Fear and Dread

Two days until Ron leaves for training near Columbus. I know I can do this, I am just dreading the fatigue, lack of respite, 3 meals a day to prepare by myself, baths, laundry, housekeeping, and dealing with this infant that can't sleep longer than 2-3 hours at a time! I know I am going to be cranky and I hate to do that to the kids, so I am going to try to check myself when it starts to happen. I DO know that there will be no extra kids here i.e. playdates, etc. That would put me over the edge. I have running to do all week with kids' extracurricular stuff, but luckily I am used to toting all five around every morning for school. And thanks to good friends like Jill and Gary, who offered to get pizza one night so I won't have to cook, this is going to be fine. Gary doesn't know it, but he's on my list for making a certain comment to my husband about this "business trip". I've got my eye on you Mr. Clark! I may forgive you depending on how good the pizza is! Ron is going with a girl from work and it's just the two of them, and the comments, etc are flying (most of them from me!!!). Ron assures me that no woman is worth a one bedroom apartment!!
So, this week, I am thankful for my good friends who offered to help while Ron is gone. Things like that are so appreciated when you have this many kids and not a lot of family to help. I am thankful for Ron's new job and how happy it is making him. I am thankful for the beautiful spring days we have had and are going to have this coming week so the kids can go outside, and for Ron, who really must love me to put up with all my sarcastic comments!!!