Brain matter.

Just when I was starting to feel better, Hubster brought something home from work and decided to share. Enter Cough, Cough, Whiz, Whiz Part Two. I've been sputtering and wheezing all week. Let's just say it's been a really, really long week. And I'm really, really thankful for the cough suppressant abilities of honey. It's the only thing that really even seems to work. Now I just have to heat the bottle up in some hot water, so I can get it to come out of the bottle again! Making a mental note to put it on the grocery list, so we're not out of it next time we get sick.

In spite of the fact that I feel worse in some ways, I am better. My mind is clearer than it's been in quite some time. But part of that is the brain spatter all over the hallway walls. 

Ok. It's not technically brain matter, but it feels like it in ways.

I took some legal sized card stock I've had for a few years and made several lists. I made a list for each of us, so I can make sure nothing slips through the cracks as far as our medical, dental and vision appointments. I also made a list of what I intend to do in Scooter's room when I get around to painting it and finally finishing it up. I have a lot of ideas, and I just don't want to forget any of them. I also have lists with other projects that I have on  my mind as well as a master list of gifts that I want to make and give. 

All in all, I have 7 or 8 lists hanging in the hallway. So far. And although it feels like my mind is exposed for all to see, I can't tell you what a huge relief it's been! By having them on the wall vs in a notebook, I see them every day, I won't lose them, and best of all, I can add to them, as I need to. In fact, I have a couple other lists floating around in my noggin that I need to get out, so I'm sure there will be a couple more hanging up by the end of the weekend.

Somehow getting the thoughts out on paper like that is so helpful. I know I'm not going to forget anything, and I'm no longer carrying it all around in my head. As a result, I have been able to get more done in the last week than I have in the last couple or three months! 

Now, if I can just get rid of this cold, I'll be golden!

Ok. So maybe not golden, but at least I won't be lead!

 

The back of my eyelids are so pretty about now.

I didn't get around to taking pictures today for my next posts. We were busy with other things and little people.

Hopper is sick. Hacking and coughing up lungs kind of sick. She is miserable. The coughing subsided a better with a nebulizer treatment than with medicines, so her asthma is definitely acting up. We will likely take her in tomorrow, if she's not better. I looked in her ears, and it appears as though she's getting an ear infection on top of everything else.

She's the only one who is really all that sick. I have slight sniffles, but nothing major. And I'm still hoping the zinc supplements kick it into overdrive and help me get over this as quickly as possible. My fear is that they won't let me have surgery on Wednesday like planned. I would really like to get the surgery and the cold out of the way.

Today we were able to get the fans blown out with the air hose and put in the attic. Got our other 2 space heaters down and the dust blown off. Normally I keep them in their original boxes, but the heaters were just sitting up there. My only thought is that I either couldn't find the boxes because they were in the attic when they were put away last, or someone put them up there to get them out of the way and didn't realize they had boxes to go with them. Doesn't matter. They're down now and look like they've been scrubbed, because the air hose was so effective. I love those things. They're the ones that look like little radiators and have oil in them. They work so well at helping keep the house warm. We'll have on downstairs and the other 2 will be upstairs, in case we need them

We worked on a window in the basement today. Last year we had some lumber that wouldn't fit through the door and around the corner to go to the basement. So it wen through the window downstairs. The window had to be taken off it's track, and when it was taken apart the little piece of rubber spline between the window and the screen was thrown away. The windows are original to the house, so we couldn't go down and buy more spline to replace it. So today, we figured out a way to put some weather stripping in place of the spline, and it worked. The basement is so much warmer already.

We were also able to get a new sliding shower bar put up in the upstairs bathroom as well as a shower caddy thing. It's one of those poles that goes in the corner of the shower that has the baskets and shelves to hold shampoos and soaps. We've been meaning to get to both of these things for several months. They're finally done. In the other bathroom, we finally got a soap dispenser hung on the wall. It has 4 compartments to use for shampoo, conditioner, soap, whatever you need or want, really. We've had it forever with the intention of getting it hung up to use, too, but at least we can say it's up now. It should save us a small fortune in shampoo. Hopper loves to attempt to wash her own hair, and she uses a lot of shampoo. This should keep it in better check.

Hubster also got the banister put back up. We took it down when the basement flooded, because we had so much that needed brought up or taken downstairs. The banister was just in the way. However, with Mom coming to help out when I have surgery, it was time to get it back up. Actually, it was probably past time to get it back up, but it's up now, and that's all that really matters.

When we were finished with the things we were able to get done on the list, my back was hurting. And with the surgery coming up, I'm not allowed to take ibuprofen or other things that can thin my blood. So I went to get the prescription pain killer I have to get me through until I can take NSAIDS again, and I couldn't find it. I looked high and low, but it was nowhere to be found. We looked under couches and couch cushions, night stands and even the trash. It was so exasperating. We looked for a couple of hours before my husband found it just inches from where it was supposed to be. We think Hopper moved it to take care of something else and just missed it when putting things back. I am so glad it showed up.

It's been a long but productive day. I'm glad it's come to an end, though. I'm ready to get some sleep in my bed instead of the head bobbing kind that I get when I fall asleep writing my blog.

Turning the tables.

I'm trying really hard not to freak out over my ever growing list of things to do. I know I've made huge progress in the last several months, but sometimes it's not enough just to know that. I'm so afraid that I won't get it all done, or I won't get it done in time for Bugster and Bubster's shindig next year, and it's an absolute must that I do get everything done.

I had plans to make a master list a few weeks ago, but I never got around to it. I think I'll sit down tonight or tomorrow and try to make it. It's easier to see what you have to prioritize, if it's all written down, I think. Plus it's nice to be able to see things crossed off as they're finished. It's just that there are certain things that have to be done as quickly as possible.

Fall is quickly approaching, and I'm afraid of what Fall, Winter and Spring mean for me health-wise. I'm just so in hopes things will be different this year. I guess we'll find out as early as next week when the kids start back to school. They always bring colds and bugs home that knock us all on our behinds for a week or more. Maybe it won't happen this year. Maybe the tables will be turned in our favor.

Speaking of tables...

I got started painting the table tops today. They will sit on top of the bases that I posted yesterday. I was also able to get the last coat of paint on the ones the boys did yesterday and clean the rust off the other one and get all the coats of paint it needed applied. I think they'll look so nice when they're all done.

They used to have powder blue sections. I'm painting them sage green to match the walls in the basement. I'm hoping the weather is more conducive to drying paint tomorrow. After having hot weather for several weeks followed by massive thunderstorms in the evenings, today was mild, on the verge of cool, even, and very breezy. I am just hoping for warmer weather tomorrow, so I can apply the second coat of sage green paint.

I haven't decided, if I'm going to leave the look of wood grain, or if I'm going to paint those sections a bright white. My decisions is made a little more difficult, because only 2 of the tables have this pattern on top. The other one is a solid wood grain. I'm probably just going to leave them like this (minus the painters' tape) and repaint them next summer, if I want a change.

All I know for now is that I like the sage green much better than the powder blue. :)

I think the Kitchen Fairy died.

At least I'm assuming that's why she didn't do my dishes while I was sleeping last night.

My jaw aches tonight from being propped open to take care of my dental work. It's a little sore from the shots of deadening, too, but nothing a little ibuprofen can't handle. I'm hoping a good night's sleep will help it feel fine tomorrow.

I am frustrated tonight. I feel like I'm having a hard time getting back on track with the girls home sick. Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't send them to school sick, and I feel bad they don't feel well. It just feels like I can't make much progress with them home from school.

So tonight before I go to bed, I'm writing a list of things I'll be working on tomorrow. Things I can do when the girls are home and awake. Lists really do help me to stay focused on the task at hand.

Besides, I have a feeling the Kitchen Fairly will be a no-show again tonight.