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Posted by: Paul @ 7:15 PM

Another good day for Ryan Walker Long. He and momma bonded for over an hour, and he was awake and quite interested in her facial features. He grabbed at her lips, he stared intently, and generally made sure that she knew how adorable he is. Laura has been a bit weepy the past few days. Overall, she has been the uber-wife and mom, resolute and strong. Every so often she'll hear something, or watch something, and the tears will come. The starkest dichotomy I've ever experienced is during those moments, when part of me wants to tear down the universe to ease her pain, while the other is so grateful to live through those moments of vulnerability with her. From the beginning it's been guarded optimism, in those first tenuous hours, through the breathlessness of Ryan's initial bout with pneumonia, his surgery, and the rather ostentatious swings in weight. Days became weeks, weeks will soon transform into months (this Sunday will be eight weeks,) and we're beginning to feel the effects of our own spiritual "isolette." It's been there our whole lives, but it has taken someone so small to bring us a message so vast. This snippet is a recurring theme, but it still resonates: He is without flaw. He is our son. Please keep him in your prayers.

Sometimes I get a bit mushy, too. This evening I happened over an old Nike advertisement that, when I first read it, reduced me to a whimpering fish. I long for the day when these (amongst many other) words can be read to my son.

Too often we are scared. Scared of what we might not be able to do. Scared of what people might think if we tried. We let our fears stand in the way of our hopes. We say no when we want to say yes. We sit quietly when we want to scream. And we shout with the others, when we should keep our mouths shut. Why? After all,we do only go around once. There's really no time to be afraid. So stop. Try something you've never tried. Risk it. Enter a triathlon. Write a letter to the editor. Demand a raise. Call winners at the toughest court. Throw away your television. Bicycle across the United States. Try bobsledding. Try anything. Speak out against the designated hitter. Travel to a country where you don't speak the language. Patent something. Call him or her.You have nothing to lose and everything everything everything to gain.

Wow, not bad for a Swoosh.

Here's a story about tenacity which will amaze the most jaded amongst us.

Finally, the highly-anticipated Rolling Oaks Estates properties in South DeLand are being marketed in general brokerage. By the looks of the renderings, I'd recommend you bring the checkbook! The location, however, is very strong, and the development will soon be known as "High Rolling Oaks." Already a million dollar home for sale on the block, and another one whose owner we've talked with and who would consider the same if the right offer came a callin'.

Our very own Susan Turnbull has listed another very salable property in the Glenwood area. Initially, it looks like a good dollar value for the square footage, and Sue's been on a hot streak that would make Barry Bonds feel like a slack-jawed loser.

The next time you hear someone bad-mouthing this great nation and it's fighting spirit, bust out a copy of this picture. Sent to me by a military friend, it stopped me dead in my email-reading, Viagra-spam deleting tracks. We have no problems, because these ballsy folks have assumed them all. They are the guardians of my right to... well... write. They are the keepers of the faith. Question ANYONE who questions their veracity.

Rates are creeping up, and the time to lock in and do something is now. Real estate opportunities in DeLand have never been more plentiful, and I hope you'll feel comfortable enough from reading this blog to contact me for any real estate assistance you may need.

Good nite for now... and Ryan, mind the nurses!

Posted by: Paul @ 1:16 AM

Say it with me, people. Three EL BEES!! That's right, our own miniature version of "Rocky" is now a 3 pound porker. He looks so good, so healthy and is sooooo verbose. He's crying, and making a concerted effort to get the attention of everyone present in the NICU.

The CPAP (Ryan not in photo, just an example of the equipment) was replaced today with a nasal cannula. This is a huge deal, as he is a step closer to breathing on his own. His numbers are great, his blood gases are good, and he is ever more alert. With fewer nodes strapped to him, he looks more like a boy and less like an appliance ("We'd love for you to see our son. Do you have a three-pronged outlet?")

Our visit today was stupendous, as we bantered with the staff and Laura held and kissed a vocal and hefty Ryan Walker Long. Looking at him makes me realize exactly how few issues there are in life. The next time someone throws around the threadbare phrase "life sucks," look them in the eye and give them your best Jim Carrey version of "REEEEEEEEHHHHHEEEEEAAALLLLYYYYY."

I'm going to hit it, as today's efforts were directed entirely to demolition and prepping for upgrades to our master bathroom. Pulling up 22 year-old vinyl was lovely, and thanks for asking. The wallpaper (a hideous disco-era mistake that, when viewed for thirty seconds reveals one of those creepy 3-D images... an underwater scene perhaps, or sometimes a spaceship!) came off without protest. Tomorrow is paint, Friday is tile, Saturday grout and Sunday will be fixtures. Let's pray that the schedule isn't too ambitious.

Real estate notes of interest. My broker received an angry phone message from a client I dropped last week. She didn't appreciate the email I sent her which described her behavior throughout the process as "deplorable." For two months I called and emailed her BEGGING for a price adjustment, and nary a peep. Now when I tell her to pound sand, she has a big problem with my communication skills. Hard to get happy after that, eh?

Think that prices are going up around Central Florida? Count your blessings.


Nite, Ryan. You're doing great, boy!

Posted by: Paul @ 1:04 AM

A robust 1310 grams, yes... our boy is now 2 lbs. and almost 15 oz. Ryan has enjoyed a string of good days, and is now in a semi-private and oh-so quiet room adjacent to the NICU. It is so edifying to see him every day. With God's grace, I'll be able to express to him how much it means to us. Ryan Walker, you are our daily sustenance. Not in the motivational speaker sort of way. More in a "sense of possibilities" sort of way. He's just beautiful, and we're trying to keep a level head here at the Long compound but the thought of him occupying space in our domicile is all-consuming.

He is breathing with less and less assistance, and the nurses have taken such a shine to him. The whole experience is making us stronger as a family, and we have yet to actually do anything as a family. Imagine that. Ryan cried for us today, a throaty and lusty burst that sounded like a squeaky toy. We couldn't have been prouder if he had split the atom.

Saw "Passion of the Christ" this weekend. It is experiencing quite an Easter (gotta do it) resurrection at the box office. It was a bit "Braveheart"-ish in its presentation, but the overall effect of the film was staggering. Two criticisms that I've heard repeatedly (invariably from the soulless minions at the larger daily rags, and the agenda-driven spokesmonkeys who line up for Larry King's softball pablum) are 1.) too violent, and 2.) anti-Semitic overtones. This is nonsense. Newsflash for those who never prioritized a quick scan through some Biblical highlights: how do YOU interpret the verse which says that "his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men." [Isaiah 52:14] Sounds like a serious whoopin' to me. Yet these same critics who hail heinous trash like "Scream" and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" somehow draw the line at the greatest story ever told.

As far as the Jewish question goes, Gibson answered this politically correct tripe during that Q&A fiasco with bubble-headed Diane Sawyer when he said that "there were Romans, and Jews present in Jerusalem... no Norweigans." After this remark, Sawyer had a look that resembled savages discovering fire.

My review... perhaps the only movie since Titanic that is truly worth seeing.

Say, how was this guy's Easter?

Some of the best golf action in a decade, and I hope that this nasty stretch of road is choking on her protest signs. This tournament had it all. Three holes-in-one (two of themoccurringg within ten minutes of each other,) an amateur beating Tiger Woods in total score, and a final nine holes that left me breathless. Somewhere, an advertising firm is raking in the cash after concocting the easiest slogan in history. "These Guys Are Good!"

Alright, sleepy time. This week will be such an amazing real estate week, I can just feel it. Call for details. Or email. Heck, if you're still into smoke signals... I'm game.

'Night, Ryan.

Posted by: Paul @ 12:02 AM