Irene B’s Update

We are doing OK, haven’t burned or had to evacuate … the Steiner Ranch Fire was about 10 miles as the crow flies, the Leander about 8 miles and the Cedar Park one about 3 miles … but so far we are good.  For those who read this and aren’t local … the HUGE one is Bastrop is about 50 miles east - southeast of here.    Still, I now realize how really vulnerable we are.  It is pretty scary.  Just a spark and a bit of wind and we could be right in the middle of one.   We pray and hope.

Probably over 600 homes have been lost in the Central Texas area and there have been at least two deaths.  If you are so inclined please pray for all the families affected and all of our hardworking people fighting the fires.

Other more mundane news:  Today we got the van aligned and the brakes replaced with some mighty pricey ones … hopefully they will last a long time.

The kitchen update hit a snag … we were scheduled to get the granite in  1 1/2 weeks ago … and they came out and did the dining room and the cook-top side but when they went to install the sink they found a HUGE flaw in it.  Well they ordered us a new sink which we expected to take 4 weeks but we were pleasantly surprised when it arrived today.  Also the appliance garages are done and ready to paint.  So on Friday they plan to install the sink and sink side granite.  Tomorrow Joe is coming by to paint the appliance garages.  Hopefully early next week we will get the appliance garaged installed, the area behind the cook-top tiled, the vent hood installed, the kitchen sink & dishwasher plumbed … so maybe by the end of the week we will have our new kitchen.  Of course there could be another snag … who knows.  We have been using the kitchen as is … except no dishwasher or sink … we use the laundry room sink.  Assuming the house doesn’t burn down I look forward to a new kitchen  soon!

Here are a couple of photos of the granite & unpainted appliance garages ….

Area to the left of the cook-top. Ed's new under-counter LED lights reflecting on the surface

The dining area Granite

The area to the right of the cook-top

The unpainted appliance garages temporarily installed

Went for a check-up … things were fine.  My doctor did give me a prescription for a low dose of thyroid … but as it is mail order I probably won’t start for a week.  He gave two thumbs up for cataract surgery so now off to research local surgeons and techniques.

Cheers, Irene

PS.  They have actual green grass in Houston.  Very interesting.

Much of my life is lived on facebook, but I know I have friends that don’t facebook so I owe you some sort of update.

Life here in central Texas is dry.  It is the worst drought since the 1950’s but it is worse in a way because so many more people live here now and need water.  Our trees are showing stress. The lake by our house is at 50% full and is about 45 feet low. We are about to set a record (for all time) of number of days over 100.

On the health news it is mostly pretty stable.  I was well enough to attend my cousin’s daughter’s wedding in Colorado in June.  I’ve swimming after dark, and loving it.  Also got a long sleeve long pants spf 50 suit so I could swim in the day.  Found out it has a lot of drag.  Still I am in there for exercise so it probably doesn’t matter.

Still dealing with the GVHD (my new immune system attacking my skin.)   Also I recently got a couple of more twists.  My last MD Anderson check-up indicated that my thyroid was low … could explain my thin hair and fatigue … I will be getting it checked again on Monday.  Also on Wed my ophthalmologist informed me the cataract on my right eye is ready to be removed.  A bit of a shock  because it was correctable to 20/20 last year.  Sigh.  Because I am so dreadfully nearsighted and cannot wear a contact lens, she recommends that if I get one done I get both done.  I guess it is a odd type of cataract … possibly accelerated by my chemo or steroids.  On Monday I will ask my oncologist if he feels it is safe for me to have the surgery.

The big upheaval here is that we are redoing the kitchen.  My 26 year old German cabinets (which were laminate over particle board) despite being well built were really showing their age. The counter laminate really did need replacement.  My 26 year old oven was intermittent.   Given the houses view, the Anderson windows and quality construction, the updated bathrooms and the pool I figured if we sell the house the buyers will expect granite counter tops.  So, taking cousin John Beattie’s advice, we decided to update now when we can enjoy it and hopefully it will still be good when we are ready to sell the place.

The new cabinets are similar to the old ones but are red oak with a clear lacquer finish. We will get granite and an under mount sink.  I also got a new 30″ Kitchen Aid double oven with convection.  We will reuse the cook top, dishwasher & refrigerator.  The layout is almost the same but we got rid of the trash compactor because now that we recycle we find we don’t use it much.     The kitchen has been torn up for about a week and a half.  Ed gave many of the old cabinets new life in the garage.  The granite should be installed next Friday.  Then they will come back and finish redoing the appliance garages, intstall the remaining appliances, tile the backsplash behind the cooktop, and trim and touch-up.  I am guessing the kitchen will be partially functional in a little over a week, and finished within 3 weeks.  Ed, Ben and Joe (a contractor) installed the double oven today.

Here are photos of the process …  I promise to post a photo after the granite is installed and again after it is done.

First the old kitchen if you don’t remember what it looks like.  What doesn’t show is the chipped and worn laminate, the broken and nicked toe kicks, etc.

The kitchen is now gone

The kitchen cabinets reborn in the garage

The kitchen rebirth - cook top side

The kitchen rebirth, sink side

I like how they matched the grain on the drawer fronts.

Mostly things have been going well since my last post, until yesterday.  My right leg started hurting suspiciously.   I went to the doctor today and sure enough another DVT (blood clot) this time in my right leg.   Rats rats rats … back on Lovenox (the shots) for now.  Next Monday I will go to Houston to discuss whether to continue with the shots or move to an oral medication as I will be on blood thinners the rest of my life.  Sigh.     Irene

Most of my communications has been via facebook.  We are doing well.  Enjoyed the holidays very much.   (A little exhausting for me but it was my choice and I really enjoyed it.)    Got help with important things.  Ben helped with the gingerbread houses.   Eric, Nolan & Claire with some adult support did a great job at decorating.  Sawyer broke up the gingerbread houses for eating  … a great team.  We had the family at our house Christmas Day.  We went to a friends for New Year’s Eve and had a lovely time.

I’ve been eating lunch with my friends, doing a few things for the visitors packets at church, sorting my files and papers (a lot of fun … not!)   Also, trying to avoid my annual paperwork for my business (not a wise choice.)  GVHD is a pain sometimes (maybe an itch is a better word.)

Ed had a big birthday … on Monday he turned 65 … while that isn’t old it does now qualify him for medicare and of course … ALL the senior discounts work.

Irene

This post is about me .. but what follows after are several posts with photos of the completed remodeling.  Check out the handi-work of JaMar construction (Hardie siding, gutters, Sun Tunnels) ,  Renewal by Anderson, windows and doors, Tileworks (Silestone counter tops), Mike’s Landscaping (rock flower beds), and of course The Two Joes (TREX deck, stain the front door, redo the bathrooms and all the new tiling)

The remodeling is taking a holiday break (also our contractors have other commitments and the one that is near Ed’s age just had surgery).   We celebrated a lovely Thanksgiving both at Dorothy and LeRoy’s with the local family …. and later at our house with friends.  A wonderful and looooong day.

Earlier Sue, Don & little Torstan came for a visit (they stayed with LeRoy and Dorothy but we got some visiting in.)  Torstan is two, smart and cute as a button but with nearly unlimited action and energy.  He loves balls.

We are just finishing our Chanukah celebration (finally finished the Chanukah cards today.)   Next is Ben’s birthday (he will be 27) and Christmas.   I have already decorated for Christma and thoroughly enjoyed it.  This is the first time in three years I had actual energy.  Last year it was muscle atrophy due to steroids and the year before .. acute leukemia.   So I am busy with cards, baking running errands, etc.

I have agreed to serve for the next two years on the Board of Evangelism and Parish Communication at church and also am back in Stephen Ministry.  I am running errands, meeting friends, and occasionally doing way too much  … my new energy level is about 2/3 of what it was before this last bout of cancer.  Not bad really.  If I have a busy day I just have to remember to schedule a quiet one to recover.

Healthwise the GVHD (Graft vs Host Disease) has been pretty active with my skin.  Lots of steroid creams and benedryl to try and control things.  I will go to the Houston doctor in 2 week (about two months after the last visit.)  Except for the GVHD (which means no sun at all) … things have been pretty good.  They will do another Dopler ultrasound of my leg that had the clot to see if it is all clear and whether I can stop the daily shots of Lovenox (blood thinner.)  Boy I hope so.

Monday we lost a friend to cancer … a beer brewing buddy and friend from church … also Clif was my “chemo” buddy as we often had infusions and blood tests at the same time. This was his 2nd type of cancer.  Not sure of his age … but he had been retired the whole time I knew him.  He was fun and full of life and I will miss him.

That’s the current news … Happy Chanukah and/or Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

The finished TREX pool deck

Hardie Siding and new gutters

More Hardie concrete board siding, much prettier than vinyl

Rain Chain (to direct rain into barrel - we remove lid when it is raining)

You can see solar attic vent near peak

Three of the Sun Tunnels are visiable (the old turban vents are blocked)

The Patio Extension --actual room to store the grills and smoker

New rock planters in front