What a day.  And it's only 4:30.

I overslept this morning, but Izzy and I still managed to have a pleasant bath.  She plays in her bouncer while I wash my hair and shave my legs, and then I get her and strip her down and bring her into the tub with me for her bath.  It works out great, and she loves the water.  She insists on being turned around so that she can "swim".  It's a real joy on some otherwise fairly sucky mornings. 

I got her dressed (in a cute Gymboree dress with lemons on it and a headband with a yellow bow) and helped the boys with their cereal.  Baby girl is feeling much better since her shots.  Yesterday was kind of rough.  I was running late but decided to check my email anyway.

I got an email letting me know what the DOD will be announcing tomorrow regarding extension.  I don't know if OPSEC would frown on me sharing this, so I guess I shouldn't give any details.  I'll just say it was bad.  Not as bad as it could be, and not bad for everyone in the unit, but for my family:  bad.  I actually don't spend a lot of time crying, but I bawled this morning.  Just when the time is winding down and I feel like I can make it to finish line, the finish line gets moved back. 

I'm not sure how to deal with this news.  Xavier is upset.  He really needs his daddy right now.  He's in that age just before puberty starts creeping in, and dad is a big deal to him.  He needs guidance on boy stuff.  I don't mean sex or sprouting hair in new places, but regular boy stuff. 

I realize we're not the only family to experience this.  And I know other families have much, much more difficult and trying situations, but this SUCKS.  It powerful sucks.

The boys felt bad for me, so they dressed themselves in their full Cub Scout uniforms like little mohawked angels.  I was proud of them, and tried not to make too many corrections to their uniforms because I wanted them to be proud of what they had done all by themselves.  I got myself together and got dressed and did my make up.

I haven't blow-dried my hair in probably months.  I just don't have the time or inclination.  I did put on make up, though, since I don't want to scare anyone.

The fundraiser went well.  Izzy was a doll baby.  Not a single fuss and she smiled at passersby.  The boys did an excellent job speaking clearly and selling their coupons and getting donations.  I've noticed that I'm a magnet for black men.  It's pretty much always been this way.  I don't know if that's a racist or inappropriate observation or generalization, but seriously...black guys like me.  So I managed to get the Cub Scouts some donations, too.  Haha.

An elderly Korean War vet spent a looooooooooooooong time talking to me.  He loved Isabella and talked to her a bit in Italian.  He wanted to know if my husband was overseas and if my husband was infantry.  When old guys find out my husband is a medic, they ALWAYS (and I meet a lot of old vets, btw) have lots of praise for medics and can tell me stories of friends who were saved by a proficient and dedicated medic.  I like that my husband's job is so appreciated. 

After a while the boys started getting bored, tired, and hungry and the donkey-kicks and secret pushing began.  We had fulfilled our comittment anyway, so I let the Cub Master know that we were leaving before we created a spectacle.

I was very proud of the way the boys behaved and how well they did with selling.  They didn't pester anyone (I refuse to allow them to do the annoying, pushy sales thing) but they were confident and bold and well-spoken.  I get very annoyed by people who hear the children speaking to them, see the children there, and yet pretend like the child doesn't exist.  This really hurts a kid's feelings, and the kid is doing his best and doing something somewhat intimidating in order to raise money for things like field trips and camps where he will learn and play. 

If you see Cub Scouts selling something and you aren't interested in helping out (and it's not like you're a bad person if you don't want to or don't have the money to spare), please, make eye contact with the child who is speaking to you, and say "No thank you."  I know it makes you uncomfortable to turn down a good cause, but that doesn't mean you should punish the child. 

I picked up cool Spongebob learn-to-type software and another Home Sweet Home Yankee candle (I go through those things way too fast) and then we got the old mohawks trimmed up a bit since school starts back on Monday.  The boys were really good, so we went to Burger King and I ordered everything I wanted since I was sad and food is the answer. 

I ordered the Cheesy Angus Burger meal only without ground beef (but with bacon) and with pepper jack instead of American cheese and can you believe they actually got my frickin' order right?  That was a happy surprise.  I know I'm difficult, but if I can't "have it my way", take down the stupid signs that say I can.

I also had a Hershey's Sundae Pie.  And a Dr. Pepper.  And I ate everything I ordered.  And I might have a snack later too.  What difference does it make if I'm fat?  My husband's not here to stumble onto my carefully hidden love handles.  Meh.

Oh, and this has nothing to do with today but the other day I boiled some pacifiers and my breastpump horn and I got busy with cooking and feeding the kids and cleaning up and then I watched Family Guy and then I smelled something burning.  I went to check, and all the water had evaporated and my breastpump horn was melted on one side.  Damnit.  So now I have to buy a new one because I'm dangerously close to being too stupid to live.

But my filthy, trashy, nasty, disgusting neighbors are moving.  I guess it's not all bad.