To work or not to work??

My maid's contract is ending April 2013 and she is not extending. Her reason was her husband has found a job and she need to take care of her daughter while the husband is working. She helps me take care of my kids when I am not at home or while I work from home. With her, I can have a job. Now that she is going to be gone, I'm not sure what should I do. My dilemma - should I get another maid and continue working fulltime or just quit working and take care of the kids myself?

My kids only have 6 waking hours at home on weekdays. Lucas gets home at 2.30pm and sleeps at 8.30pm. I don't really want to waste their growing up years busy myself with work. I want to be able to spend some time with them. They grow fast.

On the other hand, I want to have some adult intellectual talk and use my brain a bit differently. And having 2 incomes does help - hopefully Dominic and I don't have to slave until we are in our 60s.

What should I do? Not get a maid replacement and see what kind of part time job I can find?