He's Home!

After 10 days in a row of the night shift of overtime, Rick was home yesterday. He took a vacation day so he could catch up on sleep and spend some time with me and the kids. It was nice to have him around. Overtime came up again today, but Rick got called out early this morning so he will be home around noon. What a crazy schedule; there is no rhyme or reason to it. The way Rick put it, getting put on the shift that stays after the regular work day is good from a financial standpoint. Getting called out early in the morning is a lot easier when it comes to family life. Please pray that our family would have a peace that passes all understanding as we learn to balance the two different shifts.

8 Days and Counting

Yesterday marked the 8th day in a row of overtime for Rick. This schedule is starting to put on a strain on our family. The way the days have gone lately, Rick works his regular shift and then stays until around midnight. He comes home to go to sleep, and then gets up to do it all over again. We are are all trying to keep our eye on the prize which is an emergency/moving fund. That being said, one night at home without interruption would be wonderful. We are still planning on a family overnight at a hotel when winter comes to an end. Anybody have suggestions for ways to deal with a very unpredictable, but mandatory, schedule?

Abby and I were watching the news last night. A reporter said he wanted to tip his hat to those who plow in Chardon (which is where Rick works), all the roads looked great despite an unbelievable amount of snow. Abby excitedly looked at the television, and said "That's my dad!" Pretty cute.

Happy New Year Company Girls

UPDATE: The photo is the view from my front door, taken with the new camera. I love the look of fresh fallen snow. My husband teases me by saying, "Look at all the snowy trees!" (faking excitement)


Y'all, I am so excited! I could just about burst. My man completely surprised me on Christmas morning with the camera I have had my eye on for quite some time. The camera that I knew was beyond our Christmas budget. As much I am loving the camera, the thing that excites me the most is that he went above and beyond and gave up some things to give it to me. I was floored! Abby said, "I think Mom is going to cry." I found out that he sold some of his things and didn't tell me. Then, in true Dave Ramsey fashion, looked high and low to get the best deal. In the end, he made the purchase from a camera store, and we will be attending a camera class sometime this month. Once I figure out how to post pictures on this blog, I will show you some of the pictures I have already taken.

On to today, Rick is on a call out. The kids spent the night at my sister's house for a cousins New Year's Eve party. I wonder if they stayed up until midnight or not. Rick and I were able to go out on a date. (Sweet!) Today, I'm cleaning and getting organized. Let the decluttering begin. I'm off to tackle another pile...

Christmas Break Has Begun

What a week! Not at all what I expected, but things are coming together nicely. Abby is finally feeling better. She is talking up a storm! Having a few days were she didn't have the energy to talk much was almost as bad, if not worse, than strep throat for her. As my dad says, "She just can't help herself. Abby has to talk." So true.

We still haven't done our Family Movie Night and milkshakes. We wanted to wait until Abby was feeling better. Rick is on a call out now, so maybe tonight. Elf is on tonight, and I love that movie. Maybe we'll skip Red Box.

Christmas shopping is almost finished. Just a couple little things left to do. I haven't even begun the wrapping yet. Rick and I usually work on that together. He wraps and I do the name tags. Gifts don't go under the tree until Christmas Eve night.

I'm off to do some more cleaning. I have got to get this house back into shape before I can lose myself in the kitchen with some Christmas baking. Merry Christmas!

On the Mend

UPDATE: Abby headed back to the doctor this afternoon because we thought she was having an allergic reaction to her medicine. The doctor thinks it is something viral on top of everything else. We got a different prescription for Abby just in case. Since she has been on an antibiotic for 24 hours she can go back to school tomorrow. Thank you, Lord! The kiddo is getting restless.


It wasn't the flu after all! Abby had a doctor's appointment today and her strep test came back positive. Now she is on antibiotics and Motrin. I can certainly tell when the Motrin is working as well as when it getting close to time for another dose. One more day home from school, and then she'll only have two days until Christmas break begins.

Rick stayed after work to plow, so we are going solo tonight. Scrambled eggs and toast for dinner. It's filling, but gentle on Abby's throat. :)

The Flu is Here

Rick and I headed out for our date day with no worries. The weather was beautiful and we were finally able to spend some time together. The plan was to have our date day and then go pick up the kids for a family movie night (courtesy of Red Box) and cake batter milkshakes from Steak 'n Shake. Rick isn't really a birthday cake fan.

I started feeling really nauseous about halfway through the day. I thought I just needed to get something to drink. It didn't work. We ended up coming home early and I went to bed. I felt so much better after a good night's and part of the afternoon's sleep. Abby, on the other hand, was pretty miserable. Yesterday was spent in her bed being as still as she possibly could. On the plus side, I was able to finish reading "On the Banks of Plum Creek" to her. We ended up reading for 3 hours! I didn't even realize how long it had been. I'm thankful that God gave us a sweet time together in the midst of the flu. Abby is home from school today, and hopes to head back tomorrow.

I love my man! He was disappointed that his birthday weekend didn't turn out the way we had planned. I can't say I blame him. He made not one, but two Walmart trips for the needed Ginger Ale and Motrin, and some other necessities. And not one complaint from a guy who hates to do grocery shopping. Rick said we'll do the family movie night and milkshakes once everyone is healthy again.

Happy Birthday, Rick! I love you madly!

Stretched

Winter has finally made itself known in NE Ohio. This is the first winter that my husband, Rick, has been behind the wheel of a snowplow. While we are enjoying the overtime, getting used to being on call has stretched us both. Rick has been staying a my parent's house this week so that he can be closer to work if he gets called out at night. It's been 4 nights in a row away from home. We have been saying all along that we needed to move, and this week has shown us that the sooner we make that move the better. Our house will be going on the market in January.

Rick and I have already agreed on a couple different things regarding this winter. First, any overtime money will go towards our emergency fund. Second, we will have a evening away after the plowing season is done. It really helps to have goals and something to look forward to.

On the plus side, tomorrow is Rick's birthday. Rather than purchase gifts for him, we are going shopping together. He will have his birthday money to spend, and we'll hopefully be able to finish Christmas shopping for the kids. We did the same thing for my birthday and I loved it. Date days are awesome! I am especially thankful for it after having to be apart so much this week. Thanks to to my in-laws, Ken and Linda, for watching the kids tomorrow.