Househunting Blues
Bryan and Jenny are off to Destin, Florida to do some house hunting in their soon-to-be new hometown. They bring along just one of the six kids, Savannah, so she can spend quality one-on-one time with Mom and Dad. But from the very first house they look at, conflict arises. Jenny wants a place that's big and requires no renovations, and Bryan's looking for a bargain-basement, fixer-upper. Their ever-patient realtor shows them an array of choices but Bryan and Jenny can't agree on any of them!
After first laughing off their disagreements, things soon escalate into all-out war. They squabble over one property that's inexpensive, but has features which could put the kids in danger, including a pool without a fence and easy access to the bayou. Jenny thinks Bryan cares more about price than safety. When she admits she'd be uneasy leaving Bryan alone with the kids in a house with perils nearby, Bryan wonders why they're starting a new life together if she doesn't even trust him to watch the kids. The argument leads to bigger questions and with this life-changing move, deeper issues are starting to erupt. Bryan & Jenny seek marriage counseling with Dr. Debra Mandel, who forces them to examine the trust issues at the foundation of their relationship. Dr. Debra offers some good sound advice, and Jenny feels more hopeful about the future. She returns to Arizona to finish out her remaining shifts at the hospital, while Bryan stays behind in Florida to continue house hunting without her.
With the move getting close, Jenny and the kids pay a goodbye visit to the team of doctors and nurses who delivered the sextuplets and saved her life two years earlier. In Florida, Bryan makes an offer on a place he thinks Jenny will love (sight unseen) and flies home in time to go trick-or-treating with the kids. For their second Halloween, the sextuplets are dressing up as farm animals. All are fine except for Blake, who wants no part of it, especially when the only costume left is a lamb. Then, with just two weeks left before the move, Jenny plans a big surprise going-away party for Bryan. Big Bill makes a last-ditch effort to get his son to give up the crazy idea of moving so far away from the family support system, and Laura gets tearful at the thought of losing her grandkids. Though Bryan hates to see his mom cry, he and Jenny have made up their minds and are excited to finally get out of the desert and on to their Florida beach adventure.
To learn more about Dr. Debra Mandel, click here.


