Home! Home :) Home:(...

If you can interpret my title, that sums up my feelings at the present. Initial relief at being home from our trip to ultimately wishing we were anywhere but. South Dakota was interesting to say the least. If you have never tried camping in a single tent with seven children, being seven months pregnant, miles from the nearest bathroom, and then ultimately having five of the seven throwing up and then having diarrhea for six nights - you don't know what you are missing.

Things started out okay getting out there. I'm not sure what possessed us to leave at midnight but that's what we did Saturday night. Warren started driving but pulled over just past Fairmont - almost 30 miles into the trip - for me to take over. I had told him I would drive if he got tired but mind you I worked Friday night and slept all of three hours Saturday morning. Thank God for reststops because I used them as nap stations. We traded back and forth and eventually made the what should have been 6 hour drive in 10.5 hours. At least the kids did okay. We went to my favorite spot - the set for Dances for Wolves and had 99 cent pancakes and intended to go the church service after. However, when I called the lady said it was at 10:00 but when we got there shortly before it had already started at 9:30. So by the time we were done eating, it was essentially over. Which was good because (until this moment I forgot about this after all the other fun we had but) we noticed poop coming out the top of Sam's shorts and on his shirt and he was rolling his short up in it, etc. So, I had determined I would be taking care of all the diapers this trip to let the kids have their vacation so I took him into the bathroom, had someone else find me a change of clothes for him, and cleaned it all up. How it came out the top I still don't know. Mark that has poop change #1. We then looked around the set and such. I believe at this time at some point came my first lecture to the children about their fighting and complaining and how I never got to take any vacations as a kid and so they should be enjoying and appreciating this. We decided to try to go check-in at the campground at this point and thankfully they allowed us to early.

The first one we went to was the Palmer Gulch KOA about six miles from Mount Rushmore. It was a nice place but despite the fact the fact that many tent sites were not used the whole time we were there, they put us at the farthest away from everything, including the bathroom. In actuality, it was probably a block away in city terms and getting there was not too bad as it was downhill, but coming back was uphill the whole way and for someone not in good shape, it was a difficult walk. Eventually we gave up with the walking and just drove when we needed to go. That first day was nice though and we set up without any real problems and explored what was there. They had a waterslide which once all the kids tried, they loved, not real long, I think 160 feet but it was fun for them. The splash pool was just plain cold and they didn't really go in that. The big pool was okay but usually pretty crowded. They also had mini golf right there which everyone (except me) played quite a bit and loved. They also had a playground and a bounce pillow which was like an inflated parachute/trampoline they could jump on. So things went well. I think that first day was the only time we walked to all the that stuff cause it was like somewhere around 1/2 mile away and too long with kids that wanted to be carried.

That night I knew I was in trouble when my egg burps started. For those unfamiliar with my problem, usually when I'm pregnant but every once in awhile when not, I get sick to my stomach and start burping nasty egg smells which means that in the next 5-6 hours usually, I will have wretched diarrhea for a few hours. We went to bed pretty early though, I think it was by 9 or 10 at the latest cause we were all tired. It was too bad getting the kids to sleep. My dreams of sitting around the campfire at night roasting marshmallows and singing never happened because by the time it was dark, I was done for the day. But anyway, I woke up around midnight and had to pee. However, I knew I wouldn't make it in time to the bathroom. So I went out of the tent and was going to squat and just then the people camping across from us came out of their tent with their light. (By this time, I hadn't yet decided it was okay to drive the bathroom). So I did what any reasonable would do and took a size 5 diaper, put it in my pants, and tried to pee in it. It quickly became obvious I was overfilling it though as I felt warmth go down my legs. So I removed my sweat pants with the diaper which was really too bad because it was in the low 50's that night and rather cold. I went back to sleep then. However, I woke up again at 5 or so and my diarrhea was starting so I think I drove to the bathroom that time in a clean pair of shorts. It seems so long ago I don't remember if I went first before my next accident or not. Anyway though, at some point, I woke up and had already been too late I realized so I got up and drove with towel on the seat. However, the bathroom was busy at that time of the morning and there was a line for the showers. I also needed to go some more. So I sat in the van a bit pondering how to get into the bathroom without anyone noticing I soiled myself and finally gave up and just went in. Thankfully, when I left the bathroom a shower had just opened up and I was able to shower right away. At least I was ready for the day by 7am. Mark that up for mom poop change #1.

The rest of the day we hung around the campground doing the activities, washing clothes (I was quickly running out), and other such stuff. Elexis met a 13 yo boy from Tennessee who they all hung around. They went to the camp movie together that night - National Treasure 2. All in all, I think everyone had a good day and while everyday had fighting, I no longer remember at least being driven insane by it that day. We let the older 5 go swimming themselves that afternoon while big Warren, Bethany, and Sam napped in the tent. I sat outside and did doze off and on but mainly enjoying just sitting doing nothing. That night after the movie, there was supposed to be a candy hunt but the little boys were not listening well so Warren brought all the kids back to the tent. I had already gone up with Bethany to put her to sleep. Well that was Elexis' friends last night there and so she didn't get to see him again to exchange numbers, etc and so both girls came back all upset. Drama act #1. The next morning they got up really early and went looking for him and thankfully did find him so they could exchange info and not be in a bad mood all day. I slept well too without any problems. However, as I was laying in bed that morning (we are on Tuesday here I believe), I heard Bethany fill her pants as she was laying next to me (actually I would have been able to hear her anywhere in the tent). I told her to go see Autumn but she must have remained sleeping somewhat. Anyway, next thing I knew my back was feeling quite wet and I sat up and saw her movement all over our airbed. Elexis was sitting outside the tent, back from her trip to find her friend, and I had her take Bethany while I scrubbed the bed the best I could with babywipes. At some point during this Warren did wake up and get up as well. Anyway, when I went out of the tent in my poop stained shirt, Bethany is sitting there still dirty on the picnic table and Elexis is saying how much the flies like her. How helpful. So it was another early shower that morning for Bethy and I. Are you keeping track of poop changes still? That would make 3. Do you sense a trend? Because by this point I certainly did. I started to think as I do when things go bad that maybe we weren't supposed to go on this vacation and such but then decided to look on the bright side and at least it wasn't me again and find what I could be thankful for yet.

Anyway, there are many days to go and many more poop stories to tell but I will stop for now as I am more swollen then I've ever been and need to get my feet up. But alas, there will be more!