The truth is you just do what you can, when you can. And don't beat yourself up too much if all your well laid plans and attempts at remaining positive fall to peices (as they are apt to do).

Having a variety of activities and things to do are a great idea, and can really help. (mind you I have a toddler who wil destroy the house with any activity, unless fully supervised at all times - colouring in walls, tearing books, grounding playdough in carpet, throwing toys, climbing on benches - so my TV does get a good workout, despite best intentions).

Also my DD won't sleep during the day mor often then not, but I still put her in bed with some books and toys and let her play quietly (used to leave the baby monitor on so I could hear her, when we lived in a bigger house).

The trueth is i find getting out of the house to be my lifesaver when it is all getting too much. I strap the two older kids in the pram and put the baby in the sling and go for a walk or go shopping. Even if this doesn't help hem settle (it often does as they are often just going stirr crazy) It does give me a break, and then I can refocus my energies and try some different more positive approaches.