Anyone Else Pregnant with Multiple Kids or Went Through That?

J.,
I think you're being really hard on yourself. You are 8 mos pregnant at the hottest time of the year in Florida. I am not pg & i don't want to take my kids outside b/c of the heat. Don't feel guilt, your kids will be fine if you guys just stay home all day until you have your baby.
I think we forget how taxing it is on our body to be pg, muchless in this heat. Remember, you aren't going to be pg forever. And you'll be back to the mommy you normally are once the baby is born.
Something I do, b/c of the heat....I take my kids outside to play after 630 at night. It's still hot, but not as miserable & bright.
Enjoy the remainder of your pregnancy!!! Sit down & take a load off, you are not alone!!

Seriously put a play pool out in the yard and fill it with cold water and lay in it while the kids play.... oh yeah, get another play pool for the kids :)
Nothing worse than being pregnant in summer... It's HARD.

I feel your pain! I am prego with #5. similar age range - 8, 4, 2, 12 months, and then six months prego. It is HARD. We bought a blow up pool, toss the kids out there (me too) and enjoy being outside that way. It's a challenge chasing little ones around while being prego. As for meals, if you haven't looked into freezing meals, you might like that. Otherwise, look on allrecipes.com for quick meal ideas. Don't make it too hard for yourself right now. As for cleaning, lower your expectations and do what you can. Have your kids help. All my kids (excluding baby) help with cleaning. They empty dishwasher, clean off table, clean front room, clean playroom, and sometimes help vacuum. I turn on "cleaning music" (fun upbeat music that makes you want to move!) and we party while we clean. Sometimes I just want to lay on the floor and do nothing, but that's generlaly related to days where the baby hadn't slept well the night before.

Hang in there! You'll find a routine once baby appears and you get your feet back under you. If it helps any, I didn't find having four kids to be much more difficult than three. Three really threw me! It added a WHOLE new level of chaos that wasn't there with two. Four just is a busier version of the same thing. Hopefully five will be the same.

My twins are 2.5 and baby #3 is coming in 9 days. I have felt so guilty for the last couple of months! I feel like I'm not doing as good of a job as I should be. But, you know what? My kids are happy, they understand mommy needs to rest, and they help me out. I've tried to do easy, fun activities. I'll sit out back with my feet in the kiddie pool and let them play in the yard. We'll go to a toddler park that's fenced in, so I just sit and watch them run around. But, I really can't do much more than that. Anything else knocks me off my feet, and I was working full-time until summer break started a week ago.

Do you have any family in the area that can come over and play with the kids or take them somewhere for an afternoon? My cousin is getting my kids this week and taking them to a children's museum to give me some rest before baby arrives.

Just know that you don't have to be the mom that does it all. That's not what makes you a good mom. As long as your kids feel loved and are taken care of, you're doing a GREAT job!

We have six kids. My 5th was a mid-July birth. My 6th a very early November birth.

And we just found out we're going to have a #7, due in January. :)

It can be very difficult with so many little ones under foot, and pregnant. Your oldest is old enough to help with some kitchen prep, and some chores. Have her fold laundry, vacuum, help with the 2 and 4 y/o. At 6, mine can change a diaper like a pro. lol She'll likely be happy to help out.

Tell you husband, honestly, that you know he works a lot and is tired, but that with this pregnancy, you need some more help around the house. If you have friends or relatives in the area, don't be afraid to ask them for some help. Have them bring over a meal, or take the kids for the day.

If you have the funds, a baby pool in the backward can be a beautiful thing. So are public libraries.

You don't have to leave the house. A child never died from having to stay home and amuse themselves. :) Although some would like you to believe that. lol

For me, it gets easier with each pregnancy, because I end up with kids that are older and more able to help out. Now that my oldest three are 14, 12 and 9, I have lots of help, even before hubby gets home.

Don't feel bad if the kids aren't on a schedule or you aren't leaving the house. You're on your 4th pregnancy. Leniency is okay. :)

My last pregnancy was six years ago and I had a 7, 5 year old twins,and 2 year old at the time. We live in S. California and I was very pregnant during the summer months! My husband took our only car to work an hour and a half away so we couldn't even go to the beach or anything! My husband never helped with the housework either and I was definitely feeling the pregnancy more than I had in the past. I set up the splash pool in the backyard and a beach umbrella. I got in the pool to cool off and then just sat out there with my feet up and read library books. I took a mandatory nap every afternoon with the two year old and put on a movie for the older kids. Going to the library is a nice cool place especially when they're doing story time to entertain your other kids. If money isn't an issue get the kids into swimming lessons and that will give you a place you have to be and give your kids something to look forward to everyday. Also I would say take this time to really teach your older kids how to do various household chores well and get them in the routine of doing them everyday. Baby will be here soon and if they can feed the cat, rinse the dishes, put away their toys, take dirty laundry to the laundry room, trash out etc. they will feel that they are a needed respected part of the family and you will feel sane!

Well, my circumstances we a bit different, but I do feel your pain. Last summer I was pregnant with twins and chasing around my Autistic 2-year-old with his heavy schedule of therapies. The heat really bothered me. My husband put up an onion-skin pool in the backyard so my son could play and I could float and be somewhat active without fear of overheating. I recommend that, maybe a sprinkler or two. We also got a swing set so my son could play outside without me having to pack us all up and get in the car. It was a long-term investment because I knew I would not be taking my son to the park so much after his sisters were born.

I have recently invested in a membership at the Y. Their ChildWatch program is pretty good and I can cycle my kids through and take them one-on-one into the pool. When they're done, I can put them all in ChildWatch while I get a shower! I am very excited about that!

Also, if you don't have it, you may want to invest in remote start for your vehicle. My husband just got it for me and it really helps my enthusiasm to take the kids out knowing that the van is at a decent temperature when it's time to load the kids.

Best of luck to you.