Going from 3 to 4 kids?

[Salamanda]

I have three DDs, ages 4, 2 1/2 and 10 months. I remember people telling me when I was PG with DD #3 that "If you can manage two kids, you can manage three" and this made it sound like the transition would be fairly easy. Well, it wasn't - at least not for me. This has been a very challenging transition for me and my DH and DD #3 was not even a colicky baby. I wouldn't call her easy-going, but I wouldn't describe her as high-needs either. It's been very chaotic, there is so much work to do, someone is always in a cranky mood, etc. From my experience, I'd say the 2-3 child transition is not something to downplay. It really has been a big change for our family.

Anyway, despite the challenges, I do love having three kids and my DH and I are considering having another child in the future. I don't do well with the sleep-deprivation that a new baby brings, but I do love how much busier everything is now. Now, I keep hearing from people (like my Mom) that, "If you can manage three kids, four isn't a big deal." (She had three kids, btw.) What I'm wondering is: Is this actually true? Obviously every mother's experience will be different, but I'd love to hear what this transition was like for other families. Also, in your opinion, does the age difference between siblings affect this? My girls are spaced 20 months and 22 months so I'm sure this has added to the challenge.  

[Peony]

I am still pg with #4 so I can't comment on how that transition is yet! Mine are spaced farther apart and for us, the transition from 2-3 was cake, it was like I had the baby, and the next week our lives went on. The girls were 6 and 2.5y when DS was born, they will all be 8, almost 5, and 2 when this one is born. Spacing can certainly play into how the transitions are. It is busier now that DS is older, and he isn't as portable as he once used to be. With school, I am back and forth 2-3 times a day with him and he doesn't always want to go where we need to go!