Working Overtime

We're nearing the end of the fiscal year and Matthew has been working overtime to finish projects and use up funding. He's worked late, gone in the past three Saturday's and his Friday's off, and put in several hours on Labor Day. Dad working overtime means Mom is also working overtime. I think I've decided that in many ways, Matthew being out of town is easier than Matthew being home but not really home. I know how to work around his regular schedule, and when he's gone I can hunker down and get into single mom mode, but I can't seem to find my overtime groove. On a positive note though, Matthew had his annual performance review and his boss was over the moon pleased with him, so all this hard work is paying off. 

We're certainly getting by, and even having some fun. The boys didn't have school last Monday and everyone enjoyed a relaxing day free of a set schedule. We went to the park and played together at home. That evening Matthew died my hair. A friend of mine did a streak of purple a while back and we thought it would be fun to do something similar. It started to fade quite a bit after only a few days, so we touched it up again on Saturday. I don't think I'll keep doing touch ups though because I have to stand under cold water for a long time to rinse out the excess dye and it makes a big mess in the shower. It's fun, though, for as long as it lasts.

Abraham had morning school on Wednesday, so I was able to go visiting teaching with just Mercy in tow. We also spent a little while at the playground and I was able to go do my quarterly weigh in. It was a productive morning.

We went to play group at Sundoro South Park on Friday morning, then that night after the kids were in bed I went down to Ashley's for a craft night. I brought my serger and helped Hannah make a pencil skirt. She got enough fabric so I could make one for myself as well, but the knife snapped off just as I was finishing hers, so I wasn't able to make mine. There was a good turnout and sufficiently unappealing treats so I didn't make myself sick eating sugar late at night. I'm glad I was able to go.

Mercy had diarrhea all day Saturday and was understandably quite grumpy. Matthew got home around 3:00 with party food from Sam's Club. We ate giant soft pretzels and the boys got down to the activity they'd been looking forward to with great anticipation: a whole evening of Minecraft with Dad. He was good enough to play computer with the boys, tend to Mercy, and let me go off by myself to run errands, all after a very long week of his own hard work. His kindness and dedication definitely did not go unappreciated, as I was greatly rejuvenated by the break. I first went to a fabric shop to look for the final piece I need for the baby quilt I've been working on, then drove up Rio Grande looking at all the beautiful ranchitos on my way to the mall. I had a coupon I was hoping to use at The Limited. I couldn't use the coupon, but still ended up getting a pair of $90 pants that I've had my eye on for $30, so my trip up there wasn't a total waste. I had some Old Navy coupons as well, but couldn't find anything worth buying and left that store empty handed. On my way home I stopped by Smith's to stock up on their case lot sale. 

Mercy woke up on Sunday feverish with a nasty cough and stuffy nose, in addition to her noxious poo. I went to ward council in the morning, then came home to pick up the boys. Matthew stayed home with little sister. Church went well, we got to talk to both sets of grandparents in the evening, and Matthew made soft pretzels again for dinner so there wasn't much meal prep or clean up to deal with. On the whole, it was a pretty good day.  

I had a hard time getting up today, and have spent the morning with a headache and feeling a bit queasy. I hoped maybe Mercy would be doing better, but she only wanted water for breakfast which she threw up, along with the two tiny bites of toast I coerced her to eat. She's still really warm and continues to cough. Poor girl. She took a bath then put herself to bed. I still have to take Abraham to school at 11:00, so unfortunately, neither of us can just sleep the day away. I've got lot's to do this week, so here's hoping that whatever we've got clears out quick.