Remodel Update: The Good, The Bad, and The UGLY!!!

We purchased and moved into Paul's parents house in January of this year. I was 8 1/2 months pregnant at the time (as if moving, in and of itself, is not crazy enough). The house is 38 years old and in need of a major face lift. So, we "moved in" yet never really unpacked or got settled in. We are still, 8 months later, living out of boxes in the house, in the garage, and in our storage POD in the front drive.

Phase I started before we moved in- we started fixing up the downstairs 2 room + bathroom studio where my brother David was going to be living and where my other brother Robert is currently living. Paul, my brothers, and my dad did all the work down there themselves...replacing sliding glass doors, ripping out old linoleum with blow torches, tile, paint, new lighting, new toilet, new sink and vanity in the bathroom.

We started Phase II of our major remodeling project (the bedrooms and bathrooms of the upstairs living space) about 3 months ago...after we got past the "newborn" stage with Finley (no sleep, constantly exhausted, etc..). The "popcorn" ceiling came down (thanks to the man power of Paul, and my brothers) and then new texture went up. Wallpaper came down, carpet came out, doors came off, cabinets came out, tile had to be jackhammered out (a VERY noisy and dirty job), mouldings came off, toilets came out- again all thanks to our own sweat equity. There was a point where we had no showers, no toilets, and no doors... I took the girls and escaped to my mom's house for a week during that time.

Things are actually starting to take shape now. I wish I had taken "Before" pictures, but, alas, I didn't. Here are a few pictures of the GOOD (the end, or almost end, result):

The Hall Bath...the most completed room in the house!Guest Room... still in progress, but coming along!The girls' room- Avery is very proud of her pink room....still in progress, but close!Avery in the carpet-less hallway....it will be that way for a while?! She loves the empty bedrooms and space to drive her car and push her shopping cart! Those are swim goggles on her head....her newest obsession!The Master Bath area- I love how everything is turning out- in this room especially! I can't wait to actually move in!Before we left on our trip, everything in the bedrooms had to be taken out so that closet organizers could go in and mouldings could go up. EVERYTHING is in the front of the house! All of our clothes are on hangers stacked in piles everywhere, our bed is in the front room, dressers, blankets, toys, boxes line the walls and cover the floor.... Hence

the BAD (and the UGLY) description fits well: I am about to go crazy! I am a Type A personality and NEED order and organization. I don't "do" chaos! My blood pressure rises the moment I walk in the door, my stomach ties in knots, and I can't think straight. I think Avery is the same because she is always asking to "go- new car mommy- go." She would much rather go sit in the car than be in the house and I don't blame her one bit!

There is still more to do, but we are getting close- at least with the back of the house. Then we move forward to the front and tear out the kitchen! Ahhhh! I just have to continue to tell myself that it will all be worth it in the end! I am just wanting to regain some order and routine to our lives as soon as possible! Days when the girls don't get naps because workers are hammering away are days that I don't think I can go on with this any longer; but, then we go to bed early, get up and press forward with a new day. The completion of phase II is almost here, which will make things a lot more bearable! More updates will come...stay tuned!