Update
So I know it has been over a month since I have sat down to write to you all. What can we say...we have been busy! So to catch you all up, here is an update of what we have been up to:
1. I guess I will pick up where I left off. My last post was on our wonderful and amazing trip to the beach. We spent the next week following our return, attempting to recover from our HORRIBLE sunburns and exhaustion (we even used waterproof sunscreen-I promise)! We took lots of oatmeal baths, smothered our skin in vinegar, went through two bottles of Aloe Vera gel (with lidocaine), then blistered and peeled like mad!
Dave's Blistered Shoulder
On top of the sunburns, my legs/ankles swelled up like I weighed 300 lbs-no joke! It took about three days for the swelling to go down (with lots of elevation). We are still not really sure what caused it...sun poising, jelly fish sting...? But either way I had once serious case of cankles! Just to prove it, here a few images taken from my camera phone (sorry for the poor image quality).
2. Two days after vacation I underwent a procedure to tighten up the opening where they had previously re-implanted my ureter into my bladder (April '09). It was discovered a few months ago that I had developed reflux at the site of the implantation and it was increasing my bladder infections substantially. Urine was basically shooting back into my kidneys. Prior to the procedure I had been suffering from an ongoing infection for about 3 months that they were attempting to treat with every anti-biotic possible but it kept mutating. I do seem to have improvement and I was infection free for about 3 weeks following the procedure. There are still a lot of unanswered questions and problems but we hope that we are on the tail-end of this trail.
3. We have been busy with lots of house projects to prepare and make room for family coming to visit for Thanksgiving! After a 2 1/2 year ongoing battle with Dave's work out equipment which has occupied both of our spare bedrooms, I finally gave in to allowing him to move it into the larger of the two rooms so we could consolidate all of his equipment to one room (sigh). I wanted to save the larger room for the future nursery/guest bedroom since they will have to serve as one in our three bedroom house, but after some serious brainstorming I think I have figured out a way to include all of the things that come with a baby and still have room for a twin bed with a trundle for guests. So...a little reluctantly...we finally made the switch. In all reality it was a huge relief to have all of his stuff out of my way so I can focus on the current guest room. Even though there are no babies in site, I am a planner. I want to start on the guest part of the room but it still be applicable when we have kiddos. Why have to change it- I only want to pay for it once if you know what I mean. Anyways, I think I have rambled!
4. It seems as though our house is beginning to fill a bit more like a "home". It has been a long process as I have tried to build a good foundation of quality furniture that I love. In the past month, the table for our formal dining room arrived (damaged but that is a whole other story), we hung drapes in our master bedroom, purchased a new mattress- a sleep number to be exact, and had an antique solid mahogany dresser that I found on Craigslist for $40 refinished.
I have always dreamed of a big round table to dine at. I just love them! They are so personal and inviting. I went a little smaller (60" diameter) than I was originally planning so I have room for a buffet down the line. Luckily, I already had chairs from my breakfast table (I ordered 6, 4 came in slightly damaged, so they sent me 4 new ones and told me I could keep or destroy the other 4...which gave me 10 chairs). I keep 4 around the casual table and 6 around the formal table. They are not the chairs I will keep there forever (I honestly have so many of them I am kind of getting sick of them, plus the 4 or in so so condition) but they work out great until I can get these...
Dining Room
New Drapes
It is still certainly a work in progress...but it is progress none the less! It would look a lot better if I took down the blinds but they are really convenient for light filtration. We inherited the wing chair from a neighbor for free and I plan to reupholster it in a fun modern print once I decide on it's perfect place in our home.
Before and After Dresser
I wasn't sure I wanted to keep the hardware, But Dave loved it and told me I didn't have a choice! I guess I win most of the decorating battles in our home (even though he is very opinionated and we have very different taste), so I figure I should give him a few decisions.
I have always dreamed of a big round table to dine at. I just love them! They are so personal and inviting. I went a little smaller (60" diameter) than I was originally planning so I have room for a buffet down the line. Luckily, I already had chairs from my breakfast table (I ordered 6, 4 came in slightly damaged, so they sent me 4 new ones and told me I could keep or destroy the other 4...which gave me 10 chairs). I keep 4 around the casual table and 6 around the formal table. They are not the chairs I will keep there forever (I honestly have so many of them I am kind of getting sick of them, plus the 4 or in so so condition) but they work out great until I can get these...
5. As I mentioned earlier, we are having family come for Thanksgiving and we are SUPER excited! But did I mention how many...10 to be exact. I have been panicking trying to address the lack of guest beds in our home. I have wanted a very particular bed for a while for the guest room but the price tag was certainly not going to happen before thanksgiving. Plus it did not include a trundle and I really needed that option available. So...I found a pop-up trundle on Craigslist for $25 a few months back and bought it. Then I found a plan for a bed very similar to the one that I love (there will certainly be modifications, but it is close) on Ana Whites site (if that name is new to you, please click on the link). And enlisted the help of my awesome and handy husband!
The bed that is my inspiration (shown below) is upholstered. I have never upholstered anything so you would assume I would start out with something simple...but no! I am determined I can do it! I have done a ton of research, spoken to every resource possible and I finally feel comfortable with how I am going to tackle the project. So we bought the wood, and I have ordered the fabric: ivory-indoor/outdoor fabric- for great durability, stain resistance, and gender neutrality...after all it will eventually be in the nursery! I will also be doing all of the piping/welting in a contrasting chocolate brown. I can't wait to get started on the project and share the before and afters! Wish me luck...I'll need it!
I plan to turn this plan (obvious with some modifications)...
6. I am not much for decorating for the Holidays (except for Christmas). I know you are thinking, "what?, but your a designer". When we first were married I always put out all the fun festivities for the applicable time of year. Over time, I discovered it became harder and harder to pull out the decorations because they seemed to haunt me with the fact that it was another holiday soon to pass and I was still childless.
My mom always made sure to make the holidays extra special with fun decorations and crafts and I always wanted to do the same for my own kids. This year I decided to be a little brave and decorate for fall. I couldn't really justify Halloween because it is so centered around kids and their cute costumes...but fall I could do. Plus I wanted it to be fun for the family and kids coming to visit for Thanksgiving.
I have wanted a fall wreath (2 to be exact) for quite some time so I was on the hunt for a fun project for a fall wreath with a twist. I came across this plan for the following wreath. They were really fun to make (thanks to a project night with some good friends). If I were doing it over again, I think I would use more of the smaller circles but I think it still turned out cute.
7. This past Sunday was certainly a whirlwind as Dave was called to be the 2nd counselor in the Bishopric of our ward and thus ordained a High Priest. It really took us off guard, but I am exceptionally proud of him and the man that he is. I am grateful that he is such a spiritual giant in my eye's and that he honors his priesthood so faithfully.
When the stake presidency called him in the week prior to the announcement and I heard the words "we would like to call you to be the 2nd counselor in the Bishopric" there was panic! It wasn't about the time restraints and long meetings that he would now have to attend. It wasn't that he is only 31 and way to young to be a high priest. But rather that I would have to sit alone on the pews each and every Sunday! There wouldn't be any kids at my side to keep me company or family in our ward whom could save me a seat. I was going to be alone! Church is already a hard place for me at times because I am surrounded by babies, kids, and large families that seem to close in on me each and every Sunday! Thankfully, I know great blessings will come to Dave and I through this calling and I pray we will both grow from the experience.
Thanks for baring with me through this update. I know it was long and daunting. My writing is just not as exciting as it used to be. I guess I have lost blogging steam. I hope everyone is doing well!
When the stake presidency called him in the week prior to the announcement and I heard the words "we would like to call you to be the 2nd counselor in the Bishopric" there was panic! It wasn't about the time restraints and long meetings that he would now have to attend. It wasn't that he is only 31 and way to young to be a high priest. But rather that I would have to sit alone on the pews each and every Sunday! There wouldn't be any kids at my side to keep me company or family in our ward whom could save me a seat. I was going to be alone! Church is already a hard place for me at times because I am surrounded by babies, kids, and large families that seem to close in on me each and every Sunday! Thankfully, I know great blessings will come to Dave and I through this calling and I pray we will both grow from the experience.
Thanks for baring with me through this update. I know it was long and daunting. My writing is just not as exciting as it used to be. I guess I have lost blogging steam. I hope everyone is doing well!
