Finally Starting to Lose It

Ok ladies, this is going to be a bit of a long one . . .

As I have mentioned a few times on here, husband and I live in London, but my family is in Texas and his family is in Italy. So we are essentially alone here other than our friends. Weeeeellll, we are also completely in limbo. We have had our London home on the market now for about 5 months and finally managed to get an offer a couple of weeks ago (a good offer that we're going to accept). The sale of this house is currently scheduled to complete on 2 October and I am having to deal with all the administrative aspects of the sale, including working with the attorney and the sales agent. Of course, this now means that we need to find somewhere else to live in between now and 2 October. The problem with that is that the London rental market is at its absolute busiest time and we are having a hard time finding something suitable. This is particularly true because with the twins coming, we need something that is pretty easily accessible, spacious, with parking, etc. Plus we would like a second bed and bath since my MIL will be with us for a month after the birth. So far we have found ONE property that hits all of our marks, BUT the flat will not be available until 2 October and if you look at my signature, I'm due on 23 October and we all know that these little buggers RARELY stay put that long, plus I am really really small with previous uterine surgery that heightens the risk of uterine rupture, so my doc is unlikely to let me go much past 38 weeks, which would put me due for a scheduled c section about a week after our move date if we decide on this flat. Husband thinks that 2 October is cutting it too close, but I just cannot find another property that works as well and I'm frankly tired of searching. In London you have to call around and chase down a different letting agency for every single flat that you want to view and the task is becoming really onerous and exhausting for me (literally I have to sit on the internet for hours searching for flats and call dozens of agencies a day trying to arrange viewings). I'm trying to decide if its worth putting in an offer for the flat that we know will work and just hiring movers and other help/friends to come and move us and get the house settled on the date, even if its a worst case scenario and I go into labor unexpectedly before then, or should I go ahead and keep looking to find a place that will be available sometime soon or at least by mid-September so that I can try to be settled at least a few weeks before the babies are expected to be born.

And just to add to the fun and games, we are also currently building a house in Texas which is in the design phase. We're due to break ground on that house by the end of next month, which means that I am constantly on the phone and receiving emails about all aspects of this house. Yesterday I had 3 property viewings and spent a further 3 hours on the phone with my Austin real estate agent and the lady from the design center picking out everything from external stones to wood floors. This house is scheduled to complete and close by early next year, at which time we will be packing up the family and immigrating back to Texas. We only need the rental place here in London for exactly 6 months, as my husband's immigrant visa expires on the 16 February so we have to be crossing the border by that date.

I mean, seriously, this is a nightmare. I am 31 weeks pregnant and I should be feathering my nest, but instead I'm dealing with real estate agents on both sides of the ocean, attorneys, builders, etc. I have absolutely NO certainty and I am really exhausted and stressed. I don't know where I will be living when my babies come, don't know when the babies are coming, don't know when this sale will actually be final, don't know what tiles to put down in the bathrooms of the new house. Last night I dreamed about the placement of a double oven. Unfortunately my husband, although he does everything to help me around the house, is not able to deal with all of these things because he's a driver and cannot receive/return phone calls during the day and deal with the administrative aspect of things. Plus, I'm an attorney and English is not his first language so its just more efficient and sensible for me to deal with the majority of these things, but I am losing sleep, not eating well and becoming increasingly more terrified about how I'm going to manage to pull it all off. Thank God the babies are still doing well and I have not run into any health problems YET, but I'm afraid that's all going to change if something doesn't give. :gah:

 

:hug: THat is alot of things going on. :hug: If it were me, and you say that the rental industry is SO busy in London, I'd get that flat. Or if you can find something that doesn't have all your wants, get it. It's only a six month stay and you may be able to find something quicker. AS for the new house in Texas, I have no advice, it seems like they have to talk to you or your husband and he's at work.

:hug: You are doing a great job Momma. When it gets to be to much, lay down and try to shut out the world.

 

Wow !!! My life is extremely boring in comparison. You actually sound like your handling it all very well. I'd be a wreck!I have no advice for you except make sure you are taking care of yourself. Good luck with your rental search. Hopiing it will all fall into place for you

 

ugh I know that would stress me out so much! We are renting now and plan to be in our place until May and even that stresses me out as I get ready knowing I can't "fully" set up boys rooms etc. It is hard expecting babies when your sense of stability is in upheaval. I don't know what I would do in your circumstances precisely, but I hope you are able to find some peace or center of calm throughout it all.

 

If you can swing it financially, I'd get the flat and hire other people to do the packing/unpacking/moving. Between that and family and friends, it can hopefully be acccomplished with minimal work by you.

 

Is there any way you can push back your moving out date on your house? We were in the same situation when I was prego with my son, and we ended up pushing the date back until he was 3 months old which really saved us a ton of stress. I feel for you, building moving and selling is not an easy task, can only imagine what it's like in the 3rd trimester of a twin pregnancy. My heart goes out to you. :hug:

 

:hug: I would probably keep looking to ensure everything would be taken care of before the babies arrival or like others have said if you can afford it hire packers/movers for the flat that you do like. Do you have a headset for your phone? Maybe you can get one so that you can easily lie down or do ther things when you have to be talking to those in Texas. Unfortunately that one seems to be a hard one. I hope you can get everything settled down, vent away momma this is such a trying time for us mommas that we have to let it out! :hug: Good luck!

 

I agree, this seems to be the best option! Good luck!

 

Husband ended up vetoing this option. He decided that he's not willing to wait until that late in the game because he's worried about me going into labor before or right around that date. He wants something by mid-September at the latest BUT he has thankfully taken over the search. He spent liteally 4 hours online tonight pulling properties and lining them up. He's going to call a bunch of agencies tomorrow to arrange viewings for the next week. In the meantime, one of my girlfriends has joined the search and she has gone around to all the agencies in her neighborhood collecting listings as well so she's going to preview some as well.

I think that everyone got the message this morning that I'm way over extended so thankfully this part of it all is being taken over. Thanks for all the words of encouragement and I will keep you all posted on the search. Fingers crossed that we find something in the next week!!!

 

I am so glad dh has given you a break and taken over the search!!! That's a lot of extra stress for anyone, let alone a mom pregnant with twins. Based on how I felt before the babies came and now that they have just arrived, I think having a move so close may have pushed me over an edge.

Congrats on selling your current place - I'll look forward to hearing about how plans for your new place unfold.

 

Hi Ladies!!

Just wanted to give you all a quick update -- WE FOUND A FLAT!!! :banana: We viewed about 4 properties yesterday and this was the last one we saw. It is perfect: lovely residential area but close to all the shops, back garden, 2 big bedrooms, and parking for the hubby! Best of all, its available NOW! We're going to start the lease on 5 September and probably move by the following weekend (13 September) at the latest. That will give me time to get settled in before the babies come -- or we hope so anyway! We're still hiring movers who will pack and unpack so all I have to do is direct traffic.

Thanks again for all your support and good wishes!

 

WOOHOO!!! YAY!! So glad that you guys found a place and one that's available now so you can (hopefully) take some time to get things done. And so glad that you get to use movers too, here's to hoping for a smooth move and ease in getting settled!

 

YAY, great news!! I was reading your post thinking wow...there is no way I could handle all of this and we're pretty close together, date wise. Congrats on finding something so great! :Clap:

 

So glad it all worked out and you'll be able to concentrate on getting ready!
:banana:

 

I didn't have near the things going on that you do, but we moved when I was 36 weeks pregnant. I didn't do a thing! We had family help pack, and payed movers to move it all. Then, I had family come over and help put it all away! Whatever you can do to slow down and have others handle it would be great. Just try your best to take care of yourself girl!