Countdown continues toward Ryan's surgical procedure, aka the PDA valve ligation. He'll be under the knife (actually, the fiber optic tools) for just a few minutes, and the incision will be GLUED shut! By noon he should be resting comfortably, with his goofy parents hanging on his every twitch and grimace.

Laura held him today. We've got video proof of the event. For almost an hour she doted over him, and he slept soundly in her arms. Funny thing, his tiny brow furrowed every time the reverie was broken by a wailing infant. It was as though he was directing the scene, and wanted it "quiet on the set!" To say that he is amazing to me is to marginalize the word "amazing." Awe-inspiring, captivating, words simply fail me at this point. God is now officially just showing off. His majestic plan has yet to be revealed to us, but we're certainly happy to be bit players in it.

My father wrote me today. A short letter, as is his want. He and I were estranged for a time. It's far too blustery a tale for this late-night blog, but suffice to say we've reconciled (to a point,) and he couldn't be more pleased at my choice of spouse or career. He sent a rather significant amount of money to "help with expenses." It is a wonderful gesture, because money was always a bone of contention in the family. Tomorrow's conversation will be rather heartfelt, as I know that this gift is one that shows his love toward Ryan and his willingness to extend himself to our new family. One thing that always impressed me about my father is his facile use of the language. He is an exquisite writer, poised and sparing, yet his words always betray a pain or resignation that envelops his personality. I love my father. He did everything he could with what he had. I was and continue to be a willful child. Perhaps this is a penance. God is merciful, and just. He sees all, knows all, is all. My life has at times read like a cautionary tale. I just hope God will allow me to finish strong, for my boy's sake.

Not a great deal of goings-on in the market today. I've got several prospects for the listings we represent, and a motivated buyer or two. But today was blah, with lots of busy work and mailings to prepare. Hopefully the weekend produces activity which makes my clients happy, and my college fund more than negligible.

Tomorrow is promised to no one. Until tomorrow...

Posted by: Paul @ 1:03 AM

Quick synopsis on Ryan. Not a good day, not a bad day... but another day nonetheless. He's gained more weight, but they put his blinders back on and cranked up the lighting once again. They say it's routine, and that they're constantly tweaking things to find the optimal settings. Sounds very analytical, until it's your boy lying there under the lights, breathing through a tube, and battling for every bit of a toehold he can gain on life. I love him so much that I am having trouble maintaining this somewhat stalwart exterior. He makes me feel empowered and impotent at once. And from what I've deciphered of parenting, that feeling is for keeps.

I just want him to live, and to come home to us. Whenever... just so long as he makes his debut in our humble abode. The felines are waiting.

I am scanning the MLS, looking at some of the new developments in and around my area of expertise. There is such a great inventory, it shocks me that some of these products aren't moving. Have a look for yourselves. In every price range, there are intriguing offerings.

The homes in Country Club Estates are starting to gather dust, and there are some DEALS to be had. This solitary golf home surrounded fore and aft by DeLand Country Club's 14th tee and 16th green, is coming into focus as a potentially good buy in the low 200's. There is nothing to which it can be compared, location-wise, in this community.

Cross over 17-92, and the opportunities abound on and around the McGregor Road corridor. In every price range, in every imaginable configuration, and the appreciation in this area has rivaled the power band on a shuttle launch.

Headache and some congestion... must go sniffle now. There's a schweet home on five acres about to be listed on McGregor Road. It's a looker, a real gentleman's farm. The sign is up but there's nothing in the multi-list yet. Methinks a REALTOR is trying to double dip before offering it to general brokerage. Hard to blame him, with the price likely to be in the $5-600k range, that kind of commission buys a lot of Cheetos.

later much

Posted by: Paul @ 1:25 AM

Fatherhood... quite a concept. We got some good footage of Ryan today. He was sleeping and getting a bit o' blood when we arrived this afternoon. Vicky was his nurse/caregiver/angel straight from on high today. She really digs him, and we had an invigorating if short visit. I'm still not feeling my best, and wearing a Jacko mask made me the source of many an odd look and snicker in the NICU. That's okay, I doubt it will be the last time I make a fool of myself for my kid. Barring a miracle, it looks as though Ryan will have to go through a minor procedure to close the PDA valve next to his heart. The treatments didn't close the hole entirely, and rather than undergo another round of Endicin(sp?) the doctors opted for the procedure, which will hopefully hasten the development of his lungs and wean him from the respirator.

He gained a little weight over the last 24 hours, and with the blinders off he looks completely different. There is still the specter of brain bleeds, as the latest head CT revealed no significant change in either direction. We'll pray that this situation rectifies itself. He's such a good boy, and every time he moves is like a clap of thunder in my heart. God is merciful and good. And I must say, since this site may once-in-a-while morph into a soapbox, anyone who feels that "a woman's right to choose" is a sufficient argument for termination may want to amble through the NICU and see what real self-determination looks like.

Speaking of all things political, it looks as though the butler from the Addams Family will be the last man standing on the Democratic ticket. I cannot wait to see him debate Dubya. My money's on the tooth-chippin' Texan.

There is a lot of scuttlebutt about the potential changing of the guard in Orlando. Not such a bad thing, as Eisner may be the closest thing to a demon that corporate America has ever created. Disney's products are increasingly suspect, and the recent split with Pixar showed how much of a cocoon had been spun around the Executive washroom. Folks are worried that this, and rumblings about a Comcast takeover will affect the tourism industry. Nonsense. The attractions are a cash cow. Comcast is just doing what any shark does when it smells blood in the water. I look for the deal to get done.

Busy day in the Volusia market. Every once in a while a home will become available in The Timbers, which is one of the newer and more choice 'hoods adjacent to the Arvida community at Victoria Park. The asking price is a bit ambitious, but as I've said before, get it while you can. There are exactly zero homes for sale in the neighborhood, so the timing is impeccable. Note to self, call a few of your headier clients, tell them "time to sell."

The fact that this 5 year-old beauty has yet to sell is beyond me. It's in a great location, on a nice, private street, and has all of the amenities, save one. It is a three bedroom home, and buyers in this range will probably look for 4 beds. Nice shack, though... and it will eventually capture someone's heart.

I've got a showing on my home in Lake Lindley tomorrow. Fingers crossed, smiles everyone... SMILES! The sellers are so nice, and they've already bought a beautiful home in Victoria Park. I really want to get this deal done for them. Hopefully, this will be the buyer. We've reduced the price from $165,900 to $161,900. I'm getting little or no activity on the two listings in Country Club Estates. That sort of irks me, but these things go in cycles. Note to self, call sellers tomorrow, tell them not to panic.

Gots to gots to get some sleep tonight. Things are returning to a pseudo-sense of normalcy. All we need now is a li'l boy in the house, screaming for milk and terrorizing the cats. Oh, what a day that'll be.

Posted by: Paul @ 9:58 PM

What a day! Not necessarily my end of it, for the cold that appeared yesterday has settled in for a visit. I've coughed up something resembling a baby seal at least ten times today. But I digress...

Didn't get to see the boy today, but the wife made the trek (like she could go a day without laying hands on him.) He gained an astonishing 10 ounces in the past 24 hours. He's over 2 lbs.! A huge milestone, and probably short-lived, as the young 'uns tend to gain and lose more than Liz Taylor in the first weeks of life. Other achievements weren't so short-lived. His umbilical IV feeding was disconnected, and he is taking fluids and MOMMIE'S MILK in his adorable li'l mouth. The lights over his incubator were turned off, and he is in a warm, moist and dark environment. Sound familiar? The docs are monitoring the heart valve condition as well as any head swelling. So far, so good. Laura got to look at him, all of him, for a good hour and a half. Wonder of wonders, they say we may be able to hold him in a couple of days. Absolutely miraculous. Yesterday, we attended the Christian Church at Deleon Springs. A strong dose of God's love is always the ticket when our tiny brains can't grasp the chaotic dance of life. Laura made it about five minutes before breaking down, and the majority of the service was spent holding and consoling her. Afterward, the Pastor and three church elders prayed with us. The presence of God was palpable. And today was so rewarding. Who knows what tomorrow will yield. Today was a reward in itself. Our boy is almost 9 days old.

I'm in hot pursuit of a few very attractive parcels of vacant land in some prime locations. There is such a need for salable and buildable land in Southwest Volusia County. People are going insane with their asking prices, and here is a case in point. I mean, we've got recent sales which will support over $50k/acre, but this is borderline goofy. Hey, more power to them. It makes an appraiser's job a living hell.

Ah, what the heck do I know? It's not like I do this for a living. Oh, wait...

tootles 'til tomorrow and hang in there, Ryan Walker!

Posted by: Paul @ 11:38 PM

Just finished watching the Academy Awards. Not the entire torturous show, mind you... just the last few minutes while my wife does battle with her lactation machine. Watching these horrifically self-involved people pat themselves on the back for their entirely forgettable work is so painful that it borders on pitiable.

Looks as though Lord of the Rings takes home all of the hardware. One prominent face was not in the audience, that of Mel Gibson. The scuttlebutt is that he didn't want to get booed. I doubt Mel gives a hoot what any of the pinheads in this auditorium think of him. Oh, and here's another reason why he may not be there... it's PAYDAY!

There's something so unsettling about the entertainment industry. When a trained monkey like Sean Penn starts his acceptance speech with a crack about "no WMDs," it makes my head spin. If there weren't serious people making difficult decisions about our country's safety, then the Sean Penns of the world would not be permitted to ply their indulgent little trade. But that's me, just a peon in "flyover country." It only matters what those deep thinkers in New York and California feel is right for our grand experiment.

Nitey nite!

Posted by: Paul @ 12:14 AM

So let's get this straight. I'm roughly 250 times heavier than my boy, and I'm the one who's run down?! He's battling every possible ailment that can be thrown at an infant, yet I had to stay at home today because this ridiculous sleep-deprived schedule has finally sidelined me. Nothing major, just a cold and the accompanying runny nose, etc... exactly what my son does NOT need to experience. Thus, my self-imposed banishment. But there is news, and some of it is inspiring.

Laura and her friend (and our neighbor) Agnes made the trip and loved on young Ryan for around 3 hours. Today was a good day, on many levels. He was calm, and alert. His "blinders" were off for a time, and mother and son looked adoringly into each others eyes. Weight gain was significant, over 2 ounces in the past twenty-four hours. Finally, he took in his first mother's milk. Just a cc every six hours, but it made my wife feel as though her efforts over the past week were worthwhile. He is one week old today. Actually, he is one week and 19 hours old. Every day he is with us is so rewarding, we are so blessed! One day soon, we'll be able to hold him. I may want to pack an extra hanky or two. We are still waiting for new head scans, and another echo-cardiogram to confirm the results of his treatment for PDA valve closure. But today... ah, today was a good day.

Our neighborhood is really on the upswing, as evidenced by some of the recent sale prices of erstwhile ordinary homes. The tide may be turning back in the buyer's favor, as sellers are getting a bit ambitious. Case in point, this REALTOR-owned offering just listed today. This home is located on the corner of my street and a rather busy thoroughfare. It will be interesting to see how this home fares, as I am listing two homes with more amenities and for similar or less money. One other item of note, this licensed REALTOR is offering a reduced commission to a co-operating broker. An amazing insult, and something that will probably influence the sale of the home. Remember, folks.... REALTORS never determine if a home gets sold, but they invariably determine if a home gets shown. Skimping on a commission when you're in the business shows a lack of belief in the power of the MLS. Just my opinion.

I'm going to take a look at these two potential investments tomorrow. The good news is that the homes are next door to each other, and offer a built-in tenant base because of their proximity to Stetson University. The bad news is that, while they have been somewhat updated, the homes are both over 80 years old. "They don't build 'em like they used to" is a cute and catchy phrase, but they're old and they're rental properties, i.e. they've been lived-in, and then some. We'll see. Hey, if the numbers work, it's worth exploring.

Posted by: Paul @ 9:27 PM

Almost forgot the best part of the day. Michael and Connie Hughes are transplanted Floridians from Chicago who've recently joined DeLand Country Club. They live in Lake Helen, which is an idyllic and charming hamlet to the east of DeLand. Mike is an actor/director/writer, an ARTEEEST! Connie shares his artistic flare and was a Kindergarden teacher for 30-plus years. They graciously invited us to dinner, and we unwound while Mike cooked with a flare. From the BBQ chicken through the peach cobbler, the meal was a delight, and the company divine.

Moments like this... indeed.

Posted by: Paul @ 1:14 AM

Late, late... again. A long day that included some down time (nine quick holes of golf at DeLand Country Club.) Paying a few bills and generally catching up with "thank you's" and responses to the outpouring of love and support that has accompanied the arrival of our son, and a priceless 2 hour visit with Ryan. He lost all of the weight gained the day prior, and because he was so active, they sedated him. If a premature infant sleeps, a premature infant grows. He responded to our touch, and our voices, but we thought it best to let him rest and grow. His treatments continue for the closure of the PDA valve near his heart, and hopefully the next head CT will reveal a better prognosis for recovery and growth. I'll get pix up here soon enough, but right now my brain doesn't have the capacity to decipher a new ftp for uploading images. Don't you worry, I'm on the case tomorrow... or not.

Completely off topic--heard a song today by Allison Krauss and Union Station called "moments like this." Perhaps it is because of the events of the past week (what perhaps... it's DEFINITELY because of the last week!) but these lyrics seem especially poignant. Rather than link, I'll post them here. When sung by her distinctive and crystalline voice, one cannot help but be moved.


What a dying world re-defines, the reasons we strive to exist
Refrain control and we're bound to learn the meaning of moments like this
Cuz in the peaceful lull, the quiet ..
Seduced by the promise of bliss, we soon forget that nothing's happened yet
We're living for moments like this

So hold me, whisper gently this is what we live for, how we learn who we are
It defines us, ever reminding us that life never is more precious than this

From the dim light in the greyness, the aim of the soul tends to miss
then the clouds catch fire and the oceans pitch
we're made for the moments like this

So hold me, whisper gently that there's nothing to fear
You'll always be near, to remind me, to stand behind me
Although life can be rough we can never give up

It's in our power to face the storm with all its fury and madness
The flash of thunder will be harnessed with the longing and sadness
The clouds will grey.

Hold me. Whisper gently this is what we live for, how we learn how we are
It defines us, ever reminding us that life never is more precious than this
Hold me. Whisper gently that there's nothing to fear,
You'll alway's be near, to remind me, stand behind me
Although life can be rough we can never give up.

Had a crazy call from a potential buyer who made a cash offer on a home that I am listing. He made a good offer, and I got a response from my seller, and now this buyer has simply vanished. Ah, the life of a wheeler-dealer. The shame of it is that the home on Orangewood is a nice buy, in a lakeside community. There are sales in the area to support the price, and the home is nice inside and out. Patience is a virtue, because I want this baby off of the board but quick, and the sellers are trying hard to get the home sold.

The Nyquil is kicking in, and yours truly is bleary-eyed. I've got a couple of deals for the bargain hunters, which I'll mention in tomorrow's entry. Say a prayer as you log off to saw logs.

Posted by: Paul @ 1:07 AM