Rescued
See these guys? They’ve spent days and days and days by our sides, assisting us with demo, framing, drywalling, wiring, tiling, painting and more.
The guy with the beard is my dad, and he’s quite the handyman. To his right is our friend Chris (a.k.a. Rem), followed by Joey’s dad, and Joey. These three men have helped us physically, mentally and emotionally survive this project.
My dad rewired out entire second floor and part of the first floor. He helps us buy tools, loans us his tools and serves as an overall consultant to us. Chris, who is expecting his first child in August, comes over whenever he can. I love it when he’s around – he somehow makes it impossible for us to get cranky or stressed out while we work. And Joey’s dad has been coming over to help us almost every single weekend. He’s a trooper, as the work we do is grueling and exhausting, but he just keeps on coming back. Even after the time I had a nervous breakdown.
They’re standing around what is now the master bathroom. They had just finished framing it and I wanted to capture the moment. This photo was taken over a year ago. And we’re only just now preparing to move into the master suite and use the master bathroom. This has been a long, slow-moving remodel marked by huge surprises around every single corner.
I also have to highlight the women, like my mom and mother-in-law, who have fed us and calmed us in ways that only moms can.
I am so grateful for the help and support we have. Without it, Joey and I would’ve ended up huddled in opposite corners of a gutted room with hammers, saws and crowbars strewn about, slowly rocking back and forth. And occasionally getting hit in the head with loose chunks of plaster falling from the ceiling. And that would just be sad.