Dry Basement

People who have never had a leaky basement don't realize what a headache it is.  We started to get water in the unfinished part of the basement almost right after we moved in.  We did some digging, broke up a slab of concrete and re-routed a drainage pipe and things were fine.  For a while.  Then we started having water in the finished part.  The carpet would get wet; we'd soak it up with mops and towels, rent a carpet cleaner and get really frustrated.  We tried keeping our gutters clear of leaves.  It still leaked.  We tried re-routing the drainage on this side of the house.  It still leaked.  We tried burying black plastic as a barrier.  Dixie dug it up and it still leaked.  We tried installing a French drain.  It still leaked.  We tried sealing where the driveway meets the foundation.  It still leaked.  Our last ditch effort was to hang an ugly blue tarp to try and keep the area dry.  It worked for a little while, but eventually the torrential rainstorms were too much for it to handle and... you guessed it.  Finally we decided to just pour cement.  We poured four large slabs and sealed where they meet the foundation.  Then we waited.  It seemed like a long time before we got a significant storm.  When we finally got a good drencher I tiptoed downstairs afraid of what I might find.  But to my utter delight, it was bone dry!  Hip hip hooray!  Now after several good storms, I declare it FIXED!  I no longer dread the rainy forecast.  I no longer quake at the sound of thunder (maybe just a little).  I am able to just chill and enjoy the fact that the plants are getting water.  It is such a blessing to have that finally resolved.  *Knock on wood*