This is how our week started: Wade was winding down in his crib for an early nap. I had just got off the phone with Michael telling him how crazy the wind storm was and that I felt really uncomfortable about the tree outside out bedroom. I don't normally get scared about this tree, it is living and healthy, but in the last month Michael and I had started talking about "what if the tree fell." Michael told me to go to his parents house to let Wade nap there. I hung up the phone with Michael and decided to finish my sweet potatoes, then take Wade to my in-laws. Too late. About 1 minute after I hung up with phone with Michael, CRASH! The tree had fallen directly into our bedroom, which is right beside Wade's room where Wade was resting. I sprinted to Wade's room and as I did, I vaguely remember getting a poof of attic insulation in my face and looking into our room to just see a cloud of dust. I grabbed my unharmed, terrified and screaming baby out of his crib and sprinted to the opposite end of the house from where the tree fell. I paced in circles for what seemed like 5 minutes(probably 15 seconds) with Wade in my arms deciding our best exit strategy. I didn't know if the tree was done falling or if it could continue falling into our house at any time. We couldn't go out the front door, I saw brick tumbling off our house and our front columns dangling. I opened the back door and only saw branches, but decided we had to dash through them to get out. I covered Wade's head with a jacket and ran out of the house. Thankfully the jacket had my phone in it and I immediately called Michael. I looked up at our house and saw that the tree had fallen directly on our chimney. If it had fallen anywhere else, we would have been hurt and our house would have been totaled, but that is not what happened. Thank you God.
I have never heard a louder crack in my life. It felt like my head had cracked. The tree removal company said that it was the largest fallen tree that they have removed in at least 6 months. We are all moved out and all of our clothes are now at the cleaners. We will be living with Michael's parents.
Thank you so much to all our family and friends who have overwhelmed us with support and offers to help us! We are so so so thankful for you.
Also, I am so sorry to anyone else who was effected by this storm. I dont know who you are, but Im praying for you.
Dangling columns.
Backyard.
Our bedroom.
Our bedroom.
The tree removal guys worked from 4pm until 10pm Monday night and got this far. Monday night was like a street party on our street. Cable was out, so everyone brought their lawn chairs and camped out in front of our house to watch the removal of the tree. It was actually a really fun night of bonding with our neighbors.
Michael said was slightly sauced by the end of the night.
The tree was completely off the house by about 6pm Tuesday.
Daddy and Wade watching the crane.
The good news is that no one was injured and our beautiful window boxes survived.
2 comments:
Wow, that's scary! Glad no one was hurt.
Hi Mary!
My name is Annie Gaudi. I am the daughter of Ruth Nichols Ellison. Ruth is the sister of Hal C Nichols, Jr. I believe Hal is the grandfather of your husband. He's my uncle and that makes us 3rd cousins by marriage, I think! Uncle Hal sent your blog page to my mom and she sent it to me. They were talking about your house and the tree falling on it. I am so glad you didn't get hurt and what a blessing that you were able to get to Wade and he wasn't harmed, either! I know you must have felt like you were out of your mind for a few moments...that seemed like hours!
Anyway, I'm so happy to sort of "meet you" on your blog page! My husband's name is Wade and I thought that was extra neat and wanted to share it with you. I love that you have named your son Wade. We have three children. Lane is 12 yrs old, Turner is 6 years old and Daisy is 3. 2 boys and a girl and we are done! : ) Take care and God bless you all! If you're ever on Facebook, I'm on there as Annie Ellison Gaudi if you want to look me up. : )
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