A Good Night's Sleep?

Sleep, who doesn't absolutely love it? It seems like so many of us race around day after day trying to get through everything on our busy to-do lists that we wear ourselves down to the point of constantly craving sleep. Sleep has always been something I've valued and not taken for granted-ask anyone close to me. If I'm tired, I'm turning in. I don't care how crazy a party is getting or how exciting a movie is, if I'm tired there is no force strong enough to keep me awake.

Enter pregnancy.

Pregnancy (especially the early weeks) will knock you right off your feet. The amount of fatigue your body feels as the little bugger sucks all your energy is crazy. Christmas Break could not have come at a more perfect time as I created a steady routine of sleeping and laying around on the couch resting. It was glorious. 

Enter prednisone.

Then reality hit with my kidneys and I was back on the steroids, but honestly the timing was pretty good there too as I got back into the school routine and lost my ability to nap whenever my heart desired. The steroids gave me the boost of energy I needed to make it through each day without collapsing from pure exhaustion.

So, where am I now?? I'm somewhere in between. Little nugget is still zapping me of a lot of the juice I need to be a functioning member of society, but that's when the steroids step in in the mornings. Come see me around 8am and I'm a bundle of crazy. As the day trickles on that energy boost wears off and I get sleepy. Oh, so very sleepy. By 5pm this old lady is ready for supper and fighting to keep her eyes open at 6. I refuse to let myself get in bed until 7 which is when I read until my eyes close (usually about 20 minutes or so).

Sounds like a great system, right?? Wrong! The pregnancy bladder and dreams kick in a few hours later and I'm up trying to get all that taken care of. And thanks to the prednisone, once I'm up, I'm up. The poor dog has been confused more times than not over when it is actually time to wake up and get ready for the day. 

Don't get me wrong, I am so extremely thankful to be having these problems right now, but I will not be sad to see them go!

A Warm Welcome Back

Today was my first day back, and I couldn't have asked for a better day.

My students welcomed me with hugs and cheers. 

Not to mention they listened better today than they've done since the beginning of the school year!

My work family helped make my life easier by continually offering to help me with odds and ends.

My admin team checked on me to see how I was doing.

Many offered their condolences and prayers.

All in all, it was a successful day back. Now, please excuse me while I nap from sheer exhaustion of being back in the swing of things!

 

Friday's Letters [10.26]

Happy Friday one and all! Today I am linking up with Adventures of Newlyweds for Friday's Letters!

Dear Peanut, What is this all of a sudden aversion to dairy products? You've completely turned me off of everything from milk to yogurt to even ice cream. Would you be a dear and figure this out? You need the calcium all of those things provide!

Dear Boone, We are very excited to come visit you, even if it is for only a brief trip. I've heard rumors of chilly temps and rain. How about you hold off on those for another day so we can enjoy the gorgeous fall weather? Many thanks!

Dear sleep, Oh how glorious, yet fleeting you are these days. I promise to catch up on you, probably over Thanksgiving Break. Will you wait for me?

Dear iPhone, PLEASE arrive before we leave for Boone! We've been stalking the mess out of you since it said you shipped Wednesday afternoon. It would be superbly awesome if you arrived in time for us to get you set up!

Refreshed

refreshed: (v) Give new strength or energy to; reinvigorate.

I feel very refreshed these days. Is it the extra 30 minutes of sleep I get each night? Is it the uninterrupted time with my love? Or is it the knowledge that I don't have to check off every item on my to-do list today because it can wait until tomorrow?

I don't know, but whatever the reason I am feeling refreshed.

I am very fortunate to have a career that allows me to "start over" on a regular basis. If things look rough for a few months, it's okay because if I wait a bit longer I will get a new batch of students and challenges to face. This is a double-edged sword, though. Sometimes you have such an amazing group of kiddos that you're convinced the next group won't be nearly as fun and you don't want to let them go. But of course we must. Is this how it feels to be a parent saying goodbye to stages as their kids reach new milestones? 

I love my job. I love the challenges it brings and the every day changes that no one could possibly predict. It's not always easy, but I really do enjoy it. It can be draining, though, and by June I am often counting the minutes until I have a bit of freedom. I think people in many careers face that feeling, I'm just lucky enough to get that bit of respite. I've now gotten the rest I needed and am feeling back up to par.

I am ready to conquer the new school year, the new kiddos, the new curriculum, and the new challenges. There is no doubt in my mind that it will take some adjusting, but I am confident that I can do it.

 I am refreshed.

Thankful Thursday-Guardian

I’ll be your keeper for life as your guardian
I’ll be your warrior of care your first warden
I’ll be your angel on call, I’ll be on demand
The greatest honor of all, as your guardian  

-Alanis Morissette

Hello lovely readers! Today means that tomorrow is Friday-Hooooorayyyy! Each week I find I have an overwhelming number of things to be grateful for. Anyone else ever feel that way? As I look around our home right now I realize how much I have to be thankful for, and it blows me away. What did I do to deserve this?? Here are a few things that are at the forefront of my mind right now:

my sweet husband

I have been an emotional ball of mess this past week (thank you womanhood for that one), yet he has never once faltered. He has been completely and totally wonderful. Every time I yell then cry, he listens to me before helping me calm down. He has gone out of his way to make my life easier and I cannot thank him enough for that. How many women can say that about their husbands? A shout-out to Mama and Papa Mobs for raising such a Godly man!

much needed rain

It seems that every blip on the radar but us was getting rain this past week, then finally the skies opened up! The stellar summer storms (you like that alliteration right there? English dork right here) brought lower temps and the ability to leave your house without suffocating.  Very thankful for that!

sleep

Let's be honest here, I don't get much sleep during the school year. That's just the nature of the beast. Lots of work coupled with little time equals very little sleep for Mrs. Mobley.  I am so grateful for nights of 9+ hours of sleep. That's right folks, 9+ hours!

healthy eating

I am very thankful for the fact that we can eat healthy. I know that sounds silly, but it's true. Eating healthy is not always cheap, but with coupons, sales, and grocery stores close by we can make it happen.

the beach
We are headed to the beach for a week with David's wonderful family! I couldn't be more excited for a week of reading, resting, and relaxing. We're also excited to introduce Daisy to the beach for the very first time!

What are you thankful for this week?