Perspective

Yesterday was a not-so-stellar day. Things at the new job are chaotic as they're transitioning to a new system and are still figuring out the most efficient way to do things. I ended up staying half an hour late and still don't feel like I got anything done. Elle and I went out to dinner with a friend and her daughter, and Elle was a little monster. We almost never have an issue with taking her out to eat, but yesterday, she wanted down, down, down. Did not want to sit still or be distracted. Did not want to eat quietly or babble happily. We ran a few errands after dinner, and Elle had a meltdown. Got home and Elle had a pooptastrophe. Got her cleaned up and to bed, and then I had no energy and decided on an early bedtime over a glass of wine (that should tell you something right there).

And with all of the schedule and life changes going on in this hizzy, one would hope that we'd score the good fortune to not have any major home or health issues. One would be wrong.

Our AC unit has been making some odd noises. For a while, actually. But for a while, I was able to chalk them up to "working hard in the summer months." I'm no longer able to go with that theory, as we've barely been running the AC at all and the noises are growing in frequency and intensity. Yay. We're having someone come out to look at it tomorrow.

Our bath tub is a nagging headache - we had it refinished about two years ago and have a nice warranty on it. It was refinished because there were some cracks and the water was seeping through to a rusted bottom of a tub, which then allowed the water to seep through to the floor and ultimately, our master bedroom carpet. Awesome, right? So now there are cracks coming back in the refinished enamel, and I am just WAITING for the water to start seeping through again. "But wait, Kristin - what about the warranty?" Oh, yes. That is a warranty from a company that apparently WENT OUT OF BUSINESS about seven weeks after I called them to initially inquire about the cracks. How do I remember the timing element? I was 38 weeks pregnant when I initially noticed the cracks. I called and talked to the owner but decided that being very pregnant was a bad time to schedule any kind of appointments. He completely understood and told me good luck, enjoy the baby and get back to him when the dust settled. When Elle was about six weeks old, I called him again. No answer. On any number I had. I filed a complaint with the BBB, and they were also unable to contact the tub guy. Fantastic. Thanks for the warranty, dude. So when the water starts to seep out of the bottom of the rusted tub again, we need to replace the tub. (Not cheap.)

In other parts of the house, there is a small tear in our couch that I want to get repaired - I blame the cats but have no proof.

So, AC unit, bath tub, couch. Great.

And then there is the fact that Tim had an abscessed tooth last month. FINALLY went to the dentist (my husband is more stubborn than me, which is saying a lot), and they need to do a root canal. Alas, they cannot find the root of my husband's special snowflake tooth. Apparently there was trauma (most likely in his adolescence) to the tooth/whatever else, and that's what has affected the disappearing root. So he goes to a specialist (specialist='pensive). And the specialist cannot find the root. So now he has to have a (costly) CT scan to try to find the root. If they can find it, it's a pricey procedure. If they can't, it's an even pricier surgery that sounds ridiculously painful. 

Add to these big things all of the small things that are going on, and I definitely need some perspective in my life. (Oh - and the Steelers aren't playing well right now, either.)

SO.

Here are some things I'm thankful for, that make the previous paragraphs a little less daunting:

Pretty views

Cooler weather!

An amazing husband who makes me laugh

Babysitters who bring dinner for us (a delicious casserole!)

Apple crisp (you must make this)

Jobs for both Tim and I, providing income and insurance
without which all of the headaches would be magnified

Supportive family and friends
who listen to me rant about everything

Snuggly, sleeping babies 

A warm cup of coffee in the morning

Playing peek-a-boo with Elle and hearing her crack up

Fun weekend trips we have planned to an amusement park and a pumpkin farm.