Life as a Yowler

We managed to make it through the ice storm without losing power. I know the reason….we have a generator. Around 1.5 years ago we lost electricity about 30 times. It was becoming a weekly thing. Our basement will fill up with water in 30 minutes tops, when the sump pump turns off during a power outage. We live on a sand pit, so we don’t have very much time before the basement floods. We knew we needed to buy a generator. Since buying it, we haven’t lost power one time. I take that back, we did lose one time and I blogged about that awhile back.

Brandon ended up trading his old tractor in. The second he left with the old tractor to go to the dealership(to trade in), is the second we lost power. We have a generator that hooks up to the tractor. So of course our basement flooded. It was wonderful. Like I said, that is the one and only time since owning the generator that we have lost power. Which trust me, I’m very thankful, I just think it’s funny.

This last week we did some preparations for this ice storm. We got a battery backup installed on the sump pump, which would buy us more time to get the generator hooked up. Brandon had a business trip and he was scheduled to fly out Sunday night(right during the worst of the storm). He was showing me how to hook everything up when we lost power. We were pretty much planning on losing. Southwest doesn’t fly out of flint anymore, so he had to go all the way to Detroit. He has to do this every time he flies. I knew he was going to be really far away, and I was a nervous wreck but trying to not show it. He showed me how to run the generator. I needed to drive the tractor around the house, lift the generator, turn it on, plug it in, and turn off the master power. All in the right order of course. I knew I probably wouldn’t remember but I’m like “ugh Hugh. Yep, got it!” I was praying hard we wouldn’t lose power.

Brandon said the drive to the airport was awful. I was watching the power outage map, and people all around us had already lost. Literally people one mile away were without. I knew it was coming. Our lights started flickering. I  panicked and yelled at the kids “we’re going to lose power we have to hurry up and get ready for bed”(I had everyone in the tub and we were right in the middle of washing and brushing teeth). The kids all start crying and were anxious messes. Great parenting, Carla. They were all crying and missing dad and worried about him flying during a storm. I was crying feeling guilty for yelling and also worried about Brandon. Isla was the only chill one because she was eating ice cream for dinner in the kitchen. By the way, side note here. That girl is really starting to communicate. She was screaming and refusing every single food I tried to give her. Finally I asked in defeat “Isla, what in the world do you want?” She pointed to the freezer and very clearly goes “want ice cream.” I was so proud of her for communicating I just gave it to her. Again, wonderful parenting on my part.

After all the craziness and stress of the unknown, I got a call from Brandon that his flight got canceled. He was on the way home. I had literally never been so happy to hear he was coming home. Maybe during the very early months of marriage I would have been just as happy. But in this stage we are at right now, I had never been happier. The kids were so relieved. Joah wrote Brandon a note that said “dad, thank you for coming back. Mom has no idea what to do.” All the kids were able to go to bed peacefully knowing that dad would be home soon and dad was capable. I mean, come on, it’s like no one has faith in me and my abilities.  Brandon said “it’s not that you’re not capable, but I knew you weren’t following.” There were like a million steps ok? I have to think that in an emergency, I would have been able. I think I probably would have. Also, my dad was on call. My family lost power at their house and the shop though, so I knew he was swamped taking care of those things.

We never did lose electricity. Like I said before, it’s because we have a generator. I feel awful for everyone around us who did. And I really feel awful for all the line workers. What a dangerous and demanding job. I am reminded once again how blessed I am. I really do have a very luxurious life. The life of the Amish or conservative Mennonite  is just not for me. I’ll leave that to my grandparents.

Here is a quick recap of our weekend.

We got some outdoor time because I knew we would be stuck inside during this storm.

Tomatoes anyone?

One of my favorite souvenirs we’ve ever gotten, are these stackable blocks of a sequoia tree. It gets so much use and is a favorite.

We ran to Tractor Supply twice while Brandon was hooking the generator up to the tractor.

All dressed up for church Sunday morning.

I know this is an awful picture, but this is way too ridiculous not to include. This is from installing a car seat. No joke. After I picked Isla up from my friend’s house, my arm got stuck while buckling her seat back in. I mean these things should come with a warning for all parents.