I think its great you adopted! I'm sure you will find someone to help you out. Give it some time and I'm sure your family will be more understanding. I know its hard when the people around you aren't understanding or helpful. Don't forget you have support here!

Having children is hard on anyone! Especially at those ages. And everyone has good days and bad days, even without things like N to complicate it. What would the rest of the world do if they suddenly came down with a different disease?

Would your family give up their kids if one of them suddenly got cancer and was tired from treatment?
If one of them was in a major accident and needed to rest more often just to heal?
If one of them got sick and went blind, should they give up their children because they can't see them anymore?

People make me angry on so many levels. Kids are kids, and you are under no delusions (that I can tell) about your abilities or their safety. You do the best you can and are working to find solutions that are best for the entire household for when you can't.

I admire you for that, and am perfectly willing to tell your family to buzz off, if you need me to. ;o)

So many of us have children, as I did before even being diagnosed. Does it mean that we are bad parents because we sleep more. Not at all. As long as yo make the most out of the moments you are awake and with them. It is no different than a parent who travels on business or is divoreced and lives in another area. The important thing is to do what we can for our children which in my case means not allowing my son to grow up without me noticing and being absolutely honest with him about life, the good, the bad and the ugly. I think too many parents sugar coat things, and only give their children the bare minimum info necessary to make important lifelong decisions. For example, we only tell them don't have sex because it can cause babies and disease. We don't tell them that your heart gets wrapped up in all these emotions and you are more likely to be hurt when things don't work out and that there is so much more to intamcy than sex.
I also think that many parents, as with mine, see children as children first and people second and I don't agree. Kids develop most of the personality of who they are to be by the age of 5. It is important to take their feelings for what they are and not get mad at how they express themselves even in anger until we teach them how to deal with it and what the response should be rather than attacking the emotion. I don't even think my parents know who the real Jessica is and I am 24 and still live at home. Anyway, that had nothing to do with narcolepsy.

As far as what I think we can offer as parents is less judgement and more understanding because we are aften misjudged ourselves.

As far as N being hereditary, I see it as the old nature vs. nurture argument. They are going to pick up what we do be it by heredity or example. They may miss the narcolepsy thing and pick up on our bad habits, and that just may be worse. Anybody has that potential, not just us so we are as fit to be parents as anyone else on the planet.

My dad is a N.......if he didnt have me I wouldnt be here and you all would not have my beautiful personality to be astounded with........is that bs or what? lol

The kids are old enough to wake you. Kids wear you out so fast and at that age its even faster! If the kids are telling on you than limit there time with extended family. Chances are the extended family are asking the kids questions.......I tell my kids that our family business is nobody elses business.....period......if the family is asking questions I would confront them on it.......you dont pump kids for dirt in there household unless its life threatening. If they are so concerned than why dont they lift a finger to help you?
Sometimes it takes a village to raise a child.

I think it is perfectly normal for you to be having a hard time keeping up with a 3 & $ year old. They are practically twins. I am your age and I can not keep up with my 10 and 12 year grandchildren and they do not need constant attention. My daughter will not let me babysit my newest granddaughter (5 weeks) for fear of what her demands may do to me as far as being totally exhausted. I do not see a thing wrong with hiring sitters, also there should be mothers day out at different churches you could use and even part time day care. With those options you would be alone in the house for complete napping or just resting. Also if the kids still take naps try to train yourself to rest at those times instead of doing what most moms do at nap time--get some house done. Maybe try hiring a housekeeper instead. Whatever you decide is best for you and the kids, good luck and know you are a special mom for adopting such young children at our age

Of course they should be able to have children, that being said I am going insane with issues of my own with my two children. I have twin 3 year old boys and with their dad gone until may, I am just....falling apart.
Prime example. Night before last I had to stay up really late to finish a paper for my english class. Of course I was doing the head bob and minisleeps every few minutes, but with a pot of coffee, a dose of my meds later in the day and lots of perseverance I got it done at 3:30 am. Kids woke me up at 8 the next morning and I was busy busy all day . Easter parties..easter egg hunts, several errands...i didn't get home until late and still had to cook 5 dozen eggs to dye for easter (not to mention feeding my kids dinner) After the stress of doing it all, having my boys help me dye the eggs (with much frustration out of me being so tired at that point) finally after being done they had to put stickers on all of them. By this point it was past 9:30 and I was falling asleep at the table. I told them I was taking a quick nap on the couch---literally next to them (our floor plan is a little screwy) I would wake up to hearing eggs drop and I would remind them to be more careful, then i told them two more minutes till theyhad to get ready for bed. I fell back asleep and next thing I know I hear another egg drop. I said ok thats enough stickers, time for bed. I looked over the couch and there were no eggs on the table. They had cracked each and every one of the 5 dozen eggs and had thrown them in the trash can. This may sound like a cute story, and maybe one day I will laugh when I tell it. But at that moment it was all my time, effort, money right down the toilet. I was angry, I have never been so angry at them. I put them to bed and called my husband hysterical. His response was, "what do you expect, they are kids. Its your fault for not supervising them." Ok...true but......................................sigh. At this moment I want to take a nap more than anything in the world, and have even attempted to lay them down to take a nap but they are in their room playing.......There really is no rest for the weary