Another big move

Here are a few more pictures from our trip to Colorado...

And now for the latest news on our next big move...  We are tentatively (I think everything is "tentative" in the military) moving back to Georgia.

I have mixed feelings on this development.  When we told the kids they were initially disappointed.  Once we pointed out all of the positives (old friends, familiar place, closer to beaches and family) they started to get excited.  They were really hoping to go to Colorado or Germany or somewhere "exciting."  However, Georgia was Jason's first choice on his list.  In ten years, this is the first time he's gotten an assignment that was even on his list, let alone his top choice.  There are definite positives and the main reason he chose Georgia was so we could go back and sell our house.  It also makes it much easier for me to plan my next series of surgeries because I won't have to travel.  There's also the potential for me to do something I've always wanted to do and it sort of feels like everything is aligning in this crazy good way.  Overall, I do think this move will be a good thing for our family.

In less than 2 months we will be packing up.  It feels like we are always in the process of either packing or unpacking... probably because this is move number nine in ten years of military life.  It's always exciting, always crazy, sometimes stressful, and there's always something unexpected happening- just like daily life in the house of Twinsanity.

Road Trip Recap

7,110 miles driven

14 states visited

3 tire blowouts and roadside tire changes

1 day lost to camper repairs in Texas

2 new brake lights in Tennessee

4 new tires

2.75 hours spent in a traffic jam in Arkansas

1 pregnant stranger used the bathroom in our camper

...and countless memories made along the way.

We camped in towns that we once called home and strange places that we never thought we'd end up.  From the Louisiana bayou to the hills of Tennessee, we stayed in some interesting places.  We had more than our share of mishaps and adventures.

The first day of our trip was not great.  Just a couple of hours from home, a tire blew on the camper.  We replaced it with our spare and kept on driving.  Later that night, just 10 minutes from our campground, another tire blew and we were left sleeping in the van on the side of the road.  We had no power in the camper (so no a/c and it was over 100 degrees) and our LP tank malfunctioned, causing us to lose the food in our fridge and freezer.  We ended up losing a day to get the tires replaced.  On the bright side, we were stuck in the town we used to live in, right in the heart of west Texas.  At least we knew our way around!

Another unexpected stop led us to the "Cross-eyed Cricket" campground, where we spent the night next to a creek.  Yet another unplanned stop resulted in camping without water hookups at the top of a high dam in New Mexico.  We spent a week at a campground in Georgia, visiting friends where we used to live.

There were times that I was not happy about sleeping on an uncomfortable camper bed, especially while pregnant.  There were a few times when the unbearable heat/humidity/bugs drove me crazy.  Gas was ridiculously expensive and our camper is far too small for 8 people and a dog.  But all in all, we really seem to enjoy RVing and traveling the country.

(See that tiny space in the back?  That's where all six kids sleep in their bunks.  That awful pull-out sofa in the front is where Jason and I sleep with our feet dangling off the side and our heads mashed against the wall because that "bed" is not made for tall people!)

My kids had forgotten what humidity feels like, so the heat in the southeast felt even hotter than the dry heat in the desert.  See Sarah hiding her face?  She was so hot.

Even when we walked to the lake and playground, my kids were red-faced and sweaty and just wanted to go back to the air-conditioned camper.  They spent more than four years living in Georgia and never complained but I guess they are no longer used to living in a sauna.  Arizona is more like a convection oven.

Our time spent in Virginia was nice and this is probably the first trip that did not result in any family drama, arguments, or tension.  It was a very uneventful visit!

After spending so many weeks in our van, I'm sort of looking forward to getting a new van this winter (not looking forward to having a car payment though.)  This van has a lot of miles and she's starting to feel her age.  Things are starting to fall apart here and there and I know she's ready to retire soon.  We have been hard on her.  Of course, she's been to 45 states (and Canada) so we have made a lot of good memories together and she will be missed.  But we need room for another car seat...

Why I've Disappeared

Last Tuesday I had surgery to remove my submandibular salivary gland. The surgery lasted longer than expected (over 3 hours) because the gland was so inflamed that the doctor had trouble getting it out. He was successful in removing it through the floor of my mouth, so that part is great! Having this method of surgery was the main reason for me returning to Georgia to have the surgery.

My mom flew down to Georgia the day before my surgery. She has been a huge blessing. Perhaps she feels badly for me to be in pain, but she has never been so easy to get along with before. It's been a huge relief for me. And the kids.

I remember waking up in recovery, nearly 7 hours after the surgery, and feeling frantic. Where were my kids? Where was I? It was a little overwhelming. And then, as is typical for my life, I ran into more complications.

The swelling from the surgery made it difficult for me to maintain an open airway so they admitted me. The hope was that I'd be discharged the following morning, but the swelling required another steroid treatment and so I didn't leave until that evening. Thanks to my mom and a few super awesome friends, my kids were well cared for and enjoyed a night at a local hotel. It was the first time they've spent the night without either Jason or me. When I left the hospital my mom drove us all up to Virginia and I've been recovering here ever since.

I ended up running into a little post-op issue and the resulting swelling causes me a great deal of pain. In the morning I can barely function, although my speech is slowly improving. I do have some paralysis in my tongue, lips, and chin because of trauma to the nerve. It should (hopefully!!!) go away in the coming weeks. But for now I can't move my tongue well and still can't eat solid foods. It's been a week today since I last had anything that wasn't liquid. Yuck. I miss real food.

I was unprepared for how long this recovery would take. I'm doing pretty well when my pain is controlled, but I had hoped the pain would be gone by now. The stitches still haven't dissolved either. I hope the end of the week brings some relief. We are visiting family and I feel like I'm missing out!

Jason is here in Virginia now. After being apart for 3 weeks, we were all glad to see him. He hasn't seen his family since before his deployment, so he's excited to be here. Next week we will begin the long drive back to Washington. We are trying to see a bunch of people in a very short amount of time. We aren't sure when we'll get to come back here to visit again.

I have an obnoxious amount of pictures from our adventures. It has been, as always, a wild ride! I can't wait to write it all down before I start to forget. We have had so much fun and I'm definitely glad that the surgery is over and everything has worked out. Huge relief!

Where Am I and How Did I Get Here?

A funny thing happens when you drive over 3,000 miles through time changes and climate changes and diaper changes. You start to lose track of time. (Among other things!)

And here I sit, unable to upload pictures as proof, in another Starbucks parking lot... in Georgia this time. Last weekend I was surrounded by snow and this weekend I was basking in the hot sun. It hardly feels like I ever left Georgia at all. It's the strangest thing!

I have so much to say, so many pictures to share, and we've been through so much in the last 2 weeks. I must find time (and a wi-fi spot) to write it all down here. It's been another awesome adventure.

Signing off for now... in Georgia again...

:)

Hitting the Road (Again, Again, Again)

First of all, I have to thank each of you that left a comment about your small children. It's great to able to reassure each other when a lot of people question our kids' tiny size! Second, check out the giveaways link above because I'm giving away a Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag!

So I happened to glance at the calendar yesterday and a sudden sense of panic washed over me when I realized that I am leaving on another road trip in just 6 short weeks. Where has the time gone? It feels like it was just yesterday that we were anxiously awaiting Jason's return from Iraq and suddenly here we are, almost 6 months later. And once again, I'm headed out by myself with 6 kids in tow as we cross the country in our camper. The last time we made this trip was just 6 months ago when I drove from Georgia to Washington to be there for Jason's homecoming. This time, I don't have anything quite so wonderful to anticipate, although I am excited to see friends and family on the east coast again. But this time, I'm headed from Washington to Georgia to have surgery. Not so fun.

If you've read my blog for long, you have probably read my posts about the stones in my salivary gland and my (unrelated) dizziness. After having multiple, large stones removed from my salivary gland, the doctors have recommended that I have it removed. And seeing as how it's currently blocked by several more large stones at this very moment, I have to agree. The problem is that the surgeon here in Washington has never performed this surgery and wasn't even sure he'd get to practice on a cadaver before he did it on me. He told me that there aren't any surgeons in the state that do this type of surgery (using intraoral approach instead of 2-3 inch incision on outside of neck.) So I'm headed to the hospital in Georgia where the surgeon there is one of the best in this field. And while I'm there, his colleague is going to do surgery on my ear at the same time-getting 2 problems solved at once! (The surgeons here were going to make me have 2 separate surgeries.)

The ear surgery is sort of an unknown at this point. We don't know whether it will help with my dizziness. We don't know what they'll need to do until they cut my ear open and see how bad it is on the inside. They are planning to remove a cholesteatoma and correct the damage to my ear drum, with a second surgery in a few months to replace the tiny bones inside my ear with prosthetics. All in all, I'm probably going to be a bit of a mes for a few days!

After the surgeries, I'm driving from Georgia up to Virginia to visit family. Jason is flying to Virginia to meet us there. He hasn't seen his family in over a year, so this will be a fun trip for him. We'll have a week in Virginia before turning around and driving back to Washington.

One of the tough parts about being a military family is often living far from our extended family. With 6 young children, flying home is just not an option. Driving takes weeks, but it's the best way for us to get home. And knowing that this is our only trip home for the next 2 years makes it worth the trouble.

And so we are hitting the road again and surely chaos will ensue. This time I'm going to have a working laptop and I'm going to be blogging all along the way. Hopefully there won't be any dead cats, flat tires, broken towing equipment, or babies locking us out of the camper. But you never know...

Livin' It Up, Georgia Style

When it's "spring" in Georgia, it really means heat and humidity that rivals summer weather in the rest of the country. It's ok though. After the winter of blizzards we just had in Virginia, we're ready to jump right into summer!


We've spent afternoons on the slip & slide and running through sprinklers.

The kids have gone outside to play on their old swing set at least once a day, every, single day since we've been back. Even Nathan and Ryan want in on the action!
There is something to be said for sunshine boosting your spirits!
I've had to relax a bit (ok, a lot) when it comes to parenting six children. Leila and Sarah were three before I let them play on the swing set without me right there next to them. Call it helicopter parenting I guess. But they were so little and I was terrified they'd get hurt. Now? Nathan and Ryan are all of 20 months old (today) and they would gladly climb to the top of the play ground if I'd let them. They can hold their own out there!


It's so nice to be able to let the children be children. They run, they play, they explore, they build, and they collect things. It's so good for them! We have snack outside and they chase the dog together. And I get to keep most of the mess outside. We all win!
Leila and Sarah decided that they wanted to go strawberry picking for their special birthday adventure. We actually did the same thing last year. Actually, we've gone to pick strawberries at the same, family-owned farm for the last 4 years. It's always been a lot of fun! The girls put on their strawberry shorts and we hit the road.
This year we almost had a complication with our strawberry picking plans. After getting our berry baskets and heading over to the field we were told that we weren't allowed to pick. Why? I have too many children. They only allow 2 children per adult. Maybe the farm is run by the grumpy lady from the PX? I don't know.

Fortunately, I pulled the sympathy card and mentioned that my husband is in Iraq. And I explained that we'd picked here many times over the last several years and that my children were going to be on their best behavior and knew the rules. Besides, I only had 2 children carrying baskets and picking and the little ones were all sitting in the stroller. (It was too hot anyway and they wanted shade.) The guy resisted at first but then decided to let us pick our berries anyway. So we did.
The kids were great and knew exactly what to do. Matthew, Joshua, and I picked two large baskets full of berries while the girls helped us spot the biggest, ripest berries. Everyone behaved and we were rewarded with some of the freshest, most delicious berries you could ever hope to taste. The strawberries were so sweet! (Just like my kids.)

We're embracing the balmy weather and gearing up for a long, hot summer. If the number of mosquito bites we have is any indication of the amount of fun we're having, then we are having a blast! I looked like I slept in a swamp.


P.S.- My mom is in surgery this morning, having the lump in her breast removed. They do not know yet if it is cancerous. Prayers are much appreciated!

Can I Just Catch My Breath First?

Do you ever feel like life is happening so fast that you just need to take a minute and rest? Like you need a breather?

Yeah, me too.
My average day is pretty insane, what with homeschooling, diaper changes, meal preparation, laundry, dishes, dressing children, hygiene stuff, nursing babies, etc. You get the idea. What I don't need is more on my to-do list. Like, say, selling a house!

But here I am, going 100 miles an hour and holding on for dear life!
Yesterday I got a phone call from a realtor who wanted to stop by to preview my house. In 5 minutes. I had already planned to take the kids to the store to buy birthday gifts for the girls from my mom and grandma. So I frantically threw the kids (and the dog) in the van and grabbed my mop. I did a quick clean up and we were on our way. The good news is that realtor thought her client would like our house. The great news is that she asked to come back (with the client) and show the house that evening.

My plans went out the window and I came back to the house for a more thorough cleaning. Then I hauled the kids to the store and grabbed a pizza for dinner. We made it home and I was tempted to lock the children in a bedroom so the house would stay as clean and smell as fresh as it did when we walked back through the door. But I resisted the urge and instead readied them for bed and tucked them in, one by one. Then I stood and appreciated the fabulousness of a spotless house. (I assure you, it will be wrecked by 7:30am.)
I'm not holding out any hope that yesterday's showing will result in The Offer. But, at least I got my daily dose of crazy.

Isn't selling a house fun? I know I'm not the only one who runs around spraying Febreeze and stalking my own house from down the street.

Does anyone stay sane under these conditions? Please, warn me now. I haven't had to sell a house since Matthew was little. I tried to block that last experience from my mind. Oh, the trauma.
Today my mom is driving down to Georgia with the rest of my stuff... like my check book, the rest of my clothes, and some more of the kids' books. She's now visited me more times in Georgia than she did in the first 4 months I was in Virginia. Ironic, isn't it?

I still feel like I'm trapped on some sick amusement park ride. Things are topsy-turvy and my head is spinning just a bit. Things are happening so fast! Leila and Sarah turn 4 tomorrow. Tomorrow!!!

Hold it. Pause. I need a second. Can I just catch my breath first?

It's the Little Things

(waking up, rolling over, and smelling Ryan's sweet blonde hair as he cuddles close to me in bed)

(pulling the covers over my head and wishing for just one more minute of sleep)

(a hot vanilla latte, freshly brewed in my own kitchen and enjoyed in my favorite purple mug)

(the smell outside in the incredibly humid, warm, morning air)

(seeing my daughter sleeping peacefully on the floor while 2 Daddy dolls stand guard beside her)

(the sounds of six children waking up and their endless energy, no matter how early it may be)

(catching a glimpse of Joshua's face and the way my heart flutters because he reminds me so much of his daddy)

(the incredible sense of accomplishment I feel when I manage to get all 7 of us out the door and to church on time and the way it boosts my spirits to worship at this wonderful church again)

(a new friendship and the sweet friend that makes me feel as though we have known each other forever)

(an iced cherry mocha shared with that sweet friend)

(old friendships that are rekindled)

(the incredible generosity of others that has come in the form of mattresses, chairs, and the upcoming arrival of a sofa, and help with lawn work)

(a Friday night of "adult time" after the kids are in bed and the resulting mosquito bites from laughing outside a little too long)

(realizing that the end of this week will usher in the month of May and we are getting *that much* closer to Jason's return)

Sunshine, Pigtails, and Playground Swings

As much as I complained about the heat and humidity of the Georgia summers, it sure didn't take me long to get acclimated again. Yes, it's not exactly summer yet, but it's hot and sticky and familiar. Perhaps part of my misery during our 4 years here was not due to the weather but due to being pregnant with twins. Twice.
The kids sure do love the endless sunny days and hours outside. I'm not sure what we'll do when we get to Washington and we can't go on our nightly walk around the neighborhood or swing at 3 different playgrounds in one day. What then?

For now, we're soaking up the sun and the beauty that is Georgia in the spring. We're finishing up the last few weeks of homeschool before the long summer. We're visiting friends, old and new, and things are falling back into place.
I was so proud that I was able to get all six children up, bathed, and dressed for church on Sunday. We made it out the door with time to spare. (How is it that I can get six kids to church on time but be late to meet a friend at Target? Go figure.) Nathan and Ryan were delighted to go play in the nursery and when the other 4 kids went into their Sunday School classes I almost fell over. It's never that easy! Ever!

I was able to start my week with an hour of peace, enjoying the church service in a familiar place with familiar faces. Despite our poop issues, we've had 2 days without any accidents-for any of the big kids! That's enough to make me sing. So even though the babies spilled yogurt on the floor, my sink is clogged, and my laundry room is a disaster, life is good. I've seen countless friends this week, made it to a deployment support group, and held a sweet, soft newborn against my chest.
Yeah, life is pretty good.

There's Not Many Problems That A Few Donuts Can't Fix

With this amazing job we call parenting, I'm always learning. It's a continual process, no matter how many kids (or sets of twins) I have. I have figured out some things but I still have so much yet to discover.

Most recently I have found out that children are incredibly adaptable. If you know the right tricks, you can get them through just about any situation. For example, you can calm the chaos of moving by buying donuts at the grocery store. Did you know that? What I also learned is that you will have to pay the price later when the sugar causes them to run amok and you desperately want to send them out to pasture. Only you don't have a pasture. And you're moving. So you then have a bunch of wild and crazy kids trapped inside, surrounded by stacks of boxes marked "fragile."

You can entertain kids with just about anything that is not a toy. This includes cell phones, remotes, empty boxes, rolls of packing tape, a colander, or even your running shoes. While this will likely keep them happily occupied for a while, you also may never see your cell phone or remote again. Lesson learned.
Potty training 19-month olds is easier than potty training almost 4-year olds. Because 19-month olds don't regress because they miss Daddy. And they don't hide their poop around the house. And they delight in the satisfaction you get from seeing them produce. But almost 4-year olds aren't so keen on impressing you and are smart enough to call your bluff. For example, when you suggest that perhaps your preschooler may need to wear diapers if she can't use the potty, she may happily oblige. And then you wonder if she'll turn 4 and still wear diapers. And since her birthday is in 2 weeks you know that this battle is lost. Score: Sarah-1, Mommy-0.
If there is dirt to be found, trust a 5-year old boy to find it. And I've learned that he's not just content to bury himself in it... he wants to bury his sisters, the dog, and your kitchen bowl. (Hey, maybe the missing remote is out there?) Forget any chance of keeping your house clean while it's on the market. Hope the buyers in Georgia like nature because we have brought the outside in... literally. My living room floor is a sand box.
Even a 19-month old can remember and recognize familiar faces if you remind them enough. Nathan and Ryan have only seen Daddy for a few months out of their entire lives. But they see Flat Daddy every day and it's done the trick. When Jason called me on Skype yesterday (hurray for internet!) the little boys ran over and said "Hi Daddy!" Kids are so awesome. That just made Jason's day and further proves that kids are always full of surprises!
So I think I'm going to have to go and buy some donuts now. Because I forgot a few things in Virginia and I smell another road trip. I know, I know. It's ridiculous. But a few boxes were left behind and of course they contain important items that I suddenly need, so I'm contemplating a trip up to Virginia this weekend and back to Georgia on Monday. Donuts for the car ride. And Starbucks. And more donuts.

Actually, there may not be enough donuts in the world to fix my problems.

Ultimate Blog Party 2010!

It's time for the Ultimate Blog Party 2010 hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom and, true to form, I'm doing the last minute thing. I feel like I have a good excuse for being so late to join in though. (Ya think?)
For those who don't know me, here's a brief introduction that will include far more info than you ever wanted to know about my life.

I'm Heather and I have an amazing husband, Jason, who has spent most of our married life serving in the Army. Together we have 6 sweet children, all born in less than 6 years. Our oldest son is Matthew (7) and he's incredibly smart and also incredibly challenging. He's on the autism spectrum and he is quite a character. Joshua (5) is the peacemaker in our house and would give the shirt off his back for anyone. He's a budding artist. Leila and Sarah (3) are our identical twin daughters. They were born at home and have been little miracles from the very beginning. Leila is super sensitive and truly believes she is a princess. Sarah is a tomboy in a tutu. Nathan and Ryan (19 months) are our identical twin sons. They were a (HUGE) surprise! Seriously, who thinks they'll have 2 sets of identical twins? I was in shock. These blonde boys are terrors. They look like angels but they are into anything and everything and they work together for evil. Needless to say, I'm a busy mom. I blog a lot about poop.
On top of all that, my life gets even crazier. My husband left in January 2009 for an extended TDY followed by a deployment to Iraq. Right now he's across the globe while I hold down the fort here at home. And home for us? I'm not sure where that is, actually. Two weeks ago we lived in Virginia but now we're in Georgia. In a few months we'll be headed to Washington. It's a long, long story.

I'm not your "typical" mom. I do all sorts of "strange" things. I homeschool our children. I prefer to give birth in my home too. And I breastfeed beyond what some would consider acceptable. (Yes, I nursed 4 children at once for over a year. Can you say freak?) I use cloth diapers and always have, since my oldest was a baby. We cosleep. We eat organic, locally grown food almost exclusively. So while my own family thinks I've gone off the deep end, I can just remind myself that I'm trusting my instincts, doing what I feel is best, and I've got strong convictions. (Did I mention I'm stubborn as heck?)
I love to read and write and I've always wanted lots of children. I love Jesus and I know that somehow He'll use my life to reach others for Him. I'm a Starbucks addict and use my espresso machine every morning. I take my half dozen kids into Target at least once a week because it's my favorite store and I can treat myself to an iced dark cherry mocha from the Starbucks on my way out. I take my crew grocery shopping too... because I really am crazy. I love to sew, knit and paint although I can't remember the last time I had time to do any of those things. Such is life right now.

A random fact... I've live through a major hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado, and far too many blizzards in the last 5 years. Don't stand next to me in a lightning storm.

That's pretty much me in a nutshell... It's Twinsanity!