First off thank you all for the great suggestions and information. My husband wasn't available so I was left with this task and that ain't a good thang.....
I did learn a great deal about how the electrical system works and what not to do.
Anyway in my quest to solve the problem the power went out in part of my home so I was without computer and phone (comcast) and when hubby returned home he called SECO and they came late last night and fixed part of the problem (mainly the one I caused trying to fix the initial problem). Now we await an electrician who will fix a faulty GFCI which was the culprit.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.....