status update!

big things to report! the biggest is that I had an appointment with my doctor yesterday and my fluid levels are up to 10.9! which is a really good jump from last week's visit with the specialist. I still have to go check in with her next week and make sure everything's staying nice and... um.... watery in there... but the cutting back and drinking lots of water seems to be doing the trick. yay!! it was a great feeling of accomplishment.

and speaking of accomplishment, we celebrated 2 years of weddedness on Monday. we opted to pick up some good food and cook at home, so M made us flipping delicious beef filets in some dreamy sauce with asparagus and pommes frites (translation - french fries). it was so good!!





there was brandy in the sauce and M had watched Alton Brown on Good Eats make it. so this is the part where I was supposed to capture the pro-like burning of the alcohol, except I wasn't prepared for the size of the flame and ran away. please note, nothing was charred or damaged at all during this incident, except that I'm shown to be a deserter who cries out to the Father when I'm scared (I also turn the camera around when I come back in like a dope, but I was just trying to keep from falling down laughing at that point):




the point of the whole story is that I have the best husband ever. ever. this is one of my favorite pictures right now... for reference, think 'Raiders of the Lost Ark':




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MUCH has happened at the house this week. it's really sort of surreal. Ruben, the electrician, came Monday and fixed some wonky lighting, put in a couple of dimmable lights in the kitchen and living room, and installed a dimmable light over the bathtub and an extra outlet. we loved him - he was referred to us by the McD's, and if anyone's in need of an electrician we'd absolutely recommend him and his work. thorough and a great, clean job.

then our handyman, Juvenal, and his crew came Tuesday and started work on the bathroom tub... they finished last night, a whole day earlier than he estimated! check out the transformation:

bathroom, before. again, this is a VERY cleaned up before.

the tub. made for only small people to actually take a bath in.

the new stuff.

demolition!

aaaand, the new tub fits. whew.

new pipes had to be run, because this tub is higher than the old one and all of the fixtures needed to move up the wall.

wall has been insulated, backer board put up, and tile work is begun...

and this was the finished product last night. it's so clean and lovely!! I didn't get it in the shot, but that's a new light shining above it that can be dimmed for the extra dusky bath experience. we're both bath people who appreciate a good soak, and we can't wait to enjoy this!

unreal. it's all happening. while they finished up in the bathroom lbell and I made bright, cheery curtains in a mod lemon print for the kitchen. I've started another project of recovering/refurbishing an armchair and ottoman that belonged to M's grandmother, but I'll save those pics for another day. here's me working on it while following doctor's orders, though: sitting, snacking, and drinking my H20:

Chino mostly loves his backyard.

this weekend is the first of my baby showers, given by my dear friends the Haynes. it's going to be so fun to celebrate with my Saturday night family! after all of the house craziness and other general chaos, I'm glad to be still and enjoy the present. the floor renovators are probably coming tomorrow (!!!!!!) to start sanding the floors and they should be working on it the first part of next week. since I can't be around the chemicals they use, I'll have to stay away and occupy myself. right now, I'm thinking catching up with my DVR'd shows, napping, and leisurely but ruthlessly sorting through some things around here to give away/donate.

my first baby gifts received off of my registry, from an old Woodfin roommate of mine:

so sweet and exciting!!! blessings to all of you on this Friday!

-m.y.