Will it ever stop?

Well, I was really trying to avoid complaining because 6 months ago everything was so great--it seemed like everything was going our way. So I figured the challenges we've been having were just the reciprocal of that (karma, you could say). But I'm really getting tired of it--one thing after another! If you don't want to hear a lot of complaining, then stop reading now.

First was the discovery of our kitchen wall that really should have fallen down by now because of all the rot, going hand-in-hand with the need for new foundation walls--the cost of repair more than doubling the original planned cost of our kitchen remodel! But it has to be done so that it doesn't collapse later!

Next, things started breaking. Our electric lawn mower was working just fine when Jason had to stop mid-mow to stop Gavin from running out into the road and when he came back to it, it wouldn't start again. We took it into be repaired and they couldn't find anything out about the model, let alone find parts! Then our washing machine, which had previously been diagnosed as not worth fixing (the parts costing almost as much as a new machine), finally gave out. It was only three years old when it started having problems, and has lasted almost a year since it's diagnosis--but was I mistaken in thinking that a nice, new Maytag washer should last more than 4 years?! The last 9 months with it leaking and sounding like an airplane take-off! We have already bought the new washer and dryer, but don't want to put it into a room that is supposed to be torn down some time "soon." So now we have no kitchen or laundry room.

Then, the van (our only vehicle) has had $1500 worth of repairs over the last 3 months--and now it's having the same problem again! According to other people (on the internet) with the same car, the problem is basically unfixable because they have tried all sorts of things and the problem always comes back again. Argh! (Anyone has a reliable mini-van they want taken off their hands?) Soon thereafter, Emma accidentally broke the portable DVD player that makes drives to Nana's bearable. And as I mentioned in our last post, the camera seems to have corrupted the card--we are sincerely hoping that it's not going to be a constant problem!

Doesn't that sound like plenty for one family?! Especially one that has to pay for the coming of a new baby in a month? Well, just to top it all off, my bike was stolen last night! It's been Jason's main form of transportation to work because his bike desperately needs a tune-up and flat repair. Jason has been leaving it on our front porch because that's the only entrance into the house now that the back door leads into the construction. I know that it's our own fault for our stupid naivity thinking that it"wouldn't happen to us," but come on!

Well, I am knocking on wood that we're done having these kinds of problems, but it helps just to write them down. So thanks for your patience, I'm done ranting now! Hope you have a nice day!