Snowmageddon 2014, Part 2

I just realized that I never specified where Nick was during all of this. He stayed at the office until they officially announced it was closing, around 1, way too late. He considered trying to leave, but when he saw people leave for 3 or 4 hours just to come back to the office, he realized he wasn’t going anywhere. He (along with my mom) was my coach and my angel during all of the craziness!

He ended up hanging out with the other stranded folks in his building, playing poker and such, then slept on the tile floor in his office, with nothing but the clothes on his back. Thankfully, he had a scarf and a coat to help cushion a little bit, but I could not imagine trying to sleep on a cold floor! Once he secured our hotel room, he was going to try and meet us there, but I didn’t even want him to try, there was no point, and I did not want to have to worry about him driving on the ice in the dark.

Okay, so we made it to the hotel. We walked in, and of course there were people (all adults) crashing all over the lobby space. It became clear quickly that food was sparse, but morale seemed a little better than at Z’s school. We went straight to our room and breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Now the goal was to get something good for Z to eat. On the way in we saw a couple of girls holding some pizzas, so I asked where they got them and you would have thought I was trying to rob them the way they acted. They couldn’t have run away from me and Z faster. Oh well! Then we went back down to the lobby and were told that all they had was Italian Wraps. A group of people was sitting at a table with a feast of chicken and all the fixin’s from Full Moon Barbecue, but they were less than generous also looking at us with contempt, even after Z exclaimed over and over again “Mama, I want chicken!”

We finally figured out that a grilled cheese was an option, and we sat at the bar and waited, surrounded by adults, most of whom were ordering adult beverages. Then, more employees from Full Moon arrived with bags of chicken, and I realized this was our opportunity. I asked who I think was the manager, if I could have some chicken for Z, and he was super sweet. He heated it up for him and even brought ketchup, which Z was insisting on having. He also gave us some Full Moon cookies! Things were starting to look up at this point.

To Z, this was like the best adventure already! After we ate, we went back to the room. We brought the ketchup with us, because Z had it in his mind that he was going to have some cheetos with ketchup. Who was I to argue?

After snacking, we got in bed to watch a little TV (and make funny faces).

Z pretty quickly decided he was “hot of this shirt” so I let him take it off, then he decided “these pants are too tight,” so before we knew it he was in his undies running around the hotel room like a wild man!

I happened to have Barbie toothbrushes in my purse that I was getting ready to give out to Z’s class for dental health week. That was a miracle, so we both were able to brush our teeth, and Z thought it was hilarious that we were brushing with Barbie toothbrushes. We each laid in our beds (we had a double), and tried to fall asleep, two hours and a million noises, requests for chapstick, water, air, no air later, Z finally fell asleep snoring like a freight train, but I wasn’t complaining!

We were up pretty bright and early, and Z decided to order some room service.

I’m kidding, of course, but we did manage to get dressed and go downstairs for breakfast buffet(ish).

The faces of a boy with not a worry in the world! Me on the other hand…

So, after talking to Nick, I decided to plan for the worst case scenario which was staying there another night (best case scenario in Z’s mind). I went ahead and booked the room, and decided we were going to go to Walgreen’s, get more supplies, pick up my twin nieces from Odyssey and hunker down again! Again, to have a plan, even though not the most favorable felt good.

We bundled up and headed to Walgreen’s on foot. Almost slipped a couple of times…

We’d almost made it, when Nick, who was when I left him at a standstill on I-20 called and said HE WAS AT THE HOTEL! You could have knocked me over! We still had a little ways to walk in the ice from Walgreen’s to where he was, but thankfully another very nice stranger drove us most of the way, and we were together again!

I could’ve cried, but ain’t nobody got time for that. He’d heard that 280 was clear, so our new plan was to check out of the hotel, pick up the girls, get my car, and GO HOME! Praise the Lord!

We got the girls, pulled into Inverness corners and Nick walked to my car, which was right where I’d left it and fine (another miracle). I let the kids out to play while we were waiting, then Nick called and gave me the go ahead to leave.

As I was approaching where he was, I saw him cross over the median, and I ended up right behind him.

All routes into the neighborhood were bleak, so we had to leave our cars (again) in the entrance and walk. I didn’t really care, because now we were in the homestretch, and I was about to be in my home with my ENTIRE family, that was what I wanted more than anything in the world.

My brother came to the front of the neighborhood and took us home. The road was super sketchy!

But then we finally saw this!

Home! The most beautiful place on earth!

I gave Lu the biggest hug, then the longest bath ever. We took showers and naps, and it was a beautiful thing. While I was content to stay home with my little family for a very long time, Z wanted to go back to the hotel, and now regularly asks if we can live there….

It was such an ordeal and certainly something I will never forget. I saw a lot of kindness and my share of rudeness, but I am going to choose to remember the kindness of the people who picked us up, all the people who were helping navigate traffic, people driving people in their four-wheel drives and ATV’s, sharing food, their homes, and showing love to their fellow man. Every once in a while we get the opportunity to show who we really are as people and this was one of those times.

Snowmageddon 2014, Part 1

I’m behind by a couple of weeks, and I will do a catch up post on those soon, but this post is going to be all about last week (which I am SO GLAD is OVER!).

Let’s start at the beginning: It was March 1993, and out of nowhere a blizzard… too far, okay, my bad. In my defense, that was the last major snow event I remember, and I was a kid, only 10. I hadn’t a care or a worry in the world. Sure, we lost power for days and days, but to me it was a week with no school and sitting by the fire eating Snickers Ice Cream Bars we buried in the snow to keep frozen since our freezer was out. Going through a snow event, especially one as unexpected as this one, as a parent… a whole different ball game.

Tuesday started like any other day. Sure, there was talk of snow, but it was understood that it was happening late in the day and there would be little to no accumulation, no problem. Then, it began, innocent enough, in fact I even joked that my Midwestern in-laws would laugh their butts off that we were even calling that snow.

Then, more fell, and more, and it started looking kindof serious. Around 10:40, I got the text that the daycare was closing at 12. Z was there, Lu was at home with my mom recovering from a stomach bug. Realizing things were getting a little more serious but having a lot of patients scheduled and a couple still here, I took care of some things, grabbed my phone (but left my charger thinking I would be back in an hour at the most) and left about 11.

As I was approaching 280 from the Narrows, I noticed a lot of cars and quickly realized I probably wouldn’t be back in an hour. We made necessary arrangements with the patients, and I started making my way down to get my baby. The road was horrible! People were already spinning off of it, a school bus was off to the side. I had a steep hill to climb, then get right back down, and it was not going to be easy! Thankfully, I made my way up that hill and back down, into Lee Branch, then up toward Brook Highland. That’s where things got really sketchy. I kept thinking, even if I make it down, how in the world am I going to get back? The road going back was solid white and treacherous to say the least! But, I kept my head straight and laser-beam focused on getting to Z! What else was I going to do?!

Sure, I panicked, shed a few tears, but I was thankful for a few many things. My babies and Nick were warm and safe, I was warm, I had a full tank of gas, full charge on my phone (not for long), and I was in a safe car. I checked in with mom and Lu periodically and of course Nick. I even facetimed with mom when the phone lines were jammed, and I was stopped in my car, both of which were happening more and more as the evening progressed.

I just kept staring at the thermometer stuck on 19 and the snow continuously falling and praying for one of them to let up. The snow finally stopped about 4-ish, but that thermometer didn’t budge!

Once I was in the Brook Highland area, I started to realize I wasn’t getting anywhere anytime soon! Everyone would call and say, are you there yet? You’re with Z now, right? NO, NO, NO! I wanted to scream and I did!

After 6 and a half nearly hopeless hours, I reached the point of literal no return and decided I had to leave my car and start walking. I had decided I was going to walk to Z’s school and spend the night there with him. It wasn’t much of a plan, but it was a plan, and It felt great to have a plan. I was close to TJ Maxx at that point. I left my car in the left hand turn lane (on an incline), and walked first to Home Depot to get some warmth, a phone charger, and to go to the bathroom.

I facetimed mom from the bathroom in Home Depot, and saw and heard Lu belly-laughing (at what I’m not sure) and I just broke down. My mom helped me stay strong by reminding me that everyone including me was safe and to get some supplies to help me get to my next stop. I bought gloves, snacks, a phone charger (which the lady in Home Depot was trying to give me for free!) and headed back out. Worried about my car and seeing some movement and emergency vehicles, I walked back up to double check there was nothing I could do. The road was worse, people were attempting to pass one at a time with the help of some civilians, and they confirmed there was not a thing I could do safely. So, I began my ~1 mile journey to the school.

I made my way down to his school, trying to stay away from sliding cars and other hazards. I managed that until I walked across one of the turn ins, which was a hill (they all were) and busted it. Thankfully, not too bad.

I finally made it to Z’s school where everyone was frantic and not so optimistic about spending the night there. I plugged in, and talked to Nick who informed me that miraculously he had gotten us a hotel room right across 280 from Z’s school. All I had been hearing was that ALL hotels were fully booked. I have no idea how he did it.

Z was ready to go, but otherwise had no idea what was going on. We still had a trek to make to get across 280 and to our hotel. We bundled up, and happily took off. Z was complaining about being cold just a few minutes into the walk, so of course I had to hold him. It was slippery as you can imagine, but we made it across 280 and found the kindness of a stranger on the other side. He offered us a ride that took us straight to the entrance of the hotel!

There we were like two refugees walking to a safehouse. Thankful to say the least!

To be continued….

Crazy Weather and Weekend Recaps

Last weekend it was pretty cold even after the polar vortex cold of the week was over. We decided to bundle up (in our pajamas) on Friday and head out anyway, and Lu went straight for the wagon insisting we “walk walk.” By Saturday afternoon, we had done three walks with the wagon. They love it!

Nick and Faris went to the BBVA Compass Bowl, which was Vandy vs. Houston. Talk about Nick’s worlds colliding. They had fun and Vandy won!

Faris is a selfie master!

Then we had some really nice weather this weekend that has me in denial that it’s still Winter. That’s Alabama for you.

We tried to make the most of it, but playing outside on Saturday and taking a family hike on Sunday morning. It was so nice!

We all took long naps and made our usual grocery run. Then settled in to watch the Golden Globes. I so love award season!

12 Things About Lu

1. Her favorite characters are Hello Kitty, a.k.a. “titty” (yes, we’re working on that), Dora, a.k.a. “doh-doh” and Minnie Mouse, a.k.a. Mimy. She also recognizes and likes the princesses, but not specifically. I think Hello Kitty may be the favorite, although she loves Dora too. She has a lot of Hello Kitty things and seems to want them more, like her Hello Kitty blanket or of course her Hello Kitty rain boots.

 

2. She loves the Eric Carle books, particularly the Brown Bear Brown Bear series. Sometimes she just likes to turn the pages and says “no!” when I start reading. She also likes Does the Kangaroo Have a Mother too? and often exclaims “yes!” That is how she learned the word yes, as opposed to “uhhh yeah!” which is what she said for a long time. Now, it’s just “Lu do you want some oranges?” “Yes!”

3. She’s had her first haircut! By me, of course because I couldn’t stand it any longer. I don’t know what it is, but once I get something in my head, it has to be done right then. Even if it didn’t bother me the day before. She has a nice curly little layer of hair that’s about shoulder length, then a long mullet-ish layer that goes about 2/2.5 inches beyond that. The mullet layer had to go, and Lu is not great at sitting still so it was no easy feat! I wish I had taken before and afters, but due to aforementioned hastiness that was not possible.

 

4. She’s really a great eater. She eats so much faster and so much more variety than Z! She actually prefers variety unlike Z who could eat the same exact things day after day (and mostly does). She likes beans, meats, fruits, and pretty much will try anything.

5. She’s talking a lot! She can repeat a lot of the things she hears us say, and has as few phrases she exclaims like “I’m reaby (ready)!” and “I luh you!” She knows how to say all her favorite foods, ah-renches (oranges), tur-ty (turkey), bebbies (berries), Mik! (milk).

6. She can do lots of animal sounds and imitations too, which is hilarious. She waddles like a penguin and claps her arms together for alligators. Definitely something she learned at school, definitely.

7. She gets frightened by things, especially on the tv, and puts her hand over her mouth when she does. It’s all so very dramatic. Incidentally, she does this every time she sees and says “Santa.” He really made an impact.

8. She still sucks her two fingers to get to sleep at night and when she wakes up, she uses them to get herself back to sleep. Z was long done with his thumb by this point. I am so hoping one day soon she’ll just stop too, unlikely.

9. She loves playing with Z, even when he gets rough physical downright mean with her! She just laughs! The other day we caught him pushing her. He pushed her down to the ground, she busted out laughing, then when Z got in trouble (big trouble), she cried for him. Is that like sister abuse?

10. Tantrums, I can’t believe it took me until number 10 to remember the tantrums. This girl can get mad! Most of the time, it’s when we don’t know what she wants, like maybe we put a plate to the right of her and she wanted it in front of her (still just a guess), but buddy when she gets mad, watch out! She slams her plate, if she’s standing, she goes to the floor, touches her head to the ground/cement/grass whatever’s there. The crazy thing about her tantrums is that even when we know what caused it, and we make it right, she stays mad. Sister holds a grudge! Can’t wait ‘til teenage years…

11. She can be very opinionated about what she wears, especially in the shoe department. She REFUSES, and I mean will pry them off her feet, to wear her polka dot puddle jumpers anymore (arguably the cutest little girl shoe ever made). But I’m telling you, she best not underestimate me, because I may let her win some battles, but I will win the war on fashion! I’ve waited a long time to be able to dress my little girl, so she’s just gonna have to suck it up and wear what I want, and occasionally coordinate with me too).

Don’t even get me started on brushing teeth and hair!

12. She gives hugs on demand! I love it, I exploit it! I live for it! (by the way, this is a good before shot of her hair).

She’s spunky and sweet, she fills my heart with joy! I love you little Lulu!!

New Year’s 2014!

We have had a nice break from work and school. We’ve had a lot of great family time, watched movies, caught up on sleep, eaten (a lot!), and celebrated.

New Year’s Eve we had the day off and the kids were in school, so Nick and I went to a 10 a.m. movie, had lunch together, and went shopping. It was super fun!

We picked up the kids and headed straight to Party City to buy some overpriced NYE celebration stuff, then to Publix with the rest of the city to buy our steaks. We went home and started cooking. I really liked how the meal turned out, and our guests, Faris and Margo seemed to enjoy it (especially Faris who passed out about 10 minutes after eating!).

We all ate Black Eye Peas, but I think noone enjoyed them more than Lu!

We donned our celebration hats, cracked open the sparkling cider, turned on New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, and grabbed our horns to ring in the New Year (early).

After we put the kids to bed, we went down to the basement and watched another movie, Zero Dark Thirty. It put Faris and Margo to sleep but Nick and I loved it. We actually made it to midnight with our sparkling cider!

New Year’s Day we were pretty tired and content to lay low. We took down our Christmas decorations, played outside, and took the kids out for a walk/ride in the wagon. We were getting just a little bit of cabin fever, so that was  just what we needed!

I made Lasagna, and Z and Nick watched yet another movie (Jim Henson’s Dark Crystal). We put the kids to bed and watched Jobs. I told you we watched a lot of movies! It’s been awesome! We wait pretty much all year for this uninterrupted family time. I really can’t believe it’s over, but I am happy to get back to our normal routine.