I was woken up early the next morning by Dean who was crawling into bed around 2:00 am and he told me to go back to sleep that everything was okay Shane had went to bed and Glenn took over watch for him so we were safe. I snuggled up to him and went back to sleep. I woke up the next morning to Ethan moving around and whimpering in his crib which caused Lady to come over to my bed and nudge me with her nose until I opened my eyes and got up to get him.I got up and gave him his pacifier to tide him over while I got dressed and ready for the day. I went to the bathroom and brushed my teeth and put my hair up in a braided bun before going to layout the boys clothes for the day.
I laid out swim trunks and swim shirts for the boys to wear down to the lake today before going and picking up Ethan so he could go get his bath and dressed for the day. I knew that Ethan was hungry and that I was on a timer before he started to cry for his bottle again so I was moving as fast as I could without forgetting any thing. I gathered his bathing supplies, diaper, swim trunks, swim shirt, and towel before heading to the kitchen to give him a bath. I took Ethan to the kitchen sink which was a farm house skink so that I could bathed the babies in it. Sam and now Ethan have both been given a bath in this sink.
I gave Ethan a bath before getting him dressed in his clothes for the day and I held him on my hip as I started to make his morning bottle. He started to cry as I was making his bottle so I rocked him on my hips while I shook his bottle up before giving it to him. Matt came out of his room still in his PJs and let the dogs out before going back to bed. I guess his dog was asking to be let out. I put my shoes on with one hand and arm before grabbing my bow and following the dogs outside not trusting no one to try and hurt or mess with them. I was standing outside with Ethan feeding him his bottle while the dogs used the bathroom behind the Rv when I notice Daryl heading into the woods.
I found out from Glenn that Shane was only letting Daryl stay because he could hunt and agreed to hunting for the whole group. That was not only a lot of animals but a lot of hours hunting to get the amount of meat needed to feed the whole group and I was surprised that he agreed to it. I sure the hell wouldn't but that was just me. I burped Ethan half way through his bottle and as soon as the nipple touched his lips again he latched on and started to drink the body again. I notice Shane and Lori wondering off into the woods together like a couple of teenagers sneaking out of their parents house to see each other in the middle of the night. I knew what they would be getting up to.
I didn't know if anybody else did but I did. I opened the Rv door letting the dogs inside and shut the door behind us and locked it. I put Ethan's pacifier back in his mouth before taking him and laying him back down in his crib so he would go back to sleep for a while. I started the last load of dirty clothes and took out the clean dry clothes before I started to fold them. I took the folded clean clothes into the bedroom and set the hamper of clean clothes on the top bed for now until I could put them up when everyone was up and moving around. I started on breakfast we would be having eggs, rabbit meat and hash-browns for breakfast this morning.
I started on the hash-brownds first shredding the potatoes and putting them in water to get the starch off them I then started a pot of coffee since I got like 30 containers of it. I dried off the potatoes before putting them in the hot pan so they would fry and get a crisp edge. I flipped them once they got nice and golden brown. I started a second pan and did the strips of rabbit meat in it. I put the strips of meat on our plates that I got out of the cabinet when they were done.
The first round of hash-browns came out and the second got put in. I started the last batch of rabbit meat and flipped both meat and hash-browns after a couple minuets on one side. I put the last batch of rabbit meat on our plates and started the scramble eggs. I repeated the same process twice more before I got all four batches of hash-browns done and on our plates. I moved the food to the table just as they boys were walking in the living area fully dressed in what I laid out Matt even had a wide awake Ethan with him.
"Mom why are we wearing swim clothes." Matt asked putting Ethan in his highchair and getting everyone silverware.
"You Dad stayed up late to watch the Rv since Shane tried something yesterday so we wanted to be ready if he did. He will be sleeping in so we are going to get our fishing poles and are going fishing and swimming down at the lake today. I'm going to pack us a lunch so we should be set to spend the day down there." I told them
"Really mommy I can go swimming." Sam asked excitedly
"Yes Sam we are going swimming after we catch a couple big freezers of fish so we can store them for winter.
"Now eat." I told him pushing their plates towards them.
I ate and fed Ethan bites of his Banana and Blueberries baby food this morning and he was loving it. I finished last since I was feeding Ethan so Matt started on the dishes while Me and Sam finished up eating. I stopped feeding Ethan and burped him before feeding him the rest of his baby food. I wiped Ethan's mouth once he was done eating and finished eating myself before helping Matt with the dishes. I handed Ethan to Sam to take in the living area while I got lunch ready for us to take down to the lake. I got out hot dogs, ketchup, mustard, chips, and put some Oreos into plastic bags for dessert. I added that to a bag with towels and Ethan's blow up floaty.
I had Matt get our weapons ready to go while I went to tell Dean that we were going on down to the lake. I woke him up and told him we were leaving before kissing him and leaving the room. We would be leaving out guns here but taking our bows and arrows since ours were basic pull back bows and couldn't really rust. I put our bag into a big green cooler that I would pull behind me down to the lake. I put the dogs life vests on them which they were bouncing around since they knew what this meant. Hunter hated swimming so he would stay here and guard the Rv while Dean slept and chewed on a small done I gave him before I exited the Rv with they boys.
I locked the Rv behind me and I opened the back hatch of the truck and got out three fishing poles and worms that I had got the day before. They were still alive since I had put them their over night in the fridge. I got looks from the whole camp as I pulled a huge green color behind me while still having Ethan on my other hip. Matt carried the fishing poles and bows an arrows, while Sam carried the worms. I smiled and waved at Glenn when he waved at us and we had made it halfway through camp when Lori had to open her big fat mouth and start complaining to Shane about something and he got that look that he was listening to Lori's Idea or reason look I call it.
I looked at Matt and nodded for him to go on with Sam down to the lake to start fishing. Shane about that time started my way. I shifted Ethan on my hip so I had better hold of him while I waited to see what Shane could possible want now. I watched as he stopped and talked to a couple other people that had kids and they all agreed on something and I had a feeling I wasn't going to like. Lori and Carol disappeared into their tents with their kids as did several other kids and parents. I guess Shane was making this a swimming day which was fine except I wasn't watching a bunch of other peoples kids when I had my own to watch.
"Hey Katie wait up will you." Shane called as I reached the other side of camp by the hill that led down to the lake.
"What Shane I'm trying to enjoy a day with my kids what could you want now." I asked him not to happy to see him at all.
"We agreed as a group that it was a good idea to get the kids to go down to the lake to swim for a bit. I need you not to fish while the group swims." Shane told me.
"Or you could tell your group up there to have some fucking common sense and not swim while Me and the kids are fishing since we have already started." I told him motion to where Matt and Sam had their poles in the water.
"Just stop fishing so everyone can swim." Shane told me.
"No, we were here first so we should be able to catch our dinner. it's not my fault you guys can't think ahead of time to figure out what your doing the next day. I been planning all week to eat fish today." I told him raising my voice which scared Ethan and made Lady to start growling at Shane.
"Tell your group to give us an hour or two then come swim so we can get our fish." I demanded to him as most the group had already got ready to swim.
I walked off not wanting to hear anymore of what he had to say. Matt and Sam picked us out a fishing area that was on a rock so we were half mostly in the shade but some of it was in the sun it was the perfect place. I put Ethan down on a towel that I laid out while Lady laid down on one side of him blocking him from the water. I threw my bated hook in the water and started to get a bite after a couple seconds. The fish must be hungry if they were already biting for us.I opened the cooler with one hand and took our bag out that had lunch and our towels in it and Ethan's diaper bag that I had brought with me incase I needed it.
I watched as Sam caught the first fish and Me and Matt cheered him on as he took it off the hook and put it in the cooler with the ice we had bought at the store the day before for. I caught the next on it was looking like we were catching catfish so far. After catching about 20 fish all together I decided to stop fishing myself and just watch the boys. The fished for about 10 more fish each before stopping wanting to swim instead. It had only been an hour since we started so we still had a bit until the rest of the group got here. I put up all the fishing supplies and let the boys take their shirts off before running and jumping off the edge of the rock into the water.
The dogs followed barking at them as then went in after them. Ethan was getting restless missing out on all the fun so I put the floaty in the water before putting him in the floaty and he loved it. Lady paddled up to him and was licking him while she was paddling and Ethan was giggling as she licked his toes and fingers. I didn't want to swim but I was putting my feet and legs in the water so that Ethan could hold on to my legs if he reached out of his floaty. I notice that it was about that time that the rest of the group joined us some kids just went running in the water while others went to the other side of the lake where you slowly walked down.
I grabbed Ethan out of the water after a group of kids splashed us really good getting water all in his face and making him cough some. I laid him out on his stomach on the part of the blanket that was in the shade. I laid out some toys for him to play with as well. Lady also wanted out so I had Matt come over and life her while I help pull her out of the water that way she didn't have to paddle across the whole lake to get to the side that had natural built ramp. I got her out easy enough and she laid down in the sun to dry off after shaking her wet coat all over me an Ethan who were closed to being completely dry. I watched the boys swim while still keeping an eye on Ethan as he slept on his tummy on the towel that he was playing on Lady dozed as well.
"Matt, Sam don't swim to far out." I called not liking how far out they were as I made up a bottle to feed Ethan with.
I watched them swim for another 2 hours before Ethan started to cry for his lunch time bottle. I grabbed Ethan's diaper bag and started to make him a bottle as Matt and Sam started to swim to shore. I had their towels laid out in the sun to get warm for when they wanted to dry off for lunch any time. I picked Ethan up and started to feed him as other kids started to complain about wanting lunch. I burped Ethan half way through his bottle before giving him the rest and burping him again. I started to feed him mixed garden veggies as Matt and Sam dried off with their towels before putting them down on the rock in the sun so that they could dry while they sat down on them.
I passed out the food while Ethan I fed Ethan bites of his baby food. I think there was like carrots, corn, peas, green beans, and kale in it mixed together is how it got its mixed veggies title. I stopped and burped him half way through while the boys were finishing drying off before we ate. I fed Ethan the rest of his baby food and burp him again. I was now rocking a sleepy and full Ethan in my arms. I pasted out the paper bowels that I bought with us to put our hot dogs in and gave Matt and Sam their bag of chips that they picked out earlier that morning. I passed around hot dog buns, ketchup, and mustard for everyone so that they could put what they wanted on their hot dog. Ethan now was asleep so I put him in his moses basket that I brought so he would have somewhere to take his nap without having to worry about him getting hurt.
Lady moved to lay around the basket that was in the shade to protect him as people were walking back an forth behind us so they could go up the hill to camp for lunch. I could feel everyone else watching us as we ate our lunch but I didn't pay any attention to them. I was to busy having fun with my kids. I gave each of us our small bag of cookies that I brought as dessert. I was finishing up my cookies when I felt someone grab my waist behind me and pulled me towards the water as they jumped in. River was barking and wagging her tail as she ran and jumped in with us. I was laughing now as I came up out of the water and I knew that everyone was looking at me now. Dean came up in font of me as he leaned in and kissed me before I swam back to shore.
"You bastard I was trying to stay dry." I told him as he helped me back out of the water and followed my lead.
"I know but I couldn't help myself after you finished eating. Why don't you go take Ethan and Lady back to the house while I watch the boys swim so more." Dean told me helping me dry off with one of the dry towels that Matt and Sam used.
"Okay but you will have to come with me and get stuff to clean the fish and you can do that while the boys swim." I told Dean and he gave me that 'really' look but agreed.
"Okay I guess but I switched over the clothes and took Hunter out but he refused to come down here to the water." Dean told me laughing at the thought of Hunter not budging from the door of the Rv.
"Okay well I'm going to head up and get the bedroom and bathroom cleaned, restocked the cabinets with food from the storage room and sweep the floors while you and the boys are out of the house" I told him as I got up and collected the lunch trash.
I got all of the trashed picked up and put in a Walmart bag that I had brought with me and grabbed Ethan diaper bag and picked up his toys that were still laying around putting them in his bag along with his empty bottle and empty jar of baby food. I grabbed Ethan's moses basket careful not to wake him as I picked him up. Dean handed me my bow and quiver of arrows and hunting knife that I had put the case out in the sun to dry since it was material that soaked up some water. I started the trip up the hill with Lady following close behind.
"Okay Matt and Sam no getting in the water while me and your mother are gone if I come back and one of you are wet you will be sent back to the Rv to help your mother clean." Dean told them.
"And don't try pushing each other in the water either." I told them over my shoulder knowing what they were thinking about.
"River guard them." I commanded her.
I walked up the hill all the way to go to the Rv with Ethan sleeping in his moses basket the whole way. Once at the Rv I let Dean open the door for me and I walk in first to find that Dean had cleaned the whole Rv for me everything was picked up and put away in its spot it was beautiful. I turned to Dean with a huge smile on my face as I took Ethan to his crib and Dean helped me take him out of his moses basket and put him in his crib. I put a pacifier in his mouth before moving to change into dry clothes. Ethan's were already dry since he had been out of the water and playing in and out of the sun for past couple hours.
I got changed and went to hang my bow and quiver of arrows up by the door along with putting the diaper bag under the counter with the bug out bags. I threw the trash away before looking through the cabinets to see what needed to be replaced and what didn't. I saw that we only 5 or 6 jars of baby food left so I made a note to get more from storage along with some canned veggies as well and soup. I tried to keep only 3-4 can each of peas, corn, baked beans, chili beans, soup, and other canned good like that so that we didn't looked overly stocked.
I knew that if anyone knew how much we truly had they would take it for themselves and there wasn't a doubt in my mind about that. I got the canned goods need from storage and baby food making sure to get a good variety of flavors. I restocked the cabinet before starting to cook some hush puppies to go with the fish we were having for dinner tonight. I also made sure all the water bottles were full and in the fridge or in the storage room with the other waters. I sat down on the couch and worked on my Top Secret Puzzle book.
I got three more pages done and answers checked before Ethan started cry after waking up from his nap. I went and picked him up and notice he needed a diaper change. So I changed his diaper and clothes after giving him another bath to get the lake water off of him. I didn't know what kind of chemicals were in lake and I didn't want all that on his skin. After his bath I got him dressed in Pjs since it was getting close to end of the night. I knew that the boys would be back any time now I so sat Ethan down on the floor to play with him until they got home.
I had just gotten Ethan to stand up with out holding on to him when Sam opened the Rv door causing him to fall on his but and start crying since it scared him more than hurt. I laughed as I picked him up and started to comfort him as I patted him back and rocked him. Sam looked frighten not knowing what he did wrong so I motion him inside as I waved my hand and shook my head at him letting him know that everything was okay. Dean came in smelling like fish and crinkled my nose at him as he laughed.
"I know I'm going to shower." Dean told me as he went to the bathroom.
Matt had the cooler with the tupperware of flayed fish he handed me the 6 tupperware containers that were full. I set Ethan down on the floor to play some more while I got tape and a marker to mark what they were before taking them into the storage room to put up. I notice that River didn't come back inside with Matt and Sam I called Hunter to me. I put his harness on him before taking him outside to look for her. I looked around camp and didn't find her.
"Hunter find River." i commanded him and he started to track her.
I found her down at the lake with a piece of fish spike or some thing in her paw and she was licking and biting at it. I bend down and picked her up and carried her all the way back to the Rv with Hunter following me. I knew that I would have to get it out but I couldn't do that somewhere I couldn't see well. I hoped it wasn't nothing major. I laid her down on the counter top when I got back to the Rv and had Matt get me a flash light and tweezers.
"Katie what happen" Dean ask rushing over to hold River down while I dug what ever was in her paw out.
"I don't know I found her down at the lake licking at her paw so something must be in it. Matt come hold her head back while your dad holds her leg still." I told him before calling Matt over to help.
"Shit Dean it's glass got get some morphine and give her .1 milligram and no more." I told him as waited him to get back before I dug it out.
"Sam get Ethan out of the floor and put him in the bouncer incase Lady jumps up and comes over here when River starts crying." I told him.
Dean pushed the .1 milligram of morphine to take the pain away until I started to dig around in her paw to get the piece out. I spread her paw pad out and she tried to move her head and start licking me but Matt was holding her to stop her from. I couldn't see with all the blood that was pouring out of her pad. I looked at Dean shook my head no he knew that I couldn't get to it. I motion towards the paper towels and he nodded and had Sam grab them for me and hand me one. I wiped away the blood and saw the piece of glass and reached for it with the tweezers.
I looked at Dean before going in to get it to warn him that i was about to start trying to get it. I tried once and didn't get it and she yelped and started to fight us but Matt and Dean held her down. I tried again and pulled it out some but the tweezers slip half way out and she whined whole time i was messing with it. I went in again after wiping the blood away and pulled out a good size pice that was as big as a mimi chocolate chip out of her paw before wiping away all the blood and having Dean give me the medicine that I asked him to grab and put it on her paw before helping them put her on the floor.
Hunter and Lady came rushing over to make sure she was okay before laying down with her. I patted her on the head before showing Dean the piece of glass and then throwing it away. I walked over to where Ethan was playing in his bouncer with his toys. I notice that Ethan was whining and started to make noises at me as he reached his arms up for me to pick him up. I did just that. I have been noticing lately that Ethan is getting bored with his toys so it was time to go up with his age he was already on 4-6 month toys now he would be moving up to 7-9 month toys even though he was just now 6 months.
"Dean I need to talk to you about going into the city with Glenn next time." I told him.
"What do you need that is in the city." Dean asks me as we warmed up salsa chicken and peas for supper again.
"More like on the outskirts of the city is that baby store that makes those packs of toys for babies. Ethan is growing out of the toys he has he needs the next level of toys and they will have then all the way up until he is a toddler. You could get a box of each age group and we can store the rest until he needs them. The will also have clothing and diapers for the next size up we could always use a couple toddler size pull ups for when he reaches that age." I told him as I put the bowls of chicken on the table and the boys sat down.
"Okay but I'm going to have to not take any of the dogs with me I don't want to risk them getting ate with the big herds that are going to be in the city and Matt stays incase something happens to me he will be the man of the house then." Dean told me and I knew that the kids were listening but knew not to interrupt.
"I know it's dangerous but Ethan has out grown his toys already he is bored with them. I need to get toys for older babies some where and that is the only place that will most likely have them. I hate that you have to go but I know you would weather go than me." I told him and he agreed.
"I know baby and I agree I will go get Ethan toys by the end of the week." He told me as I started to feed Ethan his Pineapple baby food.
I fed him most his food before burping him and giving him the rest while I ate my salsa chicken and pea roll up that I had made with mini tortilla shells. I had two small ones and I was half way done with the first one. It Ethan was already trying to take the spoon from me to feed himself but couldn't hold it just reached for it. I had also notice that he was crawling around and moving more as the days went on. He was sitting up by himself and rolling over all the time when he was following Lady when she moved.
Matt had fed the dogs before supper like he did everyday. After supper I did the dishes with Matt since Dean was feeding Ethan and putting him to bed. We were having an early night since the boys spent the day swimming they were falling asleep at supper. I put the clean dishes up and moved to wipe down the counter top and booth area. I turned off the kitchen light and went to living area where Matt was watching an episode of Blindspot that me and Dean had already seen, it was the one that he went to bed early on the night before.
I heard the shower start and knew that Sam was taking his shower and then Matt would be next. If the boys felt up to it which I doubt they would we would watch an episode of Blindspot. Sam took a quick shower before going to bed and I tucked him in as he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Matt did the same after his shower and didn't even get to watch the first 20 minuets of his episode of Blindspot. I let the dogs out and went out with them while they went. After coming back inside with the dogs I locked the Rv up tight and turned off everything before going to bed. I saw that Dean had picked out a book for us to start together.
I crawled up into bed between his legs after using the bathroom and getting ready for bed and shutting the bedroom door. I softly read to him and we did this for about an hour before turning out the reading light and going to bed ourselves. I was lucky since everyone was tired from the fishing and swimming so we all slept most the night and Ethan surprised me by only waking up once during the night for a diaper change. I tried giving him a bottle but he didn't want one so I put him back to bed and watch him go to sleep on his own with 5 minuets.