Day 2

We are into the second day of construction. The good news is that we’re cranking out projects like nobody’s business. The bad news is that my head is spinning in a major way.

Every time I have ever left this house, although I am realistic of how great it potentially can be, I’m disgusted by the house. For one, it’s incredibly filthy. And not filthy like could use a mop and a cleaning person. Filthy like could use a hazmat team and industrial strength scrubbers. The house was in that state before the projects. Now that walls are being torn down, floors are being pulled up and ceilings are being cut into, the dirt is gone to a whole new level! The interesting part of that is now I have sort of just accepted that it’s a construction zone. I oddly feel a little more relaxed about it. And that being said, I still opted for a public toilet than my new house’s!

And then there’s the projects I alluded to. In one and a half days they have really made progress. I have taken a role of offsite general contractor. And if I say so myself, I’m doing a pretty good job! I have contractors of sorts coming around the clock. I have estimates coming and going. I’m playing hardball and getting amazing prices for lots of work. I’m feeling some serious satisfaction with the people we have hired, the prices we have gotten, and the way the house will look in the end.

I frequently throw around the term “it takes a village.” Usually when I’m referring to that I’m mostly mentioning the caring of my children. In this circumstance it not only includes the care of my kids but the improvements of this house. We have friends and family coming out of the woodwork and taking their personal time to devout to helping our new house/moving efforts. It’s incredible! Of course we need a village to get this four member family moved into this house. But I still feel so touched by the help everyone is giving!

And the last, but certainly not least, component of this rehab project is Adam. It has definitely been a challenge, like everyday of my life, managing these kids myself. It has, however, been a little more trying because Drew is yearning for Adam so badly. He’s not happy because Adam’s schedule is erratic. But I’m working on something new. Instead of counting bad behavior and disciplining appropriately. I’m counting to reward good behavior. So far it’s been working!

Adam has been working from sun up to sun down on a variety of projects. I have not been shy in expressing my concern for Adam’s workmanship. I have been lucky that most of Adam’s friends recognize his shortcomings there and have been helping him tremendously through the big jobs. And in the downtime where Adam is the only one there, there are countless little jobs that Adam has the patience and work ethic to master! There may not be an HGTV show about Adam’s handyman abilities but he’s impressing his wifey with all his hard work and that’s all that really matters!