Ok here are some more pictures-- I have been receiving requests of our progress-- I do not know if you can tell, but we HAVE been working- We put down the underlay for the roof, it is not as easy as it looks (if it looks easy). Actually the we consisted of Keith all the time and Brian with about 3/4 of it and then Keith had to settle for me for the last 1/4. We started laying it on a Saturday afternoon, and did the front porch. Sunday we were going to start the main roof, which has a bit more pitch.

I was some what nervous about this part. The angle is such that you have to lean all the time, more than it looks you would. My knees have become most uncooperative since my being sick, don't know why, or what, just know they REALLY hurt. The right one hurts to straighten and the left to bend. So sitting in a crouched position unrolling a huge roll of paper on a 12:5 pitch roof in the wind AND being a clutz makes me nervous. So I prayed for strength and ability all day Sunday before we began the roof. Just as I was climbing the ladder to begin this endeavor Keith's phone rang, it was Brian, my strength and ability calling, to see if we needed any help!!

The guys got all the front pitched roof done and the back porch. Keith and I finished the back pitch in two more afternoons. Keith has lots of holes in his tongue from biting it those two days.

The electric is mostly run, that took many days and wire.

I have 3600 square feet of 800 polishing and then 3600 square feet of 1500 polishing and probably a densifyer or sealer finish to go and the floors are finished. I have run 4 different grinds and will have run 6 rounds of polish- 36,000 feet of grinding polishing. NEVER NEVER again, the floors will be great, but NEVER NEVER again. We will be selling the grinder polisher-- we bought it for 7000$ and a little extra for the last polish pads and densifiyer-- If we sell if for 3000 then we will have 1$ per square foot floors... Anyone buying?

We are pretty sure we have the doors 'done', except for the front door Keith is proposing to build. Some friends just unbroke ground and we purchased some of their doors from them.

God has blessed us with a change in the building weather, our construction people are getting hungry and beginning to come to us for work and are actually coming DOWN and competing with each other on prices.

Steel prices came down this week so our roof cost will too.

What we are fixin to do:

Roof this weekend

Finish polish

Run rest of plumbing (exhaust)

Air ducts for air/heat ( need to have them 'compete' more)

Dry wall and texture

Doors hang

Master bath: toilet, sinks(have)build tile shower, bath(have)

Texture paint Master bed

The cabinets have been purchased!! They should be ready at end of February-- Again a God send. The cabinet maker, the timing, the cost, all perfect. After we had figured we could not afford anything but prefab and wondered if that would be worth it.. Here is this, they will be knotty alder, exactly what we want!!

Our hope is to be to a point of moving in it by April-- basically kitchen and master finished and the rest to be finished within a few weeks and $$ of that.

I gotta go and grind-- more soon--

STILL building a house

Okay my house is not finished. I was most sure that 6 months would be plenty of time to build a house.  Or at least be MUCH further along than we are. We really have been 'doin sumthin' the whole time. But obviously NOT ENOUGH.

We (Keith and some of his guys from work) started the electric this last weekend.  That to did not complete in one day-- It should in another.  

We did find that there are a bit more 'little things' the framers did askew.  So we are contemplating NOT using them for the dry wall work-- IF we do, I will be more aggressive and bossy(bitchy) with them while they are here.  The little things may be the norm, a few inches off here or there, a wall/door misplaced, (they fixed it,but it messed up a bit of my concrete floor, so I will have to become creative with the holes) A couple of walls were not anchored to the cement wall, which would really be an issue if they fell down.  Little things.... One of the little things was on the raising of the trusses, they (after much instruction of NOT to) put one too close to the gable, leaving us short one on one end.  They had to build another for that end. The end that got too many we had a room designed in the attic that might one day open into the living as a loft-- an after thought, but the truss guy designed it so we could do this.  The moving of the truss though made it so it would be impossible to open this loft to the living without much redesign.  So brain storm of Meg Ash and I was to put the opening to the room on the outside of the house, with stairs going up to it from the outside-- Like Doc's office on Gunsmoke.  -- It will be Keith's poker room and or 'doghouse'.  I keep trying to convince him to put a toilet and sink up there also, but so far he thinks the work will be more than the convenience. 

The porches look great.  

The roof metal guy is coming tomorrow to give us some estimates and measure

The jury is still out on the loan.

We brought the second set of doors home with us after Christmas (Keith went and picked them up in Houston)

We bought the master bath.

We have only had two really big arguments since last posting.. pretty good for the circumstances-- one of them being KEITH.  

It has been a few days-- So much to do this time of year!  Our Christmas was a completely new experience for us! A multitude of 1st.

1st Christmas to not have to put up a Christmas tree: One would not fit in our lovely abode. We thought of Christmas lights, but thoughts of Randy Quaid's character in National Lampoons Christmas danced through my head.  

1st Christmas in many many years to not spend it in Midland in my home.  We have hosted Christmas for YEARS. Without a house it was impossible. 

1st Christmas to spend in San Antonio.

1st Christmas no stockings were hung

1st Christmas to have 4 grandchildren-WOW. What joy!!

1st Christmas to have Christmas begin on the 23 and go through the 25-- Two Christmas celebrations with the two families.

1st Christmas to not have a house

1st Christmas none of my children are 'living' in my home.

1st Christmas to not have parents. This was sobering.  Last Christmas was the first without Dad alive, we had eased into his not being with us the year before, with him not being able to come to the house, and us visiting him at the nursing home.  Last year doing for Mom and making sure she was taken care of for Christmas seemed help with the missing of Dad. 

For the past few years I had been the 'Santa' for all of the gifts Mom and Dad had given to others, even the gifts they gave each other.  Mom would call often with the question of if I had taken care of so and so and what they were giving to whom, wondering if there should be more etc. She would have me pick out my own, insist to see it, since she knew I would sometimes NOT do this, it seemed self indulgent to me. This year of course none 'from' Mom and Dad. I missed it, even if it was really 'from' me. 

Mom had tried to 'back out' of last Christmas, which we spent at Brian and Ashtons for the main meal and present opening.  I was insistent and did not let her give in to her maladies of the day, and I am so very thankful! Had that been the case I would not have the last picture of her with me.  As small item, but with so very much meaning for me.

This bit of sadness did not 'ruin' my Christmas! Actually just the opposite, it made everything so much more precious. The time to share with the boys and their families, the grandkids, even the candlelight service, that Dad enjoyed so much in the past, was so very special.  I have my memories of Christmas past, with my parents, my family as a child. I can remember the love and the joy we shared.  I treasure that. 

This year as I watched my own grown children with their families, their children, making traditions, in their own homes, telling their children of Christ's birth, I felt pure joy. Joy of God's plan to save us. Joy that His plan is so constant so precise.

I was born to a young woman with no way to care for me, I was born without parents, with no one who wanted to keep me to love.  God had a plan. A perfect plan for me.  God gave me parents, brothers, a family. God gave me a husband a companion. God gave me children, 3 sons. God gave me daughters when my 2 sons married. God gave me grandchildren. 

The love continues. 

He continues the love. 

More of my Wellness.

Last posting of my illness, I was on the mend.  The diagnosis a bit of a mix of things. That was on a Saturday, the following Monday was even more.

I woke up and readied for my shower and looked down at many many bruises and tiny red spots all over my body.  Frustrated does not even describe what I felt. 

 I called the MD office, I could not do a walk in in the AM because they had a staff meeting, so come at 2pm and they would fit me in.  They did, at 4:30-  Dr. Sponsel was not pleased with what was happening, with my body. The possibilities ranged from virus infecting blood to leukemia and even possibly other cancerous things.... He ordered blood work and a full body scan, to have results before Thanksgiving.  

Dr Sponsel is a Christian, who professes his faith with absolutely no qualms, very refreshing and mentoring to me.  He said he knew we were to have faith in these matters, yet he also believed God wanted us to have comfort and peace, and that having answers to things would bring this, even if it was 'bad news'.  

Well some answers did come on Wednesday, before TG.  I had no blood platelets and spleen enlarged (must go 'with' platelet issue because scan did not come in for another week)

AND I had MRV/Epstein Barr virus-Which is MONO, a herpes virus.   The latter concerned me so much for the grandchildren, I had the nurse immediately call the MD back, before any more explanation of my diagnosis, so as to know if I had endangered them.  The call back was relieving, the infection needs to be of the slobbery kiss transfer, or more (thus the 'kissing disease') And if they were going to get it they would have already had it from me AND I was no longer infectious.  WHEW.

The next news was on my platelets, and bleeding from missing them.  I was not to bump into things, brush my teeth too hard, nor play with the grandkids in a way that would result in bumbs or  bruises, or I would start bleeding and they would take my spleen out. MMmh. "Could I fix this by drugs or eating broccoli or something ?" 

"Nope."  

"Ok, how long do I walk around like a china doll?"

"At least 4 weeks, it takes platelets some time to replenish from nothingness, IF they do."

"IF?"

Probably will, since probably removed by virus(and found later RX given also)but some do not replenish properly if caused by other things. You will need to come into office every week to get platelets counted to make sure they are going up, for a few weeks,starting Monday."

So there I was, monophied, bruised, but NOT diabetic,nor leukemic. Blessed.

Monday, I went in to give blood.  I commented that I assumed the body scan was 'good'. They checked and found it had not come in at all as they had planned, so it had been overlooked. Whoops.  They then seemed to be a bit concerned again, maybe for chicken counting before all eggs in. They were going to call as soon as records found and reported to MD.  Tuesday, they called... MIRACLE to be documented. My platelets were completely normal, no issues at all, I would not need to come in again for any more rechecks. 4 weeks had turned to 4 days.    The scan had also been found and studied, completely clear (except morning BM still present to photographed, but we all know that I am 'FULL of IT).

Since this I have also found that my Mono,was a 'relapse', like all herpes virus can do.  I had mono previously in life and the stress of all of the illness/dehydration and ? triggered it to raise it's ugly head.  Dr. Sponsel and we are not thinking Mono was the primary cause, he still thinks it was toxins in the body that sent me over the edge-- The tannins and fermented of the Wurstfest, cement poisoning when cement ate through my skin and into blood stream, pituitary tumor messing with adrenals all the time, celiac(autoimmune disease) =dehydration and total body collapse-- And God can heal anything anytime, even before we know what we need healing from.. 

I was very sick, I was very aware of this and so very distressed at the thought of not being around for my family, my grandchildren births, graduations, marriages. So aware of missing my blessings, should I be called home now.  I was on my knees. I asked God for my healing and he gave it to me.  No diagnosis needed, only my God's healing hand.   

It always takes something like this to bring things into a new,better light. To show what we take advantage of. The 'things' being our blessings.  I am blessed, I am always blessed, and rarely do I actually look at and treasure up my blessings as I should.  There are still many many things I wish I 'do'. I know I should, because God has given me these things, yet I 'do' not enough with them.  

*My Grandchildren-- more time, more goings on, -go ahead and splurge.. 

*My Boys- more time, more 'talks', tell them more about me-- who else will?

*My Talents- use them, try them, - failure is not using them

*My Family- God gave them all to me, bio and adopted and legal they are all 'real' to me  and , I need to grasp those gifts.

SteveMikeLinda(s) YvonneAnneTeriJulieBeckyCheyanneTomTommyPaulWendiNealGingerDeanAshley

JoeyPattyFranMaryLeMonicaGeneJennyDianeCandiceJamieCodyNeal(s)TravisNathan

KarenTanahVioletGarySuzyFranBlaineJames(s)MaryLouAshtonBobbyColleen

JustinMegMelissa(s)JoeyDeuceM'lissaChrisTheresaLeeEvanTyBrianTrentDavidJoeEmory

RustyJuneChadErinChelseaZachGabDallas(s)AndrewLeslieKennethBryanDanielRachelEJ RebeccaJeffScottStephanieBrittanyMaryChristineKatyMKenzie

*My Husband- a perfect fit, my protector and friend. I need to know that and rejoice.

*My Friends- more than I know,more than I deserve.

The framing has been completed. The trusses should go up tomorrow, and then the decking. Yes, that is a cat on top of the wall, and 3 dogs in the house.(Hobo is the dark brown new 'find'.

The delay from illness and lack of follow through and change of roof supplier has taken it's toll.

We will not have a house by Christmas. But that was probably really NOT going to really happen, anyway. WE will have a roof though, we will be dried in. Hopefully we will get a loan for Christmas. (Pray for such!)

The crew that are doing the frame work are again a God send. They are local too, the out of towner we thought would be the 'better deal' was 3x more than this crew. These guys are great, they helped me fix some walls that changed up because I just found 2 of my showers 'moved' thus a few adjustments had to be made-- But they really helped a great deal made sure everything centered etc. Like they actually care! The second day they were putting up walls, it was COLD even had some snow flurries.

Wall Pour Video

The building continues

The house and the blog progress suffered during my illness.

Prior to, we did pour the porches, order windows, and get our cement grinder in and begin grinding.

THE FLOOR: The grinder/polisher was a pretty big purchase , but it will be worth it in the long run-- To hire it out would be about $18,000. Our machine was $7000 and we intend to sell it (we thought to hire me out, but after only 1/2 of one out of 8 grinds in, I will NOT do this professionally)

The first grind is to 'roughen and smooth' both. Heavy metal grinding wheels grind off the top layer of concete to expose aggregate. It worked well on the area of the house that

was poured first during our 'rainy' pour. That was about 1/4 of the house. The rest of the slab, our guys were able to 'burn' the surface, a good thing with the iffy pour we had, a bad thing when grinding. So I have to use water grind to get that 'burn' off' . Making the grinding a bit slower. After I get through this, the rest should go 2x as fast.

THE PORCHES: They look great!! Our cement guys came and poured the porches and the drive in a couple of days. Actually showed up a day early, because they had finished up another job, we were not ready. But they helped me clean up around house while we waited for dirt-- They are great!

WINDOWS: We ordered them about 4 weeks ago- pretty good price. They came in last week. We wanted to wait and put them in after roof-- But....(explain later). So they put them in Monday.-- They look great!! we have windows, no doors and no roof- 1/3 dried in?

ROOF: Steel trusses with Young NOT happening. They low balled us on the estimate, turns out this is their 'way'. Our $18000 trusses turned into $28000. We got the cal

l just after leaving the Neurologist in Round Rock. -- We have been searching since. Getting bids, probably should have done this before. It looks like a Littlefield wood truss company will be our roof.-40 something trusses around $8000 delivered. A crew that used to do Betenbough Homes (old childhood next door neighbor) may put them up. Still praying for the 'right' people for this. Hope it is not us.-- IF this is our set up, then we should have a roof by early Dec.

DOORS: Do you know how much money doors cost? Right now 1 exterior doors will cost more than our air conditioner/heat pump.-- Keith is thinking of building them himself-- does anyone have a table saw/planer/joiner? cheep?