Maybe I'm manic. Yeah, that's the ticket... manic!

The pace of business is so frenetic that to properly describe it would require the accompanying visuals of a bungee cord and blender. I've been working with a couple who has been desperately looking for a four bedroom home at a three bedroom price. Not an easy item to find when inventory is flying off of the shelves like the day after Thanksgiving at WalMart. I happened across what looks to be the perfect home and, horror of horrors, it has been available for almost a week now. How I missed this offering is beyond me, as I check the MLS for clients at least thrice daily. Say a silent prayer that this creampuff is still available come daylight. I'm not holding out any hope.

The day starts early tomorrow, with a client meeting to discuss the sale of a portfolio, and then lunch with a potential investor that should yield interest in some hot properties in the area. Boy, for a minute there I sounded important.

"Gloria, hold some of my calls."

Sorry, a little Rodney Dangerfield humor there.

Ryan Walker Long is gaining weight, ladies and gents. The report from Sharon, the Nurse Practitioner on call today, was largely positive. He is now 3 lbs. 14 oz., and the little virus scare which had him isolated for a day or two turned out to be a false alarm. On the other hand, the eye doctor doesn't totally approve of the way Ryan's retinas are developing. He has moved to level 2 of ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity.) It is cause for concern, but worrying will not add one second to our lives or his. As Laura and I moved into position for a holding session this evening, we encountered another parent whose child is not faring so well. Anna Rose was born at 24 weeks, and mommy had no chance to help her with steroid shots or any developmental options for her tiny lungs. At this moment she is struggling for life and breath, and parents have steeled themselves for certain possibilities. Anna's mother seemed at peace, and I could only mumble our sentiments. We experienced tempered joy at our son's progress, and in the car afterward cried in each other's arms.

God, if you're blogging right now... watch over young Anna Rose. If it's your will, she'll attend all of our funerals.

Ryan hasn't had any spells recently, and slowly but surely he's relieving himself of breathing assistance. The hugs and kisses were plentiful tonight, and before we left some real fun was had with our new digital camera. I've got to load some software, and then I'll fake like I'm reading the manual but really just push a few buttons until a rudimentary understanding is achieved (who do I look like... Annie Leibovitz?) Maybe an obscure reference, but my point is made. With little prompting, I got some off-the-cuff gems out of the staff, and come tomorrow... they'll be immortalized on this site.

If management finds out, come Monday they'll all be polishing their resumes.

Hmm, maybe I'll hold the incriminating photos as a sort of Ace up my sleeve. Threaten to wave 'em around if the boy doesn't get an extra serving of milk or a monitor that picks up ESPN instead of all that vital signs crap.

Okay, I'm officially loopy.

Nite, boy. I use this line with your mom all of the time, and I'm gonna begin co-branding it to you now.
"Love ya, love ya... can't get enough of ya!"

Posted by: Paul @ 1:06 AM

Just another day in paradise. Ryan is tipping the scales at a whopping 1700 grams. That's right, our boy is now 3 lbs. 12.8 oz., and a recent blood transfusion has done wonders for his overall demeanor. Last night I held him inside his isolette for thirty minutes, just staring at his earnest little face. He is substantial now, more a boy than a science project.

The nurses who care for him are a savory lot. Their comments on his condition vary from clinical to downright ribald, and we lap it up. Their tenacity and personal dedication to his and all the infants' conditions is contagious. They make us want to do more, to be more, for our son. How do you thank someone, or a team of exceptional someones, for a miracle that's made to look routine?

Today dawned as it settled... with a glorious sheen. Florida is THE spot in America, if not on Earth. DeLand, well... let's just say that DeLand is no longer a well-kept secret. Before the final bell rang on the real estate business day, my intrepid assistant J. Ryan Hardy and I had contracted almost $300,000 of buildable land and had primed the pump for some lovely new offerings to the Southwest Volusia exclusive homes market. Having a decade of real estate representation under my belt is useful, but the fact is that this is the hottest market in the country. Don't believe me? Scan this short article and let me know where you think all of the business is heading?

The time to move, or invest, is right now! And if you email me, I'll put you in touch with a good REALTOR.

This evening was spent in the company of some great and earthy folks from a tennis facility to the north of DeLand. Located in a community named Brandywine, the courts are visible from 17-92, and the food served in the clubhouse is excellent. The matches are invariably boisterous, and the post-game banter is spun gold. Win, lose or draw, I wouldn't miss spending time with the Brandywine team for all the pudding at the fixin's bar.

Actually, it's this fabric of life which reaffirms our decision to move here in the first place. Life's pace is more managable in the South, and this is helping us to cope with our boy's sojourn. The outpouring of concern and support is truly intoxicating. We are blessed... so, so blessed.


The AM will bring new musings, and real estate tidbits. Until then...

Thank you, God.

Love you, son.

Posted by: Paul @ 1:46 AM