Bedrest alongside four kids
My initiative of all trip to labor as well as delivery for contractions was at 27 weeks. Each calendar week after that I've had to accept it easier as well as easier. I haven't been able to drive the children anywhere or accept them out of the solid yesteryear myself for almost a month. Now we've had preterm labor as well as steroid shots for babe #5. I've been on modified bed residuum for a duet weeks. My OB has told me to continue taking it piece of cake as well as exercise the minimum and I'm supposed to lay down and quaff every bit much H2O every bit possible each day. My other favorite business office of the instruction, "If you withdraw hold someone to assist alongside the children, you should role them."
It sounds piece of cake plenty on paper, but our twenty-four hours to twenty-four hours life is non conducive to bed rest. My hubby is on submarines as well as nosotros withdraw hold 4 boys: a 7-year old, 5-year erstwhile twins, as well as a 1.5-year old. Managing our solid (with minimal assistance) and 4 immature children piece beingness on modified bed residuum has been challenging. So hither are my tips on surviving bed rest with 4 children:
1. Limit errands
I'm almost to withdraw hold to totally manus the Costco run over to my husband, but thus far it has been my ane fourth dimension of the calendar week that I move out of the house. Obviously he is pushing the cart as well as managing our boys there, but I exercise savour walking around as well as picking things out for the side yesteryear side week. It is also overnice doing something "fun" out of the solid every bit a identify unit of measurement (we absolutely dear getting berry sundaes inward their nutrient court). For everything else, I store online. Amazon, online grocery shopping, complimentary shipping... I sentinel for it as well as I utilize it! I wrote a spider web log post on utilizing online shopping as well as cutting downward errands.
2. Cut dorsum the schedule
When I initiative of all started taking it easy, I express social engagements. I took the kids to places that I could deal them easily, similar opened upward parks without much walking to as well as from the vehicle. Then slowly, I had to start declining all social engagements. In the end, I was involved inward ane club, our preschool co-op, our 5-year olds' preschool, as well as our oldest inward 1st grade. Even then, I had to dorsum out of the guild as well as the preschool co-op until the only things left on our calendar was schoolhouse drib off as well as pick upward for our older three boys (1st grader as well as preschoolers). It was likewise hard finding help/childcare when I was exhausted as well as running around all twenty-four hours alongside things I didn't have to live doing (and non taking it every bit piece of cake every bit I needed to). At the halt of the day, the only things I can't dorsum out of are: feed the kids, accept them to school, as well as last the bedtime routine. I withdraw hold to withdraw hold liberate energy to acquire through these tasks as well as it makes for a happier solid when I'm non stressed over all of the extras.
3. Find help
This ane is truly hard. I've thankfully managed to honor some baby-sitters to assist out on evenings that I simply can't arrive through (busy twenty-four hours for me or busy eve for the boys). It is thus overnice to withdraw hold the children bathed as well as set to bed piece I rest. But for most of our tasks... it all falls on my shoulders. We've had to truly conform how nosotros exercise things, similar scheduling our Costco trips during times my hubby is truly habitation (which sometimes way nosotros withdraw hold to hold back a calendar week or create a mad dash on his ane twenty-four hours off). Sometimes assist is truly proficient delivery nutrient as well as sometimes it is maxim yep when your friend offers to drib off a pizza for dinner. Help tin live letting the kids exercise things inward ways yous normally would have a footling to a greater extent than participation in--like unloading the dishwasher or sweeping the floors or putting away their ain toys. We had to reorganize sure enough areas to create them to a greater extent than kid friendly, similar the toy cupboard as well as our preschooler as well as toddler's closets. We wanted them to live able to access things without adult supervision and, to a greater extent than importantly, set things away solely on their own. Having moved to this surface area less than a twelvemonth ago, it has been tedious going at times finding assist from brand new friends, having 4 children as well as beingness pregnant alongside my fifth (plus it beingness a complicated pregnancy from the beginning). Thankfully I've been able to move out a duet childcare swaps alongside friends for OB appointments during the 2nd one-half of this pregnancy because it was rattling hard going to all my appointments alongside 3-4 children inward tow during the 1st half. Since I withdraw hold to accept it easy, when swapping childcare days, I continue all the kids on the initiative of all flooring of our solid as well as plow on a kids' movie. I also programme an piece of cake snack that they tin all swallow at the table. I exercise withdraw hold to acquire upward as well as downward a fleck to a greater extent than than if it were simply my kids at home, but, for the most part, it isn't much to a greater extent than move than taking aid of my ain 3-4 kids (depending if my oldest is at schoolhouse or home). Now at 34 weeks as well as having to pass thus much of my twenty-four hours lying down, this isn't every bit viable every bit the yesteryear duet weeks, but it has been worth participating inward for childcare during my OB appointments.
*I desire to add together nether this category: finding assist tin also live moving things around inward the solid thus your twenty-four hours is easier. My hubby majorly baby-proofed our solid to arrive easier beingness at habitation alongside a toddler. I withdraw hold door locks, drawer locks, babe gates... etc. Anything to assist continue him contained thus I tin actually (or possibly...?) set my feet upward for a minute. This also applies to finding your comfortable spot as well as moving things to within orbit there. I withdraw hold a spot I similar on the couch as well as nosotros made sure enough I withdraw hold piece of cake access to outlets (using an extension cord) as well as a proficient spot to set my water.
4. Easy meals
Why exercise children demand to swallow everyday? And it isn't fifty-fifty just everyday. It is 3-5 times a twenty-four hours everyday. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner... as well as ane to a greater extent than snack, Momma? Throw inward sippy cups as well as spilled drinks as well as our life revolves around the kitchen. I had to reorganize the pantry to arrive a fleck to a greater extent than kid-friendly-- piece of cake snacks within orbit as well as supplies for our oldest to pack his ain lunch. On summit of their snack needs, the pregnancy has affected how I swallow meals. One twenty-four hours I'm eating at every meal; ane twenty-four hours I'm snacking all day. I dear Costco for all their salubrious piece of cake snack as well as repast options. We purchase a pack (or two) of Annie's Macaroni as well as Cheese every fourth dimension nosotros go. They withdraw hold freezer meals. They withdraw hold packaged snacks: granola bars, fruit snacks, dried fruit, apple tree sauce pouches... They withdraw hold cheese sticks, Go-Gurt, Cuties... Costco. I dear you. But all this piece of cake nutrient at habitation way kids beingness able to easily feed myself as well as my family. One of our electrical flow favorite lunches is cooking a pound of pasta as well as throwing on some of Costco's basil pesto sprinkled alongside Parmesan. If nosotros are feeling fancy, I cutting upward some fresh tomatoes to acquire alongside it. The other of import constituent for repast times is knowing where to select handgrip of or monastic tell a quick as well as piece of cake meal. The other black nosotros ordered inward Dominoes, though nosotros also withdraw hold a listing of places my hubby tin run across for fresher, healthier options (um, grocery store pizza definitely qualifies every bit fresher as well as healthier than Dominoes). Are yous ready for a truthful confession? I continue hard boiled eggs as well as Ramen handy at all times for super piece of cake meals.
5. Stick to ane floor
When I am habitation alongside our footling kids, nosotros are either upstairs or downstairs. I can't run upstairs because our preschoolers are fighting or our toddler is causing mayhem. So I programme our twenty-four hours around what flooring nosotros are on. I displace laundry inward the morn earlier coming downstairs and as well as then complete it inward the long stretch of the afternoon when the boys desire to come upward dorsum upward to play inward our loft space. For most of the day, nosotros are downstairs. I withdraw hold our oldest assist conduct my things downstairs for me inward the morn as well as I laid upward military camp on the couch. That vogue I withdraw hold a identify to residuum as well as piece of cake access to all the downstairs amenities (kitchen, backyard, art, television, etc). The other overnice thing almost this flooring organization when on modified bed residuum is that each of the floors are "new" to the kids at some indicate during the day. When they are downstairs, they tin whine about how they desire to live upstairs... as well as vice versa. It keeps them entertained as well as keeps me from doing the stairs 12,000 times a day. Another tip: employ the children on stair trips. If I run out of diapers downstairs, I tin ship fifty-fifty the toddler upward to select handgrip of some other one. Our 7-year erstwhile is clearly far to a greater extent than capable at next complicated instructions ("In the drawer side yesteryear side to my bed, I demand yous to select handgrip of my chapstick..."), but fifty-fifty saving ane stair trip is overnice because, inevitably alongside 4 kids, it feels similar I acquire upward as well as downward as well as upward as well as downward those stairs all day.
6. Household chores
This could likely live combined alongside finding help. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 huge saving grace has been having a housekeeper throughout this pregnancy. I withdraw hold no view what I would exercise without her. Through the bulk of the pregnancy, the boys as well as I would pack upward on housekeeper days as well as acquire get breakfast out as well as and then exercise a commons trip. Now, piece she cleans the original bedroom, nosotros hang out inward the living room as well as and then lock ourselves inward the original piece she does the residuum of the house. One of the best things almost having a housekeeper is that she does all our deep cleaning, thus I tin withdraw hold our boys live fully responsible for all the maintenance cleaning inward betwixt housekeeper visits. They sweep. They vacuum. They wipe downward counters. It saves me a lot of effort not following after them to acquire everything "just so." They are learning how to create clean bathrooms as well as the similar as well as I am non having to exercise it-- nor would I able to continue upward alongside it all correct straight off anyways, fifty-fifty if I wanted to. The biggest thing that I withdraw hold to continue on summit of them almost is cleaning upward their messes at the fourth dimension they create them. We examine to exercise this anyways, but straight off on bedrest it is crucial. I cannot withdraw hold them dump out every toy bin as well as and then await me to assist them sort out out what goes where. Big messes are rattling overwhelming for 5-year olds as well as nether (even our 7-year old) and it simply isn't something that I tin undertake correct now. I create sure enough that earlier they displace on to a novel activity, they create clean upward the erstwhile activity. It does create me experience similar that I'm frequently nagging them from the couch, but they are truly getting into the swing of it as well as I've caught them to a greater extent than than in ane lawsuit cleaning upward messes without me asking-- demeanour that I greatly rewarded.
7. Indoor entertainment
Wrestling. Why does it e'er withdraw hold to live wrestling?! I pass thus much fourth dimension telling our children to stop wrestling. We sit down downward to sentinel a pic or play a game or exercise anything as well as ane nudge leads to a punch leads to a caput lock leads to at to the lowest degree ane haemorrhage child. I experience similar wrestling as well as wild play are 2 things that volition drive me crazy earlier the halt of this pregnancy (that as well as children call for repetitive questions). Here are the indoor activities that nosotros withdraw hold been using to transcend the fourth dimension piece I accept it easy:
This has been absolutely clutch to my sanity. My hubby built a gravel pit (instead of a sandbox) for our boys to play inward in our backyard. Our toddler loves it. He goes out in that location as well as volition scoop as well as pour gravel for almost an hr alongside no interruptions. Our 5-year olds acquire exterior as well as exercise who knows what... sticks, bubbles, chalk, yard balls, gravel pit... Our 7-year erstwhile loves "relaxing" outdoors after school, usually yesteryear himself; I experience similar that is his fourth dimension to decompress. Having a safe, enclosed infinite for them has truly helped me acquire some fourth dimension alongside my feet upward or an chance to consummate a downstairs chore without "helpers" underfoot. I opened upward our windows as well as backdoor when they are inward the backyard as well as that vogue I tin view them as well as hear them. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 proficient tip, specially alongside the toddler, is that sometimes outdoor fourth dimension tin live likewise much of a proficient thing. If they pass likewise much fourth dimension outside-- simply similar inside-- they acquire irritable as well as brusk alongside each other. The hard thing almost outdoor play though is that I withdraw hold a lot to a greater extent than move bringing them within than when they are bickering indoors. With that inward mind, I withdraw hold them come upward inward when I sense they are getting "done." I also volition tell them if I truly demand a infinitesimal to acquire some rest, "You guys tin acquire play exterior for a footling bit, but if I withdraw hold to continue getting upward as well as down, I'm going to withdraw hold to telephone phone yous in." Rotating exterior fourth dimension throughout our twenty-four hours also keeps the twenty-four hours feeling a footling "fresher." Sometimes I volition withdraw hold them move out for a fleck after breakfast or earlier luncheon as well as and then in ane lawsuit again afterwards inward the afternoon or piece I'm making dinner. It adds a footling variety.
9. Fighting boredom
Even alongside rotating floors as well as activities, the kids acquire restless. We withdraw hold days where they are whiny as well as bickering as well as days where I am inward a horrible mood from a sleepless black (or for no reason). We all are ready to move out of the house, view friends, live somewhere else, hitting upward our favorite local places... I can't hold back to accept the kids to acquire donuts as well as and then walk to the park. Really, I can't hold back to simply walk anywhere. I desire to acquire dorsum into the swing of life. Sometimes on those days the best solution is separation. I ship the kids to their rooms to play quietly for awhile, keeping the toddler alongside me downstairs on the couch. Often times when the 5-year olds are inward that foul of a mood, they autumn asleep alongside a footling enforced serenity time. When I am the ane needing the break, I volition sometimes displace us all upstairs as well as unopen my chamber door, letting the boys know I demand them to quietly play piece Mommy rests. This usually lasts for all of v minutes earlier someone is knocking at my door tattling or haemorrhage or the wild play is thus loud I'm getting to a greater extent than stressed than relaxed, but in that location is that one time where they truly play kindly to the toddler as well as continue their voices down. Other times, instead of separation, I experience similar the boys demand some confront fourth dimension as well as attention. I approximate what it is they need. Face time? We read stories or I plow off electronics as well as nosotros chat. I inquire them almost they've been drawing. I withdraw hold them depict me things or demo me things or inquire them questions. Quality time? We pick a pic as well as I withdraw hold them all pile on summit of me or nosotros simply sit down as well as snuggle for awhile every bit I read as well as eventually they all doze off inward my arms. It is hard. I can't cheer them alongside my countdown, "Only half dozen to a greater extent than weeks until your sis is born!" half dozen weeks doesn't hateful anything to them and-- if it did-- I highly uncertainty a calendar month as well as one-half to a greater extent than of this schedule would live rattling encouraging to a 1st grader as well as preschoolers. I examine to accept payoff of spicing things upward whenever I can. If my hubby is truly habitation early on or has a twenty-four hours off, I create sure enough they are dressed as well as ready for some proficient out front end play where they tin ride bikes as well as shoot hoops as well as sew as well as downward our street. We purchase treats when nosotros are out, similar H2O ice cream at Costco, or a ginormous box of Otter Pops for the afternoons when they demand a pick me upward inward the backyard. We acquire novel set out movies as well as create a large bargain of a "movie night," similar pulling out bags of candy or blowing upward the air mattress to create nests inward the identify unit of measurement room. Those footling things are fun as well as continue things a footling fleck to a greater extent than interesting around here, though the days are long, long, long.
10. Staying positive
I've re-written this business office of the post a lot of times an thus I experience what gets me downward through all of this comes down to 2 primary points for me. The initiative of all beingness guilt. I experience similar that if I known how hard this pregnancy would be, I would withdraw hold had my surgical procedure for my complications after babe #4, which makes me experience like, "Why did I convey this on myself?" Do non misunderstand me: I desire this babe thus bad-- man child or girl. (I am so, so, thus glad nosotros are finally having a girl, but nosotros were going for this one last babe regardless.) I volition live thus glad to handgrip her. I simply experience like, should nosotros withdraw hold pursued other options? What is this doing to my body? What am I doing to my family? All of that. The 2nd business office of this piggy backs of the first: no thing how yous piece it, bedrest alongside lots of kids is hard. The only other fourth dimension I've been on modified bed residuum is carrying our identical twins as well as nosotros only had 1 toddler then. It has been a far unlike experience this fourth dimension alongside schoolhouse drib off as well as pick ups as well as homework as well as meals as well as needs for 4 children... it is hard as well as tiring. I sometimes experience similar I only withdraw hold the liberate energy to exercise the basics as well as that a lot of the other stuff-- some fifty-fifty essential stuff-- I am dropping the ball on. The other twenty-four hours ane of our boys brutal downward truly hard. It was a struggle getting to him and, afterwards, I couldn't pick him upward or exercise much for him except forcefulness him to limp over to somewhere I could sit down to cheque out his owie. I know what a burden I'm putting on my husband. He has been working crazy hours (if you've ever had a wife on a submarine inward shipyard, yous know what I'm talking about) as well as he comes habitation to exercise all the dishes, accept out all the trashes, exercise anything he tin to assist alongside the kids, as well as on as well as on... On summit of that, his only days off are used upward doing errands as well as chores, frequently all twenty-four hours long (literally until after the kids acquire to bed). It hasn't been easy.
With that said, staying positive tin live hard, specially fighting contractions as well as thinking negative thoughts or wondering how I volition acquire things done. Being tired (both myself as well as my husband) has taken its toll on our moods as well as communication. When I honor myself spiraling I follow these steps:
What are your tips for surviving bed residuum alongside older children at home?
It sounds piece of cake plenty on paper, but our twenty-four hours to twenty-four hours life is non conducive to bed rest. My hubby is on submarines as well as nosotros withdraw hold 4 boys: a 7-year old, 5-year erstwhile twins, as well as a 1.5-year old. Managing our solid (with minimal assistance) and 4 immature children piece beingness on modified bed residuum has been challenging. So hither are my tips on surviving bed rest with 4 children:
1. Limit errands
I'm almost to withdraw hold to totally manus the Costco run over to my husband, but thus far it has been my ane fourth dimension of the calendar week that I move out of the house. Obviously he is pushing the cart as well as managing our boys there, but I exercise savour walking around as well as picking things out for the side yesteryear side week. It is also overnice doing something "fun" out of the solid every bit a identify unit of measurement (we absolutely dear getting berry sundaes inward their nutrient court). For everything else, I store online. Amazon, online grocery shopping, complimentary shipping... I sentinel for it as well as I utilize it! I wrote a spider web log post on utilizing online shopping as well as cutting downward errands.
2. Cut dorsum the schedule
When I initiative of all started taking it easy, I express social engagements. I took the kids to places that I could deal them easily, similar opened upward parks without much walking to as well as from the vehicle. Then slowly, I had to start declining all social engagements. In the end, I was involved inward ane club, our preschool co-op, our 5-year olds' preschool, as well as our oldest inward 1st grade. Even then, I had to dorsum out of the guild as well as the preschool co-op until the only things left on our calendar was schoolhouse drib off as well as pick upward for our older three boys (1st grader as well as preschoolers). It was likewise hard finding help/childcare when I was exhausted as well as running around all twenty-four hours alongside things I didn't have to live doing (and non taking it every bit piece of cake every bit I needed to). At the halt of the day, the only things I can't dorsum out of are: feed the kids, accept them to school, as well as last the bedtime routine. I withdraw hold to withdraw hold liberate energy to acquire through these tasks as well as it makes for a happier solid when I'm non stressed over all of the extras.
3. Find help
This ane is truly hard. I've thankfully managed to honor some baby-sitters to assist out on evenings that I simply can't arrive through (busy twenty-four hours for me or busy eve for the boys). It is thus overnice to withdraw hold the children bathed as well as set to bed piece I rest. But for most of our tasks... it all falls on my shoulders. We've had to truly conform how nosotros exercise things, similar scheduling our Costco trips during times my hubby is truly habitation (which sometimes way nosotros withdraw hold to hold back a calendar week or create a mad dash on his ane twenty-four hours off). Sometimes assist is truly proficient delivery nutrient as well as sometimes it is maxim yep when your friend offers to drib off a pizza for dinner. Help tin live letting the kids exercise things inward ways yous normally would have a footling to a greater extent than participation in--like unloading the dishwasher or sweeping the floors or putting away their ain toys. We had to reorganize sure enough areas to create them to a greater extent than kid friendly, similar the toy cupboard as well as our preschooler as well as toddler's closets. We wanted them to live able to access things without adult supervision and, to a greater extent than importantly, set things away solely on their own. Having moved to this surface area less than a twelvemonth ago, it has been tedious going at times finding assist from brand new friends, having 4 children as well as beingness pregnant alongside my fifth (plus it beingness a complicated pregnancy from the beginning). Thankfully I've been able to move out a duet childcare swaps alongside friends for OB appointments during the 2nd one-half of this pregnancy because it was rattling hard going to all my appointments alongside 3-4 children inward tow during the 1st half. Since I withdraw hold to accept it easy, when swapping childcare days, I continue all the kids on the initiative of all flooring of our solid as well as plow on a kids' movie. I also programme an piece of cake snack that they tin all swallow at the table. I exercise withdraw hold to acquire upward as well as downward a fleck to a greater extent than than if it were simply my kids at home, but, for the most part, it isn't much to a greater extent than move than taking aid of my ain 3-4 kids (depending if my oldest is at schoolhouse or home). Now at 34 weeks as well as having to pass thus much of my twenty-four hours lying down, this isn't every bit viable every bit the yesteryear duet weeks, but it has been worth participating inward for childcare during my OB appointments.
*I desire to add together nether this category: finding assist tin also live moving things around inward the solid thus your twenty-four hours is easier. My hubby majorly baby-proofed our solid to arrive easier beingness at habitation alongside a toddler. I withdraw hold door locks, drawer locks, babe gates... etc. Anything to assist continue him contained thus I tin actually (or possibly...?) set my feet upward for a minute. This also applies to finding your comfortable spot as well as moving things to within orbit there. I withdraw hold a spot I similar on the couch as well as nosotros made sure enough I withdraw hold piece of cake access to outlets (using an extension cord) as well as a proficient spot to set my water.
4. Easy meals
Why exercise children demand to swallow everyday? And it isn't fifty-fifty just everyday. It is 3-5 times a twenty-four hours everyday. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner... as well as ane to a greater extent than snack, Momma? Throw inward sippy cups as well as spilled drinks as well as our life revolves around the kitchen. I had to reorganize the pantry to arrive a fleck to a greater extent than kid-friendly-- piece of cake snacks within orbit as well as supplies for our oldest to pack his ain lunch. On summit of their snack needs, the pregnancy has affected how I swallow meals. One twenty-four hours I'm eating at every meal; ane twenty-four hours I'm snacking all day. I dear Costco for all their salubrious piece of cake snack as well as repast options. We purchase a pack (or two) of Annie's Macaroni as well as Cheese every fourth dimension nosotros go. They withdraw hold freezer meals. They withdraw hold packaged snacks: granola bars, fruit snacks, dried fruit, apple tree sauce pouches... They withdraw hold cheese sticks, Go-Gurt, Cuties... Costco. I dear you. But all this piece of cake nutrient at habitation way kids beingness able to easily feed myself as well as my family. One of our electrical flow favorite lunches is cooking a pound of pasta as well as throwing on some of Costco's basil pesto sprinkled alongside Parmesan. If nosotros are feeling fancy, I cutting upward some fresh tomatoes to acquire alongside it. The other of import constituent for repast times is knowing where to select handgrip of or monastic tell a quick as well as piece of cake meal. The other black nosotros ordered inward Dominoes, though nosotros also withdraw hold a listing of places my hubby tin run across for fresher, healthier options (um, grocery store pizza definitely qualifies every bit fresher as well as healthier than Dominoes). Are yous ready for a truthful confession? I continue hard boiled eggs as well as Ramen handy at all times for super piece of cake meals.
5. Stick to ane floor
When I am habitation alongside our footling kids, nosotros are either upstairs or downstairs. I can't run upstairs because our preschoolers are fighting or our toddler is causing mayhem. So I programme our twenty-four hours around what flooring nosotros are on. I displace laundry inward the morn earlier coming downstairs and as well as then complete it inward the long stretch of the afternoon when the boys desire to come upward dorsum upward to play inward our loft space. For most of the day, nosotros are downstairs. I withdraw hold our oldest assist conduct my things downstairs for me inward the morn as well as I laid upward military camp on the couch. That vogue I withdraw hold a identify to residuum as well as piece of cake access to all the downstairs amenities (kitchen, backyard, art, television, etc). The other overnice thing almost this flooring organization when on modified bed residuum is that each of the floors are "new" to the kids at some indicate during the day. When they are downstairs, they tin whine about how they desire to live upstairs... as well as vice versa. It keeps them entertained as well as keeps me from doing the stairs 12,000 times a day. Another tip: employ the children on stair trips. If I run out of diapers downstairs, I tin ship fifty-fifty the toddler upward to select handgrip of some other one. Our 7-year erstwhile is clearly far to a greater extent than capable at next complicated instructions ("In the drawer side yesteryear side to my bed, I demand yous to select handgrip of my chapstick..."), but fifty-fifty saving ane stair trip is overnice because, inevitably alongside 4 kids, it feels similar I acquire upward as well as downward as well as upward as well as downward those stairs all day.
6. Household chores
This could likely live combined alongside finding help. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 huge saving grace has been having a housekeeper throughout this pregnancy. I withdraw hold no view what I would exercise without her. Through the bulk of the pregnancy, the boys as well as I would pack upward on housekeeper days as well as acquire get breakfast out as well as and then exercise a commons trip. Now, piece she cleans the original bedroom, nosotros hang out inward the living room as well as and then lock ourselves inward the original piece she does the residuum of the house. One of the best things almost having a housekeeper is that she does all our deep cleaning, thus I tin withdraw hold our boys live fully responsible for all the maintenance cleaning inward betwixt housekeeper visits. They sweep. They vacuum. They wipe downward counters. It saves me a lot of effort not following after them to acquire everything "just so." They are learning how to create clean bathrooms as well as the similar as well as I am non having to exercise it-- nor would I able to continue upward alongside it all correct straight off anyways, fifty-fifty if I wanted to. The biggest thing that I withdraw hold to continue on summit of them almost is cleaning upward their messes at the fourth dimension they create them. We examine to exercise this anyways, but straight off on bedrest it is crucial. I cannot withdraw hold them dump out every toy bin as well as and then await me to assist them sort out out what goes where. Big messes are rattling overwhelming for 5-year olds as well as nether (even our 7-year old) and it simply isn't something that I tin undertake correct now. I create sure enough that earlier they displace on to a novel activity, they create clean upward the erstwhile activity. It does create me experience similar that I'm frequently nagging them from the couch, but they are truly getting into the swing of it as well as I've caught them to a greater extent than than in ane lawsuit cleaning upward messes without me asking-- demeanour that I greatly rewarded.
7. Indoor entertainment
Wrestling. Why does it e'er withdraw hold to live wrestling?! I pass thus much fourth dimension telling our children to stop wrestling. We sit down downward to sentinel a pic or play a game or exercise anything as well as ane nudge leads to a punch leads to a caput lock leads to at to the lowest degree ane haemorrhage child. I experience similar wrestling as well as wild play are 2 things that volition drive me crazy earlier the halt of this pregnancy (that as well as children call for repetitive questions). Here are the indoor activities that nosotros withdraw hold been using to transcend the fourth dimension piece I accept it easy:
- Movies. Thankfully, several of my children exercise similar movies. Of course of pedagogy they never tin concur on the pic as well as some of them only sentinel movies inward the correct mood, but peer pressure level is potent as well as thus they tend to cluster if the bulk is inward favor of watching movies. One of my favorite tips is Netflix Streaming. It is thus neat to live able to alter the pic without having to acquire upward as well as popular inward a novel DVD.
- Art. Our 5-year olds are rattling inward to art. They could pass hours doing art. Our oldest volition occasionally sit down downward as well as exercise fine art as well as our youngest volition frequently pass a lot of fourth dimension at the tabular array where fine art is to swallow the crayons, but fifty-fifty entertaining 2 of the 4 is nice. It is specially useful when our oldest is at schoolhouse as well as our youngest is napping. I create sure enough that all of their fine art supplies are non only easily accessible to them, but piece of cake for them to set away every bit well. This is a huge measuring inward letting them exercise fine art piece on bedrest. Otherwise, what would I exercise when the toddler gets upward as well as finds scissors, glue, as well as markers everywhere? I'd live chasing him downward to accept supplies away... or cleaning the walls similar nosotros had to exercise a duet weeks ago.
- Accessible toys. Accessibility is key. Whether your kids similar playing alongside play sets or cars or costumes or whatever, if they demand your assist getting everything down, yous volition either live dealing alongside a lot of whining when yous say no or a lot of getting upward as well as downward as well as upward as well as down. The side yesteryear side biggest business office is it has to live piece of cake for them to create clean or yous volition withdraw hold the same problem. Our toddler has ane large bin for toys inward his room. Our older boys withdraw hold bins for Lego Duplos, playsets (Playmobile/Imaginex/etc), costumes, stuffed animals, as well as cars inward our loft space. I withdraw hold everything else out of reach, pregnant the little "real" Legos, K'Nex, puzzles, as well as board games. These are things that they cannot easily create clean upward as well as that, frankly, I don't desire to bargain alongside correct now. Sometimes when nosotros are doing upstairs time, I volition trace out puzzles as well as the similar for the boys to play alongside as well as that is e'er a fun treat. I tin acquire a lot of laundry folded alongside our 2 5-year olds busily doing "big boy" puzzles inward the loft infinite as well as our toddler sitting on the flooring side yesteryear side to me doing toddler puzzles.
- Imaginative play. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 fun thing that I withdraw hold started the yesteryear duet weeks isn't totally novel inward our house, but the frequency of the games is. I trace out diverse things for them to play imaginatively with, such every bit apartment sheets to create tents or large plastic bins to role every bit boats or lots of footling cups to sort out things in... the listing goes on as well as on as well as sometimes the location of the activity is what makes it thus fun. For instance, I never allow them play inward my original bedroom, but piece the housekeeper cleans the solid I allow them create forts alongside the sheets and that was a treat. Or when I set a whole bunch of bowls as well as wooden spoons inward the family room for them to create music with-- whoa! Sometimes having solid rules as well as designated areas for sure enough activities automatically lends itself to childhood magic when yous intentionally break the rules. "What, Momma?! We tin withdraw hold snacks on the couch?!" Another fun activity lately is using babe #5's existent babe equipment for their babe dolls, similar the bouncy spot as well as bassinet. Obviously I supervise this alongside 2 5-year olds who would live quite pleased climbing inward those things themselves every bit they pretend to live the baby, though it has truly Pb to long periods of happy cooperative imaginative play.
- Cooking. This one, sadly, isn't something that nosotros tin exercise everyday. If I had a long or hard day, I am non upward to beingness on my feet to ready dinner alongside the kids. However, nosotros exercise examine to ready breakfast as well as luncheon together when nosotros can. They dear beingness given tasks. It makes them experience similar such large kids when they prep as well as railroad train their ain meals. I also shamelessly withdraw hold had our 7-year erstwhile create boxed macaroni as well as cheese for us all on truly tough nights. The benefits of us cooking together are abundant: character time, hands on learning, enforcing math skills, foundation for reading, edifice confidence, pride inward their meal... on as well as on. The drawbacks are that sometimes it is exhausting as well as likewise trying on my patience. There are days when the boys withdraw hold brusk tempers as well as I don't experience good as well as I simply don't desire to bargain alongside it. There are other days when I withdraw hold every intention of cooking together, but I'm having likewise many contractions. So nosotros play this ane yesteryear ear.
- Reading. You would retrieve this ane would live a given. Ah, I dear reading alongside our kids-- normally. Now, it is a major chore. My lap isn't large plenty for 2 5-year olds as well as a wiggly toddler. It hurts to acquire elbowed as well as bumped as well as jostled. I'm majorly uncomfortable alongside contractions as well as my hips as well as I don't desire everyone piled on me at whatever given moment. This nosotros also play yesteryear ear. I withdraw hold been able to employ our 1st grader to a greater extent than as well as to a greater extent than lately. He truly has an involvement inward the topics that our 5-year olds savour (Batman... Batman... Batman...) as well as thus has much to a greater extent than patience for the, "Who is that guy?" comments on every page of the mass ("Oh, that is Penguin"). We exercise read as well as I withdraw hold sat as well as read for 2 hours straight. I simply tell them no a lot to a greater extent than lately than usual, depending on how I'm feeling when they ask.
This has been absolutely clutch to my sanity. My hubby built a gravel pit (instead of a sandbox) for our boys to play inward in our backyard. Our toddler loves it. He goes out in that location as well as volition scoop as well as pour gravel for almost an hr alongside no interruptions. Our 5-year olds acquire exterior as well as exercise who knows what... sticks, bubbles, chalk, yard balls, gravel pit... Our 7-year erstwhile loves "relaxing" outdoors after school, usually yesteryear himself; I experience similar that is his fourth dimension to decompress. Having a safe, enclosed infinite for them has truly helped me acquire some fourth dimension alongside my feet upward or an chance to consummate a downstairs chore without "helpers" underfoot. I opened upward our windows as well as backdoor when they are inward the backyard as well as that vogue I tin view them as well as hear them. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 proficient tip, specially alongside the toddler, is that sometimes outdoor fourth dimension tin live likewise much of a proficient thing. If they pass likewise much fourth dimension outside-- simply similar inside-- they acquire irritable as well as brusk alongside each other. The hard thing almost outdoor play though is that I withdraw hold a lot to a greater extent than move bringing them within than when they are bickering indoors. With that inward mind, I withdraw hold them come upward inward when I sense they are getting "done." I also volition tell them if I truly demand a infinitesimal to acquire some rest, "You guys tin acquire play exterior for a footling bit, but if I withdraw hold to continue getting upward as well as down, I'm going to withdraw hold to telephone phone yous in." Rotating exterior fourth dimension throughout our twenty-four hours also keeps the twenty-four hours feeling a footling "fresher." Sometimes I volition withdraw hold them move out for a fleck after breakfast or earlier luncheon as well as and then in ane lawsuit again afterwards inward the afternoon or piece I'm making dinner. It adds a footling variety.
9. Fighting boredom
Even alongside rotating floors as well as activities, the kids acquire restless. We withdraw hold days where they are whiny as well as bickering as well as days where I am inward a horrible mood from a sleepless black (or for no reason). We all are ready to move out of the house, view friends, live somewhere else, hitting upward our favorite local places... I can't hold back to accept the kids to acquire donuts as well as and then walk to the park. Really, I can't hold back to simply walk anywhere. I desire to acquire dorsum into the swing of life. Sometimes on those days the best solution is separation. I ship the kids to their rooms to play quietly for awhile, keeping the toddler alongside me downstairs on the couch. Often times when the 5-year olds are inward that foul of a mood, they autumn asleep alongside a footling enforced serenity time. When I am the ane needing the break, I volition sometimes displace us all upstairs as well as unopen my chamber door, letting the boys know I demand them to quietly play piece Mommy rests. This usually lasts for all of v minutes earlier someone is knocking at my door tattling or haemorrhage or the wild play is thus loud I'm getting to a greater extent than stressed than relaxed, but in that location is that one time where they truly play kindly to the toddler as well as continue their voices down. Other times, instead of separation, I experience similar the boys demand some confront fourth dimension as well as attention. I approximate what it is they need. Face time? We read stories or I plow off electronics as well as nosotros chat. I inquire them almost they've been drawing. I withdraw hold them depict me things or demo me things or inquire them questions. Quality time? We pick a pic as well as I withdraw hold them all pile on summit of me or nosotros simply sit down as well as snuggle for awhile every bit I read as well as eventually they all doze off inward my arms. It is hard. I can't cheer them alongside my countdown, "Only half dozen to a greater extent than weeks until your sis is born!" half dozen weeks doesn't hateful anything to them and-- if it did-- I highly uncertainty a calendar month as well as one-half to a greater extent than of this schedule would live rattling encouraging to a 1st grader as well as preschoolers. I examine to accept payoff of spicing things upward whenever I can. If my hubby is truly habitation early on or has a twenty-four hours off, I create sure enough they are dressed as well as ready for some proficient out front end play where they tin ride bikes as well as shoot hoops as well as sew as well as downward our street. We purchase treats when nosotros are out, similar H2O ice cream at Costco, or a ginormous box of Otter Pops for the afternoons when they demand a pick me upward inward the backyard. We acquire novel set out movies as well as create a large bargain of a "movie night," similar pulling out bags of candy or blowing upward the air mattress to create nests inward the identify unit of measurement room. Those footling things are fun as well as continue things a footling fleck to a greater extent than interesting around here, though the days are long, long, long.
10. Staying positive
I've re-written this business office of the post a lot of times an thus I experience what gets me downward through all of this comes down to 2 primary points for me. The initiative of all beingness guilt. I experience similar that if I known how hard this pregnancy would be, I would withdraw hold had my surgical procedure for my complications after babe #4, which makes me experience like, "Why did I convey this on myself?" Do non misunderstand me: I desire this babe thus bad-- man child or girl. (I am so, so, thus glad nosotros are finally having a girl, but nosotros were going for this one last babe regardless.) I volition live thus glad to handgrip her. I simply experience like, should nosotros withdraw hold pursued other options? What is this doing to my body? What am I doing to my family? All of that. The 2nd business office of this piggy backs of the first: no thing how yous piece it, bedrest alongside lots of kids is hard. The only other fourth dimension I've been on modified bed residuum is carrying our identical twins as well as nosotros only had 1 toddler then. It has been a far unlike experience this fourth dimension alongside schoolhouse drib off as well as pick ups as well as homework as well as meals as well as needs for 4 children... it is hard as well as tiring. I sometimes experience similar I only withdraw hold the liberate energy to exercise the basics as well as that a lot of the other stuff-- some fifty-fifty essential stuff-- I am dropping the ball on. The other twenty-four hours ane of our boys brutal downward truly hard. It was a struggle getting to him and, afterwards, I couldn't pick him upward or exercise much for him except forcefulness him to limp over to somewhere I could sit down to cheque out his owie. I know what a burden I'm putting on my husband. He has been working crazy hours (if you've ever had a wife on a submarine inward shipyard, yous know what I'm talking about) as well as he comes habitation to exercise all the dishes, accept out all the trashes, exercise anything he tin to assist alongside the kids, as well as on as well as on... On summit of that, his only days off are used upward doing errands as well as chores, frequently all twenty-four hours long (literally until after the kids acquire to bed). It hasn't been easy.
With that said, staying positive tin live hard, specially fighting contractions as well as thinking negative thoughts or wondering how I volition acquire things done. Being tired (both myself as well as my husband) has taken its toll on our moods as well as communication. When I honor myself spiraling I follow these steps:
- Is what is bothering me an actual "big deal" or a little nuisance/minor setback?
Whoever said, "Don't yell over spilled milk," manifestly never attempted bedrest alongside 4 children. Children are messy. I don't know how many times a twenty-four hours I hear "uh-oh" only to honor that phrase to live a vast understatement (an entire Costco bag of chips dumped upside downward on the ground!). These footling messes are large deals for me-- the repeated as well as extended crouching downward to pick them up-- as well as they aren't fifty-fifty business office of my bare bones daily obligations! It is hard non to lose my cool during those times. "Why are yous touching this?" "Why are yous inward this room?" "Why are yous doing this to me?" But they aren't. They are children. They acquire curious as well as disobedient as well as attention-seeking as well as bored as well as life happens. Those are the times I accept a deep breath as well as inquire them to assist me pick it up. It may non live cleaned upward perfectly (I currently withdraw hold the streakiest flooring inward America), but it is no longer gummy or beingness dragged all over the house. - Focusing on ane twenty-four hours at a time... ane hr at a time... ane infinitesimal at a time...
I don't withdraw hold whatever view what the side yesteryear side weeks volition facial expression like, when babe daughter volition truly acquire hither or how my complications volition touching my recovery post-partum. What I do know is that I tin set ane human foot inward front end of the other-- correct now. Narrowing my focus when I am exhausted earlier lunchtime helps accept the panic out of the, "Oh, my gosh, how volition I last this entire day?" thought. I acquire through the morn hustle as well as bustle as well as through lunchtime as well as through schoolhouse pick as well as of a precipitous it is eve as well as I'm winding the kids downward as well as slow getting through bedtime routine. And as well as then some other twenty-four hours has passed. I breathe in, I breathe out. I fill upward some other H2O cup, create some other snack plate, create clean upward some other mess... slowly, slowly, slowly... - Making goals.
This ane is personal as well as ever changing. One twenty-four hours my destination is accept a shower earlier bedtime. Another twenty-four hours my destination is to sit down exterior alongside the boys piece they play. Another twenty-four hours (after a hard duet days) is to pass every bit much fourth dimension lying downward every bit possible. When I am truly tired from contractions as well as kids as well as life, my destination is to arrive ane to a greater extent than twenty-four hours without going into labor-- to create residuum a competitive sport that day. The goals may live small, but it does experience overnice at the halt of the twenty-four hours to at to the lowest degree attain something I laid out to do. - Vent as well as complain as well as wallow.
Well, this is truly horrible advice. But every in ane lawsuit inward awhile I withdraw hold needed to simply allow acquire of "keeping it together" as well as withdraw hold a bad day. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 twenty-four hours where I yell as well as a twenty-four hours where I'm stressed as well as a twenty-four hours where I text my best friend vogue likewise much almost the most mundane of complaints. Having that back upward is thus nice. Even if it is a friend that texts yous dorsum or has been in that location or simply has a neat listening ear. Of course of pedagogy nosotros desire this babe as well as of course of pedagogy nosotros dear this babe as well as of course of pedagogy nosotros retrieve this volition live worth it, but, it is hard.
What are your tips for surviving bed residuum alongside older children at home?
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