Progress...

After ripping up the floor it was decided that the toilet has to stay put. Enlightenment: move the radiator! Called the plumber, said it could be done. This has allowed me to finalize a plan - YAY! I think I am on Plan E. I seriously have about 8 options. I was having trouble getting into the design as I didn't know what could be done. So, with this Plan E, I have to move the door. Ugh. Nothin' easy. Easier than moving a toilet, I suppose. This door thing also means moving a light switch. Easy, right? Not if the wires are too short. Luckily I have a father-in-law who knows his stuff. so, last weekend we went to town tearing down a little more wall, moved and electrical outlet. Today, Bob and I took down more plaster (never ending) and did some re- framing of a door and support for the wall (load bearing - grrr). He move the switches over to the next stud bay. Not so easy - cut through floor boards, drill holes through joists in floor and ceiling... I even used the skill saw for the first time and drilled the 1/2" hole through the ceiling joists. Baby steps. Kids deserve a lot of credit again - playing nicely all afternoon (skipping nap) so we could finish up that support of the load bearing wall. Hopefully Friday the plumber will be able to move the radiator. Fingers crossed.

Another day, more demo

Had a bit of a break since the tub left on Tuesday. A couple guys came and lugged the pink tub away. I was actually kind of sad to see it go and wished I could use it in the "new bathroom". Chiseling it out was quite a task and made me nervous of the next step to remove ALL the floor tile. On Tuesday, Bob came over and was a big help with the plumbing. He put caps on the shower and sink pipes so the water could stay on for my throne. He also did most of the chiseling to free the tub so that it could be hauled away. Thursday was a "bathroom free day" as I couldn't work with Dylan home. Friday I started tackling the floor. It went VERY slowly at first. Just using a chisel with the sledgehammer was NOT very productive. Spent about an hour and just had little bits of rubble and was exhausted. I was at a peak of frustration and my drive was shut down. I shifted gears and pealed off some of the tile left from where the sink was (the easy stuff). After getting that area down to the studs I tackled the floor again. I decided to try to crowbar again and MAN did I find a great trick! Wedged the bent end under the cement above the wire mesh. Held the far end of the crowbar (FAR away from the hammer also great for saving fingers) and pounded it in as far as it would go. I tried to lift the cement and tile as high as I could and then took the sledge hammer and pounded the tile around it to create a "break line". Then pried again and presto! A 2 foot square lifted off. Hope was renewed. If I knew about this trick I swear I would have almost all the tile removed by now. Not going to get upset, as I rather know about this trick now than not at all. Going to hopefully finish the tile today...

Spring Break

Beautiful day today. Dylan doesn't have school on Thursdays so I could tear up the floor anyway, so.... After his nap this afternoon we headed outside to all enjoy the 60F weather. I got to rake the leaves off all the flower beds (and discover there were a bunch trying to make their way through all the leaves! Having the nice weather reminds us that we have neighbors - talked to a couple even! The kids have fun outside too. While I put the leaves in a large bag, Dylan removed them from that bag and filled up his dump truck and dumped them back on the lawn. Hmmm, not quite as productive as I would have hoped for.

Shifting Gears

I know this blog is mostly about the kids, however, I am embarking on a major project, so I thought I would use this page to document the work. What is this project? PINK PALACE RENO. Yup, the pink palace, AKA main bathroom, is being gutted to the bones and completely redone. The final design plans are still in limbo, even though the walls have come down. I am waiting to get another plumber in to talk about moving the toilet. I started a week ago tearing through the hall closet (to be the new bathroom entrance). Days one and two were extremely slow. I worked in the morning while the kids were in school. I had an errand on the way home both days and then had to clean up before getting them. I also had to do my own waste removal. HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY. The closet alone took three large barrels (which Ethan helped me lug down the stairs and out the door) and 4 large 3mil contractor bags (that I loaded and removed at least to the porch. Day three I called in the big guns. Bob, Jackie, Ethan and I all got dirty while the kids looked after themselves (literally). Jackie and I went to town on the walls, removing tile, cement board and plaster. We dumped the junk into 5 gallon pails that disappeared when full and reappeared empty. (magical). Bob took out the ceiling and studs to the closet. In that one day we finished ripping out the closet and got 85% of the walls down to the studs. Used up ALL 25 forty-two gallon contractor bags and other bins Bob brought for us. I am having a hard time letting go of the toilet, so we left the tile behind the sink and toilet area (I tend to pee a lot at night). Next day was a "make up day" for me and I made 7 quarts of chicken soup, a batch of cookies, two double pie crusts, chicken pot pie, about 5 loads of laundry, and more cleaning. Today Bob returned and capped off all the plumping (and yes, I can still pee in the toilet). I posted the tub on Craig's list and though I am not getting money for it, someone IS coming to take it away tomorrow - FREE. That baby is HEAVY. Sink is gone. Next step: finish removing tile and plaster and chisel out that floor tile (ugh) Then I guess I am going to have to say good-bye to the toilet for a while. Must start training bladder now... I am starting an album, will keep you posted...