Okay, so where were we? Something related to poop I'm sure. Tuesday morning - after the poop. By this time the fighting had become somewhat unbearable so we decided maybe we needed to do something else for distraction. We let the kids swim a bit while I did more laundry and dishes and then loaded up to go to Custer State Park. No one was too excited about it initially but we picked a good day to do it because it began to rain and storm and the tent would not have been a fun place to be. The road we took took us up steep hills with very narrow lanes and Elexis kept saying we were all going to die. It was so awesome when we got to the top though - it was the needles or something like that. Anyway - we were sitting almost on top of this hill or mountain basically - about 6000-7000 feet in elevation between this gigantic rock structures overlooking the whole area and it was gorgeous. Even the children were somewhat impressed although still sure we were going to die because by now the thunderstorm had hit and there was lighting all around us and little Warren couldn't even count to one between the thunder and lightning strikes. He was very anxious for us to keep driving. But we had our sandwiches we packed and chips and enjoyed the view awhile.
After we went on our way, the skies cleared some and we didn't die and the kids even started having fun. We saw the roadside donkeys who always love a meal and so all the kids except Bethany got out and started feeding them. Josiah seemed to connect the most and was talking to them and feeding them and just loving it. At one point, Josiah and Samuel I believe were back to back with donkeys coming at them from all sides. Bethany would have loved to get out as well but we felt the need to protect her a little bit so she could only feed them from the windows. We called them little Warren's cousins after his nickname of Burro that a friends dad gave him for being lazy. That was a joke from previous years. After the donkeys, we drove more and found the buffalo/bison herd. It was awesome seeing so many of them. Josiah pointed out that the one was giving another a piggyback ride. Again, he seemed to enjoy them the most although these he had to view from the van. All in all, everyone had a good time, fighting was kept to a minimum, and it was a worthwhile trip. Oh, and I forgot to mention but the conversation in our van anytime we drove seemed to revolve around poop and butts. We realized that if we just said poop, Sam would smile so if we needed to see a smile, we would just say "poop." I'm unsure exactly what is wrong with my children except if you look at their parents.
Things turned a little ugly as we headed back and everyone was hungry. Unchain restaurants always scare us as you never know the seating or price situation so we drove through Custer and then Hill City looking for somewhere to eat. We found nothing that sounded good so we went back to the campground and decided we'd eat at the restaurant there even though we knew it would be spendy. However, despite the fact that there were many open tables - they told us it would be a 35 minute wait. Samuel especially could not tolerate this by this point. The poor boy had already been asking to go "homey, homey" and now was soooo hungry. I later realized he wanted to go home to watch a movie - not any other reason. But anyway - we said no thank you anyway, we don't want to come to your snobby restaurant and went to the fastfood type cafe also on the campground. $60 and no quality food later, everyone was pretty much full.
I don't really remember what else we did except for bed came early that night too. I had started to feel the effects of pregnancy and driving as my feet were very swollen.
The next morning I listened carefully and checked Bethany several times before she woke up to make sure no leaking out the front. It wasn't. However, when she did wake up, I realized she leaked elsewhere and again had poop on my air mattress and her although I think none of it ended up on me this time. That was tolerable. It was time to pack up though cause it was check out day at this campground and it had rained during the night and I was scared it would rain again that morning as it was very cloudy. We were able to get everything packed up and the tent put away without a rain shower hitting us though. We let the kids play minigolf and at the playground and bouncing pillow while Warren and I showered then and we were off. We were unsure what to do at that point as the day before had been a 20% chance of storms and it rained most of the afternoon and night. Today - Wednesday- was a 50% chance of thunderstorms and possibly an isolate tornado. My Pollyanna spirit was about gone and I didn't want to deal with the rain. We finally decided as we drove that we would eat lunch and then go set up the tent at the new campground and if it rained, we would leave the tent so it would be ready the next night after our day at Mount Rushmore and stay in a hotel Wednesday night to avoid the storms. Well, my fretting was for naught as it turned out to be a beautiful day and never rained at all. We were impressed with our new campsite as we had the pool on one side of us and the park on the other and two bathroom choices both within 100 feet of us. I was starting to feel encouraged again.
More later, I can leave work now.
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Monday, July 7, 2008
Sunday, July 6, 2008
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!
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!
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