Monday, August 02, 2010

Life

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Monday, July 19, 2010

Little Big Family

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So as it turns out I think I can do this. Not that this is a huge accomplishment that many others have not already done before me but now I know. To date list of why I think I can do this:

* Came home from hospital with new baby. Check

* Stayed in house or on perimeter of a fore mentioned house until Saturday. Check

* Kept housework and laundry relatively up to date. Check

* Went on walk around Neighborhood with 3 children alone. Check

* Went to Walmart with 3 children, Not alone. Check

* Went 3 houses down the street to friend's house for dinner. Check

* Went to Church with 3 children. Not alone. Check

* Got 3 children in and out of car seats in relatively small car for first Dr.s appt. and one small store. alone(didn't do the visit alone I confess. Double Check.

Conclusion? If I can get 3 children in and out of a small car with out a mental breakdown. I will have no problem with my new norm.
So far so good. Jasper is about as perfect as babies come. For some reason (I know its crazy) he keeps reminding me of a well made butter-cream frosting. So so sweet and beautiful, smooth and buttery. I think we may even be slipping into a sleep routine. A darn good one too if you ask me. To bed at 10pm up for snack at 2ish down to sleep up for snack at 5:30am down for nap until Mommy wakes him up. I couldn't be more pleased with it. During the day he sleeps till its time to eat then watches me for a few minutes if I'm lucky or if he is very tired goes right back to sleep. He smiles a lot and is in general a very sweet child.
James loves Jasper and loves to help. He can't wait for him to grow so he can share his bed with him. :) Ellie likes to help with diaper changes and the rest just kind of slips by her.
So now I'm off to vacuum, and write in Jasper's baby book.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Jasper Mathias

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Tuesday, March 16, 2010

I didn't make it

Well, the whole gang showed up at about 5:00 this evening and I wasn't quite done. I was still struggling with the crown molding, which still isn't up. But I did make a significant amount of progress today and should finish tomorrow. Lanette was a little overwhelmed coming home to this...

For some strange reason, she thought that the bathroom remodel project would be contained to the bathroom. But she was somewhat appeased by the progress made.


Hopefully tomorrow I will post completed pictures with the tub and sink installed. My list is substantially smaller for tomorrow than it was today. I just need to install the tub, sink, connect water to the toilet, install crown molding, paint door and window trim, and touch up trim. I can then start on the upstairs remodel which has a July 21 deadline. Good night all.

Just one more day!!!

Lanette and the kids will be back tomorrow night. Will I be done? Probably not quite. Will the house be cleaned? Definitely not. In addition to working 40 hours last week and battling some kind of sinus/lymph node infection, I have the tile down, grout in, bead board installed, floor trim installed, walls and ceiling mudded and all the trim painted, but I still have to finish sanding, paint the walls and ceiling, install, caulk and touch up the trim where needed, paint the trim existing door trim, medicine cabinet, and window trim, seal the grout, install the light and fan cover, and install outlet and switch covers. Then I will be ready to install the toilet, sink and tub, as well as the ring for the shower curtain. I'd like to do all that tomorrow between 7AM and 2PM before I have to go to work. I am hoping I'll have a little help in the morning from some friends but there's no guarantee.

Here are a few pics of the progress over the last week.

The tile nearly all installed

The tub back from the sand blaster. The side that shows was very pitted from rust so I had to bondo and sand it which took nearly 1/2 a day. It's finally all painted and ready to install. I think it looks like a dead animal.

First coat of mud. Since nothing in this room was square, I've been using a lot of mud.

Tile complete, bead board and trim installed.


The plumber came today so technically I could install all the fixtures now, but then I'd have to clean them after I was done sanding.

Hopefully the mud will be dry when I wake up in the AM. Now I'm off to bed.

Friday, March 05, 2010

Day Five and Counting

Today I finished laying the Hardi-backer cement board for the tile and began dry-walling. I also capped off the water pipes from the shower and sink so I could start the dishwasher and have water to rinse my tools after spreading the thin-set. I also had the leak in the roof fixed today. Apparently there were several holes right around the sewer vent that needed to be patched. Now I can comfortably hang new drywall without fear of the same thing happening. Apart from the loneliness and eerie quiet around the house, I am enjoying the project. It's not going as fast as I had hoped, but I suppose that's to be expected.
I am quite impressed how level the floor turned out considering it would be the only thing in the house that is. An old house that's been settling for 75+ years makes for interesting dry-walling. I guess it's a good thing I have a 5 gallon pail of mud.

I semi-cleaned the house today (at least the mess from construction) because I'll be working this weekend and won't be able to get back at it until Monday. The tub should be ready Monday or Tuesday and hopefully the plumber will be as well so we can get it set in place. I'll keep you posted.