It was being knocked down,
It was being pulled apart.
The stairs were going and the narrow, narrow doorways and corridors were going.
My house renovations started this time, last year.
The initial budget we set aside was $100,000. We've stretched it out to almost $200,000 (as you do in home renovations!). The mortgage on the house is frightful, but like everyone else, we will plod along and we will get there.
Without the incredible support of so many tradespeople and supporting businesses, we would not have the house we have today.
Without their support, we would have managed an extension of the living room, out in to the courtyard.
We would still have had the old bathroom, where I did not fit with my wheelchair or toilet/shower seat. We would still have had steps inside the house. We would not have our deck and we would still have a very old kitchen and that narrower than normal walkway.
Because of the support we were given, we were able to do the whole house.
We met some truly beautiful people. People who saw Dexter as the determined, brave, cheeky little boy he is.
During the renovations, we learned a lot.
We knocked down brick walls and learned to throw bricks great distances! We cut out old timber structures and replaced flooring. Skirting boards were hammered in and we got pretty good with drills and drop saws. Outside walls were grinded down and the rendered walls were painted.We got pretty handy with the paintbrushes and set up ladders in the weirdest of places! We loved it. We loved learning. We were at the house almost every weekend, doing bits and pieces. It was so rewarding.
Lenice made countless chocolate chip biscuits and what seemed like endless lunches.
Dexter's sister learned the tradies by name and we told her all the things they were doing. She liked thanking them, when she saw them, and often spoke about them.
Dexter loved the noise. He knew we were building him a home he could live in. He knew most of the people were offering their time and expertise, their tools and products. They spoke to him; addressing him and responding to him.
We'd gone public with the idea of renovating Dexter's house with love and Mate's Rates a year before we moved out, There was a lot of planning to be done, people to ask on board the project and materials and paperwork to be sorted.
The idea had started to be planned six months before we went public with it.
It was an amazing time and Dexter's house is now his home. The open plan living area leaves plenty of room for his physiotherapy exercises. The hallways are wide enough for his wheelchair and he has a ramp.
To everyone involved - you are amazing and you have given Dexter more than we could ever say.
Happy One Year 'Doing it for Dexter Anniversary!
Can't remember what the old house looks like? Can't remember the changes that were made? Check this out: (maybe with the volume turned down)
Thanks again, to everyone involved!
#doingitforDexter
Flying Fox Fun
What a Dollar means to Dexter
When Wheelchair Stops Being a Dirty Word
About the Sisters
Dexter's 2013
Dexter's First Month
Dexter's Vision
Dexter's Cerebral Palsy
Dexter's Cancer
Who is Dexter?
Return to Home page
Find me on: facebook twitter instagram pinterest youtube