Moving from one location to another is typically very stressful, but this move to West Palm Beach puts stress in a whole new category.  Just since we’ve arrived in West Palm Beach, we have, in only the order in which I can recall from the top of my head: activated cable, transferred internet service, bargain-shopped at Goodwill, loaded and unloaded a UHaul (multiple times), grocery shopped, swam in the public pool, had a cardiologist appointment complete with heart ultrasound, visited a beach, saw a movie in theater, cleaning (it’s still in progress) the new apartment, let Drew visit the playground, switched the electricity to our name, submitted three service work orders for problems with our apartment, and we even slept and ate a little. This is the first time that I’ve actually sat down and focused on myself.  I do feel a little guilty though.  Nathan is busy mopping the floor (for the 3rd time!)

It all began with a long, looong, looooooong road trip.  We left about 8:30 am Wednesday morning.  Our goal was to reach Tallahassee Florida to stop in for the night.  Drew did remarkably well watching movies, munching on munchies, wrestling with Daddy, and a nice long nap.  I drove to southern Alabama where we took a long leisurely lunch at Outback Steakhouse where I enjoyed a refreshing Blackberry sangria now that Nathan was tasked with taking over driving.  We did  make it to our goal of Tallahassee albeit it wasn’t until 11:30 pm that night.  A short eight hours later, we were back on the road.

We did eventually make it to our new home and moved in.  Drew was immediately enticed by the pool and poor Drew had all the odds stacked against him: two exhausted parents, a lengthy and cumbersome check-in process, a future not full of spa treatments and deep tissue massages but of heavy lifting and sweating so Drew’s persistent whining about swimming was met with little patience I’m embarrassed to say.  But it’s hard to explain to a four-year old that nobody is more excited about getting into a cool refreshing pool more than two parents who have just been enslaved to a 19+ hour road trip in a space the size of a closet!

Our new home is nice and Nathan likes it.  Even Drew likes it and already recognizes it when we are close by.  WE’ve already met some neighbors and have some familiarity with the general area around us.  I had giggled before thinking I was going to have to Google directions to the grocery store, but turns out there is one a rock’s through from our complex.  And a Wal-mart just a little further than that.

Having driven about 14 hours of our 19+ hour trip was only a false prophet.  The six-hour drive on

Thursday was no picnic.  Why on Earth did they make these states so damn big!  Once we got onto the Florida turnpike, it only got harder and harder to carry on.  Everybody knows that the last 100 miles is the worst part of every trip.  I kept watching every mile marker counting down the miles to Exit 99 but it’s like watching a pot of water: a watched pot never boils!

The apartment is very nice although the last tenets must have been mining coal inside the apartment.  The wooden floors are so dusty that even after three wet moppings, Drew’s legs are black as night after a good romp around the room.  I completely under-estimated how much it would take to get the apartment ready and furnished.  Between cleaning and purchasing items, I’ve done more work on this apartment than I ever imagined.

We saw Drew’s cardiologist whom I loved.  He explained things very well and was enthusiastic.  He ordered an ultrasound and Drew did well throughout the boring procedure.  Drew is going to start antibiotics, though I’m not sure when or how long.  Because of Drew’s heart problems, he must take preventative antibiotics to prevent infection.

I had dreams about how eloquent and magical this post was going to be, but honestly, I feel like I’ve been put through the ringer.  The long road trip, the cleaning, the nesting, the running around has worn me down.  After some more rest, I shall return.

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