The Olsons almost were no more. It all started with a storm on Friday night. We watched the rain pour down and a pond form in our back yard and a new river run by the side of our house. Then Andy watched as a tree branch from our yard blew down and hit a power line and then it was lights out. The boys and I gathered up some flashlights and hung out in the basement. Andy went to work digging out the generator from the garage so we could get the power back on before Monday at noon, which is when the power company estimated it would be back on. Andy got the generator hooked up and we went to bed, with the windows open because we no longer had air conditioning. Gas fumes from the generator blew into the house. I became concerned about carbon monoxide. I raised the issue with Andy, and he blew me off. I again raised the concern about carbon monoxide and Andy again gave me a short tutorial about how a generator works and how that would be a legitimate concern if it was in our living room, but not if it was outside, as our was. I was slightly comforted, but remained unconvinced and opened the other windows to get some fresher air. We survived the night and Andy, Jude and Levi headed to a HopeKids movie Saturday morning. Asher and I stayed at home since Andy wanted someone at home to babysit the generator and ensure no one stole it. Meanwhile, Andy had unhooked the carbon monoxide detector because he thought it was beeping because of the power outage. But, it was beeping because of toxic levels of carbon monoxide. I battled a splitting headache, that I now know was the result of the carbon monoxide. The boys and I left the house mid-day Saturday for my parents’ house, to visit my mom since she just had knee surgery. I recall thinking during the drive that I was glad to be out of the house and I even thought that I wouldn’t be surprised if Andy died in his sleep from carbon monoxide poisoning. But, there’s only so much one can do to help the world’s most stubborn man. Thankfully, my nagging came in handy and Andy plugged the carbon monoxide detector in on Saturday night before heading to bed. It read at 150. 100-150 is toxic. Our entire house was full of carbon monoxide. Andy escaped and moved the generator further away from the house. He then went to work airing the house out. He got the levels down to 0 and then went to sleep in the house. If I had still been there, I would have definitely not slept in the house. I would have slept in the car in the driveway or at a hotel. Anyway, Andy apologized for not taking my concerns seriously. He even said that for the first time in 8 years, my nagging came in handy. Clearly God protected us all from tragic death and we are very thankful.