Should I close my credit card accounts or not?

I just got a loan through a credit union to consolidate my credit cards. My husband and I have 13 all together (ya I know that's a lot). I've had two of these since I was 18 and I'm now 28. We just went through a shortsale and I don't want to hurt my credit worse than it already is. I heard that closing them is bad...but I also don't want them lingering cause I don't ever want to get into that situation ever again.