Hi Knockedoutmom,

Wow. That's a lot of activity and a lot of stress on you.

Since you are certified as "medically disabled," I am wondering if you can get some help from the Visiting Nurses? In my area, the VNA has some aides available to help with shopping, cooking, cleaning when someone is disabled and their doctor verifies the need for assistance. The VNA visits the home and does an evaluation of needs, as well. They then tell you what they can offer to assist you/your family.

Do you have any extended family in the area?
Do you have social contacts with a club or a church, etc.

Often, even if you are not active in a nearby church, once they know your family's needs, they try to help in various ways.

I am medically disabled and cannot do the things I used to do.
I used to enjoy cooking. My husband and I often spend Sunday afternoons together in the kitchen, preparing food for the week. We cut up lots of fresh veggies. We might cut up a huge watermelon. We cook some protein. We might also hard boil some eggs. We usually cook a crockpot meal or two while we are busy in the kitchen with other tasks.

When we are done cutting up veggies, we have a huge salad buffet ready for the week. Lots of celery sticks and carrot sticks, too.

We cook again, mid-week. Usually just additional protein and/or another crockpot meal, or roasting veggies in the oven.

Sometimes, we cook a double batch of something in the crockpot, or otherwise, and freeze the extra. The extra is ready for use whenever we need it.

With a crock pot, I can start a meal in the morning and it is ready for dinner.
I have more energy in the mornings to cook, I am often too wiped out by dinnertime to cook; heating foods is easier than starting from scratch at that time of the day. I do most of any food prep in the mornings.

I realize it's more demanding with children to feed. I don't mean to minimize your work load.

Often, doing things, like adding sliced apple to the peanut butter sandwiches helps get some extra nutrients and children often love peanut butter and apple sandwiches, or peanut butter on apple slices/celery sticks. Maybe celery and carrots with hummus?

Can hubby help in the kitchen? With laundry?
Is there any option of carpooling, so you drive less frequently?

My heart goes out to you.

DejaVu