Asking for Help

Has anyone ever asked for help, when you feel that you really need it, and noone has offered?  I'm talking about when you want someone to cook you meals or help to do your housework. 

Generally I've never needed to ask, after having each baby my mum has offered straight away to cook us meals for up to 2 weeks, and do the housework, pick up groceries etc.  My sisters are pretty good and will come to visit and do a chore before they leave.  If anyone has said "can I do anything to help" while they've visited, I've taken them up on their offer and said "well actually it would be really helpful if you could ...." if I've got washing to hang out, or to be folded.

But right now, I'm not getting any offers and I would love some help!!  Dh is disabled due to having a knee op and needs crutches to walk, and can't stand for long.  I'm doing everything myself, caring for the kids, the housework and for Dh.  I've never been in this position before, and I'm all frazzled.  It makes it worse that I'm really angry that noone (besides MIL) has come to help, or even offered. 

So I'm thinking I'm going to have to put myself out there and ask for some.  But I'm wondering how I ask this.  It may sound silly, but I would feel rude asking someone to cook a meal for my family, or come & take care of some of the housework.  I would only ask this of my own family, as I feel like none of my friends care at the moment! 

I would love someone to come around at 4:30pm, bath the kids and clothe them, and get them seated for dinner, while I cook it in the meantime.  It would take such a load off the evening routine for me.   

So if you've asked for help before, how did you go about it?

Thanks gals for your replies.  Great ideas you all have.  It's just putting it into action now I suppose.  I don't know why I feel so bad or rude to ask people for help.  I know I'd be there in an instance if it was one of my family or friends.

Edited to add: sorry I started this post hours ago, and only just posted it - to see more of you have replied.

On the ACC front, yes they paid for his op and loss of income, and when DH first spoke to someone from ACC after the op they said he'd be entitled to homehelp, but when we went in to the ACC office last week (a week after surgery) and asked the case manager & she said since he's living with someone that we're not entitled to homehelp.  I thought the fact we had 3 kids would help our cause, but she didn't bat an eyelid about that.

I've thought about that Bizzy, but I'm still doing ALL the work, no matter what time of day it is that I do it.  I guess it means though that I'm soo tired by the time I get to bed I'm having good sleeps!

I was thinking the same, Cat about ringing ACC up & speaking to someone else about homehelp.  I'll check it out again.

But I think I'll ask my mum (she's the one with least responsibility I know) to come over in the evening to help out.  I'll cook for her as well so she won't have to worry about that.