Sleep

As everyone knows, we have 2 great sleepers and 1 oh so not good sleeper.  The twins go to bed every night between 7 and 7:30 pm.  They are out almost right away and sleep til 6 or 6:30 am.  They then go back for a nap usually between 9 and 10 am and sleep for about 2 hours or so.

Michael on the other hand,  goes to bed around 8:30 pm and I now have to lie down with him.  When we first put him in his toddler bed, he did awesome.  He would have his last milk of the day, walk to bed, we would read a story, turn on the stars, give him his Elmo and talking leap frog dog and I would leave the room.  He would play for about 15 minutes then he was out for the night til the next morning around 6 or 7.  I was so excited.  I was sleeping through the night and I could remember the last time I had done that.  Then all of a sudden he refused to go to bed with out me, even though we were following the same routine.  I started putting him to bed in my bed and laying down with him; at least he would fall asleep that way!  Then he started waking at night and only falling asleep if he came in bed with us.  I tried letting him cry.  He cried for 1 hour before falling asleep and then he cried for 2 hours in the middle of the night.  He was still crying when I could let him cry any longer.  I went and got him and just hoped that this was just a stage.  I kept telling myself that there are plenty of people that co-sleep on purpose and plenty of people who let their kids sleep with them in the middle of the night and the have either become well adjusted adults or kids.  I didn't really mind him sleeping with us, but I did miss being next to my husband.  I did some research on line and found that at his age there could be a lot of reasons why he all of a sudden stopped sleeping well.  I thought it was either separation anxiety at night or teething or being scared.  I figured I would just ride it out since it seemed to be working for me.  Sunday night, I lied down with Michael and he fell asleep.  I put him in his bed a little while later.  I went to bed at my normal time and the next thing I knew it was morning.  I was amazed that he had slept through the night.  Last night it took a little longer to get him asleep, but he had blood work and wore him self out crying so he took a late nap (usually he doesn't take a nap or he's up way too late).  Again, I woke up to him crying at 5:30 this morning.  I let him and his sister cry til 6:00.  Michael was still in his bed when I went to get him.  Oh, how I hope that this is the way it is going to go from now on.  Hopefully, he start going to sleep without me and sleeping through the night.  Oh, and i did figure out he is teething.  That's what I ended up thinking was going on, but I actually saw the 2nd molars yesterday so hopefully it won't be as much of an issue.

I have to admit that I am not a major schedule person.  If there is something to do, I just adjust their nap time.  I know there are lots of people that disagree with this, but it certainly seems to work for us.  I am happy with how things are going, and am always happier when i get to sleep.  I hope that this contines.

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!