Too busy with life to blog

Talk about a whirlwind around our lives!!!  Went to Waldo on Mother's Day weekend to pack house and have movers get majority of furniture.  Saw all kids but Jon.  Emily came and spent the weekend with us there and saw Rachel for a short while.  Went to see Jenny's new house.  Saw David who came to get Papa's trailer.

Movers were so fast in loading the U-Haul that they actually loaded some of Jenny's boxes, so we are taking them back this weekend when we go to clean.  We are hoping to have the house on the market within the next 2 weeks..Lord willing.   Got back to Charlotte on Sunday and movers came Monday afternoon.  They unloaded just as quick as they loaded.  We finally just pointed and directed if something went upstairs or downstairs...now I have the task of moving into rooms it belongs in and unpacking....yuk.

But in the middle of all of this, Rachel calls me Friday? night and says something doesn't feel right and that she is cramping.  I told her to call her OB and get checked out.  She later calls me and says that she has been admitted for premature labor...My heart sank!!!!  26 weeks....but being mom, I'm trying to stay upbeat and tell her that everything will be fine.  After several different drugs and total bed rest, the contractions stop and she stops dilating. Prayers answered.  Sunday night she calls and says that things have escalated and that she is in a labor room and they have NICU on alert.  Our hearts sank again...Jim and I went to bed but just waited for the call...at 12:51 Cory calls us to inform us that Camden is here!!!  and bless his little heart...he is strong and stubborn just like the rest of the Holcombs.  He's small and needs help to finish "baking" as his gpa says but he is doing fantastic.  He even sleeps like his mommy and grandpa....mouth open and arms up.  His weight is up to 2lbs 6oz..yea!!!!  This little boy also has some great birthday buddies rooting for him...Aunt Kate, Aunt Punkie and Aunt JoAnn....that’s some powerful praying forces.

I faith that this baby will be home and running his mommy ragged before long.

Update

I unofficially moved to Charlotte 2 weeks ago today.  During a "pandemic" and craziness.  We are going back to Waldo today to do more packing and movers to load a truck Saturday so we can have our furniture.  At least we will be able to replace the air mattress with our regular bed and have something other than a folding table to sit at..although we have been grateful for these.  I know I should be excited about having a new place to arrange and decorate, but I just can't bring myself to embrace it, knowing that we will be moving again (hopefully) within another 6-8 months and all of this involves not having my children near...Jake is here, but is working so much and odd hours that we don't even see him. 

I bought Jim a new recliner.  Lord knows he can't sit up and watch TV.  Now I'm on the lookout for a new sofa.  The "new" fad is sectional.  I don't want to buy one of those yet because it might not go with the next place we live, but we need a place to sit and relax.  I have put post it notes on the walls where the furniture is to placed.  Hopefully we wont have to rearrange much. 

I feel like I'm rambling and I suppose I am.  My mind is in too many places and I have to be the upbeat cheerful one to counteract my anxiety ridden, glass almost empty husband because if I get depressed or unsettled he thinks the sky is falling and sometimes that is a full time job in itself.  This particular weekend is Mother's Day and I think that could be part of my problem.  I am spending this Mother's Day moving AWAY from my children and missing my mother.   This too shall pass. 

On a happier note ---God has blessed us.  We are living in a nice house in a nice neighborhood,  Jake is with us, all our children and grandchildren are healthy, Jim has a nice job, we have clothes, food and reliable transportation.  It's time to find my inner child and kick it's little ass. Just had to rant for a few minutes. Now, get on with life.

Changes

One huge change in my life this last week has been my Sherbie crossing the rainbow bridge.  I didn't realize that I would miss him so much. I look for him every time I pass the chair he loved to take a nap in and when I go into my room, he always followed me to see what I was going to do.  He is so much better off but my heart is broken.  Tabby has been searching every nook and cranny in the house for him, especially my bedroom.  I am also thankful that I have a daughter (Jennifer) who took care of things for me because I was in Charlotte when things went bad for Sherbie.  I'm sorry that was put on her but she came through like a trooper. 

I'm home packing the house and trying to get ready to move to Charlotte.  This Corona virus has left me with nothing to do but get things in order.  I'm finding things packed away that I am having a hard time parting with.  Then I look and think "what am I going to do with this" - so like today...I looked thru 2 totes of the kids baby clothes, pulled out a few items to put in their keepsake boxes and decided to donate the rest.  This move is driving home the point that this part of my life is over and I really don't know what to do with the next chapter.

Today is Mother's birthday.  Enough said. I think my mood is self explanatory.

Alachua county put everyone on "shelter in place".  This won't affect me much because I have no desire to go anywhere.  I will have to get out and grab a few groceries and chocolate :) but other than that..no.

Wedding, virus and frat house...oh my.

The baby is married.  Beautiful little courthouse ceremony.  A couple of family problems (not ours) but otherwise very nice.  The kids were very happy and both recited vows with trembling lips so all is good.  Reception was lovely.  More people than we anticipated but went without a hitch.  Carol and Al took pics and most turned out great.  I’m a little upset no one (entire family) told me that my glasses had turned and I look like I’m wearing sunglasses in all the pics..YUK!!!   Other than that we have some beautiful memories.

I had a little surprise at the reception.... Jim and I were removing the top tier of the cake and he told me to turn around, there stood Larry and Kristy.....I almost thought it was a joke 😱  We had a good visit for a couple of hours and then in true Larry fashion. Poof...they were gone...lol.  

Mom and Pop stayed the rest of the week in the RV and we had a great visit before I left for Charlotte.  Pop took back all the rental tables and chairs for me and had my leaky fixed.  So grateful for my “in-laws”.  I use that term lightly because it carries such a bad image and mine are amazing.  

Virus is among us.  Happily I can report that none of us have contacted this nasty thing and I hope we all avoid it.  But I’m in Charlotte at the Frat House.  I call it a Frat House because Jim and Jake are the only ones living here and it shows.  They have the boxes that have been moved already lined up in mazes.  Jake bought himself an electric bed while Jim is still sleeping on the air mattress, although it is as high and big as a regular bed so he is not suffering.  Lots of bacon, frozen pizzas, hot dogs, canned beans and soup, and each guy has their side of the refrigerator for their own beer 🍺.  The family room has the tv, 2 chairs and the PS4 for gaming.  Something tells me that when I get moved here that I’m going to cramp their style 🤣🤣🤣. Jake is working almost around the clock at Publix and says they are getting close to running out of food to stock.  Trucks are getting delayed and being short stocked.   People have gone goofy.  Hopefully things will ease up soon.  

I’m going to try to get home this weekend before they completely cut off travel and finish packing up the house.  I’m ready!!!   I’m going to put on my “Just keep swimming” bracelet that Ma sent me (I thought I had lost it but I found it after the reception where someone had put it in a cabinet 😅) and get to work.  

Hard to keep this up

It’s getting hard to keep up with this blog.  Things are getting really busy around here.  Less than 2 weeks until Zack and Emily’s wedding /reception. Things are progressing.  She came down this weekend and we shopped for a wedding dress.  Then to the Party Shop for cute stuff.  Emily, Jennifer and I went to lunch then to Rachel and Cory’s then home.

Jim left this morning to go back to Charlotte.  I think we are both getting fed up with this move.  He is in the house alone and sleeping on an air mattress.  I am here trying to keep everything going and pack up the house.  Sold a few things last week which means less to pack.  Have quite a bit more to get rid of.

Jake put in his transfer request with Publix and will be leaving after Emily’s wedding, so I guess he will be in Charlotte before me also.  This is extremely stressful in the fact that I am heartbroken to be leaving my children and grandchildren, but am missing Jim and our life also.  Guess no one ever said life is fair or easy.

Tomorrow starts the packing again.  I’m getting to the point that I’m over the material things.   I start to pack something then think, “Do I really want this?  What the heck am I holding on to this for?”  I am keeping things that are dear to Jim and myself, but this other BS can just go.

Anyway....I’ll get up tomorrow and put on my big girl panties and “just keep swimming”.

So much happening

Back to Charlotte from Vegas on Saturday...Sunday was spent at the Concord Mills Mall —-FUN!!!  Monday we picked up the keys to our new house (rent) and having utilites swapped over.  Tuesday was kind of nasty, so I stayed at hotel and got some laundry done, went to house after work with Jim and got some measurement and washed out lower kitchen cabinets.   Need ladder to do most of the cleaning. Going to do some shopping today (hand soap, air mattress, little things) Jim will be in house starting Monday.  He is going back to FL with me Friday and bringing back the Expedition.  I will load him up on necessities and that will be things that I won’t have to pack 😀.  Lots to do before I can officially move but I’ll get it done ✅ .   

Our new “digs” for awhile....

Life is busy

Drove up to Charlotte Friday.  Rained the entire way.  Saturday we drove around and went to see a movie - Gentlemen - Good movie but could have been better without all the language.    Sunday we drove out to the house we have rented and decided to explore from there.  Seems we are only approx 2-3 miles from Lake Wiley and South Carolina.  Seems like we picked a great spot!!

Monday we boarded a plane headed for Las Vegas.  After sitting on plane for over 2 hours, we were finally told that none of the toilets worked and we had to switch planes.  Of course it was on the other side of the airport.  Flight was bumpy and crowded and hot 🥵   Finally got to our hotel around 12:30 then went on the hunt for dinner.  $30 for a hot dog and some chicken fingers.....welcome to Vegas..
Jim is attending the World of Concrete Convention and we attended a reception Tuesday night hosted by. SAIA which Jim is President.  Saw some friends and had a good time.

Tried to get tickets to some shows, but everything is either sold out or is tonight.  We have dinner plans with a friend so nothing tonight.  Couldn’t actually plan this trip because I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to come and didn’t want to waste the money on advance tickets if I was not going to be here. I certainly hope life calms down some so we can do some fun things instead of all this relocating and working. Or at least know where we are going to be and when and if we are going to be together.

OK.  Enough fussing today.  Ready to get out and do something  Waiting for Jim to get back from convention center before I go out again. Have already gone out window shopping, spent my allotted funds for gambling and gone for a walk.  Still trying to find something fun to do that doesn’t involve drinking or casinos. 🤷‍♀️.

Good News !!!!

Went to Dr’s appt this morning for my follow up...Labs..good, ultrasound...good, blood pressure...good,  pulses and heart rate...good...Answered prayers.🙏💕

Had breakfast with Rachel this morning at Perkins...have had better....then did some shopping...found a great purse that will hold my iPad for the flight to Vegas,  an adorable pair of brown booties to go with the new pants I found.   We will just keep this quiet...sssshhhh.

Have been working this afternoon to get the house ready for our realtor to look at tomorrow. I certainly hope she doesn’t judge my housekeeping by what this house looks like now.😳

Planning, packing, ad more planning

We have gone from private courthouse wedding to looking for a full wedding venue, to back to the courthouse... don’t know if it’s with any family or just the two of them...just waiting to be told what to do.

Our realtor posted on social media that she had pre-approved buyers and no houses.  I called her and she is coming to look at the house Thursday afternoon.  I hope that wasn’t a mistake. We are nowhere near ready to move.  I have researched and i think I have found a company to do an estate/moving sale for us.  Sounds like a sweet deal to me.  I take everything I want out of the house, I call them, give them 2-3 weeks, they research everything, price it, advertise, clear it out, take their commission then send me a check.   No loading for Goodwill/Salvation Army, no packing it myself, no sitting for a couple of weekends doing yard sales, no selling pages and dealing with people....I LOVE IT!!!!

Dr’s Appt tomorrow morning to get results from last weeks ultrasounds. We want a report that the stents are holding up...Praying that’s what I’m told tomorrow.

Starting to pack...leaving for Charlotte Friday, then flying out to Las Vegas Monday for a week.

Still holding onto my sanity but I feel the anxiety build now and then, but it’s nothing that a deep breath and an episode of Frasier (or a cookie) won’t fix 😁

Can I keep my sanity?

So much going on right now.  Have been in Charlotte house hunting.  I think we finally found one.   We actually put in an application and hopefully they will let us know soon.  It was one of those God Wink moments that led us to this house.  We were meeting the realtor at a house we were interested in and while we were looking at it, she told us there was already an application on it, but she had another one, two story, bigger and same price.  After much prayer, ours were answered.

Have been working with Emily on her reception...Oh yea....she’s getting married....March 6...Reception on March 7....  Looks like we have this under control so far.

Hair appt Thursday.  I think that will make most everyone happy.  I’m beginning to look like a skunk with the white streak...lol

This is a busy time....In the next 6-8 weeks, we have to pack up the house, have a wedding reception, a week in Las Vegas for a business trip for Jim, move the majority of our things, and get this house ready for market.  

Can I keep my sanity?????

31 years

January 3, 1989.  We were married at the Donaldsonville, GA courthouse by Judge Ernest.  I married my best friend that day.  So many changes over the years. Births, deaths, moves,  marriages, divorces, grandchildren, even a historic house restoration(that one almost did us in ) ups, downs, large and small disagreements and 4 teenagers at one time.  Now we are looking at another move, another marriage, another grandchild and whatever else the future may hold and we are still going strong. I’m  curious to see where life will take us next. Wherever it takes us, we will go together.