One Month Down

Well, I have survived one month!  Don't let me hear you say "Wow, that flew by" or "One month already?" I have counted every single day - all 28 of them.  Man, that also means this is the shortest month I am going to have.  Darn!  Each day has presented its own challenges as we have tried to establish a routine.  But, as my dear husband once told me . . . Don't count the days, make the days count.  So, that is exactly what I have tried to do.  (While still counting the days - what can I say?  I'm a multi-tasker.)

The first two weeks were so difficult.  I was a big blubbering heap of hormones.  Everything made me cry - the pair of socks he let behind, my big empty bed, the kids asking for Daddy.  Benaiah didn't sleep at night.  So, on top of emotional I was also sleep-deprived.  Huck and Eli were super fussy, and Jonah was aggressive.  He pushed his brothers down more times than I could count - which made them even whinier.  I really didn't even know how to handle him.  It was not your cut and dry misbehavior.  We had put him through a lot (new house, new baby, no Daddy), but I still wanted him to realize he had to behave.  We were stuck in the house most days.  We couldn't really go anywhere because Benaiah was so young.  It was even too cold to play outside.  I was about to lose it because it all seemed overwhelming and so difficult.  Even though thousands of people have survived deployments it didn't seem possible. 

Then, we started to pull it together.  The boys started to level out.  We were able to go a few places.  (Those places with carts big enough to hold everyone or with people waiting to help me unload.)  Danny and I established a time to communicate that worked for both of us.  Benaiah still wasn't sleeping at night but I found some night time hobbies like meal planning for when Danny gets back and finding new recipes to try in the meantime. 

Now, we are in the swing of things.  We have a routine for each week and the boys are getting much better at behaving.  I go at least a few days in between each break down and Benaiah has started sleeping at night.  Woohoo! 

Some First Month Highlights:

~ Jonah started soccer!
~ This is more of a low light - Jonah managed to get two black eyes on the same eye in the course of two weeks.  Gotta love playgroup!  :D
~ Benaiah went to church for the first time.
~ I celebrated my 27th birthday - We could have a whole post about this one.
~ Sinus infection - yuck!
~ Jonah and Benaiah both had check-ups (and yes, Jonah did survive the finger prick).
~ Huck and Eli finished cutting four teeth each - finally!

Now only seven more to go. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.