Musingi House

So over the last few months, Kenyon has been very sick.  He has had stomach and or digestive issues for months.  He has lost 12+ pounds, had stomach pain and other things associated with digestive problems.

The pain got to be so bad that around Thanksgiving time, we had to put him in the hospital.  After about 5 hours at the Emergency Room and several tests, the doctors said they did not find a problem and they were sending him home.  Cristal said no, we do not have a solution.  The pain is too much to control at home and you have no idea what is going on.

They admitted him to the hospital and he spent a week in the hospital.  He actually had a few scopes done and they found a lower bowel obstruction, but still did not solve the problem.  After several different tests, it was determined his gall bladder was bad and needed to be removed.  Surgery was scheduled for right after Christmas.

Then around the 8th, Kyra came down with Influenza B and was going to be home for at least a week.  Ken's pain got to be so bad, that surgery was moved up to December 10th.  Scott went up to help with the other kids and get them where they needed to be.

Then Myles got sick with a double ear infection and Cristal got sick with a sinus infection.

Cristal's kitchen counter looked like a pharmacy.  Scott spent a few days with Cristal and then I traded places with him on Friday, December 12th.

By Saturday night, the pain was back for Ken and it was unbearable. He had been vomitting for about 36 hours.  Not able to eat and keep anything down.  The pain pills would not stay down as well. Back to the hospital we went.  Nice when Cristal knows the right people to call.  She spoke with the surgeon and did a direct admit to the pediatrics unit and bypassed the emergency room.

IV's were installed with fluid and pain meds.  More tests were run looking for a bile leak.  Finally about Monday, the pain subsided.  He was able to start eating again and keeping stuff down.  Ken was released on Tuesday morning.

Scott and I again traded places on Tuesday evening.  Wednesday was a good day for Ken with eating and getting his strength back.  It is now Thursday and Scott is on his way home.  Ken is feeling better and hopefully things settle down for the Musingi's.  Woo hoo!!

Grandkids this weekend

Had some of the grandkids this weekend.  Friday night four of the kids came and spent the night.  Davis loves the cars and trucks.  He had to climb up on the table to get a better view.  I usually get up pretty early in the morning and Davis likes to get up early too.  I go in and get him so Mom and Dad can sleep a little longer.  He is starved when he wakes up, so we have fun playing to getting him fed.  It is fun to figure out what they like to eat and get them fed so they are happy.

Bailey and Zoey had such a good time playing together.  The Polly Pocket dolls get used very well while they are at the house.

Update on Lockers

This past couple weeks I have been working on the locker's for my niece's house.  The bottom case is 15 inches high, the locker is 62 inches high and the top part is 15 inches high.  Over all it is 93 inches tall.  They will be put on top of a 2 x 4 base, which will take it up to 92 inches.  That leaves plenty of room for 6 inch crown moulding on top to finish it off.  Each locker is 21 1/2 inches wide on the outside.  The inside width will be 20 inches wide.

 This is the front view of the locker.

The bottom case is where the kids can sit to take shoes off or put them on.  I made the bottom case 34 inches deep because the space where it will fit in is 36 inches deep.  In comparing the appearance and usefulness of the bottom case, I moved the locker forward four inches to make the overall case 32 inches deep.  The surface area on the original picture above is 22 inches.  When I move the locker forward 4 inches, it makes the surface area 18 inches and I am wondering if that has a more balanced appearance and usefulness.  Still debating.

Then the next step was putting a 5 1/2 inch thick piece of alder at the top of the locker to add stability to the case, but also a place to screw the locker to the wall when we get ready to install the lockers.  Good thing the weather was good this weekend so I could utilize the front apron to the shop.  With all the cases in the shop, it makes it pretty crowded.  Had to move the lockers outside so I could cut the plywood for the backs.

The next part of the assembly was to cut rabbits at the back of the lockers to insert the case backs.  That was messy!!  The plywood is MDF so I had dust all over the place.  Good thing I could have the doors opened and the dust collection working good.  Got all seven of the tall lockers finished with the backs installed.

Next up is to do the same thing for the top case and bottom case.  This project is moving along very well.  So much fun to have projects and a place to build them!!!