An update on our housebuilding project.

We have finally caved in and hired a contractor to help us finish the inside. All of our cabinets are in and need to be picked up, we are still waiting on the neo-angle shower, whirlpool, and the all one piece bath/shower combo to come. All of us are so tired and stressed, now that we are down to 21 days before our trailer gets turned over to the buyers. I'm happy with that decision. We really wanted to do it all ourselves, but we now realize that it's not possible, with both of us having to work full time, campaign for our elected jobs, and go to Jaden's football games. (That's an important one for me, as our kids aren't going to take second place to the house.)

Here's what I wrote in my journal about all this:

Okay, we caved in and hired a contractor to help us finish the inside of the house. We have to be out of the trailer on October 1, and that's only 21 days!!!!!! They are going to fix the problem with the sucky rafters we got from Menards, do the sheetrocking, line up the taping and texturing, put in the huge bay window, and whatever else we can find for them to do. Del Kubas was here tonight and he has a couple guys he can put on extra to help us get this done, since he has his regular crew already booked. Phwew! What a relief! We are all so very tired and stressed out, and it will help to know that there's somebody who can work on this more than 2 hours a night and weekends. (As we have been doing all summer)

Thank you all so very much for all your support, help, and suggestions through this project. It's far from being over, but I feel so much release from the pressure now that we have some hired help on board that can work more than 2 hours a day.

Oh, Joan, that's great! You guys have given it the best you could, and you deserve some help. Praying those guys get in there and really knock themselves out for you. Good for you!!

Thanks Kimberley, you can't imagine the weight that's been lifted off of our shoulders. It's going to cost us more money than we had planned for, but mental health is worth ALOT!

I would never do this again!!! It's so stressful to have to learn every step along the way, and then teach yourself how to do it. I'm going to live in this house until I go to the nursing home, I swear!

Shoot, Joan, I remember how relieved I was when Howie decided we'd hire a professional to put the wallpaper border up in our office! It has both outside and inside corners due to the odd little entryway to the room. He remembered how we argued while putting up the living room border and decided it was worth $15/roll to have someone else come in and do it (and do it really well!).

Sure, we could have done the work, but with both of us hurting and bickering because of it, it would not have been a positive experience, LOL! It was sweet beyond words to walk back in the office an hour later and see this wonderful border up there - worth every penny!

I hear ya! I feel that now I can come home in the evenings and look at the progress, then go to work on the stuff we are comfortable with, like doing the house wrap, windows and siding, instead of the stress rapidly building as soon as I turn in the driveway. I tell ya, as soon as I turned into the driveway every night, I was a changed person, and not to the better. I knew I had to help with the house, cook for the people helping us, plus do all the normal things like laundry, help with homework and pack up THIS house. I am so relieved, and I know Dave is too. He even helped me pack stuff for storage tonight, and he hasn't done that yet.

Hiring the contractor is going to be what saves us, I just know it.

To bad everybody lives so far apart. Would be fun to be able to get together and help out! We are going to enlarge our kitchen this fall as soon as gardening slows up.
Bernie

No kidding Bernie! That would be so great! Like the old time barn raisings.

Joan, I've been wondering how the house was coming along, so I went to your Journal a few days ago and saw all the work that's been done so far. Keep the pictures coming in the journal, K?

Donna

Donna, I'm keeping my journal as up to date as possible. Thanks for taking a look. When I suddenly disappear from here, you just have to check my journal to see if I'm okay. But, there will be a lapse while we are moving that we won't have phone or internet connection, but we are expecting that. Shouldn't be too long though, and I can still update my journal on my lunch hour at work, plus catch up on the posts if my lunch hour lasts long enough.

21 days and counting! Opps! The clock has rolled over, so now it's only 20 days. Ugg! I've been posting here on my packing breaks, but now I think I need to get some sleep.

Joan, don't overdue yourself or you'll get sick and things won't get done period!!

You have taken on a lot of stuff lately, with building your own house, selling your mobile, work and keeping your garden and family going...all in a days work. hehe

We will miss you when you have to sign off for a short while, but will look forward to all the information when you get back. Then you will have all winter to arrange and decorate your house, plan your gardens and play with us here at DG.

Take it easy girl,
Donna

Good decision. You gave it your best shot and just ran out of time (and probably energy too) so this will help a whole lot. Sanity is important, so is your marriage and your son. I hope they do a good job that you are 100% pleased with.

Joan this sounds great. I think I can hear a great sigh of relief all the way to NJ. I've been thinking about you alot. You have so many things juggling at the same time - I don't now how you do it. I've been checking in you journal to see the progress and to me it's amazing. I hope everything goes along without a hitch.

Joan, this is great news! It's only a small percentage of the overall job, so you still built it yourselves, but to hire someone for certain parts is just common sense. Stress is a big price to pay for doint every inch of it yourselves, and could make the difference in your health, your campaign and your quality of life in general. I wish you smooth sailing right up to the last curtain rod!