Let there be light....

Kevan started working from home about 6 months ago.  He moved into our office and started to realize that even though there is an overhead light it was way too dark to work when the day is overcast or when he is working late.  He decided to install recessed lighting (or can lights).  So, one day he went to home depot and bought the supplies (4 can lights + supplies).  I was pretty surprised how easy it was (although, I wasn't the one doing all the work).

First, he measured the office and then he measured in the attic and then he measured somemore.  I came in and stared at it with him and made suggestions and then he measured somemore.  Then, we decided this was the best place for the first one so he taped up the template. 



He purchased this really cool hole saw kit that traps most of the dust and ceiling peices when you cut the hole for the ceiling.  We had the Klein version, but Amazon has one that is similar to give you an idea.



Here is what the ceiling looked like after he cut it with his hole saw.



He just used a razor knife to remove the remaining drywall.  As you can see from my floor....it doesn't catch everything.  Insulation fell through from the attic.



But, look how much dust/popcorn ceiling pieces were not on my floor.



Then, he went up in the attic and fed down a cable to me in the office.



He finished wiring the light, I handed him the clips and now the can is safely in the ceiling.



He then added the trim ring and the light bulb and we ended up with this.



We didn't like the bulb sticking out so we went back to the Home Improvement store and purchased a different trim ring that allowed the receptacle to mount differently in the can.  This way the light bulb goes all the way up into the can and I think it looks much better.



Now, his office has a lot more light and he will be able to see better when working.  Here you can see two in the picture, there are 4 total. (Also, pretend you don't see his messy desk and we know the fan is off-center...we have no idea what the previous owners were thinking)

Lastly, Kevan didn't want to use the same switch as the fan so that he could use one and not the other.  So, he also wired a new switch.  In his defense, it is perfectly straight, but his wife (the picture taker) was apparently leaning when she took the picture.  Also, it is a dimmer switch so he can dim the lights if they are too bright.

Now, I'm about to confess something that I'm very embarrassed of.  Are you ready?  This is what my hallway looks like when my husband is working on a home improvement project.

Now, I could be a naggy wife and nag him until it is put away, but I wait patiently for several a few weeks for him to finish the project and at some point he decides it is time and cleans it up.  Or, I warn him that someone is coming over.  At least he lines it all up on one side I guess so we can walk down the left side.  :o)  The clothes lying on the floor is his "outfit" he wears when he's up in the attic.  So, I guess it does fit in with the other tools/stuff on the floor.  Anyone know how to keep your husband organized while doing a home improvement project?  I need ideas that will help me keep my house clean, but not nag him to death.  I want to be able to sweep/vacuum my hall without having to go around everything.

My New Fashion Accessory

While Kevan and I were in Tennessee I started having pain in my foot whenever I would walk on it.   I thought it would go away so I tried my best to ignore it.  After a few weeks we came back to Florida and we went to an RV Show in Tampa.  I realized by the end of the day that I had something seriously wrong with my foot.  So, I finally broke down and went to a foot doctor.

Unfortunately, I came home with this....

I found out that I have a stress fracture on the arch of my foot and because I walked on it for 2 months I also have tendonitis.  I learned that when your body is in pain you should go to the doctor when it starts, not months after you've been in pain!

I've had my cast on for 2.5 weeks now.  Over these last couple of weeks I have come up with a pro and cons list of wearing a cast.  Let me say, the con list is FAR longer than the pro list.  When I was young I thought it would be so cool to break something and have to have a cast or crutches.  Let me tell you, "IT.IS.NOT.FUN"!  If you think it might be, read my list below:

Cons:

1. My foot/leg itches and I can't scratch it!!  It is awful!!
2. I don't like my new waddle.  I'm no longer level so I waddle around and I'm sure it looks pretty funny.
3. I can't shave my leg under my cast!  Ewwwwww!!
4. The cast material is VERY rough so it scrapes off my skin if my other leg rubs against it.  At night I have to put on 2 knit socks because I either scrape myself or Kevan's skin off during the night.  One sock I cut the toes off of so it would slide all the way on and then the other sock goes on the bottom (see pic below).
5. During the day (while working at my desk) I like to sit "Indian Style" in my chair....I can't do it now!  It is very frustrating and it is very hard to concentrate because I'm not in my comfortable work position.
6. I can't drive because it is my right foot.
7. My husband has to chauffeur me.  It is not good for my marriage.  I am a backseat driver and am totally a little scared of his driving.
8. I miss putting my jeans on in a normal fashion.  Now, it takes me about 4-5 minutes just to get them on and about 4-5 minutes to take them off.  Jeans are not made to maneuver around a cast.  They are not a very giving material.  But, I am very happy and blessed that I can even get them on.  I love my jeans!
9. I miss having two socks on and not having to stretch a HUGE knit sock over my cast in order to warm my toes that are sticking out the bottom.
10. I can't sleep because I am a stomach sleeper.  I can't lay on my stomach because I would have to twist my leg in order to lay it flat OR let my leg stick up in the air with my toes smashing into the mattress.  Even my sleep number bed can't help me with this one.
11. I can't walk long distances or for a long period of time. 
12. I am a bath person and I normally take a bath almost every night and read.  It is VERY hard to get in and out of a left-sided tub when you can't step into the tub to get in.  It is also really hard to get out.  Luckily, my husband built me a wooden bar so I can set my leg on it instead of it laying in the tub getting wet.  BUT, this doesn't help with getting in and out so I only take a bath about once a week now.
13. I can't use my ankle.  Do you know how often you use your ankle?  A LOT!  If I'm sitting in a chair usually my foot would be flush with the floor.  Nope.  Not with a cast.  It is in the permanent L position. 
14. Did I say....I can't drive and it is REALLY bad for my marriage.
15. I walked on the cast without my "special shoe" so the bottom of it is kind of cracked.  It makes cracking noises when I walk sometimes.
16. I'm constantly wanting to take my shoe off and then I realize it's a CAST!  It doesn't come off.

Pros:

1. I only have to shave one leg.  :o)  (see cons list #3 above)
2. I only have to wash 1/2 the number of socks I normally do since I can only wear 1 each day instead of 2.  :o)
3. I have a chauffeur (see cons list #6, 7, & 14 above).

Ok, so that is all I can come up with for the Pros list.  One cool thing I also want to mention is this really cool cast cover I purchased from Amazon.com.  I slip it on before I take a shower/bath and it leaves my cast completely dry.  It is pretty awesome.  It was only $13 and should last through the whole 6 weeks of my cast's life.  If you know someone with an arm/leg cast this is definately a wonderful gift!  Here is a pic of it on.

Here is a pic of my fancy knit sock(s) I wear to bed.  One down side to this is that my male kitty LOVES socks like this so he is always trying to play with it or bite it.  It is funny, but I'm scared I'm going to step on him and hurt him.  Isn't it cute though?  It's pink!