An idea for flooring - When our lower level was made handicap accessible we put down a newer product that is called WPC (wood plastic composite). It's easy to clean, looks nice, has padding built into it, and is waterproof. We had carpet in our family room and laminate in the bed rooms. We made the whole level the WPC. It's been in a year and a half and I've been very happy with it; but don't have dogs though, just a cat.
I have decided for the foreseeable future I am staying where I am. My friends and church are here, my whole support system. I figured out I've lived here longer than anywhere else in my life (military family) and in this house the longest of anywhere. Also,neither one of my DDs live in the area, so if they come to visit, one with DH and two kids, I need space to put them. So I really don't want to downsize yet. I changed the bedroom that had been made handicap accessible with bath back into my sewing room/guest room. It was two rooms originally, so now I have a huge sewing room.
It's my happy place. When my younger DD came to visit in May she said, "Mom this room looks like you." I put in a sleeper sofa and there is the bath, so it makes a great guest room. I remember reading a thread over a year ago where Tillie said instead of moving houses, she changed things up by moving furniture and redecorating. I took that to heart and that is my goal. I am trying to keep what I love, freshen things up with new paint if necessary and rearrange stuff.
I also have things that would need to be fixed/remodeled before I sell the house. I decided to do it now so I can enjoy it. One bathroom is almost finished today, and then the master bath will be redone. I got rid of the pink bathtub and tile!!!! YAY!!!! The tube is split in half and sitting in my driveway
I am still dealing with the federal government over some issues with survivors benefits. Dave was retired military and civil service. It drives me crazy that it is 6 1/2 month out and they can't get anything right the first time!!! When I called in March to check on the civil service benefit I was told, "Well, we had a lot of people die recently."
When I called in June I was told they are now working on the people who died in January! Still haven't seen anything from them.
I've lost some weight and I'm trying to drink more water. Haven't added exercise in yet. That's the next step. Think I'll start slow with stretching exercises, because I'm stiff as a board and creaky. I never felt my age pre-ALS and then during the journey I felt ancient, worn out and tired. I'm in my early 60's so not exactly ancient. But now I'm feeling younger. Not my actual age yet, but closer.
Trying to take it one day at a time. Last three weeks have been pretty good. I've felt more like me that I've felt since ALS was first mentioned. Of course a forever changed me, but still closer to who I was before. I now sleep through the nights on most nights. There were two weeks in June that were miserable. I'm hoping the good times will get longer and the miserable shorter.
Mary