Ch-ch-ch-changes

Change can be hard to deal with for anyone, but for ASD kids it can be really hard.

Hank and Tucker

We are making some big changes to our house.  Two of the three bathrooms have become inoperable, and if we ever hope to move, we have to fix that.  The problem is that the house was built in the fifties and all the bathroom plumbing is behind tile.  That plumbing has started springing leaks, blossoming out into the walls and dripping down into the garage.  If we want to fix it, we have to tear out the tile, which  means serious business.  We've decided to redo the downstairs bathroom, moving a wall and making it much less claustrophobic. 

My brother-in-law (J) who has been doing tilework for 15 years, has redone many bathrooms, and is almost done flipping a house out in California, has graciously agreed to come and work on our house.  He and his two dogs are staying with us.  I'm totally psyched!  Bubba loves his uncle, and we do too.  The dogs are great...both border collies.  Zeek is 16, and getting on in years.  He's the smartest dog I've ever met.  Hank is one year old and just the thing to keep our Labrador in line.

The downstairs of our house has just become a construction zone.  There's a tile saw, drill bits, and all manner of pointy things. There's dust everywhere and we will be parking our cars on the street for a while.

The smartest dog I know

I'm a little worried, because we're losing the downstairs play area (it's also the guest room), and to some extent, the back yard (can't leave Ben unattended with the dogs).  On a typical (ha) day, Ben and I spend early mornings downstairs and late afternoons in the backyard.

We still have our walkabouts though.  Too bad it's ridiculously cold, and Ben refuses to wear gloves or a hat.

How is this going to work out?  I don't know.  It's going to stress Ben, for sure.  On the bright side, he's really happy to have these dogs around.  Zeek, for all his cranky-old-dog attitude, seems to get that Ben is not to be messed with  Hank was tested to be a therapy dog for the elderly and passed with flying colors.  J growls now and again, but I don't think he's going to bite.  Ben gave him a big hug tonight before bed time.


Bubba is way psyched to spend time with his uncle.  This may be a life-changing period of time for him (no pressure, J).  He's turning 10 this month, high time for some serious Uncle Influence.
 
At the end of all this (if things go well) is going to be the holidays.   My in-laws are coming to visit (love them!), and we're going to have an awesome Christmas.

It's going to be a challenge, but I think it's going to be worth it.

Wish us luck.

Quote o the day:

"It is a waste of energy to be angry with a man who behaves badly, just as it is to be angry with a car that won't go."  -Bertrand Russell