Fluke?

So yesterday we went to get the first dose of H1N1 in Newton.  Not far, but getting the shot at 4:40pm then attempting to drive 128 north at that time was not my idea of fun.  I decided to go the back roads through Belmont, Arlington and Winchester.  Other than the beginning, I knew exactly where I was going.  Unfortunately I got a little lost in the beginning and My little Eva Rose cried, no screamed most of the way home.  I figured that since we had more crying than usual after a shot I would give them a quick dose of Tylenol before going to bed since I was going to attempt to get the 3 kids to sleep through the night.  We got home had dinner and bottles and off to bed without Tylenol since I totally forgot that I wanted to give it to them (I am not someone who pre-medicates just in case usually).  The twins were in bed at 8pm and Michael by 8:30 (this is their normal schedule for the last couple of weeks and actually seems to work just as well if not better than earlier bed times).  After they were in bed, I left Tom and went to B&N to get the Weissbuth book.  Unfortunately my plan was to start the book last night, but I was just too tired.  I didi read the first couple of pages and skim some of the book, but didn't really retain anything.  I will start today now that I got a good nights sleep.  That means, Michael went to bed will little to no crying and slept through without a peep and the twins did the same except Eva Rose did cry a little but went back to sleep without help after a pretty short time.

Is it a fluke?  I certainly hope not.  I know that these guys can sleep through the night and I think that it will be better for all involved!

Amy

Sleeping through the night

What is the definition of insanity?  To keep doing the same thing and expect different results!

I think I've reached my breaking point with sleep.  The twins seem to be doing ok, though we still need to be consistent with how we deal with sleep with both the twins and Michael, but it seems like the twins will be easier.  Michael, on the other hand, I think, is going to be a difficult venture.  Last night we absolutely started the CIO method for going to sleep.  It took him over an hour to go to sleep.  This is the longest time that it has taken him to fall asleep.  Usually, he will fall asleep easily but then wake after only a couple of hours.

Last night, it was tough going to sleep and staying asleep.  I have resisted the CIO method for sleep training, but I think it is time to do it.  After just a couple of hours of finally going to sleep, Michael woke screaming.  We let him scream for probably an hour and then I broke down and got him up.  I rocked him in his room and he was fine as long as he was in the position that he wanted to be in.  If I changed his position when I got uncomfortable, he cried and screamed.  At that point I decided that he needed to go back in his crib and go to sleep on his own.  It took awhile (can't remember how long), but he finally went to sleep and I had to wake him this morning!  The twins on the other hand slept through the night til 6:30 this morning.  If I remember right, there was a little crying but not enough to make me uncomfortable.

As much as I have resisted this, I am going to continue to do the CIO method (not that I was totally successful in starting last night, but I kind of started), since what was working is no longer working.  Tonight, all 3 kids will go to bed on schedule and will  start to learn to sooth themselves back to sleep.  As long as all their needs have been met, I should learn not to feel guilty about letting them cry themselves back to sleep, right?

Amy

Sleeping through the night

So, pretty much everyone in my twins group does CIO.  They are totally Weissbluth followers and for some reason, I just can't seem to allow myself to do it.  It has worked for so many other parents.  I really want to have my kids sleep and be on a good schedule.  It worked great for about 1 month back in September, then for what ever reason, they just stopped sleeping through.  It was probably my fault.  I probably became to lax with the schedule.  Today, after having both Tom and I up with all 3 kids, I decided to put the Weissbluth book on hold at Borders.  Now I just need to go pick it up, read it and make sure I follow through.  For some reason, I am able to CIO at nap time for all 3 kids.  Why is it that at night, I can't seem to let them CIO?

I'm hoping that I can get these kids to sleep through the night.  I am going to try to get to Borders tonight and get started on reading the book and trying to implement it!

Life is crazy!

Amy

Sleep

So we have been having sleep issues in this house.  Back in September, I started to take away the twins 10 o'clock bottle.  Thanks to Sotoriffic twins, I had a terrific schedule to follow.  It worked great for about a month.  I honestly can't remember why it stopped working.  I can't remember if it was due to me not following the schedule close enough, if teething happened, if they got sick, or what it was.  Well, Friday was horrible.  The twins went down at 6:30-7:00 and went to sleep fine (they seem to go to sleep fine).  At around 10pm, Thomas woke screaming!  I tried to let him cry, but he was screaming at the top of his lungs.  I was so afraid that I'd end up with 3 awake kids that I finally got him up.  I changed his diaper, sang to him fed him, gave him tylenol, rocked him, but nothing seemed to settle him.  I was home alone til 11:30 and once Tom came home, I hoped that maybe that would settle him, but no.  Finally after 3 hours he went to sleep.  Through these 3 hours I attempted to put him back in his crib, but each time he screamed at the top of his lungs.  Then lucky me got to get up with Eva Rose at around 3:30 am.  Sat the schedule was totally off and again he woke, but this time it was midnight and for about an hour.  I now can't remember what time Eva Rose woke.  I think it may have been more like 6 which is very doable and I would be psyched if all 3 kids slept til 6am.  I'd actually be happy if they went back to sleeping til 5am (I won't complain if they at least let me sleep straight through til then.  I do think that Thomas may be teething since he seems more cranky than normal.  He is my light sleeper in general and Eva Rose is definitely my good sleeper.  Michael, thankfully is sleeping mostly through the night.  I think I may need to get either the Weissbluth book recommended from my twins group or The Baby Whisperer recommended my our family practitioner.  Someday, maybe, I'll sleep through the night again.  Til then, wish me the strength to get through.

Crazy life, but even sleep deprived, I wouldn't change a thing!

Amy

Thursday

So, Eva Rose is able to sit up somewhat on her own at least for a short time.  Thomas is not really ready for that yet, but close.  It seems like once things start they happen so quickly.  They both have 2 bottom teeth and I'm assuming that more are coming soon.  Michael is 18 months and has 2 teeth so far.  Knock on wood, I have to say the teething hasn't been an issue with any of the 3.  Hopefully it will continue that way.

Eva Rose sitting up 9/9/09

Thomas went for his follow up for his circumcision.  Everything looks fine.  It's amazing how quick these MD appts are.  It really amazes me how much it takes to get 3 kids into the doctors office and then the doctor walks in looks at the patient for 2 seconds and then says everything is fine and leaves.  It's great that is all that Thomas needed, but if that was all it was going to be, I don't think I would have packed up all 3 kids and had both Tom and I go to the appointment.

Michael is so cute.  I think he likes the bouncy seats more now that he is really to big for them.  He loves to try out Thomas' which was his, but he likes Eva Rose's pink one as much.  He's  so pround to be able to get in and out of  the seats on his own.  He's growing up so fast.  I look at him and no longer see a baby, I see a little boy.

Michael in Eva Rose's bouncy seat 9/10/09

Life is crazy, but I love it!

Amy

I know I said that I wouldn't write more, but it has been 3 nights in a row for all 3 kid's sleeping through the night.  I am so excited that this is going so well.  The schedule is great, and is so helpful.  Naps can be difficult, but night time seems to work well.  I hope that I am not jinxing myself, but so far so good!