Longest Week of My Life!!

September 21, 2008

This has been the longest, most frustrating week of my entire life!

It's been just a week and a couple of days since we endured the wrath of Hurricane Ike! He was certainly angry about something. However, we were ready with all the emergency supplies we needed, but still it was scary when the lights went out, the wind was howling around the house, and hissing thru the front door, the loose guttering was banging against the house up by Shyla's window, and we lost lots of shingles from the roof. This place a REALLY DARK when there is no power. Grant and Christine let us hook the refrigerator into their generator, and that was really kind. Dad contributed our little gas can to gas for the generator, and Christine sent it with the generator to the Woodlands to one of their friends. She didn't know it was ours. We told them it was ok, but Grant showed up with a new can full of gas yesterday.

We got power back for an hour on Saturday night last week, then it was off. That was worse than not getting it back, however, it did cool the house down enough to make it so we could actually sleep. That was good since some of us hadn't slept since the Thursday night before. We got the power again on last Sunday morning, and it lasted until 10pm when it went out. Off for about an hour, it came back on and has mostly remained on since then. There is still no power at the church building, and some of the schools are still having issues. Some areas won't have power back for weeks.

The gas stations are still having problems having gasoline, and the grocery stores are starting to have things, however, the freezer sections, and refrigerator sections are mostly empty. They have to be inspected by the health department before they can be restocked. That makes getting eggs and milk somewhat dodgy. Can't get hotdog buns either. You can get hamburger buns, but not hotdog.

The dance studio is closed until further notice, we drove over there and they have big trees down all along the way so it may be a while before they are back at the studio. The old studio has it's power back, but they still aren't dancing.

The girls have enjoyed being out of school, but they don't want to have to make up the days. So far the state is saying that unless they miss 10 days, they don't have to be made up. Hopefully, we will only miss the 7. They are supposed to go back on Tuesday this week.

We have been working on finishing up the bedrooms for the girls this past week, just have a dresser scarf or two left to do. Then the words on the walls. They are looking really pretty up there.

Cymbre has had bronchitis, and now it is coming back, and she also has a sprain on her arm. We hope she is feeling better by Tuesday.

Cooper is bored, and does her facebook thing several times a day....she is healthy at the moment.

I am falling apart yet again....the old foot endured the storm but is slowly healing and trying to think about learning to bend again. However, this Friday, my right side of my face went numb! A trip to see Dr. Ermac has me on a big dose of steroids for Bell's Palsy. They say the numbness will go away, but it will take a few weeks. And for those of you wondering....NO, I am not drooling! The steroids make your skin feel like someone is pricking you with pins, which makes it really hard to get any sleep.

Well, we have some hurricane pictures, but they are still hiding in the camera. I guess I need to learn how to get them out.

The roof is repaired, and we told Cooper she has to hold her part on better next time....she said she was trying to sleep and was downstairs when it happened. She was, they were in the bedroom with me, and Dad was out on the couch. We weren't really doing much sleeping though.

We did manage to put together a puzzle by candle and oil lamp light. Dad finally finished it this morning....I guess I need a picture of that too for the scrapbooks.

Dad cleaned up the yard and got the shingles out of the trees. Shyla's elephant ears don't like hurricanes much though...took pictures of them also. My hybiscus bushes were so pretty, and now they just look sick...Dad has them propped up but we may just have to get new ones.

I have saved the newspaper from the storm all this week....things you take for granted are suddenly not there when something like this happenes. We sure hope it's a long time before we have to do this again.

Mom