Tag Archives: diaper

The Diaper Diaries ~ Changes (Other Than Diapers)

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Yesterday I watched the one 7yo and her 2yo and 1yo siblings for the last time.  I knew the day would come and was just around the corner but still it came up on us so suddenly.

Their mom’s story is not mine to share, but because she works and has 3 kids she can get some assistance.  Aside from food  stamps she also qualifies for help in the form of vouchers for childcare.  I made an attempt to get certified as a type B provider in my county so I could accept vouchers for payment.  What a ridiculous series of hoops to jump through and hurdles to clear!!  I have no issue with criminal background checks, I don’t even have a parking ticket to my name.  But the other things you must do, classes that must be taken (never mind that I raised 2 kids of my own, 1 step daughter for years part time and was a kinship foster care mom for 4 kids for 1 year and MIGHT have a clue how to do this gig), it is all insane and next to impossible to achieve.  It was silly for the mama to work just to pay me for watching her kids,  which is about all she was doing as there wasn’t much left each week after paying for childcare and I wasn’t even charging what I would have for someone that wasn’t already holding one of the crappiest hands of fate cards I’ve ever seen.

The daycare job came at a time when we both needed each other.  The company I was working for was sinking fast despite the band playing on the deck like nothing was happening.  As the office manager I was privy to our accounts payable and receivable and the writing was in bold, uppercase red letters on the wall.  I got out just before the economy devoured that place and there I was once again out of work.  I was looking but frankly couldn’t face the idea of going back into corporate America, I wanted to work from home.  Once mom and I brain stormed it we realized that me babysitting might be the best route.  It left me home to work as I wanted, was enough money and I could start working Avon.  Win/win all around as I was able to tackle Mt. Washmore and other stuff around the house.  My mom of 3 had just had their white picket fence world turned completely on end and shattered.  For what her 7 year old endured at the hands of a man she called “daddy”, well I just hope there is a special place in the pits of hell for him.

It was a wonderful situation for the kids, mom had piece of mind and since April they’ve been a part of my life.  I’ve watched one come out of her shell, one become easier to understand as he learned to talk, and one go from not able to sit up  on her own to walking.  Yesterday I watched the 7yo’s heart break when she found out it was  their last day with Miss Marti.  I felt a crack or two in my own.

Today it is just me and the 5 month old.  The house is so QUIET.  I didn’t realize just how much I did until I’m sitting here not doing it.  There is more time to conquer the laundry, hold and rock the baby (heaven help her parents she is about to be even more spoiled rotten!), dishes, cleaning, social media, blogging and games.  I realized that I can stick the baby in a car seat now that it is just us during the day and run errands, or work the  Avon business with her cute little self “helping” me.  The other 7yo, the baby’s cousin, is only here for about 15-30 minutes in the morning and then 2 hours tops after school.

I’m praying the Avon works out well and that I won’t need to take on more kids so I have more time for the baby and for ME.

Time will tell….

Hump Day Happenings

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I  know I know, where is Wine & Cheese?  I’ve been trying to get myself back into the routine but there is just nothing routine about my life of late, so blogging is taking a bit of a back seat.  I promise, I’ll work on that!

I’ve had a few emails here and on Facebook wanting reports about how my camping experience turned out, so I suppose I should point out the obvious in that I am still here, alive and kicking so I survived!  No bears ate me, no sudden death from a snake or spider bite, or allergic reaction to a bee sting that didn’t occur.  Nothing bad to report at all!  I had a blast to be completely honest, so much so that it kinda scares me.  Me, the Taurean, who loves creature comforts (not to be mistaken with EXPENSIVE, that isn’t it at all we just like comfort and things), slept in a tent, on a futon mattress, covered with a sheet and used a thick blanket for warmth (and snuggled up to The Count), managed to brave some dang chilly nights and lived to tell about it.  Coffee in the tent in the morning before crawling out of bed to shower in a shower house (yes with daddy long leggers and wearing my knock-off crocs instead of flip flops), walking 6 camp sites to the bathroom, cooking metts on a stick over the fire…yes I really did have FUN!  His family is great, reminds me much of my own.

Click here to go to my Avon store

That was Thursday through Sunday.  The rest of my life is totally occupied with my daycare job by day, and my Avon business both during the day (nap time, Backyardigan’s toddler crack, etc) and working that in the evenings too.  I’ve spent a good deal of time reading some great books that are really helping me get focused and on track.  I figure if my Avon idol, Lisa Wilber, can go from no job and living in a trailer park, to making $300k a year being the Avon Lady, then I can make a fairly decent living doing it while changing diapers on wee ones.  I spend a lot of time writing up the blog for that on my Avon blog page, sending daily inspiration blogs (rep-peps) to my downline, preparing brochures and distributing them, etc etc etc.  Time consuming without a doubt, but also a blast!  I made Unit Leader last campaign which was all the motivation I needed to step it up and start working harder.  I’ve written my goals as the one book suggests, and I check them daily and grade myself.  Mark my words, I will succeed.   If you are a fan of mine please, if you like Avon, help a sister out and go to my site, click ‘shop ebrochure’ on the right hand side and have a look at the current catalog right there in living color.  If you order and spend at least $10 before midnight on 10/21/11 the shipping is free (see the ad in the center of my page for the code).  Spread the word, this isn’t your grandma’s Avon, you can order from anywhere and have it shipped to you directly when you pay online.  Need some extra income? Sign up to be on my team, no territories  anymore, sell to anyone!  It isn’t your mother’s Avon either, much better.  I even do fund raiser cards where I donate a percentage to your organization whenever someone uses the card or mentions it.  If you are interested get with me I will fill you in.

So you see, when I’m not wiping noses, changing diapers, getting breakfast, lunch or snacks, watching over homework, getting plastic tomato slices out of the toy toaster, flipping laundry, and all that domestic and daycare stuff, I’m pushing vanity crack.  But I need to be here some days, writing.  My favorite therapy.  I just need some good, deep stuff to think about then write!

Grand-Clucker, Fuzzy Slippers And Wine

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My feet are all snug right now in my new slippers, all cushy, fuzzy and warm.  I’m in my jammies and have a glass of wine on the desk next to my laptop.  Celtic harp music is playing softly in the background,  I am very relaxed at the moment.

Right off I suppose I will apologize to my readers, this was a long and busy week that didn’t leave a lot of time to blog.  When I did have some time…the creativity team in my brain was on strike and I couldn’t come up with much of anything to write about.  That sucks when you are feeling the NEED to write and nothing is there.  I also have been very busy soaking up information like a sponge for my Avon business, reading everything I could find from those ladies that are at the top in sales, after all they are in the ‘know’ when it comes to how to do this and make great money.  My idol is Lisa Wilber, making over $300,000 a year (yes she has proven this by displaying her income tax return at conventions and speaking engagements), has much out there so I’ve been all over her site, blog, and online documents for tips and I’m finding great stuff.  Mark my words, I WILL be a huge success at this, I LOVE doing it, have a blast working it, and I want to be debt free and make a lot of money.  If you know me you know that if I get stubborn about something, I own it.

I often talk about my grand-dog, Penny, my daughter’s adorable little yorkie.  I call her the grand-dog because neither of my kids are yet married or have produced off spring.  I DO prefer they get things in the correct order and wed before they start producing little versions of themselves, so no rush.  I currently have 3 grand-dogs,   multiple grand-hamsters and gerbils, grand-bunnies, a grand-bird, grand-fish, grand-frogs….lots of grand-critters many of you might have.  But how many of you can lay claim to a grand-clucker?  Yes, as in a chicken.  Ellie Mae Jenkins is my grand-clucker.

Ellie Mae Jenkins - my grand-clucker

Yes my wonderful, vet-tech daughter has all of those grand-critters (except for one of the dogs which is my son’s, a min-pin named Elvis), including the chicken.  Her chickens (2 of them) lay eggs which is rather cool.  Oh, and um…they wear diapers.  Yep, she actually found diapers for chickens and purchased one.  It seems this enables her to have said bird in the house should she so desire.  I know I know, the poor kid is in need of therapy.  I blame her father.  Not that the ex did anything wrong or is a bad dad….but never claim responsibility for the freak-gene, always lay the blame on the other parent’s gene pool.  I am not sure which I find more disturbing…that she has pet chickens, that they wear diapers, or that she gives them full names!  I love that child.

I  surprised myself today.  Have you ever been out to eat and seen some lone soul dinning at a table and felt sorry for them?  I have, and have thought that there was no way I could be out to eat by myself, it would be awful.  Well I stand corrected.  I needed to meet with a new recruit for her second training session today, so I chose a restaurant that I dearly loved in the past when the ex and I used to ride the Harley on a nice, weekend morning.  My recruit lives nearby so I decided to go there.  I arrived way earlier than our meeting time because I had finished all of my other to-do list items.  I still had some work to do, fund raiser letters to sign and stuff in envelopes and address, and some reading to do.  Feeling light headed because it is after noon, and I had not eaten yet today, I ordered lunch.  Honestly I wanted to wait on the recruit but it is tricky to train while passed out from lack of nutrition.  I finished my paperwork before the food arrived so I spent my time stuffing my face while I read a motivational sales book.  At one point it dawned on me that there I was, all alone, eating lunch and not only did it not feel weird, it was kind of nice!  I had peace and was able to just relax for a bit doing two things I enjoy…reading and eating!

Now I am wrapping up the day sipping my glass of wine and thinking an early bedtime is in order.  Big day tomorrow touring a mansion with my honey, and I am way behind on sleep so snuggling in deep and visiting dreamland sounds like a good idea to me.

The Diaper Diaries ~ Surprise In The Chaos

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This week I began watching a 7 week old infant along with my other 3.  That will only last a week, then the 7yo goes back to school next week and by the time she is home from school, the infant will be gone for the day.  But for this week,  it is a bit chaotic getting used to a  new  mouth to feed and bottom to change.  Not to mention gassy and needing to be held.  Thankfully the ability to do most things creatively with one hand has come back to me from my mommy days  with my own kids.  I still have my ‘baby rock’, rocking side to side even without a baby in my arms.  The past 4 days I’ve been pinched, pee’d on, pooped on and puked on, a lot.  Thankfully I have a lot of old t-shirts to wear when in childcare mode.  And you know, I really haven’t minded it one bit.

The past two days everyone under the age of 8 has been cranky, crabby and  generally uncooperative.  And Miss Marti  had PMS…flaming PMS.  Not a good mix.  I was counting down the minutes to happy hour so I could just  veg with a glass of wine and  soothing music.

The  Count is out of town until Monday but  I’ve been getting  hundreds of loving texts in the middle of the insanity, making it easier to smile through the odor of dirty diapers and  up-chucked formula.  Oh and a 1yo that has decided, upon turning a year old yesterday, that she is no  longer going to eat jar  food.   I have to dice everything the other kids  have  into  tiny pieces.  And she insists on feeding her  self.  SIGH…insanity and a messy toddler with attitude.  You know what?  I  still love my job! :)

About the time, shortly before  lunch, that I was ready to yank out my hair, and right after changing the 3rd blow-out bottom  diaper  of the morning, the door bell rang.  It was the florist, with flowers….for me.  From the  Count.  :)   Pink flowers,  my favorite color.  He  said for his favorite woman.  I just love that man.  I’m being spoiled and this is very hard to get used to for me.  Not used to getting so much attention, affection and love for no special reason.

This lifted my whole demeanor and I ordered chicken strips and apple slices for the kids for lunch.  Why not  surprise them as well, right?

I am so blessed, lucky and loved.  I love my life!

The Diaper Diaries – #2

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Being the queen of procrastination (I have the t-shirt, hoodie, coffee cup and assorted key chains to prove it) I put off going to get my license plates and drivers license renewed.  I COULD have gone Saturday morning, but wasn’t sure if I’d be ready in time for the ride to Madison, so I waited.  High hopes fizzled out that someone in the Diva Den would be around to cover for me with the wee ones while I ran out, so I had no choice but to take them.  That or get slapped with $40 in late fines when I got there. I had to give up my vanity plates, just too expensive at the moment, but I will have them again one day.  Other things get the priority of  cash flow for now.

2 year olds have minds of their own and horribly short attention spans.  Unless of course you look like Mickey Mouse and sing and dance.  None of that applies to me.  I scare the dead back to life when I sing, and when I dance some well meaning soul dials 911 thinking I’m having a seizure.  So, taking a 2 year old and 9 month old to the BMV could have been a real adventure of sorts.  Turns out it wasn’t so bad after all.  Both were exceptional, which prompted me to go on to the credit union as well.  Naturally when I got back home the mail had come and I have  yet another check to deposit in my account from Avon (who says you cannot make money selling lipstick?).  Guess I will make that little trip tomorrow.

My morning was productive in addition to the running.  3 loads of laundry and Mt. Washmore is back under control, the kitchen is cleaned up, the kitchen table has been cleared off of the ever growing pile of mail, newspapers, odds and ends, the 7yo safely at school, the litter box cleaned, the toddler and baby both fed breakfast and lunch, and now are napping.  I’ve made more trips up and down steps and over baby gates (the new leg lifts) and finally got to sit down and write for a bit.

I am still amazed that I can make the same amount of money doing childcare as I did  managing an office,  and all while  holding down the home front.  This is just so rocking my world!  :)

The Diaper Diaries 05/19/2011

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When I started this gig of babysitting to make a living I wasn’t entirely sure that my mental choo choo train hadn’t left the rails.  My baby is 20, I haven’t changed a diaper in a very long time and I was never much of one for domestic goddess roles.  I gave up on being a stay at home mom and have worked all my life.

When I got layed off from the company I had been with for 26 years I actually didn’t mind at first.  I enjoyed being home and hanging with my daughter, cleaning and even started cooking again. (I hate to cook, the hubmiester did all the cooking when we were married)  I wasn’t blissfully happy but I was pretty content.  I was able to spend time writing each day, hooking on blankets and still keeping the house in order and doing all the laundry.  I was bored more than anything but hey, it worked.

I’ve been the victim of the crap economy 2 more times and decided this was getting old so I decided to try childcare.  It was one of those over a cup of coffee brain storms with my mom one Saturday morning.  Within a week of getting the word out I was watching 3 siblings, Princess Smiles A Lot (7yo), Mr. Man (2yo) and Miss Thang (9 mths).  We transitioned from 2 days a week to 5 days over about a month to a month and a half.

My world of corporate office inventory and managing offices became feeding schedules, changing diapers, naps and homework.  And I love it!  I never imagined I would really enjoy this, but what is not to love about a toddler hugging you for no reason at all, or a baby grinning ear to ear when she sees you?  Nothing beats rocking a little one to sleep and off to dreamland, it is such a sweet few moments!  And if the sore muscles and looser jeans are an indication, I’m slowly taking off weight and toning up with all the up and down steps, lugging kids, chasing them, etc.  At the end of the day I am totally drained and happy to see my pillows!

I’ve been spit on, pooped on, fallen over baby gates, stepped on toys that have left some interesting bruises on my foot, been pinched, and still find this one of the best jobs I have had!  :)   During nap time I clean up the kitchen, do laundry and still have time to write or play a few rounds of Farkle on Facebook.  And the pay isn’t bad either!

I also started working as an independent sales representative for Avon, which has spawned a new blog page for me, where I will write my lipstick diaries of my adventures.

It is a steady income, and I feel like I have accomplished something at the end of each day. I think I made a good choice of career changes after all!

Wine & Cheese – 26th Serving

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Welcome to Wine & Cheese, my weekly, Wednesday whine session.

Every week on Wednesday I devote a blog to whining. Despite being a really happy, positive person, I do have things that annoy me at times.

I never let anything grate on my nerves for long but thought it would be fun to vent them periodically in my blogs.

I also feel that good things, the cheese in life, should be acknowledged as well.

I’m even going to throw in a bit of dessert, a piece of virtual chocolate, something that made me laugh or smile just a bit more than normal.

If you’d like to read the past editions of Wine & Cheese just click HERE for all of the past postings.

Sit back and join me now for the 26th serving of some wine and cheese!

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

WHINE

:( I have to get this out of my system this morning…I AM SO SICK OF WINTER!!!!!  Sick of cold, sick of ice, sick of the @#$%^&*! SNOW!!!  Enough said, everyone is likely in agreement and what more can be said about Snowpocolypes or Snowmageden, whatever you want to call this winter storm nonsense!

:(   I am also tired of whatever this cold bug, sinus infection is, it is time for it to go bye-bye!  Finally was able to sleep last night without the aid of my Nyquil induced coma.   Now if I could just quit blowing my nose and feeling so tired I’d be happy.

:(   Brace yourselves, we’re going to talk about poop.  Cat poop to be exact.  One of these 3 felines has something very wrong in their digestive track and the smell is worse than anything I’ve experienced in a baby diaper.   Best diet program I’ve encountered, cleaning up a litter box used by a cat with a questionable issue in their bowels.  (See, one doesn’t have to be a mommy blogger to talk about poop!)

CHEESE

:)   ANTIBIOTICS!!!  The  single greatest discovery in medical history, at least in my opinion this week as it seems to be the only reason I finally started feeling better.  Can I get an AMEN?

:)   COFFEE!!!  I gotta say that right now nothing beats a fresh, hot cup of coffee in the morning.  All the better if served up in one of my favorite coffee cups!  Yep, makes your breath smell like butt, however what would the morning be without it?  It would be a sad morning without the hot cup of  java!

:)   SPARKPEOPLE!!!  I’ve neglected to use my SparkPeople account as being sick the last thing I even remotely cared about was what was being fed to my tummy.  But today we are back on the Spark, watching every little morsel that will enter through my mouth.  BRAVO ME!!!!  It is AWESOME and FREE and you will love it if you want to get fit, healthy, lose weight etc.  There is a link on the side bar over  yonder on the right –>

DESSERT

:)   :)   :)   Never do anything that you wouldn’t want to explain to the paramedics.  ~Author Unknown :)   :)   :)