The Basement

The basement. It seems like everything these days revolves around this cold and dark space in our house that is engulfing all my time, energy and patience. Ironically, I haven't had to do any actual work on the thing, but living constantly on edge with the noise and mess and having the contractors come and go is taking it's toll on our life. I keep telling myself that all this will be worth it in the end, and that we've come too far to back out now, but I am about at my wits end I tell you.

It's hard to go about your daily routine when you have no idea when someone might arrive to change your plans. (It's really hard to do laundry and dishes when they need to shut off water and power.) It seems like since the construction started I have thought of a million places that I would like to go and take the kids, but I need to be here to watch the mess unfold. Normally, I am home 98 percent of the time with no problems, but now that I really need to be here, I want to explore.

It's no secret that I am a very private person, but for the last two weeks I feel like I live in a fish bowl as strangers come in and out of my space. I knew it would be hard, but I feel bad for my kids. Andrew is having a hard time napping with all the confusion which leads to a bad night because he's too tired to sleep. This of course leads to Nathan having a bad night which leads to Mom having a bad night. Poor Nathan has basically walked around with his hands over his ears for the last 10 days. How are we supposed to make progress on speech like that? :-) Abbie complains and whines about the noise with every bang of the hammer. I keep telling them that it'll be great when things are all done, and we'll have the biggest toy room they've ever seen, but that explanation is losing it's sparkle. Fortunately, we finally slept last night, and the sun is shining which makes things seem better--at least a little.

For the most part our general contractor has been good. We knew him from our ward before the nails started flying and I think that has made a difference. But this just isn't our routine and my kids live for their routines.

We have made good progress. Someone has been here working everyday, but just when I think we've hurdled an enormous obstacle, I think of a hundred more things that will need our attention before we can have a ribbon cutting ceremony on this project.

Thank goodness for the small moments with the kids that keep my perspective and remind me that this is worth it. They are wonderful children. When it's all done, it'll be worth it for them to be able to play in the biggest toy room they've ever seen.

Poor little Andrew's schedule has completely turned upside down. He catches a few winks whenever he can.

Chocolate donuts to the rescue! These are the moments that keep me going.