Day 264 = Feb 19, 2009

So anyway, I truly believe we got a mortgage! We had a meeting at the house that we chose with the some of the VA reps and loan guarantors, as well as the company that will do the remaining adaptations and a few others. We were told that the builder's mortgage company will take it on and we will hopefully be able to move in within the next 2 months. I can't say whether Kevin will be able to at that point, but he should be able to at least stay on the weekends.

Phew! What a load off these shoulders!!

As a side note - I already purchased furniture for the house so we are mostly good to go on it. The wonderful realtors that we have been working with came across a deal where a couple of guys were selling all of the furniture they had in a model home. It is enough to fill a 4 bedroom, 3 bath home with a family room, living room, dinette and formal dining room. This includes curtains, rugs, decorations, everything! As far as I can see, the only thing we will need to buy are some extra window treatments, a washer and dryer and a bedroom suite for me (but that can wait until I have money coming in - I already have my mattress so we are good to go on that). I am sure other little things will pop up, but for now - we are pretty much set. I just hope this really is going to work. I believe it will, but there's always that niggling, little voice saying 'you haven't signed the papers yet...'.

So moving on, Kevin is doing better today. He did have some fluid build-up this morning, but it went away once we got him into the chair. I sure hope it stays gone. I worry about his attitude if we have to go in for another surgery anytime soon. He is on the verge of giving up and it scares me. I am thinking we may have to increase his anti-depressant, but I am waiting to see how he is doing next week before making a final decision on that.

And now I am going to answer a few of the questions I have in my inbox:

First, I appreciate everyone's concerns about the home. I also appreciate everyone suggesting different organizations that will build us one. The truth of the matter is, I am not willing to give up a sure thing for a possibility. I have had more than one organization say they would help in the past and then disappear. Now that we have chosen a home and even found a mortgage, I am unwilling to trust an organization to follow through. It would mean us canceling the mortgage we just got and waiting for an approval and then waiting for the home to actually be built IF we get the approval. My decision may sound crazy to some of you, but in today's economy (and with us so close to discharge) - I will take the sure thing.

It really would have been different if these organizations would have come forth months ago when I was asking for help. Frankly - it really is just too late. I had already talked to ALL of the organizations that everyone has suggested and no one was interested in helping then.

Ida - thanks for the info on MRSA. At this time they are not treating Kevin because it is colonized in his nose. I know what to look for and am keeping a close watch in the event the germs spread.

And for everyone that stressed how well Kev looks - you are all preaching to the choir, lol. I honestly don't feel Kevin can handle seeing what he looked like in the past so we can't show him how far he has come. We have also had many months to adjust to what he looks like now. He is just now seeing it. He is just now going through the loss. In time, he will accept it and by then, he will be ready for plastic surgery to fix what we can so he will go through different emotions even at that point. That will just be another hair-raising turn on the ride.

Dyan, I really laughed at the Kevinator story. I will have to tell Kevin that one tomorrow. I'm sure he will get a chuckle. For those of you that don't read the comments, the story can be accessed on day 262.

Alison - you asked about open wounds and Kevin doesn't really have any (other than the staples in his head right now). His burns are all healed so pool therapy will be good for him. Unfortunately, the pool here is being repaired so it will have to wait until we put one in at the house. It's on the list of projects.

Ok, enough for tonight. I do just want to say a big "THANK YOU" once again to everyone. It feels good to know there are people that 'have our backs' in this horrendous time and frankly - your words keep me going at the worst times.

Oh - and the internet still isn't working at the house. If you don't hear from us over the weekend - don't panic. Kevin will be staying with me so I won't be at the hospital to create a post like I am right now.