warm waterless

Right now I'm really grateful for the simple blessings in my life that I often overlook.

We've been without a working water heater since Friday afternoon. Ben figured it would be an easy fix and quickly figured (or, initially figured) it was something with the thermal coupler because the pilot light wasn't staying lit.

He replaced said thermal coupler. Two times. And realized that wasn't the problem. This was on Saturday after work. I was cranky to be without hot water (I love my hot showers!) and antsy for Ben to find a solution to the problem.

Saturday night we had plans to hang out with our friends Jake and Angel--whom we are going to Las Vegas with this week--and to have Angel give me a hair trim. I didn't really want to go because I wanted Ben to get the water heater fixed. When we realized that nothing could be done--Ben had talked to several plumbers who gave him a few more ideas--bad thermostat or valve--until Sunday or Monday (ie, get a different part), we went ahead with our plans. Luckily our friends are kind enough to let me take a hot shower at their house that night & we had a fun time chatting and playing the Wii. We left their house a little before 11 on Saturday night with clean hair, clean bodies, and tired eyes.

Sunday morning at 3:30am I woke up with really bad acid reflux & my throat was burning. I sat up in bed and decided I would go get a drink of milk & eat some yogurt to see if some calcium would do me good. I poured the glass, got out yougurt, and then had the sudden urge that I had to throw up. And so it started, an early morning rendevous with the toilet. After the third time, I finally felt like I could sleep a little bit. I knew I had sharing time in Primary so my plan was to sleep through early morning meetings and sacrament and see if I could keep down a dry piece of toast.

Ben and I got ready for church and made it up just after sacrament meeting. My presidency was relieved when they saw me walk in and I told them why I was running late. I didn't feel great and as Primary went on, the burning sensation in my throat & weakness from not having food in my system was catching up. I made it through my lame sharing time (I rushed through putting it together and it was painfully obvious!), then made a b-line for Ben so we could get home. Of course leaving church never happens quickly for us because we stop to talk to people. I kept making faces at Ben like, 'dude, we need to go!' Finally we left and started walking home.

Ben stopped on the way home to talk to one neighbor and as soon as he started talking, I felt the burn in my throat and that awful pre-throw up feeling in my tummy. I couldn't hold it in any longer. I threw up all over the street a few times before I made it inside. I was embrassed!!

After that lovely experience, Ben put me in bed and ran to the store to get some Sprite & crackers. I slept from 12:30 to 3. When I woke up I could tell I was weak and dehydrated. All I wanted to do after eating a little bit and drinking some Sprite was get in the tub, something that almost always helps me feel better.

But, wait, no tub could be had because there was no warm water to fill it up with! Ben asked if I wanted him to boil water for me to take a tub. I thought that would take too long. I contemplated driving to my mom's to take a bath, but just didn't feel up to going out in the cold. Instead, I got the heating pad out, turned it on it's lowest setting & wrapped it in a towel and then snuggled up to it in bed and slept for 2 more hours.

When I woke up my throat was no longer burning with acid and I felt like I could eat something more substantial that crackers. Ben, such a SWEET husband, drove back to the store to get me chicken noodle soup. I drank two waterbottles full of some punch and ate my soup. We were both in bed by 10.

I woke up this morning feeling much better, but still desired a bath (or at least warm water to wash my face)!!! Ben got up early to call around to find the needed part & went to pick it up before work. He came back home on his lunch break to attempt a third time to fix the water heater. I anxiously watched as my handy husband worked his magic to replace the thermostat. Within 25 minutes he had it replaced, the pilot light lit, and the water heater was working away to warm up some water!!

I've never been so grateful for 1) warm water and 2) being healthy!!! I'm just waiting a little bit longer for the water to be warm enough and then I'm taking a warm shower!!!