Part Two...

   When we woke up on Sunday the first thing we did was turn on the TV for news and saw what our house looked like.  Wow.  This is what we saw:

 

Needless to say, we were amazed. That south wall is our upstairs bedroom, bath, and closet. The firefighters we talked to were right. Our house IS jacked up.

We had our friends Heather and Kipp Cox drop off our girls to my parents' house and then took Betsy to do what we like to do. We watched her play basketball.

We were tired, wearing the same clothes, Betsy had borrowed shoes, uniform, socks and headband.  It didn't matter - we were together and watching the Raiders win. And, by the way, that picture was Betsy making a free throw to complete a three-point play.

After the win we went to Southport Presbyterian to get info.  We heard from the Director of Public Safety, the IMPD and IFD, Representative Andre Carson, the City-County Council, and the Department of Code Enforcement (DCE).  Lots of great information.  We also learned that the DCE had determined that our house was to be demolished and we were not allowed in to get anything because it was too dangerous.  That was interesting.  The DCE also told us that it could be possible to shore up the walls enough to send pros in to get out much of the stuff.  That was better. This is where we are today, Thursday, in terms of access to our stuff.  Maybe.  That is what has been most difficult.  Our things are there, but inaccessible with some confidence we can get them out. 

Since Sunday we have see the house three times. Once through the niceness of IMPD who drove us to the house in a four-wheel-drive golf card type thing to about 50 feet from the house with specific instructions that we are not to get out.  The next time we met DCE, our insurance adjustor and the restoration man to get a close look. Here is what we saw:

Jacked up.  The resoration man went in to look for our cat, Elvis.  He did not show himself.  We left with a few things found on the bottom floor: girls' backpacks (which made Molly happy as she was worried about homework - she is not like me in that regard), a few jackets, Betsy's gym bag and a few pictures.

The third time was Wednesday after an interview with IFD arson investigators and the ATF.  The director of Indiana Homeland Security himself gave the regal nod allowing us to walk down our street to look at our house again and call for Elvis.  He is still hiding.

The girls went back to school Monday and Lori and I have been running 8472056 errands and completing tasks.  I went back to school Wednesday and talked to all of my wonderful students and Roncalli Family.  It was great to see everyone, but physically exhausting.  I have not slept well and have developed a cold which has taken my voice away and given me a headache.  Talking to everyone took all my energy.  I am not in school today (Thursday).  I slept in and have not spoken to anyone outside the family all day.  I feel better and look forward to taking my girls out to dinner with some great friends tonight.

People have asked so many times, "How are you getting along?"  My response is always "pretty good, we are blessed".  I truly believe that after I talk to my neighbors who have their own struggles big and small.  We have a great place to stay, it is our second home.  We have the greatest friends and family possible.  This includes our Roncalli and Saint Jude families.  There have been offers for every possible favor, task, or need that we may have.  We are absolutely in shock and amazement over the amount of love, prayers, support, and offers of help we have received.

Right now, we are waiting for the DCE and our insurance to determine if our house is to be destroyed or not.  There seems to be a difference of opinion.  We are in a sort of limbo because we don't know if we will get anything out of the house at all.  I have heard that there was talk of bulldozing the house with everything in it.  I have also heard that our house has "cosmetic damage" and can be repaired and everything in between these extremes.

So we wait.