Happenings in our house

It has been quite a summer in the House of Twinsanity.  I realize that I have basically dropped off of the face of the earth but if you could have seen what life has been like lately, you'd understand.

Spring was intense.  I have been attending births as a student midwife all year and there was a point this spring when we had 5 moms due in one month.  And that month just happened to coincide with a 5-week class that Jason was attending over 500 miles away.  And that was baseball season so I was spending hours at the ball field 4 nights a week.  Oh, and I have been taking classes toward my BS in Midwifery so there was that going on at the same time.  We were trying to sell our house here and I was carting lawnmowers across town to mow the yard and keep our listed house presentable.  Like I said, it was intense.

Then there was the month of July.  July was just rough.  There is no way to sugarcoat it.  I spent much of the month in a weepy daze.  We lost sweet Delmar and buried him on the 4th of July.  Our house sold but closing was delayed at the last minute and was pushed back from June into the month of July.  Jason was in a minor fender bender and sustained some damage to his car.  Leila injured her toe and I had to puncture a hole in her toenail to drain the blood that was causing her an incredible amount of pain.  I missed my last birth before maternity leave by just minutes.  I was stung by wasps on my very pregnant belly and broke out in hives that lasted for weeks.  July was not my friend.

August has been so much better.  Although I was overly ambitious in taking four classes this semester, I managed to finish on time and with straight A's.  I'm 40 weeks pregnant this week and will soon feel some relief from this summer heat and humidity.  We just had my dad visit for the most wonderful week where we felt loved, supported, and encouraged.  I was able to fill my freezer with meals for after the baby arrives and, in true Heather fashion, built Seven a cute toddler bed.  My dad's visit was just what I needed to finally feel ready to have this baby.  I'll admit that I was feel a little self-pity about this being my last baby and never having a Blessingway or the support of friends and family during this special time.  My dad flew in and just made me feel loved.  I think that was all that I needed.

Here are some highlights from the last few months...

 Seven and I had a few hours alone together (what?!) while the six big kids were at VBS.  It was so much fun to take her to the park and have people ask if she was my first child... almost as much fun as when I (rarely) run out sans kiddos and get asked if this is my first pregnancy.  

 Leila and Sarah had a birthday.  Joshua had a birthday.  We celebrated the birthdays of two neighbor friends.  Now we are ready to celebrate the new baby's birth and Nathan's and Ryan's birthday.

Matthew may not be a morning person, but he had fun at his last year of VBS.  Next year he'll get to be a volunteer instead.

Matthew and his baseball team warmed up on the field with the local minor league baseball team.

Seven attended her first baseball game.

This photo really reminds me of one that we took seven years ago...

...when Matthew was just a little guy.

I've been rocking the big belly look again.  This was a couple of months ago.  I'll spare you the photos of what my 40-week belly looks like right now.  (The awesome teething/nursing necklace is from Peacemaker Jewelry and I love it!)

Our weekly trip to Costco typically looks something like this now.  I wear Seven, Matthew pushes a cart with twin boys and I push a cart with twin girls.  Six years later and people still stop and stare.

The kiddos participated our library's summer reading program.

This was just before Delmar died.  

July 4

We've enjoyed some ice cream on a hot summer evening.

Seven has gotten cuter.  How is that possible?  She talks non-stop and is quite a character.

Sadly, there has only been one trip to the pool this year.  It is still really hard to take seven kids to the pool by myself.  When does that part get easier?

A rare photo of me.  Seven likes to ride on my bump when I wear her.  This girl has only been in a stroller twice.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do when the new baby gets here.  I thought our tandem babywearing (and nursing) days were over a few years ago.

Seven hoarded the beanbags at Jason's unit picnic.

20 months old

My dad entertaining the kids with his photos of Colorado.

My dad and the kids having dinner out.  Table for ten (and a half.)

Typical Jason.  Always making special faces when he sees someone taking his picture.  The maturity level is high in our house.  

I'm not sure who told my baby girls that they were allowed to grow up.  They may be the size of 5-year olds, but my babies are EIGHT.  How did that happen?

At some point in the coming days, I'll be back to announce our newest arrival.  For now, I try to be patient and enjoy what has turned out to be a pretty fantastic August.

Never quite the same

It is with a heavy heart that I'm sharing this post.  Our beloved dog passed away suddenly and unexpectedly last week.  Delmar was getting ready to celebrate his tenth birthday and he has been a part of our family for the last nine years.  He was hit by a car and we are devastated.  Jason and I buried him on July 4th, wrapped up in his U.S. map blanket that he used to sleep on during our many road trips.  I don't think our family will quite be the same without him.  I don't think he could have loved us more and I don't think we ever could have loved him back enough.

We adopted Delmar when we moved to Georgia in 2005.  We only had two children at the time.  

Delmar was my "doggy doula" when I gave birth to Leila and Sarah.  He never left my side.  He was right there getting splashed when my water broke.  

Delmar survived the chaos that came with a second set of twins.  He was so gentle and patient.

He was born to be an Army brat.  Delmar rode along as we moved over and over again.  He visited more than 40 states and lived with us in the RV when we were on the road.  He was the best traveling companion.

He literally never left my side.  He loved me far more than I deserved to be loved.

Delmar went with us everywhere... to the mountains, the beaches, the deserts, and everywhere in between.

He was scared of dog bones.

He put up with us when we were silly.

 He was more trustworthy than any human.

We brought him on our family vacations... to the Grand Canyon, to the Rocky Mountains, to South Dakota, California, Texas, and all over the country.

He kept us safe when I was traveling across the country while Jason was deployed.  He guarded our children as if his life depended on it.  And he never complained.  He never asked for anything in return.

He was happy to lead or follow.  It didn't really matter, as long as he was with us.

Delmar may have been "just a dog" but he was the best dog I've ever known.  I will always regret that I didn't get to say good-bye, thank him, and let him know how very much he was loved.  The kids will miss their furry backseat companion on long car rides.  Amelia will miss growing up with her "doe doe" and I am not sure when I will stop turning around to see if he's there behind me.

We will always love you, Delmar.  Thanks for being the best dog and best friend ever.  You'll be greatly missed.