Day One: Moved In

Though we've technically been living at my in-laws' since this past Sunday, today is the first day that I didn't have to return to the old house. It's been a crazy few days!

We made a couple of trips to my in-laws' house on Saturday, the car filled to the brim with our stuff.  I wish we could've done more, but we also had to empty out and clean our new rooms.  That took quite some time, which we weren't anticipating.

So on Sunday morning we didn't have nearly as much done as we wanted.  True to the weatherman's predictions, it was a scorcher.  By 10:00 a.m. the sun was beating down hard.  We got the truck, our friends arrived, and it was madness after that.  Bruce and I decided that the best plan was for me to take Emmie and the cat over to my in-laws' right away.  I thought I was going to come back and help, but it didn't turn out that way.  I felt useless.  I know taking care of the baby is an important duty in its own right, but I felt guilty that my friends were working in the heat while I sat around.

I haven't been getting much sleep lately, and was (predictably) pretty emotional on Sunday.  Sometimes, when I get worked up about stuff, I practice a version of the following: I imagine someone asking my husband how I reacted.  Or I imagine what people will say about me at my funeral.  "How did Annie take the move?" They ask.

"She took it great! I always know that I can count on her to be strong during tough times," he'd ideally respond.  NOT: "Oh, she freaked the frack out."  Or people would recall lovingly at the cemetery, "Annie always kept her cool and never complained."

Usually this puts my behavior into perspective for me.  I try, but you know emotions can't always be controlled.  Anyways, when Bruce and our friends showed up, we all got to work bringing everything into the house.  They had already done so much and were achy, exhausted, and overheated.  At one point my brother said, "Hey, remember that time I lost 15 pounds moving you guys in 100 degree heat?"

VERONICA, 8-TRACK, JEANETTE, DENNY, and CHARLES: You guys rule.  We are truly lucky to have such amazing, generous friends.  In many ways you are closer than family.

As soon as the last box was out of the truck, our friends took off to take showers, and we were really moved in with the in-laws.

Since then we've made so many trips back and forth, moving what was left (so much!) and cleaning up.  Every night we went to bed deliriously worn out.  This was a blessing, really, because I didn't have any time or energy to dwell on our situation.

Yesterday, Bruce and Denny skipped work to help me finish up.  The floor was drying from being mopped and the last bag of cleaning supplies was being put in the car as the landlord walked in the door.  To our complete happiness and relief, he handed us a check for the security deposit on the spot!  That money has already been put toward the rent we have to pay here (yes, we are paying the in-laws rent) and the added debt we incurred from moving expenses.  I like to think that the worst of our financial woes are behind us now.

What are my days like so far?  Bruce's father works from home, so when Emmie wakes up in the morning we pop our heads into his office and say hi.  I worry when she cries (screams) that she is disturbing him, though he assures me she isn't.  I feed her in my room with the door shut.  Oh - I forgot to mention!  We got my recliner in the room!  Thanks, Google and eHow for showing us How to Disassemble a Simmons Recliner Back!

Emmie and I mostly do what we did before.  She sits in her high chair while I have breakfast.  She naps.  We play - in my room or hers.  But it's not the same.  How could it be?  From making sure the bedroom door is closed/my ass isn't hanging out of my nightgown when I'm in bed, to worrying that Bruce's parents are annoyed by all the clutter we've brought, my life has shifted.  I would catch myself getting angry at these changes, but then I realized: my in-laws' lives are not the same, either.  They have to adjust because we are here.  They opened their doors to us.  Because we needed them.

I'm not saying there's not going to be drama.  And it is totally weird.  But what I am saying, I guess, is that I think this could bring us closer together.  If we all play our cards right...