Most of the time I am very blessed to have a hubby with a flexible work schedule who can help me TONS with our kids. {If he couldn't, I don't think I would survive our little blessings}

Over the past few weeks, he's been able to stay with 3 of the kids 2 separate times while I took a mere 1 child to the doctor. This week however, he already had a conference to go to when our middle daughter needed to take her turn. I preped myself as much as possible and then headed out DURING NAP TIME to face impending death during what was guaranteed to be an eternal trip.

5 Things that Help Survive the Doctors Office with Lots of Littles:

includes helpful links as well as some affiliate links

Snack Cups and Water Bottles

Planning an appointment for nap time a terrible but sometimes inevitable move BUT making sure you have adequate snackage can help curb the sleepy-induced grouchies. The crazy cool snack cups that we've had for years are a life-saver. Holds a healthy serving size and keeps the messes to a minimum.

Thumb War Temporary Tattoos

These were a fun little thing I found on sale after Christmas. Sadly it took this packaging to give me the idea to also use temporary tattoos we already had for the same idea. Easy, apply tats, teach kids "1, 2 3, 4, I declare a thumb war" and watch their lil thumbs stay busy for quite a while.
note: temp tats on fingers wear off a lot faster and look gross quickly

Spot It!

This simple card game keeps kids busy and kinda quiet for a long time as well. You can play with tons of kids or just 2. You pass out cards, flip, and who ever IDs the most matching pics gets the cards that round. Who ever gets the most cards wins. I have played with the same cards and one child by making them look for the pictures on the card in the room, kinda like a guided "I Spy" game.

iPad Learning Apps

To be honest, I have in the past been very proud that I don't let the kids use our "game phone" {old iPhone used just for kids apps} or the iPad but I know I'm not supermom and didn't want to push it. I caved, charged and packed our school iPad in the kid-friendly, foam case, and let the kids watch something together once we'd been moved to the exam room.

"Special Treat" aka Bribery

Another thing that we don't normally do after a doctors appointment are "special treats" but we all {ah hem, Mamma} earned a bribe after not snapping during the entire ordeal. We hit up the Sonic Drive-In around the corner even though Happy Hour {half price drinks} was over. Like I said, we really earned those tiny slushes and giant Dr Pepper!

How do YOU and your littles survive the doctor's office during these season of sickness?

Some seasons I thrive on having lots to do. I remember in high school feeling like I was way more productive and managed my time better when I had more going on, more responsibilities, and less free time. As an adult, some days that's still true. If I have my list of things I know need accomplished that day, I set to it and get lots wrapped up before the day is done.

Other days. Days like today. The things on my list seem overwhelmingly mounting leaving me feeling like a failure before I've even attempted to begin climbing it all and sitting on a couch at the end of the day not wanting to touch the normal list of things that need to be done before bed.

These seasons of sickness among my friends, extended family, and in my household seem to arise as soon as I think we've found our rhythm. I know they're coming and try to be proactive but never feel ahead of the game when they turn.

Trying to wrap up paper work and training for foster care has been a dozy. I don't like paper work but like check lists. We're moving right a long tackling everything but then, in comes the sickness. Long days of training, juggling childcare for our littles, striving to help friends in crisis behind the scenes, holiday/birthday season dragging on and one, regular port-a-church stuff, and now everyone deciding to take turns running low-grade fevers, snot'n up everything, while being crabby and  clinging.

We've been to our pediatrician {40 minutes away btw} 3 times in the past 2 and 1/2 weeks. They're not real keen on large families attempting to be seen at the same time but today, I was THAT mom and drug all my kids in the 1 appointment time they had available.

The conclusion? 2 and 1/2 HOURS in the doctor's office, no diagnosis other than "she has nothing really...prolly just a random virus.", three flu mists, and a flu shot, and all the signed medical paper work we needed for DHS.

Are you in a season of sickness you want to be DONE with but don't want to wish away the few days you have with your littles? How do you handle it?

I'd love to share a few things that helped me not loose my mind on this eternal day at the doctor on this week's Thoughtful Thursday. 🙂