conditions improving

First let me say thank you to everyone who provided reassurance and encouragement to me after my emotional melt-down. It's so nice to have your support!

My commute is 41.5 miles. Given that the speed limit is 70 along nearly the whole distance, it shouldn't take that long for me to get to work. However, sometimes, usually because of traffic, accidents, what have you, it takes me over an hour to make the commute. But, some days I get lucky and it only takes 35 minutes. Since there's such variability, I have to leave myself a little over an hour to drive, just in case.

Normally that wouldn't be that big of a deal, but when I'm spending 12+ hours at the hospital, throwing in an hour+ commute in each direction makes for some really long days and of course, shortens the time I'm able to spend with Marshall.

Yesterday, I left myself plenty of time (about an hour and a half) to get to school because all the news stations were predicting we'd get dumped on with snow. Well, yesterday turned out to be a "lucky" day, and with the cleared roads, it only took me 35 minutes to get to work. I was thankful for not having to spend so much time in the car, but I was annoyed that I could have left an hour later and spent that time with Marshall. But, I shook off this frustration and had a great day at clinic. Then, I was super excited because I got done early and left the hospital at 3:30! I was delighted at the opportunity to go pick up Marshall from daycare and to spend all evening with him. But, the snow had started to accumulate, and apparently people in Kansas City are terrified of driving in these conditions, so it took me nearly 2 hours to get home. I didn't get to pick up Marshall, but I did get to spend some quality time with him before he drifted off to sleep.

Last night we got dumped on again with snow, and I was crossing my fingers that the clinic at the hospital would be closed. I checked the website at midnight when Marshall woke up to eat, and again at 5 this morning, but nope- business as usual. So, Jordan (my hero) shoveled the driveway for me and I left work 2 hours before I needed to be there, just in case.

Well, our street was terrible, but after I turned onto the highway, the roads were perfectly clear. People were still driving slow, but I made it to work in just over an hour. Ugh.

But, I have to say, things are improving. It's definitely hard to leave Marshall at home, but I try to make the most out of the time we do get to spend together and when he flashes me the biggest, brightest smile, it seems to make the stress of everything else melt away.