Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Hoo-ray Progress!

Lots of activity around the house lately. Most of it has been good and very productive…but it’s being done by hired contractors. We had our electrical panel replaced yesterday and the line to our house upgraded! Yea!! We’ll soon be able to run the washer and dryer at the same time…or the pool filter and the vacuum…or an iron and anything else! The new box is HUGE! We have lots of free breakers to expand and separate some of the goofy circuits in the house. After much deliberation, many estimates, and several credit apps, we found a company who would finance the Heating & A/C system replacement without having to add me to the deed. Clean Air based in Baltimore is doing our installation. We needed a new A/C unit after ours broke beyond repair last summer (a mere 3 months AFTER our home owners warranty expired…figures). We went with a Carrier Infinity series A/C and have to get a new furnace since ours wasn’t compatible with any new system. It needed to go anyway as the fan never stopped running, was really loud, and incredibly inefficient. Along with the new units, we got a new thermostat that will minimize energy consumption. We also had air return ducts installed upstairs since the hose didn’t have them. We had vents for hot and cool air to go upstairs, but nothing to circulate the air back down. In the summer, with the a/c on, it was at least 15 degrees hotter upstairs than down. Not anymore!!
New duct for hallway. Comes up through the nursery, into the bath (where Mike was on the phone describing it to me!) and out to the hall!
The crinkled tube will go into the new wall to vent both sides of the room and we'll drywall around all exposed metal.

All this not only increases our comfort and the baby’s, but it will save us a ton of money in heating and cooling costs as well as increase the value of our home. Now that everything is in place, Mike’s going to be able to get the nursery finished in no time…which is a good thing considering we have between 4 and 6 weeks left until Dillan’s arrival!

This past weekend was also my baby shower. My SILIL*, my BFF and one of my other great friends organized the whole thing. It was a lot of fun even though only a few people were able to attend. It’s times like those that make you realize who your true friends are…the ones that want to be there for all your ups and downs. We had a great time tasting baby food from shot glasses and just talking. Thanks to all the girls who made it a special day and an extra special big thanks to Laura, Lala, and Debbie!!





*SILIL= sister-in-law-in-law… married to husband’s brother, thus making her my brother-in-law’s wife and my SILIL!! Though technically she's my SIL, I consider her my sister!
BTW- She’s got a great blog about her preemie twin boys…Taylo2Babies

1 comment:

  1. It's great that you are seeing some progress.

    Ray decided that before our younger son was born, he was going to move our bedrooms upstairs in our house. This required hanging ceiling fans, painting all walls and ceilings, installing closet systems, and laying hardwood flooring throughout. And, of course, moving all the furniture upstairs.

    Initially, he wanted to rip out all the paneling and replace it with drywall, but it was soon apparent that there was just no time.

    Anyway, he worked like a maniac and got us up there before the due date...and then the due date came and went, with no baby in sight. And then we waited and waited...

    So take heart. Happily, your sister-in-law's experience is not the norm -- most first babies wait until the due date -- or later! -- which is a good thing, because then they are very well done (but it can mean that your midwife or doctor pushes for interventions that make natural childbirth more difficult).

    Anyway, hang in there as the weather heats up. Summer pregnancies are tough!

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