Walla Walla = Home

It was such a fun trip home. Okay...I am lying...it was stressful, exhausting, and somewhat straight-up depleting. But, it was so needed and helped us to better understand how we will travel between here and there in the future. And it was so wonderful to see family and friends that it seemed we hadn't seen in decades. I look forward to the holidays when I will get to see folks in Kentucky. I can't even explain the amount I miss Detroit, family, friends, Louisville, and so much more. Just a simple thought about getting chocolate chip pancakes at the Pancake House in Grosse Pointe can make me tear up. It has been so very surprising to me how homesick I have been. I have usually tackled a situation like this head on with no looking back. But not this time. I have to admit, in the last few days I am just now finally feeling a little more at home here.  I am not going to trick myself into believing it will be easy tomorrow. It will take a while before it is.

I think I am just taking it day by day and accepting each moment of sadness along with each moment of happiness and contentment. I look over at my son and he is happy as a lark. I see him running through the grass at the park and smiling back at me and getting lost in the wonder of this town and it teaches me that I, too, must get lost in the wonder. Most likely we will get back east someday, but until then I should enjoy every moment I have out here. Who knows, these may be the only moments I get to take in the vast wonder of such a unique place as Eastern Washington. And if we ever move back east, I may get only this time to see the Cascade Mountains, orogenous royalty in my eyes. (And for those of you who are wondering about my vocab just there, an orogeny is a mountain chain.) This really is a beautiful place, and I have already met some wonderful people who have gone out of their way to bring us into their lives. And as I sit here writing this, I realize that one day I may have to say good-bye to them in much the same way and it will be just as difficult.

So, we are back home. We are back where we belong for right now. And we are enjoying ourselves. Frontier Days is just around the corner and I have a cute little rodeo shirt for Linus to wear. I am already thinking of a menu for Labor Day weekend, but maybe we'll have a cookout to attend. And, Steve just wrote me a text a few hours ago to let me know we got invited to a corn roast this weekend. Fun seems to be pouring from every corner. And each time I feel sad and miss my other home, I just have to look at Linus, see his smile, giggle, and glee and realize that we are in our home now. Steve, Linus, and I are home to each other.

 

48 Hours To Linus

On July 17, 2009, I visited Beaumont Hospital in Troy, MI for a simple Non-Stress Test at about 11am. I had been going once a week for about a month and a half. I was excited that day, though, because the next day I would be returning to be induced. I was ready to get the test done and then head home to get things ready at the house for the arrival of our new baby boy. What I didn't know...I wasn't going home.

Right after starting the test, Linus' heartbeat dropped dramatically. The nurse became concerned right away and had me turning and contorting to see if we could get a better measure of the heartbeat. My OB was called immediately. Two more nurses came in and Steve was called back to be by my side. Then I remember the nurse turning to me and saying, "Honey, I don't think you are going home...".

A few hours later I was taken back to my Labor/Delivery room. They set me up with an IV of pitocin and the induction began. That was at about 3pm on July 17, 2009. The next morning, around 6am, they started stepping up how much pitocin I was getting. My parents and Steve's parents came and sat with us in the room. I was continuously checked and contractions were happening. I felt confident I was moving right along. My son's birthday was going to be July 18, 2009! NOPE. By the end of the day, they had knocked my pitocin up to a rate of 24 and I wasn't even close. (The nurse informed me that they usually only have to go up to a rate of 10-15 to get the labor going.) That night they took me off the pitocin drip for a little while and had me take meso pills.

At 6am on July 19, 2009, I remember my OB coming in and checking on me. Steve was asleep and everything was so quiet. I remember turning to my OB, with tears in my eyes and saying, "Please, don't send me home. I can't go through this anymore and I want him out." He smiled at me almost laughing, "Don't worry, if you haven't had him by 6pm, we're going to put a zipper in ya and take him out". I had never heard it phrased that way, but it made me so much happier.They started the pitocin drip again. Things moved along much as they had the day before. By 2pm, I had only dilated to 2cm and I was at a rate of 22 on my pitocin drip. The nurse half smiled at me. Things didn't look too good. I looked back up at the nurse and said, "Let's just do the C-section." And then it was a rush of time that I can't even explain. The flurry that occurred around me at that moment was nuts. The OB came in and made sure we were fine with the decision. Several nurses came in and prepped me. Steve was thrown into scrubs. I was signing papers. I was meeting the nurse anesthesiologist. I quickly said bye to Steve's parents and my own. They whipped me back into the operating room and I met the second OB that would be helping out. There were sooo many people in the operating room. I had never wanted an epidural, let alone a spinal block. That is the one thing I had said to my OB. But it is pretty much required for a C-section. I was so stressed by it my BP went up to 200/110. It was crazy. But then Steve was brought in and it began. Just a few minutes later, at 3:01pm, Linus Henry was born. It was beautiful. It was surreal. I cried. I couldn't even believe he was there. I just stared and stared at him as they checked over every centimeter of his body. Then they handed him to Steve and I was able to give him a kiss for the very first time. It was so wonderful. I sometimes long to have that one moment back to live over and over again. But, I have the memory and that is beautiful enough.

Even though his birth did not happen the way I had expected or hoped, it was beautiful nonetheless. And no matter what, the process gave me my most precious son. And now a year later, that moment seems so long ago. But, the memory is still there. I love you, Linus!!!

The Lazy Days Of July

On our way to the festivities in Pioneer Park.

Well, the 4th of July has passed us by, which means we are on the back end of summer, heading back into another fall. Truly, I won't be too sad when summer is over and fall is here. Never have been much a fan of hot temperatures. We got to enjoy festivities right outside our door on the 4th, as neighbors were setting off fireworks in the streets. And of course there were tons in the sky. And the great thing about the weeks to come is that Linus will get to celebrate his birthday. As of right now, that birthday will be celebrated in style by spending the weekend visiting Long Beach, WA and Multnomah Falls. We simply can't wait!!!

In the meantime, we are trying to stay cool, enjoy the sunny afternoons, and make this an extra special time for Linus. He has been enjoying new, not really healthy foods, such as cake, popsicles, and rice krispie treats. He loves them all. Of course, who wouldn't really. He's been getting ample opportunities to splash his footsies around in the local pools. So far, Waitsburg's pool seems the best.

Yummy Birthday Cake

Of course, Steve and I know it isn't all about Linus. Though it truly seems that way sometimes. We have definitely been making time for ourselves and to spend with each other. We spend many evenings sipping on a cool drink sitting on our porch talking. It is nice to just have time to reconnect. Steve's been enjoying gardening and his spinach has been a delightful addition to our dinner plates. I myself have been enjoying trying new ideas in the kitchen, especially since creativity seems to be the key in getting Linus to eat his veggies. In order to get him to eat them about a week ago, I cooked up so cornbread stuffed with spinach, carrots and cheese. It was quite scrumptious and that day, Linus definitely got his fill of veggies.

The best way to get a child to eat their veggies...

All in all, things have just been going along lazily, and for right now, that is just the way we like it.

Remembering Linus' First Months

As we inch closer to Linus' first birthday, I am compelled everyday to reminisce about the first days after we brought him home from the hospital. They were tough, exhausting, stressful, scary, and wonderful.

He was a big guy at birth, weighing in at 9lbs 7oz. And when we brought him home, he didn't fit most of his newborn clothes and there was no way we could fit him into the newborn swaddlers someone had so graciously bought us. Oh well. He slept his first night (though I am not sure slept is the word to use) in his car seat, as it was the only place he would allow us to put him down where he wouldn't cry. (We would later be made to feel quite bad about the car seat thing by his then doctor. We switched from him quite quickly.)

And, yes, he was swaddled in a hair towel at this point.

He cried a lot those first nights. Cried to the point that Steve and I were crying, too. At night, he would have cluster feedings lasting hours (and because I was nursing, I can tell you it was not necessarily fun). We would have to carry him all over the house trying to calm him. I even found myself pushing him around the house in his stroller trying my mightiest to lull him to sleep. To no avail, that night he was awake from 1 or 2am until 8am. Later on, we would think back and realize...oh yeah, he was colic and we didn't even really know it. Luckily for us, it only lasted about 6 weeks.

Moments of peace...

For the first 4 months he didn't nap. And when I say he didn't nap, he didn't nap. He had maybe a handful of times that he slept. I thought at the time I would never make it through. But, then one day he found his thumb, and sleep found him. He grew like a weed (still does in fact). He smiled, fussed, learned to roll over. And as we approached the holidays, Steve and I became more used to our roles as parents. We got an idea of how to make things work for him and things didn't seem so daunting. The blessing that Linus is became ever more apparent. (Of course, that might also be because he was no longer crying for hours every night.)

We look back on those days fondly. Even though many of them were tough, we would do every bit of it over and over again for Linus. We are so blessed to have him in our lives!!!

Attack of the Water-Bug and His Mighty Drumsticks

Okay people, I really need to get better at keeping up with this blog-thingy. I really like the idea of keeping everyone up to date, but the actual remembering to do so seems to elude me. Will work harder at that!

Seems like a lot has been going on here in the fine town of Walla Walla. Steve is working hard every day and getting used to his new role here. Linus and I are tackling the tough task of getting used to eating veggies that don't come in a jar and trying to get that walking thing down.

We just started doing swimming lessons with Linus. I knew he liked the water for the most part, but wasn't sure how well he would take to a more structured lesson. I think the fact that on the second day he cried because we weren't getting in the water quick enough told me. He loves it!!! He's made a new friend, as it has ended up being only two kids., and I think he may even have a tiny crush on the instructor. :-)

Today he has started a new pointing phase, which I kinda hope he keeps up. He keeps pointing at different things wanting to touch them. A new discovery phase. One great thing, it seems to indicate he is getting over his fear of plant-life, as he pointed at them continuously on our walk today. Another thing he pointed at, his Daddy's drumset. Yep, it has taken over, he seems to have the drummer infection. And, really, for 11 months old, he ain't too shabby.

This weekend we are looking forward to a nice lazy time of it. Probably going to head an hour west to the Tri-Cities, the closest place with a mall and Target. Target, Oh How I Miss Thee!!! The weather is getting hot and here in the Eastern Washington desert, the heat and dry air are going to make for a very interesting summer for us.

Luck of the draw, I guess...

So, here I am on a lazy Friday afternoon. I can hear Linus rustling over the monitor, naps almost over. I just got done doing just a little bit of cleaning and rearranging, always find it cathartic. Thinking about things, what has happened, what hasn't happened yet, how I have ended up in this place. All in all, I am a DAMN LUCKY gal!!! I mean, I now live in one of the safest spots in the U.S. (somebody knock on wood), I am married to a wonderful man who lives to take care of myself and our son, I have a beautiful little boy who may be the easiest child (though it scares me how that could change in the blink of an eye... :-)...). We are doing well. We are certainly far from rich. We, like most, have our money issues. But we handle them and work on them together. I have wonderful friends and family. I mean, how the heck lucky am I.

But here is what we have been up to lately. Getting used to Walla Walla still. Had a date night for only the third time since Linus was born (babysitter to work out pretty good). We just got tickets to head back to Michigan this summer (Hell Yeah!!!). And we just visited Portland, our favorite city ever. Fun, fun!!! Linus seemed to like Portland as well. We even got the chance to take him by Multnomah Falls. (When we got home we figured out that we had been at the falls on July 20, 2007, a day shy of two years from Linus' birth. Who knew then what we had in store.)

Here's Linus snoozing in the hotel in Portland.

We have Memorial Day weekend to look forward to now. Thinking about grilling, sitting back, maybe doing some hiking. It should be nice. (Of course, I should probably also think about getting some stuff done around the house...like finishing the unpacking...We'll see.)

We Got A Home Finally

We finally found a home for ourselves!!! Feels like we are finally fitting in to this little hamlet of the Northwest. It is a simple, two-bedroom deal in the southeast side of town. What's best? Steve only has a 6 minute drive to work. He can make it from our door to his desk in about 10 minutes. Awesome Sauce!!! Another great thing is that it is near the doctor's office, which means I will never have to go far to get Linus into the doc. (Though he doesn't really go in that often anyway - knock on wood people.) Also, it has a big kitchen, so no more cramped corners, and it has a - drum roll please - dishwasher!!! So excited about that.

Now, how do I feel about the house itself. It's okay. It will work. It isn't the fanciest place and definitely not the biggest place. But, we can have our pets and it is in a pretty good place. I mean, we don't have to stay there forever and maybe we will even buy a house here someday. (They do have some pretty fantastic places.) For right now it works and that is what matters.

And for right now, my biggest worry is just getting used to the days around here. Keeping Linus on a schedule. He's doing pretty good. Just gotta keep myself strong and awake enough to get through the day. Of course, this is not helped by his waking up at 3am the last two nights. Someday, in the far off future, Steve and I will recover from the exhausting move to this place. Until then, coffee will remain a dear friend.

Getting To Know This Town

So, Steve, Linus, and I find ourselves living in the Walla Walla Valley. It's a pretty cool place...nice atmosphere, nice vistas, nice folks. I have visited many of places around town already and am starting to get a feel for the place. Linus and I have tried to visit a store or spot each day and it is kind of nice. Of course, we are starting to run out of places to visit, as this town isn't really all that large. We have also taken drives and seen the sights of the valley surrounding the town. Such a beautiful place. The green fields are so phenomenal. It kinda reminds me of the scene where they are driving through the green fields in the movie "TOYS". If you've seen it, you will know what I am talking about.

The downtown city center is super cute and quaint. They have some awesome little shops down there. A particular favorite already is the "Book & Game Company". Linus seemed to love this store as well. They also have what look like very good restaurants in the city center. Whenever I get the chance to try them out, I will of course tell you all about their magnificence. One place we did try already was "Clarette's". Delicious!!! It is a nice little greasy spoon with affordable eats. We are pretty sure it will become a staple in our diet each month (or more than that...:)...)

Here is a picture of one of the buses that runs through town. Aren't they just darn cute. Right out of the early 1900s or something. You can ride these on into Oregon if you want. Of course, we are only a few miles from the Oregon border, which means every time you go to a store they have to ask whether you are a Washington or Oregon resident ('cause those Oregonians don't pay a sales tax).

This here is City Hall, right across from the St. Vincent de Paul store. Definitely old school Americana.

This is Steve's workplace. It's right in the city center and just 1.4 miles from our new home. This means, if we ever get the gumption to be more athletic, he could just ride his bike into town. Awesome Sauce!!!

Well, I leave you now with a view down a street in town showing the mountains in the distance. Have a fantastic day oh those of the internet world and see you soon.

WE ARE FINALLY HERE!!! We made it!!!

I am much disbelief about how fairly easy it was to make the trek here. It took us five long days of traveling, but we made it to Walla Walla on Thursday, March 18th (Oswald and Hennessey's 7th birthday) and couldn't be happier to be on "solid ground". I am pretty certain Linus is glad to not be trapped in his car seat everyday and the pets are glad to at least be staying in one spot for a while. Oswald is much appreciative of being able to take walks again and have the comfort of a couch to snooze on.

It is weird being here...being so far away. Not too much different, really most places end up being near the same as where you came from, but those little differences catch us each time. It is a small town, so we are getting used to being in a place that isn't all hustle & bustle at all hours. The veterinary clinic has no weekend hours and neither does the daycare down the street, something I haven't seen in a long time. Overall, we feel pretty happy here so far and can really see ourselves settling in quite well. No matter where we went, it was going to be tough to be away from friends and family.

The biggest problem facing us currently is finding a home to rent that will allow our pets. Most places, we are finding, are quite anti-pet...Dangit!!! Why do so many bad pet-owners have to ruin it for the rest of us who truly take care of and clean-up after their pets. Oh well. We are going to look at a place on Monday evening...right now it is the only possible place. Wish us luck, oh peeps of the internet, that things work out in the near, near future.

The Lights Over Strip-Club Central

Last night, after getting home from having dinner with some family members, I noticed the strip club search lights blaring in the sky. Pretty sure those are sending the light high over the Coliseum Club. Doesn't matter anyway, as there are about two or three other strip clubs right there. Not sure why I am blogging about it...seems a bit odd of a post after so long not leaving one. I just noticed them and the weirdest thing entered my mind,...I am going to miss them. Yeah, those search lights indicate bad crap...rough clientele, hookers, drugs, etc....but it is the crap that I am used to having nearby...the crap I have seen right in my neighborhood for years now.

I am getting ready to move to a place that is nice and charming and not much crime happens. There was like one murder in Walla Walla last year. People that live there, stay there. There isn't a push to get out so you can get away from the crime. And while I look forward to living in such a serene atmosphere and having Linus grow up with such seemingly good people, I wonder how I will actually take to it. I am so used to being on guard and keeping a shield up in case this person isn't good. Am I going to be standoffish to these people. I really don't think so, seeing as I will talk to anyone, but I just don't know. On the other hand, are they going to look at us with weird wondering eyes as "those people from Detroit". Yeah, we haven't lived in the very worst neighborhood, but 8 Mile and Gratiot certainly isn't fancy-free. Are they going to think odd of us, as I have heard has happened to some folks that move away. I don't think so again, but you just never know.

All just wonderings from an overactive mind...all just musings.

But I really am going to miss the search lights and the strip clubs.

It Is All Going To Be Fabulous...

So, Walla Walla is constantly on my mind these days. Whether it is how I am going to pack for the trip or where we are going to live or what it will be like to be there finally...All of it tends to go right back to Walla Walla...And strangely, I am already feeling a sense of home for the place (strange because I have never been there). I am getting super-duper excited about the trip out there and about starting our life out there. Adventure yes, but I also think a great turning point. It seems like such a wonderful place to be and, for someone living in metro Detroit which is as close to the pit of despair as you can get, wonderful sounds, well, wonderful. I have already made contact with one of the natives...or rather a person who lives there, as she is a transplant herself. She seems happy as peach pie, which helps me to think I will be, too.

I actually got a box packaged up yesterday and it made me feel all top-notch, like I had accomplished something. Yeah, I am quite aware it was only one box, but it proved I could get a start going. And today I have been going through crud on our desk and getting rid of bunches and organizing the rest. Things are looking good. And though the renting of our current home may cause me to have massive migraines, I think in the end it is going to be all fabulous.
Just as my adventure in moving to Michigan was fabulous...

Procrastination and The Stuff I Am Sad To Leave Behind

Yeah, I am realizing all the time that, though I was never a procrastinator in my younger days, I am a damn good procrastinator now. So much to be done and so little being done. Sometimes the thought of it all is just too overwhelming and so I just don't even start. But today I finally went into a store and got their old boxes and so that made me feel better. I am getting the things we need to move forward. And I went through some clothes and found some I can pitch to Salvation Army. So, I am getting stuff done, just slowly. Gotta pick up the pace.

I think I have been slowed down this past week a little more, because ever since the baptism I am realizing more everyday how much I am going to miss everyone and everything. It is all the little stuff that you take for granted that will be what I miss the most. Sounds cheesy I know, but it is true. I mean, there is no Kroger out there...I will be shopping at grocery stores I have never even heard of before. Are there Chevrons out there? Had to get used to life without them in Michigan. Plus, I won't be driving down the street to get to the mall anymore...Instead of a five to ten minute drive, it will be an hour drive. I won't be hitting Target 1-3 times a week for necessities. I won't be swinging by Babies-r-us just because...actually, I need to check if there is a Babies-r-us there. So silly, but I am just going to miss those day to day things. No St. Veronica Church just outside the door. No saying HELLO to Kelvin and Kemani. No poor dog in the connecting backyard playing with Oswald. But, on the flipside of that, there are going to be a whole new bunch of day-to-day normal things that I am going to get used to out there. And if and when the day comes when we move from Walla Walla, I will miss them terribly, too. Ahhh...how life is so sweet, but how it keeps moving and we always are having to leave stuff behind...hmmm

Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are Little Homes

So, right now we are trying our darndest to find a new home to rent out there in Walla Walla. A rather frustrating part of this search is that apparently none of the apartment complexes out there have web pages and any time you look up houses to rent you get a page with vacation houses to rent. Maybe we should just think about our time in Walla Walla as a vacation, huh. I finally found a few houses on one website. They actually looked pretty good, but we will see when we get there. Most likely they are probably too good to be true or they are already rented. I am just saying, this is my luck. The stress of looking for a new home is also compounded by the stress of trying to figure out what to do with our current home. I swear, after dealing with all of this I am not sure I will ever buy a home again...it is a true pain in my ass.

While doing all of this, I am trying to go through things in the house and decide what to get rid of and what to keep. I think it is a law that when you move you have to have a massive purge and get rid of all of your crap. The good thing is, I actually have someone that wants to buy all of Li's baby stuff. Heck Yeah!!! If I can even get $20 for it that would be something. But, oh man, forcing myself to get rid of his stuff is so damn tough...I want to keep it all. I want to hold every piece of his clothing and remember all of those moments. Just gotta remind myself that so many more moments are on their way. Actually, I need to get back to sorting through his such-and-such, so see you (that ever elusive 'you') on the flipside.

The Baptism and The Car

Today we had the baptism of our son. It was such a beautiful experience!!! Many family members and a couple friends were on hand to enjoy it. It was great to see my brother and his wife enjoy the process of becoming his godparents. They were happy to be there with us and their nephew, as we were to have them. And though my Dad couldn't be there this weekend, we thought of him and he was there in spirit. (Plus, I spoke to him on the phone in depth regarding...good lord, what was it regarding anyway...oh yeah, was I spending enough "quality" time with my mom and brother.) Though the baptism was beautiful and wonderful, it was also a bittersweet moment, one of the last I will get to spend with family and friends for a long time. It made me happy to be with them, but sad to know how much I will miss them. (Hellfire, I am even tearing up writing this...Shit!!!)

Okay...On a much less sad and retrospective note, we are now looking into seeing if we can just get one of our cars shipped to Walla Walla. That way we can all just drive together, the three of us and the pets. Who wants to drive separately for 36 hours...Not me, that's who. But, holy good gravy, do you know how much it costs to ship a car that far...a cool grand. I know to some of you all out there (I don't know why I am writing this to a collective "you", it is really just for me I think...or maybe the poor person that runs across this blog and decides to read it...Bored yet?)...Anyway, I know some people won't think a $1000 is all that bad, but we just look at that number and shriek in horror right now. We just spent close to $400 on a baptism today. But, I keep thinking, is $1000 really that much for the peace of mind in knowing we can travel together and enjoy the ride together. Maybe it isn't. It is certainly something to think about for sure. There are really just too many things to think about when you are preparing for such a move. But, positive I will stay...Walla Walla watch out, here I come!!!

WELCOME TO MY NEW LIFE

Well, just the other day, Thursday, my husband accepted a job offer in Walla Walla, WA. Of course, as his wife, closest friend, and constant companion I knew this was going to happen. However, the day it did happen it became real. It became certain. And, truly, it became both exciting and scary as all freaking hell!!!

I mean, I have lived away from my family and many of my friends for much of my life. For the most part, though, I had always been within reaching distance. Even when I lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in good ol' Houghton, I had been just about 12 to 14 hours of driving away. This was, of course, something I could pull off in a day in my early 20s, so no big deal. Yes, I had lived in Iceland for a semester of studying abroad and it was quite a distance. But, I had always known it was for just a short while and that soon I would return to my comfort zone with family and friends.

But this past Thursday, WOW, it was a shock to my system. It was exciting to think about moving to Walla Walla and experiencing new things and new people, but to actually do it. Holy Crap!!! I will be about a 34-36 hour drive away. That's certainly not something that can be done within a day, hours don't even fit. When there is an event in Kentucky with my family, I won't be able to just jump in the car and drive down there. When Steve's mom would like us to come over for dinner on a Saturday night, we will just have to think about how nice that would be, because we won't be able to do it. I will miss birthdays. I will miss holidays. I will miss so many events and moments it can make my heart ache to think about it all. I always saw myself as the adventurous type, the one always stepping out and going far away to new lands. Yet, here I am terrified of what lies ahead.

But, as terrified as I am, I am also beyond exhilarated. I can't imagine a more exciting experience than to move across the country to a new town where I know no one and have to figure things out all over again. What will the folks be like in Walla Walla? Will they be exciting or boring? Will they be friendly or stand-offish? Will I meet a great friend or will I just have many good friends? There are so many things that could happen. So many adventures to be had right at my door step now. And, though scared and already feeling quite homesick, I am looking so forward to my new life in my new home, Walla Walla.