We Choose This Life...

Residency? Domicile? Or, How We Became Real Texans.

2012-05-23T10:51:00.001-07:00

When we started traveling fulltime we stayed California residents, using our parents address as ours and a PO Box for our mail. Once every two or so weeks sister would pick up our mail and forward the important stuff onto us wherever we happened to be. We filed a private school affidavit that allowed us to homeschool the children. This worked well, but it wasn't ideal long term.

We began to research what other fulltime travelers did for their mail, residency and homeschooling dilemmas. We don't own land or a house anywhere, so that wasn't a deciding factor. It came down to three states we were choosing from, South Dakota, Texas and Florida. All three had mailing forwarding services that would fit our needs, all three were fulltime traveler friendly. Out of the three Texas is the only state with no regulations on homeschooling, both Florida and South Dakota have moderate regulation.

There were a few deciding factors that led us to choose Texas as our new home state. One, no regulations on homeschooling. Two, low cost license and registration on our RV and vehicle. Three, Texas is centrally located and has weather we wouldn't mind being in at any time of year (just because we travel fulltime doesn't mean we wouldn't ever have to have jury duty.) The switch was pretty painless. And it was only after we made all the changes did we realize we also have no state income taxes, so that was an added plus.

How we became Texans:
1. Became Escapees members and signed up for their mail forwarding service (we did this prior to arriving to Livingston, through the mail)
-We were issued an permenant street address, not a PO Box.
2. Visited Livingston, TX
-Got our Excursion and trailer inspected (at a local body shop)
-Registered and licensed both, registered to vote, received new license plates that day (at the Polk County Tax Assessors office)
-Applied for Texas drivers licenses (at Texas Department of Public Safety)
3. Switched our insurance to Texas. We were able to stick with our same companies, Ameriprise for vehicle and Progressive for travel trailer. The switch took just a phone call to each company. And our premiums went down dramatically from what we were paying in California.
4. Changed our address with employer, bank, insurance, cell phone, etc.

All in all we were running around Livingston for less than 3 hours to accomplish all of these tasks. Which included some juggling of kids and ATM cards to get sufficient funds in cash.

A few need to knows:
- Registering vehicles, applying for drivers license and registering to vote can only be done once you have a Texas mailing address.
- The tax assessors office (where you register and license vehicles and RVs) only takes local checks and cash. We had not been residents long enough to have new "local" checks and our bank was not in town, so we had to make a few trips to the ATM.
- In order to apply for drivers license, all vehicles and RVs must be registered, so make sure you do this first.
-When you apply for a Texas drivers license they confiscate your old license and give you a temporary 8 1/2x11 black and white print out of your license which has to last you the 6-8weeks until your real license arrives (plus forwarding time). We can say that this license even though this license looks as fraudulent as they come, Nick was able to fly from California to Arkansas and back with it. (Although it was a little iffy on both legs of the trip if his ID was going to be sufficient.) So I might suggest that if you are planning on doing any air travel make sure it is at least 8 weeks after you apply for your license :)
- From what I can gather, the licensing and registering of vehicles and RV's can be done through the mail. Inspections must be completed within 10 days of entering the state. I am not clear on how long you have to switch your drivers license.
- Yearly inspections are due on vehicles and RVs, however if you are not in Texas when registration and inspections come due, you can still pay registration. You will then get vehicles and RVs inspected the next time you go to Texas, within 10 days of arriving back in the state.

Y'all we are Texans now.

We received a lot of information on this process from the Escapees forums and a document published by the Escapees RV Club called "How to Become a Real Texan", this is a newly updated version packed full of information. The DPS and the Tax Assessors office were both very helpful over the phone, so that we could make sure we had everything in order before arriving.

A Birthday, A Bayou and New Orleans

2012-05-11T16:12:00.000-07:00

After Alabama we headed into Mississippi and then onto Louisiana. The next day would be Coda's 8th birthday and we didn't want it to be a traveling day. So we decided to stay two nights at the Fountainebleau State Park, which is located just across Lake Ponchartrain from New Orleans.

For Coda's birthday we decided to check out the Jean Lafitte National Park - Barataia Preserve. There was a neat little visitors center where we picked up our Junior Ranger Booklets and our National Park Passport stamp. Then we headed out on a walk through the swamp and bayou. One of the activities in the JR Ranger book was kind of a scavenger hunt and the children were so wonderful at finding the little things. We were mostly keeping our eyes our for alligators. We did mange to spot one little one...he was so cute (from afar).

Once the children had said their pledge and received their Junior Ranger Badges, we decided to head into New Orleans. We weren't sure what we'd find and knew we wanted to be gone before nightfall. But we thought we'd check it out for a bit. We parked near the French Quarter and spent a bit of time meandering the streets, window shopping and checking out the awesome buildings. We ended up eating dinner at Hard Rock Cafe...the quality of the food (for the prices) was disappointing, but we went there to celebrate Coda's 8th birthday and that was great! I had hoped we could find a restaurant that would be authentic New Orleans food with some vegetarian options, that didn't happen. I welcome any recommendations for the next time we stop there. We ended the evening with a stop at Café Du Monde for some beignets (read: fried dough covered in more powdered sugar than you've ever seen).

We woke up the next morning to quite the storm. We had planned on hanging out at the state park and exploring, well that wasn't going to happen. We packed it up and headed out --- next stop Texas.

Tuscaloosa and the Ticknors

2012-04-22T17:50:00.000-07:00

We had a rough route to head down through Tennessee and across Arkansas and over to Texas. I love "rough routes" like rough drafts they can be totally scrapped at the drop of a hat or and incoming Facebook message. I checked in with Foursquare to Tennsessee at a Rest Stop at top of the state. Within minutes Dana Ticknor (Ticknor Tribe - traveling family of 14) messaged me and asked how far south we were coming. They were just outside of Tuscaloosa and invited us to come see (meet) them. We have been trying to meet for quite some time now, so I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity. And so our rough route was scrapped.

We decided to make the long haul all the way to Tuscaloosa, knowing we would barely make the gate closing of 10pm. But we were determined. Not even a horrible thunderstorm, Nashville traffic and a wrong turn could keep us from making the gate closing. Well at 9:52pm we called and the nice gentleman said he would wait for us...we arrived at 10:02pm, whew.

And in the morning we woke to this, the Ticknor Tribe right next to us!

We spent the day chatting (moms & dads), running in the woods and fort building (boys) and flower picking (little ones).

I think there were three times the middles aged kids sat down -- before the two meals we shared and during the campfire :) If you were an outsider you would have been AMAZED at how well meal time went, since there were 20 of us eating. Bigger kids were helping little kids, Mamas and Daddys able to sit and eat. I feel so blessed that we were able to be in the presence of another "large" family who has bigger kids and see how well they all work together.

It was a quick visit, but so glad we were able to connect. And the cool thing is they travel, we travel, so we are bound to meet up again!

Ikea & Louisville Sluggar Museum and Factory

2012-04-11T08:19:00.000-07:00

After leaving Ohio we decided to head south to IKEA. You know, first things first, must organize our super tiny home. I love Ikeas motto, "A home doesn't need to be big, just smart.". I had a pretty detailed list complete with measurements, so the adventure through Ikea was enjoyable, not painful!

We purchased new bedding for the children, hooks, lights, drawers & a few other things. Here's a look into our bathroom. All items are from Ikea.

We had planned on turning west after Ikea and heading toward Indian Lakes Thousand Trails in Indiana. But, when I called to make reservations I was informed they were only open weekends until their actual opening in April 6. I was a tad bit irritated since the website says "Open All Year". So we changed directions and headed south, towards Louisville, KY.

We splurged and stayed at a KOA just outside of Louisville, it was about 4 miles from the Sluggar Museum. We did this for two reasons; #1 we'd be arriving late & they had large pull-thru sites and #2 we were making last minute plans and lacked research time. We stayed for two nights, our first day putting together our Ikea purchases. And our second day we spent the morning at the Louisville Sluggar Museum and Factory.

I had visited the Louisville Sluggar Museum a little over 10 years ago and I knew Nick and the children would enjoy it. The price was not too steep and there was quite a bit to explore. We all learned lots about the history of the bat and baseball itself. There were quite a few hands on activities and the factory tour was the best, not to mention the mini Louisville Sluggar we all came home with (that's 8 mini bats, still not sure what we're doing with all of them, lol).

Even baby Lyric got a bat :)

Introducing...Our New Home on Wheels

2012-04-03T06:46:00.000-07:00

After spending four months in California, visiting friends and family, exploring old favorites and new finds and working, it was time for us to move on.

And we moved on fast. We moved out of our first and beloved home on wheels, packed our belongings into a Uhaul trailer and trekked (quickly) across the United States to Ohio.

We stopped briefly in St. Louis to deal with our storage unit, say hi to friends and play a little at the St. Louis Science Center.

We made it to Ohio and dropped our Uhaul trailer at a KOA. After a day of a walkthrough, fan adding, paper signing and hooking up, we were on our way back to the KOA with our new home behind us. It took us some hours but we unpacked and moved in. We are all overjoyed with the newness and space our new home has given to us.

Here is a sneak peak...and yes! we've already started decorating and wall will be painted (I just have to decide on colors).

Sundial Bridge & Burney Falls State Park

2012-01-18T12:00:00.000-08:00

For at least the next month & a half we will be traveling around Northern California. Nick is on a short term project & we will be in an area for a week or so and then move on to the next area. Since we are "from" Northern California, we are excited about this time to be able to visit with family and friends along our way, as well as explore.

Currently we are in Red Bluff, CA. We've spent the past week getting back into our routine and reorganizing the trailer. After spending almost 3 weeks at Grandma & Papa's house, we've been busy settling back into RV life. We don't lay low for long.

Our week was also filled with walks along the Sacramento River, which is directly behind our RV Park.

One day after work we drove into Redding and took an sunset walk across Sundial Bridge. Winter hadn't quite hit yet, so there were runners, bikers and walking families galore --- plus Ben the Knife Juggler.

On Sunday we too a drive to Burney Falls State Park. President Roosevelt once called Burney Falls the 8th wonder of the world. I can see why. It was about 35 degrees, so we were all a but cold, but not too cold to hike the Falls loop.

It is sure nice to be back in the land of mountains, trees, flowing rivers and the Pacific --- California you may be expensive & crowded, but you are SUPER beautiful.

Simplify Christmas

2011-12-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

For most, December is a crazy month filled with parties, programs, baking, buying, decorating, overspending, secrets and stress. Why? Why are we doing all of these things? Do we feel present, peaceful and grounded? Or does it make us feel frantic, frazzled and burdened?

Just the sheer thought of the craziness that surrounds Christmas makes me on the verge of a panic attack. The obscene amount of unnecessary things that are purchased and given is overwhelming. We give not because we can afford to give or want to give or even because the person needs the gift. Instead we so often give with debt acquired because, in some way or another, we feel obligated to give.

Year after year, I feel deep down inside of my soul a conviction, a yearning that longs to celebrate only the birth of Jesus on Christmas.

I'm not saying that it’s easy, and I'm for sure not saying that I don't fail miserably each year, but I continue to long for this celebration and to try my best.

I long for a simple Christmas. One where no materialistic gifts are needed, but where our time spent together is the best gift. One where no fake man with a big white beard is what children are excited about, but where all are completely overjoyed that their Father in heaven loves them so very much he sent His own son to give to us a beautiful undeserved gift. I long for a simple Christmas with no debt, no stress, no greed, no desires of our own take over; a simple Christmas that truly focuses on what Christmas is really celebrating-the birthday of Jesus Christ.

We do many things each December to keep our focus on Jesus. And I am longing to add more traditions to our December, but more so I am feeling called to change our Christmas Eve & Christmas Day to truly focus on that little babe in the manger.

Here are some of our family’s Christmas traditions:

- We teach them about Saint Nicholas. We talk each year about what an amazing man of God he was and how he sacrificed his own needs for people who had less than him. We do not teach our children to believe in Santa. (Our children do know that others believe Santa is real and brings them gifts. They know it is that child's mama and daddy's job to tell them the real story- not our job! :) )

- We read different versions of the biblical Christmas story each day of December. Some of our favorites are: The Animals Christmas Eve, The Jesus Storybook Bible, The Christmas Baby, The Christmas Story with the Holly Babes. We lots of play time with our Little People Nativity.

-We seek out Drive Thru Nativity's, with hot cocoa in hand we enjoy the outing as a family.

-We encourage the hand making of gifts or the buying of a gift that will be truly special to that specific person. Each gift we give is carefully planned and picked for its receiver.

-Every evening during our Bible time, we focus on the scripture leading up to Jesus' birth. Our method changes yearly, but this year we are going through Ann Voskamp's Jesse TreeJourney, and in addition to the scripture, we are reading the corresponding story out of our Jesus Storybook Bible. (I think we will use this particular combination for years to come. I feel a tradition brewing. *swoon*)

-On Christmas Eve the children do a play of the birth of Jesus.

-Christmas Day we have a birthday party for Jesus, complete with decorations, cake (or cupcakes), singing and celebrating.

What are some of the ways your family keeps Jesus at the center of this season?

What are some ways your family keeps Jesus at the center of Christmas Eve & Christmas Day?

December Photo Project :::: 12.20.11 & 12.21.11

2011-12-22T15:56:00.001-08:00

12.20.11 :::: Summer Camp Friends

Reconnecting with old friends is one of the many perks of traveling fulltime. Loved meeting up with Kristen (another like-minded mama) & her family. I hadn't seen Kristen in over 8 years, but we stay connected through Facebook!

12.21.11 :::: Morning Goodbyes

Still in our pjs, coffee in hand, a little sad about saying goodbye, but feeling so blessed having spent an entire week living life together.

December Photo Project :::: 12.17.11 -12.19.11

2011-12-19T23:00:00.000-08:00

12.17.11 :::: Nativity

12.18.11 :::: Biggest Pizza Ever (Before)

12.18.11 :::: Biggest Pizza Ever (After)

On 12.18 the Lendes and the Moris had our Christmas complete with a 24" pizza....needless to say it was not too much pizza for us.

12.19.11 :::: Cousins

December Photo Project :::: 12.15.11 & 12.16.11

2011-12-16T22:00:00.000-08:00

12.15.11 :::: Fairytale Town

12.16.11 :::: Hiking Auburn State Park

A few days into our week with E, Uncle Serg & Baby Lucca and we have already had so much fun. Spent an afternoon at Fairytale Town in Sacramento, E & I loved sharing this place with our husbands and children, we had wonderful memories of going there as children. Then the next day E & Serg brought us to one of their new found treasures a hike in Auburn State Park, so beautiful.

December Photo Project :::: 12.14.11 :::: Driving

2011-12-14T15:30:00.000-08:00

Comfy boots, good tunes and riding in the passenger seat on our way to spend a week with our most favorite family of three.

December Photo Project :::: 12.13.11 :::: Pizza & Grandpa

2011-12-13T21:30:00.000-08:00

December Photo Project :::: 12.10.11 - 12.12.11

2011-12-12T19:30:00.000-08:00

12.10.11 :::: Besties

12.11.11 :::: Grandma Love

12.12.11 :::: Friends

December Photo Project :::: 12.9.11 :::: Morning View

2011-12-09T15:15:00.000-08:00

North of Ventura on the Rincon Parkway I woke up to waves crashing and this view. Oh Pacific Ocean how I have missed you.

December Photo Project :::: 12.8.11 :::: Alone

2011-12-08T15:30:00.000-08:00

In a family with six children there is always someone to play with. But it is when they each take their alone time that they truly melt my heart. These little people, living right before me, I am SO blessed to be a part of their lives.

December Photo Project :::: 12.7.11 :::: Anticipation

2011-12-07T23:00:00.000-08:00

Lights, garland, candles, Little People Nativity, Jesus Storybook Bible & various renditions of the story of Jesus' birth ---- we use these things to help prepare us as we anticipate the coming of our Savior.

December Photo Project :::: 12.6.11 :::: Crazy Hair

2011-12-06T20:00:00.000-08:00

This boy made me a mama over 9 years ago. He has a huge heart, loves his siblings with all his might and would give his all for the right cause. He reads more in a week than I read in a year and will stop at nothing to keep his long hair.

December Photo Project :::: 12.5.11 :::: Lego Building

2011-12-05T22:00:00.000-08:00

We spent a wonderful day at LegoLand California. Good weather, good company and many memories made. This was our second time going to LegoLand we would wholeheartedly recommend it for families with younger children. And if your a homeschooler, check out Homeschool Mondays, saved us HUNDREDS of dollars.

December Photo Project :::: 12.4.11 :::: Dad & Daughter

2011-12-04T22:30:00.000-08:00

We made it to California and spent the day with my dad and my 11 year old sister Alana. It was a fun day filled with good conversation, Wii playing, eraser sharing and food eating. Want to know something crazy??!! I only met my dad for the first time just a little over 2 years ago.

December Photo Project :::: 12.3.11 :::: Giggles

2011-12-03T21:30:00.000-08:00

I wish photos had sound. I want to capture her almost 4 month old giggle and remember it forever. Her biggest brother Aidan can make her giggle ALL.DAY.LONG, they have the most amazing bond...I pray it will always be that way. It seems like with each child we all just ooogle over them more and more. Nick and I fight over who gets to hold her and multiple times a day we bring everyone over to see just how stinkin' cute she is. Lyric don't ever doubt that you have seven people that love you MORE than you could ever imagine.

December Photo Project :::: 12.2.11 :::: Desert Campfire

2011-12-02T22:00:00.000-08:00

After driving 515 miles through New Mexico & Arizona we stopped for the night in Quartzsite, AZ. Quartzsite is home to about 3500 people in the Spring, Summer & Fall, but come Winter the population can grow to over ONE MILLION! We arrived just before sunset and pulled into the Hi Jolly BLM area (where you can boondock for 14 days - for free). It being early December there weren't many RVers there which was nice for a quick stay. We hope to go back one winter when Q in its full blown craziness, which is usually January/February. This was our second time in Quartsizte, our first was in March 2010.

December Photo Project :::: 12.1.11:::: Sunset

2011-12-01T18:37:00.001-08:00

Today we spent driving, driving through a whole lot of Texas. Just as the sun was setting we stopped to make dinner at a rest stop a few miles outside of El Paso, one of the bazillion reasons why I love having my house with me at all times -- homemade dinner mid-roadtrip. And after 655 miles we are settling in for the night at a Walmart in New Mexico.

Five Months??!!

2011-11-30T19:21:00.000-08:00

Have we really been back on the road for more than five months??!!

Have I really not written about any of it??!! (Well I blogged about Lyric's birth, gold star for me)

Honestly, its been a crazy, busy, wonderful summer and fall. I spent my time enjoying it. But I thought it was about time that I caught all of you up on our adventures!

Here's a recap of the last five months:

We traveled through 12 States: Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Arkansas & Texas.
And drove THOUSANDS of miles!

*Seriously...this post is long and has so many pics, .if you make it to the end then please let me know, you deserve a BIG prize. We have lived so much life these past 5 months, sitting down in one day to recap it has inflicted an overwhelming sense of joy! We have done so much, seen so much, loved so much & best of all we have done it all TOGETHER. We have chosen to travel, we have chosen to have more than the average amount of children and we have chosen to live each day to its fullest AND through all this we have been BLESSED beyond measure.*

Chicagoland, IL

Hung out at Jellystone in Millbrook, IL
dropped Daddy off at work & enjoyed a bus ride to the FREE Lincoln Park Zoo

Rock Island, IL/Davenport, IA

Watched the Mississippi River Locks & Dam #15 in action & learned how locks & dam works
Visited the John Deere Museum
Went to a ski show of the Backwater Gamblers

Galena, IL/Dubuque, IA

Rode the Fenelon Place Elevator ~ world's shortest, steepest, scenic railway
Explored the cute town of Galena, IL

Rockford, IL

Enjoyed meeting and spending time with Nick's grandmothers sister
4th of July ~ Rockford, IL
Swimming daily at the campground pool

Sandusky, OH

Took a ferry to Put-in-Bay, OH (in Lake Erie)
Aidan and Coda earned Jr Ranger Badges at Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial
Fed bunnies and ate lots of pancakes at Camp Sandusky

Monroe, MI

Ate, played, chatted and campfired it up with our AWESOME friends The Theides

Randomness around Ohio

Paducah, KY

Celebrated Aidan's 9th birthday by seeing Cars 2, then ice cream & presents at Cold Stone

Shawnee, OK

Moved out of the trailer and into a hotel because it was 115+ degrees
Had our sweet baby girl Lyric in said hotel

Petersburg, KY

Spent a wonderful day exploring the Creation Museum

Manheim, OH

Had our first visitors post-Lyric -- E & Baby Lucca!
Spent a wonderful day on the BEACH of Lake Erie

Lebanon/Hershey, PA

Took a day trip to Gettysburg
Spent a day in Amish country; drinking homemade rootbeer & taking a carriage ride through Amish farmland
Spent a few days stuck at our campground due to all the roads to leave being flooded!

Indiana Dunes National Park

Earned Jr Ranger Badges
Felt a little less landlocked for the afternoon

Milton, WI

Continued to love on this wonderful little baby.
Ventured into Madison almost every Saturday for the Madison Farmers Market
Spending time in Worship and fellowship with more of Nick's extended family, love our Beloit, WI family!
Experiencing our first "real" fall & the first snow of 2011

St. Louis, MO

Dropped off stuff & picked stuff up at our storage unit (fun times)
Ate dinner with wonderful friends!

Branson, MO

Our good friends the Dodds who live in Texas were in transit to St. Louis, while were heading to Texas, so we met up in Branson

Little Rock, AR

Walked the longest foot bridge in North America, rightly named - Big Dam Bridge ;)
Saw the world famous Peabody ducks do their evening march

Livingston, TX

Spent a few days becoming real Texans, we have license plates, drivers licenses and an address to prove it :)

Birth of Lyric Elizabeth

2011-09-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

Born August 5, 2011

I woke up Thursday morning with a backache, nothing new, I was almost 38 weeks pregnant and backaches come with the territory. In the late afternoon I began having very sporadic contractions, not ones that I had to breathe through or concentrate on, but not Braxton Hicks. They picked up a bit in the evening, just enough that I asked Nick to not go into work that night. But then by 9pm they were sporadic and dwindling in strength. We watched an episode of Alias on DVD and went to bed. I slept hard and good, not sure I even woke up once to go to the bathroom. That was until 3:28am – I was awoken by a CONTRACTION. I was lying on my side in bed and was frozen in pain. I gained composure right as it was ending and thought maybe I was dreaming. I lie there awake and a few minutes later, another contraction. Not wanting to wake Nick unless it was necessary I got into the shower. I’ve never much been for baths in labor, I can’t move around enough. The shower allowed for change of position and rocking. I made it in the shower until just before 4am. I was in a lot of pain and the contractions were getting stronger, so I woke Nick.

We both agreed that this was it. We were going to have a baby and soon. In the weeks leading up to Lyric’s birth, Nick and I discussed options. Since we had gone “back on the road”, a homebirth in St. Louis with our midwife was not an option. So basically we had two options; when I went into labor we would go to the local hospital where I would labor with nurses I didn’t know and be delivered by a doctor I didn’t know, while Nick and the children waited in the waiting room OR we could gather birth supplies and have her wherever we were, just us. I had been researching, more like avidly studying unassisted birth since I was pregnant with Dillon (who ended up being born in the car). We prayed about our decision and knew it was the right one. We decided to go unassisted, all the while knowing that if either of us felt uncomfortable or worried we would call 911. We had everything we needed, herbs, chux pads, cord clamps, Doppler, a shower curtain liner to put under sheets, and many other random birth items. I had books; Heart and Hands, Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year and Spiritual Midwifery.

I was having back labor and the only position that was the least bit comfortable was on my hands and knees. Sometimes I could rest my arms and lean on the folded out sofa bed, but mostly I had to be on my hands and knees. Nick would squeeze my hips together or push hard on my tail bone area. I kept asking him to push harder, he didn’t believe me, but I NEEDED it. (Funny because the next day I had actual bruising on my hips and tail bone…guess he WAS pushing hard.)

The children were all asleep, the older four in beds on the other side of the half wall in the hotel suite and Jericho in a bed made on the floor on the other side of the sofa bed. I never once worried about waking them, I knew if they woke it would be fine, it would be the right time.

The contractions were coming closer and they were lasting longer, it was past 5am. Between a contraction I told Nick we (actually meaning he) should probably get stuff ready for the birth. I wasn’t sure where I would give birth and since we were in a hotel, we decided to be overprotective. Waterproof pad (aka shower curtain liner) under our sheets on the fold out sofa, chux pads on the floor on top of the pillows I was kneeling on and extra chux pads in the bathroom. Also, he set out the scissor, cord clamp, herbs, my 3 books, my notes, bowl for the placenta and extra towels. He was amazing, doing all this in the very limited time between contractions and coming right back to me when he could tell another was starting.

Not having a clock nearby I am not sure the timing of the final stage of the labor. I began feeling pushy, but also knew it wasn’t time just yet. I continued through a few more contractions, still hurting immensely in my back. I was 99% sure she was posterior (like Téadora was) and thought I felt her rotating during contractions. I checked myself and felt that I was complete except for a little lip (cervical lip)…I had heard about lips, read about lips, but never knew exactly what it meant until I FELT a cervical lip. I pushed/stretched the lip (it was super easy, just like it wanted to be moved) and was now 100% dilated. The bag of waters was still intact. At this point I was really bearing down with each contraction, but wasn’t trying to push. Being on my hands and knees didn’t feel right anymore. I am not sure what it was, but I NEEDED pressure on my back and the amount of pressure Nick could give wasn’t enough. And as I think back, I think I needed to look at him and focus with him, while pushing. So I got up onto the sofa bed and my body took over.

Nick was everything to me during these last moments of labor. I was squeezing his hand, pushing on him with a foot (and all my might), needing his eye contact and wanting constant updates about the baby. Her bag of waters was protruding and then right as her head was crowning the back of waters ruptured…it happened right as a contraction was ending, so I sat for what seemed like forever with her head RIGHT there, ring of fire to the fullest. She came a bit further, her head all the way out, the cord was around her neck and Nick couldn’t slip it off. I leaned forward and with on little sweep, the cord was free. With one more contraction she was out. She was born into Daddy’s hands and then brought up to my chest with my hands. Oddly enough, she was neither born posterior or anterior…she was born with her face facing the inside of my right thigh. The only thing I can come up with as to why that was, is that she was posterior and was rotating in labor like I thought and didn’t make it all the way; either due to lack of time or her cord being around her neck.

During the last minutes of the labor, Jericho popped up from beside the bed, Dillon & Téadora peaked around the corner. And as she was coming up onto my chest Aidan & Coda came around also. They all kneeled and watched as their little sister had her first moments. We had NO idea what time she was born, we looked at the clock it was 6:04am. Nick and I were trying to guess how long it had been. And then Aidan said, “it was 5:58 when Dad said she’s out and I heard her little cry.” Well that settled it; Lyric Elizabeth was born on August 5, 2011 at 5:58am in a hotel outside of Oklahoma City, OK.

A bit later a dear friend and her children were our first visitors. They had been visiting us on their way back to Texas and just happened to be there for her birthday! And then later that day Nick bought a scale. She weighed 6lbs and was 20in long.

I have had such a hard time putting into words what those 2 ½ hrs were to me. Lyric’s labor and birth was the MOST amazing experience of my life. I listened to my body, fell deeper in love with my husband and relied fully on my Father in heaven. The labor and birth felt SO natural, Nick and I just flowed together, there was little talking and less questioning, and it was as though we had done it 100 times, felt like we were “old pros”. Her birth was a truly healing experience. Jericho was born just over 2 years ago, by emergency c-section, he & I almost didn’t make it, I was hemorrhaging due to placenta previa. After his birth I was scared, so scared it would happen again and even more so that the outcome wouldn’t be positive. Lyric’s pregnancy and birth healed me, took away my fears and was beautiful.

One last thing, I am so very thankful for the amazing family and friends and strangers that we have had in our life through this. I expected negativity and rudeness, I expected to be treated as if we did something wrong. And I am so happy to say that we weren’t. We weren’t looked down on for going about this birth the way we did, we were supported, loved and our decisions respected. And for that I am forever grateful.

More photos of Lyric Elizabeth here.

And we're back...

2011-07-08T08:55:00.000-07:00

Back on the road that is and we couldn't be happier. The open road is where we are meant to be.
The events that lead up to us being back on the road fulltime was a whirlwind...the good kind, but whirlwind nonetheless.
Towards the end of May we went "camping" in the trailer and felt so at home, it was amazing. Conversations about going back on the road had been going on since about January, so we decided we'd check into the option of going back on the road. We knew it would end in one of two ways...we'd be asked to leave SOON or they would say they didn't have any openings on the road. On May 26th he asked, on May 27th we decided and were to be leaving 9 days later. So in 9 days we packed up a house, put it in storage, made a few little changes to the trailer and pulled out of town.
Our travels are a bit different than they were previously...we are staying in areas for shorter periods of time. So for the past month we've traveled all over Illinois and tomorrow we venture over into Iowa.
I have lots of blog catching up to do and its taking me a bit to get back into the grove of sitting and writing about our crazy life. So hang tight...photos and stories will be following in the weeks to come.