Okay, I'm really in love with this design. Green is my favorite color, and I love the background image of the sunlight through the tree. Maybe this one will stick around for a while! ( :
One thing I can't figure out with blogger: how on earth do I change the description up there?? I mean the font of it. I haven't been able to find any options that let me change the font and size. If anyone has any tips, I'd sure appreciate it!!
I also added a new tab up top, one on NFP. It doesn't contain much yet, but hopefully that will change over time. (That reminds me, I need to update the Cloth Diapers tab, too....)
DH's grandma is still in ICU. Yesterday, they took the drain tubes out of her head and she had 2 seizures. DH rushed to the hospital, but I had to stay home with C. I absolutely hated not being able to go with him and support him, but it turned out okay. The doctors preformed another CT scan which showed that everything was fine, so they're not worried about the seizures. Thankfully.
I was dealing with my own battle last night. C did NOT want to stay in her crib. Our dog, Roscoe, heard some coyotes soon after I laid C down and he started barking. Of course, that woke C up and she started screaming. I tried to ignore her, but she was really pitiful after a few minutes. I was determined not to pick her up and rock her again, though. I would really love for her to be able to go to sleep on her own - right now she has to be rocked for at least an hour every night. That is exhausting, though I try to remember that she won't be like this forever and I need to savor it while she still wants to be held.
I was proud of myself - I never did actually pick her up. She was on her knees hugging me for a while (still in the crib), and then I told her she had to lay down and go to sleep. I rubbed her back for a long time, which seemed to be calming for her. Then she asked for a story. We've never done bedtime stories, but I just went with it. I told her a story of a little girl who's mama asked her to go to sleep and she did! That did the trick. After I stopped rubbing her back she picked her head up a few times to make sure I was still there. Finally, I made my way out of her room. About 20 minutes later DH and I were in bed, and C whined a few times, but she didn't actually cry so we left her alone. Thankfully, that was the end of it!
So I'm not sure if last night was a breakthrough or not, but I guess we'll see tonight. I've love to just be able to rock C for a little while (long enough for her to get her nighttime milk, which is basically the only time she asks for it these days), and then lay her down in the crib half asleep. But I'm not willing to do anything drastic to get to that point (like the Cry-It-Out Method). (And yes, I know I said I tried to ignore her last night, but I really thought that after a few minutes she'd calm down, but it went against every fiber of my being!! I think the approach I ended up taking last night is better for us.)
Anyone else have toddlers that are extremely difficult to get to sleep??
Showing posts with label sleep training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sleep training. Show all posts
3.01.2013
2.20.2013
Wednesday Night Musings
So it's quarter after 11 on a Wednesday night. My child has finally fallen asleep. Yes, at this late hour. She has a wierd sleep schedule lately, but since she's had a bad cold I've been lettin her slide. Unfortunately, she's passed her cold on to me. I've had a sore throat since Monday, and today I've been hacking up a lung all day. Fun times.
C is on the mend with her cold, thankfully. She doesn't sleep well and she doesn't eat much, and she coughs like crazy and her poor nose drips all day, but it hasn't slowed her down any. I wish I felt that good when I'm sick!!
While I'm sittin here rockin her (til I know she's out enough for me to put her down - please tell me I'm not the only mama who has to do that!!), I thought I'd do a general update in our lives this week.
Besides the sickness that's plaguing our house, C has also had to deal with weaning suddenly from her paci. Now we all hate the dreadful pacifier, so none of us were sad to see it go, but I wasn't plannin on doin it quite yet. DH and his family have been pressuring me lately to take the paci away from C, but I didn't want to overwhelm her. She's doing so well with potty training. She seldom has accidents anymore. (She is still in diapers at night.) One thing at a time, I told them.
Well, Monday night sometime after supper, the paci disappeared. It was there and then it wasn't. When C got ready for bed DH and I tore the house apart lookin for that stupid thing. I had another identical paci but C refused it. Eventually we gave up and I told her we just couldn't find it. She teared up a little but nothing like I expected. My girl has been obsessed with her paci. I set rules/limits for it, but she's a master at gettin it when she wants it!
Until Monday night, apparently.
But she made it through that night with no real tears. She asked for it a few times but was always satisfied with my answer. Same thing all day Tuesday, last night, and today. She didn't even ask for it tonight. So I guess we're done with the paci for good! If we happen to find it now its goin in the trash!! haha
I never wanted her to have that dang thing in the first place, and she wouldn't take one for a long time. People pressured me into it, and I stupidly gave in and kept tryin to get her to accept it. I think she was 7-8 weeks when she decided the paci was good. If we ever have a baby I don't intend to give him/her a paci, unless he/she becomes a thumb sucker. That is so much harder to break than a paci.
5 years ago -heck, even 3 years ago - I never would have guessed I would be so wrapped up in a story about a paci. I also never thought I'd have so many conversations about poop and pee!! Funny how motherhood changes you. ( :
Out family had another major thing happen this week, which I can't talk about yet. But the result was very humbling to me. God literally spoke to me and it was awesome. He taught me a tough lesson, but I am so thankful that He is takin the time to work on me. He has healed some old wounds in me this week, and given me a new perspective on a few things. I was very resistant, but I finally gave in and let Him change my heart. What a feeling!! It's amazing what our God can do if you just let Him in. ( :
C is on the mend with her cold, thankfully. She doesn't sleep well and she doesn't eat much, and she coughs like crazy and her poor nose drips all day, but it hasn't slowed her down any. I wish I felt that good when I'm sick!!
While I'm sittin here rockin her (til I know she's out enough for me to put her down - please tell me I'm not the only mama who has to do that!!), I thought I'd do a general update in our lives this week.
Besides the sickness that's plaguing our house, C has also had to deal with weaning suddenly from her paci. Now we all hate the dreadful pacifier, so none of us were sad to see it go, but I wasn't plannin on doin it quite yet. DH and his family have been pressuring me lately to take the paci away from C, but I didn't want to overwhelm her. She's doing so well with potty training. She seldom has accidents anymore. (She is still in diapers at night.) One thing at a time, I told them.
Well, Monday night sometime after supper, the paci disappeared. It was there and then it wasn't. When C got ready for bed DH and I tore the house apart lookin for that stupid thing. I had another identical paci but C refused it. Eventually we gave up and I told her we just couldn't find it. She teared up a little but nothing like I expected. My girl has been obsessed with her paci. I set rules/limits for it, but she's a master at gettin it when she wants it!
Until Monday night, apparently.
But she made it through that night with no real tears. She asked for it a few times but was always satisfied with my answer. Same thing all day Tuesday, last night, and today. She didn't even ask for it tonight. So I guess we're done with the paci for good! If we happen to find it now its goin in the trash!! haha
I never wanted her to have that dang thing in the first place, and she wouldn't take one for a long time. People pressured me into it, and I stupidly gave in and kept tryin to get her to accept it. I think she was 7-8 weeks when she decided the paci was good. If we ever have a baby I don't intend to give him/her a paci, unless he/she becomes a thumb sucker. That is so much harder to break than a paci.
5 years ago -heck, even 3 years ago - I never would have guessed I would be so wrapped up in a story about a paci. I also never thought I'd have so many conversations about poop and pee!! Funny how motherhood changes you. ( :
Out family had another major thing happen this week, which I can't talk about yet. But the result was very humbling to me. God literally spoke to me and it was awesome. He taught me a tough lesson, but I am so thankful that He is takin the time to work on me. He has healed some old wounds in me this week, and given me a new perspective on a few things. I was very resistant, but I finally gave in and let Him change my heart. What a feeling!! It's amazing what our God can do if you just let Him in. ( :
8.31.2012
Psalm 121
I was going to do a High Five for Friday post today, but I am too exhausted to think of the highlights from my week. Sad, huh?
I am suffering from major lack of sleep. I know, I know, it comes with the territory of being a mother. But my child started sleeping through the night when she was 5 months. She was a great sleeper until she was 10 months, when she got her first UTI. She was a sick little baby, and stopped sleeping through the night. It took her over 2 months to get back to sleeping well at night. For a few months, things were great. Then her molars started coming in. Molars are EVIL. It took 2 months for them to come in. So every night for 2 months we didn't sleep more than 2 hours at a time. It was absolute torture for all of us. Finally the molars were all in, and we've all been getting better sleep for a few weeks now.
This week, we've been sleeping every other night. One night she sleeps perfectly, and we don't hear a peep out of her until 6 or 7am. Then the next night, she's fussy and restless all night long. On nights like that, we put her in the bed with us. We've always done that. I know lots of people don't agree with co-sleeping, and that's okay. It works for us. Its easier on a breastfeeding mama because you don't have to wake up all the way to nurse your baby, just roll into position, she latches on, and you both fall back asleep. When she was younger and came to bed with us, she slept soundly. These days, when she comes to bed with us, she's restless and fitful all night. But if we put her back in her crib she cries, and we are NOT fans of the cry-it-out method. So, we've been getting some nights of good sleep and some nights of....not-so-good sleep.
Wednesday night was one of the not so good nights. I didn't sleep much at all. C wanted to nurse every 2 hours or so, which was drivin me crazy because all evening she wouldn't nurse and kept tellin me that my milk was "gross." Yesterday after work, she tried to say she didn't like milk again, but I kept offering and she nursed, so I figured she'd sleep better that night and leave me alone. Well, I think that would have been the case.
When I picked her up yesterday after work, my mother-in-law told me the mole on C's thigh was red. That night, it was redder and a little swollen, but she acted fine so we didn't think too much of it. She went to bed around her usual time, and I stayed up to watch the Republican National Convention. After that, I was too wired to sleep, so I read a book for a while. Around 12:30 I turned off the light and tried to sleep, but couldn't. Sometime after 1 C started fussing. After a while, DH got up to get her. (He always breaks before I do. I won't let her cry it out, but I do like to wait a little while and see if she goes back to sleep. Sometimes she cries but doesn't actually wake up, and in a few minutes she's fine. DH doesn't like to hear her cry and its hard for him to not go right to her. That sounds like I like to hear her cry. I don't!!) He put her in bed with us and she asked for milk, as usual. But instead of going back to sleep, she became fussier and very restless. This went on for about 30 minutes and she finally just started crying. Hard. I got up and tried to figure out what was wrong with her.
No fever. No snotty/stuffy/funny nose. No cough. The only thing was the mole on her leg was redder and more swollen, and she kept sayin it hurt. Then I noticed she had 2 bites on her, one on her thigh near the mole, and one on her wrist. But they didn't look like typical mosquito bites, they were bigger, redder, and more swollen. And she said they all hurt. Then she was pulling at her throat and told me that hurt, but I looked with a flashlight and didn't see anything. I stayed calm. She was breathing, and acting okay otherwise, so I decided to take the wait and see approach. She finally went back to sleep around 3am, and I did, too, but she was restless the rest of the night.
This morning, she seemed better, but her leg still was red and swollen and she didn't like me touching it. When I took her shirt off I noticed more red spots on the back of her neck, but no bumps. Very strange. I called the doctor and got an appointment for later today. I'm not the type to panic and bring my child in at the drop of a hat, but this is too weird. She's had plenty of mosquito bites before and they have never kept her up crying at night like that. So I am a little concerned. Hopefully its nothing!!
I try really hard to always be a patient, loving mama to my baby girl. Its not always easy. Sometimes I want to yell at her or get mad. Before I realized her leg was swollen last night, I kept praying over and over for patience. I was so tired and just didn't see a reason why she was crying. I know that getting upset myself and acting resentful to her for keeping me awake just makes it worse on her. She doesn't understand. And I know I can't be patient and loving on my own, not in times like that. That was totally God workin on me. With His help, I managed to stay calm last night and just kept talkin to C in a quiet, soothing voice. I talked her to sleep. I tried singing, which she usually likes, but she said no singing last night. So I just talked quietly. But I couldn't have done it if I hadn't prayed for it first.
That just reinforces in my mind that I need to constantly pray to God. I constantly need His help, all day, every day. And all night, apparently! As long as I remember that, I'll be okay. Its when I try to take things into my own hands that I have problems. I cannot do things by myself, with with Christ I can do anything!
My favorite Bible verse is Psalm 121. It has gotten me through some tough times in my life. Not that a sleepless night and a fussy baby qualifies as a "tough time," but this verse applies to any time I need help.
I am suffering from major lack of sleep. I know, I know, it comes with the territory of being a mother. But my child started sleeping through the night when she was 5 months. She was a great sleeper until she was 10 months, when she got her first UTI. She was a sick little baby, and stopped sleeping through the night. It took her over 2 months to get back to sleeping well at night. For a few months, things were great. Then her molars started coming in. Molars are EVIL. It took 2 months for them to come in. So every night for 2 months we didn't sleep more than 2 hours at a time. It was absolute torture for all of us. Finally the molars were all in, and we've all been getting better sleep for a few weeks now.
This week, we've been sleeping every other night. One night she sleeps perfectly, and we don't hear a peep out of her until 6 or 7am. Then the next night, she's fussy and restless all night long. On nights like that, we put her in the bed with us. We've always done that. I know lots of people don't agree with co-sleeping, and that's okay. It works for us. Its easier on a breastfeeding mama because you don't have to wake up all the way to nurse your baby, just roll into position, she latches on, and you both fall back asleep. When she was younger and came to bed with us, she slept soundly. These days, when she comes to bed with us, she's restless and fitful all night. But if we put her back in her crib she cries, and we are NOT fans of the cry-it-out method. So, we've been getting some nights of good sleep and some nights of....not-so-good sleep.
Wednesday night was one of the not so good nights. I didn't sleep much at all. C wanted to nurse every 2 hours or so, which was drivin me crazy because all evening she wouldn't nurse and kept tellin me that my milk was "gross." Yesterday after work, she tried to say she didn't like milk again, but I kept offering and she nursed, so I figured she'd sleep better that night and leave me alone. Well, I think that would have been the case.
When I picked her up yesterday after work, my mother-in-law told me the mole on C's thigh was red. That night, it was redder and a little swollen, but she acted fine so we didn't think too much of it. She went to bed around her usual time, and I stayed up to watch the Republican National Convention. After that, I was too wired to sleep, so I read a book for a while. Around 12:30 I turned off the light and tried to sleep, but couldn't. Sometime after 1 C started fussing. After a while, DH got up to get her. (He always breaks before I do. I won't let her cry it out, but I do like to wait a little while and see if she goes back to sleep. Sometimes she cries but doesn't actually wake up, and in a few minutes she's fine. DH doesn't like to hear her cry and its hard for him to not go right to her. That sounds like I like to hear her cry. I don't!!) He put her in bed with us and she asked for milk, as usual. But instead of going back to sleep, she became fussier and very restless. This went on for about 30 minutes and she finally just started crying. Hard. I got up and tried to figure out what was wrong with her.
No fever. No snotty/stuffy/funny nose. No cough. The only thing was the mole on her leg was redder and more swollen, and she kept sayin it hurt. Then I noticed she had 2 bites on her, one on her thigh near the mole, and one on her wrist. But they didn't look like typical mosquito bites, they were bigger, redder, and more swollen. And she said they all hurt. Then she was pulling at her throat and told me that hurt, but I looked with a flashlight and didn't see anything. I stayed calm. She was breathing, and acting okay otherwise, so I decided to take the wait and see approach. She finally went back to sleep around 3am, and I did, too, but she was restless the rest of the night.
This morning, she seemed better, but her leg still was red and swollen and she didn't like me touching it. When I took her shirt off I noticed more red spots on the back of her neck, but no bumps. Very strange. I called the doctor and got an appointment for later today. I'm not the type to panic and bring my child in at the drop of a hat, but this is too weird. She's had plenty of mosquito bites before and they have never kept her up crying at night like that. So I am a little concerned. Hopefully its nothing!!
I try really hard to always be a patient, loving mama to my baby girl. Its not always easy. Sometimes I want to yell at her or get mad. Before I realized her leg was swollen last night, I kept praying over and over for patience. I was so tired and just didn't see a reason why she was crying. I know that getting upset myself and acting resentful to her for keeping me awake just makes it worse on her. She doesn't understand. And I know I can't be patient and loving on my own, not in times like that. That was totally God workin on me. With His help, I managed to stay calm last night and just kept talkin to C in a quiet, soothing voice. I talked her to sleep. I tried singing, which she usually likes, but she said no singing last night. So I just talked quietly. But I couldn't have done it if I hadn't prayed for it first.
That just reinforces in my mind that I need to constantly pray to God. I constantly need His help, all day, every day. And all night, apparently! As long as I remember that, I'll be okay. Its when I try to take things into my own hands that I have problems. I cannot do things by myself, with with Christ I can do anything!
My favorite Bible verse is Psalm 121. It has gotten me through some tough times in my life. Not that a sleepless night and a fussy baby qualifies as a "tough time," but this verse applies to any time I need help.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh
from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer
thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that
keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is
thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not
smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall
preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
The LORD shall
preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for
evermore.
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