Making Progress

Wednesday I saw the orthopedist to go over the results of my MRI. He delivered the good news that surgery wouldn't be necessary! The MRI showed that the cuboid bone was "crushed" and there is a crack in the ankle joint. The doctor thinks that everything will heal fine but warned me of the possible need for surgery in the future as well as arthritis. He put me in a cast for another 4-6 weeks. I am hoping when I go back in 2 weeks they will give me a walking cast but for now "no weight" so crutches it is. I am getting around the house in a wheel chair so I am more self sufficient. I have managed to do a few loads of laundry, change the sheets and sweep the floors! I am going back to work on Monday, crossing my fingers that my foot won't hate me at the end of the day.

On another note, progress was made around the house this weekend as well. Friday evening Pat started putting up our fence. Not having one is a constant battle with our outdoorsy dogs and with my condition I won't be able to walk them while he is out of town this week. We are lucky to have generous friends that were willing to help out. Pat managed to tip the dingo 15 minutes after they started but with a little help from a chain and a truck that problem was solved. 

Saturday morning the crew arrived early and with one lesson already learned it was smooth sailing. They were on a roll until they dug what would be the last hole straight into a water line, the water shot 15 feet in the air! They took it better than I thought they would, largely in part that Brent was here and he is a plumber. So once again Brent came to the rescue. Today brought a much smaller group of volunteers, just one, Gavin. They worked all day but they got it done. It looks great, the dogs love it and Pat and I can rest easy knowing they are safe.

Going Out With a Bang

  We were finally able to have our annual girls weekend. For the last three years Shelly, Haley, Jenny and I have been taking a trip together every spring. Babies, pregnancies, engagements and moves made nailing down a date difficult. We ended up enjoying time together with our significant others at my parents house on the lake.

A lot has changed in a year....Shelly now has Anacapri, Haley is working on her plus one, baby Denver, Jenny's left hand is shining like the top of the Chrysler Building and I have my little Molly Polly (an update on her in a post to come)!

The weather was amazing! We took boat rides, rode jet skis & bikes, talked and enjoyed lots of food. After a long Saturday we all nestled down in front of the tv. All of us except Pat of course. He and Molly were down at the dock enjoying the new speakers he splurged on for the boat. I walked down to the gazebo to let him know we all getting ready to call it a night. He asked me to join him for one last song, it happened to be one of my favorites. I didn't really want to but I'm always the party pooper so I gave in. I walked down the ramp and before I realized it I was at the end, I stepped down expecting to land flat on my foot but only my heal hit that last step. The next thing I knew I was on the ground. I knew the pain was bad but any rolled ankle hurts at first. Long story short, Sunday it was swollen and I couldn't put any weight on it. Late Sunday afternoon I made it to my parents and upon further examination I was on my way to urgent care. Yep it was broken. They put me in a splint and referred me to the orthopedist. Monday the orthopedist put me in a cast and referred me to the foot specialist for a second opinion on the need for surgery! Wednesday they removed my cast looked at my X-rays and foot and now I am scheduled for a MRI on Saturday. They think I might be able to heal without surgery but he thinks it may be broken in another place, ugh!

So here I sit with no cable looking around at all of the things that need to be done...going crazy! But on the bright side of things, I am catching up on some much needed posts!

One Last 'O Happy Day'

Like in the past, Stier Supply had it's summer celebration at the family beach house. When planning months ago no one knew this would our last opportunity to visit and make memories there. Just weeks before the party we learn someone else fell in love with the beauty of the beach and charm of the house and purchased O Happy Day.

As everyone's lives have changed so did the party. This year there were bounce houses, a dunking booth, popcorn maker and lots of little ones! It was fun to see everyone with their families and all of the children playing together.

I have always hoped that Pat and I would be able to gather at O Happy Day with our children and watch as they played with their cousins just like he used to. I am thankful for the memories we have made visiting with brothers, sisters, cousins and friends and at least we were able to share it with our first born. Dogs are not usually allowed but seeing as the house is changing hands we figured so could the rules. No one appreciates the beach like Maggie does. Pat woke up early every morning to let her run and she closed out her days the same way.

The following is a letter left for renters by the Stier sisters:

The Ins and Outs of O Happy Day

O happy Day began in 1962 when our Dad bought a parcel of land on the ocean located at 3806 Palm Boulevard, Isle of Palms, SC for $5000.00. After plans were drawn and construction complete at the cost of $25,000 our family arrived for our first visit on Easter of 1965. Mom, Dad, 7 of us children as well as our help, Esther, were thrilled. When school recessed in June, we moved down for the summer. It was then we saw our first sea turtle laying her eggs as we strolled the shore one night and to this day turtles return to that same spot time and time again.

O Happy Day, the name my dad called this place is a plain ol' basic beach house. Nothing fancy. A place for families to gather to enjoy the surf and sand, to celebrate birthdays, weddings, reunions, etc. Where families bring their in-laws and the in-laws being the out-laws to have a "good ol' time."

We've enjoyed her for 50 years and thanks to people like you she's still ours... When the house was built we did not have heat and a/c but after Hurricane Hugo in 1990 we upgraded to the finer things in life...

This house has been an asset in our lives but it has not been without its hardships. After our Dad died and several destructive hurricanes we would be in limbo but our Mom had the determination to keep O Happy Day so that her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren would know the Carolina shore. To see the shimmering moon on the ocean and to witness the turtles crawling to sea. So needless to say, this ol' house has been enjoyed by four generation in our family as well as the generations of our guests.

Moving On Up

To the northeast side of Columbia! We are now residents of Chapin, SC.

This post has been a long time coming. Months ago we looked at a house that was brought to our attention because of the great price. That house didn't work out but while price comparing Pat stumbled across another one he fell in love with. After lots of back and forth, and ups and downs we finally got the house!

**Better pics to come**

To make a long story short, there is A LOT of work to do. The previous owners were forced to sell and when they left they took everything with them...everything! Some days I look forward to being able to make this house "our home" but most days my obsessive compulsive need to get things done takes over. I am trying to take it one room at a time.

The house is located within 10 minutes of both of our parents and a 30 second car ride to the marina! It sits on a 1.12 acre wooded lot with a 3 bay car port and a huge garage/man cave. Finally Pat has somewhere to store his most prized possessions, his jet skis! The features that sold me were the front porch, the HUGE kitchen, and his and hers walk-in closets. The his/hers sinks and toilets were an added bonus - I know 2 toilets is weird but really ladies, you know you are jealous!

I am giving myself a good year to get things the way I want them and focusing on the many memories we are going to make here. Be prepared for long periods of time in between posts because we spend every spare moment working, working, working!

Happy Easter!

I have had a lot to blog about the last few weeks but haven't been able to find the time or motivation. For this post I will stick to the events of the Baumgarner's Easter vacation.

The traditions of dying eggs, decorating cookies, swimming and celebrating my birthday continued.

                       

I couldn't resist this photo opp. It looks like they are praying!


The weather is always a little chilly as far as I am concerned but this year it was chilly to everyone...except Emily. We borrowed wet suits from Christie to be able to bear the 50 degree water. I am very proud of myself for getting in and riding the jet ski. Pat, Rick and I had full wet suits, I don't know how the kids did it in theirs!

You know it is cold when Maggie would rather climb on the jet ski

to get a closer look rather than walk in the water.

                           

This is how a 14 year old enjoys a family vaca.

My birthday cake!

The following Friday we took a trip to The Biltmore! The kids were impressed but level headed Dylan didn't understand why 2 people would need so much. As we entered the billiard room, Emily listened as they explained that this room was where they would spent some of their spare time. She wondered why they wouldn't just watch TV? Ha!

The week went by too quickly, as always but it was well spent making memories to last until our next visit!