Deep breath

So today bright and early (5am) I got out of bed to start my journey to our new hometown. I say got out of bed because I didn’t wake up. I slept from 11-12:30. That was it. I debated about leaving in the middle of the night since I couldn’t sleep anyway but figured the kids would not like it.

We hit the road a little after 6- me, 4 kids, and one dog.

I left Andy and his dad back in Columbus to finish stuff up there.

Eva was a handful from the start- she unbuckles from her carseat and causes trouble.

None of the wireless headphones would work despite the fact that I changed all their batteries. So nick jr was on all the speakers. For 7 hours. She was only happy when Dora was on.

She fell asleep about two hours outside of chapel hill and that is around the time my low tire pressure light came on.
I didn’t think it was that big of a deal but as we headed further up a Virginia mountain and the fog was so thick that all we saw was white (Blake said the world forgot to add graphics!!) I started thinking something might be up.

The car started swerving on its own and I was white knuckled and a little panicked. I saw a guardrail to my right but had no idea the drop beyond, because it was all white. I was surrounded by 18 wheelers and my huge expedition with huge roof top carrier was getting harder and harder for me to keep on the road.
“why are u swerving back and forth?” Austin asked. I told him that I wasn’t and maybe that sign that said it was a heavy crosswind area really meant it would b windy.
It is so weird to not b able to control your car and all you see is white.

I slowed down as much as I could and coasted down the mountain- I saw an exit for gas and told Austin I was going to get off to check the tires.

By the time I got to the gas station the tire was completely flat. Fortunately I made it to a loves truck stop and two nice men that worked there plugged the huge hole and we were back on our way. Eva of course woke up and screamed the entire time.

I am exhausted, emotionally and physically. We made it to chapel hill, survived a trip the grocery store where Eva took off and pulled half of everything off the shelf, a visit from the cableman that took way too long and eva kept screaming/and or running out the front door. I got a pizza, fed the kids, and while Austin is out walking Shiloh and the other two boys unpacking the Xbox I found a quiet corner in my dark room and let the tears fall while I held Eva, who was falling apart as well.

Sometimes it’s good to have a moment to let it all out, before I wash my face and head out to spend the evening with my boys in our rental that is home for the next 3 months, in a city that is our home for I don’t know how long.

Overwhelmed and drained? Yes. But also excited to begin a new adventure. And sometimes a good cry makes it all better.