I'll be In and Out

[Quixotic1]

Hi, all.  I will be hit and miss until I get all this figured out.  Apparently when you are doing a huge build on your house the day begins about 7:45.  Monday it was a 6 and a half hour meeting with the contractor to get the contract specifics.  Yesterday it was exterior excavation and interior cement sawing-cutting.  Today it was sledge hammer breaking up to expose the new plumbing trenches and delivering a porta-potty.

Ann and I are on orders to get the rest of the things purchased and ordered immediately.  She she and I are scampering about making snap decisions.  To visualize this most accurately you must see her scampering while pushing me in a wheelbarrow.  Today I have to order 13 locksets for new doors - I have to accurately specify dummy, privacy, passage or locking, right or left handed, finish and key-code.

I ordered a bunch of glass mosaic tile to make a pretty shower inclosure that looks like one of my bargello quilts, so my creative juices are flowing - that feels good.

But, my sleep hours are still about 1am to this new 8am arrising, and I am exhausted from the lack of sleep.  I apparently do need the 10 or 11 hours I usually get.  I'm too excited to sleep ,and the noise is intermittent, but not bad now.  It wakes me up each time, though.  I have got to reset my night to an earlier time to compensate, but no luxk so far so I am very tired and brain is not doing well.

Anyhow, that's why I have been absent the last three days or so.  I'm feeling better from the mini relapse I had.  My only current problems are a renewal of bad incontinence.  I'm back to "Losing it."  I'm glad I have the experience with the PT, because it still works some of the time.  

That's the update - I'll try to be present on the forum some every day.  If you really want a post from me, please feel free to drop me a message and ask.  Remember, I don't answer any medical questions by PM, but I'll be glad to answer anything here on the forum.

Scampering along

Squirrelly Quix

[rendean]

Sounds like you have a solid plan. Good luck with all the renovations. Sounds like it is a major undertaking, although it appears you have it under control. Make sure you give us a pictorial record of the renovation.

I hope your mom is doing okay. Good thoughts set her way.

Wishing you luck and few complications in this major undertaking.

Ren

[LLWB]

Wow, sounds marvelous.  Hopefully they will stay on schedule. If so, your will be the first I've heard of, LOL. Take care, at least you probably get to sleep in in the morning. Hope you mom is okay.

Maggie

[Quixotic1]

You are all so wonderful.  Our contractor is superb and smart.  At every juncture he is considering our costs and suggesting improvements to the plan.  And he is a real hottie!  If I had ANY libido at all I would be stoked, but I can appreciate beauty.  He says they should be done the first week in August and they are right on target so far with excavation, framing, plumbing and concrete.  Electrical and wallboard come in next week.  They got a little behind yesterday because we decided to recycle a window that was being taken out for a french door and put it back in another spot that was a dark corner.  Now we have three french doors and a big window across the back and big windows on each side near the back corner.  This makes it feel less like a basement.

Our yard slope is so steep that, by the time you get to the walkout in back, it is 3 1/2 feet above grade.  From the front it looks like a little one-story cottage, but we will have 2880 sf of living space when we finish.  I am waiting on the apprasial of how much we will enhance its value so I can get a construction loan to help get it all done.  The finances have me nervous.

I haven't been this tired in a long time, and a portion of it is unaccustomed exercise from scampering.  But I was able to sleep in yesterday and today and I feel caught up.

I splurged and bought a wall hung gas fireplace for my bedroom.  It will also be the heater for the bedroom.  I am so excited about it.  Even though money is tight, there are a few things I want for this build, and I am splurging in a few areas.  I chose the smaller portrait-style one.  I think it needs a recessed, directional light overhead to illuminate it.  That will have to be "added" to the orders for next week.

http://www.hearthinnovations.com/

Jan - if I have any extra questions I will certainly ask, but our contractor is so efficient and on-the-ball that I don't.  The biggest problem is deciding on lighting.  So far we have recessed lights throughout the common area, ceiling fans with lights in each room and sconces and pendants, too.   The house is in the shade of several 50 foot fir trees and is very dark.  At this point we are just going to have to wing it.

As for the design of the basement, we went for practicality over design.  We needed 2 bedrooms, two baths, lots of closets, a kitchenette area, a common area and a storage room.  All of this was around a staircase in the middle, so our layouts were limited.  The very wide accessible hallways help keep it from feeling too closed in, but the ceilings are low - a scooch short of 8 ft.  So, it will not be "gorgeous."

We are taking pictures right along to show my mom because she can't do stairs.

I'm worried about her.  She got up from her chair last night and was dizzy and fell over into an end table with her walker.  She is on huge doses of diuretic because of the pleural effusions, and I think she might be dehydrated.  She is anticoagulated and is bruised all over.  

Now let's see if I can answer some stuff on the forum.

Quix

[Sarahsmom46]

How exciting, well exhausting too, but once it is done it will be so worth all the hassles.  I'm with Kathy and Janette,I'd love to see what you guys did on your Home Makeover mega project.

How long do you think it take before they are out of your hair?

-Julie

[sllowe]

This is going to be so beautiful for you all when it's done!

Heck of a way to find out you absolutely have to have those hours of sleep, huh

I'm excited for the progress - good luck w/it all!

-shell



  

[Janette2836]

Are they done yet  :)  Just kidding!  Can't wait to see the pictures from your creation in the shower - have fun.

Janette

[opie74]

It sounds better than getting a new home!  I am excited for you! Get some rest, even if you can't sleep!

Ann

[BOK2Bjan]

Hi Quix,

I too am sure you've thought of everything, but I'm an ex designer and I designed homes.  I built mine from the ground up, as designer, contractor, and laborer.  I also oversaw other homes being built and contracted, as the designer.  I don't say that to toot my sagging horn, but to offer help on the off chance that you'd like it.  Sounds like you've got everything already laid out and are just at the picking out the finishing touches phase, but I love to butt in and offer my professional opinion where it's not wanted! lol  (makes me feel useful)  Sounds exciting!

Blessings, Jan

[uk2]

great to here you so excited, good luck with it all and i hope the excitement will override the fatiuge.

sam xx

[Fluffysmom]

That glass mosaic shower enclosure sounds gorgeous; please take a picture when it's done!

I hope things go smoothly, and that you're able to get the rest you need.

Hugs,
Kathy

[Quixotic1]

Lulu - Silly Rabbit!  We are putting in comfy levers on all doors - the kind you can lean on with your forearm and not get a bruise from a sharp edge.

[lala47]

Best Wishes with all of this. Large projects can be very stressful.  Stay calm and try to enjoy and don't overdo.  We NEED you around here.  Good Luck!!!

lala

[Tahiri_Veila]

Good luck with your building project. And thank you for all your wonderful posts as they are really helpful.

Tahiri

[Lulu54]

Q- not to throw a wrench in your thinking, but did you consider the locksets that are designed for people with arthritis and other mobility issues rather than normal knobs?  You probably did, but thought I should throw that in there ......

enjoy the chaos and don't hold your breath that anything will get done on time.... oh, I probably shouldn't say that either, right? LOL

Don't forget they will leave the light on at the local Motel 6 if you need to sleep.

You think we here on the forum try your patience, just wait until you have those workers on site.  One good note - at least you'll have the porta-potty handy when you are outside checking on the progress.

don't forget to take lots of pictures to chronicle the progress - what a grand adventure for all of you.  I'm excited this is finally beginning.

Lu

[Udkas]

I hope all your renovations go to plan and you enjoy the process without becoming too fatigued, as building/renovating can be exhausting.

Have fun,

Cheers,
Udkas.

[doni54]

Hi Quix,

You at least sound excited even through the fatigue, and that is good.

Have fun with the building, and get those extra zzzzzzzzz's you so need.

I'll be thinking of you.......................

Hugs,
doni

[PastorDan]

Best wishes.  Since my day job's in building regulations, feel free to ask anytime you feel the need.