My Crazy Past Couple of Days ...

Tuesday, August 1, 2006

I just got a job as Volunteer Services Coordinator for the Provo City Parks department. I had to go finish up my pre-employment paperwork and get my drug test. After the drug test, I stopped by Lee's office to say hi, then I was going to go into work to look around and get a "feel" for everything. On my way to the freeway,

I notice the BLACK sky

and the terrible lightning coming in through the west.

The Super Cell storm coming in over Provo August 1, 2006

I decide I better go check on the kids. I'm almost home and it's raining a little so I try to hurry. I'm driving west on 70 S. almost to the fire station when I see-- literally-- a curtain of water coming towards me. (I'm serious! There was this line in the street with one side little sprinkles and the other side total down-pour!!!) So, I drive through the "curtain" and I can't see a thing! I slowly turn the corner to my street and I notice the first telephone pole leaning on a fence. I'm freaking out but I keep going because I just want to get home. I can't see a thing but keep going because I'm just about 3 houses away and then I see the next telephone pole snap in half right before my eyes and fall into a driveway between two houses!

Yes, Snap!

Notice the third pole. That's the one I saw break in half!

I'm just glad it fell the way it did and not on top of me! Then I was really freaking out! I drive a little ways more to my driveway and go to drive in not realizing what would be in front of me--power lines! The telephone pole by my house was leaning on the fence by the dirt road right next to my house! The lines were hanging about 4 feet from the ground so I couldn't drive into my driveway. My house is on a flag lot meaning I have to drive down a long driveway to get to it. But I couldn't get back there. I started to back out away from the lines but I couldn't see a thing so I just stopped the car halfway in the street hoping I wouldn't get hit. I'm sitting there praying that my kids are okay and that I'm not going to be blown into the power lines and die! (I had an uncle who was killed by a downed power line and thoughts of that came to mind.) But I just had a bumpy ride in the 90 mph winds!

(They are calling the storm a "Super Cell".)

I will never complain about my ugly van again!

It's a sturdy little boogger!

I stayed like that until I could see better then I parked by the curb and waited the remainder of the storm out. Once the major part of the storm passed, I start seeing my kids, one by one, coming out of the house (Scott was filming the aftermath with his camera!) and I'm yelling at them to get back in! The storm passed and I'm trying to figure out what to do. So, being the brilliant person that I am, I get out of my van contemplating whether or not to pass under the power lines! I'm pacing back and forth in water half-way to my knees about 5 feet away from the lines when a fire truck drives up and yells at me to get out of the water! Then I realize how stupid I am! (hello!) I got back in the van and yelled to the kids to stay inside one more time and I parked on the other side of the street and got out. All I could think about is getting to my kids. So I thought I'd try to go around the block and climb the fence to my house. Well, both ends of my street are blocked off. I could only try to be patient and wait. I was so scared! Finally a Provo City Power guy tells me they'll let me out by the fire station so I finally got around the block. When I got there, the kids were being evacuated by the fire department. They had two ladders going over the chain link fence.

I just couldn't help but cry when I saw my kids!

They looked terrified! I am so thankful no one was hurt!

Lee soon got there and told me to take the kids to my inlaws' house in Pleasant Grove. I thought we should stay and help our neighborhood clean up but he thought it would be safer to get the little kids away from all the destruction which was probably right. Then, Elisabeth comes walking up with the girl she babysits so then I was relieved...

my whole family was safe!

After a drive around the neighborhood to see the big mess, we headed to Pleasant Grove.

Later that evening, Lee and I came back and snuck under the fence to the house so we could get clothes and stuff for the next few days.

SCARIEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!!

My Street with all the telephone poles down!

Wednesday, August 2, 2006

I'm so grateful my inlaws were willing to take in all 8 of us but I'm going crazy! Feelings of guilt flood my mind. I want to be back in Provo helping but Lee and my mother in law tell me not to go because the kids needed me. I'm sorry to any of my neighbors who may read this! I really wanted to be there for you to help!!! But at the same time, I also just wanted to be home holding my family close! (conflicting feelings...I told you I was going crazy!)

Tuesday was a horrible, scary day and very tramatic for our family!

(no exaggeration! We were all really Really scared!)

Thursday, August 3, 2006

I have to start my new job at 6:00 a.m. (I can't remember the last time I was up and going at this time of day!) I just want to be home with my family still but... I have to go. With the disaster, I knew it was going to be crazy and it was. It was crazy but also cool. I'm not in charge of the volunteer efforts for the disaster (thank heavens!) but I get to help with it so now I'm not feeling so guilty! I went to meetings all morning with the United Way and Provo City officals. I have to say, it's pretty cool being a small part of it. Provo City is awesome! Everyone is just so genuinely concerned for the safety and well being of the citizens of Provo. It was more than just "doing their jobs". I'm excited to be working for a service-oriented organization and not one that gets the boss rich! I think I'm going to really like my job. After 9 1/2 hours of work, I came home exhausted! Then about 7:30, we get a call from Jake's boss (we took him up to work at the scout camp Wednesday afternoon against my will!)

Jake was hurt and they were taking him to the hospital.

The Hospital!?!

They didn't give us any details just that he hit his head and we'll meet them there! Trying not to panic, we drive from Pleasant Grove to Utah Valley Regional to find Jake laying there with blood all over and his arm in a make-shift sling. He was on a hike and going down a steep hill. He stepped on some rocks and they slid out from under him and he lost his footing and fell on his shoulder then flipped over and slide down about 30 feet until he grabbed onto a branch! He hit his head and had nasty scrapes and scratches all over. Well, the x-rays confirmed...

his collar bone was broken!

Jake's Actual X-ray

OOOOOOOUCH!!!!

He also had to get 4 stitches on the back of his head but thank heavens-- no head injury! Now, it looks like he was in a motorcycle crash with all his scrapes all over and his arm is in a sling! He has to take it easy until we find out more on Monday at the Orthopedic Surgeon's. He looks terrible but he's going to be okay eventually. Another scary day!!!!

I'm beginning to think, "I can't handle this".

Friday, August 4, 2006

We are allowed back home offically (well, we actually could have come home Thursday evening but we decided to wait till the morning because we were exhausted!) Anyways...

We're finally home!!!

I don't think I'll complain about my little house again! I'm so thankful to be home and that we didn't have any damage! (Our metal dryer vent thing on the outside of the house got blown off but that's it! We were so blessed!)

Jake is doing better today. He's really sore and in pain but he's been able to last longer without pain medicine. I hope that means that he's feeling a little better. It still hurts like heck though I'm sure!

I'm just glad these past few days are over!

***

This summer has just been way too exciting for my taste! I don't know...First, a close encounter with a bear (read this ), a natural disaster leaving us homeless, and Jake's accident...this is a summer

I don't ever want to go through again!!!

EVER .