A Hoarder and an Air Mattress

Well, we made it through week one since our discovery of the house fire.  You never realize how much stuff you have till you see it all hauled away.

Throughout this week, we have just had those moments...moments when you realize just how utterly ridiculous all of this feels to us.

The basement was being emptied.  I was asked what we wanted to try to save.  At first, I felt like, "Take it all, I just don't even want to look at it."  We did find and pull out the boxes of photos and baby books, that were amazingly untouched in plastic tubs (although the plastic tubs that stored them were damaged).  I saw a pile of burnt items that had been tossed outside and I could not help myself, I wanted to look through them.  Only a few keepsake items that I wanted to find.  I was moving burnt and wet items, gloves on my hands and soot covered my feet since I only have sandals from our vacation bags.  This is the point when I must confess how much I enjoy the show Hoarders, probably enjoy it a little too much.  So, here I am sorting through my burnt and wet items while all kinds of chaos and more important things are going on around me...it felt like my hoarder moment and some one was going to come around the corner for an intervention.

Caring for Brayden has been a huge challenge.  Jeremy and I didn't quite realize how accustomed we have become to our house being accessible for him.  All of the things we have done over time to make his life, and our life, easier.  Brayden is currently on an air mattress in the middle of my in-laws family room (they are out of town so we are crashing there till they get back).  Oh how much I already miss his bed.  Caring for him and lifting him from the air mattress is a challenge like no other.  Brayden on the other hand does not seem to mind much, right in the middle of all the action.  Case in point, I am trying to get everyone out the door by 8:00 a.m. for basketball camp.  Carter and Luke shout for me to come to the family room, they have to show me something.  Brayden and Luke laying on the air mattress and then Carter starts jumping on the air mattress, launching Brayden and Luke in to the air.  More bouncing and more launching, at least they are having fun.

Brayden is all for fun during the day but during the night, do not bother him.  I have been sleeping on the couch nearby.  Jeremy took the couch shift for a couple of nights, although he was determined to try and sleep with Brayden on the air mattress.  Many people often ask us if Brayden can communicate...well let me tell you how he gets his point across.  Jeremy sleeping (or attempting to sleep) on the air mattress with Brayden.  At some point in the middle of the night, Brayden decided Jeremy was no longer welcome in his bed.  Brayden started swatting Jeremy with his arm, kind of a tomahawk action, with every swing hitting Jeremy and shouting at him.  Jeremy turned his back to Brayden but Brayden was not giving up.  He started kicking Jeremy, swift hard kicks to Jeremy's back.  He wanted to him to get out of the bed.  I hear, from upstairs, Jeremy say, "Brayden, you have got to settled down."  Needless to say, no one will be trying to sleep on the air mattress with him anytime soon.

Then, you cannot come to this blog without knowing we must talk about going to the bathroom at some point.  One morning Brayden and I were at the house, waiting for everyone to arrive, the insurance people, Jenkins Restorations guys, packing people, etc.  And I realized I had to go to the bathroom, cause I drank a cup of coffee on the way there.  Problem was, the water was off in the house and neighbors were not home.  What does one do?  Well, I did not go and I vowed to drink nothing else all morning.  I was not up for going in the woods.

Last bathroom item:  Brayden, enemas, on an air mattress...a challenge and lots of chux.