I know the only reason you check blogs is for the pictures and if you don't see any, you skip on...but I figured I'd sit and blabber about life since the fire...so if you are brave enough to continue knowing full-well that there will be no pictures, read on :)
So, two weeks ago tomorrow, we were alerted via text that we should "call ASAP, your house is on fire!" so we rushed back to SLC from Provo. Upon arriving, the fire chief told us that we'd have to find somewhere else to stay for a few days. A few days?! Ha! More like a few weeks!!! (I'm currently writing this from the hotel room, hence the lack of pictures...)
The fire began on our neighbors back porch. She smokes, and according to the fire detectives, thats what started it all. Her porch was loaded down with bags of clothes, rugs, a chair, a microwave and other random items. Needless to say, her smoldering cigarette butt had plenty of fuel, and a fire began. Smoke was smelt at LEAST as early as 5 PM, but the flames didn't start until almost 8. According to the fire chief, they believed that they would lose the entire structure, due to the heat and size of the flames. A power line was melted into and burned down, the kitchen upstairs was charred really well, and the flames burned right through the roof over her bathroom. We arrived home at 9ish to discover that our apartment was not damaged past smoke damage.
Its lame because we are still in the hotel, but we're waiting for the electricity and gas to be fixed and turned back on so we can go home. Its frustrating because I want to get Mara home and settled before the baby comes and rocks her world, but I really can't complain- we've been very lucky, and very blessed.
Here are some "we were really blessed" moments we have reviewed over the last few weeks:
1. We were together and unharmed. Blessing in and of itself.
2. Our belongings only had smoke damage, and the neighbors were willing to take our meat and cheese so we wouldn't lose too much food.
3. We had renters insurance, so we didn't have to worry about a huge financial burden. Everything has been cleaned and its all waiting in our apartment in boxes. (Though I wish I didn't have to "move in" again, its better than having a stinky place!)
4. We had left at 5:30AM so we had Mara's pillow, blanket, Mr. Hooters (her safety blanket), some stuffed animals, and her PJ's. She's been confused by the hotel hopping, but at least her bed feels familiar.
5. We had planned on going to Seven Peaks in Provo, so we had our swim stuff...thus we can all play in the pool at the hotel, without going out to buy swimming gear.
6. Speaking of the hotel- its bigger than our apartment! The insurance recommended that we get one with a kitchen to cut down on eating out expences...and then they gave us a free upgrade from the 1 room suite to the 2 room suite!!
7. The 2 room suite- yea its got a laundry room...and Ian and I officially have a dryer for the first time in our marriage. Too bad its only temporary.
8. Also, Mara likes the 2 bedroom more than the cheapo rooms we stayed in at first. The suites were not available on the first wednesday, so the first two nights and the fifth night, we were in a double queen, single room. She actually sleeps better in her own ROOM than in her own BED in the same room.
9. We did NOT have extra changes of clothes, so I got to go shopping for maternity clothes. I needed some anyway, but this gave me a good reason to do it :) And they were very affordable- thank you sales at Old Navy!
10. Also, the Red Cross took care of us for the first two nights until we could get things sorted out with the insurance. That was a huge blessing, and everyone should give some of their money to them after giving some to the Church, because now I know first-hand what happens to that money.
11. Back to the fire- there was a car parked right next to the balcony, and our propane (along with our grill) were sitting DIRECTLY under the porch. Luckily neither source of fuel exploded.
12. A "good samaritan" as we have called him, saw the smoke from his house further up the hill, and came down to check it all out. He called 911 and got the fire trucks there really fast, and even got inside to make sure no one was in the apartment. He came out choking, but luckily he was also ok. If he hadn't sounded the alarm as soon as he did...again, the results would be bad.
13. I actually have AC and a pool for the last bit of my pregnancy! Thats my favorite part :) I'll be 36 weeks on Tuesday, so its been nice for the last few weeks. And Ian says I'll go into labor when we get back, just because of the shock of the heat...I guess its ok we won't be back in until next week!
14. And the best, most awesome and fantastic thing about all of this? I get waffles with strawberries and whipped cream...Every Single Morning!! :)
I know its a long list, but we really have been blessed through it all. This post is more for me and my posterity than it is for anyone else. I just don't want to forget all the feelings from when I was in the middle of it all.
For Memorial day, we honored the many who died serving our country by going to the park and grilling hot dogs. Levi didn't care much, but Mara thought it was pretty awesome.
