I think I have read that title phrase a million times and sadly it is still true. So here to entertain you on your Monday is the first story from PCS hell.
Our first PCS was a overseas tour four years and one kid ago. Of course there was a lot of stress in anxiety trying to move our entire lives and two kids (one with a life threatening medical condition) two under two years of age across an oceans and away from family. Joy oh glorious joy how I was so thrilled to be taking that trip that involved three layovers and over 24 hours of travel. Needless to say by the time the movers showed up at 10, I already needed a drink. However, that had to wait since Diva woke up THAT morning with a 105 fever. She was not herself and we decided that we didn’t want to chance her getting worse and with a fever for the first time that high and not knowing at the time if she shared Bugs medical condition, a trip to the ER was needed.
However, before I could load her up in the car, we needed to pack it.
Here is a little PCS pointer: anything you DO NOT want the movers to pack you need to isolate. I have heard of people designating certain rooms with “do not pack” signs on the doors, people standing 24 guard over the items to make sure they are not packed by mistake and more. We chose to pack everything not going crated into our car. After our belongings were loaded and driven off, we were driving 15 hours to our families house. So it was easier and made since to pack the car before the movers got there. What ever method you choose; choose one!
So the epic day arrived, pack out day. Diva woke up with a 105 fever and the movers were due at any moment. Hubs and I threw all our luggage into the luggage topper we bought and used on top of out vehicle. The movers arrived and I left with Diva barely lucent in the back seat.
Strike one: Hail. Yes, hail. I drove over to the nearest emergency room in the neighboring town through a hail storm. I was scared out of my mind, but Diva needed medical attention. I arrived and tornado sirens where screaming at us. Not only giving us a warning of the storm but also more to come for our family.
Strike two: We spent 6 hours in the ER with no cell phone service. I have a slight problem with needing to be in control. Not knowing how the move was progressing was sending me into a panic attack. Being locked in a mouse hole sized white sterile room was taking its toll. I held it together for Diva. Finally, she was discharged after her fever was under control and tests showed nothing serious. So I ran her out to the car in the storm. Luckily the hail and sirens stopped. But not the sheets of rain.
Strike 3: We arrived home just as the rain stopped. I walked in the house and instantly realized one flaw with our plan of loading up the car pre trip- standing there with only a PINK pull-up on was Bug. Diapers. I forgot to leave diapers. Hubs was smart enough to call one of my friends with a small child and asked to borrow any diapers she had. Sadly for us, her daughter was potty training. I just kept reassuring Hubs that all real men wear pink. He then informed me of how it all happened and strangely kept reassuring me that Bug was ok. . Never start off a story by reassuring me the kid is ok.
Apparently Hubs was busy helping the movers. He knew Bug would be content watching tv. Bug was content. He was also content drinking the 6 cups of juice Hubs kept feeding him. Needless to say, the one and only diaper in the house filled up fast. Leaking through his clothes and my favorite embroidered silk thread pillow (which promptly went into the trash). He tells me how he called my friend to get diapers and how she showed up quickly only to discover that Bug must have still been thirsty because they found him and the floor covered in weed killer! Bug must have been searching for a drink and thought the weed killer was a tasty choice. However, poison control didn’t feel that was a humorous conclusion. We had no way of knowing if he actually ingested any and how much. Try advised us to watch him, which we did much more carefully. Lucky enough, he never reacted.
And the home run: After the lecture and lesson from poison control I felt we needed to get the some clothes on the kid. Hubs scaled the car to get into the car topper and our suitcase. After he opened it up he discovered our “waterproof” car topper wasn’t. He further found out that everything in it was drenched. He opened up the black suit case and here it is folks… The grand slam… All our clothes in the suitcase were dyed black; an entire and only suitcase full our our clothes ruined… All our clothes we had with us for the next two months.
Yup. It was a glorious experience. Obviously we all survived and we got a new wardrobe to boot.
** keep us in mind the next two days as we travel across the United States on the longest and almost last leg of our PCS. From St. Louis to Richmond, VA. What I love best as I drive is knowing I am every kids road trip bingo dream ~ Hawaii plates!