As I look back at the last 21 days since we returned from Belize, it has been a whirlwind of emotions and events!! I thoughts I was coming home to 10 days of relaxing in Purcellville and then a relaxing week at the beach in Emerald Isle, N.C. before heading back to work. Hmmmm....it's been a crazy time with lots of love and support along with a few relaxing days and some crazy events!
If you're interested in spending the last 21 days with the Rahns read on....our Seldom A Dull Moment theme really rings true here!!
July 4 - 1:30 a.m. we return to Purcellville via taxi from Dulles Airport.
July 4 - 12:30 p.m. 4th of July parade in Purcellville with Leo, Rosie and Gwen - that was an awesome time even though it was 100% humidity and in the 90's....
July 5 and 6 This was when I began to unpack and put my house back together again after being gone for 9 days. LOTS of laundry!! My car also needed an oil change and trip check before our beach trip. Car dropped off...and phone call about my car -
Needs rear brakes and 2 new front tires....have to drop car off on Monday to get the work done.
Saturday July 7
began the college shopping with Carleigh - we got as far as some bedding and her new computer. It's a start and still lots to go!!
Sunday July 8
Sunday started out as a normal Rahn day - we woke, then went to the movies to see the new Jurassic World movie. We turned off our cell phones - we were at the Alamo - and put them away till the movie was over....we turned them back on to multiple emergency messages from my sister.
She was a the ER with my mother and father. My mom fell off a stepladder and broke her wrist in multiple places. Ambulance ride to the hospital and I rushed over to help and be with them.We were at the ER till about 7:00 pm that night...wondering what would happen...we are going to the beach in 5 days....with mom and dad! We had to wait till Monday morning to see when she could get into an orthopedic doctor. The ER doctor mentioned that it looked like surgery with plates and screws would probably have to happen...again...beach in 5 days. Patty and I were determined to make this all happen and get mom and dad to the beach with us!
I get home and we drop my car off for the work to be done on Monday morning.
Monday, July 9
Patty called and got mom a 10:00 a.m. ortho appt in Springfield (1 hr away from their house) - closest doctor in their medical plan that could see her that quickly!
I drive Katie's car to go get mom and dad.
I was on to accompany mom and dad to Springfield. My single job was to convince the ortho doctor that we HAD to have surgery as soon as possible to be able to get mom to the beach....
That part of the journey was a success! We saw a wonderful doctor and he agreed that she needed surgery on her wrist with plate and screws...he put in her file that surgery needed to be within the next 48 hours. We left to head back to Ashburn to await the surgery scheduling to call with a date and time.
Mom was in horrible pain and every bump and twist in the road was miserable for her...we got home and she was resting. Patty stopped by during her lunch break.
The phone rings with surgery scheduling - tomorrow(Tuesday) at 1:30 p.m.!! Yay!!
At the same time their phone rings, my cell phone rings. Katie is volunteering at a Coding Camp about 45 minutes from our house this week - Don was picking her up and his Jeep died on Harmony Church Road ( a twisty, turny, hilly back road near our house). He coasted into someone's driveway about 10 minutes from our house.
I call our insurance to get the car towed back to Purcellville and thinking I can go get them...the phone rings again. Since she is having surgery tomorrow, she now needs to get her pre-op bloodwork/exam done now. We have 2 hours to get her to Tyson's Corner to the surgery center for pre-op work.
Dad stays home to rest.
Patty goes back to work.
I drive mom to Tysons.
Katie and Don are on the side of the road.
Carleigh leaves work to go get them.
Mom and I get to Tyson's and get her pre-op work done. We double check the surgery time and it's been moved up to 7:30 a.m. with an arrival time of 6:15 a.m. at Tyson's Corner.
We get back to Ashburn, and mom gets settled. I head back to Purcellvile for dinner.
Tuesday, July 10
3:45 a.m. wake-up call. I drive to Ashburn and pick up mom and dad to head to Tyson's for surgery. Patty is meeting us there.
7:30 a.m. surgery - it goes well and we are done and home to mom and dad's by 1:00 p.m.
I head back to Purcellville and take a nap!
Wednesday - Friday, July 11- July 13
These 3 days were fairly uneventful. Mom was recovering. Katie was at Code Camp. Carleigh was working and Don was waiting for his Jeep.
Thursday, July 12 - Don goes to the dentist for a checkup and of course it's not that simple. Coming soon - 2 crowns and some other work to be done in the near future!
Don's jeep - got towed to our car place in town. They couldn't look at it till Wednesday - he needs a fuel pump. They order one, put it in on Thursday. It's a dud - doesn't work, have to order another one. We tell them...just keep the car till we return from the beach!
So...if you're keeping track:
Mother with broken wrist and ER visit.
Driving all around northern Virginia to make sure we get surgery before beach trip.
Mother with major surgery on wrist.
Jeep broken down on side of back road, towed into town .
Katie and Don rescued by Carleigh.
Don needs significant dental work from a routine checkup.
Unexpected new tires and rear brakes for my car.
Jeep needs fuel pump and will stay at "summer camp" for the beach week.
Those 10 days of relaxing before the beach trip? Nope...many thanks to Don, the girls and my sister...we got it all covered and we are on our way to Emerald Isle for our 15th family beach trip! Lots of R and R and lots of fun!
Saturday, July 14 - we head to Emerald Isle and the fun begins... what could possibly go wrong?
July 18
We get a text that Lily isn't doing well.....we spend 3 days talking with vets and sending wishes that she'll make it till Saturday....We continue to find joy at the beach and appreciate how lucky we are to be returning to somewhere that feels like home for the last 15 years.
Saturday, July 21
We head home and arrive back in Purcellville at about 3:30 p.m. We head to the vet and spend the last hours with Lily...we make the decision to put her out of her pain and say goodby to our little princess!!
Sunday, July 22
We are grieving Lily, unpacking, doing laundry and prepping for Katie's wisdom teeth surgery on Monday.
Monday, July 23
Katie gets her wisdom teeth out and Carleigh heads back to work full time at Franklin Park. Don finally gets his jeep back from "summer camp." It came home with a new fuel pump, oil change, new brakes and state inspection.
Tuesday, July 24
Katie is recovering and I work on doing everything I didn't get a chance to do before heading back to work full time on Wednesday.
Wednesday, July 25
Back to work for Laura!! The beginning of year 29...
We get a text that Lily isn't doing well.....we spend 3 days talking with vets and sending wishes that she'll make it till Saturday....We continue to find joy at the beach and appreciate how lucky we are to be returning to somewhere that feels like home for the last 15 years.
Saturday, July 21
We head home and arrive back in Purcellville at about 3:30 p.m. We head to the vet and spend the last hours with Lily...we make the decision to put her out of her pain and say goodby to our little princess!!
Sunday, July 22
We are grieving Lily, unpacking, doing laundry and prepping for Katie's wisdom teeth surgery on Monday.
Monday, July 23
Katie gets her wisdom teeth out and Carleigh heads back to work full time at Franklin Park. Don finally gets his jeep back from "summer camp." It came home with a new fuel pump, oil change, new brakes and state inspection.
Tuesday, July 24
Katie is recovering and I work on doing everything I didn't get a chance to do before heading back to work full time on Wednesday.
Wednesday, July 25
Back to work for Laura!! The beginning of year 29...
July was a busy month and definitely challenged me physically, emotionally and mentally!! I'm glad it's almost over and we can look ahead to August and a fresh start.
- A fresh start for me - new year in work - year 29
- A fresh start for Don - a new school year - year 24
- A fresh start for Katie - starting Junior Year!! Attending the brand new Academies of Loudoun and Loudoun Valley High School
- A fresh start for Carleigh!! As she begins the next stage of her life as a first year student at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia!
My theme song for the next month is going to be
"Don't Worry, Be Happy!"
"Here's a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry, be happy
In every life we have some trouble
But when you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy
Don't worry, be happy now...."
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry, be happy
In every life we have some trouble
But when you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy
Don't worry, be happy now...."
Here's to a bigger, brighter and more positive August!!
Stay tuned for our adventures as we find positivity and joy in the next few months!!
I am determined! :)
