I'm not going to lie, January hasn't been great. We've had nothing but cold winds, rain or snow here just about every day keeping us home bound more than any of us would like.
Everyone has been sick.
Poor Tagg got an ear infection that didn't get diagnosed right away, way to go mom of the year. I thought his crankiness and poor sleeping was caused by teething or a growth spurt. Thankfully it was caught at his one year check-up and the pediatrician put him on amoxicillan to treat it. Around this same time his sleeping got worse. He was literally up all night. His already bad eczema worsened and the crankiness was at a nine. Then he broke out in the most horrible case of hives and swelling and he was diagnosed with an allergic reaction to the drug amoxicillan. Again, mother of the year.
I knew something was off with him for almost two weeks but because he didn't have a fever I waited until the issue was literally staring me in the face to do something about it.
On top of this, we found out that we have to be out of our house by May 1st. This was an interesting twist because my Grandmother owns this house and we had submitted an offer to her to purchase it. Regardless of her decision to sell, we had planned to stay for another year.
That was turned down along with a vacate date.
And we have no clue yet where we're moving!
We put an offer on a house on Tuesday and the sellers have until tonight to respond. I'm on pins and needles. If this house doesn't work out we'll most likely have to rent for a while because there is nothing else on the market that we like. This spring should bring lots of great houses but none that will meet our May 1st timeline.
Anyone have any neighbors who are about to list their house? Want to give us first dibs if our first choice doesn't work out?
Anyone have any neighbors who are about to list their house? Want to give us first dibs if our first choice doesn't work out?
And it affects Tagg as well. His therapies are all based on where we
live. If we move, we'll have to start the paperwork over in a new
municipality. And the thing is, we're not sure which one we will end up in. There are three very strong contenders. If we rent it will most likely stay in the city of Richmond. The house we put an offer on is in one county and all the other homes we would consider are in another. That's a lot of possibilities.
I've moved so much in the last few years and I'm sick of it. I'm ready to feel settled. I know military families are laughing or scoffing at me right now because that is your life. My friend Kara has had to move more than anyone of I know. But it's still hard. And packing with two toddlers doesn't sound like much fun. And not knowing where we're headed, literally is killing me. I like to feel settled. Did I mention that already? I know things work out for a reason and I have to trust in God's plan.
But if you could just say a little extra prayer for me today that I can do that.
Because I'm having my doubts.
So sorry. That stinks. I'm sure you will find an amazing house! If not, there's absolutely no shame in renting. Sometimes I'm a little jealous of renters and their ability to pick up and go and not worry about the maintenance of a house. Baby Girl has had chronic ear infections since before Christmas. They have completely destroyed her sleep schedule. I feel your pain. Fun times. I hope Tagg gets better soon!
ReplyDeleteOf course I'm saying a little prayer for you. I hope Tagg feels better, and that you find not only a house, but your ultimate dream house!!! Good luck with everything Julia, I know you can handle it. You are surrounded by people who love you.
ReplyDeleteJulia! I'm praying for ya'll so much. I wish I lived closer so I could help you pack and hang out with those sweet babes. so sorry Tagg hasn't been feeling well, hope he is better soon.
ReplyDeleteYou are a ROCKSTAR mom and don't you forget it.
Ugh, january can be the pitts! I'm so sorry things are less then great right now. I can relate about moving because we might be moving soon, too, and I'm going crazy not knowing exactly what's going to happen. And our 9 month old has decided sleeping just isnt her thing anymore. Ah...the life of a mother! I feel ya, girl, and hope it gets better for you soon! You have a great attitude so keep your head up and I know it will all work out!
ReplyDeleteYou have had a rough month!! Thinking of you!
ReplyDeleteEar infections are silent beasts! I look forward to when my daughter can say, Mom, my ear hurts.
Don't beat yourself up over the ear infection. I don't think with my son there was ever a visit to the doctor that didn't end up with a surprise ear infection. Sometimes, unless they can tell you, you have no idea. Trust me when I tell you that those pediatricians see it all the time. This rainy, snowy, cold weather (I'm also in Richmond), while exciting for the kids, is making me crazy too. Spring, where are you?
ReplyDeleteJulia! I am so sorry to hear about all of these things getting thrown at you. I cant believe you have to just up and move - how unsettling. I know that must weigh heavy on you - thats so hard. I wish I knew of something, but Im in the wrong geo. I will be sending good, healthy vibes your way.
ReplyDeleteAwww, you are an awesome momma, with a great attitude ~ you're in my prayers that a little sunshine will shine down on you soon! :)
ReplyDeletewhy does it seem when it rains, it pours? hang in there girlie! it's all so very overwhelming right now but it will likely start to slowly sort itself out soon! If it's any consolation, the ear infections are little buggers to figure out...nearly impossible! And my son had scabs of eczema over his poor little face when he was a baby and I thought it was "normal" (oh boy). I have double fingers crossed that the house offer comes through for ya'll. It would be great for you to have a house to call your own and you could move and not have to worry about renting! Keep us posted. In the meantime, know we're all rooting for you. January sucks anyway and the last thing you need is all of this other crap going on! Sending good vibes your way, chica! xoxo
ReplyDeleteMoving is soo hard. So sorry! Hopefully, you'll be settled soon! I cannot tell you how many times I've put my son in "time out" for being bad only to find out he's actually sick. Saying a little prayer for y'all!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you are having to juggle so many things. It is so hard to balance the things in life, friend, mother, wife, self. I will absolutely be praying that this craziness settles quickly!
ReplyDeleteI only know you through this blog, but can totally relate. It is so hard with little ones to know what is wrong sometimes, especiallywith ear infections. People say they pull their ears when they hurt, but my little ones (4 and 2) never did. We have had surprise ear infections and I have also gone to the doctors several times for what I am sure are ear infections and it is nothing. As for allergic reactions, you can't beat yourself up over it. How could you have known? Being a mom is hard, but from what I can tell, you are a great mom who is trying her hardest and her kids know that no one loves them more than you. I hope everything works out with the house. It is stressful, but your dream house is just waiting for you to find it. Look at it this way...new opportunities for decorating and getting your dream rooms!
ReplyDeleteThat all sounds really stressful. Don't beat yourself up over Tagg's ear infection - we've all been there. My kids aren't really toddlers anymore (7 & almost 4), but the idea of having to pack up and move puts me on edge. Spring housing market should be good, so hopefully something perfect will come along.
ReplyDeleteHopefully February will be your month & the year will get better from there.
ReplyDeleteI just had the same experience with my 13 month old - she was sleeping so much, with no irritability, and I had no idea that she had a raging ear infection in both ears. I thought she just had a bad cold. Then, she had an allergic reaction to the Biaxin antibiotic, so the poor thing was covered in hives. On to amoxicillin, and 5 days later, she is just starting to eat and play again.
ReplyDeleteHang in there - you are doing a great job!
Hang in there momma!
ReplyDeleteTagg will recover quickly and I think you'll hear good news about the house tonight. Keep us posted.
My mom has always told me that a bad January means a strong year ahead.
xo
I don't know why folks have such a difficult time with moving, maybe it's a control thing? I've moved over 60 times in my 50 years, ain't no big thing I can promise you. Just need to make sure you have more packing materials than you think you will ever need - check Craigslist or Freecycle for freebies. Save the materials when you get to the other place and then post an ad on Craigslist or Freecycle, somebody is always moving and this is a great way to recycle.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! I hope you get the house! It doesn't seem like that much is on the market right now but hopefully more and more will come on in the coming weeks. PS...that definitely happened to me with the ear infection and my son.
ReplyDeleteYou have had a cray cray January! I have been praying that everything falls into place for you. Family always adds to the drama, ha, grandma sounds like a character;) I am praying extra hard you get the answe you want tonight! Spring brings new hope:)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I don't have to tell you that unless you're planning on private school, beware of Richmond (city). Sad, too, because there's so much awesome, charming inventory. I haven't lived in Richmond in years, but I am willing to bet that Henrico and Chesterfield both have school districts that range from fab to horrible. If public school is in your future, I'd definitely recommend narrowing down your search areas to the best school districts first. That said, Chesterfield has some great areas - you might want to add that to your list. The poor Southside used to have such a (redneck) stigma, but I think that is fading fast. Holy cow - I had to grab a last minute Christmas gift while visiting my in-laws and popped over to the Stony Point Mall - WOW! Where was that gem when I lived there?? Good luck! It will all work out - it is still very much a buyer's market.
ReplyDeleteJulia, I can relate to this entire post. Sick kids affect everyone in the family. Not just the sick one. It's so stressful. We moved four times in five years and that is not easy either. Good Luck with everything!
ReplyDeleteHang in there! You are a great mom. Anyone who reads a post about your children knows how much you love and care for them!!!
ReplyDeleteAre there any rentals that are for just six months, not a full year? You might be able to buy yourself some time that way to see what opens up in the Spring....
Good heavens you have had it rough. Sayings prayers that things will start to look up for you and yours!
ReplyDeleteHey if it makes you feel any better I forgot to feed my son breakfast the day of his 3 year old check up and didn't even realize it until he mentioned it in front of the doctor :) Take a deep breath, focus on the things you can control, and pour yourself a big one!
ReplyDeleteThings can only get better right?? Keep telling yourself that and trust God. Everything happens for a reason. Thinking about you friend, and fingers crossed they accept your house offer.
ReplyDeleteDuring my hectic trans-Atlantic move 2 years ago I was 7 months pregnant, had an 11 month-old baby, put my stuff on a boat and prayed that we'd find a house and get our stuff before baby #2 arrived. (our stuff beat the baby by 10 days) It does seem overwhelming, but just keep taking it one day at a time - it will be so fun to see where you land!
ReplyDeleteOoooh I just want to give you a big hug right now. The not knowing part is SO HARD, but also a teensy bit exciting under the worry and angst. Because you know there is a plan for you and where you end up - and even the getting there part - is all part of the plan. {I was so sick of hearing that there was a Plan for us when we had our house on the market for a year and a half....but it's true. I'm so glad we landed where we did! I can't wait to see where you end up and how fabulous you make it!
ReplyDeleteSo much pretty real estate in Richmond! I'm sure you will find something and it will be perfect.
ReplyDeleteyou are a wonderful mother.. It happens to the BEST of us.. Plus you have great style..not too many moms out there like you!!
ReplyDeleteOh my dear, how I wish I could give you a hug! My January has sucked royally as well, so I can sympathize. We've had two cases of ear infections and I was late to the party to discover both of them. I'll say a prayer that your house offer is accepted so you can know what direction y'all will be headed. It's so unsettling to be in the air about such an important thing. Sending you all the positive thoughts and mommy energy I can!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry, girl. Look at the bright side, at least you don't have to worry about selling your house. I order for us to sell it, I'm going to have showings again, and this time with FOUR kids. I'd almost rather just stay in our 1500 square foot house, than move, but I know it needs to be done. Cramped is an understatement! Ear infections are miserable! All four of mine have them right now. Thankfully, none of them are allergic to amoxcillin, but L has serious exzema too! Ugh! Totally feel you! The worst! I'm allergic to amoxicillin, and had my first bout of hives when I was three. Thankfully there are alternatives medicines that will do the trick for ear infections! I'm living proof! Praying that everything works out...patience is key! I seriously tell myself that everyday...and that God is in control....not me. Thanks for keeping all your readers in the loop!
ReplyDeleteYou are an excellent mother! Do not be so hard on yourself. How could you know? No fever, he was teething and all. You just can't tell. My oldest had strep throat a lot. She never complained or would say her stomach hurt. No sore throat, no fever...take her to the doctor, run a rapid strep test and it would be positive!!
ReplyDeleteEach child has a different threshold for pain, different symptoms and signs.
You are great! You love your children-that is obvious!
Good luck with the house hunt. Sending prayers!
Hang in there girl. Everything will work its way out. Try not to be so down on yourself!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
ashley
http://www.savannahraedesigns.com
Ohhh Julia I'm praying for you and I know that you are a strong woman with an ealing smile! woman of the Year you are! Hope Tagg gets better and as for the house this probably happend so you will find a dream house out there! Sending you good vibes. AnaA.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you! Come move near us ;)
ReplyDeleteYou are a great mother. (I don't know you personally, but I'm assuming based on your posts.) You care too much about those two darlings. Things happen, kids change constantly, and anything can set them off. I'm allergic to penicillin and I was still taking it in kindergarten even though I always broke out in hives. You caught it early! haha ; ) Good luck with the move and everything.
ReplyDeleteMoving is so hard. My husband is a military man so we've had our fair share of moves. It's especially hard to do ANYTHING with little ones. I hope you get the house you want, but if not you're smart to rent instead of forcing it. I wish that we had done that instead of buying our last house which we weren't able to sell. I often doubt myself as a mother. It's only natural. Just remember that there is no better mother to your children because you love and belong to each other.
ReplyDeleteHey Julia! I am just reading this now... I'm sorry that things are tough right now. But you are absolutely right- things do end up working out in the end, even if it seems impossible at the moment. Try to keep smiling, and things will get better. Sending hugs your way. :)
ReplyDeleteBless you dear Julia. Im sorry life has been off to a crappy start this year. I hope your babies are healthy now and you all stay that way. Im so sorry about the move and being uprooted again. I pray it all works in your favor. Have a warm, snuggly and appreciate what youve got kind of weekend, and I hope someone pampers YOU!!!!!
ReplyDeletexoxoNancy
Powellbrowerhome.com
Oh girl, I am so sorry...I never understood what people meant when they said sick kiddos are the worst, but now that I have 2 kids and one with a constant cold from preschool and a 7 week old who picked it up and now has RSV, I completely get it! Judging from your posts, you hate being cooped up at home as much as I do and it makes me feel so blue, sad, and fraankly depressed! I have to get showered, dressed, and out or I go crazy! Things will work out, they always do, but in the meantime, us moms go nuts, don't we?! I tell my husband that it's such a delicate balance having 2 little ones, that when one thing gets off kilter, everything falls apart after you've worked so hard treading water to keep it status quo!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI have a child with eczema, asthma (which if you didn't know if the same thing as eczema so you may need to watch for that), is allergic to amoxicillan and all cillins and also has a nut allergy, is allergic to dogs, cats and pretty much eveything flying around in the air. We basically discovered all of these things the same way you are. When her eczema showed up it looked like we put cigerettes out on her. If it makes you feel any better, she is 7 now and her eczema is better, she always asks if there are nuts in stuff, and she takes her Sulfa and Mycin antibiotics much better. Her asthma is also controlled. The medicine was a PAIN IN THE BUTT when she was little because they all taste horrible. We would even mix them with pop hoping that would mask the flavor, but it was always "yucky". Good luck! You are a great mom, I'm sure, it's just all trial and error. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteWTF Grandma!!! What a pisser :/ I definitely understand your moving frustrations. My news is that we too are moving... again. It sucks packing your stuff up all the time. I too have no clue where we're going to be living (moving from Wichita, KS to Houston, TX). Since the move is happening so quickly we'll end up renting which means the awesome fun task of living out of boxes for a while with two small ones. Someone shoot me. I just want to stay put for more than a couple of years!!! Things will work out for you guys. I'll be praying for ya. In the mean time, you should smack your sweet grandma upside the head with a sock full of sh!t. In a loving manner of course ;D
ReplyDeleteYou have not had a good January! This weather definitely has made it feel so gloomy! I have had at least one student absent every single day this month...everyone is sick and we've been stuck inside due to the weather, yuck! So sorry to hear about your house, keep your chin up--hopefully everything will fall into place and I'm confident you can make ANY house fabulous!
ReplyDeleteHi!! I've been following your blog now for a little while but I can never figure out how to comment...so here we try again.
ReplyDeleteSorry you've had such a crappy month. I just had the same thing happen with an ear infection in my 14-month old. The doctor acted like it was the worst ear infection he'd ever seen and I felt like the worst mother ever!
Anyway, we lived in Richmond pre-kids but now live in Hanover. I don't know if you've looked into it at all--it's definitely suburban and parts are rural. However, the school systems are great and there are lots of real estate options. I grew up out here and knew I wanted my kids to do the same. Just thought I'd throw that out as an option.
Now, let's just see if this posts.......
so it did post, but that's my son's blog :)
DeleteDawn
Julia, hang in there! Sorry to hear that your little guy is so sick. And move to Goochland! We just moved here from the City and LOVE it. We are on the eastern side of the county near the Henrico line. I hope the house works out!
ReplyDeleteJulia, I'm just seeing this, and I prayed that the Lord will find you the perfect home.
ReplyDeleteHang in there and don't be so hard on yourself. You are giving it your best, and we are cheering you onward.
XO,
Sheila
I will ask my cousin in VA if they know of anything, and I will let you know. xoxox
ReplyDeleteOh girl...I feel your pain. Moving sucks and I can not imagine doing it with 2 children. I hope there is a rainbow waiting for you real soon...hugs.
ReplyDeleteSherry