All good things must come to end...

Since January I have babysat for a wonderful family! The parents are work from home parents, and they have a little daughter, Claudia, whom is 5 days older than my little Madelyn. It has been a great job, and fun experience. Claudia's mom, Candace, and I have become great friends through this working relationship. It really worked out great for both of us! Candace had in-home childcare, so she could spend time with her daughter on and off throughout the day, and nurse her when need be. For me, I got to be an at home mom to my kids (just not in my home), get paid to watch Claudia, and have playtime for my kids with another child. Claudia, Madelyn and Caleb have become great friends. It is so precious to see the kids interact with one another! I am going to miss being over at their home, and having our kids have weekly play times together. Due to the baby coming, and not knowing how the dynamics of having 3 little ones home, we are taking a break from what we currently do. Candace and her family are heading out tomorrow for their 2 week family Christmas traveling. So, we decided that it is a good time to end the babysitting until we can see how things go once our baby is here. I will be driving them to the airport tomorrow for a farewell, and to help them out. Candace is so sweet, she doesn't want to replace me or find other childcare. So, she is talking me into babysitting Claudia at our house 2 or 3 days a week for about 4 hours in the morning, once I feel up to it. I know it would be great to help them out, keep the friendship between the kids strong, but we will just have to see how it all goes. I know I just didn't want to bundle up my kids, especially a newborn, and take them out in the MN chill of winter. We shall see how it goes. I will miss them greatly, and I know my kids are going to miss their little friend Claudia, but we will FOR SURE keep up the relationships. I will have to take some pictures tomorrow so I can show you the pictures of the kids together.

Bobbing for bubbles?

I babysat on Wednesday, and it was a great day! The kids all played very well together. Nathaniel was home from school this week, so it was super having the extra time with him. He got to come with me on Monday and Wednesday for babysitting. Tuesday, he was able to spend the day with his friend. Anyway, on Wednesday, I was blowing bubbles for the kids. Well, with my kids...bubbles are a tasty treat. Yep, Nathaniel loves to bite the bubbles~ so to speak. He pretends (and sometimes) eats the floating bubbles. Well, with Claudia giggling uncontrollably over his moves and actions, Caleb joined in the biting for bubble action! Claudia and Madelyn thought the boys were really funny! After the biting of bubbles came the bubble blasting. Nathaniel pretended like the bubbles were attacking him. Claudia's uproar of laughter became even higher in decibels! There is absolutely nothing like the laughter of children, being created from other children making them laugh! It was so comical! I could barely blow the bubbles because I was laughing so hard. Trust me, it was great entertainment!

The whole day went very well~ except Caleb would NOT take a nap. I am not sure what was up with him that day, but a nap was not in his agenda. So, about a half an hour before we were to head home, I gave him the option to sit on the couch and read for a quiet time. Before we left, I said to him, "Without getting a nap today, you better not be crabby." His response to that was, "I'm not crabby Mom. See, my smile isn't upside down."

Kids think of things in such a creative way~ what a great perspective!

I had the ebee geebees today...

I was babysitting today, and most days we go out on the screened in deck to get fresh air. I love being out there with the kids, because they can get outdoor air, hear the birds, and they are in an area that they can't take off to the road. Well, today we were out there during Caleb's nap. We were waiting for him to be done with his nap so we could go out to the kiddy pool. So, the girls and I were playing along, when I got an itch on my skin. What is that? I thought...a teeny, tiny bug. But, there are more bugs crawling on me...another, and another...WOWEE...they are all over me! My arms were crawling with teeny, tiny bugs, and my legs. Well, then I was itching all over, because I just think they are all over me by now! Where did they come from, and why are they here?
Yesterday, Nathaniel was out there reading his book. He likes to sit out there where it is quiet to read. He came in and told me there were little bugs on his arms...all over. He said he felt gross. So, I told him to jump in the lake when we got home, or to shower. I really didn't think it was a big deal. Well, now I know how he felt! I really didn't believe him, and I am sure that was evident in my response to him yesterday. So, after I picked him up from his friend's house this afternoon, I owed him an apology.

Anyway, after I came inside with the girls (after discovering the bugs), Claudia went to say hi to her mom in her office. I went over to her and told her about the bugs. She asked me if I checked the girls, and I told her I just came in, and that was what I was going to do next. Sure enough, they had them crawling all over them, too! All over their diapers, even...OH NASTY!
So, I gave the girls a bath, and they loved that time in there. I really don't know many kids, actually none, that don't like bath time. They giggled, and splashed. Claudia loves to stand in the tub, I found out. I washed their hair, and made "styles" with their hair in the shampoo. (Did I have a camera? Oh no...) Claudia sure giggled when I had Maddie's hair sticking straight up in a point (like Alfalfa) on the top of her head.

I told Claudia's dad about the bugs, and he went out and sprayed all the cushions on the furniture out there. Then, he went under the porch to see if he could find anything. There was a nest up under there. He thought maybe there was a dead bird in there. I think he took it down. We don't know what the bugs were, and may never know...but let me tell you, I would be perfectly happy to not let another one come near me or the kids again! I hope there aren't any side effects from the commotion today, and I hope they are all gone now!

Madelyn is on the mend

I have not been blogging as much this week, because my baby has been pretty sick. That, and with being pregnant, I have been tuckered out.
It has been a long week, so far, with Madelyn and her sickness. I am pretty sure it was/is a virus, but I think we are FINALLY on the tail end of it. She was pretty miserable most of the last 4 days. On Monday, her temperature actually got as high as 104.2 under the arm!! I have never seen the thermometer go that high on one of my kids! It was pretty scary. She has had so much Motrin and Tylenol the last 4 days. I am actually surprised how long the fevers lasted. Last night, her fever was 102.5 under the arm, and sometime during the night we think her fever broke. Yesterday she had about 4-5 diarrhea diapers, and today she had two. She woke up with a slightly elevated fever, and with a diarrhea diaper, we did stay home from babysitting today, too! We have missed so much babysitting with my kids being sick so much this year. It is not good for our pocketbooks, and it definitely doesn't help out Candace with us missing, either. I know she is understanding, and for that I am so grateful.

Praise God that Madelyn is doing better. Even her mood is a bit better today...even with her firey temper! :)

Sunshine!

Today was a gorgeous day! I love Spring! The birds were singing, and the smells outside were glorious! I babysat today, and I took the kiddos out for a 3 mile walk. It was great to be outside again! I took them for a walk last week (the one nice day out) and I was looking forward to that today. Instead of carrying Madelyn in my wrap, like last week, I put her in the front of the stroller with Caleb. So, I had 2 kiddos in the front seat, and Claudia in the second seat. I really need a triple stroller! It would make life so much easier! They are super expensive, though. It was so sweet during the walk, because Madelyn was so incredibly tired. She leaned over and rested her tiny head on her brother. Caleb put his head down on her and kissed her. He was snuggling her, too. I really wish I had a camcorder to record that. It was beyond precious. Then, Maddie fell asleep. We kept on walking, and Caleb was getting sleepy. He put his head down on the arm rest, and I let him know he could put his head back. I told him he didn't need to go to sleep, and that it is just more comfortable. Then, he was out. During this time frame, Claudia kept trying to turn around and get up. I don't have straps in my stroller, so, I took my coat and tied her in. At first she did not like that, but she got over it. Then, she was starting to fuss and cry, so I kind of rocked the stroller back and forth while walking. This got her giggling, and then she drifted off....just before home. So, she was up. Then, Maddie was up (short nap), and Caleb stayed sleeping as I lugged him inside and on to the bed.

I was happy to get outside and enjoy the sunshine today! After work, I picked up Nathaniel and his friend. Then, we went home to have supper. I had a loss at Weight Watchers tonight, so I was happy about that.

Now I am tired, so I should go to bed. Good night~ More reviews and contests this week~stay tuned!