Ike yikes!

The winds are gusty here in Rockdale, but it looks like this is the place to be if you're in Texas this weekend. Here's the lowdown on our week since things really became a concern.

Thursday: 3:17pm - Rumor of no school on Friday. How obsurd for Rockdale. Cars already pulling through town evacuating from Houston and the coastline.
4:30 A call to the school confirms that Rockdale WILL have school on Friday.
4:35 Leaving for Dance lessons in Temple - gas lines are piling up and campers are passing by. Mom says she's going to stick it out in Houston since the Mayor encouraged inlanders to hunker down and let the coast get out. Dad is asked to forget that emergency relief isn't his job anymore and will consequently be working at the storehouse through the storm. I tell Mom to just come anyway, but she's trying to be brave. Dad had promised to try and come home for the night of the storm so Mom won't be alone.
5:50 Jessica loves her dance class and does great. We were late because we were following an RV going really slow!
6:30 Lily sooo excited for her first class. The teacher suggested we do a mom and me class first. I was willing, but 2 minutes into the class, Lily doesn't need Mommy anymore and has adopted her teacher to take my place. I'm the only Mom with no kid in the class. Okay not really true - Gavin was in his car seat needing me more than Lily and Jessica, who was supposed to be helping me with Gavin, was enjoying the class next to Lily and the teacher. I'm abandoned by my children in the Mom and Me class!
7:30 finally driving home. There is a steady stream of cars heading north.
8:30 Dad calls to inform us that after his bridge call they decided to send Mom to our house because they are expecting Tropical Wind storms Friday morning and Dad doesn't think he'll make it home Friday night.
11:15pm Mom makes it to our house with slow downs on 290 in a couple of places.
11:20pm Dad calls to make sure Mom made it okay. He's staying in the Bishop's Storehouse for the storm and to work the the emergency relief protocal.

Friday
2:00am Gavin wakes me up
4:00am Gavin wakes me up
6:30am Gavin wakes me up and I wake up Jessica for school
7:30 Jessica leaves for school and Katelyn arrives to play with Lily
All day Friday we watch the news to see the progress of the Hurricane. Everyone is happy that Mom made it here.
9:00am Jhonny begins working on the clean out for our sewer line that was clogged up. He pulls out tons of roots and junk from the pipes and ends up digging up two broken pipes to be replaced. I can't do dishes now because the pipe is missing. It's to be replaced hopefully on Saturday.
10:00am We go to Walmart to stock up on food. The parking lot is full of people who have evacuated. Rumors are that there is no more gas. There is still gas, just more expensive.
5:00pm we head to College Station to return the roter rooter (sp?) to Home Depot. Everyone is buying up plywood. We're wondering why they're so worried here in College Station.
6:30pm We get into Gattitown for dinner and enjoy the food and fun.
9:00pm Home and getting ready for bed. Gavin shows signs of a little runny nose. I know I'm going to have a long night.
1:00am Gavin wakes me up
2:00am Gavin wakes me up
3:00am Gavin wakes me up
6:00am Gavin wakes me up
7:00am Gavin wakes me up
7:45am Lily wakes me up and I stay up.
8:00am We finally see signs of some wind in our area. News reports lots of flooding, power loss, and winds in Galveston, Louisiana, and Houston. We can't call Mandy. I'm guessing her phone line is down and probably out of power. Hope she's okay. Not wanting to call Dad because he's probably busy. If you read this call us if you can and let us know you're okay.
9:30am Dad calls to update us. He's on generators at the storehouse since 3:30am. The water tower is out of power. There's no water pressure. Dad got soaked when he went out in the rain to turn on the generator. Trees are down and/or stripped of leaves. There's flooding and no power in Houston. Dad's glad he boarded up the windows at the house. Shingles are off of the older homes. There's a lot of wind, but the Hurricane is over Hunstville by now. The trees were over flat in the wind. Dad says it's the worst storm he's been through. Copperfield Bishop emails dad to let him know they had some roof damage and minor leakage. Dad will try to call Mandy.
9:45am Jhonny goes back to work on the sewer line.