I knew bed rest would take its toll on me, but I didn't, however, anticipate how life-changing this experience would be for my son and husband. Bed rest is stressful for me because I'm worried about the baby 24/7, I can't give B the normalcy he needs while laying down, and I can't carry out my usual duties that help our house run and take pressure off of J. I also don't like depending on J (and others) for all my needs and feel extremely demanding. It's been hard for me to let go of some things, but I'm managing to live with messes like the ones below. It's difficult to find a good balance right now while I'm down and out and because J is taking on so much, he is super stressed, and I know B is feeling a bit traumatized by all this too. I hate how much my being laid up has disrupted their lives.
Like I mentioned the other day, J is preparing to take his state boards but even with others' help, because he's been taking care of me and B, cooking meals at my demand, and doing chores, he hasn't been able to study much. That's something he needs to do so he can pass his test and start working. I can't help but feel that my being on bed rest a hindrance to his progress because he worries so much about me and is trying to be at my beckon call. He's even mentioned that it was easier for him not to worry about my needs when I was in the hospital. The stress while I'm on bed rest has caused some tension, but I have to remember we're all just doing our best, and we have to cut each other some slack. I know J is going out of his way to serve me, so all I can do is show my appreciation in return and help how I can. Speaking of serving, if anyone has any SUPER easy meal ideas so he doesn't feel so burdened, that would be great. I have some crock pot and casserole recipes he can throw together, but it's still stressful for him to do much meal prep when he's trying to study, work, and take care of his family.
B has also been feeling the stress. The poor kid has had MAJOR meltdowns the last two nights and even cried himself to sleep. I can't help but feel he's traumatized and that it's my fault because I can't parent and function normally while on bed rest. Adjusting to me being on bed rest has been difficult on all of us, and I pray that we can find the balance we need to survive this AND get Baby here safely in as many weeks as possible. I'm just thankful that each day gives us a fresh start. I'm also thankful for prayer which I know can get our entire family (including Baby Boy) through this difficult time. This afternoon was much better, as I had dinner planned, B and I did our reading time, and we started taking down the Christmas decor (It's about time, I know). Hopefully this trend continues and we can find a "normal" for life on bed rest.
Oh Melissa! My thoughts are with you! I would say sandwiches! Not the most glamorous but certainly easy and lots of variety. Grilled cheese, egg salad, chicken salad, tuna melts, BLTs, Rubens, French dip... throw in some fruit, chips, cut veggies... good to go!
ReplyDeleteTortillas can be rolled up with most anything in them...refried beans, cheese and ? I find Costco canned chicken handy for everything...in soups (made with canned chicken broth), salads or with frozen veggies. Bisquick quiche with eggs and cheese ....add bacon bits or broccoli?
ReplyDeleteChicken nachos (we use Costco canned chicken), salmon patties are easy & quick (I use Costco canned salmon), quesadillas, pita bread pizza (Buying pita bread at Costco is the cheapest and they freeze great and you don't have to thaw them out before making the pizza). Maybe you could ask your visiting teachers or relief Society president there's someone in the ward or a few ladies in the ward that would be willing to make you a few freezer meals each. I know that in my ward there would be a lot of people willing to do that but every ward is different.
ReplyDeleteSlow cooker lasagna, meatloaf is an easy one too & it works in the crockpot too. Another idea would be to have Jarom & Bryson work together on some food prep on his day off to make throwing meals together more easy. For example, Browning all the hamburger at one time and separating into containers. Chopping up fruits and vegetables to make them more readily available. a really easy way to have shredded chicken is to throw boneless skinless chicken breasts In your crockpot on low one night With enough water to cover them before you go to bed and then In the morning will them out and put them in your KitchenAid with your paddle attachment and it shreds the chicken beautifully within seconds.
Cereal! J/k. I'll look in my recipes and email any your way!
ReplyDeleteI will usually cook some hamburger, drain it then open three small cans of cream of chicken soup add that to the hamburger..then take one of the empty small cans and fill it half full of water and add that to the mixture. Also we like mushrooms here so I open a can of mushrooms and dump that in. Stir it ....heat to boiling then simmer it. Then in another pot do minute rice and once that is done serve the cream of chicken on top of the rice. It is easy and we like it here.
ReplyDeleteThis is always a go-to recipe for me! Line a glass casserole dish with foil. Spay with Pam. Place FROZEN chicken breasts in pan. Coat each chicken breast with generous heap of BBQ sauce and place in oven 350 for 45 min or till chicken is cooked. Super moist and flavorful chicken. Left overs go great the next day on a salad for quick lunch.
ReplyDeleteBaked potatoes- can cook in crockpot, serve w chili, makes good leftover.
ReplyDeletePasta, polish sausage, garlic bread.
Chips n dip (refried beans, salsa, avocado)
Soup n crackers or w/ sandwiches.
Breakfast for dinner
Taquitos, tostadas.
BBQ chicken- crockpot
Thanks for sharing all your ideas, ladies. I got him started on some prep, and I think we'll make it work.
ReplyDeletePraying for all of you.
ReplyDelete