Sweet Dreams

posted by Momo Fali on August 21, 2011

When my husband and I got married, we were just starting out career-wise. It had only been two years since he graduated from college (and three years since I dropped out).

We needed…everything. Within one year of our wedding, we bought a washer, dryer, car, dog…oh, and a house that needed to be completely renovated and furnished. And, just shy of our one year anniversary, I got pregnant. Hindsight, people. At the very least, get a home that’s move-in ready.

When I say that our house needed to be renovated, I’m not exaggerating when I say we had to gut it. With the exception of the some wood floors and some of the walls, everything has been replaced. Wiring, plumbing, windows and the roof (twice), just to name a few things. The fence, patio, new kitchen and three new bathrooms seem so minor.

To say the least, we didn’t plan well. Life went and threw a wrench into things when our daughter was born more than 10 weeks early. I quit my well-paying job and became the mom and caregiver of a fragile, 2 lb. 9 oz. baby on a heart monitor. But, hey! At least my cabinets were pretty!

Guess what? Preemie stuff is expensive, yo’. And, three years later, we had another one! With congenital heart disease! For roughly 13 years, I have been able to open my wallet and see dust settling where the dollar bills should be.

This means that nothing gets replaced. Ever. This means that I have been driving the same car for 14 years and sleeping on the same mattress that my sister used when she had my first nephew. He is getting ready to turn 26. I know, gross, right? What’s a girl to do?

Well, a girl can have really awesome friends, that’s what.

See, my friend Casey found out that I have been taking an Ambien and putting myself to bed on our couch for quite some time now. Thirty year old beds don’t have a lot of support and, apparently, my back wants that. My back is so needy.

When Casey heard about my predicament, she sent me a message and said, “I am going to make it my mission to get you a bed.”

Then she did.

She entered a photo contest and won me a new, Serta bed. I love her.

Not just any bed, either. It’s beautiful, and soft, and supportive and it has an adjustable base so that I can sleep sitting up and my husband can lie down, because that’s what old people do! As soon as it gets here, you will all have to suffer through pictures of me showing you this. I apologize in advance.

Recently, we had to break down and get a new washer. My children are also needy. They’re always wanting clean underwear, and stuff.

My husband and a friend lugged the old machine to the curb and within minutes a man had pulled up in a truck and asked for help loading it. Minutes! I had no time to prepare. I had to watch as my washer bounced down the street in the back of a pick-up as I thought of all of the poop, pee, vomit, Thanksgiving turkey drippings, baby food and every other thing that machine had helped me clean.

I have to admit, I shed a tear.

But, when the mattress goes away for good. I’m totally going to throw a slumber party.

    Comments

  • Melisa


    Casey is AWESOME. (and a little sweaty–in the most lovable way–but that’s another post altogether!) Yay for fantastic friends!!!

    • Momo Fali


      Well, I’m almost certain that she is not as sweaty as me. I believe there is a certain photo of me in Brooklyn with a napkin stuck to my forehead to prove this, no?

      • Melisa


        Yes. Want me to post it?

        • Melisa


          P.S. Next year in NYC I may bring you a bedazzled handkerchief to carry around so you don’t have to walk around with napkins stuck to your body.

        • Momo Fali


          My last post mentioned my nervous poops. A picture of a napkin on my forehead does not bother me. A beach ball under my shirt, yes. A napkin, no.

  • kimberly/tippytoes


    What a great helper. Enjoy your new bed!

  • Suebob


    I love this crazy happy blogging world we are creating!

    • Momo Fali


      It chokes me up. For real.

  • Adventures In Babywearing


    I love this story! So happy for you. Casey has a heart of
    gold.

    Steph

  • pgoodness


    She is awesome. I am SO glad you’re getting a new bed!

  • Jenny from Mommin' It Up


    Love this! So sweet. Enjoy that bed! I need a new brain. Three kids have fried mine. CASEY? You in?

  • jennifer jones


    Well, Diane and I go way back. So many little kid, old school memories that made my childhood include Diane. I love them and her. I know that to this day she continues to be the friend that deserves the cream of the crop friends in return.
    Lots of love to you Diane, its been a hoot reading your stories. Although on diff sides of the country our lives have similar threads. Thanks for the good reads.
    xoxo ~ Jenny Roche

  • moosh in indy.


    WHY ISN’T IT HERE YEEETTTT?

    • Melisa


      Can’t you do something about that? You ARE a miracle worker and all…
      πŸ™‚

  • Lynn @ Walking With Scissors


    Ok, first off, YAY for Casey!! You rule all, woman. πŸ™‚

    Secondly, I’m pretty sure throwing a slumber party isn’t the first thing you’re going to want to do on that new bed.

  • DadofAli


    Mom and a friend get to move the old king size bed out πŸ˜‰ Thanks a MILLION to Casey! I wish I wouldn’t have pushed you down that waterpark slide now πŸ™‚

  • Zak


    Awesomesauce.

  • ascapecodturns


    Yay for Casey!!! I would like to be invited to your slumber party please πŸ™‚

  • Frelle


    Casey is one of my very favorite people, and her generosity and willingness to to give back to others in any way she can is not the least of why I love her. I’m so glad you wrote to tell us what she did for you πŸ™‚

  • UP


    Plans are usually changed by life…and friends!

    UP

  • By Word of Mouth Musings


    LOVE happy stories on a Monday morning. Good friends are like little Earth angels taking care of us .. glad she is yours πŸ˜‰

  • Heather


    I am so excited for you. Enjoy your new bed!

  • Tessica


    Yay for a new bed! I slept all through college and grad school on one a friend gave me that was her childhood mattress and that she had been concieved on (I tried not to think on that much). When I finally got “grown up enough” and realized a mattress was a priority I couldn’t believe the difference it made!

  • Deb


    What an amazing gesture and a great friend! She must be one very special lady, but then so are you to inspire such an effort, and gift! Yeah for you both, you are both winners in this situation!

  • Julie


    Ugh, SO excited for you! You deserve a nice new mattress! Great friends are the best!

  • AlisonH


    That’s. So. COOL!!!!

  • Vixen


    Amazing. Our community is amazing. Also? I am SO FREAKING JEALOUS. I need someone to make it their mission to get my bad back a new bed….ha ha

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