Monday, July 24, 2017

THE CONTINUING CABINET STORY AND SOME SWEET STORIES ABOUT MY LUKE! (Alopecia update!)


Well it's been a very busy, busy last three days, but we have got the cabinet part of the kitchen "re-make" almost behind us....WOW!  What a job!  Now like I said before we were no strangers when it came to this job.  It's a big one.  But in our sixties now verses our thirty's really does put it in a whole new category.  I have been all over the place when it comes to this whole thing.  From loving it to hating it to wishing we had NEVER started it to sooo glad we finally did it and on and on.  Our youngest son James came up on Friday and spent the entire day helping out or we would never ever be as far as we are with it right now.  Soooo grateful!  Here is the bottom line....we are at least officially done painting them.  The bottom cabinets are still all over our family room floor, resting on their solo cups, drying.  We are giving them the rest of this week to dry REALLY REALLY well (besides hubby has no spare time during the work week) and then they still have to have the handles and the hinges reattached and then they have to be rehung.  The upper cabinets are on and I'll show you those in a minute, but let me just say this.  Hubby had this by far the most annoying and fiddly hard part of the whole project, lol.  Probably as he was doing it all alone as I was pointless as an assistant. Honestly I cannot believe the degree to which it has changed our kitchen though. Bigger, brighter, and just "different".  I LOVE them.  The wood is soo far from perfect it would be hard to describe, but just trust me on this. It was not what I was expecting to work with.   But I really like the look.  With the color that we painted them....an antique white....coupled with the fact that we left the old fashioned antique look handles and hinges that we sprayed painted gold, the whole look has taken on a feel of an old fashioned farm kitchen.  I LOVE that feel soo much that one would think I did it all deliberately,  but honestly I just kind of stumbled on it.  Now of course I need to make a few more decisions.  At the top of the list we need to decide rather or not we are replacing the counters altogether, repairing and possibly re finishing/painting what we have, or what.  And if we replace them, with what?  Now the thought from the beginning was that we'd replace them with a nice quartz stone.  But honestly the estimates for that are way more then I want to spend.  Its just sooo much money!  And IF I were willing to part with that, is it even the "look" that would go best out there now anyway??  I don't know.  Honestly IF I did whatever I wanted to do or thought would look best I'd go with a butcher block.  But again, we are talking LOTS and LOTS of money!  And then I would have a wooden counter that I COULD possibly gouge, scratch, burn, or wreck kind of easily.  And if you know me at all you'd know that is real concern, lol.  And then....we need to repaint the little amount of walls that show out there, the curtains, the rugs, and honestly MOST of my sitting around decorative items that I have had close to 15 years.  Not sure why I even have them anymore, lol.  At this moment in time, I think we will start with painting the walls and SEE how that looks, repair (and yes I've researched and "think" there is a way to do that pretty easily) the existing counter top and just go with that and SEE how that looks.  I will make curtains at this point, replace the rugs and towels, and toss into the trash my old tired and horrid looking decs and replace and SEE how that looks.  If at that point we decide we need to replace the counter I will probably start with painting it, and if that doesn't come out or suit me, I imagine I will just close my eyes and replace it with the quartz.  lol. Sooo there you have it.  Now let me show what we have so far...


TRY HARD TO PRETEND THAT YOU DON'T SEE ANYTHING SITTING ON THE COUNTERS AT THIS POINT.  WE HAD REPAINTED THE PANTRY DOOR AND THE ATTACHED SPICE RACK AND THINGS WERE JUST EVERY WHERE  BUT YOU CAN SEE THE FORMICA BUTCHER BLOCK COUNTERS THAT ARE THERE NOW AND SEE WHAT YOU THINK OF THOSE...

JUST A LITTLE CLOSER LOOK AT THE DOOR AND HANDLES

ANOTHER VIEW PLUS A ANOTHER VIEW OF THE COUNTER

JUST HAD TO SHOW YOU THESE AS THIS WAS MY CONTRIBUTION, LOL.  THERE ARE EIGHT DRAWERS ALTOGETHER.  I CLEANED THEM ALL, SANDED THEM ALL AND PAINTED THEM ALL.  PRETTY PROUD OF THEM, LOL.  I AM A TERRIBLE PAINTER.  IF HAS NEVER BEEN MY THING.  BUT I WAS PHYSICALLY CAPABLE TO DO THESE, SO I DID! 
YOU CAN SEE THE MAJORITY OF THE WALLS IN THE KITCHEN THAT NEED TO BE PAINTED IN THIS PICTURE.   NOT MUCH AT ALL...JUST THERE BETWEEN THE BACK-SPLASH AND CABINETS AND AROUND THE WINDOWS.  I AM THINKING OF GOING A LIGHT OLIVE GREEN, A LIGHT GOLD, OR EVEN A DARK SHADE OF BURGUNDY OR EVEN ALMOST NAVY (THESE ARE THE ACCENT COLORS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF MY HOUSE).  IT COULD BRING A WARM POP OF COLOR I THINK IT NEEDS.  FOR THE CURTAINS I AM CONSIDERING POSSIBLY A CREAMY LACE...ESPECIALLY IF I GO WITH A DARKER COLOR.  I AM WIDE OPEN NOW FOR SUGGESTIONS OR THOUGHTS.  OPINIONS ANYONE?  REMEMBER ALMOST NONE OF THAT COUNTER "STUFF" WILL REMAIN EITHER, LOL
OK, then I just want to share a couple of quick video's of little Luke with you.  I shared quite a while ago that he has Alopecia.  It has been quite the roller coaster ride for my daughter who has had a much harder time coming to terms with it then 4 year old Luke.  It looked like for a while it was going to all grow back in as it was close to an inch long and the pigment of it (which started out totally white) was his old color.  But it quite suddenly and quickly all fell out again, which I guess can be very common for someone who started this as young as Luke did.  He was only barely 3. Trust me no one could have ever researched more about it then my daughter.  It is just her school teacher nature, lol.  And she has put him on a gluten and dairy free diet (most of the time anyway, she does allow a very occasional treats of both though like pizza and ice cream and cake at parties) and has added some supplements in as well.  It is what it is.  Meanwhile, the other day for the first time a little girl began teasing Luke about it at a birthday party they were all attending.  Luke didn't seem to really care much and calmly said, "I have alopecia....that's why."  Melody stood there speechless she said having no idea what to say and surprised it was even happening, even though of course that has been her biggest fear.  Luke's big brother Sam put a quick stop to it though.  He started out nicely saying, "don't say that.  It's not nice.  You will hurt his feelings"  But when that didn't stop her he got right up an inch from her face and said, "STOP saying that!  Or we will never play with you again!"  The little girl immediately shut up, and that was the end of it.  She is Sam's age (which is 5) and adores Sam. In fact has a little crush on him, lol.  The boys ran off and played, but Melody was upset the rest of the day. She did in a very nice way though let her mom know what had happened as like she said, she would want to know if one of her kids had done something like this.  It wasn't just curiosity or questions which she could understand.  It was mean and mocking. Her mom responded immediately and very well to it and was grateful Melody had brought it to her attention.  Melody just can't bear for this to be a part of Luke's life.  And yet it will be.  His attitude will be what makes it a problem or not. She talked to him about it all for the first time the next day.  He has seemed soo blissfully unaware that she didn't want to bring it up before.  But she asked him, "Luke, does it make you sad that you don't have any hair?  Did it bother you when Ashlyn said those things?"  And he looked at her and said, "NOPE!  I don't care."  And she said, "but do you wish you still had your hair?"  And again he quite freely said, "Nope!  I LIKE my hair like this."  And she said, "you do?" And he said, "yep, now I don't have to let you comb it (he didn't have that done often but he NEVER wanted to have it done she said, lol) and I don't have to wash it, and I don't have to get hair cuts but I still get candy when Sam does!"  "And I look "cool".  That's what his daddy told him when he shaved off the few remaining strands the first time and he believes it.  Sooo there you go.  Now Melody feels soo much better about it having been taught by her four year old how to look at it.  Make the most of it....it is what it is.  It's not the end of the world.  There will still be mean remarks and mean kids.  There will be teasing.  But with the right attitude I don't think Luke will ever be the victim of it.  I thing he will shrug it off and move along.  He is a strong, handsome, healthy, smart, outgoing, and happy little guy. She made this little video of him and it is just darling.  All this to show you....




And then one more little video of my Luke....He and Sam have been taking swim lessons pretty much 4 days a week all summer.  Melody wants them swimming.  Well, 5 close to 6 year old Sam picked it up and has been swimming for a few weeks now.  Luke who just turned 4 just wasn't there and it has been making him soooo determined you can't imagine.  Well he knew he had to get his arms moving. Not just kicking his legs.  And he finally did!  This video is short but hysterical when you see how fast and frantically he is moving his little arms.  But he did it!



And FINALLY, today is my girl's thirty first birthday.  She has brought soo much joy to my life that you honestly just couldn't imagine it.  I am soo proud of her.  She is such a good wife, mama, daughter, sister and friend, and I treasure and cherish all that she has blessed me with.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELODY JOY!

9 comments:

  1. Goodness, where is everybody? You may not know this about me, Deb, but I try hard not to be the first commenter. Someone could still beat me to it.

    Your kitchen looks so beautiful I love how it came out. I don't know about the wall color being so much of a contrast...but you have such great taste that I trust you with your own kitchen. 😉 I don't know that you need to switch out your countertops. Mine are ancient and every time I start to get insecure about them, I wander over to Susan Branch's because she has the same kind.

    Luke is an amazing and happy child. "No hair; don't care" is working great for him. I am glad that the little girl's mother was glad that Melody told her. The little girl will be far better off to learn those lessons of empathy. And, really, Deb, could the boy be any more handsome? I think not! He makes me smile real big. I am going to share his story with my grandsons to show them what courage and joy look like.

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  2. Your kitchen is getting a whole new look! I love it!

    Luke's perspective on his alopecia is refreshing and inspiring. In one of my favorite devotionals (Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot), Elisabeth shared a story of a child who was born with multiple disabilities. Her words to the parents were so wise, reminding them that it would be far more troubling to them than it would ever be to the child. I pray that Luke's challenge is always a blessing in his life!

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  3. Good for Sam. What a hard time for Melody and I am glad she told that little girls Mom.
    Your kitchen looks fantastic! What a bunch of work. I liked what you said about being the age you are and painting. I know it sure isn't as easy for me as it was when I was 30. Not to mention I really hate painting.
    Take care, I love seeing all of your kitchen pictures.

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  4. First of all, God bless little Luke for not becoming a victim! It looks like he's found the way to deal with this, to be in charge. I love it! What a lesson for us all! Your daughter is beautiful and so are those kitchen cabinets! I've been wanting to convert to white, but someone else who lives here says, 'NEVER!' So I guess they'll remain a honey colored oak. That's okay. Thanks for stopping in at CranberryMorning. I hope you join the Hodgepodge again. xo

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  5. I'm so glad Luke has big brother Sam to speak up for him. Sam, Luke and the video made my day! I have a friend whose husband has this and one of their daughters inherited it. She has been without hair since she was a little girl. She is married now with children of her own. Your little Luke is a great kid with a personality to handle this.
    I love your kitchen. You and your husband have done a fabulous job! And your daughter Melody is beautiful. I can understand the way she feels, but I'm glad she is getting used to what probably cannot be reversed.

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  6. You are indeed a blessed mother and grandmother, Debbie. I loved reading your post and sharing the joy your family brings you. And, the kitchen is so bright and pretty.

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  7. Nice look in your kitchen. Lots of work goes into that but the payout is worth it.

    Luke is such a precious child and just the cutest thing. I have a friend whose daughter has Alopecia. It started when she was probably three or four. I believe she is maybe six or seven now and she has a significant amount of hair, long enough to make a ponytail. It's not what you'd call a "normal" head of hair, as it's thin in places and non-existent in a few areas, and there was really no medical explanation as to why it started growing in. She always has a smile on her face and it doesn't seem to bother her at all.

    I'm sure your daughter has read up on the arthritis drug that was used to successfully treat Alopecia last year? There are some serious concerns about the drug, and I don't know much about it, but the success rate was impressive.

    It hurts us when our children are ridiculed for any reason, and children can be so cruel to each other, but Luke sounds like he's handling it very well. Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter.

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  8. I'm just now getting around to reading blogs this afternoon. Your kitchen is definitely taking on a whole new look. It looks so nice! And, sweet little Luke, I'm betting he's going to keep this great attitude as he grows up. He's such a cutie!

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I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!