Sicky Poo

More than a week ago I got a sinus thing that turned into fever and chills, then came the coughing and laryngitis. My back and neck are sore from coughing all night. Exhausting. And on top of it, Felix had a little fever/virus that kept him out of daycare a couple of days. We filmed our new TV spots this week so I couldn't stay at home on the couch and had to work late, which I'm sure prolonged my recovery.

But we're both on the mend now and I'm taking today off to spend it with Felix. Our first fun thing was running outside in our jammies to watch the garbage truck dump the dumpster. Then we're going to visit the aquarium for the first time and see where the day takes us after that.

No news on the house front. My agent got one call about my place and internet traffic is almost double what it was last week, but no showings yet. I'm not sure if it's the weather or people waiting for their tax returns, but it feels like everyone's window shopping, waiting for something to happen before they really start moving.

One morning before we left the house he was just laying on his bedroom floor feeling bad, so I set him up in my bed.

Hurry Up and Wait

After rushing to list my house for sale, I kept my phone handy in anticipation of getting lots of calls right away. Everyone said it would sell fast, and less than 24 hours after it was listed, I got the first call. Woo hoo! I thought. It's showtime!

That appointment ended up canceling about half an hour later, and there haven't been any calls since.

Hmm. Web traffic is good, so I guess the right buyers just aren't looking yet. There isn't anything else like mine (or within $5k) anywhere in Boise, or even nearby towns.

So I get to keep the house clean and sit around waiting for the phone to ring. Every time an unfamiliar number shows up, I get a little hopeful. But no, all of them this week have been about my car repairs.

It hasn't been as hard as I thought to keep everything show-ready. It's just a pain having to do every load of laundry and dishes 100% through completion every time. No leaving anything to put away later.

On an unrelated note, I made Felix cry his first tears of shame tonight. He didn't follow me downstairs like he usually does, so I went back up to find him digging in the cat box - a first for him. There was a big pile of cat litter and a cat poo on his lap, and litter was all over the carpet. I didn't raise my voice, but acted like it was a big mistake that had to be cleaned up fast. His mouth slowly turned down and he just sobbed in embarrassment while I undressed him and washed his hands. (He knows that's where the kitties go potty because he hears them scratching and we look and talk about it.) I was glad he took it seriously but I also felt bad, since he's typically allowed to explore the house without getting into trouble. So I changed the subject quickly and we got on with our night.

A while later he came and sat in my lap and said cheee!, which means he wants me to take a selfie of the two of us.

Ohhh This Week

After meeting with my broker Friday, I decided to sell my townhouse instead of keeping it as a rental. It's the best way to ensure I can afford enough house to last us at least 10 years. So last weekend was a flurry of activity finishing up getting ready to move - scrubbing baseboards, refreshing/resealing grout, wiping walls and cupboards, etc. The plan was to list today.

Monday morning I got a call from daycare that Felix had a fever and I needed to pick him up. On my way there, I was rear ended while stopped at a red light. The other driver was a nanny with kids in the car. Everyone was okay, aside from a minor muscle strain in my neck/back. It took about an hour for the officer to get all the reports written up. "She didn't have proof of insurance," he told me, "but I do believe she has it." There's probably $2,000 - $3,000 in damage to the back of my car.

So I got to daycare, picked up Felix and headed to urgent care to get checked out. I wanted any injury documented right away in case it got worse.

Tuesday was all discombobulated because I had to rearrange meetings and enlist my parents' help to watch Felix while he recovered. I was feeling the pressure because we have three big events this weekend that I have to prep for, in addition to usual deadlines.

That afternoon I got a call from the insurance company - the other driver took out her policy after the accident happened, then lied about what time it happened. So I had to send them a screenshot of my call to police to report it. (See, this is why you should always call police, even in a minor accident!) I will have to go after her myself to collect medical bills and my $500 collision deductible. Thankfully I have collision coverage.

Last night was my listing appointment with my Realtor, and today my house is officially for sale! How I made it to Thursday night without having a panic attack is beyond me. I'm incredibly frustrated with the driver who hit me, and resentful about all the time I've spent helping Geico prove this woman is committing insurance fraud. I'm pissed the $500 will have to go on a credit card or come out of my house down payment, neither of which is ideal right now. I'm putting the finishing touches on a certified letter that will give her two weeks to reimburse me without going to court...hopefully she does the right thing.

Road Trip Recap

Overall we had a successful 4 days in Utah. Felix did amazingly well on the 5-hour drive each way, spending most of the time looking out the window, looking at books or playing with toys.

We spent the weekend with my SIL's family, and together we had 6 kids ages 7 and under, including 3 two year olds and a newborn. Felix absolutely adored the baby, and quickly learned that if he cleared off the couch and sat in the corner, I'd let him hold her.

 

 

Such a sweet boy.

On Friday we met up with a childhood friend and his family and went to the children's museum. Then we visited some friends who happen to be adoptive parents too, and later we visited the lovely land of Ikea. It's a good thing I don't have our new place yet, or I would have spent a small fortune on all the cute home stuff.

The tongue comes out when he's concentrating.

On Saturday, our biggest outing was taking everyone to Rancho Market, where we bought bread for breakfast and had dinner.

Eating a fried flour snack at the in-store tortilleria.

On Sunday we went to the baby's blessing (no photos allowed in church), then had a big lunch before loading up the car and heading home. It felt so good to get back! One thing I've noticed about having a toddler - 4 days on vacation is plenty.