Thursday, October 15, 2009

The Flood


Tuesday morning I was running late in my morning routine. I was in the shower 15 minutes later than I should have been in order to get the oldest 2 ready for school, kylies lunch packed, homework checked, breakfast, hair done, and the like, for the kids to be on time for school. I was mentally going through what I could do to shortcut the amount of time usually needed in order for the kids not to be tardy. Then Ty rushes in yelling "I didnt do it, but there is lots of water coming out of the fridge!" Thinking he just let a cup overfill when getting a drink, I told him to go grab a dishtowel and clean it up. He replies, "but we are gonna die if you dont make it stop soon!" Confused, I asked him what he meant. He told me I needed to come see what was going on, and reminded me that he didnt do it. So I jump out of the shower, wrap myself in a towel thinking I really dont have time for this, and went downstairs only to find the entire kitchen floor covered in a lake of water. And indeed it was coming from the fridge. Knowing full well there was no way I could push the fridge out to look behind it to find the source of this flood, I called Daniel, but wasnt too optimistic that he would answer cuz he was in a meeting at that time. Shockingly he did answer and i quickly told him what was going on, and he calmly tells me to go shut the water off. Ummm yeah, I really dont know anything about plumbing and dont know how to do such a simple sounding task. He tells me there is a valve in the garage, and he needs to go.
Wanting to cuss him out for leaving me alone to deal with this catastrophe-(in my mind it very much was, as I was running around in a towel and had more than enough water to fill up 3 bath tubs covering every inch of the floor but no idea how to stop the flowing water, let alone clean it up and we were already running late) I headed into the garage but had no idea what kind of a valve I was looking for. But I looked. Just didnt know for what exactly. I figured I needed to get dressed cuz I was very indecent and then sent a lovely little text to my dearest darling Daniel saying he was gonna be facing the wrath of Kimmy if he let me try to deal with this on my own just cuz he was in a meeting, one that I am sure was important but not more important than my need right then. Being the knight in shining business attire he is, and not wanting the wrath of Kimmy to worry about, he left his meeting, called me, told me where another valve was and how to turn it off, and then rushed home to help me. So I turned the water off, rushed through the needed preparations for the kids for school, and loaded them up. Shockingly they werent late. Of course that might have to do with the fact they had frozen eggos waffles with a side of nothing else for breakfast, nor did their homework get checked, and both ky and ty had really bad hair that day, but at least they were there on time.
Then the 2 youngest and I drove home. Daniel had moved the fridge out, and turned off the water source to the fridge, but then he had to get back to work. So then I had to figure out how to soak up gallons and gallons and gallons of water. Unfortunately the only way I could think of doing so was to occupy every single towel we own. And it still didnt soak up all the water. So I changed my clothes as mine were soaking wet, loaded the boys up and went to buy more towels. Finally-(2 and a half hours later)a dozen new towels, all of our beach towels, all of of rag towels, all of our fancy towels, all of our bath towels, every wash cloth, burp cloth and any sort of cloth that can absorb water was piled in the downstairs shower awaiting its turn in the 5 batches of "just towels" laundry.
The silver lining? I had a really clean floor for a few hours!

12 comments:

Julie said...

Yikes. . . and they were still on time to school?!?? I think I would have let that slide.

Well, if I'm ever in your neighborhood and short on towels. . . at least now I know where to go.

Sorry about your flood!

Megan said...

Bummer! Sorry to hear about that but love that you look for a silver lining!

Beverly said...

Kimmy darling--I have 2 words for you--shop vac. Even renting them would have saved you--time and money. Put that in your memory bank for next time cause there will be a next time. Water is one of the worst. Love you!

TAMMY CLARIDGE said...

Wow! I love the comment about all of ya'll were going to die!! Such a funny story but I know it wasn't funny at the time:)

Deb said...

Oh man I hate it when the day starts off crazy like that. You are a good mom for getting your kids to school. I probably would've "thrown in the towel" (he, he) and declared it a day off from school day.

So did it get your carpet and stuff soaking wet? Because that's what people like Dan Jones (not that he's in your area) are for. Carpet people have fancy fans and other things that will dry out your carpet and walls, etc. Or else it could take forever.

P.S. And don't feel too bad. I wouldn't have know how to turn the water off either.

BlairsTown said...

Wow! I do think it was a matter of life or death. What a way to start a morning. Glad you survived, I probably would of been a little mental by the end, but you found the good in it. Nice job!!

Anonymous said...

Oh boy that sounds like a mess, you have a pretty great attitude about it all though, hope the carpet didn't get wet. Sorry it was such a rough morning.

Kristy said...

Oh man, I hate water damage! We've had our share of those over the years! I'm glad it all worked out well!

Tina said...

So I am trying to think of last week, and the mornings you came to get Riley. How were you having a morning like this, and not letting me know?

Sorry you had such a crazy time! I have to admit I am wondering what you wrote in your lovely little text.....

Kumiko said...

What a disaster.....especially in the busy morning!
If it happens to me I will be in panic. I'm sory about your flood.

Cook Zoo said...

Oh man. And the fact that you answered the cry of help in your towel just adds to the drama. What a day!!!!

Granni P said...

Your flood was way more traumatic than mine. At least I was dressed in pajamas. And I had Tom to turn off the water. I had no idea where or how to do it. It is amazing what little experiences bring to us isn't it?