Hang in there, K. Things tend to sort themselves out whether we worry about them or not.
It sounds like you have made a very adult decision to seek employment elsewhere before quitting your current job. It's not always easy to leave a place you have worked at for several years, even if the working conditions have become intolerable. It also doesn't help when your co-workers make comments like that.
On the bright side...better pay is always good thing! It also might be true that your co-workers are jealous that you found a better job...one can never tell about co-workers.
Will you be doing the same type work at the new job, or will you making a career change at the same time? Either can be stressful, but learning new things helps take your mind off the stress (even if it is just learning how the new company does the same things you've been doing for years).
It sounds like you made your decision several weeks ago, that leaving was what was best for you, and that is what prompted your job search. People spend a significant portion of their lives on the job, so it only makes sense that they should try to be as happy there as possible. When working conditions become such that one dreads going to work (more so than normal), it's time to change either the job or one's attitude about it.
Regarding the comments from your co-workers, who knows? That is part of the stress, and part of the excitement, of changing to a new job. We do our best to get a feel for how a place of business operates and what the staff is like during the interviews, but in the end, we go with what our "gut" tells us...it's really all we have.
Now...let's talk about this crazy decision to rebuild the deck, paint several rooms, have her son living with you, AND change jobs all at the same time. ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR F'ING MIND? Just kidding, as I'm sure you didn't plan for all this to happen at once. If you did, see the previous comment and seek professional counselling.
Maybe you could diet and quit smoking along with everything else just to add a little more strain (not that either applies to you, but it seemed like the appropriate smart-aleck comment).
In any case, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
........Laurie
