It all started innocently enough, Scott's parents flew in and we were blessed with a nice couple of inches of snow. This was fun since living in the valley in Arizona Nancy and Frank don't get to see a whole lot of snow - especially when it sticks. I was sitting back and enjoying the holiday weekend, in the back of my mind making my list for my last week before returning to work. I had a lot to do, but that is okay - I had a whole week to get it all finished up. Plus one last weekend to spend with my family and my baby girl before daycare and a new job.
Nancy and Frank headed out of town on Tuesday just before it really started to snow more. More?? Like when does that happen that we have a few inches (enough to collaspe our gazebo on our back patio) and still its coming? Winter storm, ice storm, snowmaggedon?? I really wasn't paying attention as we were in the midst of a crisis - Monday night Addy realized she couldn't find ya-ya. Anywhere. Nada. Zip. We are calling the restaurant we ate breakfast at (closed because of snow), we tear apart the house, and still nothing. So as soon as Nancy and Frank leave I pack up the girls on Tuesday morning and head to the restaurant. They can't locate ya-ya inside so the next step is to check out the parking lot - under 4 inches of snow. So while the girls hang in the car I am stomping around the parking lot like an insane woman mashing down anything that appears to be a possible bump in the snow anywhere in the vicinity of the area we walked through the day before. Nothing.
Its home to start trying to find a new ya-ya on line. We order one but can't get overnight shipping - so we wait. Addy is a trooper, she cries, she worries, she wonders, she cries some more, she is doing as good as can be expected. And still I have not done any of the final things I need to do before I go back to work. To a new job - yikes. And Charlotte's fist day of daycare. Tears. Daddy does one more search before bedtime and becomes the hero of the century when he uncovers ya-ya under a pile of baby clothes in a bin in Addy's room. YEAH!!!!!!! Hey, is it starting to snow again outside??
On Wednesday, Scott makes it out in the 4 wheel drive and I am stuck at home with the girls. Schools are closed, stores are closed and and it starts snowing - ALOT. HARD. All day. Sometimes snow, sometimes ice. Trees start looking really heavy. This isn't good - I was here in 1996 during the ice storm, I remember. As the night comes we start getting out flashlights etc. We start realizing this isn't normal. Is that snow? Is that ice rain? What the heck? We lose power in the night. I haven't gotten anything ready yet for work or daycare. And now we don't have power, or cable, or really any way to get anywhere?????
We wake up at about 5:30 am on Thursday to a black house. Scott's work starts calling and as we realize the extent of whats happening we kick into gear. Racing around the house gathering clothes, food, batteries, etc. Hoping we can get out and Scott can get the girls and I to my parents before he heads in to deal with work crisis brought on by the strom. Guess what? The bosses are in Hawaii, Scott is in charge! I have never seen our truck so full. Literally I can barely see over the piles of bags and stuff in my lap. Addy is wedged between the bouncy chair and extra clothes for Charlotte. No washing machine and a baby that likes to spit up? We are never going to have enough clothes!!
The blessing in this whole saga is that my parents have a generator and were gracious enough to let us move in with them for 3 days. So we moved in and weathered the storm. And what a storm it was. I so wish I had thought to get outside pictures. You must check out my friend Courtney's pictures here. She did a great job. But what is really crazy is the damage. On Thursday morning as we were trying to get out, we were struck speechless at the mess around us. Trees and power lines lying everywhere. Seriously. Entire roads blocked and covered in huge trees. Power poles down, trees totally uprooted. Eerie for sure.
Thursday and Friday were spent hanging out together in my parents family room with heat and some lights via the generator. We could alternately use the coffee pot, microwave and toaster too. It was an adventure. At night it got cold and poor Charlotte had to wear socks on her hands to keep warm. We survived. Scott was in full on crisis management at work through Saturday afternoon. I randomly had a hair appointment and decided to leave my dark hair in the past and went back to my more natural blond with some highlights. It felt good to wash my hair and enjoy some place with lights.
Saturday night we get power back at about 9 pm. We move back home and get the girls to sleep about 11pm. Scott isn't feeling so well. By 7am he has the full on stomach flu. And I have exactly 24 hours to recover from the storm (dump the fridge and freeze, get new groceries, laundry, etc.) prepare for Charlotte's first day of daycare and my first day of work in 4 months - at a new place!!! This might have been one of the most physically and emotionally exhausting days I can recall. I cried all day long as I frantically ran around getting things ready. Thank goodness my mom volunteered to meet me at the grocery store because I realized when I got there I had forgotten the stroller and my purse. She had to pay for my groceries. By 10 pm that night I was literally a wreck. Poor Scott is delirious with fever, I am bawling like a baby and we still don't have cable so I can drown my sarrows in trashy tv. Terrible.
But, in the end life goes on . . . my first day of work came and went. It was great!! Charlotte survived her first week of daycare, some good days and some bad. And Scott got better. Its amazing how regardless of how ready we are it comes. And we survive. I was so thankful for this weekend to get back to a more normal life. Many friends, family and co-workers didn't get power back until mid-week. Still today as I drove to the store I marvel at the damage of the storm. Probably because I have lived here in the Evergreen State my whole life I feel the trees - I really do. I think they are in my blood. They are amazing living things. It is truly breath-taking to see them stand year after year and makes me sad when one comes down or breaks. Its humbling to see nature in all her glory and fury. Its a blessing we came out of the storm safe.
I have so much to share . . . I promise this week we will get back to it. Meanwhile here are a few shots of our adventure.
Charlotte didn't mind the adventure much, 4 adults with nothing better to do then play with me!
This was our life for 3 days, living room, kitchen, bedroom, etc.
Thank goodness for a swing that can run on batteries and a generator that can run it when the batteries run out.
Here's the utility room with the mircowave, toaster, etc.
Portable DVD player was really handy when Addy got bored.
During daylight hours it wasn't so bad, Addy had quite a store going in the living room.
Charlotte with double socks on her hands. Such a good girl, she didn't even fuss about it. Probably too cold to care.
There is our friend - the generator. Thank goodness for heat!!
Dinner by desk lamp.
And through it all we laughed and made the most of it.
Glad that adventure is over. So thankful all of our friends and family came out okay!! Now its time to stock up so that we are prepared even better the next time. Don't try to buy a generator in the pacific northwest - they are sold out!!
