yIKEs.

Well, everyone, we made it. After deciding to ride out the storm in Houston because we'd been instructed by local authorities to stay put, and based on the predictions for what we'd face in our area, I felt ok about being there. We ended up going over to some friends' house to spend the night so that I wouldn't be by myself if something went wrong. I've got pretty much a whole wall of large windows and a parking lot that gets standing water in a normal rainstorm so hurricane force winds plus a whole lot of water and me by myself with two babies didn't seem like such a good plan. However, sheltering at our friends' house solved both problems for the most part and didn't require me to drive to College Station, which is an hour and a half drive when the road isn't full of people fleeing imminent catastrophe. At any rate, it was one of the most stressful nights of my life. It sounded like it would if you layed your head next to a freight train as it thundered past. Go figure, though. We took down the boards in the morning and noticed that the air conditioning unit that was just outside the window of the room we were sleeping in had been moved about 2 feet over and knocked on it's side. So, all in all, an intense night. I have a new, healthy respect for nature and will forever more do as much as it takes to make sure we're never in that position again. My parents came up and got us so we could drive back to College Station together, so we're here until the power comes back on at home. They said it could be up to two weeks but there are places fairily close to ours that are starting to come back online, so we'll see. Tonight I'm grateful to be safe, to have a warm bed in a cool house, and that my kids are ok. I seriously feel like all heck has broken loose since Tom left. I hope that we're through the worst of it. I'm exhausted, although that may have more to do with a very intense last couple of days sandwiching one of the most frightening nights of my life. If you ever find yourself in the direct path of a hurricane, get out. You'll be glad you did.