UGH! (WARNING- Semi VENT)

Oh where to begin…
This weekend had so much promise and potential… We had plans to buy our drywall for both the nursery and the bathroom as well as the new sub-flooring. All was going fine. We made it out of Home Depot in under an hour and unloaded our materials at the house. I was hoping to be able to get the tub and surround but my dad didn’t have room in his truck. He did however offer to meet me on Sunday morning so I could get them. No the most ideal situation, but I figured it would be fine.
By 10am my hubby was exhausted, and rightfully so, since he worked from 8pm the night before until 6:30 am that morning and we went right to HD when he got off. He went to bed and I tried to find things I could work on w/o waking him up or hurting myself. I cleaned through some of the mess downstairs (all the stuff from the baby’s room that is now either “keep” or “yard sale”. My mom and I went shopping for a baby shower gift for a friend and I had to pick up a gift bag for a bridal shower gift. I was really hoping to make some progress in the bathroom since I was going to be at a bridal shower much of Sun afternoon. No progress was made though since my darling hubby decided that the sub-floor in the bathroom now needs to go! So I am at an impass for the moment. Then my dad calls and says he can’t meet me Sun morning, but he can do it later in the day or during the week. Great…more setbacks. We made tentative plans to meet at Lowes Monday after work.
When mom and I got back to the house, I figured I would clean up the massive pile of clean laundry that was accumulating in my closet. In the process I was trying to figure out what I wanted to wear on Sunday. I didn’t want anything that screamed “Look at my baby bump” since the attention should be on the bride. This is where I started to lose it. (Up to this point, I was holding it together…with all the setbacks and everything) NOTHING fit!!! No shorts, no capris and a measly ONE pair of jeans! I had a few cute skirts, but all the tops were too snug! I called a good friend, D, who’s also expecting and was like “Let’s go to Kohls…I need clothes!!” D & her hubby J met Mike and I at the house and we headed out for dinner and shopping. I was pleasantly surprised at the great stuff I found! $160 later I ended up with 2 basic tanks, 2 tops, 2 lounge shorts, a pair of denim shorts and a pair of khaki shorts, and 2 pairs of capris. Not too shabby! Dinner was pretty good, expensive, but good. And we always have a good time with D & J.
Before going to bed, I wrapped the shower gift for Sunday and picked out something cute, but not “belly obvious” to wear. I even tortured myself and painted my toenails (I call this torture since I can barely reach them anymore and it’s a struggle to get them all painted neatly. Sat wasn’t the greatest day, but I did get some things done.
Sunday was another story… I got up early and was ready to start working but my hubby was out on the deck putting together part of our pool filter…REALLY?!?! Like that needs attention right now! I asked him was his plan was for the day and he didn’t know. I did the only thing I could…more cleaning. I went through several bins and boxes in our bedroom and more of the yard sale pile. I was lifting things I shouldn’t have been and ended up hurting my back. Mike meanwhile was tearing up floor and more of the wall in the bathroom…which IMO didn’t need to be done. When I found out he was disconnecting the toilet, I lost it. Doesn’t he realize that I am 7 mos pregnant?!? Am I supposed to navigate my way downstairs several times at night when I have to pee???? I was sooo frustrated at this point that I cried for about an hour while I went through the last of the freebie infant clothes from my SIL. I then spent several hours working on the massive pile of crap that is filling the space formerly known as our dining room. I completely over did myself and almost passed out from a combination of heat and back pain. Because all my working hinged on my hubby, I was stuck at home all day waiting for my chances to get in and continue my parts of the bathroom work. I missed my friend’s shower, which totally sucked since I am in the wedding. I think she’ll understand since she missed mine because she was getting new carpet installed. And, she knows what it’s like to have a lot on your plate when it comes to home repairs (her hubby did their bathroom and her dad remodeled his entire house himself!). Hopefully I can meet up with her later this week for dinner or something and give her our gift.
I haven’t really been an emotional wreck since I found out I was pregnant. All the stress of this weekend pushed me over the edge. I have NEVER been so happy that tomorrow is Monday!

Bathroom Renovation- Part 1

Here's some pix I took this past weekend. Lots of progress in the "taking stuff apart"...not so much in the "putting back together"...


Hermetically sealed room. Keeps out the dust from drywall and floor removal.

Flooring is being removed from 2 sections to replace the damaged wood.

Mike working on the door to the storage area behind the wall. It's going to be out "Harry Potter" room!


And as if we didn't have enough going on in the nursery...we decided it's the best time to replace the tub and shower surround since they are leaking into the wall of the nursery.
Here's the ugly pink tile and tub before the demo...

Here's where a small part of the water was leaking...the rest was in a corner and caused the floor to fall apart in the nursery.

See...even @ 26 weeks I can still be helpful!

I'm proud that I did all this work with just a little help from my mom and Mike!

Mike taking the faucets off.




Mike getting squirted in the face with water!

All the tiles and drywall is gone...next weekend we get to put the new tub in and the new shower surround!! I am sooooooooo excited for my new soaking tub!

100...99... (sort of a vent posting)

99 days to go...wow...
I can't believe that I only have about 3 1/2 months until our little 'pickle' will be here! There's sooooo much to do!!!
The nursery is a mess, we still have no a/c, the shower is practically unusable for a P.C. (pregnant chic), and my husband isnt' motivated to get things done! Now, I'm not one of those women who expects her husband to do everything around the house. I paint, I drill, I nail, I cut... shoot...I owned all the tools until we moved into our new house. I am very involved in the projects that we undertake and like to be as hands on as possible. Unfortunately that's not so easy, nor healthy, while I am pregnant. I can't rip down drywall and lift the heavy pieces of trash...so yes, dear hubby...you DO have to do it by yourself since you keep stating you don't need anyone else's help. Now, I know my hubby doesn't EXPECT me to help with much of the construction, but I feel like he's frustrated/ angry that I don't and/or can't.
For one, it's a dust nightmare in there...much of it from water damaged drywall and asbestos tile covered floor. Yeah...GREAT place for the woman carrying your child to be!
I have already made it clear that once the bulk of the construction is done...THAT'S when all my work starts. I am going to have to paint the entire room...9 mos preggo or not, since he doesn't like to paint. I also have to install the new flooring, assemble the crib, arrange the room, decorate, organize, and basically get everything ready for the baby's arrival. All this while still working full-time. My job comes at the end. I can't help that. It's just the way it is.
But in order for me to do my job everything else has to get done first.
If you're wondering what exactly is this 'mess' that I am referring to...take a look at what the nursery looks like right this moment...I think you can click to make the pictures bigger.


So here's a running list of the work we are doing/ need to do.
*remove old floor w/ tile - install new sub flooring
*'sound-proof' bathroom wall since crib is going up against it
*re-insulate walls and replace most of the drywall
*insulate storage area, cut door/ frame to fit, install door/ frame
*replace tub and tiles in bathroom with bigger tub and solid shower surround to prevent future leaks...no point in having a nice new wall and floor int he baby's room if the bathroom is going to keep leaking in there
*replace drywall in bathroom around shower area since it's damaged as well
*probably replace flooring in bathroom since Mike thinks it'll be a better time to do it
*have new heating & a/c installed (must be done before all drywall is finished in the baby's room because the new return duct work is going up through that room...yea...more set backs)

*oh yeah...figure out how to PAY for new heat & a/c since they won't finance in my name...I'm not on the deed to the house...ugh
*once the duct work is in, the rest of the drywall can be replaced and the new wall can be built...what new wall you ask...why the new wall that needs to separate this room...here's a "before pic" (again, click to enlarge)

*once the wall frame is built and dry walled on both sides, I can come in (FINALLY) and spackel all the drywall seams, sand, then paint the room.
*after the room is painted, the new wood floor (click together laminate) can go down and the new moldings can be installed.
*the pocket door has to be installed in the new wall, as well as a electrical outlet and a light switch.
*then comes the 'easy' stuff...painting the mini-murals, putting up blinds, assembling the crib, bringing in the furniture, decorating, organizing baby's stuff, finishing the details
*rent a dumpster to get rid of all the drywall, flooring, tiles, insulation, old tub and other general trash from this project and any other project that has left crap sitting around the house/yard.
*somewhere in there...have a yard sale to get rid of most of the stuff we moved out of the baby's room...


Did I miss anything???
By the way...if anyone wants to help us with any of this we won't say no! Just show up...lol...we'll feed you!

My trip to L&D...no, not for the tour

So today I was sitting at my desk and happened to look down at my feet. My ankles were swollen. No biggie I thought, so I loosened my shoes and realized that something was wrong. They were really swollen, more so than when I tore a ligament and fractured a bone a few months ago.
Well seeing as I work in the #1 hospital in the world, and I work for nurse educators, one of them stopped by as I had my shoe off and asked to see my foot. She poked at it and the grossest thing happened. you ever see the commercials for the foam mattresses, the ones where you press down and you hand print stays there for a few seconds? That's what the skin on my foot was doing! EWWWW.
It didn't hurt, it was just so disgusting. She said it looked like +1 pitting edema, apparently there are 4 stages and I had a mild case. She suggested I call my doctor and let her know what was going on as swelling with edema can be a sign of preecemplesia. I called her office and was told that since they close at 2 (it was 1:30) that I should go to L&D at my delivery hospital and get checked out.
I'm not too worried at this point but she says that it's pretty early in my pregnancy for me to be having such a noticeable swelling issue. My next call was to my husband since I wasn't about to go off to the hospital by myself! He was a little peeved that I wanted him to go...but he eventually gave in and came to get me.
We went to the hospital and headed up to L&D. I had to check in at the registration office and the lady need to verify my information. She asked the usually questions...name, SSN, DOB, address, etc. Then she says "Religion?". I was like "what? religion? um...none..." She asks me again and I try to find a nice way to say that I do not associate myself with any particular religion when my hubby chimes in "non-denominational"...to which she says "are you Catholic?"!!!
I reply no and explain that I do not have a religion. She seemed confused and continued on with the paperwork. My hubby is a little more interested in what all the questions are at this point and wants to know if they do this for everyone who comes to see a doctor. She doesn't really give an answer and has me sign a consent to treatment form and go wait in the hall for a triage nurse. It's now 3:45pm. After sitting for about 5 min, a nurse takes us to the waiting room where we watch the end of Judge Joe Brown. My husband is questioning why they just admitted me and I am pretty sure that they didn't. He's concerned about if insurance is going cover this under pre-natal care or not. Since he refuses to go ask someone why I need to wait for a bed, I decide to find the ladies room. I go to the desk and asked the nurse where it is, she shows me and gives me a specimen cup since they'll need a sample. I asked her why I had to wait for a bed and she explains about the procedure. Basically for anyone 20+ weeks pregnant they go to L&D instead of the ER. I am going to be seen my a nurse and have my vitals taken and the baby monitored. My response was that this is basically "the pregnant ER" and she said yeah. That explains the registration and waiting procedure. They didn't admit me and weren't waiting for an actual room...just a triage bed where they could get a better look at what was going on. I collected my 'sample' and headed back to the waiting room. After 2 episodes of Judge Judy we were called back to a triage room. I was told to put on a gown and lay back. The nurse recorded my vitals and the baby's heartbeat before hooking my up to a monitor to check for contractions...which I of course wasn't having. All my stats were normal. She said that the mid-wife on call would be in to check my feet and I would be able to leave soon.
Since the contraction monitor was still on me my hubby was intrigued by all the equipment and realized that when I laughed, the monitor spiked! He found it amusing to try and make the line spike. We eventually asked the nurse and 100 is the highest it goes when you are in labor. This wasn't info that my hubby needed to hear since I can just see him saying "that was only an 80...stop complaining". We all had a good laugh about the fact that he'll be paying lots of attention to that thing when I go into labor.
After awhile the mid-wife came and looked me over. She said that my swelling is normal and I should cut down on my salt intake, drink plenty of fluids, and try to walk around as much during the day as possible. If I have to sit for awhile, I should elevate my feet. She obviously doesn't know where I work...I had to go through a bunch of red tape just to be able to wear sneakers during the day...even after my doctor wrote a note telling me to.
I was discharged and left the hospital just about 6pm.

I didn't even get to see a real delivery room. Guess I'll have to take the tour after all.