delurking if I can get it to work

First, welcome!!

Second, twins would be so cool!! I wish one of my first ones had been twins, that way I wouldn't be sitting here getting all big and fat and everything again to get my fourth child. LOL! Of course, I know it would be twice as much work...

I've never been on bedrest (I was branding cows when I was 8 months along with #3, hauling hay when I finally went into labor with #2), so I can't imagine the boredom you must be facing. The laptop will surely help. If it's big enough, I do have a couple games to recommend. The Sims2 and SimCity (2000, 3, or 4 are all good). I have spent countless hours that sped by like minutes playing these games. It's sure to pass the time quickly. Especially The Sims2. wow! Talk about a time waster! LOL!

Welcome to TNH, you'll find some folks around here to talk to I'm sure!!

Are you allowed to go to the bathroom and bathe, or are you in the bedpan and sponge bath situation? If the latter, hospitals have some pretty good no-rinse shampoos (I discovered when I was hospitalized, then bedridden for a non-pregnancy illness), which any doctor or nurse can probably hook you up with.

Can you sit up? And are there exercises you are supposed to do in bed to prevent blood clots, etc.?

In the situation I mentioned, I could not sit up for a couple of weeks, and I watched lots of television-- mostly decorating shows and animal shows, which are non-stressful-- and listened to lots of music.

http://www.sidelines.org/ is the organization I was thinking of. There is a link to the left for "request support," and that form includes a place for further details so you could put in your request NOT to hear scary stories. If you are interested.

Not so much a suggestion of a thing to do, but maybe a better way to use a laptop in bed: http://etxlab.simplyonline.com/homepage.cfm

It's called a Laptop Laidback and it works really well. I got one for my husband (who is occasionally laid up with back problems) and we've both used it. I don't worry so much about either the laptop overheating or straining my wrists with it. It is a little pricey, though.

Good luck with everything!

if you're interested in that kind of thing I'd like to mention a couple of books which got me started on what I do now, which are 'morning pages'. The name and format comes from The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron - she suggests it for anyone, not just writers or 'artists'. It's kind of a way of opening up the thought processes. In fact that's what I was thinking about this morning anyway, how it gives me a chance to daydream. If I daydreamed just in my head I'd have all these practical things getting in my way, but because I daydream with pen and paper I focus on my daydreams and let my inner voice speak for a change. Doing it every day makes a huge difference too - I find it forces me to stop and listen regularly and because it's then a habit it becomes easier (like stretching muscles!).

The other book that was pushing me in that direction at about the same time was Simple Abundance. If you haven't read it, try it. If you have already read it, read it again, read it slowly and savour it, think about what's being said and how it applies to you. The Daily Dialogue tool near the beginning of the book is similar to the morning pages, except that I found that having a specific length is actually helpful. For me it's just enough space for me to develop ideas, but it'll take a good 45mins. While you're on bedrest that works fine, but it might be harder to fit it into your normal timetable.

oh and the other thing I'd say is that you should probably avoid the idea of picking out a gorgeous journal, because the moment you make a mistake you're going to get distracted, or if you're writing's not neat... I use lined A4 exam pads and put them in a folder afterwards (that's going to be a lot of writing to ship back after 18mths of writing already). I have a slightly thicker pen than I would use for list making - I like my writing to be extra neat for lists and it irks me if it isn't! For a quantity of longhand writing though I need something that isn't scratchy but just flows across the page. Sorry, I'm talking about gel pens - I tend to forget there's anything else these days. You have to find something you're comfortable with because it's about the thoughts, not the quality of the writing or the appearance overall. Start with the lined sheets of paper. If you want you can always get a pretty journal afterwards.

I've lost count of how many pens I've used up completely in the last 18mths!!

I think that's probably about as many thoughts on journaling or daily writing as you need to hear from me for now. Give it a try and just use whatever paper and pen comes to hand for day or two.

Kerri.