Flood part duex

History most definitely repeating itself.

6 years ago, as we waited to bring David and Emma home from Vietnam, we had a pipe leak in the bathroom.  The kids' brand new carpet was soaked.  Luckily we got to the leak quickly enough and the carpet was saved.

Fast forward 6  years, and I'm once again waiting to bring home a child.  This time David managed to clog the toilet in the JUST remodeled bathroom causing 4 rooms to flood.  This was painful on so many levels.  i had been tackling the giant mound of piled up items in the kitchen and dining room. The remodeling project had taken way too long with too many problems.  I was desperate to get all these things finally put away, sorted, organized.  ahhh words i live by.  Now nearly complete and seeing a future clear of chaos, the flood happens.  carpets soaked beyond ruin.  rugs destroyed.  chaos chaos chaos.  words that hurt!

This time we got the insurance company involved, which turned out to be a really good idea.  they are paying for a brand new carpet and will have all the (brand new) baseboards replaced.  So while i stare with hatred and the newly tripled pile of crap stacked up in my kitchen i think... i can not take this!  i had a complete emotional breakdown.  my body ached.  my heart ached.  i really felt like i had hit a wall (i get what that means now!!!)  i collapsed in a puddle of misery, sorrow, anger, depression, exhaustion and self pity.  I did NOT need this!

Luckily Jeff had the great idea to get out of the house and check into a hotel.  The kids had slept on the floor the first night and of course, neither slept (it was like camping to them) and 2 exhausted kids and parents struggled throughout the day.  so when Jeff suggested that we get out of the house and stay in a hotel, i lifted my pitiful, exhausted head just enough to say.  Yes, Please.

What a difference not being home makes!  Freedom!!!  I could relax a bit.  and then, of all the miraculous surprises... late last night, at dinner, Jeff checks his messages and tells me we got an update on Dylan. and there are PICTURES.  i couldn't rip the phone out of his hand fast enough.  not only pictures but our first ever picture of Dylan smiling!  (what a goofy crooked smile you have!!)  ohhhh  i could just feel the 80 pounds of anxiety armor sliding off.  she was smiling AND she was wearing the headband we sent her.  AND she was holding our  (HER) family photo album.  Oh good god, this couldn't have come at a better time.  this couldn't have been wished for and received at a more critical moment!   Suddenly all the ick that had been building up around me seemed so much more manageable.  Just take care of one small thing at a time.  just one small box put away.  one load of dishes.  just one thing at at time.... i could do this!

Never mind that i was stressed beyond all understanding.  Never mind that i was hoping and praying to travel in LESS THAN 3 WEEKS, and still had no Travel Approval, no tickets, no hotel reservations, hadn't packed one single item yet.  I saw my baby girl smile for the first time.  That's all i needed.  I'm going to get through this.  and to be all 80's nostalgic:   I WILL SURVIVE.   Hey don't judge me, i had to go there!  let me have one goofy moment!