Bubbles, Finger Paint, and Guilt

 

I thought the babies would have fun with some outside time with the bubble machine while playing with finger paint. And of course, so I could take pictures. When I looked back through the pictures, it was very clear that Adam had a great time, while the twins were... well, somewhat less amused.

The next day I got a call back from the doctor on an eye culture that had been done on Claire, showing two bacterium causing her sinus infection... and which is most likely also causing Colin's. After 4 rounds of different antibiotics and no improvement, I finally told myself they had to have severe allergies this season.

So Claire is starting round 5 of a new antibiotic and Colin needs to go for another eye culture to figure out which bionic strength medication he'll need. As if I wasn't feeling guilty enough that I couldn't make them better, and frustrated that even washing and disinfecting every single toy in the house was not improving their conditions, I look back at these pictures and realize that they are probably feeling incredibly miserable.

I'm fairly certain that if Colin finds the nebulizer unattented, he'll violently dismantle it. He is over the breathing treatments, and Claire puts up the best fight I've ever seen when it comes to taking medicine. She fights, squirms, spits, chokes, and gags down just 1/2 tsp. 6 weeks and 5 antibiotics are enough. ENOUGH, I say.

So let me beat myself up over that, but know that I really had the best intentions and was positive they would have a good time...

HE. PAINTED. MY. TOE!! (Colin HATES having his feet painted. No art projects with footprints for him.)

Remember that smile from Claire... it's the only one.

Colin: "He painted my toe and NOW HE'S GOING TO PAINT CLAIRE!!"

Colin is still mad about his toe and Claire is deciding whether violence is the right course of action in this case.

She decided it wasn't, because Adam can do no wrong, and Colin is checking out his decoration.

I think she's planning her escape. Colin has gone to his happy place.

Well... SOMEONE is having a good time.

I call this one: "Unamused."

Claire: "Why are you doing this to me?" Adam: "What? You aren't having fun?"

"My turn."

Claire says, "see ya, boys."

"I'm outta here."

Adam: "She looks pretty good."

Poor  Claire.

Colin: "Hey, where's Claire going?" Adam: "I don't know, but that's just good art."

Little Artiste.

At least he can dish it out AND he can take it.

My toe is still blue. Not cool.

Colin: "You can paint my knee, just stay away from my feet."

Caught again.

"Touch me with the paintbrush. I dare you."

I'm going to remember this.

"Look, I painted my nose!"

 

Still in his happy place.

....and this one just makes me laugh.

I didn't realize it until after, but Colin never even moved. When I put the camera down and went to the hose to let Adam wash off his hands, Colin crawled faster than lightning and dunked himself in the (fresh) water of the dog bowl. The best way to make anything up to Colin is to give him a bath, so he got a good one right after we were done.

Note: The whole event didn't last longer than 10 minutes, and the twins are tough and barely complain. I took a lot of pictures of Colin crying, but even that was a short episode, seconds even. Adam never cornered them and if they cried, he stopped. He wanted it to be fun for them too and is incredibly empathic to their needs. If I had known that they were still sick . . . well, at any rate. Mom-guilt take over.