Okay, the bottom line is my husband has been out of work for over a year, and while I do love things about Livejournal, I don't love the $$$ for an ad-free account.

So, we're all picking up and heading over to Wordpress! Here's a link to the new site: Mega-Moms. Now, note that this site will still be live for a while since we are still moving over the posts here to the new account. But I do believe this will eventually be closed.

Thanks everyone for reading. See you over on the other side!!!

Current Mood: excited

Howdy! I know it has been a while since I've been able to get posting, it's been so hectic around here with Hubby at his new duty station, us having a baby - Connor Hayden was born May 1st. - The day Daddy got promoted too! He came into the world at 5 pounds, 11 ounces and was 18.5 inches long! not bad at all for a 36 weeker! We are just so thankful and greatful we made it as far as we did! We certainly feel blessed!
Here is the most recent addition to the picture collection....



The Texas heat has been sweltering, although lately we've gotten lots of rain since the recent hurricane blew by for a visit down south of us. The kids have been enjoying summer, as I type, 4 of the kids are gone visiting for the next week and a half... the quiet is maddening!! I never thought I would miss all the noise, the bickering, the door slamming as kids run in and out of the house five zillion times, didn't think I'd miss yelling out "Do you think I am air conditioning all of Texas? Close the door!" I miss my kids!! And they've only been gone 2 days.... oy!
Only the littler ones are left, I don't have to do much around the house and I feel like I am ready to climb the walls! Although, my house is much cleaner, there is less to cook and less laundry to do... that's for sure!

My Son, Will, recently swore in for the Army! He's shipping out to boot camp the first week of August! I am now a Proud Army Wife and Proud Army Mom! I can't believe it! He is looking forward to it so much, getting ready, practicing drill and marching around the yard with the hubby-man and neighbor Army guys. *sigh* Where did the time go? He was just my "baby" not too long ago yaknow!

My Other Son, Matt, is now a welder! He is working on a project down in Fl. and earning great money! I am so proud of my boys!! Again... wasn't it just yesterday I was changing them. chasing them and trying to figure out which one was the one who took apart my vaccum cleaner? or toaster? or VCR? or some other appliance they decided needed to be "looked into"? Boys! Oy!

Now, the girls... they are growing up fast too... They are always going to the pool, the park, the shops and commissary & PX. But, in true "girly" fashion, it's always about the shopping for them. I could let them go every day and they wouldn't get tired of it! - good thing my wallet gives out long before they do or we'd be sunk!

The little guys aren't so little anymore.... Gabe is walking, talking and making sure he can get into everything! that includes all the sissy's rooms, all the bathrooms so we can have all kinds of fun with the toilet paper and the kitchen where he can fit right into the cabinets to play!

The baby is going on 3 months, I am happy to say he is smiling and giggling his way into everyone's hearts... but everyone is in love already anyway!

As for the Army... Kevin is gearing up to deploy soon. It will be a very sad event and we will miss him so very much. I am just hoping we will stay busy enough to make the days go by faster and end that gap without him as quickly as possible! - I am sure we will be writing more about that enough, you will all be bored with me soon enough on it! ;) As for now, we are gearing up for him to go and mentally, I am just trying to prepare for it... like there is any preparing for being a single mother with a dozen kids in the house......

I will post a pretty picture of our evening views from the porch... We sit most evenings on the back porch, our neighbors wander over, we discuss all kinds of things, just sitting and relaxing, unwinding from our day and getting that much needed "adult time" we all should get. (But good luck really getting it, kwim?)



Well, this concludes my latest update for now... off to go burn dinner, chase kids, juggle poopy diapers and trip over the dog! Peace and Many Blessings to all, I've missed everyone and hope to get back online soon!!
I will be back.... !
 

Current Location: Texas
Current Mood: blah

First of all, let me announce our newest arrival! Noah came into this world on May 9, 2008. He weighed in at 6 lbs even. He is exactly one month old today. He loves to nurse. He is long and skinny! He just grew out of his preemie clothes and is now wearing newborn size. He is quiet and sweet. He is just starting to give us those smiles that will melt your heart in 0.2 seconds flat! He doesn't have much for hair but he is adorable just the same. He is so alert and keeps us all in awe! Welcome to the world my sweet little man!

I would like to take this time to share about a conversation that my husband and I recently had. One I still don't understand and one that frustrates me to no end!

About a week ago, Benjamin, age 8, had his last baseball game of the season. This year we had a pizza party at the park. It was an overcast windy day. I did not bring any extra kids with to this event. But then, I rarely bring all the kids to games. We tend to take that time to be with the kid participating and maybe one other child. Besides our two little guys with special needs would NEVER, EVER make it through a game. 

The coaches wife was already there. She recently announced that they were expecting their second baby together. They  have a little one that will be one soon and he has a child from another relationship. I sat at more than one practice/game and heard comments made about this family having their babies so close together. I was shocked...no, I am still shocked! Comments about how they are "just getting it out of the way now" or "omg, she is going to go crazy with two that close." I don't understand why people think it is okay to make comments like this. Especially when neither mom or dad have expressed these feelings! 

To this particular outing, I had Ben with and just the new baby. The coaches wife was loving on the baby while Ben and her stepchild ran off to play catch. It was the first time we had been able to just sit and chat since she announced her pregnancy and I had baby Noah. In this conversation I told her the number of kids we have. She was great. Yes, a little amazed, but she was not rude or condescending like we have experienced before.

A little later, after others had arrived, it was shared (one other mom knew too) the amount of kids we have. I got it then. Boy oh boy! "Why didn't you share this sooner?" "How do you do it?" "Where are the rest of the kids now?" "How can you afford it?" "Want the leftover pizza?" "What do you drive?" "OMG,  you must be going nuts with the kids all home from school!" "What does your husband do for a living?" "I bet there is no way you can ever leave the house." And the ever popular, direct and to the point, "Why? Why would you have 10 kids?"

What makes it okay to ask these questions to ANYONE? I don't go up to someone and say, "oh poor you, you only have one? how are you keeping that ONE child busy all summer? that child must be going crazy without someone to play with! You must have to plan a lot of activities to get that child socialized! Wow and I bet with only one child you can stay home and eat bonbons all day long without a financial concern at all! You must be dreadfully lonely with only one child."  How ridiculous! 

Why is the size of one's family open for public opinion? BUT!!!! Only if that is a large family or if they are having kids close together!! I have never asked a family with only one or two children such personal questions. I would think it rude, obnoxious and a bit condescending! And I would never just assume that since someone is having their children close together that they are just "getting it out of the way." 

It is in the moments like the above that I fall back and remember the good comments. Like recently at an appointment for my husband, the nurse (yes, she knows how many kids we have) said to me, "You look at that baby like you have never seen a baby before. The love there is so obvious and wonderful" Yes, I have seen other babies but the miracle of life will ALWAYS amaze me, will always capture my attention, and will always draw my love!




 

A few months ago, a friend and a staffmember of LOK, Christi Cason, was featured on the reality show, Kids by the Dozen. The show was great, and it was fantastic to see such a loving large family, particularly since I know the mom (at least online). It's amazing looking into the lives of other large families, particularly ones bigger than mine.

One thing that was featured in the show, was all of the kids going to the salon to get their hair done for a big event. I honestly don't now if Christi does that regularly. On figured this particular trip was on TLC's dime. But as I looked, all I could think is, "man, that would cost a fortune!"

Like a lot of moms of many, in an effort to save money, I cut hair at home. For the longest time that meant my sons got buzzcuts courtesy of the hair clippers, and my girls had straight hair with bangs. Slowly I got more daring and started studying pictures of other haircuts. I began watching the beautician as she did my hair and others. While I will never claim to be as good, I did learn some of the basic skills and was able to do some more "cute" styles.

Eventually, as I became more confident, I started doing Jim's hair to save the $20 cut for him. I was already trimming his beard regularly. Actually I kinda like it, though I do have to admit it would be nice simply to cart the kids off in a line to the salon like the Cason's did, since "beauty shop" usually takes several hours, and can occur over the course of a couple of days. But, considering that I would most likely take the kids to get their hair cut 3 times a year, at $10 a pop (and these are conservative number), I'm saving $240 a year. Add Jim who needs a cut every 2-3 months at $20, we're adding another $80. $320 a year is not a bad deal, especially if you consider that Geico brags they can save you that much a year on car insurance!

Oh, as for me? Since I can't cut my own hair, I do resort to going to the salon once or twice a year. I have toyed with the idea of teaching Jim to cut my hair, and he was willing to learn. But, for now, I think I'll just keep it long and keep the cuts to a minimum for me.

Since pictures are worth 1000 words, I thought I'd post some pictures of our recent beauty shop sessions!

I don't just do cuts. My older girls like curls, so I do perms on a semi-regular basis. I'd never be able to afford perms for them at a salon.



Violet didn't want to be left out of the action, so we put a curler in her hair so she could feel like a big girl.



The little girls with freshly clipped bangs



Monty has bone straight hair with rockhard cowlicks. So we keep him in a "pageboy" cut, which works since he is such a little squirt of a kid. When it gets too long, thought, we shorten it (I think Becca looks hysterical in the second picture).





I do a layered cut for Tess. SHHHH. I also let her color her hair. Bad, Mommy!



When I buzz-cut Linus in past years, we lost all his lovely curl (which he gets from Jim). So I cut his hair now to preserve them. Right is Linus on his First Communion day a week ago:



Raif is autistic. Haircuts are not fun. If you want to read more on this, check out the LOK Special Needs blog.



Beauty shop is not all cutting and perming. Sometimes it's for hair styles. Here is Becca doing a "Pippi Longstocking."

Current Mood: happy

I'm hoping to start a series of these questions. Perhaps my fellow bloggers will post their own entries as answers. As for our readers, feel free to chime in with your answers in the comments section. Oh, and everyone is free to comment--not just the mega-moms out there!

What's the hardest part of having a bunch of kids?

• Okay, there are lots of things that are hard, and if you ask me a month from now, I may have another answer. For now, here's my answer:

Getting ready to go somewhere...anywhere. This includes school, which of course is a pretty regular occurrence. Whatever it is, out to the store, off to visit grandpa, whatever, oftentimes it's an ordeal.

I have heard of couples having a hard time getting out the door. Certainly any family with small kids can relate to this. When you have 8 kids, it can be impossible at time. Honestly, it's not the number of people that is the problem, but the number of missing things. Someone has inevitably lost a shoe, or their coat, or that Pokemon toy they will absolutely die without. There are times we actually have everything together, and I am amazed that it IS possible to get a dozen people out the door in under 20 minutes. But, in all honesty, that's more of an exception to the rule. I should know better and prepare ahead of time, and always swear I will when I'm in the middle of the chaos. Of course, I don't remember that promise until I'm in the middle of another fiasco!

• I have to cheat and give 2 answers here. The second one is the noise. Thankfully this is not a problem all the time, but there are moments when everyone is talking and screaming and crying and laughing and teasing...and all I want to do is run away...but there is no where to run! It's no wonder I adore 4 a.m. Blissful quiet.

Current Mood: listless

My mega mom brain can't help but automatically equate spring with MUD. Usually it's a dreaded word in the mom dictionary. After the other night though I am SO looking forward to it. It took me over 30 minutes to drive 6 miles, 4 of which were on main roads. I didn't realize it was physically possible for a vehicle to take that long to go that far. lol I'm sick of snow (it hasn't even been that bad of a year for it) I want to see green! At this moment I'd gladly take shirts stained in mud splatters from bike tires, muddy shoeprints on the newly washed kitchen floor, and being short on spoons because they've become digging tools.



I envy the southerners who are getting dirt under their nails planting their gardens. All I can do is look through seed catalogs and count down the days until it's time to start seedlings. I sit here drooling as I dream of sun warmed tomatoes waiting to be made into tomato sandwiches or the garlicy goodness of sauteed zucchini cooking on the stove. I'd even like to be able to nibble and enjoy the tangy sweet grassy taste of a cloverleaf right about now!

I can't wait to set Sean on the grass for the first time and watch his expression as the blades tickle his thighs. To take him in the pool and let him splash for hours and hours...he LOVES the water. I'm looking forward to being able to drink my morning coffee on the front porch again while Danielle rides her new tricycle up and down the front walk.

In Central NY we have at least a month before we can think of shedding our winter coats on a regular basis. Until then I'm trying to use my desire to see all things bright and new and growing toward my house. I'm looking at wallpaper and paint samples to figure out how to brighten up these walls. There's nothing like some sunshine yellow to make you smile.

I'm digging through dressers and weeding out the play clothes. It makes me thankful that we don't do seasonal clothes that have to be switched out every 6mos or so. We just add or take off layers...a t-shirt with a hoodie seems to work just as well as a sweater right now. As I'm merciless throwing out stretched out, holey or mateless socks, I'm hoping that my supply lasts a bit longer until sandal season starts.

AHHH Sandal season! My husband pointed out that I needed a new pair of shoes. I guess the holes in the toes gave it away ;o). He couldn't understand why I didn't go out and buy a new pair now. I explained that in a few weeks/months I can wear my birkenstocks and won't need to wear the shoes anymore. I really don't want to buy shoes only to have them sit around and get smushed in the shoepile all summer. So I'm holding out and making due for now. I'll just try to keep everyone distracted from looking at my feet. Hey! Maybe that chocolate handprint on the back of my coat will do the trick! (note to self...throw coat in the washing machine tonight)

So if you drive by my house during one of the winter storms and see someone out in their swimsuit, it's just me...waiting for the warmer weather to get here. Oh and if the warmth does get here and I start complaining about the mud. Remind me what I wrote here today, 'kay.

Tags: kmomof12, mud, spring
Current Location: A snowbank
Current Mood: cold

It has been a crazy few months... Since Kevin re-enlisted in the Army it has been one incredible ride, ups, downs, we've been through it all.
We finally got his orders! Yes, he was even held over at AIT (schooling, basically) because they originally gave him orders to Korea... unaccompanied... meaning he would have had to leave us all and go play Army in Korea for a year without us.
Now That didn't work for me, he didn't like it either... so he asked about that since he had to get us on EFMP (the program identifying us as having special medical needs) and they decided to cancel the orders.. but, with that, meant they had to wait until all of us with special medical needs were updated in the computer and were processed so they could determine what base to send us to that would be able to meet those needs.
Well, after his gradutaion - which was very nice, btw - He had to stay in South Carolina for an extra 2 weeks for a new assignment. 
We will now be headed to Texas!!
We are currently in PA. We also only got 10 days notice!! Yes, 10 days to move! - 10 days to move a house of this many people, and me almost 8 months pregnant! Boy don't we like to live on the edge?!

So, we have to do so many things to do this, it feels like I have to move a mountain sometimes!
We have to clear out a house, get it packed and loaded and then drive over 2,000 miles across the country, pregnant with 9 kids in "Momzilla" (our 15 passeneger van) to end up in a studio motel for Lord only knows how long, and try to house hunt so we can find us a home - because post housing has an 8 month waiting list thus far - and meanwhile the kids are out of school and we all get to just "hurry up and wait"!

So, let the adventure begin!!

Yes, I am going into this with an open mind... do I really have a choice?? But, I have Faith that God will provide, He will look after us and He will settle us where He wants us to be and do what we were meant to do... now, we don't know what that is... do any of us? We will just go along though... that incredible Faith will just have to do! :)

Well now, it's been about a week since we got the news, so now we have the actual "pack up and move" part to deal with....

So... The movers came today - there were 3 guys, I was in serious doubt they would be able to pack up my entire house by the day's end....

Let me tell something to you!... lol (yes, Happy Feet!)

They packed and I have never seen such efficient work!! WOW!! The only thing is, they pack EVERYTHING... and I mean EVERYTHING!! One of the guys packed my crock pot with my dinner in it!! LMSO!!! I am NOT KIDDING!! I had to stop him and tell him "Oh wait!! That's my dinner in there!!" He kinda laughed!
Of Course, they were all (Kids, Movers, Kevin, even my Mom called cuz she "had the feeling" I wasn't "sitting still") Yelled at me to go lay down, sit down, stay out of it, or go relax. OY!! they are a pain in the butt!! he he he! Um, yeah. that works out so well for me! First off, I am a control freak, secondly, I want things done a certain way... yaknow? (And you will have to keep reading to see that they should have let me be more involved!!) Anyhoo, about mid-day Kevin brought me up to our room and made me just stay put, I actually took a nap - they left my bed alone. (good thing, I might have been packed up to!)

I went back down as they were finishing up... they packed it ALL!! My house is all gone! - they didn't leave a dish, a spoon, a NOTHING! They even packed my furbaby's dogfood that was sitting out for her!! DOG FOOD!!! They packed my shots - yes, my injections I have to do everyday -, they packed up all the toilet paper!! They packed up all our clothes, everything!!... I hadn't even packed for the trip yet, so we were left, literally, with the clothes on our backs!! We didn't have our shoes on... guess where those are?? PACKED!

I was glad we kept a close eye on the little ones they would have gone missing in a box!! The only thing left behind was open containers of any kind, the oil, perfumes, meds, etc... if it was open, they left it!

I had to go to Wally's to get paper plates, bowls, plastic cups, all that! We couldn't make or eat dinner!! I also had to buy us a change of clothes, a package of undies and socks each, I got us shoes - just some slipper/sandals things that were cheap to travel in - So, frozen pizza's for the kids on disposable pizza trays and Kev and I got chinese....

Now, the other movers come tomorrow to load everything on to the truck.. My house will be empty!!! I am sad you know.... I am going to miss our huge Victorian home... I did love this house and we could not have asked for better neighbors - Awesome folks! - they were also the landlords! ;) I will miss my Mom, I moved out here to get to know her and I am so glad that I did. I never knew my Mom, she left when I was just an itty bitty thing, so getting to know her after all these years was nice - for both of us! My mom's side of the family and Kevin's folks are here local too... It's been a nice 3 years in PA!

I write you this now - by some miracle! (because they packed my wireless router!) - seems I have a neighbor somewhere that has a wireless router because I was amazed that I could get online when I got on here to write up a letter - that I now realize I can't print because they packed my printer too... LOL

Unbelievable!!

Anyhoo, since everything is packed and will be gone tomorrow, we are going to hit the road once they are done and the house is empty and I get to clean the place and turn in the keys!

So, If y'all don't hear from me, I am en route to Texas!!

It's been a crazy time, this last few months... I will keep everyone posted on this incredible new journey with the Army as we go, and tell you of all the adventures of The Tribe as we live it!

Much Love, Luck and Happiness to all and we will update soon!! - and If I don't get to post before it comes around... Have a Happy Easter!

 

Current Location: In Transit!
Current Mood: crazy

Well, as some of you may have been following along our lil story, My Hubby and I will not be together this Valentines Day.
He is still doing the "Army thing". So for now, we will get phone calls and whatever we've sent each other via USPS to celebrate.
If anyone would have told me a year ago that we would be "here" I would have laughed at that far fetched thought!

A year ago today, we got engaged! Feb. 10th, 2007
Jan. 16th, 2007 was our 2 year Anniversary. (first date)
and We were married on Dec. 24th, 2007

Wow, we have alot of dates to remember! 

And that doesn't include the ump-teen hundred birthdays we have to stick on a calendar!

We met, Jan of 2006. We had spent alot of time talking on the phone, and meeting up for pie and coffee in the wee hours of the morning when the kids were asleep. We have such wonderful conversations. We can talk about anything, from politics to poopy diapers.
We can talk all through the night, we can debate and express our ideas and thoughts and it's wonderful! We played cards at my old kitchen table, talking, joking and just being together.

I miss our conversations. I miss our time together, our evenings over pie and coffee and conversations or card games....
Now, we have our conversations, via cell phone and occasionally, on one of the slew of messenger services that we can chat through. We spend hours on the phone once he's done for the day, I will even pull a late nighter with him when it's his turn for "duty" so he's not alone.
I think someone was on to something when they had that idea that communication was the key to a great relationship! It really is, but let's not ignore the physical... although we obviously have to right now. I am looking forward to just being in his arms.

So, next week, We will be leaving, taking "Momzilla" (Our 15 passenger van) down to him for a week. We will get to spend time together and attend "Family Day" and his Graduation, FINALLY, from all his Army required trainings!!

Our Valentines Day will be February 16th!

So, I am hoping everyone has a wonderful, Love filled Valentines Day and I will be going to the one I love, to fill him with all our Love... Our Soldier, Our Hero, We will finally get to bring him home... if only for a little while, but we will enjoy every day we can with him!

 

Current Mood: anxious

A thought crossed my mind today. Ya, that happens every once and a while! This thought is one of those that makes me lay back in my chair and go, "woooooow".

What sort of thought would do that?

This April it will be 17years since I met my husband. I was 17 years old, when I met him. The "wow" comes in realizing that this year marks a milestone - I will have known my darling for longer than I lived prior to meeting him.  My years with him will begin to be the majority of my life.

We met in April, began to, officially, date in June and were wed in October. Whirlwind of courtship, huh?  The very night we met, I knew he was to be something special in my life.  As a matter of fact, I told my roommate just that, after he'd gone home.  She just said, "uh huh" and went back to sleep. I mean, it WAS 3am or so.  I would not have guessed, on that night, that "special" would be 16 years of marriage and 8 children. But, I'm really glad that's how it turned out.

On that night we met, my roommate and I thought he was going to mug us.  It wasn't, really, his fault that we thought that.  We were two, young, silly "girls" walking home from the movie theater, very late at night.  We only lived across the street, but had to cross a large parking lot to get there.  We were...um... quite boisterous.  I have no idea what we were talking about, but she hollered, "like THAT man, over there!" and pointed to the direction of someone walking on the other side of the parking lot.  Well, "THAT man" began to walk towards us!  We got scared and walked faster. If we could get to the gate into the apartment complex, before he caught up with us, we'd be "safe".  That was, strategically, impossible, though. He was closer to the gate than we were and on a direct course for interception.  As he neared us, it became apparent that he knew who she was.  She, however, was blind as a bat and had no idea who he was, until he was right on us.  Turns out they knew each other from the Pizza place and she invited him over for a visit.

Visit we did.  We outplayed my roommate at Scrabble, sending her off to bed around 1am.  We continued chatting and enjoying each other's company until 3am, or so.  He lived in the complex, in the next section over, and promised to come visit again.  I must tell you, here, his intentions were NOT honorable.  He saw a cute, young thing that he thought was hot.  I'm not sure what I thought, for us.  He was adorable, incredibly funny and smelled nice.  LOL

Life moved on, and so did I.  Out of the roommate situation and into a live-in relationship with, my now, DH!  Until God grabbed hold of my shirt collar and pleaded that I come back to living life with Him.  DH didn't really understand.  He hadn't been to church in ages and never really had a personal relationship with God.  It caused him to stop and really examine himself, his life. I moved onto the couch, and was packing to move back in my with my former roommate.  To him, I guess, that meant breaking up, though I had told him that's NOT what I wanted, not what I was doing.  Well, whatever his thinking was, it really caused some soul-searching and changes in HIM.

He picked me up from night school, late one night, but we didn't go home.  We drove in an awkward silence to White Rock Lake, in Dallas, TX.  As we drove I could only think that he was going to make one more plea that I not move out and break up with me, if I did.  These thoughts prevented me from even entertaining small talk.  He was scheming, in his brain, and fretting and that kept him from entertaining small talk.  I was near tears, so was he.

We arrived at "our spot" on the lake and got out to talk.  I sat on the hood of his car, mouth agape, staring in pure shock as he knelt down on one knee and asked me to marry him.  That was sooooo not what I was expecting!  I was, truly, in shock.  He was so adorable, so vulnerable.  What do most girls, madly in love, say at this point? Ya, well, that's not what I said!!! I said, "uuuuuuum. I'll have to think about it.'

This is where you're to feel so bad for him.  Such a huge decision for him to realize that he was ready to settle down.  So certain that getting married was my motivation for "threatening" to move out.  Here he is, putting himself out on a line, asking me to spend the rest of our lives together.  And I was going to "think about it"?!?  It gets worse, ya'll!!

I did make that poor guy wait - almost a WEEK before I gave him an answer.  The fate of his future with me relied upon a 17 year old!  (I was almost 18, like 3 weeks away from it, but still!)  I asked everyone I knew what they thought I should do.  Some said, "no way, you're too young, wait a few years." Others said, "only you can make that decision." But, you could tell they thought it was a bad idea.  I was lost and confused and, finally, turned to prayer.  I asked God for one of the most unlikely things to happen to be the sign that I was to marry my DH.  The next morning that very thing happened and I went home, that night, to tell him a very definite "yes!"  We got the license on my birthday, made a trip to the JP six days later and had a formal wedding the following June.  Shortly after we wed DH was baptised and began a new life, with God at the center.

He's still adorable, funny and smells great (most days).  He totally completes me.  I couldn't have asked God for a better spouse.  It hasn't always been easy, but we've weathered the storms and came out stronger because of them.  I thank God, several times a day, for sending my DH to interrupt the path i was on and forged a new one with DH.

Current Mood: satisfied

Have you ever had a mini-crisis that just grows and grows and grows until you have to step back and laugh?

Yeah, welcome to my life!

We have two boys who have special needs. Both boys love to flush things down the toilet. This is not a new occurence. Nope, not at all. In fact, when we were renovating the house 4+ years ago the handyman that helped us taught me how to remove the toilet after he had to do it twice in a week. Yes, twice in one week. We have found a wide variety of fun things flushed. We have had q-tips, toothbrushes, bars of soap, full rolls of toilet paper, toys galore, and more!

Josiah is the current flushee. What he flushed this last time we did not know. We just knew that whatever it was didn't always block the flush, only part of the time and that all the plunging and snaking in the world was NOT budging what ever it was that was down there. So finally my large pregnant self decides that she cannot stand having to plunge every other time someone uses the toilet. 

I take a trip to our local Wally World and get a new wax ring. I knew from the last flushing excursion that this was going to need to be replaced. I proudly go home and start the removal process. 

Step 1: turn off the water running to the toilet
Step 2: drain the water from the back down the drain, watch as it slowly descends into oblivion
Step 3: loosen bolts and put all small pieces up HIGH so the kids cannot lose them while I have the toilet off
Step 4: remove toilet from it's "spot"
Step 5: try snaking toilet from the bottom up

Step 5 was a bugger. I plopped myself firmly onto the floor, holding back any gagging, reminding myself just how awful plunging at least 5 times a day was and get started. Nothing was moving. I could feel the snake get to a spot and then stop. I even tried other items shoved up the toilet to see if I could budge whatever it was that was in there. As I am doing this, still firmly planted onto the floor, I hear my 9 year old from the door way gasp as a loud "clink" comes from the toilet. Any guesses as to what happened? *sigh* Uh, yeah, a big chunk of the front of the weight-bearing part of the toilet broke off. I was no where near this part. The snake was no where near this part. It just fell off the toilet. 

In frustration and tears and covered in sweat. I climb up off the floor in defeat. Now let me add in here that while my husband is a wonderful man, he isn't exactly...uh....mechanical. He can lift and move the toilet but the rest was up to me. Besides I had the official training. LOL

After a quick shower, I head to the computer to look up prices on new toilets. After looking at the screen in shock, I head to bed dismayed. We did not have that kind of money in our budget. In the past 2 weeks before this my van had to go into the shop, our oven went out the week before Christmas and our fridge died. There was absolutely no funds available. 

I woke up the next morning and after having to walk all the way to the other end of the house (we have an old duplex and have to walk through an unheated garage to get to the other side) to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, I knew we had to do something fast. 

I hop onto freecycle to post asking for a toilet. I almost immediately got a response to check out the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Someone else had gotten one for $5 there! Wow!!!! $5 was something we could afford. Heck, I could probably come up with that in change! So I called. They weren't open until the next day. Ugh! Ok, I was a big girl, I could make sure to have my slippers and sweater on the chair in our room so I wouldn't freeze walking to the bathroom.

The next day I make my trip to the ReStore. $40 for a decent toilet. They had a few cheaper but honestly those $25 toilets gave me the heebie-jeebies. Don't ask....must be a pregnancy thing. They don't take a check. I have no cash or a debit card because the week before Christmas someone stole our identity and therefore had no debit cards as we were waiting for new ones. Yep, this was the day Josiah discovered that there was a hole in the floor of mommy's bathroom and that his foot fit perfectly into this hole! ew, ew, ew, ew, ew!!!!!!! Bath for him and I am on the verge of saying lots of bad words. I just want a toilet. Is that so bad? Ugh!

Frustration was really really getting to me at this point. All I wanted was a toilet that flushed right and all I got was one mess after another, after another, after another......

A good friend borrowed us the funds so I went back the next day and got me a $40 toilet. Woohoo!!!! They loaded it up in the back of our truck. Our 9 year old gladly volunteered to help clean it up. We worked together cleaning it outside and daddy brought it inside. I get the wax core thingy put on and we get the bolts lined up and tightened down. I am sooooo excited at this point, but our 8 year old had a basketball game so we didn't even get to test it out. I showered quick and we watched his team come back from a 7 point deficit to win by 1 point! woohoo! Go Mavericks!

Ok, head home. Fill up the tank. Errrrrr, why isn't the flapper thingy on the bottom of the toilet not working??? Run to Wally World, again, get the part needed. Run home, install new flapper thingy. Fill tank. Flush! OMG! Did you see that??? The toilet flushed. Party in mom & dad's bathroom. Quick, everyone come and look the toilet flushes. Woohoo! 

Fast forward a day. It's now Sunday and I am happily giving kids baths and showers for school the next morning when I notice this huge puddle on the floor. The realization hits that the kids were really good about splashing and I was dry and so was the rest of the floor. Oh crud, the toilet tank was leaking. I promptly shut off the water and drain the tank. *sigh* back to no toilet. Where's my sweater and slippers?

Monday. day 6 of no toilet at all, almost 2 weeks of the toilet not flushing right. I head to our lovely Wally World yet again to grab some plumbing caulking. I left the top off the back of the tank to dry it all up. Heading back home I am praying that this works because I have NO CLUE what we are going to do if it doesn't. We still did not have the extra funds needed to get a brand new toilet.

I put caulking all around the bolts and washers that hold the tank to the base. I tighten them a bit more, knowing full well if I tighten too much that the tank will crack. Then I leave it to dry. 24 hours cure time. Another night of no working toilet in our bathroom.

It's been a week. I am so thankful we have more than one bathroom in our house, but there is something comforting about having a master bathroom. I check the caulking. Seems nice and dry. *big deep breath* I turn the water back on to fill up the tank when I notice the kids broke the floaty. Of course, no on admits to it. Ugh, back to Wally World. I know the plumbing department really well by this point. I buy a new floaty thingy only its not an actual floaty and I worry that it won't work with the toilet. Did you know that Wal-Mart doesn't sell those floaty things anymore? 

I decide just to be on the safe side to use some caulking while installing this new part. Part installed....uh, duh...now it has to cure for another 24 hours. *sigh* Yep, 8 days. 8 days of no working toilet. 

The next morning, I cautiously fill the tank. Flush! Phew! ok....feel under the tank, no leaks. Flush again....is it too soon to start dancing? I leave the bathroom to work on some laundry. I am so leary of this thing leaking again that I decide not to even tell the kids or hubby that it seems to be working. We go all day with it flushing normally and no leaks. The kids are using it and don't even realize it. Silly kids. Hubby gets home. I proudly proclaim that so far so good! I think I can put my sweater away tonight.

Its been about 10 days now and its still flushing and still not leaking....and I have been extremely careful to make sure the bathroom doors are shut all the time. I do not want a repeat of this process any time soon. 

Oh and by the way, it was a toothbrush. Yep, a $2.49 toothbrush that caused this big mess.