Friday, February 4, 2011

When it rains....it pours....literally.

Thursday morning I got everyone off to school in record time--we had just had two snow days, so I was ready for them to get back in the swing of it!

Came home to hang out with Sammy until it was time for crossfit.

Went to crossfit and had a GREAT workout.

Came home, had been gone about an hour and 20 minutes.  Sammy is always peeking through the kitchen window looking for me.  (I swear the dog has separation anxiety)

I saw my cute little furry cockapoo....standing on the kitchen table.  Really?  On the table?  I went to the door and didn't even notice the water pouring out of the front door.  I opened the door and there was a wet Sammy, jumping on me, covered in water and ice.  I look around and the entire downstairs is flooded (well except the bathroom where the water heater is behind a door and there is a DRAIN there, lol).

Water was pouring gushing out of the ceiling on three sides.  I didn't know what to do.  Apparently running around with a cold wet dog in your arms while asking the dog what to do is not very successful in stopping the water.  I ran next door where my neighbor had a friend over and asked them to call housing because my house was flooding.  (A friendly word of advice--in a crisis, I am NOT the person to have because I panic, that's why Gunner is so good for me!)

I finally find a phone and call housing three times and get no answer.  The neighbor's friend comes over and shuts off my water.  He tells me to run to housing down the street.  Ummmm.....I guess they were out and about because the office was locked up tight.

I ran back and continued calling housing...press 3 if you have an emergency work order.  I probably broke my three button.

I finally give up and call the MP's.  The fire department shows up and sloshes through my house.  They got on the radios and kept on housing until they showed up.  Then the carpet people appeared like magic and were making plans to move everything into my garage.  LOL  My garage?  Really, you think you can fit one more thing in that garage?

They decided pods were the answer.  The fireman stayed until they had it clear to housing and everyone there that I was not moving anything or footing the bill.  Thank goodness for them!

So we wait for pods.  I called Erin in a panic asking her to come get my poor pupsicle.  Then I asked her to get Andrew.  A true friend, as her husband is home on R&R and they just ran with it and kept him for me.  Then I called the Dutchican to help me with the girls.  Thank goodness for blogging friends!  While I struggled to pack and make sure I had everything of importance with me, they fed, watered, and kept the kids alive, which I struggle with most days!  (Although I did hear that Abs was a little vocal about the SWAT team at dinner!)

To make a long story short, the pods finally arrived, they moved my stuff, removed the carpet, and set fans.

Housing put us up in two adjoining rooms in a nice hotel, and needing some quiet, I put all three kids in one room and then claimed the other as my own.  It's easier to put them to bed, and then I don't have to be in the dark all night.  Does that make me a bad mom?  I haven't closed and locked the doors adjoining the room....yet.

So in true ABW fashion, the last 7 weeks of this deployment are turning into the 7 weeks of hell.

On the bright side, I am thankful for the support of all my friends.  That I had friends I could call on in a crisis and who helped me with the kids and the dog.  That another friend emailed Gunner and he called within 20 minutes of notification.  That I had tons of offers of help.  That I have insurance.

Most importantly, that I survived.  At the time I envisioned the worst and didn't know how I was ever going to make it through it.  If Gunner had been home, he would have been so calm and made me laugh while it was happening, but me, Mrs. Panic, was a mess.  I'm sure one day this will be funny, but right now it is all I can do to keep from crying.

More later on the drama of housing, itemizing, and all things army related....

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

WOW! That sucks! I had a similar, not so horrible experience when I was still living at home. I ran a load of laundry while I was home sick and fell asleep only to wake up to a weird sound. I thought nothing of it until I went to use the bathroom (which was right next to the laundry room) and noticed that the carpet was completely wet, and there was water gushing out from under the door to the laundry room! It was horrible and that was nothing compared to your situation.

I'm so sorry. It's so hard when stuff like this happens, and so stressful! Especially when the husband is gone.

Good luck getting it all fixed.

hmb said...

Stuff like this seems to only happen when they are gone! Hope it all gets better soon!

Sarah said...

Oh no!!!! I'm glad you're all dry and that the fireman gave housing the "what for." Of course everyone at housing would be "out for lunch" when something like that happens. Maybe they'll get it all fixed soon so you won't be living the hotel lifestyle for the next 7 weeks.

P.S. I hope your 3 button will survive. ;-)

Fran said...

Yikes - That sounds like on stressful day! I cannot imagined what I would've done... cried and some minor yelling, and lots of crying. It's good to know you have so many good friends... and I'm glad to know you're all dry.

I hope housing gets all the mess figured out!

Amy said...

Wow! Definitely sounds like something that would only happen during deployment.

Glad you seem to have it worked out for now - and at least you get a couple quiet nights in a hotel :-)

Kristal B. said...

I'm so sorry! I've been there. There is nothing scarier than your house flooding with water. I too held a wet dog asking over and over again, "What do I do!?!?" Glad that everything is getting settled and you have insurance. Good luck with everything!

Erin said...

I think you win the award for worst Murphy Incident EVER. In the history of the military. I am so sorry you are having to deal with that. Please let me know if there is anything i can do, if you need any clothes or blankets...whatever.

Vintage Love & Photographs said...

Oh wow! I would be frantic too, in a fight or flight situation..I FLYYYY away lol

With the crazy recent temps in CS I was afraid of my pipes bursting as well.

Only 7 weeks left? Are they starting to do 9 month deployments? If not just lie to me lol cause my husband is deploying soon.

Anonymous said...

ABW you need a day at the SPA! At least a massage! You are truly an Army wife. When it rains..it pours and alway when the hubby is deployed or TDY. Hang in there ABW!
8-)

CJ said...

So...

I thought it was the Navy that battened down the hatches...

Too soon for a laugh, or at least a chuckle?

Nah. Never to soon for that.

Hang in there, doll. Remember, that which does not kill us only makes us stronger.

You're on track to be King Kong.

cjh

Anonymous said...

You don't know me but I have been keeping up with you and your family for a while now. You are so open and honest and I can always relate, except for the exercise!!. You hang in there. I am counting down the weeks with you.

d.a.r. said...

Gawd. So awful. I hope it all gets sorted out. I am so sorry :(

SB said...

I think it's Murphy's Law that this sort of thing only happens during deployment. I spent four days trying to keep up with my leaking house thanks to all the winter weather we've had this year. I was even up on my roof shoveling it off! (Gallons of water, some drywall damage, and a few fried nerves later, it's ok.)

I'm sorry you're dealing with this craziness. I hope your living situation gets fixed soon!

Amanda said...

Okay, a little late here but oh no! I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. On the other hand, I am so glad you have such an awesome support system. (And great firefighters, too!)

I hope things are getting dry and cleaned up without too much hassle.

Ellen said...

Just saw this, sounds like you got the complete rundown on dinner, lol! Abs wasn't that vocal, but I think Em was tempted to crawl under the table out of teen embarrassment :)

And for the record, you sounded and appeared very calm and collected!

Dani said...

Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry!

Do not, for even a SECOND feel guilty for taking your own room! holy crap I'm sure you needed it! Proper sleep (and not being stuck in a dark room all evening before you sleep) make you a good mom!!