Panic/Sicky Pants/SOS

So on Easter, Isaac seemed a little bit off, and by the end of the day, we realized he had come down with a bad case of Croup.  By Monday morning, I could have sworn there was a baby seal sleeping in his crib.  He was barking up a storm, and his voice was hardly audible.  To top it off, the cold that preceded the croup (now I know that a cold can be the beginning signs of croup sometimes!) congested his ears, which caused an ear infection.  So, off to the doctor he went.  He's on the mend after several days, but still a little sick.

With that being said, I KNOW kids get sick, but Isaac has generally been in very good health with just 2 or 3 minor bouts of sickness since he was born.  We've been lucky, but I think part of the reason he has stayed so well is because he doesn't spend much time around big groups of kids.  He sees his second cousin on a weekly basis, and other kids sporadically, but other than that...he is only around adults, mostly those who care for him one on one at our house, or their own home.  No schools, no church kid groups (not that you should keep your kids away from these things, but we all know it's where the germs work their magic.) We have really been spoiled with the love Isaac has received in those caring for him (and I believe it has been a major contributor to his good health.)  With that being said, I know I can't keep him under lock and key, and away from all the germs that are out there forever. It's inevitable. I know that it's good for him to be around other kids, and I try to get him around other kids to develop good social habits.  We've taken him to plenty of public places without him getting sick, but I am CERTAIN that he got this nasty illness from being at one of the many places we took him over spring break (likely the kids' museum...) 

Now to the SOS/panic part.  This illness was a little heartbreaking.  He was so miserable and his breathing was so labored that he had to receive some steroid pills, which we were not psyched at all about having to give him, but needed to do something.  Next year, he is going to have to go to daycare because while our family/friends have been so wonderful these first couple of years, they aren't all able to commit to watching him next year.  I am soooo worried that going to daycare full time will mean he is going to get horrible illnesses constantly. He is too little to understand about handwashing, good hygiene, swapping spit, etc.  SOOOOOO not good.  Anyway, so my SOS is this:  does anyone know any trustworthy mothers who live within say a 10 mile radius of Holladay/Sugarhouse who already stay home with one or two kids, that might want to watch a 2nd or 3rd?  We can't pay what a nanny makes, because let's be honest, we are teachers.  We would only be able to pay what we could pay to a daycare (around $700 per month.)  Of course we would need to meet them, feel comfortable with them, etc.  If you have anybody in mind that you know is looking for a little extra money and want a playmate for their own kid(s), please email me (rebeccavala@msn.com)  I'm probably just panicking and will end up deleting this blog post-Isaac-sickness, but I may as well throw that out there, right?
I'm also freaking out a little about  the possibility of bringing another child into the world (no, NO, I'm not pregnant.)  We'll need to find childcare for a young baby if we decide to have one, and THAT scares me even more.  I know, I know...woah is me.

It was probably that ball, yeah, see the red one that girl is holding?  Yep, that was the croup culprit. ;-)  Dont' worry, we aren't going to bubble wrap him.  We'll continue to take him fun places.