Where to begin

As the last post explained AH had a stomach bug this past week.


That, however, was just the beginning of a brutal week.


AH got sick on Tuesday night and it was my turn to stay home from work on Wednesday.  Not so bad and AH seemed to be feeling better Wednesday afternoon.  Then the call comes in from our basement tenant at our rental property - water is pouring out of the ceiling - not good at all.  We got down to around 8 degrees here on Tuesday night and the upstairs water pipes under the kitchen sink froze and burst.  Got the water cut off and put the well worn wet/dry vac to use and suck up about 10 gallons of water out of the BRAND NEW (me bitter? of course not) carpet.


AH seems to be much better on Thursday morning and we make the call to take both kids to daycare.  Of course as soon as we pull up to daycare AH gets sick.  Susann takes me to work and then she and AH head to the doctor, where they tell her she has 6 hours to stop vomiting before she needs to go to the hospital for an IV. 

I have several meeting that morning during which I missed the 3 calls and 2 text messages that a pipe has burst in our next door (like on the other side of a wall) neighbors house.  Now we know our neighbor but do not have her contact info which was a real problem in this case.  The water ran for 4 hours and of course water began to seep into our basement.  She finally got a hold of me and come flying home to see what magic I could pull off.  Susann was in crisis mode which she is very good at.  I head to the hardware to store to rent a submersible pump to at least get some the water out of our neighbors back basement and Susann calls, emails and tweets the water department.  I get the pump and come back to the house and the pump DOES NOT WORK.  I go back to the hardware store and buy a pump and get it going which helps keep the water level on the neighbors side of the wall in check.  A neighbor who is also home that day see all the activity and comes over to see what is going on.  He happens to have the tool the water department use to cut of the water main and we proceed to the front of the house to successfully do just that.  In the meantime Susann has somehow tracked down our neighbor on the web.  Susann is amazing at that stuff - there is no other way to put it.   Rough day.


Then the cherry on the top.  Around 2 o'clock in the morning I get AH's bug and get it BAD, I mean real bad.  I head down to the basement so Susann can get some sleep and then she gets it.  We are both laid out Friday and can't take the kids to daycare.  Sick in the house with a 2 year old and 1 year old (thank the Lord they were ok) but being Mommy and Daddy is challenging when you are . . . indisposed.


We hope and pray that we have used up the bad luck for the year - we shall see. 


Of course much to be thankful for.  We are all better and everything is dry.  Better times ahead.

The mini is sick.

Really sick.

It's sad.

The party is over . . .

But what a party it was.

We had a wonderful holiday break with fun had by all.

The first stop was the center of the universe - Marion, SC - for Christmas with Pop and Nana.  We had a truly amazing time with Robbie and Anna Helen at the center of the storm.  I am not sure if they had the most fun - the smile on Nana's face was priceless.  I have to admit, Susann and I had pretty big grins on our faces also.

From Marion we traveled to the Holy City - Charleston SC for the Wedding of the Century.  We can not be more pleased for Paula and Joel.  They are a great match and we look forward to many years of happiness for them both.  Robbie and Anna Helen were special guest stars on the dance floor at the reception.  We can't thank Bookie and BoPa enough for helping out with the kids.

The holidays were capped off with a Clemson win over Ohio State in the Orange Bowl.

The holiday break was pretty event filled and I would be hard pressed to call it a vacation but it was a great time with family and friends.

Now we get to head back to work in earnest - I think I can - I think I can.

Did We Mention??

That Appa (Aunt Paula) got married!

A wonderful time was had by all, and we are so grateful to welcome Joel to the family. 

Let the journey begin for two wonderful people.

NYE

When I was young, we always celebrated New Years Eve with the Davis family... every year. I now realize how woven into each others fabric friendships like those are.

 

We attended each others weddings.

 

We stop to see each other when within 100 miles. 

 

 We celebrate and congratulate and commiserate with each other on Facebook. 

 

While it isn't drinking full bottles of open bar champagne at Chief Ikes Mambo Room (which was VERY VERY fun), so is hanging out with little cowboys, having some champagne and counting down to a London-time "New Year" with friends who have become an essential part of our DC framily (friendfamily). Happy and safe New Year to your families and framilies.