Project scope and critical path planning. This is the task you are facing. This is what is needed to be created. If you can have your "crew" over and get reliable and detailed info based on getting your collective heads together, then do that. If not, then a professional such as a contractor or architect or designer should be called in to fulfill this duty. The grand plan should include the entirety of the scope of work, and then break this down into the logical order of completion, timelines for each segment, when things can overlap and when one aspect must be completed in full before another can begin. Budgets for each segment, with contingencies and alternates would be considered here as well. Then of course the master plan adds up to the master budget which has to be found to begin. The goal is to not un-do something to do something else, to make sure that the outcome is what is envisioned, to make sure that funds are available for satisfactory completion, and to schedule the trades for both materials specifying, ordering, and installation. Example is that the electrical and HVAC work would probably be one of the first to be done. But a preliminary selection of appliances in the kitchen and elsewhere would factor into any changes at the panel and running main lines into the spaces. Same idea with plumbing. You don't need to know the exact faucet, but an idea of how many sinks would be important for the rough-in. And find out what aspects will need to be inspected, who is going to get permits and handle inspections, and if and when a stamped engineer drawing may be needed to pass inspection. So timeline and money. And have fun and enjoy your new house. And remember my earlier advice. A nice new gas grill and patio set to keep everyone from losing it! Sitting in a chair with a cold drink looking at a lake is the big idea here, yes?

At 17 months old, IBD is unlikely, but not unheard of . Fresh blood in cat stool is not that rare, nor is it necessarily a big problem. Many things can cause a bit of fresh blood in the stool of a cat, with the most likely being the kitty ate something that was not his normal food... plant material (eg. grass is a common cause), excess hair accumulation can do this (in allergic cats or ones with a lot of fleas for example), or a diet change. Dry food is often implicated in situations with bloody stools in cats... high protein, low carb diets are always best for cats (impossible with dry food). Glad he seems better. If he has blood in his stool once a month or less, I would not be too concerned, particularly if he likes to eat grass or you keep changing his diet. If he has fleas, get rid of those, or excess hair ingestion can be a problem... also, I might recheck his fecal sample at least one more time... sometimes you need to do a few tests before certain parasites show up. Tapeworms never show up in fecals but you can often see them in the stools. However, tapeworms rarely if ever cause bloody stools.

So sorry to hear this, Tami. We were living in Pittsburgh and DFIL was in N.C. and driving back and forth for health issues was tough. It's so difficult when we live so far from our parents. Good thoughts and prayers coming your way. Hugs, too.

I am so sorry to hear this. I had typed a message after your first posting but I must have not hit enter as it didn't show up. I went through the Christmas holidays one year, not being sure if I had miscarried or not. All the blood work kept coming back positive but no signs of fetus. Sometimes the body reabsorbs the tissue - I know that isn't easy to hear but it happens. A D&C might be in order to make sure all is ok. I know its a difficult time - my prayers are with your family.