Staying home with the kids...

I have been a stay-at home father now for the last 4 years. I was the primary care-giver for my son Nicholas and now I am primary care-giver for my new daughters Lilianna and Gabriella. I love the time that I get to spend with them and I love watching the changes as they grow.

That being said, I really am starting to miss the conversations of adults that don't revolve around children and their issues. I need to get back into the work force and of course I have chosen the worst time since the Great Depression to try and find gainful employ. This is very depressing. I find it very difficult to sit here day after day and realize that we, as a family, are slipping further and further into debt; that even affording the simple roof over our heads has become a challenge.

Angela, my wife is still not really in primary wage earner mode I think. She seems very comfortable in her 35k a year job. She has to start thinking about moving up in some way and making more money. If I was the wage earner I would be expected to advance myself as much as possible to maximize the money i was taking home to increase the buying ability of the family. I don't begrudge her, her satisfaction at her current position, but I do worry that things are going to get even worse very soon for us.

I need to find a job. My masters in library and information science was completed in May and I can't find anything here. The local university is not hiring a recent graduate with zero library experience. And, I can't afford to go and get a job making less than 34k a year in order to pay the ridiculous prices for child care for 2 infants (actually more than our entire mortgage).

My rant is done for now.

First trip with the girls to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

When we had Nick it was easy as pie to load him in and get going. You make sure that you have all of the stuff that might possibly be needed if something happens. Cloths, diapers, formula and bottles, wipes, bibs, burp cloths, etc. A real laundry list. But, this was manageable with one baby. We now have two little girls that require twice the stuff and twice the planning and it is very hard for just one parent to get them ready and organized and out the door in a reasonable amount of time.

I think the bottom line here is that we will effectively be late for the foreseeable future. Sorry to all who expect visits from us.

They are worth it though that's for sure. They make me feel more complete.

Its been a while since my last and only post. I have changes to report. The family has now grown by two little girls. The twins were born back in May on the 21st. It was amazing that we got pregnant again and then to find out that Angela was carrying twins... WOW.

Like lightning from the blue that news had us rethinking lots of things in our lives. How would the work situation workout? Would one of us stay at home and I was in a Master's program for Library Science and needed to now finish early. So much to think about. (will continue later)