Thursday, August 20, 2009

Every had one of THOSE DAYS....?

Well I've been blessed I haven't had one quite as bad as today in some time now. God has been watching over us, keep us safe from days like this one.
So you all know I've been really working at trying to save us some money around here. Today I guess, I hope, I prayer, it paid off.
First off everyone here is sick. Cindy went to the doctor yesterday and he's running a test for streph throat but he's pretty sure that's what she's got. First week in the new store, new manager and she can't go back to work before Monday.
Mom's getting dizzy again, losing balance again and shaking like a leaf... yes again. These symptoms are usually followed by another stay in the hospital, though we're all praying it won't happen this time.
I've got a good old fashioned sinus infection that has my head killing me, and my sleep patterns are way way off again.
So this morning the kids are suppose to take mom to get some test run. They over sleep so Cindy is going to take her ( I can't drive). They get in the car, with some effort because mom looses her balance and Cindy barely caught her. The air is so hot and humid neither of them can breath. Then the Car won't start! David (nephew-in-law) comes over and says he thinks it's the battery. Bless his heart he has an abscessed tooth and he's sick as a dog. But there's no telling him no when it comes to helping Grandma (mom). So it loads it up, takes it to have it checked and finds there are other problems with the car. Expensive ones. While they are out with the battery, the run a few errands for us, picking up a few groceries, some scripts and some syringes for mom (insulin). Aren't we just blessed with the best family???
Anyway, just after they bring in the groceries, Krys (my beautiful wonderful niece)has a doctors appointment and she drags David in with her so the doctor can take a look at him too.
While they are out and about, we find water all over the kitchen floor. The hot water heater has ruptured and it's spewing HOT water and flooding the kitchen, pantry, laundry room and garage. It's in a tiny closet in the garage and we can't open the door because it's spewing hot water at the door (you can hear it in the house). We are not able to turn the water off, so we call the plumber? It will be at least an hour until anyone can get here. OK try the City and see if someone can come turn off the water for us....? They will get someone out when they can.
Just when I think we're going to have to get boats, my niece walks in the door. Praise God! They get the water cut off. Our new linoleum floor is already rippling from the hot water under it. So we call the insurance company to see if they will help pay for the new hot water heater and continue to try and get all the water up. Nope they will not pay a dime on the water heater but they will set up and pay (after the $500 deductible) a restoration crew to come out and clean up all the water and check for damages. So we have 5 very nice men running around pulling sheet rock and molding off the walls, pulling up carpet, moving appliances, sucking up water, spraying anti-mold spray, and setting up ginormous, ear shattering fans and humidifiers. Thankfully only a little corner of the carpet had to be pulled up. The carpet was dry but the padding was wet and had to be removed in that corner. Most of the sheetrock that has to be replaced is inside the pantry and behind the fridge, and washer and dryer.
The smell of the chemicals they had to spray were making us sick and the deafing roar of the fans is enough to make you want to scream (but no one would hear you). So we called the insurance company again and explained we are without hot water, unable to acess the kitchen because of all the drying equiptment, we're all asthmatics and the smell is killing us, and besides that we can't hear the person right next to us, much less the phone. So they agree to put us up in a hotel for the night. Except when mom and Cindy pile out to the car to leave, ( I didn't want to leave the fans running with no one home and my room is the fartherest back and the sound isn't bad back here at all), the car won't start!
So here we are, $2,100 for a new water hearter and to bring it up to code ( new ones in place since our last heater 11 years ago), $500 going for the deductable plus anything else we'll be out getting the repairs done, and whatever it ends up costing to get the car running.
I didn't save that much, but with God's help, we'll get it all taken care of.
But it's been one of THOSE DAYS!
Hugs, take care and I hope your day was a good one.
Vikki

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

WOw, you got a lot going on, I am exhausted jsut reading it. Big hug and a prayer from me.

Vikki said...

Thank you ma'am, it's been one of those weeks...giggle but like all challenges in life, you just have to keep going.
BTW love the new pic, you look great!
Hugs and prayers for you too,
Vikki

~Oct said...

What a horrible thing to have happened. Insurance companies suck don't they. I'm so glad that things are on the mend and hope you all are home again and that it's dry without lingering chemical smells!

Patty said...

I am so sorry you guys have had all this going on. Big, big hugs.

Vikki said...

Thank you so much Patty,
We're doing very well actually. It's loud but at least we have hot water again...giggle
Life is full of challenges, this is just one of those. And it reminds of us of how blessed we really are.
Hugs, right back at ya,
Vikki

Vikki said...

Thanks Oct,
We weren't able to get out due to car trouble, but we're doing surprisingly well. It's loud, but the smell is gone. We're hoping to have the fans turned off tomorrow and to be able to get back in the kitchen by Sunday. Till then, we have lots of time to think...giggle
Hugs, and hope well all have better weeks next week.
Vikki

Nana said...

My thoughts are with you. It is amazing how much our lives are so similar. Many of the experiences that you write about have happened to me. I am a preschool teacher also share the experience of taking care of my mother. Keep your chin up.

Vikki said...

Thank you so much Nana,
You know the older I get the more I see just how much we really are all so much alike. No matter where we all live, our lives are all pretty simular, we're each trying to make the best life we can and we're all striving for the same things. I hope all is well with you and that God will meet each and everyone of your needs.
Hugs and have a wonderful new week,
Vikki