One of the best things about staying home with the girls is not having to perform some kind of precarious juggling act when they are sick.  When I was working and the girls came down with strep throat or ear infections (which they seemed to do with shocking regularity), Steve and I would work out these often elaborate plans - I would go in to work super, super early and he would go in late so that neither of us would have to use full days of leave.  Sometimes, this worked - sometimes it didn't.  When the girls were really, really sick, all they wanted was me and well, you can imagine how productive I was at work on the days that they were really, really sick.  So, I would either end up leaving work early and trying desperately to make up work hours later in the week or taking one of my highly-treasured vacation days.  No wonder by the time I quit, I had a negative leave balance .  When the girls are sick now, there really is no juggling - if I have meetings or work scheduled, I can usually do it when they're deep in they're Tylenol-induced naps.  Okay, so that doesn't happen - Tylenol and Motrin both make my girls act like Energizer Bunnies.  Energizer Bunnies on speed.  But still, it's a whole lot easier when they're sick now that there is no juggling involved.

Now, on the converse side, one of the hardest things about staying home with the girls is having to perform all kinds of juggling acts when I'M sick.  Because, I'm gonna be totally honest here.  When the girls were in daycare and I was working, if I was sick, I sent their happy little selves right on to daycare and I stayed at home in my pajamas and watched Matlock all day.  Well, Matlock interspersed with lots of little naps.  And, even though I was sick, a part of me would feel like I was having a day at the spa - I mean a whole day to myself with Andy Griffith - doesn't get much better than that (well, minus whatever ailment I had that kept me from going to work).  Well, folks - that doesn't happen anymore.  'Cause now I have nowhere to send my kids when I'm sick.  Gracie goes to preschool four half-days a week and I can pretty much guarantee you that when I get sick, I'm going to get sick on Friday, when both of the little darlings are home all day.  And I can pretty much guarantee you that they are going to pick that day to be even wilder hooligans than they normally are..

So, last Friday, I was sick.  Not deathly ill mind you, but my fever was over 100 degrees, my head felt like a nest of furry animals - furry animals with sharp knives - had taken up residence, and my chest felt like elephants were dancing the tango on it.  Sick enough that was I still working, I'd have called in sick and stayed home and watched Matlock.  Here's what I did instead:

Met our friends at the park for an early morning play date


Watched a caterpillar play


Prayed that said caterpillar would survive his encounter with my daughters (he did)


Hoped against all hope that Gracie would take a nap with Abigail (she didn't).  Instead, I gave in to her repeated requests to do a craft and helped her make this garden stepping stone.  I watched her mix the concrete


and then spread the mixture into the form


and then helped her press the stones and glass pieces into the mixture (all the while wondering why I didn't pick an easier craft)


Finally, we were finished with the craft but she wanted to spend some more time outside practicing her hula hooping



and some of her latest dance moves


When Steve came home, we all went for a walk and I guess as a true testament to how I felt, I took my camera and took some sweet pictures of Abigail and then promptly erased them off of the camera card before I downloaded them - UUGGHHH!  Finally, I passed out in bed around 9:00 p.m.   Not exactly the way I used to spend my sick days.....but, still, I think I'd rather have to deal with keeping up with our activites when I'm sick than trying to juggle things around when they're sick - it might be harder on your body, but trust me, it's easier on your heartstrings....Although, I probably wouldn't complain if I could spend a day in my pajamas watching Matlock