continually drink water to get the food down.....food gets stuck in the back of his throat and he has to cough.  It’s a nuisance. It’s frustrating.   His mouth is always dry.  He carries water constantly.

Today was the doctor appointment in NYC with Dr. Harrison.  We are in the car now driving home.  I brought my laptop so I could type while he drives. I can’t wait to get home!  

RESULTS: 

ALL CANCER IS GONE...he’s clear!!!   Dr. Harrison, Dr. Mourad (aka Waleed) and nurse Elyse said the PET scan results were AWESOME!  They had to change our 1:00 appt to 2:30 because of a patient that wasn’t as lucky...he needed surgery because his tumor did not disappear and they had to give radiation directly to the tumor during surgery. We are  so blessed to have this positive result!

Horray!    What a relief!  I was confidant that would be the news but it sure does feel good to hear it from the pros! 

During our time at the hospital today one nurse encouraged Bob to start acupuncture to help with the symptoms he still experiences ....some days feeling extremely chilled, lack of saliva, feeling tired.  The radiation is still in his body. He will research acupuncture now.   I’ve encouraged acupuncture from the beginning but I think he had to hear it from a“pro” to take it seriously.  I did  a lot of reading and acupuncture is very beneficial for many parts of cancer treatment processes. I’m so happy he is willing to try it now.   I’m sure it will bring some relief.   The nurse suggested calling the insurance company and getting some names that are in  network...OH speaking of insurance. ...Bob had to pay out of pocket for the PET scan...the insurance company said it was NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY!   He paid it so he could have it ($2500.00) but will have to now spend time going over this with the insurance company.    It’s all such a pain in the _______!  You fill in the blank!!!   Knowing the importance of this scan Dr. Harrison was appalled that y denied it.  

Although mostly relieved, Bob is a bit disappointed he learned today  that there is a 50/50 chance that his salivary glands will not come back and also 50/50 chance that his taste will never be “normal”.  They said since the tumor was Stage 4 and very large, the radiation treatment hit  salivary glands and taste buds “head on” so they  don’t know if those areas  will recover.    Time will tell.  

So along with all the above great news we have MORE great news!

Bob and I have been talking about the possibility of selling  or renting Alford and buying a house in Lenox.  The Alford house is challenging on many levels...immense expense, endless work, far away from  most of what we do.....I’m sure you can imagine  

Just over a week ago a  house for sale that is   in Lenox FELL ON MY LAP.   This is the first house Bob and I ever looked at together!!

Here’s the story...

My Girl Scout  troops  "new" co leader /new friend as well....and her husband are selling this house...she mentioned it last Saturday (Jan 15th) while we were on the phone talking about  girl scout business.  I asked for the link so I could see the house online.  Bob and I both  liked it on the computer.  We  immediately made an appointment to look at it on Sunday.  We went to see it on Sunday after church.  We put an offer on the house on Monday night  ...a short “bidding war” ensued with another woman that was also interested.  It was new to the market at this price.  Renee and Don accepted our offer late Tuesday afternoon.   Bob applied for the loan online while he was at work because of the high speed internet he has there.  Wednesday he went to NYC for his PET scan scheduled for early Thursday morning.  On Wednesday I was busy gathering information that the bank needed. 

Thursday was Bob’s PET scan...I gathered more needed information.  I had to drive to Great Barrington to fax information to the  bank so they could continue working on our mortgage application.    The girls were home from school that day for the ice storm  and while I went to town they went to a neighbors to play with their friend...this girl is the only full time little friend in miles!    They just moved here over the summer and I’m not sure how long they will live here.house which is located a few  houses from us. 

 It took me close to an hour to get to and from town.  The roads were AWFUL!  I’m so glad we were home for the rest of the day.  

On Friday we got our commitment letter from the bank!    HORRAY! It’s all going in the right direction!  I am very excited. I’m trying to contain it because the transaction is not complete but this move will change my life in a HUGE way.  I’m just hoping and praying everything goes smoothly! 

I believe-and have been told by many professionals--that it's a GREAT deal for Lenox.  Better than that it is the perfect place for us at this time.     I studied comparisons plus I've been peeking around in the market for years...this $300,000 price range is tough to come by unless you are willing to do A LOT of work.  When I saw this house I had the feeling inside that THIS was the house for us.   I had actually been looking for another "rental" in Lenox...maybe a 2 family...... but they are hard to come by. 

It’s not walking distance to town..it’s on the outskirts but it’s still perfectly fine.  I’ll only be about 6 minutes from the rentals we have....about 3 minutes to grocery shopping, I bet we can even have a pizza delivered!  Aside from being at my moms, picking up a pizza to bring home or friends bringing a pizza to our house they’ve never experienced having a pizza delivered to our house!

It's a very nice house...move in condition.......it was created by a contractor/cabinet maker ..his name is Don ....his wife my co-leader is Renee.....they have 3 children....anyway he created it for his family to live in for years.    He outgrew his "workshop" at this house  They needed to  move to a place he could build a bigger workshop. He did a very nice job on this house.   It’s very nice and we'd even have a contractor built in!!!!!!  Not only is HE  built into the equation but he knows the entire house inside and out!   

The whole back yard is fenced in.  A HUGE factor with pups and  kids!

There is even a play set and a mural on the wall of one of the upstairs bedrooms....the mural is an animal and  fairy castle scene.  The girls love it!

We are going to try to hold onto the  Alford House  and rent it...my goal is to have it ready by late Spring early Summer. We will then live in Lenox.  Alford will  have to pay for itself but we'd like to try to hold onto it if at all possible.  

Since  this Lenox house has all been redone there will be nothing that HAS to be done...which will free up time for me to handle all the rentals.   

The Lenox house has a much better layout for a family and is

closer to everything..school, activities, stores...  a

For example on Wed .....I  left  the girls off at school...came home  ( that’s about 45 minutes of driving so far) ....picked  the girls up at school at 3:10....ballet  at LEnox Community Center from  3:30-5:00.   That night Olivia had a choral  concert at Lenox school at 7...it made zero sense to go  all the way home and be there for 1/2 hour...that's nearly an hour of driving for the girls after they've been in school all day..... so I called our friends  Al and Barb in Lenox to see if we could eat dinner at their house so we ate there......the dogs were with me the whole time ...if not they would have  been alone from 2:45- 8:30.......so while we were at their house I walked  them and fed  them and walked them again...Al and Barb were  with the girls while I tended  the dogs....then  we  went to the concert at 6:30 ...then after concert  we were  homeward bound.  When we got home I had to very tired girls that nearly fell asleep in the car,  a car to unpack, dogs that needed to go out again and Bob was away that night.   Everyone needed me all at the same time and I was exhausted myself! 

If we were in the Lenox house I would simply have  gone  home after ballet...been  home for  at least an hour..in that time I could have  tended the pups AND served dinner..the pups could have stayed home.....and the girls could have been in their own house.......then we could have gone  back to the concert..5 minute drive on clear roads....  

There have been times that we've gone TO the community center to eat our dinner and stay there until an event ...... either a dinner that I packed  or take out of some kind.....there is a full kitchen  at the center along with a  living room type place to sit in.......we would eat there so we could  stay in Lenox for some special school event instead of going  all the way home.  

This convenience will simplify our lives significantly.  The commute is  a bit longer for Bob however he does enjoy driving and says he doesn’t mind.  An alternative route is that he could take Route 20 all the way to Albany which would be about the same commute he has now...however he said he has no interest driving on Route 20.  He doesn’t like that road.  He likes cruise control to be set and just coast to Albany! 

I believe it will be a low maintenance house.   Like I said it’s all fairly new.  Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the House Inspection at 9am so we are looking forward to that.  Another BIG week.  

Maybe WE could vacation in Alford IF we can get it to pay for itself. Renting it is key.  It has to generate enough to pay for itself.    Here is hoping that falls into place as well.  

So...lots happening here.  Wow...so much!  It feels like the beginning of a much better year!

January 4, 2011 Work

A quick update..I'm in "full school morning routine" so I don't have much time to write....but wanted to write quickly to say Bob had a good first day back to work.  His only complaint was that he was REALLY cold all day so today he talks of bringing a space heater in. His feet were especially cold.   He came home, ate a bit of dinner then went to bed, watched some TV and is still sleeping.

more later..

January 2, 2010 Moving forward

Bob's voice was a" tiny bit" better today and  he confirmed the thrush was a" tiny bit" better...so he is moving forward...the medicine is working.   The thrush is painful and affects the way he talks.

He plans to start work tomorrow though he  agrees he will  go late and leave early when/if  needed.  It's hard for me to imagine Bob just going back to his old routine after the last 4+ months. For instance today he slept until about 9:30 am so he obviously needs the extra sleep. I hope he isn't going back to work prematurely.  The nurses and doctors said mid-January but he is eager to get back.

The girls go back to school tomorrow after a week off. Today they never got out of their PJ's.  It was a great "home" day.   After leaving the girls off at school in the morning I will continue on to Pittsfield to leave Chloe at the vet to be spayed.  She will spend one night there.  I called the vet this evening to get an idea of how long she has to lay low..they told me 10-14 days!  This should be interesting!

snow ball fight!

Layers of critters....pups, horses and cows!

Alford Sun Rises

I took these photos on the way to Butternut this week.  Beautiful time of day to be out!

Time for bed...will  write again soon.  

Good night.