I can still do lots of running around and activity, just can't do any real lifting or heavy exertion anymore due to several back surgeries.

I have found many mice droppings in my child's bed, my bed, our entire bottom half of the kitchen cabinets (cannot be used they're so bad, and I've sanitized everything a total of five times before moving everything to plastic bins), on toys, on clothes hanging in my closet, countertops, infested my couch.

If you needed heart surgery, would you ask someone on the internet to perform the surgery  for free and trust that they, a stranger were going to do a good job?

I'd have a lot more time in my day if I didn't devote so much time to exercise, but I am determined to not need or have any more surgeries, hopefully ever.It intrigues me how you were raised with investing parents and followed in their footsteps.  

You can also get that plastic runner to go over the carpet on the stairs to protect it but I probably wouldn't.

Hello Darek,If you needed surgery, you would not start medical school.

Use the new plastic shelf liner in all the cupboards and install something similar in sink cabinets. ( Even a piece of vinyl flooring ).

My thought is with the hospital right there, it would be a great place to have STR units available, that are chiefly intended for the families of people staying in the hospital for multiple days, having a baby or recovery from surgery, etc. 3 or the units are vacant currently, and with the lease ending soon, potentially another 4 would become available.

Hi Sarah, Really cool project, ideas i can think of from running one of our airbnbs in a football town:Small wooden fence in the back (cost less then full privacy but will give idea of enclosure, for better price maybe chap plastic fence?)

If that doesn't work, maybe you could cut off that grout and, with careful knife work, dig out a little slit under the edge of the tile -- enough to insert a modified metal or plastic edging.