Hurricane Ike Sucks!

[MIbarra]

Well, we survived and our house did us proud. Not a single shingle blew off, no windows broken. The dogs slept through it. The cat a bit un-nerved.

Our rental mobile home did not do well. Bye-bye roof. Bye-bye siding. Hello new skylight and great natural A/C. Our renters - a young couple and 2 darling girls have moved in with us. The girls are excited about new beds and new toys and books. I am worried to see how 4 adults and 2 children and 3 dogs and 1 very nervous kitty are going to get along in a three bedroom/2 bath home. We will see.

I have a urinary tract infection -- fever all day and night. Can't get a hold of the doctor. Maybe they all blew away.      I feel bad and I'm in pain.

But we are all alive and will make it.

I really hope Twirl is okay too. Some people may be without electricity for 2-4 weeks they say! I hope dialysis works itself out for Twirl. I am worried about her. Last hurricane when I evacuated to her area, I only got 2 hours of dialysis in a whole week!

[willieandwinnie]

Thank God MIbarra. What a relief to hear from you. I'm sorry to hear you have a UTI, drink some cranberry juice if you have it. Are your renters permanently going to live with you? That sounds like a bit much for you to deal with. I'm praying hard for twirl, the picture coming out of there are just horrible. If you need something, please let me know and I'll be happy to send it to you. Please take care and keep us posted when you can. 

[kidney4traci]

We have been lucky here too.  We did have about 40 feet of fencing come down and lost about what looks to be about a 8x5 patch of roofing shingles.  Then we had all the bad rains yesterday, so we really got to see the roof damage!  Buckets and towel were very helpful.  Thankfully, we do have power and had enough food and gas that we have been ok.  We have offered friends shelter and by now their own power has come on or a few have decided it is a good time to visit family out of state.

The winds here that night were fierce.  I was amazed at the power of the storm.  Never in my life have I heard such winds, for hours on end.  Thankfully we have a strong brick home.  80 foot trees in our back year swayed like they were doing the hula on high speed.  You never see them even move, and they were almost sideways.  Amazing!!  Going around the neighborhood, we do see power lines that have been snapped like toothpicks.  Huge trees snapped and some into homes.  Lots of roof and fence damage.  Thankfully, Houston is cooler today and God has offered some natural AC for those without power still. 

Hope that gas and grocery stores open today.  Some were open yesterday, but had lines outside wrapped around the building.  They were only letting in several at a time, and had limited supplies.  We are out of milk and eggs and almost out of bread too.

[Rerun]

I wish I could scoop you up and bring you to my house!  May God bless and keep you!

[lola]

Glad your OK

[thegrammalady]

glad to hear from both of you and that you came through ike reasonably well. traci, i wasn't aware that was where you were too and i'm still very worried about twirl. mibarra, your renters may have lost their home, but they are at least all right, the cat will calm down eventually. blessings to one and all.

[Joe Paul]

Good to hear you all are ok 

[monrein]

Glad you're both OK, now we just need to hear from Twirl.

[flip]

Ike roared through here early yesterday with 70 mph winds. The governor has declared it a disaster area. It's hard to believe that a hurricane would still have that much force 800 miles away.

[paris]

Good to see you both post.  Now we need to hear from Twirl.   My sister in Ohio called yesterday when the wind and rains came tearing through there.  Like Flip, they had very high winds and lots of rain.  The clean up in Texas looks overwhelming.    MIbarra, you are a shining example of how we should take care of each other.  Your renters are so fortunate to have you.   

[kidney4traci]

Twirl is in an area that does not have electricity yet I believe.  We have several friends up that way, even in The Woodlands that are out of power.  Gas lines are horrible here, she may be able to get ice and water nearby though as I hear alot of that on the radio.  Just went to the grocery store and they are out of milk, eggs, lettuce, most fruit, only one type of bread available but lots of it, and some chicken.  Hope she is surviving.  Twirl - if you need anything - let me know!!!!

[flip]

We got electricity back on about noon but my yard looks like a was zone. I should have plenty of firewood for winter.

[Mimi]

Ike has caused havoc all the way into Canada.  So gald you are both OK (kidney4traci and MIbarra).  The pictures look like a bomb has been dropped.  My prayers are for Twirl to
be OK.

Mimi

[Sunny]

To all of you hurricane survivors, Glad you made it through safely. I cannot begin to imagine what it must be like for you. I'm sure what I see on T.V. isn't nearly enough to explain what it is like for you. I hope things get cleaned up quickly.MIbarra, get well soon and don't let a UTI go untreated for too long or it can be very painful.

[MIbarra]

Thanks everyone for your kind words and support.

Willie&Winnie, Our renters will be living with us indefinitely. My husband and I are hoping to build a  new house soon on the land where the mobile home was and we're hoping the renters can buy or rent this house. That was our plan before the hurricane. Now it looks like we may have to speed up the plan if possible.

Kidney4Traci, I didn't know you lived in the area. So glad to hear your okay. We still do not have power, but my husband bought a HUGE generator and it powers most things in the house, even the AC so if you get too hot, you can always drive down here and spend the afternoon! We're close to Galveston.

Flip, Paris, Mimi - I can't believe the hurricane still had so much force left after it came through Texas! That is just amazing!

Twirl, still hoping you're okay and we hear from you soon! I hope you're not melting in this heat.

[willieandwinnie]

I have been so worried about twirl I hunted through newspapers and found these. I sure pray she's alright. 

[kidney4traci]

Thanks for the support guys, it has been an interesting week.

MI - I live in Houston near Cypress.  I don't get down your way much, but for when I go to UTMB for follow ups.  I am listed there and at Methodist Med Center.  Where did you get your transplant?  Would love to meet someday... can relate to your teaching, I have a son who is in third grade now.  Been on dialysis for almost 4 years, would LOVE to get a new kidney!!

Still haven;t heard from Twirl,
I pm'd her.

Sorry to hear Ike is still causing problems!!!  Go away, enough already!!

[monrein]

Scary shots there.  I sure hope Twirl and her family are OK.

[del]

WOW!!!  Looks like a lot of devastation in those pics!!!  Glad you're ok MI. Hope we soon hear from Twirl soon but if she doesn't have power it could be a while.  Hope she is getting dialysis!!

[aharris2]

We called Twirl's cellphone Sunday and got her husband. He was away from home (getting food I think). I only spoke to him briefly so as not to drain his battery, but he said they were okay and to try again in several hours for Twirl. We then went to the movies(!) and afterwards found a message from Mr. Twirl saying that cellphone service had become very intermittent... We haven't successfully made contact since.

[kimcanada]

 MIbarra

I am SO happy to have heard from you... I was glued to CNN worring about my Texas friends... you are an amazing person to help your renters.

Kim

[flip]

I have never seen sustained winds that strong. I've been through tornadoes with much stronger winds, but they only lasted a few seconds. This one lasted several hours.

[willieandwinnie]

We called Twirl's cellphone Sunday and got her husband. He was away from home (getting food I think). I only spoke to him briefly so as not to drain his battery, but he said they were okay and to try again in several hours for Twirl. We then went to the movies(!) and afterwards found a message from Mr. Twirl saying that cellphone service had become very intermittent... We haven't successfully made contact since.

Thank you aharris.  I was somewhat relieved when I read this. I'm still concerned about her treatments. I'll continue to say my prayers. 

[thegrammalady]

We called Twirl's cellphone Sunday and got her husband. He was away from home (getting food I think). I only spoke to him briefly so as not to drain his battery, but he said they were okay and to try again in several hours for Twirl. We then went to the movies(!) and afterwards found a message from Mr. Twirl saying that cellphone service had become very intermittent... We haven't successfully made contact since.

thank goodness. at least we know they made it through.

[aharris2]

I'm still concerned about her treatments. I'll continue to say my prayers. 

We are too. The making it through is one thing, It's the dealing with the aftermath that's really tough.