Set multi-block structure's facing state

I made a mailbox, which is a two block structure. When you place the mailbox block it removes itself and replaces the block and block above it to the mailbox pieces seamlessly, in the same manner as bed or door (I have set it as a block so it appears as the mailbox model in inventory but is there also a way to make an item look the same and be treated as if it were placing something like the door, with the sound and ect.) I am wondering if there's a way to save the block facing state as a variable and use it to set the other blocks being placed to the specific direction they would be in depending on the way the placer player is facing.