Long , grandchildren, quilts, software

This last week has been so crazy, first were the thefts. Then not being able to find the camera after I spent a week looking for the cord. Babysitting and children in general. Then actually getting to quilt a little.

My DGD and I made our first quilt together. It is small, made for her babies. She picked out the fabrics. (she is a fondler) She was so proud of it. She hasn't put it down since it was finished. Yesterday she told everyone she talked to, she is now a quiltmaker. My DGS had more interest in mixing up the pieces and making his sister squeal than helping.

I was finally able to get my camera and the cord together. It seems like I could have either one or the other. Once I did get them together I came in and plugged it in forgetting that it is not installed on this computer. Since I quit working I have been using my work computer here at home. So, I did not have the driver for my camera installed. I had to install it. I still couldn't get it to work. For some reason the program that came with the camera won't open it. The last time I plugged it in the program that comes with a walgreens cd opened so I have been using it.

Taylors quilt and the BOM Blocks are here

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Since I can't work now I am babysitting. HA HA. I don't know why I would have thought that wasn't working. I don't have to go into the office everyday but these kids do keep me busy. It is a race everynight. I try to get them asleep so I can fall in bed exhausted. I keep calling calling my mother and my sister and asking if different things are normal. I need a support group to be a grandparent. I don't remember my son asking 60 questions a minute. Or if it is normal that after spending one week with her cousins my DGD refuses to wear half her play clothes because they are not cool.

Does anyone else here have their grandkids or have the day to day care of them? It seems like there are a lot of grandparents raising the children now.

Vikki in WA State.

Reply to
Vikki In WA State
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Vikki, I hear ya...about the grandkids that is...I'm not up-to-date on your other comments about thefts and the camera problems...

I used to have some time to read this group and others, but early in the year I had reason to head to the U.S. on a 2 day drive down and 2 days back expedition to 'rescue' my 23 year old daughter and her 2 small children. They lived with us for several months while we tried to get some semblance of order back into their lives while turning our own upside down. We my DH and I are newlyweds ( and not spring chickens) with no children at home, and having one young and somewhat unmotivated daughter (mine) and her kids with us was a trial to say the least. We lived through it, but it was at the cost of doing nearly all of the things we liked doing as a couple...we are only now starting to get it together again. The only offering I can make is hang in there and be as patient as you can with the kids; they are young and do not understand the forces at work in the background that put them in your care.

Fortunately for all, they have now moved on with their lives and are living in a small apartment a couple hour's drive away and trying to manage...and although it was a very difficult transition for all, it was particularly hard on me...we were left with the feeling that no matter what was done for them it was never quite good enough. While my grandkids were with us I barely got the required daily tasks done let alone any quilting...and I'm sure most folks I know figured I had simply dropped off the face of the

earth.

You are very lucky that you were able to get a quilt made with your DGD (and a very pretty one)...you should both be proud of yourselves, she will remember that for the rest of her life. As to the 60 question/minute DGS...keep talking and answering his questions, it pays off in the long

run....and remember to simply have fun with them...the other 'stuff' will wait.... A.

Vikki > This last week has been so crazy, first were the thefts. Then not being

Reply to
Alison

*Very* nice! :)

I know just what you mean. There's a reason why younger people generally have children and older ones don't. ;)

I don't have mine every day -- in fact, one of the conditions we set down when we moved here was that we wouldn't be permanent babysitters -- just for emergencies. That's sort of morphed, courtesy of DH, into whenever the kids want us to babysit. Hmm...he wasn't around much when our two were little, so I guess he isn't ready for a more child-free environment, as I am. Anyway, we do have the DGSs frequently, and they wear me out! I hate having to do discipline with them since they're not my own children, and I really don't recall my DDs being as active as these little boys are. .

I also see a lot of grandparents raising their grands these days. I don't really understand it. I know my own friends here don't keep their grandchildren, but my DDs claim I'm the only grandmother they know who doesn't want to have her grandchildren every day. :S

Reply to
Sandy Foster

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

I baby-sit my granddaughters most weekdays; they are 12 and 9. There is surely something to be said for having kids when you are young. These girls wear me out. I am glad, however, that I am nearby to help my daughter. The

12 year old has some developmental delays and she can be quite a handful. The 9 year old tries to make up for all the things her sister has difficulty doing and I spend a lot of time trying to make sure she can still be the "little sister" rather than the "perfect" child.

I do go to bed really tired!

Reply to
elspeth

I am seeing more & more grandmothers bringing their grandchildren to mother & toddler groups. Over here it is because more mothers are having to work because of rising house prices, and with childcare costs, especially if you have more than one child, Grandma babysitting makes the difference between working for nothing and bringing home money.

My parents live a 5 hour drive away so they don't babysit for me. Just make sure that you get enough time for you. My mothers friend recently had a nervous breakdown caused by trying to look after her grandchildren .

Take good care of yourself

Sarah

Reply to
Sarah Dixon

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

Very sweet Vikki! Good job on the new quiltmaker!

chipper :)

Reply to
Chipper

Vikki, I can relate to being exhausted at the end of the day. I babysit my 7 m/o grandson 3 to 4 days a week. This week I've been battling a horrid case of allergy induced bronchitis so I haven't been sleeping very well. Today I am just exhausted. Thank goodness the little guy is such a good baby. If he were a fussy or colicky type baby I don't know what I would do. Needless to say, I don't get much quilting done during the day. He's napping right now so I think I'll go lay down for a bit too. My head is killing me from coughing so hard and I think every muscle in my body is sore. When I'm feeling good though, he is just so much fun. He always wakes up with a smile or a giggle, rarely cries and is just so full of life. We are truly blessed to have him even though he wears us out with his energy.

Hugs, Mika

Reply to
Mika

Make sure you take care of that bronchitis problem. It is hard enough to take care of yourself when you need more oxygen. Take it from someone who spent 40 to 50 days on a ventilator in the last year. Hope you get better soon.

Reply to
Vikki In WA State

LOL - your place sounds like mine, and I still have my day job. My 2-yr old DGD lives at my house with her parents (my son, his girlfriend) and I often have 1-3 at a time of the 15 total (some I won't keep, because they don't mind well) grandchildren. I'm teaching one of the older girls to crochet, which tends to be quite the mess of yarn, as she gets frustrated easily.

All children ask 60 questions a minute. You just don't remember. Trust me on this. And girls and their clothes!! Jiminy Crikets, they're a pain. Both the 7 yr-old and the 9 yr-old DGDs seem to be in competition for how often they can change their clothes in one day. LOL And shopping for them was *much* easier when they were 2 & 3. Anything you brought them was met with glee. Now, I don't dare buy anything for them unless they are there, and more often than not, nothing suits them, or if it does, I think it's inappropriate for their ages. I just don't buy them clothes as often as i used to when they were really little. I just spoil the 2 yr-old while I can.

Reply to
TerriLee in WA

I'm definitely doing that. I went to the doc today and came within and inch of being hospitalized. The PA decided to give the home meds a try first though but said that if I wasn't better by tomorrow it may require going into the hospital. She gave me a breathing treatment and a shot of decadron in the office and sent me out with prescriptions for antibiotics, prednisone, phenergan cough syrup and an inhaler. I'm feeling a bit better tonight but still not good. I don't think I'll require going to the hospital though.

I hope you are doing ok. Do you have respiratory problems now? How do you deal with them? Does the humidity affect it? I'm sorry for so many questions. Wow I just realized it's past 1:30 in the morning and I'm rambling.

Hugs, Mika

Reply to
Mika

Great quilt, Vikki! And what cute kids!! We took our DGKs (age 15 and

12)home today. DGD (the 12 year old) and I made a quilt for her best friend. She had a great time and was so proud of her quilt! The 15 year old DGS had fun playing on the 'puter and with his Playstation. (And staying up late and sleeping in and not having chores to do while at Nanna's) LOL But to get to the point, I am exhausted. I know why young people have kids!! LOL
Reply to
Donna in NE La.

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