At my wits end...

[MrsFabuloso]

Thankyou so much girls, you've all got me teary again, LOL!

It's been a long day. With DD sick and DS so clingy and unsettled (hope he's not getting sick too) I've just had a tough time. But its not just today. I've had too many teary days for it to just be hard days and lack of sleep. I don't feel so overwhelmed every day, but still it's at least maybe once or twice a week I end up in tears. And that's not normal for anyone! On those days I just feel like I can't handle the kids and everything else on my own. I try to put on a happy face for the kids especially Lily, cause she ends up crying with me if I cry in front of her, (and that's not healthy for her either). I might go to my gp and see what she says since the MCHN was a bit useless.

Clare thankyou for your hugs, cyber ones are almost as nice as real ones! I will look up some of the sites for derpression.

Lulu, LOL @ putting the kids in the sink! I have tried giving DD a bucket of warm water on towelsm with a few utensils etc and taking her clothes and nappy off for her to play in. It worked the first time, she played for aaaages, but everytime after that she's poo'ed in the bucket, LOL!! So I have given up on the bucket idea.
I usually don't stress about DD making a mess with her food. But it's at every meal, it ends up on the floor or her or both. Today she actually pelted her spoon full of yoghurt across the room and then proceeded to tip out the whole tub and rub it into the high chair and herself. It was just the last straw.

Amy thankyou. Its kinda good you can't come over here straight away...the place is a pigsty, LOL!! I know Lily is probably out of sorts with Liam being here now. And being sick but her behaviour is so constant, and she does dangerous things, like grabbing the knife, standing on chairs and tables and even getting out to the balcony by herself. I just can't watch her all the time to keep her sfae. She stresses me out!! I dread when shes a teenager!

Mrsmac, not too sure about medication. I haven't really thought about it. Though I would rather not go that way. I think it would be managable without medicating myself. Plus I'm bf'ing, not sure how that would affect things. You're lucky you have good support from family, mines a bit hit and miss I'm afraid.

Lee, yep DH said he'd take DD out tomorrow. He thinks cause DS is bf he can't take him too...good excuse huh? Oh well I don't mind DS, at least he stays in the same place I leave him, LOL!

Again thanks for all the support it really helps to know others have done it and are all good!

[Snacks]

Its kinda good you can't come over here straight away...the place is a pigsty

OMG - I'd feel right at home!!! Let me know what you decide. If it is more help I can come sans Natty. Anyway I have PM'ed. Whatever you decide works for me.

[mrsmac]

Kellie I BF Riley whilst on meds and everything was OK.
Amy I can mind Nat tomorrow if you need me to.

[Cassius2]

i think i know exactly how you feel. I would have a good run of good days then be out for a few days not coping. because of the good days i thought that maybe i didnt have a legitimate claim to PND. it wasnt until i spoke to someone at panda that they told me that it completely normal to be on a roller coaster.

i though panda org au (it also has a link for self-management strategies) was good. beyondblue isnt bad either...

if it turns out that you have pnd, dont despair, you're certainly not alone (recent data showing that AT LEAST 1 in 7 girls will have it at some point). and it doesnt have to be a forever thing, you can be you again (as i have found out!). there are some awesome girls on here that are/have travelled the same path and we have a pretty good support network happening...JIC.

[Janie]

Kellie, big, massive hugs matey

Let Amy come over, she seems like a great chick ! I'm sure she won't be bothered by your mess (we all know what it's like, my place is like 8 bombs went off ATM ), and apart from the lovely, adult, female company, you will end up feeling like you've acheived something! Let her play with the kids while you scrub to your hearts content. Seriously, I bet you will feel soooo much better. And don't go killing yourself to clean up before she gets there (though I bet you will!).

I really wish I could come over and help you out myself, even just bring you a meal or something. Please try not to stress about the house, just concentrate on yourself and your kiddies. I know you can't see it ATM, but there is a light at the end of this tunnel.

[mrsmac]

Kellie- Amy has coped with my disgusting house many times and trust me she is not the type to be phased by it, even her mum copes well with my grotty living style.

[Lulu]

Danni, I found a chunk of crumbed chicken stuck to the wall of the lounge the other day, and I am even more embarrassed to admit there has been many occasions that I used a paint scraper to clean down my dining table (not cos I don't clean it often but because my children are food artistes)

You need a bigger list of things to do for DD, you can't do the same thing more than once a week .

Here are my suggestions, although your DD is younger than mine so feel free to write them off!

Rice - aahhhh we love rice here. I get a sheet, put it on the floor and roll up the edges a bit. Put a packet of rice in a bowl in the middle and a few plastic cups and yogurt (aaahhh I hate the stuff) containers in. DD will sit for ages tipping rice from one container to the other. Its not as messy as you think, you will have to vacuum after but I like the sound of the rice clinking up the hose and DD likes to do it herself, yay!

Give her a few magazines to rip to shreds

Is she too young for playdough? Thats always a winner

I have a few others but they involve being outside. It isn't going to get any better with the kids and the stairs at your place, is there any chance you could move to somewhere with a backyard or courtyard?

Do try putting her in the sink with some bubbles and bath toys, you have to stay in there with her of course but it can keep her happy whilst you fiddle in the kitchen.

Stick her in the bath with a tea set, no water in the bath but in the tea set ifkwim?

And FFS, don't get all precious about using the electronic babysitter, if an hour so or of the wiggles gives you a chat to put your feet up, then so be it *. You're in survival mode now. It won't be forever.

Lemme hear it now girls "this too shall pass!"

Has anyone got anymore ideas??? Speak up!!

Oh and on the DH thing, as much as I wanna say f-off to your hubby being so unsupportive, it doesn't get you anywhere. Maybe you might want to write a little note telling him that you are pretty overwhelmed with everything right now and you need him to help perk you up a little, could he please come home tonight and give you a big protective cuddle and a warm kiss to make you better? Stick it to his keys or something.

IMHO lotsa guys feel useless and confronted when it comes to an upset wife and they sorta don't know what to do, you have show them sometimes. Everything is different post babies and no2 brings a whole new dimension to things

* please note, constant replays of the same kids DVD can cause facial tics...


Oh man I can TALK!!!! hth

[fionas]

OK, I'm just going to tackle the trapped in the house problem. I've been there - I couldn't get out of the house for the first six months with DD because of a dodgy pelvis and the diffciulties I had with steps at the front of the house. I completely know what it's like - you're stuck in the house, you know that going out would be good for your psyche but you're also surrounded by mess so you think you should tidy that up before you go out but it seems like organising nappy bags and all the rest of it takes soooo long only to be met with the physical challenge of getting out.

But ... you have to do it because getting out helps keep everything else in perspective and at least it will mean that you don't have to worry about DD throwing food around or getting on to the balcony. When you're stuck in the house all day staring at mess it just looks so insurmountable and hopeless. After a few hours out and about ... it just looks like what it is ... a bit of mess.

Living on the third floor would be really, really difficult. Is there anyone else in the building who could give you a hand with getting down the stairs?

Ask DH to think of a solution - gives him a logistical problem to think of and men like having problems to solve.

Could you pack your bags the night before maybe so that's one less thing to worry about and you could grab and go maybe with a packed lunch? I know you said that you don't have many places to go but I feel like a new woman even if I've just wandered around a shopping centre doing window shopping/people watching and sat in the food court. For a long time I thought a trip to Kmart was the most exciting thing on the planet LOL! A park would be even better - let DD run her little legs off.

Please accept help from people - everyone needs help, we just need to be brave enough to accept it sometimes.

I do agree with Lulu - I think you guys should consider moving somewhere it will be easier to get out of.

[Arimeh]

Jesus Kel I could have written the exact same post for myself!! At least its nice to know that I'm not alone with my housebound misery!!!

I so wish you lived closer to me, so either I could come over to visit you at your pigsty, or you could come and visit me at mine!! (Fancy a move to the Sunny Coast at all? )

Our kids are at such similar ages - and I SO understand the tag team whinging - or both at the same time - the worst here is when I'm trying to settle her - and he's screaming high pitched about some stupid thing - arghhhh - its soooo very frustrating.

My mum took him today - since he's been difficult all week and I needed a break. So DH and I both got stuck into the housework. So my house is reasonably clean (which is good, got a BB member coming over tomorrow!!) but - it won't last very long at all!!!! these toddlers - OMG - search and destroy missioners I swear.

I have no useful advice - other than the fact that I think you should let Amy come over and help you - (AMYYYY COME HERE TOOO!!!)

But god woman - I'm so in your shoes too babe.... feel free to give me a call and we can whinge and whine and complain to each other

[mrsmac]

Is it possible for you to move? I know Riley is heaps better if he can go outside and it makes me feel better too. Lil sounds like she needs to release a lot of energy (like all toddlers) so living somehwere with a yard would be great for her. Or come and visit one of us with a yard!