We got the back porch on. Getting it covered is proving to be an entirely different challenge all together...more on that when we actually get it done.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
The House We Built: Part IV
We work on the house nearly every day. There is always something to be done, people to be called, paperwork to be filled out, messes to clean up, supplies to be ordered, and more planning to be done. One of the unanticipated joys of this journey has been the absolute requirement that every family member do his or her part. We have all had to unify and work together out of necessity.
Like on this Saturday morning, for example, we had extra concrete on the truck when we had finished the pour. Jeff hollered, "Tash! Go form up a pad in the back! We gotta use this mud!" Have I ever formed up concrete by myself? No. Did I know what I was doing? No. Did I get 'er done? Heck yeah!
I was solo on the pad in the back while the guys were finishing the driveway in front.
The joys of a driveway! Now when we work on the house I pull up in the driveway and park like I live there. No more tracking mud in the house :)
Isaac is quite the little workin' man. Give this kid a task and he is on it. It is also nice to have a resident comedian on the job.
Levi will do anything we ask him to as long as it requires him to be with his dad.
I've made pretty good friends with this saw during this phase of house-building.
Levi has big plans for his "BYU bedroom." Since my building skills trump my decorating skills, I am a little hesitant for that phase of the house.
We got the back porch on. Getting it covered is proving to be an entirely different challenge all together...more on that when we actually get it done.
I am excited to have a wood-burning stove in this house. It will sit in front of that cool rock in this pic. Even if we use it only in emergencies, it will be so nice to have as an option.
And I love my front door. Even without the *very chic* handleset that is anxiously waiting to be installed, this door is exactly what I had in mind. When you come see me, you can knock on this door (are you excited?)
Still some work to do on the basement entrance (along with everything else) but it will be great when it is done (like everything else.)
One thing is certain: if you come to work on the house, you leave very, very dirty. This means that the laundry pile at the house I do not spend much time at is reaching horrific depths and heights.
Oh, here I am with the saw again...or still...or whatever.
These two make a pretty good team.
The sheetrock and texture is all done. We have been hanging doors and installing casing and baseboard.
It is all very time consuming work. My big ideas for the shelving in the closets is taking FOREVER to bring to life.
The exterior guys, however, did not take forever. They were GREAT (highly recommend Rocky Mountain Siding.) We all loved seeing the progress each day and watching our project really start to look like a place we could live.
Even though it is long hours and not a lot of fun, running a nail gun alongside his dad is this 7-year-old's dream come true.
And really, though, who would not want to work alongside this Big Sexy?
I have always admired the way Jeff exemplifies the virtue of patience, but it has been tested and proven while doing this finish work. He is simply the most patient guy I know.
When Daisy gets left home on day care duty, this guy gets to be a workin' man, which makes him feel very important.
Love this man.
Love this house.
We got the back porch on. Getting it covered is proving to be an entirely different challenge all together...more on that when we actually get it done.
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5 comments:
Love it! I can't wait to come see it!
Love it! I can't wait to come see it!
Yeah! It's starting to look like a house! I like your door too:)
Wow! It's looking really nice!
Natasha,
This is Cassie Stephens (I know you from morning zumba which I haven't been to for awhile :) I was the one in the back with Julie Ludlow)
Anyway I wanted to write and let you know I'm thinking of you. I unfortunately know a lot about living at Primaries and having a son on a ventilator. My then 14 year old son Cole was hit by a truck in 2011. He had many life-threatening injuries and had to be on a ventilator because of collapsed lungs. Once the initial injuries were dealt with they discovered he was paralyzed on his left side which was why his diaphragm couldn't keep his lungs from collapsing. He eventually got pneumonia and mrsa. We spent 86 days total at Primaries and Cole is now 17. His paralysis was not complete and he has recovered a lot of his function on his left side and was finally able to go home without a ventilator. He endured so many vent treatments, so many xrays, and even had his bronchs cleaned out several times.
So long story short I get what you're going through and I'm so so very sorry!
Cole and I come to Primaries pretty often. The staff asks us to come and visit families and patients. He really enjoys it and the kids seem to respond to him since he knows what they are going through. We would be happy to come see you and your son if you'd like :)
Other bits of advice you didn't ask for but I'll give you anyway ;) 1. shower every morning when they kick you out for shift change. (It will scare him if you don't look well once he is conscious):) and the bonus is that you can cry, kick, and scream and yell in the shower and he will never know.
2. the outside eating area at the U cafeteria is a great place to eat and cry during the evening shift change (no one is ever there!)
3. The stained glass on the 3rd floor is actually a little prayer/meditation room so it's a great place to go as well.
4. The NTU has a washer and dryer you can use to wash your clothes. (They don't tell you that until it becomes obvious you're going to be there for awhile. Get your own soap tho theirs is awful!)
5. You can get a pass to go to the Jewish community center to swim or exercise (your social worker can help you get that, sometimes it helps to run it off when your husband is there to sit with him :)
6. You have a right to be involved in any discussion of the staff about your son. Ask questions, speak up and be involved. It's your most important job as his mom! You're the only one of all these people that is there 24 hours a day so you're the only one who knows the whole story.
7. Finally, it will be okay, it will be different, but it will be okay and you are stronger than you know!
Hang in there! Call or email me anytime if you need to talk.
Cassie (435) 851-3158 cassie6646@gmail.com
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