Home Improvement
My sweet parents stayed with us longer than they planned during Henry’s surgery. They took such good care of the kids along with my sis Adelynn.
While they were here for several days, besides offering all the support they also did a bunch of projects. Dad and Mom cleaned out my fridge/freezer, made a bunch of meals, organized our pantry and basement cold storage, and even made plans to overhaul my laundry room! I couldn’t let them do all that alone so I helped but it was really a small effort in comparison. I’m so sad they’re gone, and grateful they left their magic touch on our home.
Comforting Home Cooking
First off…
Dad and Mom heal my soul with food. I didn’t have to grocery shop, meal plan, or cook anything while they visited- and everything they made felt like a warm hug ❤️❤️❤️
A gourmet Filipino feast awaited us after our hospital experience- which was seriously uplifting after being sleep deprived and full of worry. The table was spread with pancit, lumpia, and beef tocino. Mom shared a new drink with lychees and coconut, and made a delicious cassava cake.
Another day they helped us use up the ingredients in our fridge! Dad made fresh guacamole, chicken enchiladas, carne asada tostadas, and Spanish fried rice for lunch just in time for the kids to come home with huge smiles on their faces.
I was spoiled in the morning even though my parents don’t eat breakfast they made me some. Dad made me a corned beef omelette with fried rice, cucumber, and sautéed zucchini, and then also made me some superfood drink, too. I wasn’t hungry for most of the day!
One night we also had a special light midnight dinner just for the adults. My parents called it “Crab Night”, and we had delicious crab with bok choy and ripe mango.
One day they really got cooking and somehow made 4 main entrees in only a couple of hours??! My jaw was on the floor because I can’t even imagine the teamwork and skill required to do all that in such a short time. Chicken adobo, afritada, wings, and aros caldo. We feasted when Jer came home from work, and all of our spirits were lifted from just being cared for this way.
Home Organization Projects
Secondly, our home has literally been falling apart while we’ve been in Survival Mode for months. My parents noticed this with grace and took action. I accepted all the help I could get! They started making plans to take our broken kitchen drawer home to rebuild it in my Dad’s wood shop, and arranged my kitchen so that it’s easier to find ingredients and make food. They were so thoughtful and brought their expertise to the areas of our house that would really benefit us.
There’s nothing I like better than a Before and After Transformation! Really the pantry before pic is a IN PROGRESS one because we had already installed the over-the-door rack. It was way cluttered if you imagine all the stuff from the door being on the inside shelves instead.
Mom would ask me, “What’s our project for today!” and we were able to get so much done together with Dad. I got to experience Synergy working with them, since all by myself I’m not able to do much more than take care of the Baby on any given day—but the week that they were here, the Baby was cared for AND we got all that done! Inconceivable!
I also LOVED using my label maker and am somewhat addicted now. (Anyone need anything labeled? I’m your girl!) Our medicines went from bins everyone would leave in an open mess, to drawers where we could see and find exactly what we needed!!
I got the push I needed to order a rack for our pantry, and finally buy an appropriately sized rug for our living room. The improvements have left me really satisfied!
My parents left me with another gift: a trio of fake plants to brighten our spaces without having to worry about watering or keeping them alive. I’ve got to get a pic still.
I have the best parents. It’s nice to feel the weight of all these projects that have been on the back burner fall off. To know that someone who knows what they’re doing and cares for you took care of it.
The best part though was our late night talks hearing about Mom’s travels across Asia with her pictures, learning some family history on my Mom’s side that even she recently found out, seeing my kids so so happy being with my parents, hearing my Dad’s funny stories making cardboard swords for my boys and his getting to know them, cutting my Dad’s hair and not messing it up too badly haha, getting excited together about all the good things they’re doing in their retirement… I think I just really have fun with my parents and I hope we’re not working them too hard!
Dad has been sending updates from his carpentry workshop on the drawer surgery putting it back together haha. It used to be my most disappointing drawer, but now it will be my favorite and special drawer because he remade it.
Mom has been online shopping for good storage solutions and having me send measurements. She is amazing at making things happen and I’m so glad she is helping me with this stuff I’ve always wanted to do even though right now my brain has to be focused on Baby Henry’s medical stuff instead. Mom helps me feel hopeful about it and want to try harder to help make it happen.
Sending love to my parents.
Sincerely, -Kat
