On Tuesday we picked up DH’s Mom from the airport, and began to finalize for our week. We would move out of the house on Saturday, complete all the packing, and then the movers were to come the following Tuesday.

That evening, the mover came and informed us that he needed to come on Saturday morning. What?? Moving 3 days ahead of schedule? We tried to convince him to wait, but the latest he could wait was Sunday. We had no choice but to say ‘Yes’ as he was the only mover we could afford.

Thus began The Whirlwind.

What was supposed to be a leisurely family affair became a mad dash to pack up and sell or throw away 11 years of stuff. Even this evening, just hours before the movers arrive, we had a family come and purchase our fridge.

We had been slowly going through stuff for months. We even had a garage sale and advertised in the classifieds. But it wasn’t until we moved into the Hotel on Thursday and actually began to sort through stuff we use day to day that we realized how big this job was.

This week my brain was totally out to lunch. Every time I tried to sort and pack, I was paralyzed. I couldn’t think clearly. I would logically think through all the projects on my list, and how I would tackle them. Then I’d approach the task, and I would freeze. At one point I even turned to my Mother In Law and asked for a hug and cried a little.

Oh, I am so glad she was here this week, because we could not have done this without her.

I never thought leaving the Home that I made with my Hubby and Kids would be so difficult and emotional.

Moving into the hotel made a big difference. I was able to see things more objectively and got a lot more done.

Master Two got sick on Thursday night – with high fevers and sleepless nights. The last few days I’ve spent a lot of time sitting on the lounge (or watching Word World), hugging a sick little boy and trying to get his fever down. Another good reason to have Nana around, because she’s the only reason I was able to leave that couch and get work done!!

So, I’m sitting here in the dark in the Hotel, just me and my kids, while MIL and DH work really hard tonight to get all the last minute sorting and tossing and packing done. By the time we get back to the House in the morning, Darling Husband will be gone with the movers. MIL, the Kids and I will relax at church and then come back to the pool.

The kids need some serious Mummy Time the next day or two, to help them cope with the stress of leaving their Home.

On Tuesday, we get down to the business of scrubbing the house until it Sparkles. Another reason to rejoice that MIL is here to help. She has the Highest Quality and Most Efficient Housewife Add-On installed. By the time we are done, the Landlord is gonna need shades when he inspects the place.