Weekend "fun"

We've lived in this house almost 5 years - and Friday night we had our first fire! Before I tell you the story, let me ask you a question:

Which sounds like more "fun": learning how bad your heating unit is or that your son has a double ear infection and severe cold? How about discovering both on the same day and having to make decisions about whether to risk having heat on one of the coldest nights this year?

That was our Friday.

Last week, our heater began making some funny noises. We know it's old (almost 20 years), so we didn't think too much of it since it was still heating. Each day the noises got louder and more interesting. By Wednesday night, it sounded like we had some birds singing in chorus and our sleep was beginning to get interrupted (thanks to the furnace being right by our bedroom). I entered a service request online that night with our home warranty company (our saving grace 2 years ago when our AC went out...and now again, as you will see).

I was excited on Thursday to learn someone was coming out early Friday morning. The electrician showed up right on time, and quickly determined the home warranty company sent the wrong kind of repairman...we needed a heating guy. He was very nice, called it in, and went about his way. I called the home warranty company to inquire when we might receive a call...it was getting later on a FRIDAY...and I feared a weekend of no sleep. I was not a happy camper. A nice lady named Gail understood my plight and made this an emergency situation (and told me how to get around all the automated stuff for future service calls so we don't get sent the wrong repairman again)...the new repair company called and would have someone out shortly. I was almost in tears (of joy).

Jbird woke from his nap with goopy eyes, screaming and burning up (his fever was 102.3). Changing of a diaper, sitting with me, and juice did nothing to calm him...and the heater guy was on his way. The repairman quickly determined that our motor is almost shot and we have a blower wheel out of balance (thus the HORRIBLE noise). Our system is so old that while he could get the motor model from the system model number, the blower wheel would have to be removed to determine the part number. The guy had time to fix it, but he wasn't positive he could even get the blower wheel that day. DECISION TIME: wait until Monday to fix it (guaranteeing heat over the weekend and maybe only one night without) or risk no heat over the weekend if he couldn't get the part Friday. Things I had to consider - Jbird having a fever and obviously battling some sort of illness meaning we couldn't crash with friends, weather forecast of the mid 20s that night, the motor going out over the weekend regardless, and my impending insanity due to lack of rest. And I couldn't get a hold of Clay...what to do?

I finally decided (with the affirmation of my father) that I couldn't risk no heat with Jbird having a fever. The repairman put the heater cover back on and said someone would be back Monday. Again, I was almost in tears, but this time from defeat... I was so tired of the noise - and after being messed with, the heater was EVEN LOUDER! Clay affirmed my decision and did his best to calm me down. Then I heard back from the pediatrician who wanted to see us - and they had an opening in 15 minutes. I quickly packed us up and headed that way. Clay heard the stress in my voice after this trying day and met us there - how thankful I was. Jbird DID NOT like being poked and prodded...especially the swabbing for the flu test. I was thankful for an extra set of hands...and that it was only a double ear infection and severe cold.

This story is already long enough - I guess I want you to appreciate what all was happening! The rest of the afternoon/evening was spent getting a couple of space heaters from friends and finding a place with firewood. The heater was sounding so bad, we finally decided to just use space heaters and the fireplace for warmth. We all bundled up and had a cozy night after our long day. A space heater can be kind of romantic in such a situation! We all had a good night's sleep - me in the guest room (smaller room without a vaulted ceiling), Clay on the air mattress by the fire, and Jbird in his bed. It got down to 22, but we were all cozy under the covers. It warmed up pretty well yesterday, and last night wasn't nearly as cold. We've definitely made up for the years without a fire this weekend. Each day gets a little warmer, and the repairman returns tomorrow afternoon. We may not have heat tomorrow night, but we aren't worried after making it through Friday night.

We are thankful for friends who offered their homes and space heaters. We are thankful for a fireplace (not all homes here have them since we have such short winters) and for the memories made. We are thankful that we renewed our home warranty again so we don't have to pay more than our service fee! We are thankful Jbird's fever was short-lived and he seems to be doing better. So, it's a long story...definitely one we will remember! Thanks for hanging in there...I just thought I would share our weekend "fun".