Hoping the Storm is Over...

Some of you know our recent story, but some of you have not heard what has been going on in our home. We were one of the crazy ones who decided to wait out the storm. We had all the emergency supplies we thought we would need and decided to hunker down in the family room on the main floor and wait out IKE. It was a long, scary, dark night with strong loud winds and heavy rain. The front of the hurricane hit around 1:00 am. We slept off and on for a couple of hours however the sleep conditions were not the best. I could hear pieces of tree hitting our windows. Sleeping was a thing of the past once a large 70 foot tree from the other side of our fence came crashing down on our home at 4:00 am. It was terrifying and heart-wrenching. We continued to listen to the radio in the dark waiting for advice from the city. It seemed like hours before dawn began to break and it was surreal. The tail end of the hurricane left devastation to our beautiful city. Homes had trees on them, through them, and in them. Yards were flooded and left with debris. There was no power, for days we heard nothing but sirens and chainsaws. Only hours after Ike past, we had a knock at our door and there were 15 ward members. They helped cut down one of the two trees pressed against our home and began the demolition of my sweet baby nursery. The tree had punctured the roof through the ceiling and into her room. They ripped out sheet rock, insulation, and carpet. They then formed a funnel system to catch the still heavy rain fall. We spent that first afternoon together with friends and neighbors trying to provide comfort for one another. Cell phone use was hit and miss and we shortly found out that our neighborhoods phone lines still worked as long and you used an old phone (not cordless). I found one in an emergency box and had instant contact with our family in Utah. We also found out we were the only one that had a working phone line for miles and miles. Our home became very busy since that good news traveled fast. We had people we had never met using our land line. It 's amazing how a catastrophe can bring a community together!
The nights were long and hot following Ike. Food became scarce and water was questionable. After three days and all the food in the freezer and fridge had spoiled, we decided to get out of town. We were one of the few that had the gas to do so. Most people were stranded since gas stations had run out of fuel two days before the storm. The airport closest to us was closed so we packed a few bags and drove to Austin. We spent the night at my hubby's cousins home and then the girls and I flew to Las Vegas. Daddy stayed to protect the home and help with church projects. It was awful leaving him in those conditions. We were without power for two full weeks. He was left hot, hungry, and extremely lonely. He kept reminding me that we could not stay. He said it was unbearable.
We arrived home15 days after IKE and we are still in shock from the damage. Mother nature displayed its unforgiving power on Texas. We still had a hole on our roof and contractors were booked out for months. It felt as though things could not get any worse, but the storm was not over at the Richards home...
We arrived home Wednesday evening from Las Vegas and things felt like they were getting somewhat back to normal. I decided to get out our Halloween decorations on Monday. Christian was at work and I decided to make a nice family dinner. I watched Take Home Chef on TLC and saw a fabulous recipe for orange chicken and fried rice. It looked easy enough so I called and asked C to grab a few things on his way home. I started the rice, chopped some veggies and called again to ask if he was on his way. I then started the oil. The girls kept playing by the stove to I became distracted with keeping them out of the kitchen. When I returned I heard a swoosh sound and felt heat. The oil was in flames. I quickly turned off the burner, but the flames became so high so fast that it was melting the microwave. I grabbed the girls and opened the back door and told them to stay outside because there was a fire in the kitchen. After only a few seconds outside I returned to the kitchen with the microwave no longer there. I grabbed some baking soda and sprinkled some in the pot and the fire did not seem to budge. I had a very naive/amateur cook reaction and tried to move it to the sink which is in our island. DO NOT EVER MOVE BURNING OIL!!! The flames began to jump at me and I moved back and some splashed on our hard wood floors. I then heard screams behind me and realized the girls had come back into the kitchen. K bugs was screaming, "your hand". I then realized my right had was in flames. I luckily still had the oven mit on and threw it on our granite, grabbed both girls and ran outside screaming FIRE! Someone from the park came running over and I ran back inside to get my phone. My cabinets above the stove were now in flames. The fire department was there in record time, since the station is only a couple of miles away. The entire neighborhood was in my yard. I was horrified. The damage was contained to the kitchen, thank goodness, but the damage from the smoke and melted plastic microwave was horrendous. We were told to take nothing and find somewhere to stay for a while. The insurance company was unable to put us up in a hotel since all were full for 50 miles from IKE.
Our sweet friends down the road took us in, yet somehow the storm shockingly continued. The next morning we awoke to a typical rain storm. This was the first rain since the hurricane so C decided to run home to check on things. He left around 6:30 am. I got up and sent Ky off to school with her friend we are staying with. Moments after they left I heard someone come in the garage door of our friends. It was my husband. He was fire truck red. He looked at me and said, "I think something bit me". I instantly rummaged through my friends cupboards searching for Benadryl. I found nothing and made him lay down. I jumped in the car and drove to another friends up the street. I ran back with only children's Benadryl. Our other friend followed me in with an Epinephrine shot. In those few minutes that I was gone, he had the worst case of hives I have ever seen. It looked like blisters covered his body. His ears were so swollen he could no longer hear what we were saying. I called my mom in a panic and she said to take him to the hospital, but not to give him the Epi shot unless he stopped breathing. I decided I was not in the right state of mind to stab my husband in a moving vehicle. We rushed him to the car and drove to our trusted fire station. We walked in, and one of the firemen from the day before, told him to get in the ambulance. His blood pressure immediately dropped and so did his oxygen level. It took about twenty minutes to stabilize him. They treated him in the ER for an allergic reaction and overloaded him with more Benadryl. Our prayers were answered and he was released later that evening with another bad memory!
It is now Sunday evening and we are packing up and returning home. No, we do not have clothes to wear, a kitchen to cook in, or any electronics, but we have each other. My family is alive and well and even though we hope this crazy storm in our lives is now over, we know now that we truly can get through anything as a family. Thanks you all for your love support and prayers! We love you all and we will keep you updated on the restoration project!!!

The Richards Family
(Richards Reality continued...)

4TH OF JULY!!!

WE SPENT THE FOURTH OF JULY AT A LOCAL CENTER CALLED MARKET STREET! WE HAD PLANNED TO GET THERE EARLY FOR A GOOD SPOT, BUT WE GOT THERE EARLIER THAN PLANNED BECAUSE OUR GIRLS FOR SOME REASON BOTH WOKE UP AROUND 5:00 AM. SO INSTEAD OF PUTTING THEM BACK TO BED, WE GOT UP, DRESSED, GRABBED SOME FOOD AND HAD THE BEST SPOT IN TOWN! WE ALL NAPPED WELL!!!

HANGING OUT WAITING FOR THE PARADE TO START!
MY HUBBY AND I RECENTLY WATCHED THE HBO FILM SERIES "JOHN ADAMS" AND I LEARNED A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL HOLIDAY, SO I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE IT WITH YOU! A FEW DID YOU KNOWS?........

1- DID YOU KNOW THAT THOMAS JEFFERSON AND JOHN ADAMS DID NOT ALWAYS GET ALONG?

2- DID YOU KNOW THAT ABIGAIL ADAMS LEFT HER CHILDREN IN AMERICA FOR YEARS AND JOINED HER HUSBAND IN FRANCE BECAUSE HE "NEEDED HER SUPPORT"?

3- DID YOU KNOW THAT BENJAMIN FRANKLIN CHANGED ONE WORD IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE?

4-DID YOU KNOW THAT JOHN ADAMS WAS THE SECOND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND LIVED IN AN UNFINISHED WHITE HOUSE DURING HIS LAST TERM?

5-DID YOU KNOW THAT HIS SON WAS THE 4TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?

6- DID YOU KNOW THAT JOHN ADAMS, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, AND THOMAS JEFFERSON WOULD HAVE BEEN HANGED BY THE KING IF THEY HAD BEEN CAUGHT WRITING A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, BUT THEY DID IT ANYWAY?

7-DID YOU KNOW THAT THOMAS JEFFERSON AND JOHN ADAMS WERE THE LAST TWO TO DIE THAT WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR FREE COUNTRY? THE DIED THE SAME DAY-- JULY 4TH, THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR COUNTRY'S BIRTH?

I COULD GO ALL DAY WITH THINGS I LEARNED ABOUT THIS GREAT NATION, BUT MY BABY JUST WOKE FROM HER NAP! THIS SERIES WAS LONG AND DETAILED, BUT I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! PUT THE KIDS DOWN, TURN ON THE SUBTITLES (BECAUSE IT CAN BE HARD TO UNDERSTAND) AND LEARN!!!

THANKS TO THESE WONDERFUL MEN AND WOMEN, WE ARE FREE!!!

SUMMER FUN!!!

THERE WERE SOME DAYS THAT WE JUST "BUMMED" AROUND!
THERE WERE A FEW GOOD FIGHTS!
SOME DELICIOUS TEA PARTIES!
SOME SILLY MOMENTS!
AND SOME DORA MOMENTS!

SUMMER FUN!!!

WE DID SO MANY FUN THINGS THIS SUMMER! IT WAS A LOT OF FUN, BUT IT WIPED US OUT!!! WE STARTED OUT THE SUMMER AT HOME SPENDING MOST DAYS AT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD POOLS. KY-BUGS SPENT THE FIRST PART VERY SICK FROM REOCCURRING BLADDER INFECTIONS. OUR BABY WAS JUST SO HAPPY TO BE WHERE EVER WE TOOK HER! WE HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT SUMMER TOO! ENJOY THE PICTURES!

ALREADY TIRED AND IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING!
HAVING FUN AT THE POOL! THAT WAS UNTIL I DISCOVERED ANOTHER FEVER HAD SPIKED! 104.6!!!
OUR DOCTORS OFFICE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING, SO WE HAD TO TAKE KY TO THE ER! SHE HAD A SEVERE BLADDER INFECTION WHICH HAD BEEN REOCCURRING SINCE WE MOVED HERE. SHE HAD TO HAVE A CT SCAN AND ULTRASOUND TO MAKE SURE THESE INFECTIONS HAD NOT PERMANENTLY DAMAGED HER KIDNEY'S, BUT EVERYTHING WAS FINE! POOR SICK GIRL!
TELLING HER NANA HOW SICK SHE HAS BEEN!
SOME GOOD DRUGS AND SOME CANDY AND SHE IS BACK TO CLOWNING AROUND!

A DAY IN THE LIFE...

TIRED BABY! We go swimming a few days a week and she falls asleep like this often. We try to go before or after nap time, but she still loves to take a rest in her little boat! How sweet is this? Just hanging out together watching morning cartoons!
We knew it was only a matter of time before big sis figured out that she could carry the baby around! They think it's hilarious.
My handsome husband! He will be mad at me for posting this, but he is not in many pictures and I happen to like this one a lot!!!
Trying out our froggy pool from our neighbors! Yes Ky's is wearing her Dora shoes. There might be a spider in the water that she may need to step on. This little girl is too funny.
Out to lunch with the Grandma & Grandpa before Rae's party!
Swimming fun with at our friends home! Somehow I ended up being the only adult in the pool with all the kiddos. We had a great time!
Watching one of the wicked storms we have been having out here. She is fearless! The thunder does not bother her at all, it just makes her more curious. I love that she sits on her feet!
Our smart little bug came out of her toy room with her name spelled out of blocks! She can't wait for school!
First time down our neighborhood water slide with daddy! She, of course, loved it!!!
I may be teaching my girls bad habits! We were out to dinner a few nights ago with our neighbors and Bugsy needed to go "tinkle". When she was finished she wiped, stood up, and flushed the toilet with her foot. SHE'S ONLY 3!!! It gets worse. She then proceeds to grab more toilet paper, walks to the door and opens it with the paper then throws it in the outside trash! No I am do not have OCD, I just think public restrooms are disgusting! I know you all do the same thing so stop making fun of us!!!

BIRHTDAY GIRL!!!

LUNCH OUT WITH THE BIRTHDAY GIRL! 1ST BIRTHDAY'S ARE THE BEST!
SHE DID NOT HESITATE LONG BEFORE STICKING HER HAND IN THE CAKE!
IT WAS GOOD EATIN'! SHE HAD ARMY GREEN NOSE DRAINAGE FOR TWO DAYS AFTER THIS MESS. WELL WORTH IT!
SHE WAS CONFUSED WITH THE WRAPPING PAPER, SO IT WAS A GOOD THING HER BIG SISTER WAS SO WILLING TO HELP HER OPEN PRESENTS. THIS IS THE PRESENT KY BUGS PICKED OUT FOR HER BABY SIS!
WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE CHRIS' PARENTS IN TOWN FOR THE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION! IT WAS SO NICE HAVING SOME EXTRA HANDS TO HELP WHILE MY HUBBY WAS AT SCHOOL. THANKS YOU GUYS! I CANNOT BELIEVE A YEAR HAS PAST. MY SWEET LITTLE BABY IS GROWING EVEN FASTER THAN HER SISTER. SHE WANTS TO PLAY LIKE THE BIG KIDS, EAT LIKE THEM, AND DRESS LIKE THEM. I AM SO BLESSED AND GRATEFUL FOR "MY ANGEL BABY"! THIS YEAR HAS BEEN SO AMAZING. I COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR BETTER GIRLS. ANYONE WHO KNOWS THEM WOULD AGREE THAT THEY ARE INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL. THERE IS NOT A MORNING THAT I WAKE UP AND NOT THINK ABOUT HOW LUCKY I AM TO BE THEIR MOMMY! I KNOW THERE WERE A FEW THINGS I DID PRETTY WELL GROWING UP, BUT I ALWAYS KNEW THAT I WOULD FIND MY REAL TALENT SOMEDAY! I HAVE FOUND IT! I HAVE NEVER FELT SUCH HAPPINESS AND SATISFACTION IN MY LIFE AS I FELT RAISING THESE LITTLE PEOPLE. BEING A PARENT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING THING I HAVE EVER DONE, BUT FOR SURE THE MOST REWARDING!
I LOVE YOU GIRLS!!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

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