If You Are Reading This, You Have Been Blessed

I'm not sure how to write this post. I'm thinking I should just forget about it (notice that I didn't shoot pictures of it) but it is something bad that has happened to our family and could happen to just about anybody as well - whatever your status in life is. I just wanted to share our story of how we were blessed last September 26.

- I woke up late (10:30am) besides the fact that I have been waking up 9-10am everyday for 3 weeks already - part of my plan to change my everyday routine.
- It has been raining really hard the whole night.
- I looked out in front of our garage because I heard a car was parking in front of our house.
- I noticed there's already a water build up and is probably the reason why the car was trying to park on the side walk in front of our house.
- I wasn't worried knowing that our area has never been flooded. I'm used to having flood because I grew up in a place where it floods with little rain. Thus, I choose to live in areas that does not flood.
- I went back in the room to wake up hubby "just" to show him the water coming in.
- We noticed the water was rising.
- We planned to raise the washing machine which is located far back of the garage.
- Hubby backed up the pickup truck so we could place the washing machine at the back of it.
- We didn't get to raise it because the water started to come into the house!
- In the blink of an eye, there is water all over the living room and kitchen floors.
- Pulled out all the cables from the broadband box, television, DVD players and tried to bring them all in the rooms which is 4 stair steps higher than the living room.
- I asked hubby to turn off the power supply. Water is past my ankles already.
- We also tried to bring the television in the rooms but it's too heavy we can't carry it past the stairs.
- Heard Portia wailing from her cage and realized that she's already standing on her back feet. I got her out and placed her on the bed. Water is knee deep.
- I brought my laptop in the room as well.
- Water was past my knees and we were still trying to raise the television but the stubborn thing doesn't want to go up the stairs.
- I looked out the sliding door to see that more water is about to come in. There was about 6 inches difference. The sliding door is glass so I'm torn. If I shut it close, the glass might break. If I open it wider, more water would come in faster.
- Rocky barked. Someone's at the door? Not. He's standing on his back feet and the water's at his kneck.
- Hubby brought him into the bath room which is almost at the same level as the rooms.
- Bang!
- Looking at the direction of the sound we saw the refrigerator floating on the water.
- We realized we should forget about the television and instead raise the fridge. Food is more important than the tv.
- We slid the fridge on the stairs. It was easier than raising the tv. Except that it's lying down instead of standing on it's feet. There goes my stored breastmilk.
- Now, the water is almost waist high and it has reached the rooms.
- I called my Mom without knowing what she or I could do. She's a city away. I guess I'm just letting her know how I'm doing.
- My Mom wanted to fetch me but we heard news from a friend that two jeepneys has been taken by the water current on the road that they are going to take.
- The water was an inch high in the bedrooms when it stopped rising.
- We tried to raise more stuff into the higher cabinets.
- We started to pack our things - important things that we will bring should we need to leave the house.
- The rain wasn't stopping still and the road in front of our house looks like a river for whitewater rafting. Except that we don't have a boat and the life jacket and the helmets. So the idea of going out is not an option.
- It was 1pm without breakfast so the cold pizza from the previous night seems to be the best food ever. Except that there's only 3 slices left and there were 3 mouths to feed.
- I offered to nurse Jack Jack since I was not able to feed him anything since that morning.
- Water started to rise again. Only this time it was slow.
- We have nowhere to raise our things anymore.
- My pick-up truck is also submerged in water up to it's dashboard.
- Water stopped rising at almost knee deep but our bed is already wet - we cannot stay anymore.
- It stopped raining hard but still raining.
- A friend came over to fetch us. He's with his cousins. They helped us carry our stuff out of the house. And into the water-filled street.
- Portia was stuffed into a backpack.
- Rocky was left in the bathroom.
- I couldn't find my slippers.
- Jack Jack laughed seeing the water but later on cried when he couldn't see me. Hubby was holding him.
- I saw dead cockroaches floating. Eeeeww... but felt sorry that they aren't as lucky.
- The water was almost chest deep outside our gates.
- Remember the car that parked there that morning? It's still there. Which is just 2 inches short of being completely submerged.
- Walking barefoot in the water is easier than having slippers on.
- I don't know what time that is anymore. I'm just glad that we got out.
- We waited for ANY vehicle that would take us to ANY hotel.
- A cab driver agreed to take us to Eurotel but he is such an insensitive jerk.
- Cab driver asked us to use our dry clothing to sit on because his seats would be wet from our clothing.
- I was itching to tell him, "I hope this does not happen to you or your family." but that's bad.
- Hubby and I weren't in the mood to argue.
- We got stuck in traffic on the way.
- I had to leave them in the cab to find a restroom. I had to do number 1 so badly.
- Borrowed hubby's slippers. He's the only one who's wearing slippers.
- Cab driver did not wait in the traffic for me so I walked all the way to the hotel.
- It's just a block away but it was raining so hard so I was soaked even if I was wearing a jacket.
- I went through a mall to get out of the rain and save me from more soaking.
- Reached the hotel to find out that they are fully booked.
- Never knowing what to do, an angel tipped us to just order anything from the lobby.
- She said they'd give us a room if we just wait. They're just saying they are full so that the waiting list isn't so long.
- We ordered something.
- Hubby changed his clothes and used his slippers to go to the mall. He'll buy diapers (I forgot to bring) and slippers.
- I also changed my clothes. Walked around the lobby area barefoot.
- I tried to nurse Jack Jack again but he kept on glancing around the lobby. It was not dark and not quiet so his curiousness kicks in.
- I went back and forth their check-in counter with Jack Jack. And yes, I used him as leverage to get a room.
- After about 2 hours, we were able to check into a room with clean sheets, tv and hot shower.
- It was also about the same time our dinner was served.
- Jack Jack had so much fun with the light switches located at the headboard.
- His laughs were the only thing that brightened up that gloomy day.
- Portia was finally let out. The hotel might not take us in if they saw Portia.
- Portia was very good and no accidents inside the bag.
- Had our dinner.
- Gave some leftover for Portia - I forgot to bring her food.
- I nursed Jack Jack to sleep. Had I not been nursing him, I don't know what I would be feeding him.
- We watched tv and saw some more people affected by the flash flood.
- Heard a lot of people are stuck on top of their roofs of two story houses!!!

Except for some bruises (that we don't know where we got) plus poor Portia broke a nail, we're very lucky we're all safe. When we got back at our house it was a mess. A big mess. Rocky was safe inside the bathroom but I think he has developed another phobia. Water phobia. He's also claustrophobic by the way.

When the house owner visited us after 2 days to see the damages, he said it has never flooded in this area. Ever. Which I think is pretty much true. I know because you will see watermarks if the are has been flooded before and the smell would also be different. I know because, as I said, I used to live in a place where flood is a usual thing.