Waterlogged

This is what my news feed looks like lately.

This is almost daily.

Just in 12 hrs...almost 2"

That 20% is the lowest we've seen in some time! I hope it continues!

You are reading this right. That's approaching the +5" mark.

In February, we were in "exceptional drought" the highest level. Today, we are drought free...and flooding in every local lake.

Yay. More coming.

Just in case you don't know where were are in these maps, we are diagonally in between Addison and Mckinney, about half way, give or take. So look back over those pictures...yeah...it's depressing. Not because this rain has almost busted the entire state out of drought (this is a good thing.) but because we are STILL waiting for the foundation to be poured at our new house (boo!). 

Why, oh why, did this rain even have to happen the spring we were supposed to be building our house?!

This rain has delayed things BIG TIME.

We were supposed to have drywall going up in the house now, but instead all we have is still pipes sticking out of the dirt. We are waiting for the rain to stop, for things to dry out, and for the sun to shine for several days with NO rain. Then, and only then, can we get our concrete foundation poured and cured for framing.

This weather has dampened my spirits and drenched the soil. We were supposed to be moving into our new house at the end of August...and that's clearly not happening.

Due to the rain, we will have to move into an apartment for several months. This was not in the original plan. Never did I want to take away my kids' (and dogs') house without putting them in a bigger, beautiful, new house. This depresses me.

What makes it worse is when people try to tell me all the rain and flooding is good, and that they want more rain. 

I'll wait until you put thousands of dollars down on a new house, spent hours picking out floor plans, lots, flooring, paint color, doors, light fixtures, tile, etc.; I'll wait for you to guess when to put your house on the market for a short 3 week close (crazy market right now!), then do a home inspection, fix any found problems, pack up your life, move into a small apartment (with 2 kids, 1 skittish dog, and 1 carsick dog) all with NO work being done on your house; I'll wait until you are delayed, and delayed, and delayed, watching your apartment lease grow longer and longer, envisioning your kids getting fussier and fussier, THEN I'll look at you and say "This is great! I want more rain! What's your problem?"

I'm not going to lie, that little rant made me feel a bit better.

I know our situation could be far worse, but still, this is so far from ideal it's not even funny anymore.

I know the house will be built eventually, but my mood sucks a lot lately, and for good reason.

Sorry if I don't get all chipper and the expected 3"+ we're scheduled to get in the next few days, my enthusiasm has fizzled after the first 15" we have received. Every rainy day is another delay to me, and nothing else. That's just what life feels like to me right now. Did I mention we got .76" of rain in 3 hours last night? Where is the Texas I know?

Can we fast forward to summer? This will be the only time I will want to. :(

M.LEWIS

Rainy Days and So Many Mondays

We are in a brief relief of all the rain we've had this spring. It picks up again tomorrow. It's been great for the drought, but terrible timing with the building of our house.

We were supposed to hit dry wall in a couple days, but instead, we are still waiting for the foundation to be poured. So, that means, our whole timeline has been delayed, at least a month.

It's been frustrating and stressful. Our original timeline was going to be difficult enough. Finding a buyer who would let us stay until the new house closed (mid-late August) with a signed contract before drywall (mid-late May) was going to be a long-shot. That's a long closing period, and overlapping the start of a new school year.
Now, with new delays and probably future delays, our timeline is just not working. Our new closing date? Who knows.

So, through all the up-in-the-air issues with our current house and our new houses, we have decided to go ahead and list our house, get in sold, get the contingency taken off our new house, and "tough it out" in a apartment for [hopefully just] a few months.

That has been difficult to digest. I know so many families live in apartments, and I sound a bit hyperbolic, but it is a huge change for our family.
Not only will it cost a lot more money to pay movers twice, pay a rent higher than our current mortgage, pay pet deposits, pay for internet setup, setup water and electricity accounts, actually move everyone and everything twice, BUT we would be giving up our 2200sqft house for something half the size. Oh, and finding one that allows huskies is surprisingly difficult.
And there is still a possibility that our planned 3-month lease could go longer if this pesky rain won't quit.

We have been planning this since January, and here we are mid May and we are barely have a foundation. This process has been s l o w. I just keep praying for the rain to move out and on to somewhere that really needs it. Sure, we did need it, but we literally have flood warnings weekly, so we're set for now...and I would really like this gnawing pit in my stomach to leave. We have so much excitement, money, hope, and plans tied up in this new house...it's just so irritating it doesn't exist yet.

I keep praying that this process gets easier, that the plans get rolling, that the weather cooperates, and that we will be financially secure at the end of this ordeal.

I love the house we're building, that's why it's so hard to wait so long. I know by the end of the year we will be in the house (with any luck, for several months by that point) and it will be all worth it. That is the drive for my patience. I remind myself of this, but I struggle a lot.

Funny thing is, we haven't even listed our current house yet. We have been told it will sell fast, and I sure hope that is true. That is a whole different stress.

I don't want my kids to be uprooted and confused, but I know they will be. I feel guilty taking away their home without putting them in a better one. I want this awesome opportunity to actually feel awesome.

So much uncertainty, so much needed patience. I must learn to adapt somehow, and so must my household as a whole. Dogs included. Oh, boy.


M.LEWIS

Rx to the Rescue

I rarely go to the doctor for myself (unless I'm pregnant). I go for the kids and dogs, but for me, I rather just tough it out. I don't want to take the kids with me and I don't want to ask someone (my mom) for assistance. I usually pop a couple of Tylenol, drink fluids every hour, and try to rest. (I know, hahaha.)

Monday I had a sore throat. We stayed home all day and watched movies. It wasn't terrible, but it was a long day. Tuesday I felt better. My throat didn't hurt, but my head was filling with congestion. We did leave the house for a bit, but by evening time I was feeling really run down.
By Tuesday night, I felt terrible. I took every medication I could and I still felt like death. I got very little sleep and by the morning, I felt weak, exhausted, and sore.
My nose and face were throbbing, my throat was raw, and my neck was swollen making it hard to swallow. I started running a fever and with my strength and stamina teetering on zero, I did what I had to do.
Unable to properly care for my little ones, and almost unable to care for myself, I called my mom and then I called the doctor.

I was diagnosed (a few hours later) with acute sinusitis, aka, a severe sinus infection.

A few hours later I was home, antibiotics and steroids coursing through my system, I was feeling a bit better.
By bedtime I had my second and third round of steroids and another dose of antibiotics and I was doing a lot better.
I slept. I slept more than the last 2 nights combined.

This morning I feel miles ahead of where I was just 24hrs ago. I am not one to jump to the doctor or to load up on antibiotics, but man, I know when I need to, and I am so thankful I did.

Thank you western medicine. I love you.


M.LEWIS