Challanges

Besides the daily challenges of doing enough work and getting enough sleep, we've added a few special ones lately.

First of, Bob got to thinking about our future, and how much retirement pay he'll actually get, and we decided on an experiment. Since it's getting past the tourist season (esp. with the baby coming), we thought we'd try living on our retirement pay. As it is, our house, water, trash, and electric are paid for, so it could be much worse. I don't know if it's socially acceptable to put a dollar figure on it, but I like concrete examples so I have to assume other people do, too. Lately we've been taking home about $2000 twice a month (it varies depending on the Cost of Living Allowance). At retirement level pay (assuming no promotions) it will drop to $1000 per month. That's quite a drop! So we're trying to see if we can get by (groceries, clothes, gas, insurance, household stuff) on $1000. Housing will have to come out of savings or whatever job Bob will get (or, if he goes to college, he gets a housing allowance).
So far, I've chosen to cook rather than eat out several times (where I wouldn't have last month), but I still bought ice cream and granola bars when I went for groceries. And I didn't go to the Scholastic book fair last night.
While we may not be doing any traveling for a couple of months, it is birthday season (Riah, William, me, new baby, and Bob all before Christmas). Also the holidays, the semi-annual case lot sale at the commissary, and the bazaars that come with the holidays around here - the first will be next weekend. But we'll give it a go.

Another little challenge: Strep throat in two children so far. I'm a little hoarse this morning, but I'll pretend it's something else.

Then there's the getting serious about school again.

Of course the pregnancy becoming all-consuming, and then a baby before we know it.

And Ella is on the potty train. 3 diapers in 2 days just came apart on her, and I called their bluff. We haven't even got underwear for her yet (she's wearing Naysha's), but I won't put a diaper on her when she is awake and home. This might help out with challenge #1, but it is another level of stress in my day.

Not that I'm looking for sympathy, really. Just trying to wrap my mind around all that is going on. We've always done things in spurts and it usually works out.

Oh, and I posted on Facebook, but two nights ago the boys were playing in their room and broke a CFL (compact fluorescent lightbulb). You may or may not know that they are full of mercury, and therefore not to be taken lightly. I tied a rag around my face, wore shoes, and cleaned everything in the room. Left the door closed and the window open, and had the boys sleep in the "den" that night. Beyond that I just have to trust God. If I didn't know it had mercury in it, I wouldn't have done anything special, you know? The packages should come with warnings.

I guess that's it for this week. :-)