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amyable Forum All-Star
Joined: March 07 2005
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Posted: April 01 2005 at 12:12pm | IP Logged
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I'm sure there is a wealth of knowledge here regarding this - I've just come back from my OB where she did an internal exam, and the results of that, plus some other concerns have led her to tell me to "do as little as physically possible" for the next three weeks. I'm 32 weeks now. She knows I have three kids (7, 5, barely two) and homeschool -- she isn't recommending bedrest or anything, just sitting around doing nothing as much as I can. Soooooo....
just how DOES one sit around when there is a toddler who finds ways to get in trouble that I've never dreamed of? My other two *can* be helpful, but often it is like pulling teeth. Not to mention the laundry, cooking, etc. Dh said he would help but that would only be at night and he is already SO stressed about other things that I'm afraid adding on my chore list would not be a healthy thing.
Anyone have any words of wisdom? Dh said I could take a break from homeschooling, and all I could think of was "that's the last thing I want to drop - I can just sit on the couch and read all day" LOL!
TIA for your thoughts, prayers, etc.
__________________ Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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stefoodie Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005 Location: Ohio
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Posted: April 01 2005 at 1:04pm | IP Logged
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do you have family, perhaps, that could help? or a moms support group at your parish? some close friends you could ask a couple of favors from? when i was in my first trimester for our fourth child and couldn't get up most days because of "all-day morning sickness" we decided to hire a sitter for my worst hours. when i was able to cook i cooked really large helpings (like for 12 people or more) so that we could freeze some and eat it later. laundry: perhaps dh could do a load or two when he comes home; even the 7-yo and 5-yo could help with laundry -- mine did at that age (they've since outgrown it and now it's like pulling teeth asking them to help me with it).... also, perhaps instead of cooking from scratch you could make assembly-type dishes instead, maybe even no-cook or minimal-cooking ones.... of course videos can always help, but you would know best when and how to use those.
__________________ stef
mom to five
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Mare Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 08 2005
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Posted: April 01 2005 at 1:18pm | IP Logged
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Amy,
I had to take things easy during the last few weeks of my last pregnancy. I don't have any advice for what to do with your older girls. As for your 2 year old, I have experience there. My oldest was just two at the end of my last pregnancy. Because it was in the summer, I was able to have a mother's helper come over for a few hours in the mornings. Once school started, I was on my own again.
I set up baby gates to keep my daughter in the same room as me. I brought in a child size table and chairs into the living room. It was set up to handle washable markers, washable crayons, magnets, table top activities, etc. When I was feeling up to it, I sat at the table and did activities with my dd. When I needed to lay down, I brought the table next to the sofa so I was able to still help out with puzzles, etc.
Dh wasn't able to help out much in the evenings since he was in gradutate school and working full time. Fortunately, he was able to come home for lunch and help a bit then.
HTH,
Mare
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amyable Forum All-Star
Joined: March 07 2005
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Posted: April 02 2005 at 12:10pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for the ideas! Unfortunately, we have no family in the area, my friends have more kids than I do (so having them come over means the house is trashed and MORE work is made, lol), no real babysitter leads...
it's really up to me and my immediate family, but already we are finding fun and interesting ways of having me SIT but still do work, like dumping all the laundry on my bed and gathering hangers, so I'm putting hangers on and folding shirts/towels, etc, and others are putting them away. The just turned two year old loves to try to help, she gets so frustrated when she can't manage to do it just right, but it is so sweet!
Anyway, thanks again for the ideas, keep them coming if you think of anything else.
__________________ Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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