Peeing cars and mouse terds...

You ever have one of those stretches of days where it's just like, really? really? is this my day?  Let's go back a bit.  We bought a new (to us) used van this summer.  I went to turn the heater on the other day and it didn't work (no, I didn't turn the heater on when we bought it-lesson learned).  And I noted that I should take it in and then didn't get around to it for a week.  The check engine light then came on-so I took it in.  So, I'm not car savvy at all-but here is what I can gather.  It has a blocked heater core and needs a new one-this took a very long time for them to ascertain and I was a little worried if they actually knew what they were talking about at the time.  So $500 later and we have a new heater core, etc...and I drive my van away on Wed. before Thanksgiving.  We go to Grandma Kathy's for Thanksgiving in the van.  All was well. 
Friday, we get home from the store and as I step out of the van the fridge in the garage is going crazy-the noise is loud.  I go to unplug it and wonder-where am I going to stick the 3 (yes, I said 3) turkeys that are frozen inside.  As I am doing this, I see the kids crouched at the front of the van-which is "peeing" liquid out the bottom of it, yelling, "mom-the van is leaking."  Fantastic-"just let me get the fridge kids, and I'll be right there!"  Fridge is unplugged-I call the mechanic who says it's probably nothing, bring it over.  So, I take it over-well it's coolant-after a long look and discussion about power steering fluid, transmission fluid (all of which sounded like very expensive "fluid problems" to me).  He assures me it's probably a hose or connection that is now leaking since the coolant is running through the heater correctly.  Probably $30 or $40.  Bring it in tomorrow. 
I go home-with the 4 kids I've had in the van this whole time and send them inside as I go to check the fridge.  After vacuuming all around the thing, I decide I'm going to have to get behind it and remove the cover and clean down by the fan.  As I'm pushing and shoving the fridge, I decide I should go and get shoes, because I broke my toe 4 weeks ago falling on a ladder in the garage while I was cleaning (without shoes, as Phill was so kind to point out lol).  I finally get to where I can reach and vacuum.  It was a piece of plastic stuck in the fan making the noise-thank goodness.  But here's the great part-as I was vacuuming there was something stuck under the fan part.  I reach in and grab it and pulled it out and it's a furry, bony mass of dead mouse with a circle of crusted dirt where it's body juices have leaked out and congealed it all together(please see photo below).  Gross-"Londyn,"  I scream, "get me the hand sanitizer."  Fridge is fixed. 

I take the van in the next day.  And I wait, and wait for a call.  I finally call-oh they can't look at it today, they'll do it Monday.  Then a call an hour later-uh, we checked it and it's leaking a lot, you probably shouldn't drive it at all (I had suggested I may come get it and bring it back Monday).  They tell me it might be the radiator.  I asked how much that is, "uh, not sure, we have great parts people though and you'll just have to wait for Monday."  Do you know that labor, just the labor, is 98 bucks an hour?  Why have I not been working on becoming a mechanic???? 
Sunday-they ask me to subsitute in the Wild West Circus Primary class, where I have to take my 2 year old because he will not go to nursery.  As I sit down, the child to my right has tissue hanging out his nose with blood all over it.  The kids to my left won't sit down and keep on making Dresdyn crazy.  One kid is throwing her sweater in the air continually, another is wondering all over the place,  the little boy next to me says "church just takes too long to get over somedays" (I quietly agree).  As the lady is doing sharing time-Dresdyn notices the picture of Jesus on the wall and is screaming at the top of his lungs over and over "JESUS!"  Meanwhile the boy with the bloody nose is playing "train" with all the chairs.  One of the little girls will not stop hugging/smothering her best friend by her.  Dresdyn is trying to run everywhere.  I go to help Irelynd with her closing prayer and she won't do it so I say the prayer while holding Dresdyn.  (Irelynd has just started going to Primary on her own the last couple of weeks-yeah!)  As I go to sit down the Primary President tells me, "she's better when you aren't here."  And then we went to the classroom-more craziness-I think I'm going to sit church out for 2013...
Well my small hose leak turned into a cracked radiator-another $500 and a whole day of sitting at home again with no car and finally at 5:30 they call and tell me it's ready, everything should be great-they've checked it all.  Driving home from Aunt Lyn's less than 4 hours after I pick up the van the check engine light comes on....we'll see what tomorrow brings....
On one hand, I am very grateful it's only car problems-in the grand scheme of things, not really important, right?  Money will come and go (I am trying to convince myself of this lol)  I have read so many stories about people lately that really do have horrible things happening in their lives and with their health, etc... and I'm grateful for healthy kids, a nice home, enough money to pay the mechanic, Phill's job, our friends and family, food in the cupboards, etc...
On the other hand, really????