September 2016: The End of Maternity Leave...the Start of "Real" Life

I've never, ever, ever been so sad to see September go.  It's that time.  Time to put on my (literally bigger) big girl pants and head back to work.  Monday, October 3rd will mark my first day of the 16-17 school year at work.

I hate transitions...I'm a worrier so naturally I'm filled with worries of what it will be like as a working mom of three.  I think I'm just mostly scared of keeping all the day to day responsibilities afloat while feeling like I get good time with three kids in the evenings.  Will there be enough time to go around?

While I am fearful of the transition time, I am beyond thankful for the time I have gotten to be home.  I'm thankful I got to walk Cade to and from school and have time to play with Reese in the mornings.  Thankful for my time snuggling my Squishy baby and watching The Price is Right and endless reruns of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making The Team  (I freaking love that show).  I suppose I'm even thankful I got to have my hernia repair surgery while on maternity leave and before my insurance deductible started over.  And, of course, I'm definitely thankful for my mom and Matt's help when I've been down during the recovery.

This September has been unlike any other, filled with:        

Baby smiles and snuggles!

A closer look at Reese's imagination! She was playing school and I think she would be a great teacher if she chooses that profession one day, if I do say so myself. ;)

Saturdays filled with baseball and t-ball!

Even a rock-painting party while G-Mom was here.  My mom has helped us out so much this summer.  I can't thank her enough for always being there for me when I need her and stepping in to take such good care of my family and I!  She's amazing!

I had never been to Chick-fila for breakfast so I put it on my "maternity leave bucket list" to go there one morning.  The last Friday of my leave I was able to mark it off the list.

September consisted of a lot of down time in my room and a lot of relying on other people as I had a surgery on the 8th.  Non-medical explanation, they tacked a large piece of mesh into my abdomen to repair two hernia places that resulted from my pregnancies.  It hasn't been a painful recovery, after the first week anyway, mostly just uncomfortable and inconvenient with the lifting restrictions (nothing over 10 pounds for four weeks except Cam--but definitely no lifting of the carrier or pushing a stroller or grocery cart).  That really limits a Mom!

In a way, it was nice to have the limitation of just snuggling on my bed with Squishy.  

I'm filled with mixed and conflicting emotions about spending 45+ hours a week away from my family and home.  But I have so, so much to be thankful for.  So many blessings!  And my job is definitely among those blessings.  It will be difficult to pick up the pieces of my classroom (they have had FOUR long-term substitutes while I was away...I don't even want to know the details of that) and get into a routine again.  It's time.  I'm as ready as I'm going to be.  Lord, give me strength!