[SaraAvaandLileesMama]

Just wondering what was the hardest adjustment for you, like going from 1 to 2, 2 to 3, and so on. Personally for me going from 2 to 3 was hard. Adding a 4th was nothing she came home 16 mo.ago.BUTgoing from 4 to 5 is hard!!! I don't know if it is just throughing off balance that even number or what!!! Lilee has been home now for 3 1/2 mon. and she came home as a 17 1/2MO Tddler. Somedays I get very overwhelmed, yet somedays are great!! We have 3 boys then the 2 sweetie Guat princessa's. Oneday I would like one more girl but for now I will let my toddler get alot older. I have never had one that is into EVERYTHING
as much as she is! Woooooo!

Any advice and thoughts???? Come on people I know there are a few of you out there!

[mommytoEli]

Ugh...don't say this, we are looking to add number 5 to our family in 2008. I can't IMAGINE it getting any more chaotic than it already is around here. I once fostered siblings, which put us at 5 kiddos, and it wasn't TOO bad ( I even took them on a 4 hour road trip once....by myself ), but the placement was only for a few months.....I think the one thing I noticed then was how long it took to get everyone strapped in the car. lol! LOTS OF carseats!

[Dmommab]

I don't know why! LOL I have 7 right now - oldest is 17 (so she ALMOST doesn't count!LOL) Two 8 year olds, 5, 4, 2, 1. Then I babysit my grandkids during the week - they are 2, 15 months & 12 months. Putting everyone in their carseats is indeed a time consuming process and when it's rainy or snowy it's even worse because I have to CARRY them to the car so they don't get their feet all wet & then step on someone elses seat. LOL Oh how I long for summer when it doesn't matter if everyone doesn't have on shoes or a coat for the ride to drop kids off at school or pick them up! GOOD LUCK!

[jdenbley]

I dont yet, but we are in the process of adopting numbers 4 and 5. My 3 kids at home are 3, 5 and 7. Our baby girls in Guatemala are 2 months and 3 months. I am sure things will be crazy. My biggest question -- what kind of car do you need????? We have a minivan, but it wont fit 3 carseats across (my 2 older boys are still small and need boosters). I dont want to have to drive a van. I dont mean to hijack the thread, but if anyone has ideas for the "bigger family" car, I would love to hear!

Jenna

[myguatbabes]

For us, it was really hard for number 3 (who was almost a year old at the time), and number 5 (our last one, who was 4.5 months old at the time). Numbers 1, 2 and 4 were all intertwined in their ages, ranging from 4 yo to 4.5 mo, so I really don't know WHY those odd numbers are harder. Thankfully, though it is getting easier now with our youngest being 10 months old.

Maybe when things open back up we will consider adding a couple more!!!

Blessings

[6kidsforme]

I have 7. My first 6 were bio and I *definitely* had the hardest time with #3. 4 and up were piece of cake. #7 came home at 7 1/2 months. The only hard thng is that she is extremely active and a climber. So, I have to watch her every second. She literally looks for things to do that she is not supposed to. Otherwise, I don't find it too bad unless everyone is having an "off" day, including me. LOL

[quiver8]

I have 8 biological children ranging in age from 17 to 3 and found going from 2 to 3 the most difficult. My husband says we went from a man to man defense to a zone We are currently adopting two from Guatemala and I believe that will be a greater adjustment because it will be the first time we've had two the same age. My older kids are a great help with the younger ones and we work really hard on everyone pitching in to help with everything and that they are all gifts to one another.

[Alexismandyjr]

I love this topic because I always end up explaining myself... We have a blended family with ages varying from 21 to 9 months a total of 8 kids. Not all live at home. We had 5 at home as of two weeks ago. My 19 year old just left for college last week. Now we have 4 at home 9, 4, 2 and 9 months. I gotta tell you going from 3 to 4 small children was and is a bit overwhelming. Due to the ages we never had more than 3 kids under 9 years old together at home at any given time.

I love being a mommy, wouldn't trade it for the world. But you do end up not having much free time and going somewhere becomes a task in itself. Still the rewards are incrediable.

[Mariais5]

We have six, and honestly, number six has been the most difficult! I don't know if it's MY age or the fact that Sofie and Bryce are so close in age, but some days, I feel lost.. We adopted the first four in a three year time span ~ 6 year old in Sept 92, newborn in Dec 92, 6 year old in June 94, and newborn in Dec 95. It didn't seem difficult at all, so I'm thinking MY age is my biggest problem! LOL I LOVE being a Mommy and wouldn't trade having this many for the world, but it does get overwhelming sometimes.. Oh, and I tell people that I don't have six CHILDREN. I have two adults, two teenagers, and two children.. :-)

[dovelu]

I find this thread encouraging because I want a big family. We have 3 now, and dh is coming around to more .

As per the OP's question , I suppose I should ask my Mom as I was one of 7. And as the 2nd oldest, I will definately vouch for those who suggest putting the big kids to work. My Mom had a chore chart that was pretty demanding. But, growing up, our house was always much cleaner than mine is now, with 3 kids!!!

Blessings to all of these big families,
Amy

[Clare'sMom]

WELLLLLLL...... We have 6 in Minnesota, ages 25, 23, 21, 3.5, 3.5 & 1.5...... We have a 13yr old in Guat and HOPEFULLY will be bringing home our daughters who are 8, 6 & 3.... Yup... 10....

The hardest for me was going from one to two! You have the worst feeling that you can NEVER possibly love any "Other Child" as much as you love your first... HAHAHAHA...... You can Love Lots, believe me!!

My Gram always said that you can have two and your fine... but once you have three you my-as-well have ten... your already out numbered and the more the merrier! I always listen to my Gram.....

Ann

[chester5]

I just also wanted to say that I love reading this thread. I don't think we'll get to the 5+ category, DH is pretty adamant at stopping after #4. I find all of your stories so amazing, and so inspirational. Thank you for your posts!

Edited to add: I love the comment about switching from man-to-man to the zone. I told that to DH a few weeks ago and he laughed!

[becky]

The hardest for me was 0 to 1. Getting used to giving my time to a child and not being able to do what I wanted when I wanted was the hardest part for me...

Adding on additional children after that was pretty easy I thought...

[SaraAvaandLileesMama]

jdenbley Oh NO a mini van will not work with all the car seats if you are going to have 5! We had to upgrade to a Yukan XL (same thing as a Suburban). There is the perfect amount of room for all the car seats. We got leather so it will be easier to clean then the cloth seats. Works great!

[SaraAvaandLileesMama]

Wow! I am gald to hear there are alot of others out there that think that the odd numbers are the hardest! I was gonna say then maybe I should adopt 1 more now to even it out until Mariais5 scared me..
(Just kidding) One day I really do hope to even it out to 6 3 boys and 3 girls. There is still to much testosterone in my house. My boys are 11 1/2, 10,and 6. and the girls are 4 and 21 mo. (tomorrow)
I do make the older ones help out alot. It funny on the weekends the 2 oldest boys always make the girls breakfast with out me telling them to. They even change Lilee's pee diapers and like to dress her. THey think it is so fun to dress her and try and fix her hair. I know one day they will be great dads !!!!!! Sara Ava helps out alot with Lilee too! She is very motherly sometimes to much! I am so glad I started this thread I have been wanting to for months now. Sometimes it is just nice to know there are others out there going through the same thing!