The quest and conquering of good daycare

So my quest started a couple months ago when my daycare provider decided to give me until August 20th to find someone else because she has plans to help her husband with his busnisess. If you've ever had to look for daycare, it is hellish and scary and makes you want to cry. I had many, many telephone interviews, but these are the ones I pursued:

My first find was a girl who lived rather far away, but who had good rates and currently no kids. I brought the kids to meet her and I first noticed her own daughter is a red-head. Right off, I'm like, yeah, 2 red-heads! So we chat and although she said a thing or two that may me say "hmmm", I was impressed enough to say, hey let's try this for a week and see. Well, at some point before I left her house, something in my mind told me to get the hell out of there and I ignored my gut. So, I asked her to do a background check and she agreed and said she'd contact me. I never heard from her again.

Second girl was one that my coworker/friend had found while she was searching and really liked. I happened across her ad by chance. THEN I found out that I know her mother-in-law because she works for DCFS. Bingo. I'm like, this is great! We met (again, I brought my kids) and my boys and her boy got along right away. She had a small place and was way overpriced, but I determined this was a good find. Afterall, she kept referring to the "quality of care" she gives. Well, we planned to start the following Monday, with a visit prior. I called 3 times over the next 4 days, leaving messages and never heard back. I told Aidan everyday that he would be going to her house. When Monday came, I was so angry that I HAD to call and figured I'd leave a message letting her know how I felt. SHe actually answered and her explanation for flaking out was that she was so frazzled by her son's illness (throwing up) that she forgot. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE CARE OF MY KIDS IF YOU GET THAT FRAZZLED BY A MILD ILLNESS. I let her know how unprofessional she was and I reommended she get into another line of work if she can't think of childrens' feelings (ie the confusion she caused my son). SHe said "ok, thank you."

Third lady I found by ad and she lives right by my work. I told her I'd meet her AND THEN bring my kids IF I liked her. So, we met. She brought me in the house, showed me the play room, and stood in the kitchen like I was supposed to say "OK, sign me up!" I asked if I could sit down and talk and she's said ok. Maybe I asked too many questions? I don't know. Anyway, I found out she was neighbors with a coworker of mine, so again I was thinking ok, there's a reference. I set up a time the next day for her to meet my kids. Admittedly, I had a couple of concerns but wanted to proceed because she was better than a lot of other providers I had been finding. I told her I must have a background check and she said ok. Left her a couple messages because the next day Brady was sick. I didn't ever hear back. I saw her with a revised ad the next Monday and so emailed to say "what the hell?", expecting no response. SHe came back with a lame excuse and said if I still needed care, let her know. YEAH, RIGHT.

SOOOOO, I find this new lady who is actually State Licensed. We set up to meet. I drive to her house, only a couple blocks from mine. I'm like, "OMG, this is a trailer park," and drove right past hers, heading home. Then I decided to just meet her and see and I'm glad I did. We met. She has a nice place. She has scheduled days (ie. breakfast, outside play, crafts, field trips). I brought my kids to meet her later that day. They warmed up to her within minutes. We started 3 days ago. Every morning when they arrive, Aidan says "Yay!"

PHEEWWW. I think we found a good one.

Growing up

Aidan is becoming such the little man. Maybe too much. I was changing in front of him recently and he wanted to know, "what's that?" (ponting at my breasts). I said "Boobies." Big mistake. Next time he saw them, he laughed and said "boobies!" and wanted to touch them. Haven't changed in front of him since. THEN there's his fascination with penises. Telling me he has a penis, Brady has a penis, Maximus (the dog) has a penis... "Mom, Maxis, penis!" Arent' kids the greatest?

Disneyland at it's finest

There is nothing like a trip to Disneyland with the family...sunny skies, hot (hot, hot) and humid weather, and a bit o'vomiting. Let's see if we can come up with a top 10 list:

10. Watching some girl vomit right after the evening light show, only to realize it was my niece, Ashley.
9. Saying how I couldn't believe Aidan wasn't vomiting cause he had eaten a lot....moments later watching him vomit all over the bed.
8. Taking pictures of pregnant Stephanie in a Rascal
7. Stephanie getting a Rascal at the park = no waiting in lines for any of us!!!!!!!!!
6. Watching the 'bug' spread like wildfire amongst all 17 of us.
5. Free food at the hotel Consierge lounge
4. Aidan taking it like a little man and TRYING to have a good time despite being near comatose in the stroller for a couple days.
3. Meeting Mickey Mouse literally on our way out of the park and getting a picture with him!
2. My first time on Space Mountain with Tyler as a passenger...listening to him make rooster sounds the entire ride while I laughed so hard, I cried.
1. Drew and I violently vomiting and explosive diarreah on the 1 1/2 trip home from Disneyland. 3 stops on the shoulder of the highway in rush hour traffic to do both at the same time.
Good times. Good times.

Oh shoot, I should have this on the list too.....we'll make it the P.S. or number -1:
Brady throwing up during lunch at the outdoor restaurant and Aidan taking a wet wipe and proceeding to wipe vomit off the concrete!

Is anyone out there?

I don't know if anyone is even reading this. Where are my followers? I guess I need to step up my game. Spice it up. At a little pizzazz. Maybe then I can get some followers....and THEN....I can start my own religion....and THEN I can be Julie, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL, like I have always proclaimed I am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHAHAHAHAHAH (this is supposed to sound like an evil laugh).

What???????????????????????

Ok, so now not once, but twice, I have found a daycare provider and then they just stop contact. The first woman, I figure, was not going to clear a background check, so I wasn't upset. The second, however, was really looking good. PLUS she told me she wanted to start watching the boys and we scheduled a visit so that they could get to know her a little before we start full time. Then she called and left a message that her kid was sick, so call her to reschedule. Then nothing. Nada. Zero. Zip. 3 messages unanswered. I keep going over and over in my mind....is it something about ME? About my kids? I can't figure it out. I think she would have been a good provider. I am obsessing now. What do I do? Do I stalk her? I mean, her mother-in-law works, or used to work, in my agency. I looked her up today and it seems she may have changed to a new agency, but is still around. UUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CALGON, TAKE ME AWAY!

Good Times

In an effort to help mom teach Brady that table food is wonderful, Aidan has taken to trying to feed him. He often says, "Try it!" while sticking the item up to Brady's face. Oddly enough, he is rarely successful, but I admire his efforts.

OMG, I started a blog. I can't believe it. BUT, I figure it's a good place to tell all of the crazy things my kids do, etc. etc. Hopefully I can make this educational, entertaining, and highly amusing! Stay tuned....