Dear Erin & Loki,
Thank you for your thorough reply. I guess what I am learning through reading all of these posts is that I am putting more of the stress on myself than I need too. You are correct in many of the the things you say. I can see where you might misunderstand some of which I have written.
I haven't had the trust or should I say guts to leave them in the pen for an hour and actually leave the house. I usually will do some of my work while they are in the pen. The most I leave them in the pen is about an hour at a time. And then of course when they are outside running like the wind, I am watching them for when they have to poop so they don't eat it. Thus I'm not just leaving them out without my supervision. Well, today, my hubby had them out for over an hour and he would check on them every once in a while and waited till they came to the door to be let in. Ummmm. My husband is ahead of me there.
If they are in the pen too long and need to go - I know one of them uses the pee pads well. So, what am I worried about? You got me! When they play downstairs on the carpeted area they do have accidents. They don't always go right to do the door to be let out, etc. So what do I do??? I follow them around the rec area to make sure they don't have an accident. Whew! No wonder I'm pooped. I just haven't had that trust level yet....
They are young. They are 5-1/2 months old and I am awaiting the day when they can roam around the whole house without the worry of tons of accidents all the time. This is my big wish.
The bell options sounds like a good one and others have mentioned it too. If we don't get "clued-in" better as to when they want to go out to eliminate &/or play we will try the bell method.
In the meantime, it seems I have leashed myself to the house!
The girls should be able to be in the pen for an hour while I go for a walk, etc. I've just been too nervous about leaving them. But...this coming week...I'm going to try it. They get their walks (2x a day) and I will start going for a walk on my own too while they are in the pen with the pee pads and a nice kennel to sleep in and toys to play with.
Thank you so much - everybody for your words of wisdom, common sense, experiences, etc.. I have to give it a little more time, trust a little more, worry a lot less, feel a little more freedom!
Thanks and blessings and YEAH YORKIES!