Family of 6 in PA

Today was our lucky day. This afternoon, we had to take the car to the shop and leave it so it could be inspected in the morning. Kevin took the car. I took the van with all four kids. We followed Kevin. We were certainly going no faster than he, maybe even slower. There was mixed precipitation. The shop is only like a mile or two from our neighborhood. About a third of the way there, I hit a patch of ice and lost all control. The van fish tailed from side to side, as I desperately tried to steer and regain control. There were 2 or three oncoming vehicles in the other lane. Fortunately I never went into that lane. Nor did I ever regain control of the vehicle. The next moment we went sailing off the side of the road, down an embankment, into a ditch. Right between several mail boxes and a guard rail. Deep down into the mud. A tree to the side and a tree behind and of course forest all around. A heavily wooded area.

No one was hurt! The vehicle, not a scratch! Had to get a tow truck to pull us out. We waited up at the shop til he came with the van. We drove straight home, passing a car in a different ditch. As we approached our neighborhood, we had to stop. There was a car flipped onto its SIDE right by the entrance to our neighborhood! That could have been my car with MY babies inside. We could have been wrapped around a tree, or even turned upside down. The van could have been ruined.

Thank God we were lucky today. I believe He did pay attention as I said "Oh my God!" over and over while we were swerving and spinning out of control.

I am planning a trip to MD the first weekend in April. My aunt is hosting a get together Saturday night, which is the day before Easter. I am considering going Friday and staying the night with my mom, then leaving Sat night after the shindig and driving home. Or going up Sat morn and coming back Sat night. I am not having the kids Easter at my mother's house! I don't need her freaking out if they eat a ton of candy. (I am not going to limit it, I just have to not buy more than I should!)

Of course I worry about leaving the birds over night. Just thinking about it, and I have bad dreams. If Jeffrey stays home (kevin is not going) then I think he can do some things for me. Just to make sure they have food and water, turn the lights off/on etc. Or I can possibly hire the neighbor boys to do that. Judy will leave hers over night without a worry. So I am sure my birds would be fine. But I would worry. I think Jeffrey is coming with me and the other kids. So maybe I'll talk to the neighbors.

My real concern over this trip is that they, meaning my mother, her sister, and anyone else who has heard my mother's concerns, may take it into their heads to gang up on me. To try in their friendly dogged way to convince me that their ways are right and mine are wrong. I am referring to my ways of parenting and not-schooling. I am afraid I may find myself in the position of having to defend myself. And that is not a position I want to be in. But I do want to go, as it will be my first chance to meet my youngest brother's wife. They live in Colombia, South America, so its not like I can hop in the car and go visit them. Also one of my cousins and her husband is coming to town (the reason for the shindig) and it would be nice to see her. Oh yes, and it will be the first time any of them, other than my mom and sister, will see my newest baby who is 15 months old already. I just hope they don't try to corner me. OTOH I am not going to warn my mom that I am concerned about it, just to see if they dare to do it! I will be filling my brain with info in the meantime and living the life as best I can also. The unschooling life!

our insurance has been cancelled. we received a letter to that effect, today mar 9, effective feb 1. nice of them to take their time and let us know. its because the payment was late. due feb 1, rec'd feb 21. well we didn't get paid til like the 19th. so now none of us have insurance except kevin who has medicare for what its worth. this is very depressing. insurance is something i always took for granted. kevin warned me they might do this but i didn't juggle the bills around and pay it on time. guess i didn't believe him. well we can appeal it and they will review the appeal at the next board meeting which is june 5. we might be able to get the kids on the state health insurance, though i read on the site they had to be uninsured for 6 months, and also that it would take effect a month after being approved, so that would be like may 1. i will have to call to confirm all that. in the meantime no insurance. i am upset.