Saturday 7 June 2008

I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls brought me here

It's been a crazy week in the Fulton household. As many of you know we've been in the midst of our first ever basement flood.



I have heard people talk about having their basements flood but I have not ever had true empathy until now. Steve woke me up about 6:00 on Wednesday telling me that he needed my helping bailing out the sump pump. Our electricity had been out since 2 in the morning and the battery backup couldn't keep up with the gallons of water coming into the house. We got every available bucket, trashcan and towel in the house and commensed trying to save the basement. What we couldn't see (literally because it was still dark) was that the damage had been pretty much done. One generator, shop-vac, and helpful family members later we surveyed the damage. Every square inch of carpet in the basement was squising with water. The theater was the worst. I tried to go in and rescue one of the subwoofers but seeing as it weighed 2.5 hundred pounds I couldn't get it far.



Steve's brother came up and helped bail out with buckets and my father came and shop vac-ed for most of the day. I was really struck my how lucky we were to have so many amazing family members come to our aid!



It was truly depressing - even after the water sucker people came. They have drained the basement two times, put 15 fans in the basemet, 2 dehumidifiers, and pulled one cabnet totally off the wall. (so far.....there could be more) Steve and I were just beside ourselves devistated. This same basement I had been so happy to have during the Friday night Tornado scare, I was now cursing. I kept saying "I HATE NATURE!"



I know we are lucky - I do - so many had it far worse than we. It's just frustrating to see something you view as your greatest asset have something so horrible happen to it.



Grrrrrr



It had been an exhausting few days for us - especially Steve.



Thursday night we sneaked away to a hotel downtown. My MIL came to watch Madeline and we enjoyed some PF Changs, Cinnabon, shopping, and sleeping in! It's amazing how just being out of the 4 (soggy) walls of your own house can lighten your mood. It wasn't long before we were laughing and able to really relax. (Especially since we had a king size bed so big I could do a triple axle in my sleep and not even come close to Steve.)



We went to an Indians game last night with Ball State to top off our little holiday. Victory Field is quite special to us since we met there. It was rainy and humid and I couldn't have looked worse if I had been in solitary confinement for a week.....but Steve didn't see to mind. Between the lightening and the fireworks we had quite the show.



I feel so lucky to have someone who loves me enough to think of me, even when he is 100 times more stressed.



"Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be - the last of life- for which the first was made."

3 comments:

Emily said...

What a fun night you guys had! That's all I desperately want--a night away from home with my man! I will assume the photo is of your hotel room, not of your room at home. If it is your room at home, whoa! Your room looks like a hotel! Haha Glad you were able to get away from it all, even if just for a night, to reconnect.

Emily said...

BTW...LOVE the blog post title. Go Ben Folds.

The Carrels said...

So glad you got an escape from the water at your house...must admit, I'm jealous of your overnight date!!!