Thursday, February 4, 2016

ENOUGH!!!!!!!



Last evening somewhere around 10:00 J and his girlfriend arrived home.  J went downstairs to his "bedroom" to pull out clothing for work today.  He and his dear girlfriend are sleeping in the guest room since the flood one week ago.  They are sleeping at OUR house because her bedroom at her mom's house is being repaired after mold was discovered behind the walls. 

Suddenly there is a knock at our bedroom door, waking both me and Dear Hubby. I hear his girlfriend, "Momma, wake up!  J said there is water all over the basement!"  I tore off my CPAP, shoved my feet into Crocs and ran (well not quite running) down two flights of stairs to the basement.  Yup.  Water EVERYWHERE.  J was already gathering his expensive computer equipment off of the floor (too heavy for the glass desktop) and putting it up on anything that will hold it...sofa, bed, pool table, etc.  We go running to the storage room where the sump pump is located and what do we see???

ONE OF THE WORKERS FAILED TO PLUG THE SUMP PUMP IN ALL THE WAY!!!

Soooo...we went from a 14' x 27' water problem to a 37' x 27' disaster of 2-3 inches of standing water and carpet that raises up in waves from the floor six inches ahead of your footsteps.  In some areas you can see water seeping above the baseboards.  There is SO MUCH LOSS.  Most heartbreaking is K's (my future grandson) crib/toddler bed.  We have been busting our behinds moving my sewing stuff downstairs, hoping to have his crib/toddler bed moved into my old sewing room to surprise him when they come for a "sleepover at Grandma's" this weekend.  G's (our son's girlfriend) father stood outside of the store, waiting for it to open, so he could buy it for her the day her son was born.  Because he was a month early and born on the day that was "supposed" to be her baby shower...there was nothing ready for his arrival.  We had had a discussion only a few days earlier of how she was going to buy the pieces to expand it into a single bed for K.  J suggested they buy a new bed and pack the crib/toddler bed away for their next child, but G said it had such sentimental memories attached to it that she wanted K to sleep on it and they could just buy a new crib for the next child if and when they were blessed with a child.  She was showing me the teeth marks where K gnawed at the rail.  And it is destroyed.  I was heartbroken...and I know even though she was trying hard not to show it, so was G.  Her dad suggested that he and J use whatever parts they can salvage (especially the teeth marks) to make something that her son can keep.  I guess that will have to do.

After my initial shock and total emotional breakdown, J has refused to allow me back down into the basement.  Dear Hubby says...consider it a total loss, then you can be surprised by anything they are able to save.  This morning I am just devoid of all emotion.  It is ALL. TOO. MUCH.  I spent most of yesterday afternoon at my folks' house because mom and dad are still in bad shape and I am expecting one or the other to go back into the hospital at any time.  Mom was in the ER on Monday, but they sent her home.  My Aunt and I are spinning our wheels trying to help them as best we can.  And now this.  AND my insurance agency informed me that this is a totally separate claim.  "YOU MEAN I HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER $750 DEDUCTIBLE?"  "You will have to talk to the adjuster about that." I don't have any gold fillings or I would suggest they take those.

So if you don't see me around much, after my stating that 2016 was going to find me blogging more...I'm trying to slowly piece my life back together.  I have to remember, though, that things are just "things" and the people I hold most dear are here to support me as best they can.  In the grand scheme of things...I want nothing more.  

7 comments:

  1. Lin...so sorry for all that has happened to you. I HATE water damage, it can creep into everything. Stay strong and take one day at a time. You have my sympathy for everything you are going through. Things WILL get better! Carrie W. PS you can always relax with a shower in the world's best bathroom!

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    1. Thanks, Carrie! Today we have the water mitigation people here who know what they are doing! I requested them, twice, and was given this other company instead. Now I find out that Allstate is not ALLOWED to tell me who to use! So how did this company end up in my home? Somebody somewhere is pulling strings...and I'm paying the price, literally and figuratively! AND my insurance company told me that the mitigation guy should not have fixed the sump pump...it should have been done by a licensed plumber! I see a long, drawn out battle ahead. Yup, my shower sounds great right about now!

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  2. Disgusting, Lin. Someone owes you some compensation, they caused the second flood ! If you find it hard to deal with the insurers, fight them ! They really , really need to be held accountable and face up to ALL the loss. Don't let them push you around !!!!

    Rinty

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    1. Oh, Rinty...I am so DONE with all of it! The good water mitigation guy said today that the only way the bad company can be described is "crooks". I THINK the insurance company is going to do all they can to settle this claim as amicably with us as is possible, but I bet they will be going after the bad company to repay them every penny they spent on this second claim! Better the insurance company fight for reimbursement than me having to deal with it. On principle I would LOVE to hire a lawyer and make them pay for every tear, point elevation in my blood pressure, and sigh that crossed my lips...but I don't know if I have that amount of fight in me. This year has been the hardest I can remember in a long time. Maybe the best compensation I can get is for it to all be over quickly so I can have some peace in my life.

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  3. I am heart sick for you, Lin....Keep us posted!

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    1. I am slowly recovering. The good water mitigation company came out (the ones I requested from Allstate and didn't get with the first flood!) and removed all of the carpet and padding. They have dried the whole basement out. This weekend my son's future brother-in-law is coming over to help Justin move all of the furniture that is a loss up to the garage so we can have the good water mitigation people come out and pick it all up. There are some things we have to keep an eye on to see if they pit or rust, such as the wrought iron base of our pub table, the legs of the pool table, the legs of the pub chairs and the legs of two desks and the under counter fridge. They had to pull out the base of the cabinets that we use as a dry bar under the stairs. It was the only way they could get the area beneath the steps totally dry. I guess I will have to have a contractor come out and reinstall the cabinets. After all of the destroyed stuff is gone we have to figure out where to put everything else so we can get new carpet. It is a logistical nightmare...

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  4. Sorry to hear about the terrible news. Water damage is probably one of the worst things to have to deal with. The insurance part of the problem is also a complete nightmare. I will be crossing all my fingers and toes that things work out. My wife also sends her love. We will be praying for you and the family.

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