Trip to the ER and the stairs.

Well. We ended up in the ER with Gus. Okay, I took him. Tom was home puking. Yep. The only person in the house that didn't get it was Jack. Instead he has a nasty cough and a stuffy nose. I think he lucked out.

So, Gus was lethargic and throwing up yesterday. His mouth was dry and he was pretty pale. So I took him to the ER and they filled him with fluids and I gave him a popsicle. He ate the ENTIRE thing. It was his first sweet. I was a little sad. Not that it's a big deal, but with the older two boys they didn't have sweets until their 1st birthday cake. So, that was a tiny milestone for us. We'll see how the day goes. We're all home still recuperating today.

Onto the stairs!

It took some convincing and a little time, but I worked my Leigh Anne Tuohy ways and got approval.

There are some projects I do around the house and don't really ask if Tom is okay with it. Little things, painting, chair makeovers, moving things around...but then there are things that I check with him first so that he is on board. Especially if I may need a teensy bit of help.

As you know, I adore old houses. The character, the stories...but there is something to be said for new houses...needing a new water heater is NOT one of them, but others like bigger closets, new plumbing, open floor plans...

The thing about new houses is that if you don't build it yourself with the character you like, you have to do it after the fact. Except for some reason I have this irrational fear of messing with our semi-new house. I know! Crazy. But, I'm irrational sometimes. It's my house, right?! Yeah. Until we move...again...but I don't care anymore. If they don't like our house the way it is, then too bad!

So, I started on this:

 

The trim and banister in our house is oak. The stairs are pine. I started pulling up the carpet all the way to the top, but then got sidelined by the vomiting and the chills, and the laundry and the puking...I'm not EXACTLY sure what I'm going to do yet. My idea is white risers and the darkest stain possible on the tread to match that super dark front door. (You can see it behind Millie.) It's a brown that is almost black. I'm thinking that it will tie things together nicely. Our landing will then be pine boards in the same dark color....

I need suggestions, advice, support that I'm not crazy....okay, I know I am crazy, but support that will tell me that it will look cool....PLEASE....

Here's one inspiration, minus the white banister. And the grand foyer, and the wood floors...well, you get the idea.

This is going to be a long process...