6 Miles

The last week has been a bit rough & crazy. I managed to come down with Alex’s cold.  Thursday I took him to his doctor to make sure it was a cold, not the flu. She said in kids, the flu has had the high fever. In grown-ups, you may have a fever that comes and goes. So his cough that SOUNDS like H1N1 flu is just from a cold. I could feel myself starting to develop the cough, but was hoping I’d be able to fight it off. James had been feeling achy at the end of each day but was taking Ny-Quil at night and hoping he’d be able to fight it off.  But knowing how quickly these things come, and how horrid it is to be sick away from home, and not wanting to spread our germs, we chose to cancel all our weekend plans. We were planning on driving to St. Louis and visiting Heidi as well as James’ brother Teri and his family. They had a baby in May who we’ve not get to meet yet, and we wanted to be a part of his baby dedication.  We were sad we couldn’t go, but we chose wisely. 

Saturday I felt not-so-great, but well enough to do a small, early birthday celebration for my mom’s birthday. (We were having a hard time finding time to get together.)  We had a nice afternoon of playing games and talking and then went out to dinner. Then we had a small cake and it was time for them to go.  But I didn’t sleep well that night, felt worse and stayed home from church Sunday, and it seemed like I went down hill from there.  Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were all bad days for me. Thankfully James was home Sunday and Monday. His parents came through and stayed an extra day to help take care of the kids on Tuesday (and they LOVED the extra time with Grandma Lo and Grandpa–much better then being stuck home all day with a sick momma!).  By Tuesday night I was beginning to feel more like myself and by now I still have the lingering cough but feel mostly better. I’m still trying to not over do it, but I feel like I’m on the other side of the evil cold. Boy, did it take a lot out of me! 

The changes part of the title refers to James’ new work schedule. He is done with all his training, and passed the tests required. He joined his Team this week. This means he now works 4, 10 hour days, from 3 pm-2 am. Needless to say, this is taking some getting used to! I don’t know if it’d be easier if I had been feeling better, but I keep getting throw off! We’ve had a routine in place for so long, I hadn’t realized what a creature of habit I’ve been! On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, he and the boys are all home for lunch, so that is what is now our family meal–I REALLY want to keep up eating a meal together. This is a good year for him to do an odd schedule like this, with the alternating days and flexibility we have.  Wednesday is the only day he works that he doesn’t see Will, he leaves for work before Will’s bus comes home.  Next year, with Will going to school full time, this wouldn’t work as well so we’ll probably look to change it in the next year, but for now this works out the best out of all the options that were available. But it’s an adjustment to get in the mentality of fixing an actual lunch (not just sandwiches) and get that ready for all of us to eat together. It’s an adjustment to not have him around in the evening helping me clean up or put the kids to bed! It’s an adjustment having him still asleep when I usually go in the room to get dressed & to make the bed (and it’s dark in the morning now…I’m going to have to actually plan ahead and get my clothes out then night before).  Like any change, it’s going to take some getting used to!  It is nice to know he’ll be home all day Saturday, Sunday and Monday though.

So, if you don’t mind, keep us in your prayers as we adjust. Also pray for me & the baby. The illness during my 3rd Trimester has made the itchy skin that flared up with my last two pregnancies flare up again pretty badly, and it’s earlier then I’d hoped to deal with it.  I still have 8 weeks, and am struggling with the idea that it’ll be like this the next 8 weeks. Pray that as I get better, the itching will ease for awhile.