The Delight of being a Home Owner

For my friends on facebook, you know that we've been dealing with a massive issue in our kitchen.  Saturday morning we had a drain service come out to unclog our bathroom drain.  After they left, we went to the Y, came home, ate some lunch, and just then I decided to shower.  As soon as I stepped out of the shower I hear Brian yelling at me, "What is going on?" 

Come to find out- after my shower water started running from the kitchen window, the corner of the kitchen, and raindrops of water were coming off the ceiling.  Oh boy.  We tried calling the drain service back, no answer.  Brian called 2 more plumbers, no answer.  Apparently plumbers get the weekend off.  Sunday afternoon Brian finally spoke with a contractor that said they could come out on Monday.

After the contractor came on Monday, we determined that most of our kitchen ceiling was now ruined.  The pipe had definitely rusted through, probably agitated by the drain service, and had been holding water up in the plaster.  A part of our wall is also ruined.  The ceiling being pulled away also revealed that we have 1.) no insulation in our walls 2.) old knob and tube wiring throughout the kitchen (and probably all of our other rooms) and 3.) other pipes on the brink of failure, along with a toilet pipe which looks like it is held together with bubble gum 4.) a bathtub that was reversed at one point, making the drain against the flow of gravity, which is why the water was pooling and making the pipe rust...

I fought with the insurance all day Monday on the phone.  They wanted to have what they called a "drying" service come out.  Um, ok.  How do you "dry out" ruined plaster and drywall?  They said it had to be done to prevent mold.  I told them the only way to prevent mold was to replace it.  (Dummies).  Obviously they want to cut corners to save a buck but that's not going to work.  Brian had to stay home on Tuesday to deal with the adjuster that they finally sent out, along with more contractor estimates.  Sorry ladies, but there are just some things I want a man to handle.  I'd dealt with the insurance and contractor all day Monday but after shedding lots of tears on Monday night, it was time for a man to take over.  The adjuster was a local guy and the first guy affiliated with our insurance that seemed to know what he was talking about.  We've been just praying like mad that the insurance will actually pay for the water damage.  We will still need to handle the plumbing and wiring repairs.  Since the ceiling is already open, we are going to have the contractors also add some recessed lighting and a light over the sink.  We hate how dark our kitchen can be when we're trying to work.  The only lighting we currently have in the light in the range hood and an overhead ceiling fan.

So we're on day 6 of no shower and day 4 of no kitchen.  This is what our house looks like:

Nothing says "ambiance" like a light bulb hanging from the ceiling...

Hey, at least I have my Valentine's rose on the table.  And we have a fridge.  And a microwave.  This is actually a great weight loss experience.  I am eating cold meat sandwiches and Healthy Choice meals and I'm forced to go to the Y to shower so I just work out while I am there.  I just wish this wasn't costing me thousands of dollars...I could have afforded a personal trainer for that and it would be a lot less stressful.  I digress.  

Anyone else dealt with leaking pipes that resulted in disaster?