I’m Too Old for This!

Last night, just as I was getting ready to go to bed, the tornado sirens went off. It was 11:45pm. I woke my husband who had been sleeping since about 10:00. I grabbed my laptop (battery full) and headed to the living room to get #3 who had fallen asleep on the couch. As we head for the basement, my semi-unstable husband headed for the front door. What is it about men that send them flying outside to see the storm when the county officials sound warning sirens indicating you should take cover?

In the basement #1 was asleep in her bed and #2 was sleeping on the floor of the family room. Keep in mind that the basement remodel is NEARLY complete, so the soft carpet, the warm couch, and the flat screen TV all make weathering a storm pleasant. I laid #3 to sleep on the floor next to her big sister, waited for the all-clear, and headed upstairs to bed. I listened intently as the sump pump kicked on three times before I let the storm lull me to sleep.

At 3:00am #2 appeared in our room with a “Why is the carpet all wet?” I got up and headed to the basement to find out how bad it was and why the sump pump wasn’t doing it’s part. With only a slightly delayed response, Jackson came flying down the stairs and ripped the carpet remnant out of the sump pump closet. Upon his attack, the sump pump kicked on as if he had woken it up. We spent the next hour retrieving the shop vac from the garage, moving things out of the path of the stream meandering around under our carpet, and sucking up as much water as possible. The two little ones had retreated upstairs, but #1 remained steadfast in her bed just feet away from the roaring vacuum.

At 4:00am we were mostly satisfied that we had gotten what we could. We set up the fan and dragged the vac to the utility room assuming we were not done utilizing it’s services. Upon our retreat I stepped in a squishy spot outside the bathroom. I turned on the light and discovered a whole ‘nother issue. We spent the next hour trying to figure out where, under the tile, this puddle was going and how to best head it off. We found an ingenious way to prop the shop vac up to suck up the water before it bled all over the place and reeked havoc on our carpet.

At 5:00am I emailed my boss and informed him that I fully planned on sleeping through my 6:20 alarm. Jackson opted to stay up and monitor the pump and empty the shop vac as it filled.

At 7:30am we reversed roles, well kinda. He prepared to go to work and I dragged my butt out of bed to take over water duty.

At 7:50am I called contractors to find out what our options were. As it turns out, the guy that can help us is sick!

At 8:10am I heard the shop vac scream. It sent me flying down the basement stairs. I flung open the bathroom door to find a plume of smoke billowing from the motor. I unplugged it just in time to hear the orchestra of smoke alarms wake anyone that may have still been attempting to sleep in the house.

At 8:30am I called the plumber to find out what our other options were for trying to stay on top of this water.

At 9:00am I purchased a new shop vac. Returned home, assembled it, and resumed my lifeguard duties. I tried to work off and on while keeping a sharp eye on all things water and smoke related.

At 11:30am I called Jackson, gave him the indoor pool update and tagged out. As much as I wanted to stay in play in the giant puddle that is our basement (can you sense the sarcasm), I had meetings I had to attend at the office.

At 8:00pm I returned home only to find nothing had changed! The water is still trying to find it’s way to the surface or hiding deep beneath the not-yet-paid for floor covering. I took over guardian of the flood gates and Jackson retreated to the surface for a much-needed shower and snack.

It’s now 10:00pm and I’m not sure how long this can continue to go one, but as the family-designated night owl, I get the first shift. I truly hope God knows I am too old for this and if he wants me to start constructing an ark, he’s going to have to come right out and tell me.