Cabinets

IMG_8541

This is what our kitchen looked like before we demolished it.

IMG_9083

We got cabinets installed this week and so happy with how much more open it looks already. We also had the doorway from the hallway to the kitchen widened.

IMG_8540

Here is the inside of the kitchen before and after. They tore down the wall to the left of the sink and there are no more cabinets overhead.

IMG_9086

Our sink, stovetop, and dishwasher have also arrived this week. Can’t wait for it all to be done…for so many reasons.  Living the camping hotel life is rough with two kids.

Work in Progress

IMG_8673

We are into Week 3 of the kitchen remodel and we’re seeing changes everyday. By the first week, we had all the cabinets and appliances removed, the random wall blocking the entrance to the kitchen counter was also removed. By the second week, the contractors started rewiring electrical and rerouting pipes.

IMG_8718

In the meantime, Jes installed a sink out in the patio, which has made washing dishes a lot easier than doing it all in the downstairs bathroom sink.

IMG_8765

New canister lights were installed, the counter height was lowered, and the wall was opened up (on the right).

This week, we will have the floors completed along with installation of the new cabinets.

Santa Rosa/Napa Fires

UNEU0053

On the morning of 10/9/17, we woke up to the smell of smoke in our bedroom since we usually sleep with the window open.  I woke up really early that morning and turned on the local news to see that Santa Rosa/Napa were on fire. This is one of the biggest fires in history and it burned for days. This is a photo of the Bay on the first day.

IMG_2786

The air quality went from moderate to unhealthy very quickly and lasted for at least a week. It made sunsets really eerie with the red glowing sun and orange sky. This is a photo that Jes took from the ferry on his ride home on Wednesday.

IMG_8628

The kids have had to stay indoors all week at school and all evenings after school. The playground outside was desolate and we had to turn the TV on to keep them contained and away from the kitchen dust too. What a rough week.

JFVY8303

Here’s what the view of SF from the ferry looked like on Friday.  Yuck.

Kitchen Remodel

IMG_8541

We are finally starting the kitchen remodel. It’s been about 6 months since we moved in and we were still using the original cabinets and some really old appliances. It was time to get this project going.

IMG_8551

Over the weekend (while Brother and family were in town), we had to clear out the kitchen and dining room.  We moved all the toys and KK’s desk upstairs and set-up a temporary dining/meal prep/pantry area. This will be where all the action will take place and it’ll be like living in a hotel for the next 5-6 weeks.

IMG_8540

On the morning of 10/9, I took a photo of the original kitchen before the crew arrived to tear everything out. Goodbye old kitchen!

42

IMG_8213
I turned 42 on Thursday and it was a nice coincidence that it landed on my usual day off of the week. Jesse took the day off too. The day started with breakfast at a cafe in Emeryville followed by some browsing and shopping for kitchen countertops, applicances, and cabinets. We are planning to remodel the kitchen soon and needed to get some stuff picked out. For lunch, we went to Trabocco and shared a burrata platter and prosecco. After the main entrees, we ordered a small affogatto and the owner/chef came out with a special “Happy Birthday” platter and sang to me.

IMG_8214
That was very sweet in so many ways.

IMG_8218


On Friday evening, the family sang to me and helped me blow out candles.

First Week at Kaiser

IMG_8124
I had my first week at the new job and it went as expected. The first two days were at orientation, which was off-site in Richmond. Traffic up to Richmond was surprisingly easy with no traffic at all. I scored my first piece of KP swag today and some of the information provided was pretty interesting.

IMG_8166
Wednesday was my first official day in the hospital. I left the house at 6:50am and watched the sun come up on my way in. Traffic is much lighter at that hour too. This is a view of the hospital from the freeway before I exited.

IMG_8168
When I walked in, my desk was cleared and ready for me. I was placed right next to Teresa in a cubby by the entrance to the staff office. I get an entire corner desk with cubicle walls. It’s like moving into a mansion with a roomie already there to greet me!

IMG_8169

IMG_8179
Starting a new job is a little less scary when you move into and share a cubicle with someone you love. 🙂

The rest of the week went smoothly. I met a lot of the staff, enjoyed a potluck on Wednesday, got to work one-on-one with a few therapists, helped run a parent workshop, and participated in Spasticity Clinic. I worked 10 hours on Wednesday and had Thursday off (my birthday and usual day off in the week). Then I went in for my 6-hour day on Friday, got off at 1:30pm, went home to study for a couple hours, and then picked up the kids early to take them out for boba.

IMG_8258
I think the kids and I are gonna like this new schedule!