We are expecting #4. Our other three will be: 5.75, 3.75, and a couple weeks shy of 2.
~Do you have someone coming to stay with you? Or is it just you and your DH/SO?
Dunno. I'm not counting on anyone but dh and me, although my inlaws usually come as soon after the birth as they can, stay for a weekend, stay in a motel and just come during the day, cook for us, but not clean or anything. It's not too bad--they are generally very low-key people, other than having diametrically opposed views on birth, etc (SIL is a L&D nurse, and a c-sec by choice, formula feeding type of mom). My mother has come about a month after my other babies' births (she lives on the other side of the country) and stayed for a week or so. She cooks and cleans and is great with the kids when she comes, but it can get a bit tricky, given that my hormones run high PP and we know each other's hot buttons. We have, IMO, a great relationship, but a week of living with each other is pushing it, KWIM? I wish she lived closer, so she could either pop in every few days, else come for 2-3 days, then go home and come back for another 2-3 days the next month.
~What about a mother's helper or pp doula?
Not in our budget, though I am hoping that a 17 year-old girl (wonderful, responsible awesome young lady!) from our church will be on hand for my other kids during the birth, and if that works out, I'd love to have her around some afterwards, too. I know that our church "family" will see that we are well-taken care of, LOL! We won't starve, though the laundry might pile up to insurmountable heights!
~Do you expect to be able to do all the household chores, activities, etc. as normal or will you have others do things for a while? Dh always picks up my slack.
We are getting pretty good at letting lots of stuff go and concentrating on the truly essentials--food and sleep!
The timing of this birth is good, in that we would prolly be taking a break from homeschooling anyway. Also a BIG advantage to a Dec. birth is that my dh's secular job is with the public school, so he will be off for a couple weeks. If the baby is very early, I may have to manage without him for a couple days, but it will be SOOOO lovely to have him all to ourselves for the winter break time!
~Do you have any plans for what to do for food or meals afterwards?
Really determined to get meals in the freezer this time. In the past, we've not had freezer space (didn't even have space FOR a freezer, lol!) but now that we have one, I really want to take advantage of it. Also, the church people usually bring us food, which is awesome! We can usually count on at least 3 or 4 meals plus leftovers! But realistically speaking, we'll probably eat a lot of cold cereal for breakfast, and sandwiches for lunch. And takeout. And fast food.
Do whatcha gotta do, right?
~Are you welcoming all visitors or do you have restrictions?
Dh is really uncomfortable with restricting visitors (which is usu. limited to church family, since all our relatives are at least 4 hours away), but in the past people have been good to call ahead. I figure, if they are bringing food, and they don't mind seeing my house a mess or me wearing pajamas in the middle of the day (not to mention, seeing me leak fluids from all over my body, LOL!), fine. And I have no compunctions about sending people home when I need to.
~Do you have any special plans for entertaining your other children? Or how to get them to bond/accept the new baby?
We'll prolly watch a lot more cartoons and videos than usual. Survival mode, lol! Since DH will be off, I'm counting on him to take the older 3 to the park, etc. and give me some regular down time with just the baby. Weather depending, of course....in in Florida, so it's possible if we have a mild winter. I'm not worried about them bonding/accepting the baby. IMO (and IME) children instinctively love babies and want to care for them and nurture them. Of course, there will be some clingy-ness and all right at first, but I can deal with that--I have a big chair, and a big lap, lol! My youngest will want to be held alot (not sure if he'll still be nursing....he's really tapered off a lot now and I just don't know if I can keep him interested until Dec. If he DOES wean, there's still a chance he'll want to start again when the milk starts a-flowin'!), but he's already quite a daddy's boy, and is fine with daddy rocking and holding and putting him to bed, etc.
~Will you still celebrate the holidays as usual or put things on hold?
Like Sihaya, we don't celebrate Christmas anyway (not real keen on the consumerism or the whole fairytale Santa nonsense), but we do usually use the time--since dh is off work anyway--to visit either his family or mine. Obviously, that is out of the question for this year. Dunno if anyone will come and visit us or not. We haven't discussed it much; we just told our extended family about the baby a couple weeks ago! I guess as long as they don't expect to be entertained, I don't mind some visitors. I kind of think we'll be lying low until after the new year, though. My big question is regarding Thanksgiving! Not sure what to do about it--Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and one that we normally do in a bigger way. I'm just really torn. My EDD is Dec. 19th, but I have a tendency to go early--like a couple weeks early! Just not sure how much I'm up for this year, or even how to plan.
But, yeah, I am hoping I can help out as much as I do now. We might take things slow while baby and I get the hang of our nursing relationship, but we won't expect the world to stop or anything. If something needs done, we'll go out and do it, lol!
They most likely will be for financial reason (DH and I have to get a few things paid off before we can afford to live here alone), so they'll be cooking.
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: but I guess I'll give up a time frame. 
Haven't really discussed it. My friend in AZ will be coming but depending on when the baby is born and her plans with family/academia, it might be more between the holidays or into the beginning of Jan.
