Weekend 3 of the Stairs

This is were we are at the end of our third weekend building a staircase. We have the lower treads in. We will stain the treads black and paint the risers white.



Mike had to remove the ceiling in the closet.





And then remove the joist. You can see the A/C unit and the roof. The A/C unit will be in a closet when we are finished.





The joist are gone and the opening has been framed in. Mike still had wires to the bedroom and hall to deal with.



He has rewired and built on to the landing. We realized the landing needed to be big enough for the upper stringers to sit on.



This is how it looks now. He will cut out the upper stringers next weekend and will frame it out. He will close the opening on the left and put in a door so we can use the area for storage.



I hate not having a closet but can't wait for a second story! Notice Avery's cowboy hat on the end of his bed. He loves that thing!

It's True What They Say

About your life passing in front of your eyes when you think you're going to die. The same think happens when you think it's someone you love. I have had a hard time sleeping lately. I can't get to sleep, I can't stay asleep. So last night I was sleeping great. For all of two and a half hours when the phone rang at 2:35am. I got out of bed thinking it was Mike calling me for some reason. I tried to make it before the call notes picked up. They pick up at 3 rings and we can't figure out how to change it.

I didn't make it. So I went to the caller id and called the number back. I didn't have my glasses on so I couldn't see who I was calling but figured if you call me in the middle of the night I don't care if I wake anyone at your house when I call you back. I got a message that the phone number was disconnected. Ok, I know the phone rang. So I think was Mike calling me to tell me that phone was shut off? Crazy I know but it is the middle of the night and I did just jump out of bed and run across the room.

So I got back into bed and put my glasses on to see who it was. It was Mike's sargent. Ok, my heart started racing, my hands started shaking and all I can think is this is his new sargent and somethings happened. Since we live so far away, it's long distance to call back, that's why it didn't work when I redialed from the caller id. So I have to grab my cell to put the number in it because I know I won't remember it to just punch it in. And they cell doesn't work in the house.

So as I'm dialing the number I'm thinking ok I have to call Jerry and Linda to come and be with the kids. I guess I'm not going to Austin. Why didn't I call him before I went to sleep at midnight. Did I kiss him good bye?

Ring
Yo?

What's going on?

Oh is this Spurger? Oh he left his cell at home....

No this is Spurger's wife and you just called my house at 2:30 in the morning and I thought my husband was hurt or dead!

Oh I am very sorry, I had this as his cell number. (a very contrite sargent) I'm so sorry.

sigh, ok breath,

I'm so sorry I'll try to find him.

huh? I'll give you his cell number.

I'm so sorry.

The number is xxx xxx can't talk the tears have started and my heart is in my chest, he's ok. Oh thank you God he's ok. xxxx

I'm so sorry.

So think I could go back to sleep after that? No and as I'm laying there I think, find him? huh lol Is he lost? So of course I have to call him and make sure he's really ok. Which he is. His sargent needed to come get a tape out of his car. Evidently he'd made a dui arrest earlier and they needed to secure the dash cam.

Zachery's Heart

Zachery asked me to lay down with him. I told him no, he was a big boy and could go lay down by himself or with Avery. He said, "if you don't lay down with me then you make my heart hurt. And if you do lay down with me you make my heart happy." So I mean what could I do? lol I'm laying down with him.

We Have Started!

On construction on the stairs. I'm so excited. Mike has done such a great job, I'm so proud of him.
This is the first picture. We have taken all of Avery's clothes out of the closet and put them on his bed. This is the only closet in the house. lol So I'm still not sure where all the clothes will wind up. I got all the shoes out and put up and everything else that was in there.



This is Mike starting to rip out the sheet rock.


End of the first day, the landing is finished. Zachery is writing his name on it. lol


Now Zachery is explaining to Mike that the wall needs to come down. lol He's so smart!




End of the second day, the lower stringers are in.

Do other kids go to sleep?

Mine won't. I just don't get it. Avery is actually laying in bed, in the dark, talking to himself. This can go on for hours. If he just stopped talking he would go to sleep. Zachery just does not sleep. He's playing on the computer now. I'd say he's good for at least another hour and a half. I have never in my life known a child who needed less sleep.

Last night I couldn't take it any more, no wait that was Monday night. I was the first one asleep. Last night Zachery decided he wanted to sleep with Avery. But instead of laying there he tormented Avery for hours, keeping everyone away. Then he decided Avery needed to sleep in my bed, that we all three should sleep there. So I'm in bed and the kids leave. They come back out to the living room. I understand why Avery did it. He was trying to get away from Zachery so he could sleep. But it didn't work, Zachery followed him. I just don't know how to get him to settle down. It doesn't matter if the routine is the same, it doesn't matter if you change it. The child does not go to sleep until he is ready. I think I need more sleep than he does. lol

Why do we keep fighting?

It's turning into a daily thing and it's over nonsense. Tonight I asked Mike what kind of sandwich he wanted me to make for his dinner. He said he was thinking of peanut butter and jelly. Ok, I said. Then I proceed to open the laptop which is on the table in sleep mode because I have been working all day. I wanted to check my email and my work email to see if my payrolls had been reviewed yet. So he comes into the kitchen and starts making sandwiches. I told him I said I would do it. He's mad! Why you ask? Because he heard what I said and I didn't say I'd make them I asked him what kind he was going to make?????? Huh? No that's not what I said. So he goes into the whole I'm not arguing with you I know what you said. So now I'm mad, he hears wrong and thinks I'm not going to make him a sandwich and gets mad.

First it's crazy to get mad that I didn't say I would. Second it's even crazier to not believe me when I say that's not what I said! The truth of the matter is he was pissed that I was on the laptop. I have had it put up since Friday. I was expecting rude comments when he saw me using it today, but I do need it for work. Which I did do all day. I had to open it to shut it down.

Now I wish someone would explaine to me why it's ok for him to sit in front of the tv all day but if I get on the computer I'm ignoring him? How does that work? I don't really like much tv. And I don't like the crap he watches. And I don't say anything when he is on the PSP. So really what is the big deal? I'm on the computer so I'm not available to do what? Watch you watch tv? Play cards; cause we do a lot of that? Oh have deep meaningful conversations? I agree I'm on the computer too much. But I'm board! I know he thinks I should be cleaning the house instead. But for some reason I can't seem to think I should be up picking up, doing dishes and doing laundry while he sits in front of the tv. And when I'm not doing that I should be sitting next to him waiting for him to speak?

And yes I've stopped taking my meds. And he asked me, have you been taking your medicine? I just looked at him and asked how he could tell. It was like a light bulb went off for him. Ah, she's irrational. Could that really be it? I am highly agitated. But I feel right, like justified. Yes I have been yelling a lot. And threw a toy last night. But that's normal right? Other people throw little people school buses on the floor? I mean I can not be the only one. lol

I guess I've just reached my limit. I've had enought, I need space. I need a bedroom. I need to see my things. I need to be able to have a conversation with Mike alone. I need to not trip over toys because there is no place to play. Sigh, the stairs will start tomorrow. I hope we can do it.

What a week.

The Stairs

Thursday we will buy the lumber to build a staircase. I'm so freaking excited. I have been looking at instruction sites and have them designed in my head. I know Mike can do this he's so meticulous. I am so sick of having one bedroom for all of us. This house is way too small. By finishing the upstairs we will double the space. It will make this house bigger than the old house. I need the space.

It's weird making this our home. It was never meant to be. Every time I look around I see Marsha, not me. I've made a few changes but it's pretty hard to do anything when we're stacked on top of each other. So I know this will help. Then I'm going to turn the bedroom now into the living room. I'll start by painting it. Then the living room will become the office/game room.

I know it will help Mike sleep by being upstairs and away from all of us. It will be darker and quieter. I will also be so happy to not have my room at the front of the house! The street light drives me batty. Now it will be at the back of the house. I can't wait to start!

Noah and the really bad word.

I picked Zachery up from daycare on Monday, I know how crazy is it that he begs to go, and he tells me Noah said a really bad word. So of course I ask him what? Wondering if I should be encouraging my 4 year old to repeat a really bad word. He refused to tell me. So I asked if Noah got in trouble. NO! So I asked if they tied Noah to a chair, again no. Well did they hit him? Still no. One can't be too sure these days so I thought it was good to ask. Zachery seemed a little appalled by my questions but he goes with the flow. lol

Later that night Zachery comes up to me and say, "Mom." "Noah said super bitch and they didn't tie him to a chair and they didn't hit him, he had to go to time out." How do you not laugh at that! And now for the realization that kids actually come home and tell their parents things that happened during the day. It made me wonder what kind of stories I have missed from and about Avery. And what kind of stories Noah has to tell about Zachery! lol

I Have a Confession

I drink OJ out of the container. No one knows, I hide it. I do it so I don't have to wash yet one more glass! lol

What a great day

Even after being up half the night I still had a great day. It was an Avery and mom day. I got the boys ready and in the car and my car wouldn't start. So we took the truck. We dropped Zachery off at his "play school" and headed to Mesquite. First we went to the candle supply and picked up the wicks I ordered. Then off to Target. Wow they were almost empty. Evidently they had everything on sale except for what I wanted. So Avery got a new pair of jeans and a pair of gloves. I am the lucky recipient of laundry soap and paper towels.

While in line at Target a lady and two boys were behind us. Of course Avery had to great everyone and shake hands. They acted tickled and commented on his fancy hand shake. I wanted to turn around and say he's not an oddity. When the young man said to me, "I have a brother with down syndrome." And he was proud! Come to find out his brother is 29 and he is 16. Close to Avery and Zachery. And his brothers name is Zachary. lol It was raining when we left and the mom stayed with Avery by the door while I got the truck. She helped him load it too. lol I looked at her and said, "29 huh?" She said yes and he's doing great. For those of you who don't have kids with disabilities that is a great conversation. Two proud moms sharing that their kids really are ok. And a brother who was proud, he really touched me.

So we were off to High School Musical 3. Yes, I know. I asked him if he'd see Max Payne and he said he would. But I knew how much he wanted to see HSM3, and all I could think was what if he died tomorrow. How would I live with knowing I could have done something he wanted. And I thought of all the times he went with me to do things I wanted. So we went.

It was actually a good movie! We had such a good time. We had popcorn and hotdogs and soda. I could tell Avery really enjoyed it. It was really raining when we left. Avery did a "move" in the parking lot on the way to the truck. lol He cracks me up! Then we went to get his boots.

At the first store the woman was rude and wouldn't speak to him or really look at him. She threw some boots on the floor and left. We found a great pair! I refused to buy them there and called Cavenders. They had the same brand, so we headed over there. I stopped on the way out to let the manager know why we were leaving. He asked if it was a cranky woman who started to help us. Oh ya she was! lol

So when we get to Cavenders the guy is really nice and come to find out he too has a brother with a disability. I think it's kinda nice that I had both experiences today. We picked Zachery up on the way home and stopped by Sonic for dinner.

Mike is off to work now and soon the kids will be in bed!!!!! Avery goes back to school tomorrow. He's so excited. He's got his new boots and jeans out and ready to go. The whole yard is flooded so I'm worried about him soaking his new boots on the first day. lol

Why You Ask?

Would I be creating a blog at 4:45 am? One because I am a klutz and two because I have insane dogs. I went to bed at a reasonable hour of 12:03, after bringing Smiley and Belle inside. It's cold out tonight and they wanted in. I fell on Friday night, hurting my right hand and wrist. So I am having a hard time sleeping with the pain. And to top it off Smiley wants out but is afraid of the door in the bedroom. She only wants to go out the door in the kitchen??????? Ya, so after letting Belle out the bedroom door and trying to drag Smiley, all 100 plus pounds of her, out the bedroom door, with my left arm since I can't use my right wrist, she proceeds to bark excessively at the kitchen door. So I let her our while explaining to her that she can freeze she's not coming in any more! lol

So now I'm awake. I have to get up in a couple of hours to take Zachery to daycare. He's dying to go. How crazy is that? I'm home to be with him and he begs for daycare? Well tomorrow is a good day for him to go since I have to take Avery to Mesquite to have his blood work done. I told him I'd take him to the movies too. And I have to pick up some wicks.

I'm hoping I can convince Avery to see Max Payne, which I am more likely to be able to sit through, than High School Musical 3. I will buy him the dvd the day it comes out! What a horrible mother I am not taking him to see it. I really suck. I'm sure other mothers do it and find enjoyment. If not in the movie, than in being the kind of mother who takes their kid to a movie that makes them pull their hair out. See why Zachery is going to day care? lol No way could or would he sit through it and I only have one arm right now. lol