Trial Run: Sunday

The entire house slept until 7:40 a.m. I awoke feeling somewhat better and thinking that this day had the potential to be a good day. I didn't sleep super well the entire night. My brain wouldn't shut off. I woke up an hour after going to bed and I can't remember why I was up, I can't even remember if I came downstairs for anything. The only thing I knew for certain was I used the restroom. I was also aware that the dog had jumped in the laundry basket of dirty laundry.

My mind went over and over that fact subconsciously for hours. I was able to wake just enough to drink water to soothe my sore throat. at 3:30a.m. my daughter wakes up crying. I go to check on her and get her a refill of milk. While I am up I realize that the dog is not in her room, I also notice he is not in the laundry basket or under my bed or under my son's bed. Not downstairs, not outside. Panic mode sets in. We have put $180 dollars into this dog. Our son asks for him all of the time. First thing in the morning, first thing after school. Our daughter runs through the house calling "Baby Where are you?" In my befuddled state I become perplexed that I can't remember why I was up at midnight and exactly what I did while I was up. I begin to fear that I put the dog outside and he escaped from the yard. An hour later I get the idea to dig in the laundry basket, and there he is. Finally I am able to go back to sleep.

Javier hiding in the laundry basket.
This was after I uncovered him.

All is well as I shower and braid my hair and put a very light layer of make up on. I am now stressing out over my favorite sunshine feeling shirt from the summer and how I am fairly certain it is tight over my bulging belly thus showing my ugly half moon tattoo on my stomach. I went so far as to take two selfies to verify that I did indeed have a too large stomach. My son's words from the night before where he placed both hands on either side of my stomach and pulled his face close and said "Mommy you have a very big belly" run through my head. This reminds me to check the scale and that proves to me that yes I have managed to cook two very good meals and one not so good meal for the kids and it is showing up on my waist line. I made a mental note that I must improve this food situation.

Downstairs I am making scrambled eggs and sausage links. By the point we have made it downstairs it is now 9 a.m. on the dot. Yes, the church is just two minutes away, but it takes time to get the kids fed, breakfast cooked diaper bag ready water bottles filled and everyone in the car. Of course on this day my daughter is in a very good mood, and she doesn't want to sit down to eat. So we have a battle of wills and she ends up dumping her plate of food because when I put her back in her chair she had lost her fork somewhere and the one I gave her wasn't the right one. I removed her from the table sat her screaming on the stairs and proceeded to hurriedly eat breakfast while I let the dog eat the egg off of the floor. After a few minutes I felt guilty that she would go without eating and brought her back and she ate a few bites.

Somehow we made it to church on time and it went quite well. I really enjoyed sitting in the sanctuary with only my sweet little boy and knowing my daughter was having a blast playing with other kids. It was a little disheartening to hear the nursery worked ask me if my daughter knows how to sit down at the table and eat. Her reasoning was that there should be no crumbs on the floor under a table where toddlers are eating, Hmm. She was also kind enough to give me several tips and I spent a good ten minutes apologizing and assuring her that this was a work in progress.

  We came straight home from church and the kids ran upstairs to play and the dog and I just kicked back on the couch. Lunch time came and then off to the playground we all went.

It turned out to be a rather pleasant day. It was nice to meet new neighbors, and catch up with ones I haven't seen in awhile. We came home and loaded up into the car and I attempted to put air in the tire, but I doubt I really did that very well. Then we got Subway. That was my idea of keeping it healthy and simple. The kids loved it though. We also ate ice cream. I managed to get all the bed linens from all three rooms washed and back on the beds. I also did three loads of laundry with it only needing to be put away, I figure I can work on that most of the week. I even watched a movie I wanted to watch.

I already have meal plans for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Which means I only have two days to figure something out. It's getting easier each day. And earlier I caught myself thinking "Wow, I can't even remember how it was to have help" The good thing is that after this week is done, I will know if I am strong enough to face another separation if that is what the Army deems as necessary.


You are secure because there is hope. You may look all around you and find your rest in safety.
Job 11:18