Night Shift

Sam works nights, when we are all safely tucked into our beds. Still, we expect him to show up for family functions in the daytime. He's a good sport...

Have you ever worked a night shift? It's hard! Sam says he prefers it but I never got used to it. Once, coming home about 8:00 a.m. after a 12 hour + night shift, I scared myself. I dozed off! It was one of those split-second naps but I had to jerk the wheel to keep from taking out the fence of people just a few houses from our own. That really was frightening. After that, when I had to work that night shift, I left work with a cup of ice from the ice machine. As I drove home (about 15-20 minutes) I just kept dropping bits of ice down my shirt. It worked!

Even after coming home that tired, I'd crawl into bed and fall right to sleep but wake up 2 hours later thinking it was time to get up. That night shift is so confusing to a body!

Recently we were talking about a time when we moved the morning after I'd worked a night shift. In fact, I'd worked 8 hours during the day on Friday, napped and then worked an 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift. Mike and his friend, Terry, moved our bed that morning and I made it and went to sleep. When I awoke, we were moved in. That was the weirdest move ever! Maria was two years old so it must have been a tricky day for Mike as well, but I snoozed through it.

Do you have any night shift stories? I hope I never have to work a night shift again but I am so grateful for those who do.

Bonus Day!

The truth is, I was just hoping to survive this week.  I've been plowing ahead through many busy days in a row with my job, church events and craft fair days.  It has all been good, but I was already tired when this week started.  Here's a breakdown of the last few days. 

Monday:  I worked from 7:00 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. before going to a meeting at church.  I got home about 9:30 p.m., ate a little supper and was just getting ready for bed when Bode had diarrhea on the new carpet.   After scrubbing that up, I crashed.  Bode was sick again a few times in the night but Mike took care of it so I could rest.  I love Mike. 

Tuesday:  I worked 7:00 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.  I can't remember what I did that evening but I remember that Mike told me he missed me.  He was also tired, having been up in the night with Bode.  Did I mention that I love Mike?

Wednesday morning I made pies for Thanksgiving and did some errands.  After that, Sam and I picked up Maria and Cordy and met Mike at the mall for our weekly lunch at the food court.  I then came home and took a nap as Wednesday night I was scheduled to work my first night shift in years.  I worked 7:00 p.m. until 7:30 a.m.

Wednesday:  After getting home from work just before 8:00 a.m. I ate a little breakfast, plopped some frozen rolls out to thaw and went to bed.  Although I never did very well with sleeping during the day, I had a new plan.  I took a Benadryl and put on a pair of those eye coverings for sleeping.  What are they called?  Anyway, I put in a CD of sleepytime music to cover up day noises, set my alarm for 2:00 p.m. and fell immediately to sleep.  My alarm went off and I jumped up to see my clock said 5:00 p.m.!  I panicked, as we were to go to Maria and Eric's at 3:00!  Well, it was actually only 10:30.  Lesson learned, don't set your clock and alarm when you are too tired to see straight.  I went back to sleep until almost 1:00, waking with plenty of time to bake the rolls. 

After all that, we enjoyed a lovely dinner at Maria and Eric's.  Cordelia was in top form.  She greeted us and said "Happy Thanksgibbing" many times.

I was so grateful to Maria for taking on the responsibility of the family dinner. 

We usually go to my Mom's a few hours away but with my work schedule that wasn't feasible.  Although I was missing my Mom and all the family that we usually saw for Thanksgiving, I felt grateful to have this time with Sam, Mike, Maria, Eric and Cordelia.  I really missed Ben and Sara but was I was happy knowing they were with Sara's family for Thanksgiving. 

I just relaxed and enjoyed being a guest...

Maria had gone all out.  We enjoyed a beautiful meal, all vegan.  I ate so much I felt a little bit miserable for awhile but it was worth it. 

After that, I enjoyed time with Cordelia up in her room while Maria cleaned up and the guys watched some football. 

Eventually Cordy had everyone up in her room, most of us taking turns in the playhouse with her.  It was wonderful!  Later, the guys went out to watch more football while we girls came to our house to watch Netflix and let the dogs play. 

So today, I am still in my jammies just relaxing for awhile.  It feels like a bonus day with only good things planned.  I am NOT going shopping!  Black Friday scares me.  Instead, I will be crocheting.  Technically it is work as I am fulfilling Christmas orders for Wyoming Rose Boutique, but it feels like fun.  Right now I am working on a mother-daughter set of matching ponchos and hats.

Cordy will be here for lunch and snuggle time.  We'll watch the Wonder Pets, rock and likely have a snuggle nap.  Mike and I may go to a movie later.  See what I mean?  It's bonus day!