We are back home after the third day of cleanup.  Day one was getting contaminated carpet and carpet padding out and sucking up water with the Shop Vac after getting it up.  We didn’t finish this on Day One, so Day Two was a continuation of the same job.

Day Three was focusing on the garage, which is practically toxic (my husband’s job) and beginning the process of inventorying damaged items for our insurance (my job).

The Red Cross was on our street this morning.  I never knew exactly what the Red Cross does in a crisis, but now I know one aspect of their help.  They were giving away breakfasts of biscuits and gravy and scrambled eggs, as well as bottled water.  It was such a great way to start today’s work to have a hot breakfast.

The Red Cross also handed out buckets with cleaning supplies in it.  The contents are great (various sized scrub brushes, a collapsable mop, a collapsable broom, work gloves, rubber gloves, sponge, bleach, and a few other cleaning supplies).  I thank them.

A garbage truck also came by our neighborhood today.  It was a truck from Cocoa, which is a city about 20 minutes away.  The drivers were collecting the carpet and matting, as well as any other garbage, from my neighborhood’s flooded homes.  Several neighbors, and the two truck drivers, kindly helped me take all the waste from our porch to the truck.

The smell is disgusting.  I can tell what got wet just by smelling it.  And to think I let my children play in this water before I knew better.

I actually got several infections on my feet from the contaminated water.  Fortunately I have prescription strength Neosporin and I have been using that.  I have also been much more careful to keep any open wounds dry and away from the water.

I am deeply saddened to say that my brand new Sanyo camcorder did not survive Fay.  Of all the things I have lost that is the one that is really pissing me off.  Yes, it will be covered by insurance, but it means I can no longer video what has been going on.  It died on Wednesday, so I have videos up to some time Wednesday.  After that it is just photos.

This is very taxing.  This is the most physical labor I’ve ever done.  I’ve made the decision that I will not become a physical laborer!  It hurts to simply roll over when I’m in bed.

But the worst aspect is that I’m not sleeping.  I am going to bed more tired than I think I’ve ever been but I CAN’T SLEEP!  If I have gotten four hours of sleep each night the past few nights then that is a lot.  My sister-in-law, who is a nurse, said I am running on adrenaline.  I had no idea adrenaline can last for days.  What I wouldn’t give for just a good night’s sleep.

Tomorrow my dad is flying in to help us out.  My mom will arrive later in the week.  I have assured them both that there will be plenty for both to do.

Rochelle