We're Halfway Through!!

Hello again, family and friends.

To say that the past week has been a roller coaster of ups and downs would be an understatement.  After the inspection of the first townhouse last Tuesday, we were both pretty down.  Although most of the necessary work was cosmetic or clean-up, we both felt that it was much more of a fixer-upper than we want to deal with.  Besides, after the repairs were complete, it still needed some appliances and a garage door opener which would have taken some time and effort to have installed.  It was questionable whether or not the carpets could be cleaned/saved.  Owning a townhouse is a huge compromise for us, let alone owning one we didn't much care for.  

Our Second Home??

The evening before the inspection I spotted a brand new listing for a corner unit about a block away that looked very nice, but the listed price was very high for the neighborhood.  On a whim, we called our realtor and asked if we could look at it the next day.  She agreed and scheduled a viewing Wednesday afternoon.  There was no comparison!  It is a bit larger and in much better shape.  It also has a lot more natural light (because it is a corner unit with a SW exposure), all appliances, and a garage door opener.  After seeing it, we knew we would never have been happy with the other one, so we made an offer on the spot.  That same afternoon we drove clear across town to return our rental car to the airport and have dinner with my aunt, who lives on  the east side of Portland.   By the time we got home late that evening, all necessary forms were on the computer and ready to sign electronically using a very slick electronic signature program--DocuSign.  Long story short, with very minor changes our offer was accepted by the next morning.  On Thursday, right after therapy, we met with the realtor.  Rejecting one real estate deal and signing a new contract, literally within minutes, was a very new and different experience, and a bit overwhelming.  The inspection on this one is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.  Since we are dealing with the owner (not a bank-owned foreclosure), closing should move much more quickly.   Ironically, if the bank that owned the first one hadn't dragged its feet, we might have closed before this one was available.  It is nice to know that Someone is looking out for us. 

 Little Rowan is still growing like a weed.  His "due date" is Tuesday, so it will be interesting to see how much he weighs, etc., and what his doc says at the appointment that day.  They all came over for dinner Friday evening.   Rowan was great, just like the last time they were here, and we had a very relaxed evening.  Kathy went over to visit this afternoon and to see Doug and Kathy Reimer and Jendy Riemer Newman, who also stopped in to meet Rowan and say hello. 

On the health front, reaching the halfway point in the treatments on Friday was a milestone.  As we mentioned in our last post, I have been juggling a lot of medications.  Somewhere in the mix, my immune-system-compromised body consumed something it doesn't like.  As a result, hives have erupted on my arms, and from my neck to my knees.  They itch like crazy and there is nothing I dare take for them until we find out what caused the reaction.  I even stopped taking two medications which gave me a lot of relief from the direct side effects of both hormone therapy and radiation, so I'm also dealing with those issues again.  Oatmeal baths and hydrocortisone cream help, and I have a homeopathic pill for allergies made from ground honeybees that seems to help.  What's next?  Eye of newt?  I've never had a reaction like this and, all of a sudden, have gained a huge amount of empathy for those who go through life dealing with allergies.  We'll just take one day at a time, knowing we are in the home stretch.  

Laughter is a great medicine, so we'll be looking for funny movies, videos, stories, to add to the therapy.   
Here's one for you:

A man walks into a doctor’s office.  He has a cucumber up his nose, a carrot in his left ear and a banana in his right ear. 

“What’s the matter with me?” he asks the doctor.

The doctor replies, “You’re not eating properly.” ~~Thanks, Brian! :)

We appreciate all your prayers and support very much as we continue on our journey, especially at this time.    

Have a great week!!  Wherever you are, may March come in like a lamb (and go out the same way!)

Shalom,

   Barry and Kathy