Free Range

You could say I’m in a bit of a mood today. Violet woke up at about 6:30 again, which would have been fine if my own sleep schedule had worked out as planned. We were all trying to go to sleep at about 10:30, when I heard Violet’s glow worm go off. I jumped out of bed to retrieve it: she had rolled over right on top of it, but was still asleep. When I got back into bed, I could not go to sleep for the life of me. The last time I remember looking at the clock, it was 11:54. I woke up at 2:58, and couldn’t get back to sleep until about 4:30. So, all in all, I got about five hours sleep. I’ve survived on less, but I’m still grumpy.

My husband had a late night teaching a class, so he slept in for a bit after Violet and I got up. I would have been jealous, but in all likelihood, I would not have been able to fall back to sleep if given the option. So I got up, fed my kid, and then fed the cats. To protect her identity, I will refer to the cat who threw up yesterday night and this morning as “Evil Furball #2.” Last night, she chose locations to ensure that our bedroom would stink like wet-fishy-cat-food puke for the next week. This morning, she threw up next to and on the gate that blocks Violet from getting to the computer.

Resisting the urge to drop-kick Evil Furball #2, I got the Nature’s Miracle (awesome stuff) and a cleaning towel out. Unfortunately, I had to wait for hubby to trudge up the stairs and dissemble the gate so I could adequately clean the floor. We then made the (perhaps unwise) decision to just take the gate down. Violet needs to learn the meaning of the word no, I asserted. I spent the next thirty minutes childproofing the desk area, and then let Violet come back upstairs.

I’m surprised to say that Violet’s doing quite well with her newfound freedom thus far. I’m still worried about the paper shredder, which the OCD part of me wants to put in the garage. My husband says we should just leave it in the off position, but I know that I would probably forget to do so on occasion. She’s also pretty good at figuring out how to turn things on, so…yeah. Hmph. Maybe I’ll just unplug it for now.

Jerry brought home a Sesame Street pre-deployment DVD last night. I don’t think I should watch it with Violet this morning, because I’m too tired and emotional. I don’t want her to see me cry…even if I look a little sad lately, she comes up to me, pats my hair, and says, “Don’t cry, Momma.” Even writing that is enough to make me cry.

Must get sleep. Brain and heart might work better.

Speaking of which, I’m about to fall asleep just sitting here so perhaps it’s time for MORE COFFEE.