adjusting

image credit: photobucket

So here I am. I have been meaning to talk to you, but we are adjusting to a new schedule and doing the usual reorganization that comes with a new year. A new start. I am one of those people. I like to "start fresh" in January and look at what I need to do differently. We are also all recovering from the world's worst cold/cough. It is interesting to me how we can't all get it at the same time. Each person takes their 1-2 weeks to go through it and then the next person gets it. Right now I am mostly concerned with sleep. I slept like a baby for the most part when HF was working graves. Well, besides the fact that I sometimes let my imagination get the better of me at night with the creepy house noises. But once I fell asleep, I really slept.

When HF was home on his days off, I had restless sleep. I couldn't tell if it was the lack of space I had in bed since I like to sprawl, or if it was sheer excitement that he was lying next to me, but I got used to him not being here. Well, now I know what it is. I wake up several times during the night and see my husband snug as a bug in a rug, wrapped up in a cocoon with all the sheets and blankets. Well that's nice for him, but I am in the fetal position freezing to death and I have to yank the comforter over me. In his sleep he actually grips and resists as I'm pulling, and a couple of hours later succeeds again in stealing the covers. Yes, we need to figure this out and we should have our own blankets or something.

HF started a new shift. He is now working days from 2 pm to 10 pm but that reads more like 1 pm to midnight or so. But I don't have to tell you that. There are things to like about this shift.

1. I get to see HF more. The kids don't, but I do. I'm awake when he gets home usually and we go to bed together. I love that (other than the stealing all the blankets bit of course)
2. We get to spend time together in the morning, have breakfast, he can take Daisy to school, spend time with the boys, etc. It feels like we see him more even on his days off, because there is no sleeping in.
3. Even though HF got to sleep in more than 8 hours usually (because he is impossible to wake up), sleeping during the day from a graveyard is still not as good quality sleep as sleeping during the night.
4. I just asked HF what is good about this shift and he said, "I don't know". He also just took a dose of codeine a few minutes ago so I don't think he knows where he is.
5. Oh! I thought of one more. There is a lot more action during this shift than graves. He does like that for sure.

As usual, I can name a lot more negative things than positive about this shift. To name a few:

1. His shift is rarely over at 10 pm. More action = more paperwork. That sort of thing.
2. No dinner together.
3. No distracting the boys while I help Daisy with homework or get dinner ready.
4. Not with us when we have our outings and activities and other events that usually occur during the evening.
5. Can't help with bathtime, bedtime, storytime, etc.

But that's enough negative for now. Right now I've got a 2 year old dying to climb onto my lap to be snuggled so that is my cue. Regular posting will resume tomorrow.