My Baby is 26

Married less than one year and our first child was on the way. I did a happy dance every day. Cathy was terribly sick the entire pregnancy. She took motion sick medicine just to function.

We had taken Lamaze classes before Josh was born. The weekly trip to the hospital with pillow in hand. We called them the pillow people. One of the things they said was that a lot of new parents rush into the hospital after the news goes off and the contractions start. They cautioned that if we waited til after midnight we wouldn't have to pay for two days. I was at a meeting at The Baby Fold. We had one every Monday night. When your mother called. I got excited and ran right into the door Jam. I about knocked myself out. Everyone laughed at me lying on the floor and helped me up and I was rushing home. Cathy was feeling "funny". She didn't think they were contractions but and after a couple we started timing them. We didn't wait until midnight. The classes said you were suppose to pack cookies for the husband, in case the delivery went long, (Cathy had them frozen in a zip lock in the freezer) and suckers for the woman. Once labor started they would let the expectant mother eat but sometimes they would allow suckers. So off we go in our little compact car through the streets of Normal, Illinois. I had to stop at Krogers for the suckers. I had the clasical music (my smart son was gonna be born to it) I had the instant camera (Poloroid instant brand new, we wouldn't have to wait to delevope them just shake. Cathy got it with coupons of some kind) We had new born clothes and packed clothes. You were a month early so it was a good thing Cathy was a great planner. So I leave Cathy in the car as I run into Krogers. I yelled at the cashier. Where are your suckers. She said "what" I said suckers you know you lick them. I said "my wife is having a baby in the car and I need suckers. She said "your wife is having a baby" I said yes. I started running up and down looking for them. There they were hanging on an end cap. They had the ones that are all strung together with plastic. I grabbed a bunch and thew them on the counter. The manager said "are you alright" I said sure sure, here is the money. and I ran. When we got the hospital I stopped at the emergency door. Cathy was so patient. I ran around and got her out. Then I couldn't decide if I should walk her in or park the car. I leaned her on a pole and away I went to park the car. Jumped over a curb and down so grassy area and was back in a flash. We were all pre-admitted. Thanks to Cathy so that part was easy but I was still spinning. music, camera, cookies, clothes, I was so excited I couldn't breath. We got one of the new room with the birthing chair which was wonderful. You came without complication at 2:28 a.m. I had the classical music playing. I had the camera ready. It was wonderful. I waited until they cleaned Josh up for the first picture. When I clicked the Poloroid Camera all 10 pictures/flashes went off at once. flash flash flash flash flash. I got one of Josh and 9 of the room as I was trying to figure it out. The second roll I took all 10 of Josh and they also all fired at once. I was prepared with 5 packs so I got 10 pictures of each of 5 poses and I'm sure Josh was blind for days. When we called you grandmas neither could believe that we didn't call them when we went in. But both were happy. I called everyone I knew at 3 a.m. to tell them about my new arrival. When we took Josh home I demanded that he be put in a car seat. The nurse said no honey he is too small, let the mother hold him. I got my way. He was strapped down safely. My how times have changed. We had to make a law to make people be safe.

oh ya gotta love plumbing

This is under my house the pipes for the bathtub sink and toilet.  It also is for the toilet and sinks in the upstairs.    Since I took out the floor of the bathroom that was an inch and a half thick.   And the floor I'm putting down is only 3/4 of an inch the pipe for the toilet is too high.   Also these pipes are not vented  so when the bathrub drains you hear it in the sink.   not a major problem but it does slow down the drains slightly.      Well I'm no plumber but I did fix this when it cracked at the bottom with a rubber boot.     So before I finish the bathroom I have to figure out this quandry.   

Gotta love a challenge.

wonderful bathtub

Too crazy.    The first tub I got home with was the wrong one so I got up early and went to lowes to switch before going to work last saturday.   My brother Dick came down and redid all of the plumbing .  When he got home he said the good new is that it's installed.  The bad news is that there is a leak.     We I didn't spend a small fortune for a tub with a hole in the pipes.  heavens.   I'll called whirlpool who basically said if we fixed the hole we would lose our warrenty or I could wait 6 weeks for them to send me a patch.    I worked sunday and when I got home  said  "this is for the birds"  Decatur didn't have another tub so I called Bloomington.  I took out the installed tub put it back int he box and took it to bloomington and exchanged.   A few hours of argueing and explaining and then home again.  By 10:30 at night I had it installed and guess what.   I took a bath!!@!    

I'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN

Today,   New Years Day  I finished gutting the bathroom.    Like all remodeling,  the little job grew and grew.  but the good news is I got lots of exercise carrying all the plaster out to the dumpster.    I was able to keep one and 1/2 walls in tact.   I had to completely tear out the three walls around the tub.     My nephew Dillon came over today and helped me finish that part of the project.    Now I have to decide on a Tub.   After I install that I can do the floor and walls.   I opened up the area above the tub.   I will still have the storage area above the cabinet.   I'll have to reframe that in of course.       So I met my first goal of getting everything torn out before my break was over.   I'm sitting in my TV room and looking at the paneling and have to keep myself from tearing this room up too.   One room at a time my friend........i haven't had to use my tread mill the last few days 'cause I've put the time in on my room. .....   New year how wonderful.......At this age people start asking when I will quit working.   I think that is funny.     I've got a good 10 years of the joy of teaching ahead of me.

i think it's going to beat me.

Well I've been banging on my bathroom for about a week now.   I think it is winning.  I'm glad I have other bathrooms.  I have a wall and a half left.     My arms won't work anymore to hammer.  ....... The dumpster I ordered is suppose to come today.  I'll feel better when I'm not climbing over the stuff on the floor.   5 gallon buckets hold about 50 lbs of stuff I'm guessing.   I have 4 full in the garage and 4 garbage cans full or plaster/concrete/tile.  

NEW QUESTION .......     DO I TEAR OUT THE STORATE ABOVE THE TUB TO OPEN UP THE AREA????    Joel and Josh both thought I should.   It makes a big job bigger but if I don't do it now it will never happen.

pink tub cast iron monster

I'm not done banging.  bam bam ....... I feel like bam bam from the flintstones........ I had be pecking away at the walls........   looked over at the tub and decided it was time for it to go....... I still have 3 days until I get the dumpster but what the heck.......on insulation on the outside wall. ....  maybe that is why the tub was always cold.   ........    That is a heater under the window......    I'll use the elctrical wire to run the hot tub.........I've never used the heater.

sink go bye bye

growling screaming a couple of tantrums and a shower thanks to the sink.  but I won!  The sink is history.  Next is the built in mirror that has already cut me a few times.