Overdue and Over Sandy: Weathering the Storm at 41 Weeks

Fairfield County has seen more than its fair share of storms in the past few years. Tropical Storm Irene, the Halloween snowstorm of 2011, and who could forget “Superstorm” Sandy of last year? Certainly not me, since the day Sandy hit Connecticut was my official due date! Having your husband google “home birth” (the same sweet husband who almost passed out during childbirth class) is what every first-time expectant momma needs…said no pregnant woman ever.

So from my due date and for five days after, we didn’t have electricity or running water (darn well). I don’t mind not having power, but I get cranky without a hot shower, so luckily, we could shower at the high school every morning. Without fail, one of the nice town workers would look at me and my enormous belly, their jaw would drop, and they’d say, “You still haven’t had that baby?!” Sigh.

We couldn’t decide if we wanted me to go into labor since there was power and water at the hospital or if we wanted to wait as long as possible, so we didn’t bring a newborn home to a dark, cold house! As luck would have it, our power was restored on Friday, we put the house back together on Saturday, and I went into labor on Sunday right at 41 weeks.   Monday morning at 8:30, we finally got to meet our beautiful baby boy! All nine pounds, three ounces of him. The little man put that extra week to good use! At least for us, Sandy was already a distant memory. Unfortunately, many families couldn’t put the storm behind them quite as easily.

Hurricane season in Connecticut begins on June 1 and continues through November 30. And NOAA is predicting that this 2013 season will be above average, with 13-20 named storms, including 3-6 major hurricanes. Anyone who doubted their prediction only had to watch as Tropical Storm Andrea rolled through the first week of hurricane season, dumping over four inches of rain in some parts of Fairfield County!

There are all kinds of checklists online to help you prepare for storm season, including one provided by the state of Connecticut. Here are a few reminders to get you started:

• Have one gallon of water per person, per day for each member of your family, and don’t forget to include your pets. It’s a good idea to have at least a three-day supply. There’s always a rush on bottled water at the grocery stores right before a storm hits, but don’t forget that you probably have a number of water pitchers, large bowls, or pots that you can use as well. If you have little ones, you can buy juice boxes and even boxes of milk that don’t need refrigeration.
• Stock up on nonperishable food that is quick, easy, and filling. Think peanut butter and jelly.  🙂 It’s also a good idea to keep plastic utensils and plates in case you’re without running water.
• If you have well water, don’t forget to fill up a tub or trash can with water for flushing the toilets.
• Before the storm hits, turn down the temperature in your fridge and freezer to the coldest setting. That way, if you lose power, you have more time before the items inside would need to be thrown out. If you do end up trashing all the food and condiments, make a list so that you can easily replace what you had.
• Make sure you have a car charger for your cell phone.
• Invest in a few good flashlights or lanterns and keep extra batteries on hand. I love this battery-operated lantern from LL Bean. It’s small, puts out a lot of light, and is easily transportable from room to room (much more kid-friendly than candles).
• Make a room-by-room inventory of your valuables, and keep an electronic (or hard) copy away from your house. It’s also helpful to include pictures of each room.

Going a week past my due date with no electricity should have made me crazy, but it was actually kind of nice. Romantic, even! The hubby and I went out to dinner every night, each time wondering if this would be our “last-dinner-ever-as-just-us-two.”  We relaxed by candlelight and went to sleep early. It sounds almost like a vacation now! Although I don’t know what this year’s hurricane season will bring, I do know that it will be different with a little one. How did you all fare after Sandy? What are your tips for weathering the storm with kiddos in tow? It may be time for us to give in and purchase a generator!