Wonderful! I am so happy to hear this!!!!! Such a great update

We want to thank you all for bearing with us and supporting us during our journey! It has been an interesting one!

Gypsy is happy to say we woke up to about an inch of snow this morning, and since it is her favorite weather, we had a great time playing in it.

Now we are moving on to some remodeling projects at home, so we might be scarce on the forum for awhile..We are looking at remodeling the kitchen, and then Gypsy gets a brand new back yard complete with Grass! To compliment the new grass, mom gets a covered patio to replace the open deck. Fun times ahead!

That all sounds very exciting Bev!

We are looking (when money is better) at redoing our walk-in closet and I am excited! (I mean, right now the apartment building put in a wood board for a shelf and hung a rod via some wire...it's kinda sketchy and not usable which is annoying as it's where my clothes live). That and putting up some hooks outside so we can hang our 'Every Child Matters' flag on our balcony properly, and we'd like to put a little plantar on the wall out there too.

All of that requires Toby getting a hammer drill (again, WHEN we have the money - and I am tempering how much he's going to spend on the darned thing) as the whole building (including interior walls) are concrete and Toby hates using his current drill which fair enough. He's been after a hammer drill for years. Was going to get it for him last Christmas but he decided he didn't want it then.

But I digress! Other than that, yes, home projects are very exciting. And you and Gypsy will love the new backyard!

Update on all things...

First and foremost- I have struggled for months to get Gypsy's GI straightened out. In the process I have tried every combination of things in our arsenal, from cooked chicken and rice, pumpkin, probiotics, etc. The Honest Kitchen has helped off and on, at the very least, to inspire her to eat. She had decided that she simply does not like her kibble. She has had 2 trips to the vet for her troubles, and 2 rounds of Metro.

A few days ago, I decided to change her food. I have been feeding her Victor Professional since day one combined with THK dehydrated and stews, but she is not tolerant of that combo now. So I picked up a small bag of Purina Pro Plus Salmon and Rice for Sensitive Skin & Stomach, and am gradually switching her over. It has accomplished a LOT in about 3 days. Solid stools for one. She seems to really like the Salmon. It inspires her to eat before she vomits bile. She gets probiotics daily. And I have given her one gel cap of Echinacea the last 3 days. The first day, I also gave her a packet of pumpkin puree' that has ginger in it. I am thrilled with the solid stools, and the fact that she is eating better. Her sour tummy has prevented us from going to the park to work on behavior modification. Oh, and yesterday the Fed Ex guy gave her a milk bone, which did not upset this delicate balance. Also, this new kibble has a higher fiber content, so that explains the solid stools I guess.

Gypsy is doing ok on her medication for anxiety. I want to continue it until we get some behavior modification under our belt for sure. She has for at least 2 years, been able to watch out the window, and has always been reactive to everything that moves out there so I rearranged the furniture. It lasted 3 weeks and 2 days. On that 3rd day of the third week, I rearranged again. I gave in and let her have the window back. During the time she didn't have her window, she spent her time either leaning against my leg as I sat in that spot or laid on my feet to a point that I couldn't move, and if I flinched she was up and dashing to the back door. I felt like I was suffocating, and the sun was directly in my eyes first thing in the morning, and gave me frequent migraines. It ended up not being worth it.

The home improvements are a work in progress. It is very easy to get discouraged as I go. But today I will be getting on the schedule for my covered patio and yard makeover. This makeover will be simple- add top soil and plant grass- probably hydro seeding. The kitchen is coming in way over budget and I find it quite scary due to being on a fixed income. It will be pretty though, and much more functional for my needs. I know that it will make both of us miserable during the work but happier in the end. The new cabinets will take 3 months to be built, so I am going to proceed with the covered patio and yard in the meantime.

Hoping nothing goes awry in my plans with Gypsy from here moving forward, and that somehow I can catch a break on the expensive home improvements.

The most important thing is getting this pups issue ironed out and keeping her healthy.

Just posted this update when I got an email from the cabinet guy. The design we started with took a turn, and his new design is not going to work for me so I am cancelling the kitchen remodel. He is going to try to work on it some more, but I don't see anything coming together as well as the original design, so I am not going to pursue it- the headache and stress is just too much.

I'm sorry about the kitchen getting expensive. I was pretty lucky on mine so far as price goes. Maybe there are things you could do to make the current kitchen a bit more of what you want? There's some rather nifty stuff out there and given some of your projects, I'm betting you wouldn't have trouble installing these yourself. In the past, I've used the prefab pull-outs on old cupboards. I wish I had known that susans could be installed after the fact for the corner cupboards that were just caves without them. Unfortunately, I have one narrow cabinet space that is the wrong size for the prefabs.


Hope the backyard goes in the way you want it. And that GB continues to keep her digestive system in order.

I'm so glad to hear the update on GB's gut! Go GB, go Bev, yay!!!!

Too bad to hear about the cabinets. Stuff like that is disappointing. It's hard when you're on a fixed budget for sure. I like Middle's idea about trying to do what you can with your current kitchen. I have been really working on our kitchen, though really it's just amounting to getting rid of a useless spice rack, and hoping we can put up some shelves.

The yard sounds like it will be really nice. Outdoor space is so calming.

Bev - I'm glad to hear that things are getting better with Gypsy.

If you don't mind my asking - what did the cabinet guy change and what was his reason?

My contractor just takes the plans I come up with and goes with that. The only place there has been changes is if we run into a issue. For instance - when we re-did the small bathroom (converted a 3/4 bathroom to a 1/2 bathroom) there was an unexpected change in the ceiling level when we took out part of the wall to create a hallway. They had to do a little extra work to blend in the ceiling. Or my contractor may ask about something I overlooked - I can do a really good job in getting to the layout I want, but I tend to forget about little details, like how to set up lighting in the changed space. It's surprising that someone would make a drastic change to something you had both agreed on.

I can sympathize on the costs of any remodel. The price of sheet goods and framing materials is still somewhat high and it's still hard to get certain products. I know we ordered a new dishwasher for our kitchen remodel in February and got an e-mail a few weeks ago that it was still on backorder (we were # 667 in line for the model we wanted). Then we got a call yesterday that it finally came in and we could make arrangements for delivery.

Johanna,

The contractor was having trouble moving the dishwasher to the opposite side of the sink so wanted to leave it where it was. The only upper cabinets I was going to have in the remodel was directly above the dishwasher in it's current location, meaning to put dishes away, I would have to get them out, close the dishwasher, put them away and open it again for more dishes. I use a lot of large and small plates and bowls so it would mean multiple times opening and closing the dishwasher. This essentially made more work for me. Plus I was losing a bank of drawers next to the stove which at the moment is all the drawers I have and I would not gain them elsewhere. And finally, I would lose lower cabinet space as well, with no gain elsewhere. Lots to lose, and nothing to gain. He did send me one more draft/design, which incorporated the bank of drawers and gave me back the cabinet space I needed, however the sink was very off centered from the window and looked funky. By the time that got to me, I had already decided to skip the kitchen remodel. I am going to have a new sink installed, and a garbage disposal too. But I will have a plumber do this work.

Then the contractor for my patio seemed to lose interest in the job so I talked to another contractor for a 2nd bid. Contractor #1 was supposed to stop by and talk to me 3x's and never did (he lives across the street from me but couldn't give me 5 minutes of his time) so I moved on. Contractor #2 was supposed to just be looking at my yard, but said he could also do the patio and gave me a rough price for the combo. With sod, altho I know that is the most expensive way to go. But that will provide me with a lawn quickly, and the patio that I want. He will do the concrete where the other guy said it would be cheaper to do pavers. Overall, I decided to go with this contractor because if I keep looking for other options I will get nowhere. I have the financing in place to get something accomplished now. I need to get on someone's schedule sooner rather than later so I agreed to sod and a sparkly new patio.

Bev, I'll bet the new sink will make you feel better about the kitchen. In Arkansas I didn't feel up to a major overhaul (think corner cabinets without lazy susans, 1960s homemade cabinets with those classic hammered black steel hinges, knobs and pulls, horrid flooring, worn countertops, etc. While I did replace the floor and countertops and back splash after being their several years (actually one of the last things done, one of the first wanted), I found that a new light and new faucet which I did earlier, really helped my feelings about the kitchen.

I guess one question I have for you - could you eliminate the dishwasher? To me they just take up too much space for what they do. I usually cook for one - it would be different if I had a family to clean after.

Hope your patio guy pans out and you get what you want. It's all getting so expensive...

If it were me, I wouldn't eliminate the dishwasher, it's just about expected in a well equipped kitchen to have one in there. People want that much more than they want garbage disposals and such. Yes, one could argue that the next owner could put one in, but most people don't want to have to start making changes to a kitchen right away to make it functional for them.

I get the feeling from the description that the dishwasher was to be moved to a spot against a wall or something. It won't fit in the spot without moving the sink cabinet to accommodate it.

Yes, kitchens have always been one of the most expensive things to remodel in a house and can be very challenging to make functional, especially in older homes.

I take it that putting a wall cabinet above the spot where the dishwasher was going to be moved to is not an option that would work.

The deal with no dishwasher - a change would likely be easy for any new owner because the plumbing would be in the wall. When it gets expensive is when you start moving plumbing around - or electric stoves. Of the four houses I've bought, only one had a dishwasher in it -- and someone had shot that dishwasher. I didn't replace it. I asked about installing one at one of the houses. The configuration didn't exactly lend itself to that. ("I don't know where you would put it" was what the contractor said.)

If Bev were spiffying the place up to sell that would be one thing - but she's spiffying because there are things that she doesn't like. If she dumps the dishwasher, that gains her a bank of drawers or a large cabinet. I do not entertain large gatherings often, I live alone except for a couple of dogs and a horse. Their requirements for the kitchen don't involve a dishwasher.

I'm so glad my kitchen redo is done!

Bev - how about showing us before pictures on your backyard? This is so much fun to have someone else in the game where I can just sit back and arm-chair//Monday morning quarter-back it.

OK folks, I just looked at the title of this thread - yes, kitchen remodeling especially would result in fear aggression.

Progress Report:

Gypsy is doing Great! Her medication is helpful for her to slow down and react properly to things. She is still easily wound up at times, but overall, she is calmer and seems to use her head now.

As for the remodeling of the kitchen...I am not going through with it. Decided I want the yard done and my decked taken out and replaced with a covered patio, and I will live with the current kitchen. It does NEED to be updated, but I can't afford to do it right now. And the dishwasher was going to be moved but not REmoved...LOL The yard makeover as I now call it, starts on June 1st. I had to laugh at Middle when I read this: "OK folks, I just looked at the title of this thread - yes, kitchen remodeling especially would result in fear aggression." And yeah- the fear was massive...fear of overspending. The yard is enough.

I have not been feeling great, thanks to March weather in May. I feel good one day and run errands, then yucky with a sore throat and achy the next, and it seems to correspond with the weather flipping back and forth. Rainy mornings are when I feel achy. GB has been good about being patient with my down days. She also tolerates me cleaning her feet when we come in from playing in the muddy yard. I really need the weather to get better so I can feel good again though. This is getting old.

I will post a few pics of the before yard when it gets a little closer to the 1st. And of course progress reports as the work gets done too!

Bev,

I glad that things are working out for Gypsy

I get that you have put a stop to the kitchen project. Believe me, I know that's a remodel that can be expensive and overwhelming. Sorry for being nosy on the kitchen and derailing your thread.

Bev,
Kitchen remodels are a royal PIA. Mine took far longer than I expected. If I had it to do over again, I would ask a lot of questions about the schedule and I would also be a lot more careful of the contractor I chose.
Maybe Gypsy has caught on to a new backyard and is being good in anticipation?

Johanna, you didn't derail my thread! No worries

Middle, not sure Gypsy cares about what is to come until they are here making noise and all LOL Once they are here, she is bound to be unruly, bark a LOT and in general get on my nerves. I still need to put up a wire fence for the front yard, and am having terrible troubles with my left shoulder. I will be going to the doc for it next month after Medicare kicks in. For now, I go out of my way to try not to strain it. But GB is going to hate only having the front yard to play in, etc as it is so much smaller. Maybe I can start getting her to the park early in the morning, but again, my shoulder....All I know is it's a good thing I have always walked her on my right side- that is all she knows, and that is my good side.

I am getting excited to get this done. They start on the 1st. One question I neglected to ask is how long they think it will take. So I am planning on at least a month. They have to demo my deck, pour concrete, let it cure, build the roof for it, rototill the back, bring in topsoil and till again, and lay sod. To do those things, there is some yard cleanup that I cannot do (he knows about it) and they have to move the BBQ and a big spindle from the electric company I use for a plant stand, & they will have to take down all of my secondary fencing down, and put it back up when the job is complete.

GB is finally getting better at not barking ferociously at kids running by out front and letting neighbors be out in their driveway without sounding like she wants to eat them. These are two Major improvements that we have reached since starting her meds. Their grands are running back and forth right now, and she is simply watching! Believe me, I am LOVING this improvement! (Of course as soon as I typed that out she barked at them again Brat!) Time for me to get motivated and do something constructive.

Hey Bev, I AM looking forward to your new back yard! Someone getting something done when they want it done.... Sorry about your shoulder - maybe you could schedule your dr. visit now for after Medicare is activated? Nagging you on that one reminds me to schedule one or two of my own. And to get on the stick about my one project, too. Because it is getting close to time for it to go in... I need to work a bit on the design - as which direction I want it to face and where and how many windows, etc. Basically trying to figure out how it is going to look from the house, from the drive, etc.

Have you thought about taking the great GB out and about while the guys are working on the yard? Might be easier for you and her both. Or maybe you are going to be the one that needs calming meds?

Thanks Middle!
Yes, I plan on taking GB out and about more during the construction. We still have not made it to the park, so my plan is to cook up some chicken, and get over there. The chicken will hold her attention and we will do some much needed work on her behavior. Car rides to the park, visiting my brother, and so on too. The front yard being fenced is mainly for trips out to potty, but will also serve as more training to teach her not to bark at everything that moves, but especially kids.

I had just gotten off the phone from making the appt for after Medicare kicks in when I jumped on here. It is about 2 1/2 weeks out. That should be just right-

I also have to call a locator in to find the power line running from the house to the shop.

My brothers neighbor is getting her HVAC installed today, so very exciting for them. And I am a week and 2 days away from Demo in my deck. Still need to snap before pics! If I have time and energy today I need to mow my lawn too. I was worthless all weekend.