1-14-12

When I went to get Zach out of bed the other morning, I found that he had discovered the snow. Since then, most of the snow has melted, but he still insists on stomping in any patches he can find. He calls it "no."

On Wednesday, trash day, I noticed a suit prowling around next door that looked suspiciously like the toady that has been trailing the neighbor along the guard rail. Well, who wears a suit these days? A lawyer.

My theory being I want to know who I am up against, I decided to take out some more trash. When we made eye contact, I called out, Attorney or Contractor? He said attorney and actually introduced himself! Blue Springs attorney, gymnastics dad and just a friend of the neighbor. He made a comment about what great people the neighbor's are, and I said, 'Well, that depends on how hard they screw us.'

He was a little stunned at this point. So I just went ahead and told him that there had been multiple deaths on the curve (helpfully pointing out the dents in the guard rail), that we had 40 years of access, and we felt that the neighbors needed to collaborate with an easement deal.  While he is still being lawyerly, he is smiling like I just turned him down for a date, not knowing what to say next. I said, nice to meet you and walked away.

Then, I went to Jackson County Public Works to discuss the guardrail in light of our neighbor's claim that his is cutting off the joint drive. The county is well aware of our curve due to its toll of multiple injuries and deaths. Randy Diehl was my first target.  I asked at the front desk, she called, and out he popped.  Nice.  No need to explain much, he knew right away. He asked me to wait. He walked down the hall to talk to someone in an office.  I eavesdropped on the conversation for a while, then decided I might want to be a part of it as it is my driveway. I walked down the hall, poked my head in the door and asked if I could join them. They were a little surprised but said yes.

The alternative to the situation being a lawsuit, they were quite accommodating.  The man in the office was the chief engineer for the county. He and I drew out a map of the curve.  He said they would modify the guard rail by removing a section where we would need a new driveway to enter the road. Sadly, they are going to replace a section where the gravel drive enters the road. I hate to lose the access, but honestly it is exactly where people start to go off the road.

Mike is angry about it. He feels that we are being harmed by the county and the neighbors. Technically he is right, but I prefer to think of it as a positive step in a bad situation. Legal pursuits are going to be expensive. I don't want to spend an extra dime on that jackass next door. The county doesn't think there is any way to make him give us an easement. This set-up is generally what the family attorney advised a few months ago - spend your money on the drive not the situation. Now the county is out of the way and we can do that.

Today we have a special meeting with the neighbors, a follow up to our meeting last week. They have "good news about the use of our existing opening on to Milton Thompson." The first thing I am going to do is ask them to move the red trailer, then I am going to ask how they want to handle the pond (because secretly I think they should pay for the whole thing), and then they can say whatever they want on the drive. I'm done. Mike might have a couple things to say to them, which might be kind of entertaining.

While I was in downtown Independence for all this county business, I saw this statue of Andrew Jackson (namesake of Jackson County) which was gifted by Harry Truman. The president remembered for the Indian Removal Act and subsequent Trail of Tears is memorialized by the only guy to ok atomic bombing of whole cities! Maybe Bush is right and history will make him into a hero.

1-9-12

I have my first cold of the season. I am considering it a huge success that I held out until January 9.  It doesn't feel too bad, but I sound bad.  No time for sick today though! 

I have my job interview at St. Mary's Hospital.  I have to renew the tags on my license plate, chase down Bob Hedberg (encyclopedic planner, former Jackson County employee, and residential developer who participated in much of the building in this area).  The problem is the man can talk, alot, As a result, he is 1) hard to find probably because he is talking to someone else 2) hard to get away from once you do find him.  Then I have to go to the county to find the guy who said that the county would not grant a permit to connect a hardtop driveway to the opening in the guard rail.  My hold out hopes at this point are: the county tells our neighbor he has to grant an easement, which he does; or, which he fights and loses. 

Zach's 3rd birthday party really highlights the joy of family.  He is so loved, and he loves everyone back. 

Zach is still cautious about opening presents, but he did sort of tear into a couple.

Matt tossed Cole into the giant leaf pile, and those leaves are compressed!

Here we are sad because Grandma and Grandpa are leaving for Iowa. 

1-6-12

Yesterday Zach resisted his nap. Finally around 3:30 he went to sleep. Today he was up and playing in his room at 5:30 a.m.  Is he at the age where he may not take a nap?  Let's hope not. Waking him up from sleep is awful, but I am going to try to limit his nap time today.

As I write Zach wanted to watch an Elmo video on the computer.  I went to the internet, which was not the movie yet, and he says, "Oh, come on." Then when it took a few seconds to get to Elmo he said it again. Think he learned that from Dad or maybe Mom.

I accepted a job offer from John Knox Home Health. I had to turn it down yesterday because they have a new high deductible health insurance plan, effective 1/1/12. It requires families to pay $6,000 for medical care and medication before being able to access cost savings from insurance.  That sure would limit my use of medical care, so I can see why that would appeal to a business. I bet more businesses start doing this.  As screwing the little guy is the mode of operation for them anyway, the low-deductible health insurance plans we have all had are a bit unusual. I'm surprised they have not figured this out before.  For John Knox Village, that crap just lost them a good employee.

On the same day, I received a call back from the recruiter I interviewed with at Carondelet Health, which went really well.  Carondelet operates St. Joseph's Medical Center near I-435 and State Line, AND St. Mary's Medical Center in Blue Springs.  St. Mary's Medical Center is one of the first community hospitals, meaning not a big hub, to receive Magnet status. It is very hard to receive Magnet designation. It costs a lot of money and means that it is an excellent place for a nurse to work. Still hard to think of leaving KU, but family life is tougher with that commute. Thinking of the future, this health system may have better opportunities for a nurse practitioner. KU has been slow to accept the role because it has so many interns.

1-5-11 #2

Zach awoke with a sore leg today. After a few hours he was still not putting his full weight on it so I took him to the pediatrician.  In the waiting room, he sat down on a chair and said "Uno." I said "Owie? I know." He yelled "UNO!" He moved to the second chair and said," Dos!" Then the third chair he sort of bluffed and the fourth chair he said "cuatro." Mike attributes it to Dora the Explorer.

His leg is ok. They think he just pulled a muscle.

1-5-11

Today was my due date for Zach. He was actually born around 11:20 on January 4. Pretty close to the predicted day. If he had not been a c-section, he would have been exactly on time.

The night before his 3rd birthday, Zach and Mike made yellow cupcakes with yellowy buttercream frosting. Then he took them to his childcare class. He arrived around 9:30 a.m. I called around 9:45 a.m. from Mike's office to see when they would have the treats and they were already eating them!  The class was so excited Miss Megan thought what the heck and they just ate them.

That night Zach opened presents in the library room.  He is getting a bit faster but still likes to savor each gift. It is really a polite way to open presents. Something he just does naturally. I don't expect it to last, but it is nice.

For his birthday he received some underwear! I am going to start potty training.  He also got a sleeping bag and Sesame Street suitcase for when he goes to Grandma and Grandpa's house; a bunny bike helmet for when he rides his big wheel down the driveway (dear god in heaven); some sunglasses, magnetic frig numbers and letters, and a singing cow.

The singing cow is the runaway favorite. Today I had him nap with me because he would not settle down for nap. He had to bring the cow. When I thought he was asleep, because of his deep, rhythmic breathing and relaxed state, I carefully put the cow on the floor. He sat bolt upright and asked where the cow was.

My husband is amazing

I cannot even begin to describe how wonderful he is!

1-3-12

Grandma and Grandpa sent Zach a Mickey Mouse birthday card with Mickey stickers inside. Zach was as excited about it as he was about any of his Christmas gifts.  He can say Mickey Mouse, but he prefers to call him "Nickey."