Things I'm working on around the house

Top priority: I am working on Emily's room right now.  I've gotten all the prep work done on the walls.  I had some weatherization to do, moved a switch box, cleaned up the edges, etc.  Should be able to put the sheetrock up quickly and get the job finished.  I'm hoping to have Emily back in her room by her birthday.

Top priority: We have the laminate flooring for the living room, hall, and master bedroom.  The floor is mostly ready to install the flooring in the living room.

In the master bedroom, I am redoing the closet by removing cabinets (last week), the water heater, etc.  That will give us the whole floor when we get to putting laminate down. 

Haven't even started finish work yet.  I have some cool ideas for the living room and kitchen just need time to get it done. 

I also need to level the house, take out the water heater, do some insulating underneath the house, clean up the garage, replace some siding outside the house, Going to be working all winter!

Not to mention that our cars keep dying...

Bringing new stuff in this weekend

Leila and the kids went to Sunday School today for the first time in months.  Being alone and a lack of socialization are major issues with the kinds of health issues we are struggling with.  Leila says she is feeling weaker and weaker here at home.  Not sure what the problem is but I am working to remove all sources of contaminants.  After removing some contaminated wood last weekend, my headaches have dropped off.  I did however have to get a new prescription for what appears to be inflammation in my lungs.  I've been struggling with breathing difficulties and it got worse.  May be inflammation from small particles or something.

We started to bring in our new linens and clothes this weekend.  We have to replace all of our clothes and linens to make sure that we aren't continuing to be exposed to mold.  We've also replaced a desktop computer, microwave, and TV.  It's like God wanted the appliances removed as the computer died and the microwave had an accident.  (Did you know that you can burn something in a microwave and it may not come out?)  The appliances collect dust and mold inside so they represent continuing sources of exposures.  So, out they went.

I found a bit more mold this weekend

I was working in the master bedroom this weekend and discovered more mold in the wall between our bedroom and the bathroom.  Looks like it developed from the water leaks this summer.  One of the leaks this summer occurred when a pipe nipple was put into for the shower but it was too short.  It leaked for quite awhile until we discovered it.  It looks like this leak caused mold to grow in a small area.

I sealed it in until I can get a chance to spray the mold killer which we are all highly allergic to which means that we have to be somewhere else for a few nights.  Our bedroom was tested and was found to be free of toxic mold so I'm not sure it was the bad stuff. 

The good news is that I didn't have a headache this morning!

Cleaning up the house

After getting the house whipped into shape, sort of, we moved back into the house Friday evening.

We spent the weekend at various tasks cleaning up and getting settled back in.  We still have lots to do.  I need to remove a cabinet in the master bedroom that got water damaged by the flooding this summer and so some clean up there.  I need to fix Emily's room up and then come back to finish in the living room.

We bought hardwood flooring for the living room, hallway, and master bedroom.  We will eventually update all the floors.  In the meantime, the steering in our van has failed so we are down to two cars.  We have to replace the computer, TV, and a few other things as well. So, lots to do yet but at least we are in our own home now. 

Below are some pictures from the kids helping with painting.  They apparently had a great time!

Kids having fun.

More fun Painting. 

The semi-finished living room.

Moving back in today

Well, we finished the drywall and got painting done on the house last weekend.  Smells have dissipated so we are now able to move back in the house.  Looking forward to being in our own beds.

We are grateful to the McCreadys for allowing us to stay at their house for as long as we have.   Thank you!

Still have lots of work around the house including drywall and painting in Emily's room.  So I'll be busy all this winter.  But at least we know that we have conquered the mold issue.

Mold tests came back great!

Finally!  Our mold tests came back clear of toxic mold!

Kevin and I spent the day at the house working in weatherization in the kitchen and living room.  We got the vapor barrier up and will start sheetrocking tomorrow.