Hurricane Harvey

This is our story of Harvey.  We came off so lucky.  I feel guilty for coming off so easily, but I still want to record our experience.

As Harvey grew, we wondered if Meet the Teacher would be cancelled.  We lucked out and were able to go on Friday morning before the storm really started.  I couldn't resist snapping this picture of them sharing an umbrella, but that's the only picture I took.

As the storm grew, we settled in...knowing that we'd have several days at home.  I picked a big puzzle.  :)

I usually listen to audiobooks, but had music on while I puzzled and I had to take a screenshot when this song came on.

Even though this puzzle has lots of pieces, the picture is so distinctive that it was very quick.

Alan brought out his balloon kit to keep our kids entertained.  Jared asked for a cupcake and I think Alan did a great job on it! Of course, they had to add sprinkles.

 The first night we came off with no water.

 On Saturday, during a break in the rain, I was already feeling the need to get out.  We made a quick (probably unwise looking back on it) trip to Bounce Bounce.  I say unwise because about an hour after we left, a tornado touched down right around it.  Eek!

 Jared made this face and then asked if it looked like the bear was eating him!  :)  I love that kid!

 Then we settled in to more rain.

I got the kids on the puzzle bandwagon.

 During a break we ventured out a little bit and found we'd accumulated some puzzles.

 So much cabin fever going on!

 Jared and I organized art supplies.

 We did lots of baking.

We watched a DuckTales movie (Treasure of the Lost Lamp) and the kids were enthralled with our nostalgic pick.

We need to replace our weatherstripping on our back door so water leaked in a little bit there.

 We woke up the next morning to a street full of water.

As the waters seemed to rise, the neighbors got together to build a levee to keep the waters behind us from running over into our street.

 (I took this picture days later after the water had receded.)

I snapped this picture to remember to record how grateful I was that we kept power the whole time.  Being cooped up inside is nothing compared to what we could have had to deal with.  The fact that I could wash those soaked towels from the back door was so great!

As we went into the next night, we worried that the waters would rise considerably again and that the water would come into the house.  We made preparations to get food and games upstairs and all the furniture we could upstairs as well just in case.

 I had to laugh at the fact that our summer theme, "Fun in the Sun," couldn't hack the humidity and started falling down.

 Happily, instead of a flooded downstairs, we woke up to find that the waters were receding.

 Before all the rain, Alan had the genius idea to mark this post and stick it in the yard.  The thicker lines marked: when to take things upstairs and when we thought the water would get in the house.  I spent so much time going to the window and looking out at this post.  Luckily, though the water got very close to the moving things upstairs line...and we did since it reached that before bed and we didn't want to have to go through that process at 2 in the morning, it never got higher.

 I use that picture though to indicate the stress level.  I haven't checked facebook and instagram more ever in my life.  I was constantly worried for our home and for friends' homes and was on high alert to see how everyone was doing.  I think I got off easy because I slept pretty well most nights until about 4am...I always woke up at 4am.

On Sunday or Monday...seriously, I couldn't keep track of days for at least a week...I think we're to Monday by this point...I did some grocery shopping in Camille's fridge.  They were gone and weren't sure when they were coming back.  I went over and got her produce...we were out and her strawberries tasted like manna from heaven!...and a gallon of milk to give to another neighbor who had a 1-year old and who was out of milk.  I found myself quite comical...taking my grocery bag and umbrella and heading down the street.

 I mentioned that we came off so well.  I also mentioned the stress.  Both are very real.  We needed distraction.  I was wound very tightly and sometimes felt that the kindest thing I could do for my family was keep my stress to myself.  The timing of having the TV in the bedroom could not have been more serendipitous.  Also, I just so happened to have a few seasons of Psych that I hadn't watched. (Why, oh, why Netflix, did you have to take Psych away?!  Consequently, I decided to buy a season each month until I own them all, but I hadn't been watching them all, so I had something to distract and help me laugh.)  C'mon son! (I told this to myself over and over to try and keep it together with humor.)

 I can't begin to explain the joy when the sun came out.  Ethan and I went for a walk and I wished I'd brought my sunglasses.

The fact that we didn't lose power meant that we were able to eat quite normally with plenty of food in the fridge and freezer.  I mentioned earlier that we did run out of produce and eventually milk, but we managed to eat well.  I don't buy many canned goods, but this is one item I am grateful to have in our storage.  This is the only canned food I ate during our hurricane experience and one of the only canned foods I really love.  Seriously...these olives are the best!

 On Tuesday morning our roads were clear enough that we decided to try our luck at finding milk.  The donut shop had one white milk left.  Jared was beyond thrilled!

 The weather was so nice and we took advantage of getting out of the house and getting to the park.

During these days and still to now, we've tried to remember how very blessed we are and tried to find ways to help others.  We've done stuff...I know we could do more...it's such a hard thing to manage.  I totally have survivors guilt and want to give everything to those who've lost everything.  I also hesitate to share our story because it seems so unfair since our sufferings were minimal.