This week was a first for us. Ever. Tim and I found ourselves in a situation we hadn't been in- ever. Or at least for 6 years, depending on how you look at it.
My sweet in-laws, who obviously love our kids to pieces, were chomping at the bit to spend some time with the kids this summer. So all 3 kids got to spend almost a week at "Grandma and Grandpa Camp" at the farm in South Dakota.
This meant two things:
1.) After less than a week at home, we loaded up all the kids and gear and headed out on yet another road trip. Again. I was less than thrilled at the prospect of another 10 hours in the car.
2.) More importantly, Tim and I had almost a week at home with just the two of us. In our own house. On our own schedules. With nothing to do but what WE wanted! All the while knowing our kids would not only be in good hands, but they would most likely be having the time of their lives without us! (Many times we teased them that we had changed our minds and were going to stay in South Dakota with them. This was ALWAYS met with moans and groans and clear indication that we were not welcome during this time.) This clearly made 10 hours in the car not only worthwhile, but ~almost~ exciting!
To say that we felt pressured to capitalize on these 5 days would be an understatement. It was such a tough balance to squeeze it all in. We definitely wanted to "play" and be together, but at the same time, we had a handful of things we would be much better off accomplishing without kids underfoot. All to be worked around Tim's usual schedule, of course, including Wednesday night youth group for both of us, Sunday church activities, etc., etc. (Also sadly enough, we had multiple funerals and memorial services to attend in that short time, too.)
Since over half of our time was already scheduled, on our way back after dropping the kids off, we literally made dual lists: a fun list and a work list. We didn't want to forget anything. Our goal was to maximize our time to the fullest.
Our most daunting item on our list was to begin converting our guest room to what would become Sophia & Phoebe's new room. It's a cave of a room downstairs with old school, dark wood paneling halfway around the room. We spent a fair amount of our free time painting that room a tan and light pink. Maybe not the top choice for either of us, but at the same time, it would have been nearly impossible and would have taken probably 5 times as long with all the kids in the house. Thankfully, we were able to mostly finish the room in the time the kids were gone.
Our fun items included date night, use of a gift card to a local seafood restaurant, a movie night, a hike, golf for Tim, and a couple of dinners with friends. We had also intended to play tennis, and baseball for Tim, but it rained some monsoons in that week, making both of those activities impossible.
Between the painting and the hiking, my body was again feeling like it was taking a beating, and I made my second trip back to the chiropractor.
They all say, and I have well learned by this point that each pregnancy is different. I am wondering what on earth it is about this one that is making it so much harder on my body? I am doing my best to not complain about it, but the honest to goodness truth is that I am frequently finding myself wondering how on earth I can make it through the next several months.
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