Something I Miss

It hit me today, I've never seen the color of my boys eyes. 

I've been able to see their nose like their dad, their head full of hair, their long legs, their 10 toes, little fingers, but no idea what color their eyes were. 

Where are we on the basement?

Well our house is still tore up, but things are coming along. 

Walls have been primed and painted

Everything was taped off so the ceiling could be painted. 

Lights are installed, these are the only 2 fixtures, the rest are canned lights. Also the windows are trimmed out and got painted today. Cabinets and countertops are in. 

A light fixture needs to be found and installed over this group of cabinets. 

Peek at the butcher block counter. 

Trying out stain on the inside of the door, to see if we like it.  

Stain and gloss are in the books for this week, then we have to decide on flooring. I would like faux wood that comes in glued strips. Hubs wants carpet squares. 

Birthday Cake

I'm by no means a professional baker, but have learned a few tricks over the years. 

I was challenged to make a ice cream cake earlier this year. So now everyone asks for ice cream cakes on their special day.  This is the first oblong cake. All others have been round cakes

So my nephew "B" 's birthday is the week before Christmas. He requested a white cake, strawberry ice cream, fireman cake. 

I should have left it at this, but I thought I could write on it. 

TaDa

12

Yesterday we had our 12 week appointment. Which included an ultrasound, doctor visit, and nurse ob visit( they ask 100's of questions, make me sign 20 papers, and remind me I need to look for a pediatrician). 

After the ultrasound we were in a fog. Baby B passed around the 8 week mark. Baby A's heartbeat is 162. 

The list of 20 questions about twin pregnancy, went out the door. 

I go back in 4 weeks, I will also see the MFM the same week. I do know at 32 weeks, I will be going to the doctor every 2 days. At that point they will assess, when I will induced. I've already been told, I will not be going to 38, 39, or 40 weeks. 

Renovation - how we do it.

So we are hopefully nearing a close to renovating the basement!!! Well we still have to do something with the floor, but that may be another month or so.


Today the cabinets are being installed, and tomorrow the second half of the ceiling is being painted (with all the duct work ), and what we hand painted is getting another coat -they are spraying it.


So how did we do this, and affordable?


Some work we have done ourselves. We have purchased all our own materials, utilizing discounts on our home improvement -store card. When something was out of our league to do, we did prep work for our contractor to eliminate cost.


We run into many contractors in our line of work, the last contractor we used for some work, injured himself over the summer so is not working. So when it came time to find a contractor we went out on a limb and tried Thumb Tack. Within minutes of putting our "request" on there, we had multiple contractors e-mailing us, and setting up appointments. We haven't been disappointed with the contractor we chose for all the carpentry, drywall, cabinetry installation. So when painting the ceiling was going rough, we decided to try it again.(literally this past weekend we decided ) Within minutes we had 8 contractors all within $50 of each other. So then it came down to who could do it within our timeframe and was reputable. We are supplying all the materials, and hubs is doing all the prep- taping walls, and tarping everything.


When we are done with materials, or remove and replace something. We have been donating these items to Habitat -Restore. We get a write-off for what we donate.   The only thing they don't take is open-used paint.  We have donated: faucets, sinks, electrical supplies, plumbing supplies, ceiling tiles. It's also a great place to look for something if you are looking to match up something existing in your home.

Basement Reno--- we have walls!

Cannot imagine how amazing it feels to have walls up. It is taking a lot of time to get things done ( I am no help ). Notice the ceiling painted. 

The downfall to project at Christmas. Our decorations are very well tucked away in the storage room, behind all the extra stuff crammed into the storage room, to keep drywall dust off it. 

I had to buy wrapping paper for presents, it just killed me knowing there are fresh1/2 off after Christmas paper into here. 

Oh well. 

So it's not likely that when this is scheduled to be finished, that decorations will go up. 

We still have to do something with the floor, but that won't happen til after the first of the year. 

10

10 weeks and feeling blah!!

I feel okay in the morning and as the day goes on, it just goes downhill. 

Hubs finally gets, that I need to eat like every 1 1/2 to 2 hours. It can get ugly if I'm deprived of food  longer than that. 

Seriously nothing fits, I'm wearing the few fat clothes I do didn't  get rid of. Thankfully no weight gain to speak of. 

Dr appt in 2 weeks. 

Adoption

Fellow blogger Mary Beth and Mike adopted sweet Luke this past month. 


If you don't already know, adoption is super expensive. In this season of giving, if you have anything to share, please consider making a donation to their adoption fund for Luke.


At a minimum please keep them in your prayers.


Adoption Fundraiser  ( Link )


Breakdown of their  Adoption Costs

$500
Application Fee - Many agencies charge an application fee to do an initial review of a couple's application and create a file.

$3,000
Homestudy Agency Fee - This is the process by which we are licensed by the state of Illinois to adopt a child.

$3,500
Profile Agency Fee - This fee helps our adoption agency network with birthmothers and provide counseling and support to those considering making an adoption plan. At this point our agency shares our profile book with the birthmothers they are serving.

$19,000
Placement Fees - Due at placement, these fees help support all of the work that go into connecting birthmothers with potential adoptive parents. Adoption agencies are available to field calls from birthmothers considering adoption, answer questions, and provide support. Once a birthmother chooses to place her child for adoption, a lot goes into supporting her. The agency works with the birthmother to gather medical records, connect her with community resources, and make a detailed adoption plan. These fees also cover the post-placement social worker visits that are required by the state during the six months until the adoption is finalized. Finally they help cover the cost of extra paperwork needed in an interstate adoption.

$2,000
Legal Fees - A lawyer is needed to make sure all the legal protocol and requirements are met. Sometimes two lawyers are needed if the child is born in one state and the adoptive parents live in another state.

This was not solicited by them, this comes from a heartfelt fellow blogger.