Middle of February

Well, Home Depot kept their word. They delivered my doors at 6:45 am on Friday morning. FINALLY. Mike came over that Friday afternoon and he and Rusty did some more wall work. On Tuesday Mike's dad was available to come and do the door with them so I finally got one door on! They got the rest of the outer wall up, except for the final outer wall. The sheetrock is up and going through the stages of getting puttied and finished off. Today Dale came and ran the duct work and got it almost finished - just gotta get the vents installed now. We got Sky's runner line put back up and now he can move around the yard again. Got a doghouse for him too, will probably have to get one for Smokey now, too. Rusty got on the roof and fixed the stove pipe cover thing that got knocked off by the last limb that fell. We bought a "Gorilla ladder" to use for various stuff including getting in the attic. They are making a new attic access in the new room, but we decided against the pull down ladder kind because we couldn't find one anywhere in town that claimed to hold enough weight for big guys to use it lol. We're discussing plans now of putting some plywood or something down so we can store some stuff up there too. Smokey got in trouble twice for chewing up insulation that was sitting in the room. We got my freezer moved into the laundry room. Then 3 days later (today) my DRYER BROKE DOWN. So we had to take it back out to get the old dryer out and the new one in. The new one holds twice as much clothes as my old one. Loving that for sure. So anyway, here are some progress pictures of the "Great Renovation of 2008":

This will be the back door

This will be the two front doors

Isn't sheetrock work just the most fun!

We've ALWAYS wondered just what was behind that extra chunk of plywood on our garage wall. What was it covering up, ya know? Apparently it was just to cover up where somebody made a bad cut for the electrical outlet? Maybe? Who knows. Just another one of those mysteries of our house lol.

View of the door from the inside

View of the door from the outside (so far)

Dale working hard

My new super duper dryer

Mike's making lots of progress on the sheetrock

We gave up on finding a suitable pole and decided to just use the tree. Sky is totally a happy camper now!

Not sure yet if Sky likes it or not. But he did claim it as his own. Hiked his leg on it 3 times today that I saw~!

Rusty on the roof!

So anyway. Took Tyler for his extensive MRI last Monday and we go back to the neurologist this coming week. I had to take him off that 2nd medication because he became a fire breathing monstrosity. It made him VERY irritable and downright hostile. And it did NOT stop his cataplexy spells. So after 2 weeks on it I just told him to stop. I hope to God that they are going to get this fixed soon. It's starting to be really painful, seeing him so down and depressed all the time. Sooner or later I'll be blogging about a success story in that area, I just know it.

I had a program at school this past week. Campfire Songs! So, any of you that are in Vicksburg might catch me on channel 26 one evening leading a bunch of kids in singing "Kumbaya" and "Home on the Range" among others. The program went very well, had lots of nice comments on it. And, best of all, it's now over and I can stop stressing over it! But - I have another one just 2 weeks from now.

Drew was here last weekend, and this weekend too. He and Tanner had a real good time. We went out to eat at Toney's last weekend and it was AWESOME. Then we went with Cheryl and Mike out to the Loft to see a band play that we've been wanting to see. As it turns out, the drummer was a guy I knew in Lions Band and went to USM with back in the day. Also last weekend Holly and Brooke came into town for a few days and Tanner got to spend some unexpected time with Brooke. He was SO happy. Holly came by to visit us on Sunday evening as well and we had a great time catching up again. Tyler's friend Collin spent the night Friday night this weekend. Tanner thinks Collin is awesome. He told me, "Mom, Collin is funny ALL the time and he doesn't even have to TRY!!!" That is Tanner's goal in life is to be that kind of funny. He's trying, bless his heart. He's been looking for joke web sites. He's found a blonde joke web site and he gets some laughs with those. He is indeed getting better at the joke telling. But still has some work to do. I have no doubt that he will one day achieve that goal.

Mom sent me links to pics of Brandon's family and they are some wonderful pictures. I totally want to order one if that's possible. Those twins are certainly growing so quickly. And Emma, just as cute as ever!

I had to take Tyler shopping today, in between working on house stuff. He totally had no shorts that fit. And needed shirts as well. So we made a quick trip to the mall and had the mom/son shopping time. I do enjoy that.

We didn't get to play any music on our Sunday this weekend which sucked. I'm very anxious to get this room done so we can do lots of playing in there. We're now trying to get a drummer to join in so we can make some bigger progress. Just a matter of time now. Now that I have had some experience playing in a band, it's not something I'm wanting to stop doing. Oddly enough. But it's just fun to play with a group of people and make those connections that happen within a song. Kinda like getting a bunch of brains online with each other or something. lol. It's just fun. And something I have missed over the years, moreso than I even realized.

Also, some exciting news. Cheryl booked the condo in Destin for April 25-30 so we're going back to the beach with her and Mike! Woohoo!!!!!

So. Coming up this week. Monday we're supposed to get front door number two installed. I can NOT wait to see both of them together. Not sure when the new back door will get put on. But we have the old door still on there for now. More sheetrock work this week too. And the finishing of the duct work. It's getting there! I'm excited.

Valentines Week

The boys, chilling out while they had the chance....

Been a week and a half or so of working on the house. We got the garage project started but not all of our material was delivered for the weekend. The sound proofing board did not come in, which is of utmost importance considering how loud we are. But they got the framing done and most of the electrical work ran. Michael came over and ran the electricity to Rusty's little building and installed more outlets in the garage room too.

The doors I picked out from Midsouth Lumber were going to take SIX WEEKS to get in and cost over $500 each. So Mr. Puckett cancelled that order and took us to Home Depot on Monday to pick out the doors (at only $300 each), screen doors, and door knobs. That was a lot of fun. I love the shopping and the picking out of stuff lol. They were SUPPOSED to be delivered on Wednesday. But they never got here. When I called Home Depot they told me that the driver got the truck stuck somewhere in Port Gibson but they would bring them Thursday for SURE. Today is Thursday. I called them at 2:00 to try to make sure they would deliver them at 4:00 today and they told me that the driver was already off work because he was working OVERTIME. I threw a small "Sandra fit" on them lol. Just a small one though, I don't think I could match the PRO lol. So some guy named Ken at Home Depot personally guaranteed that they would be delivered tomorrow morning before 7:00 am, before I leave for work. I will believe that when I see it. They better be here tomorrow though because they are working again tomorrow and will be ready for them I think. They worked all of Wednesday evening putting in the insulation and teh soundproofing board that had finally come in. So what we have so far looks like this:

Over the weekend Tanner got to play with Connor and with Michael's son Collin. Tyler did lots of work to help dad out. He even dug a ditch! He didn't much like it, but I was very proud of how little he complained. He worked pretty well for us that day, it was nice. The doctor put him on another medicine last week and we're waiting to see how that is going to do. It does not seem to be a miracle drug as of yet. He brought home his progress reports last week and he has A's and B's in everything except for an F in Algebra II. That is SUCH an improvement. I'm so glad to see that he's at least doing better in school. I decided to get him the xbox live card he wanted since his grades were up and his attitude is looking better. And then Rusty goes and buys him a new computer he's been wanting, one of those 298.00 Wal Mart specials. So he has been planted in his room any time there has not been work to do. I hope I don't regret getting him that stuff, hope it doesn't take him away from studying. But I guess we can always ground him from it like usual. The doctor would not sign for him to get his permit when we went last week. He won't until we've solved all the problems he says.

Tyler, Kyle, and Blake had kind of a sad weekend. A guy they go to school with shot himself. It was kind of a shocking thing to happen around here, I think the whole high school was in pieces over it. But they are dealing with it pretty well. Just a big jolt of reality I guess. Kind of makes all these kids think and put things in perspective a bit.

Last week it was time to take the 2 dogs to the vet. Tanner took Smokey on a leash and I had the big boy by myself. Talk about a WORK OUT. Sky wore me slap out. Smokey weighed 45 pounds and Sky weighed 65. Sky has absolutely NO MANNERS. He hiked his leg on every corner, nook, and cranny inside the vet's office. And, as if that were not bad enough, he took a huge dump right in the middle of the floor, too. By the time I got home I was covered in dog hair and sore all over. And my car smelled like dog for 3 days. But they all checked out ok and got their yearly shots. The cats are doing fine now, got their bandages off and all. They are slowly getting accustomed to the no claw thing. It will take awhile.

Rusty went to the doctor last week and he had a bad sinus infection and bronchitis. The doctor gave him a shot and a bunch of medicine and he was doing much better by Wednesday. So far Tyler and I have remained healthy. I've started to believe that I have an immune system of STEEL. The only thing I ever catch is strep. Other than that, I have not been notably sick in at least 4 years. Of course, bragging about it will probably bring on the flu.

I finally got to my hair appointment on Tuesday. I had made the appt with Steven weeks ago and had decided it was high time I had my hair professionally done because I deserve it lol! I was so excited just GOING. We had a long talk and decided to do caramel highlights and he talked me into having 3 1/2 inches cut off the back. So that's what I did. I like it, too. But hardly ANYBODY at work has even noticed today that I had anything done. One or two kids have mentioned it but that's all lol. So I guess it's not as noticeable as I thought. But I have an appt in 8 weeks to go back and do it again!

I finally finished and shipped off the yearbook today. Woohoo!

Today is Valentines Day. I had bought the kids a few treats last night. And Tanner's class had a small party. But for the most part, just another day around here lol. We try not to make a big fuss over the little holidays. I disagree with the commercialization of all of them myself. We only do candy and/or eating out at restaurants for just about everything but Christmas and birthdays. Some people just go ALL OUT for every one of them. I just can't see doing that.

Everyone has really been enjoying my digital picture frame. I've loaded it up 2 different times now and everyone that comes over sits and watches it. Tanner's cousins and friends ALL want to go to the lakehouse now. They want to ride the Big Bertha, the jet skis, and go swimming lol. TAnner told Connor the other day that the lakehouse "is the most comforting place in the world". I thought he might have meant to say comfortable. But then again, he could have very well meant comforting after all lol.

Oh well. I can't wait to get that room finished. I'm excited. I don't know how long it's going to take, doing it a little at a time. But hopefully within a month we will have it nearly finished.

Oh, almost forgot. I got a new set of stoneware dishes. They are square. I LOVE it! They are heavy duty stoneware, and they are a little darker colored than I thought they would be. But I decided to keep them anwyay. I absolutely love the square plates. Rusty says they look like something a caveman would eat off of. And for that very reason, he likes them also! I don't know why plates were ever made round anyway, come to think of it. Wonder why they weren't square, traditionally through the ages? I worried that square bowls might make eating a little awkward. But actually the square bowls work out even better than round ones. You can scoop stuff up in the corners! lol. The coffee cups are not square though. Darnit. It's hip to be square.........

Whew! Finally, I'm here! It's been a long, long week.

I don't want to sound like an old, old lady and go on and on about all the physical ailments of the family lol. But the last 10 days has definately been dominated by illnesses, and it appears it's still not over. Tanner had the flu last week and missed pretty much the whole week of school. His fever got up over 104 several times and he was just MISERABLE. I took Tyler to the doctor last week for a follow up visit on the asthma ER episode and to have her look at something weird his foot is doing. (He needs better running shoes and is wearing a temporary ankle support thing.) And, as of today, Rusty has come down with something. We're not sure yet if it's the flu or just a sinus infection kinda thing. But now HE is miserable. So far, I have come through it all just fine. I guess I just don't have time to get sick lol.

Lots of other stuff happened last week too. Probably nothing entirely interesting, but lots of stuff lol. Rusty stayed home from work Wednesday to be here when Home Depot installed our storage building out back. He is very proud of it, and it is indeed very nice. Michael came yesterday to begin helping him run some electricity out there. He wants to install shelves and other things as well. So, check out these photos of 208.5 Signal Hill Drive - Rusty's new dog house! lol

Wednesday morning I took both cats to the vet and left them there to get the total works done on them. They were given shots, spayed/neutered, and declawed all at once. Man, were they PISSED lol. But they are doing fine now. They are still lazing around a lot, but they are coming back around to themselves again. Here is a picture of Jack with his bandages on. It took Tanner and I several hours to get them all removed.

Over the weekend I started a "purging" project around the house. Getting rid of clothes and general STUFF that we don't use or need that is just taking up space. I finally bit the bullet and did something I've not been looking forward too. I parted with the toy box and the baby bed mattress. It was difficult to do. Because it is admitting that not only do I not have babies anymore, I don't even have SMALL children anymore lol. Tanner really needed the space in his room for his drum set, and he hasn't touched anything in that toy box in I don't know how long. So we went through it (removed all the Star Wars toys and boxed them up, of course), and kept a few little things he wanted. But it really wasn't much. The mattress is getting real brittle feeling and probably wouldn't last long enough to be any good for my grandkids anyway. Especially considering that it's going to be AT LEAST 20 YEARS before I have any grandkids, ya know. lol. We are getting rid of the swing set also, just as soon as we get it torn down.

Let's see, what else. I did the taxes last week and got that over with. We didn't get to hang with Cheryl and Mike at all because of Tanner being so sick. Ken and Heather came by to visit and help Tyler with his algebra.

I took Tyler for his permit test on Friday and it took 3 HOURS of waiting in line. He passed the test, but they won't give him his permit until he has some papers filled out by his doctor about the narcolepsy and cataplexy. So we're going back to the doctor this week to get the papers filled out AND to request that 2nd medicine that's supposed to stop the cataplexy.

I only made it to the gym on Tuesday for yoga. All the other days I was running around with a sick kid.

Cheryl and I went to see a play on Saturday night called "God's Favorite". It was kind of a modern day story of Job.

The Super Bowl was just not that exciting because we hated both teams. But, the team we hate the LEAST ended up winning so that was great in the end lol. Keith and Jenifer came over to watch it, and Drew, Dale, Michael, and Mandy were here also. Sucked that we didn't get to play any though.

Tyler went to a Super Bowl party at the church. He and his friends had decided that since nobody liked either of the teams, they would all dress as the team they WISHED was in the Super Bowl. He wore a Redskins shirt and painted his face yellow and maroon. I only got the aftermath of the face paint, but this is him lol. They also had a Guitar Hero championship contest at the party and he WON! He won a $15 gift certificate to Subway, he was thrilled!

Thursday Tyler personally handed me his jacket and asked me to wash it. I threw it straight in the washer. When I put it in the dryer, I noticed it was knocking and banging around. Then I just KNEW. And sure enough, the $250 ipod was in the pocket and it's dead now. But! By some MIRACLE! I remember seeing the receipt for that thing recently at work. We bought it Jan.31, 2007, and sure enough I still had the receipt in my desk at work! And by yet a 2nd miracle, I had purchased the extended service plan on it! Thursday was the EXACT one year anniversary of the purchase of the Ipod. So, if I had not purchased the extended service plan, our regular service plan had ended that very day lol. So, I found the receipt at work today and went to Wal Mart. They told me I had to call the Apple Co. so I still gotta do all that. But I'm hoping they will at LEAST fix it. And he's hoping they will give him a brand new one.

Saturday Rusty and I got up early and began going through junk in the garage. He has started to agree to let some of it go.........thank goodness. There is just so much. And when he sees that he either has to put it in his beautiful new wonderful guitar workshop at 208.5 Signal Hill Drive OR let it go to the dump...............he decides to let it go lol. Once we went through most of it, we then tore out the cabinets that are in the garage. That was a job. They were pretty darn nasty. And once he pulled the bottom of it out you could see that a RAT (or as he says, a "mouse") had been living there and was partial to eating pecans. There were pecan shells for DAYS. And there were even a few bones from I don't know what. Probably stolen dog bones.

I picked out the front doors yesterday. And Rusty and Mike's dad are going to order all the stuff we need for the job. Then, God willing, we will be enclosing the garage THIS WEEKEND. I'm excited!!!! I'm sure we'll still have lots more work to do once they've done the enclosing part. (running duct work, putting in carpet or tile, painting, etc etc. But the most of it should get finished in a weekend, so they tell me. Time will tell.

I'm enjoying mom's blog, the old pictures as well. Keep up the good work!