Started this list yesterday....am finishing it today.
1. DH turned 38 last week. 38! Eek. I have a husband who is 38. 38 is closer to 40 than anything else. That seems so old to me (I'm 4 1/2 years younger than he is). I just have to keep reminding myself that how we feel doesn't correspond to the number we are.
2. My "40 bags for Lent" part is going well! I'm up to 24 bags so far and that does not include the 7 bags I donated before Lent began. Much to my surprise, it will not be a problem coming up with 40 bags of stuff to leave our home. Sadly, I probably could come up with 80 bags of stuff we don't need or use in our house.
3. Our unfinished rooms in the basement are all cleared out! We have been busting our booties all last week and this week to get those rooms (bedroom, bathroom, and laundry room) cleared out and we finally did it. Some stuff ended up going into our crawl space, but a lot of it was donated or went into the trash or recycling. I wish I would have taken a before picture to show you how much stuff was in there, but basically the rooms were full. I did take a between photo, which shows some of the stuff.
4. Our whole reason for clearing out those spaces was to see if we could get someone in to finish the last remaining rooms in our basement. We want the unfinished bedroom to become our main guestroom and I want the laundry room finished because it's so freezing cold in there now, and I anticipate I'll be spending a lot of time in there doing more laundry after Baby arrives. It took all week to get people in to take measurements on what it would cost and now we're still waiting to get the estimates back! I'm so frustrated! The construction business is hardly booming in our town, and these various contractors are not on the ball with getting back to us. Both said they would call yesterday and they didn't. So I will call them on Monday, but do I take that to mean they aren't interested in the job? Grrr....I'm frustrated.
5. Don't ask my why we waited until I was 30 weeks pregnant to do house projects we've been talking about our entire marriage (6.5 years). Unrealistically, I thought if we had the space cleared out, someone would come in for an estimate and within a day or two be able to start the work. My "plan" was to have all the work done by March 13th when my dad is coming. Sadly, I realize that will not be the case now as I probably have to call more people for estimates since these guys are so slow. I didn't have a Plan B, but I've been forced to make one. Dad will be in town March 13-21 to help us paint the nursery and another upstairs room along with other fix-it up jobs. Since we made plans for him to be here first, and he needs a place to sleep (ie. the basement), I'm just going to tell them our house is unavailable during those dates. We could put Dad up in a hotel, but how rude I feel that would be and I already talked to him about having workmen in the whole time he's here and he wasn't crazy about that idea (I don't blame him,). So....will that space be done before Baby arrives? I have no idea now.
6. Anxiety and Fear seem to still be companions of mine that make their appearance every now and then. I just heard about someone having a stillbirth at 32 weeks, and Fear and Anxiety came to visit me again. I still cannot stop thinking about something going wrong with this baby. It is so crazy. Is that the IF in me still or because of my past experience with miscarriages or just my personality or my lack of faith? I find it so hard to believe that we will bring home a healthy baby in the not so distant future. It's not that I want anything to go wrong, but this seems too good to be true. I find myself repeating, "Jesus, I trust in You."
7. DH had a monster corner desk in our unfinished bedroom (6 ft x 6 ft). We were just going to donate it to get rid of it ASAP, but I decided to place a free classified ad online last night on a local website. By 9am this morning, it had already sold and by 12 we had the cash in our pocket and the free space in our garage! Why did I wait so long to post on this website? Now I'm going through the house looking at what else I can sell:-) I think the desk counts as "1 bag" in my Lent 40- don't you?
1. DH turned 38 last week. 38! Eek. I have a husband who is 38. 38 is closer to 40 than anything else. That seems so old to me (I'm 4 1/2 years younger than he is). I just have to keep reminding myself that how we feel doesn't correspond to the number we are.
2. My "40 bags for Lent" part is going well! I'm up to 24 bags so far and that does not include the 7 bags I donated before Lent began. Much to my surprise, it will not be a problem coming up with 40 bags of stuff to leave our home. Sadly, I probably could come up with 80 bags of stuff we don't need or use in our house.
3. Our unfinished rooms in the basement are all cleared out! We have been busting our booties all last week and this week to get those rooms (bedroom, bathroom, and laundry room) cleared out and we finally did it. Some stuff ended up going into our crawl space, but a lot of it was donated or went into the trash or recycling. I wish I would have taken a before picture to show you how much stuff was in there, but basically the rooms were full. I did take a between photo, which shows some of the stuff.
4. Our whole reason for clearing out those spaces was to see if we could get someone in to finish the last remaining rooms in our basement. We want the unfinished bedroom to become our main guestroom and I want the laundry room finished because it's so freezing cold in there now, and I anticipate I'll be spending a lot of time in there doing more laundry after Baby arrives. It took all week to get people in to take measurements on what it would cost and now we're still waiting to get the estimates back! I'm so frustrated! The construction business is hardly booming in our town, and these various contractors are not on the ball with getting back to us. Both said they would call yesterday and they didn't. So I will call them on Monday, but do I take that to mean they aren't interested in the job? Grrr....I'm frustrated.
5. Don't ask my why we waited until I was 30 weeks pregnant to do house projects we've been talking about our entire marriage (6.5 years). Unrealistically, I thought if we had the space cleared out, someone would come in for an estimate and within a day or two be able to start the work. My "plan" was to have all the work done by March 13th when my dad is coming. Sadly, I realize that will not be the case now as I probably have to call more people for estimates since these guys are so slow. I didn't have a Plan B, but I've been forced to make one. Dad will be in town March 13-21 to help us paint the nursery and another upstairs room along with other fix-it up jobs. Since we made plans for him to be here first, and he needs a place to sleep (ie. the basement), I'm just going to tell them our house is unavailable during those dates. We could put Dad up in a hotel, but how rude I feel that would be and I already talked to him about having workmen in the whole time he's here and he wasn't crazy about that idea (I don't blame him,). So....will that space be done before Baby arrives? I have no idea now.
6. Anxiety and Fear seem to still be companions of mine that make their appearance every now and then. I just heard about someone having a stillbirth at 32 weeks, and Fear and Anxiety came to visit me again. I still cannot stop thinking about something going wrong with this baby. It is so crazy. Is that the IF in me still or because of my past experience with miscarriages or just my personality or my lack of faith? I find it so hard to believe that we will bring home a healthy baby in the not so distant future. It's not that I want anything to go wrong, but this seems too good to be true. I find myself repeating, "Jesus, I trust in You."
7. DH had a monster corner desk in our unfinished bedroom (6 ft x 6 ft). We were just going to donate it to get rid of it ASAP, but I decided to place a free classified ad online last night on a local website. By 9am this morning, it had already sold and by 12 we had the cash in our pocket and the free space in our garage! Why did I wait so long to post on this website? Now I'm going through the house looking at what else I can sell:-) I think the desk counts as "1 bag" in my Lent 40- don't you?
I think it is so great that you have the energy and fortitude to do these projects. YEAH!!!
ReplyDeleteNothing like a baby to bring out a deadline.
I hear you on the worry part...just tonight I was reading WHY gestational diabetes causes stillbirth. UGH>>>>>>
Just can't let go of the fear, either.
I wish I could be a better example. But, perhaps it helps to know I hold you in prayer and ask Our Lady to send you peace and joy as you wait to meet your sweet baby--soon!
Fly time fly!
I'm pretty sure the desk can count as more than one bag! I think that, given your history, it's natural to have fear and anxiety. Maybe it's not a lack of faith, so much as it is an opportunity to grow in faith... which it sounds like you are doing. :) I will keep praying for you, too, and a continuing healthy pregnancy and a healthy delivery.
ReplyDeleteWow! You have a lot going on! House projects are always stressful, especially when you're depending on other people. Good luck!
ReplyDelete38? That's nothing! My sweet husband is 43, which is so weird to me because he does not look or act like it. Once you get past 40, those years really start flying by. :(
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your anxiety. I can imagine how it must be, and I imagine I will be the same way when we eventually have a pregnancy that "sticks." Have you tried praying to St. Gerard? There is a special prayer for expectant mothers that might bring some comfort.
A dear, sweet blogger gave me a St. Gerard prayer card, so I do have the prayer for expectant mothers, but I haven't looked at it for awhile. Thanks for the reminder.
DeleteNo kidding, I am feeling the rush of "gotta clean and get rid of stuff NOW!" We only moved 6 months ago and already I feel like we have too much stuff. I need to do the 40 bag challenge!!
ReplyDeleteThat's so cool you got rid of that desk online and got paid for it too! When we moved here, there were two big desks in our basement and my Dad was like, you should really keep those, you may need/want them someday! It might be nice to just get rid of them and selling them online seems like the thing to do. Good for you for getting rid of so much stuff. It's so freeing to get rid of things! The other day I was going through all these old bath and body works lotions and sprays I had from years ago. I haven't used them in so long and I think I've just been keeping them around because I couldn't bring myself to get rid of them. I mean, maybe I would want them again someday? I've said that for too long and still haven't used them! Well, I finally threw them out and it felt really good!!
ReplyDeleteI will continue to pray for you that the fear and anxieties will leave you alone. Keep saying the "Jesus, I trust in You!" prayer and even add, "help me to trust you more" if you want. I am like you, I have to fight the fear and anxiety and it is really hard sometimes. My prayers are with you.
I'm just like you...maybe I will want to use this someday or maybe I will need it, so I can't throw it out, but I'm getting better. It helps to think about the last time I used it..most things have been at least a year.
DeleteThe desk def. counts as at least 1 bag! I'm looking to sell a rug of ours that doesn't fit in our dining room so we can use the money to pay for a new one. What website did you use?
ReplyDeleteI can understand the fear. I think if/when we conceive I'll be the exact same way, esp. b/c I'm a baby nurse. Prayers for peace!
It was a website connected with a local news station here and newspaper. They let you post free classifieds online. You might check with your local newspaper or news station website. I've also heard good things about Craigs.list, but it's not as popular here.
DeleteYou are getting lots done!! Hope it all works out with the rooms in the basement- at least they are cleared out! Praying your heart fills with peace during this time of anticipation ;)
ReplyDeleteMy DH turned 38 on Friday and I'm nearly 7 years younger than him. It certainly made me start when I realized it. But, like you said, we barely think of the years between us.
ReplyDeleteWay to go on the 40 bags! I keep thinking I want to start. We have so many bins of stuff that it would be nice to declutter and either donate, shred or trash.
Forgot to add best of luck with the room renovations.
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