Oh, what a mess...

I had said earlier that my front yard is gone, I wasn't kidding. I no longer have a front yard. From the curb to the house, all I have is wet clay mud. We lost 2 sections of sidewalk, my tree surround is smushed, my flower beds are destroyed. We don't even have so much as 1 blade of grass left. We're talking rent a bobcat, truck in some dirt, and more grass seed than you have ever seen. Oh, and did I mention, some of our neighbors yard is gone too?

Now - let me say this...Our plumbers were fantastic! They did everything they could. They tried so hard not to damage anything. They worked and dug at the sidewalk and tried to save it but the pipe just wouldn't come loose. Besides, they estimate that we lost hundreds of thousands of gallons of water and a lot of it was in the front yard. When they were digging, they were pulling up buckets of mud and muddy water.

I still have to get a hold of the city to mark or resolve the raised and broken sidewalk. Which they can't do anyway until probably spring - I just don't want someone to trip and lose their teeth! Once the sidewalk is fixed, we will be spending a lot of time putting our yard back together.

**UPDATE** I did contact the city. They are sending a guy out to look at the sidewalk and see what they can do to make people aware. They are going to give or deny us permission to remove 2 trees (I figured, as long as we're all torn up, we might as well get the trees out too!) and they will also work up an estimate to repair our sidewalk. He also said, that since it was our contractor, it's our responsibility. - even the easement. I also have a call in to the plumber to see if they can at least come back and level us out.

If anyone out there can run a bobcat, hold a shovel or a rake, needs firewood, or can volunteer some time to watch a child - your help would be appreciated!

Now for the good news...Lake Harper is GONE! Our basement is almost dry, dry from the lake and dry from the cleaning we had to do after the mud came in.

I am possibly looking at a change in my job. I'm not going to post too many details about it yet. Should your curiosity motivate you to call me, we'll talk about it. I will say that I am excited, it is an advancement, and a change in my merit.

Jacob's big evaluation is tomorrow morning at 11:30. He's been...yesterday my word for it, out of complete frustration was a$$hole...but, let's say just say challenging - for the past 2 days. Very whiny, tantrum-y, going limp, throwing himself on the floor, etc. Very unlike my Jacob. We're hoping 1- that it's frustration from a lack of communication, 2- this bug that he's trying to catch, 3- lack of sleep, 4- the pressure in his ears is bothering, or 5 - all of the above. He's been waking up at 5 or 5:30 AM and takes a short nap, then to bed at 8. I'm crossing my fingers that he cooperates with the therapist...

Oh - and to my very good friend and his wife over at "Here we go..." - I'm praying for a quick and easy delivery of a healthy, beautiful baby and good health for his momma too. Good luck guys!