Pick up the Phone

First off: sorry for the delay in updating.  Between recovering from my surgery ("I got better!"), hunting for a new place to live (#$&^@% bad housing market and overpriced rentals!), trying to be the Promotions Manager for my local mommies group (I feel like an overworked Stage Manager who was just told they're also the Producer but have no money), and taking care of house and family I'm swamped!

But I wanted to tell everyone about a really important event coming up.  Pick Up the Phone is an awareness event by the 1-800-Suicide/Hope Line organization.  It works to raise awareness about Postpartum Depression, Bi-Polar Disorder and Depression.  These issues are very near and dear to me.  I struggled with both BPD and depression for many years.  I also have had bouts of PPD.  My mom also had issues with depression and BPD.  I will not deny that at many times I felt at that edge of suicide.  Thankfully I had people I could turn to or ways to keep going. But many people do not.  People still see these as things to be ashamed of, to not talk about.  Honestly- that is why suicide keeps happening.  If people were able to TALK about what was going on.  If they felt they could turn to people close to them and get the support they need then the rate of suicide would drop.  I wish there wasn't a need for hotlines to help people come down from that ledge.  But there is, because people don't always feel they can turn to their families, their friends.

So, this Friday, February 25th Pick Up the Phone 2011 tour kicks off in DC.  I will be there to speak for 5 minutes before the show about The Mommies Network, a national organization with local chapters that helps and supports all moms through all aspects of life.  Each chapter has their own PPD forums where women can talk about and get support with their PPD, depression, etc.  If you want to find a chapter near you please check here.  I'm sure I'll even talk about my own struggles.

For more information about the tour please check here.

And remember- depression, bi-polar, any thoughts of suicide are not things to be ashamed of.  If you, or someone you know is struggling, please get help.  Give a caring ear or even just be present for them.

Shoe #3

Ok, the good news: my surgery on Thursday went well.  I am less one gallbladder with the only complication being that it was hard for me to wake-up from the anesthesia.  Apparently red heads are more susceptible to anesthesia and have a harder time coming around from it.  There's something in our genetic code is what I've been told.  Yay for being a mutant!  Now, can I get some cool powers?  Whenever I dozed off my oxygen levels kept dropping (not alarmingly so, just lower than they should have).  So I stayed in the first phase of recovery a bit longer than is normal.   I got home and was able to climb the stairs to my bedroom and climb into bed ok.  I've spent the past few days sleeping and resting as much as I can.  So far I've managed to get up and down stairs, in and out of a higher bed, walk down to get the mail, and keep down everything I've eaten.  We're going to work on me being able to stand up and sit down unassisted, carry Rowan around a bit more, and see how long I can stretch going without my pain medication.  My father-in-law was kind enough to come out and help us, but he leaves on Wednesday so I need to be at least partially able to help at bedtimes and during the night. 

So now the "fun" part. Shoe #3 Friday, the day after my surgery, Adam got a registered letter from the agency we rent our home from.  The owners are returning.  You know what that means?  Yup, we've got to move.  Thankfully they were nice and gave us 2 months notice instead of the 1 month required by our lease.  Our first thoughts were to look at the 2 homes for sale in our little neighborhood.  See, we really love the community we've grown and become a part of.  People shovel each others walks, help with cars, kids, pets.  We have impromptu dinner picnics and play parking lot soccer.  Adam is the neighborhood bike guy.  The kids are constantly bringing their bikes over to be worked on.  But our finances are so tight right now and we have no down payment.  So sadly, after 2 years of being in this fantastic neighborhood and wonderful home we have to move.  Now we are hunting out rentals that fit our budget and household.  That is NOT easy in this area.  This is further complicated by the fact that we aren't looking to rent right this week or even next.  We could do the start of March and pay rent on 2 places at the same time. That we might be able to eek out of the stone that is our finances.  In the DC area/region though people don't want to rent to you "soon", they want it right away.  So if we hunt now they may pass us up to get someone in sooner.  So do we look and pay the extra money on a home we see that's available now and we like?  Or do we wait and hope something else comes along and not have to spend as much?  Our option is the former.  We'd prefer to have something set and not worry about having a place to go come the end of March.

We had so enjoyed the break from moving.  I guess the housing deities didn't see it fit to grant us much of a reprieve.

You may wonder why we don't stop renting and buy?  Aside from the fact that we don't have much saved we don't know if Adam's job is going to become permanent.  He's on a contract working for the government.  The contract can be renewed endlessly, terminated by budget cuts, or he could get lucky and get hired on permanently.  The only case where we'd feel secure buying is if he got hired on.  We won't know that information until... well... who knows.  So to avoid buying a home only to have to sell and all the "joys" with that we're going to keep renting.  For now.

Sorry for the rambling.  I blame the pain meds with the added stress!