St. Louis Storm Prompts Family Togetherness

The crazy storm Monday night brought strong winds, rain and hail. It also woke our son.

Julie and I didn't realize how bad things were going to get, and it was only when we consulted our KMOV Channel 4 smartphone app and turned on the television that we realized a tornado watch had been issued.

By then, Micah had begun crying. Storms are startling, even for adults.

(The dog didn't particularly enjoy the experience, either.)

We gathered the baby, the pets and a few necessities before heading downstairs. We soon realized the storm wouldn't be passing over anytime soon, meaning it would be necessary to spend the night huddled in the basement.

Several trips upstairs later—for the heated blanket, Micah's white noise machine and other items—we had turned out the lights, our son between us in bed.

I eventually zonked out and slept until morning. Julie's sleep was presumably less restful, given that she tried to sleep while ensuring Micah was safe.

We're not big proponents of co-sleeping, but we've found that desperate situations require desperate measures.

Morning dawned and our persons and property appeared to have incurred no damage.

Other than, of course, the exhaustion we all felt.

I think we'll survive.