What a Monday!

Normally, Mondays are not really Mondays around here. Since we don't really have places we have to be, it is just another day. But man today was a Monday! I knew that we would have to get back on routine after being off for the last 2 weeks on Christmas break. I knew it would be hard to get us all motivated to get back to school, exercising (me) and eating right. We have been eating a lot of junk around here lately. But the big thing was JT left today for what I like to call "Round 2 of deployment training". He was gone for 3 weeks after Thanksgiving, back for 2, and now he is gone for a month. I call it deployment training, because well, that is what he is going to do. But I call it this for us, because it is getting us ready for him not being here. The girls and I are on our own. It is not fun having to do everything by myself.
He left this morning at 5 am. He said his goodbyes to the girls before they went to bed last night. It made it easier on them and him...and me. I saw him off and laid in bed for a little while longer. I had about 2 more hours I could sleep til I had to get up. A good friend of mine invited us to go to the indoor water park to take our minds off him being gone, so I needed to get myself and all our bags ready before the kids woke up. Well, wouldn't you have it, I slept through my alarm. Thank goodness Sutton woke up a little early! I fed her, woke up the girls, hopped in the shower, fed the girls, fed Sutton again, got everything (so I thought) ready, and headed out the door.
We got to the place and it wasn't busy at all. I didn't have to worry about the kids. It was set up for kids that do not swim. I could keep an eye on both the girls. I carried Sutton on me thinking she would fall asleep, but she didn't. And that is fine. Ella made a new friend...Ella makes friend everywhere she goes. Olivia was a little cautious at first, but once she got use to the new surroundings, she jumped right in. We ate lunch with our friends and poor Sutton fell right to sleep. Secretly, I was hoping she would stay awake so she would sleep when we got home and I could nap also. I do a lot of wishful thinking these days!
When it was time to leave, I went to get them changed into their clothes and wouldn't you believe, I forgot to bring underwear. Poor things had to just wear their pants. I would have kept them in their bathing suits if I didn't think they would freeze to their pants on the way out to the truck. And speaking of leaving, they were not happy about it. Ella made that very clear in the way she was speaking to me, and Olivia made it very clear with her facial expressions. Of course, they both got in trouble and a stern talking to. I threatened to not take them there again if they chose to have bad attitudes. Before we left the parking lot, each one of them apologized. This was just a prelude to what I was in for the rest of the day.
When we got home all the kids were asleep. I had to wake them up...not a good thing. Ella was grumpy, Olivia was winy and Sutton was screaming. So, Ella ran upstairs got her blanket and sat on the couch. Olivia ran to go get underwear and a change of clothes (this is a common occurrence in our house, she doesn't wear the same thing all day). I sat to nurse Sutton so she could take a long nap. Olivia was upset because I wouldn't help her get dressed, which she can do on her own. It is a little hard to lean forward and bend over to help a 3 year old get dressed with a baby attached to you. I am sure there are nursing moms that have figured this one out, but not me.
They settled down. I popped in a movie. I could rest. Sutton fell asleep, and I put her down. My neighbor called needing a ride to the hospital pharmacy before is closed. Her husband couldn't get away from work. See most couples up here only have one car. The army pays to ship one vehicle, the other is on you. She, like us, is one of those couples. No problem. Her oldest son came over to watch the girls. The baby was asleep, so I wasn't worried. Of course as soon as we got there, my neighbor gets a call from her son saying Sutton was awake. So, I hop back in the truck to get her and bring her with me to the hospital. Sutton doesn't really like anyone but me. Who can blame her, I am her food source! If she gets upset enough, she will scream til she turns purple and doesn't make any noises. Not this doesn't happen often, but I am not too sure a teenage boy would be able to handle it. Not many people can, unless you are a mother. JT has a hard time with it every now and then.
When all that was finished, my neighbors youngest son stayed at our house for awhile to play. He and Ella are about the same age, and they get along well. Olivia wants to play with them, but doesn't really know how. So, she is mean to them. All she really wants is for them to include her. It is sad to watch sometimes. I find myself wanting to intervean all the time, but I know it is important that they work it our sometimes.
I was able to sit down for a minute to feed the baby. After that I straightened up. It is nice to have another kid over, because the girls will leave me alone long enough for me to clean a bit...just a bit. Once their friend left, Ella and Olivia would not listen to me. I had asked Ella to do something, she said, "Mommy, my answer is no." She got that mommy stare. You know the one. Then she quickly retracted, but not without grumbling about it.
Dinner was served and, of course, I didn't do it right, or they didn't like something. At this point, I already knew I was putting them to bed early.
Bath time!! While Ella took a shower, I sorted the laundry while Sutton watched in her papasan. She began getting upset, so I asked Olivia to keep her entertained because I was almost finished. Our laundry was overflowing onto the floor, it had to get done. When I went to get Ella out of the shower, she was still very soapy from head to toe. I had told her 2 times to rinse herself off, and she didn't. With Sutton crying, and Olivia getting right under my feet, I could feel my blood pressure rising. I got Ella out, Olivia in and then finally Sutton got her bath. Her poor face was so red from crying so much. While I was getting Sutton dressed the washing machine started shaking from being off balanced. Normally, it will correct itself. Not this time! It shook so hard it turned sideways. And since the laundry room is right by the girls room, they were freaking out about going to bed. I finally got them convinced that it wasn't going to happen again, I turned it off. We said our prayers, I sang to them (this is the only time I sing, unless I am playing guitar hero,) and they passed out. I sat in my chair nursed my baby and could breathe a sigh of relief. We made it through our first day, again, without Daddy. Boy, we sure missed him!
I am 100% positive tomorrow will be better. It may be better by just a little bit, but it will be better.