Changing Shifts

I have never run a race before - or really run anywhere - but I can imagine that the last mile or two of a marathon probably feels like it takes forever. Imagine me bringing up the rear, half-limping with a terrible cramp in my side, sweat in my eyes, and it's dark because everyone has already finish the race, gotten cleaned up, went out to eat and are already at home in bed.

That's how I feel this evening as we end the second to last week of Mike's shift on seconds.

People tell me I shouldn't be in survival mode, but those people haven't just spent the better part of two years spending all afternoons and evenings alone and doing all bedtime routines by themselves. 

In a few weeks marks Mike's graduation from academy and his commission as an officer. He has been doing this for five years now. Of all that five years he has been on second or third shift despite his time in field training for a few months and random day shifts because of scheduling issues.

I am not really sure what to expect. I have spent years trying to fight off jealous feelings of my friends who have their husbands at home in the evening.

My fellow LEO wife friends tell me that going to first shift is life-changing.

I guess I can't really imagine that. I think we will be eating a lot of grilled out meals and when the weather gets nice, we will be outside a lot - something I cannot wait for!

Mike thinks maybe I am putting too much emphasis - building up too many expectations of first shift and that I may be sorely disappointed.

Second shift was good for one reason - Mike helped me get the boys to school. On those early days of pregnancy when I was feeling ill, Mike was more than happy to get Grayson ready and take him to school. Now I will be hauling both kids to school. I have had to completely change our schedule through the week to accommodate. 

It was also good because Mike likes second shift - especially his coworkers. They are a tight group of people, and I know he is going to miss them. I don't think you find that kind of dynamic very often, and I am sorry he has to leave that - but thankful that he was willing to do that for the health of our family.

If you could be praying for us, we have one huge mountain we have to scale - and that is bedtime. It has been a struggle since July - and I have slept through the night two nights since then. Grayson has decided he doesn't want to sleep and when he does fall asleep it's with Mike in our bed. There is not enough room for me in there especially considering my ever-growing stomach so I usually bunk in Easton's room but let's be real - it's not ideal at all. 

Since we only have a three bedroom home, we had planned to have the boys sleep in the same room but it has been a dismal failure. I laugh to myself when people say Grayson will get used to it, because they have no clue. So on Mike's time off - we are going to switch their rooms around again and Gray will get his own room, and Easton will eventually share a room with the baby. 

Mike will have to be up super early so we will be having some very early bed times, and right now Mike helps with the kids at night - but he won't be able to do that any more - so I am anticipating some more sleepless nights until we gets settled - if that ever happens.

Wish us luck. Or actually like I said...pray for us. We are going to need it.