Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Ugh.

Life. Life is just so flipping inconvenient sometimes. Yes, I said flipping.

Our car is in the shop. Still. There's a good explanation for this. See, we own a 2000 Dodge Stratus with about 130,000 miles on it. This thing has been through a lot in it's short 9 years of life. It's been slowly crumbling for the last little while. Finally, one day the key just wouldn't even turn in the ignition. The car was towed and a rental was acquired. After a couple of days, the rental was returned (because I'd rather live without a car than pay that much for a rental. YIKES!!) The ignition was replaced, but in order for the car to really be running, we have to replace a water pump of some sort and a few other things that are going to cost around what the car is worth. So the car has been sitting in the shop while we try to decide whether or not to fix the rest of it or just get a new car.

This might seem like an easy question to answer for some of you, but I'm really having a hard time figuring it out. You see, we're trying to pay down our debt right now. And the Stratus is paid for. A new car would mean a new payment. Technically, we could afford a car payment. But that would just be money taken from paying down debt. So do we throw way too much money into our little junker? Or do we get a new car? I don't know!! And I'm not willing to do anything until I'm sure of what the right thing to do is. Especially since workman's comp hasn't kicked in yet and we're not receiving any paychecks.

Anyway, so the car thing is inconvenient. But we live right by the grocery store, Jason hasn't needed to go into work, and the handful of times we've needed to go somewhere and have been stuck our wonderful friends and neighbors have helped us out.

But now Jason has to have surgery. Tomorrow. Ugh. The way his bone will potentially heal will 1) irritate the underside of his skin because the bone is broken at a point that is sticking straight up (it's really gross looking), and 2) because one bone is on top of the other and overlapping really far (more than an inch) they're worried he'll lose significant range of motion of they don't fix the break with metal plates and screws. Hooray for beeping every time we enter metal detectors!

Well, living in the middle of nowhere as we do, we have to drive nearly four hours to the facility that is performing the surgery. FOUR HOURS. Surgery is at 1:45pm. We are leaving around 8:30am. Surgery will take about an hour and a half. Then at least an hour for recovery. (It's an outpatient surgery). Then, once Jason is okay, another four hour drive home. An all day event.

I have to find someone to watch the kids ALL day. There is no way I'm hauling them on a four hour car ride, then wrestling them at the hospital for a few hours, and then another four hour ride home. Heavens no.

And on top of that, the house is a nightmare. Really. It's so awful. We've all been sick and so there are used tissues strewn everywhere, dishes have piled up, toys are scattered throughout every room, laundry hasn't been put away (since last week when I finished folding it). It looks a lot like those houses on those makeover shows where they clear out the entire house and put everything for sale on the lawn and then clean and redecorate. You know what I'm talking about, right? It honestly looks like that. Terrifying.

So knowing that I am going to be taking care of post-surgery-Jason for the next couple of months (because that's honestly how long his recovery time is) I need to get this house under control today, pre-surgery.

And to top it all off I'm in charge of dessert for our Relief Society Joseph Smith Celebration thing on Thursday night. I have yet to go grocery shopping because I've either been dealing with sick kids, or have been sick myself, or have been trying to take care of Jason and get second opinions on this surgery and such.

I'm a little overwhelmed.

I'm lying. I'm completely overwhelmed. I want to cry. But crying won't get things cleaned up around here. I'd better get my big, lazy behind in the kitchen and start those stupid dishes.

Did I mention I don't have a dishwasher? :(

20 comments:

Sue said...

Hang in there! :) Don't let yourself feel guilty about a messy house when you and your kids are sick. You are so sweet. Their health and your health, and lots of cuddles come before cleaning. I'd say worry about what you absolutely have too, and let the rest be...inconvenient. :)

Aubrey said...

augh! Sorry life is so nuts right now! I would help if I was closer :(

1. Call your RS president as ask them to assign dessert to someone else. They have plenty of time, and that is one less thing for you to find time for. And don't feel bad about it!!

2. Take a deep breath. Get done what you can. Stressing is only going to make you less productive!

Can payton help at all with small cleaning? Maybe while you do dishes or laundry, she can see how many tissues she can find to put in the garbage or something.

Take a deep breath, you're going to be fine!

Tiffany said...

i agree with aubrey! call the rs president and ask for someone else to do the dessert. i'm sure there is someone that would be happy to help. i think you've got enough on your plate right now. and i'm sure someone else would be more than willing to help with your kids. i know i would if i was around! good luck!

r said...

W-O-W. 'Overwhelmed' almost sounds like an understatement. I love that life has to throw everything at you all at once. But as someone wise once said, "This too shall pass..." I hope all this craziness passes quickly for you! Good luck!!

Semi Granola Mom said...

Good luck with everything, I can totally sympathize, I feel overwhelmed all the time.
Hugs to you :)
~C

Katie Robertson said...

Wow, good luck hun. I hope everything goes alright with Jason's surgery, and I'm sure it will. It'll be nice to have him home though I'm sure :D I wish you hadn't moved! I would've been more than happy to watch your kids for you. Boo, but I'm sure that you'll be able to find someone without a problem. Your kids are adorable. :P

Emily said...

good luck with everything! i know about things getting out of control when you don't feel good and things are out of your hands. i have a sign that says attittude is everything (i'm still working on getting mine) it helps me to look at it.

Jobi Niu said...

McKenna! I wish we lived closer to each other so I could help you out! I'm so sorry. I would totally watch your kids and let them play with my boys so you could get caught up, etc. I freaking love you girl. Hang in there. I hope you figure everything out with your car.

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness McKenna, I feel your pain my friend. Doesn't it always seem like life happens at the worst possible moment? ugH!
I know we talked about the car/debt issue but my opinion, get a new car. A reliable car makes life seem a lot less inconvenient at times.
If I were up there, I would totally take your kids... you could send them down here?
Thank-you for calling me at the hospital, I was so out of it I'm sorry. But I appreciate the gesture :)

Erin said...

good luck mckenna. don't stress yourself out! take a bite out of the elephant one bite at a time. some things just don't matter right now. we would know:) we love you. and good luck tomorrow with the surgery...prayers are headed your way.

Erin said...

oh yeah...i say new car. but if this is all your dodge needs & it will be good for a while...no car payment:). and sorry you have no dishwahser..that's rough. and morgan & jason can be beeping metal detector buddies:).

Nicole said...

Ugh, I am so sorry. Good luck with everything I wish I could help you.

Hilary said...

Oh man, I thought I was stressed! I can't imagine dealing with all of that, and in a new place too! I'm so sorry. I hope you survive the chaos and have some peace soon. And I really feel for you on the dishwasher thing too. I had never used one until college, so my childhood was filled with hours at the sink washing dishes. Who really has time for that?

Hillary said...

First of all it needs to be said that you are an amazing woman. Say it to yourself a couple of times!! You'll get through this no matter what your house looks like. Do your best, and that will always be good enough! I'm glad that Jason is okay and know that you'll make it through this. I honestly can say that I wish you were close so that I could help you out. Keep smiling!

Lindsay said...

Ok so I wsa going to try to cheer you up and give you some advice, and then I read the comment that an AUBREY (Like the 2nd comment down) put on here and that sums it up i think! so i say Ditto! It will all be okay!

Trish Griffee said...

ooh..I don't have a dish washer either. Okay BREATH!!!!! You'll be fine, he'll be fine...the Lord knows what he's doing lady.

Ashlee Salisbury said...

Hang in there... Hope Jason's surgery went well... things will start to look up for you guys... keep your faith in the lord...

I have come to the conclusion that my house will always be dirty with a 4 yr old and a 5 month old, I clean during guiet time and before bed time, that relieves alot of stress from me...

Burgon Fam said...

I wish i was there to help you out hun! hang in there! we all love you!

Linda@CraftaholicsAnonymous said...

You guys are in our prayers! Sure hope things start going better!

Tabitha said...

I've just been thinking about you this weekend and wanted to let you know I love ya. Have a great day girl.