SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK PART 8 -- Pack the bags under your eyes and join us!

[RoRoMommy]

Well...I had to think of something! DH's suggestion "Eyes wide shut--the art of sleepwalking"

CSB: We have been through phases of waking all the bleeding time in the evening and it used to drive me nuts -- but then there would come a phase where he would be more settled.

Second what Ginger says about white noise, we have got one of these and I like to think it helps.

If things were going well before you went away then I'm sure you will get back there, you know he can do it. Just do whatever it takes to get through (get DP to do the dishes, for a start -- you've earned that glass of wine!).

Hi CSB. I really wish I had a foolproof solution for you because you sound at your wits end. One thing I have found with my Los is that it is better if they are tired, but not exhausted when I put them to bed. Routine in the day also helps, especially trying to get good napping time (something I am still struggling with with DS2!). I find my DS is tirted after about 2-3 hours and so I try to get him to nap/go to bed then.
Good Luck I hope that you find some of these ideas help it sounds like you need a break.

meant to type tired obviously. Goodness knows what tirted means!

Hello everybody! CBS, I am so sorry you're so tired and fed up with DS. I know how hard it is to be with your LO day and night and not have a break, so that's my bit of advice to you for what it's worth...go to the local, have a glass of wine with a friend and talk about anything but babies. I really wish you the best and I am sorry I can't offer more. We surely sound like a broken record by now, but it will get better!

Everyone else, I know I've been terrible at keeping up with posts of late, work has been very busy and I've been trying to take time to help her feel at home and settled. But I've missed you all!

I had my job interview today...and...it was awful! I didn't want to go (had a bit of depression on Sunday, which was an all-of-the-time thing before, but just a once-in-a-while thing now, so I really couldn't manage to feel optimistic about the job or the interview). The first woman I spoke with, the current person in the job, was really nice. But then her (would-be-my) boss came in and everything went to shit. He was so ... aggressive and confrontational! Like, what have you done lately, and why would you want this job, and blah blah blah...then the last woman came in and she was great, but I had to PEE SO BAD! I couldn't wait to get out of there.

So, not only did I come out realizing that I didn't want the job, I came out probably not getting it anyway. But I guess I've come to realize that I am probably in the best situation I can get at the moment and I do like my job, and my mom is here now, so that should make things easier...right?!? It should be okay. I feel okay.

Enough. Thanks for listening. I promise to try to be more attentive ... (((hugs)))

RoRo - sorry about the interview, but yay for your mum. how are things going there?

CSB - [huge hugs emotion] i cant offer any advice, except perhaps have you tried staying with him, whilst he falls asleep? i used to have a bedside in ds1's room and just sit next to the cot eading and ignoring him. it took a few nights of getting up, ignoring himand laying back down for him to realise that i wasn't there to play, but then he got it and was fine, as he got older i slowly moved towards the dorr, then outside and now i'm downstairs in about 10secs flat after he's gone down!

EP - was GP ok?

CM - you really are my inspiration for my dc3. if i can cope half aswell as you i'll feel like i've acheived something (psssssd any tips greatly received)

i'm so shattered atm, cant remember last night all that well know i got up about 3 times but to which child i have no idea. DF didn;t get in from saturday night until 6 Sunday morning, so didn;t get much sleep, it;s catching up on him now and i;'m really walking on egg shells, it's horrid. they say the 1st 12weeks of pg are ad for tiredness but we'll have to wait and see, i could sleep for days atm.

Hi to tibsy and ginger and anyone else i've missed.

morning all
roro for the horrid interview. we think youre fabulous!!

beal for the tiredness. i must say, ive never had to go thru a pregnancy with a lo around as well (thats 12 yr age gaps for ya!!) so i really admire you lovely ladies who do. youre doing a grand job. i hope you perk up soon (((hugs)))

csb dd was the same. i didnt have an evening for quite a while, then all of a sudden, she started sleeping longer and longer. hang on in there darling. it will get better

and hi to meg, EP, ginger, charlie!! [hsmile]

dd been really mardy the last couple of days and shes been a real boob monster too. dont know whats going on

hmm, that should have been

RoRo I'd give you a job if I had one to give.

things going a lot better here now. getting out more with LO and he's in a better mood for it. still fighting me re carseat/buggy/baths/nappy changing/clothes though, but I guess that's more about the year to come.

hi amber glad things are improving for you lovely. dd hates the carseat with a passion, in fact she hates being restricted in any way, shape and form. think shes gonna be a bit of a little madam cant think where she gets that from

Hello everyone.

RoRo: I hope everything job wise works out for you. I'm sorry the interview went badly, but if you are not sure about the job maybe it's a blessing in disguise. It might mean you don't get faced with a tough decision. (Or you might get the job and then you will have to decide!!) I don't envy you I've worked in the same job since I qualified in various different guises (My particular favourite was 1 day a week covering other peoples classes ) I am too scared to leave now as I haven't had to do a job interview for 10 years!!

Beal: My 3rd pg was definitely the most tiring. I remember by the end feeling too exhausted to move!!! Try to rest when you can, but I know that is a near impossible task with 2 other LOs.

Amber: I'm glad that things are better with you. I think carseats are designed to vex parents. Children seem to have some amazing strength and skill to contort into the most difficult shapes when you are trying to strap them in.

Tibsy: Hello. thanks for your offer a while back to CAT you. TBH at the moment life is manic at the moment but can I have a rain check? I am meant to be wrapping presents in the evenings, not e-mailing or coming on here!!

CSB: How are you? I'm thinking of you. (((hug)))

Hello everyone else. (Ginger did you get my last message?)

Well to business...

Last night: DS2 asleep by 7, didn't wake until 1.20 (falls over in shock)

But then woke at 3 with dirty nappy and then awake until 4. In the bed with me until awake again at 5. Fed at 5.30 in the bed with me. Sleeping like angel at 7.30 when I had to get up to get DS1 ready for school.

DD awake at some point with dream about spiders, but DH dealt with her thank goodness.

Oh something to make you all smile. When I told DD she was going to be an Angel in her preschool play she said she would rather be a.......

crocodile

RoRo: for dodgy interview, but if it makes you realise you?re content where you are then that can?t be a bad thing.

Beal: I have no idea how anyone copes with pg tiredness when they?ve already got a LO. I was like a zombie for the first trimester. How many weeks are you?

Amber: glad things are looking up. What?s the weather like?

Tibsy: for mardy LO, could it be teeth?

DS has grown out of his car seat so we?ve just had the 9mo+ one delivered, we?ll see how he takes to it! Seems like he?s growing up so fast now, he?s just started pulling up on the furniture too. I have to admit that a week of sleep has made me think more positively about having another one, but no idea where we would put it, think we?d need to move house again!

X-posted CM: at the idea of a crocodile in the nativity play

Hello Meg. Your LO is a super sleeping star

DDs favourite imaginary friends are Darth Vader and Spiderman!! Oh the perils of having an older brother.

Great news Meg .

RoRo: sounds like a blessing in disguise. 1. You got to the interview stage, so obviously v employable and could move if you had to 2. you were able to see it wasn;t the right place for you and 3. it made you appreciate your job more. Result, I'd say. Plus I think it's good for your current employer if you go for other jobs occasionally, as they think they have to make an effor to keep you .

Iffy night for us but 1 long stretch from 12 to 4. 1 molar completely through now (phew!).

Amber: re food, DS went off food for ages and is now just starting to eat properly again. I tried not to stress too much and made sure he had plenty of milk. I think it's v common at about a year, when they start (start!) developing strong ideas about what they do and don't like. Glad you're getting out and about more.

Oh, have just got that How to talk so kids will listen... book from the library. It is fab. Have stored up tips for future use and ones I can put into action now. The thing that resonated was labelling children - realised I have a tendency to see DS as a stubborn, challenging child and tend to react accordingly. Will now try and take a step back

Hi all. Hope you are all enjoying restful evenings with sleeping children ...

Ro I'm sorry the interview sucked but like the others I think it's a positive thing if it helps you see things more clearly

Thanks for the suggestion of white noise ginger - I have a white noise tape sent to me by a very kind MNer but tbh at the moment it doesn't seem to help. Some memorable nights have been spent swaying around with DS in the sling in front of the cooker hood - the fan there seems to be the perfect pitch!

CM thank you for your suggestions - I think you're right, if he's too tired he's a nightmare (tbh he's perpetually tired and never gets enough sleep), and I really can't seem to find a routine that works and he doesn't have one of his own - just good days and bad days! at the crocodile suggestion!

tibsy, thank you for reminding me that it will pass - sometimes SO hard to see that, isn't it ...

Beal we have tried sitting with him but he just becomes hysterical - he lies there kicking frantically and panting to himself then the crying starts and just escalates and escalates - I just don't think he's the sort of baby who will 'cry down' to sleep (apart from the obligatory whinge as he's rocked). I hope you get some rest though - you need it more than the rest of us do!

Meg, wow, thinking of more already - you MUST be getting some good sleep [thinks all these broody people with sleepless children are obviously mad ]

Effie, thank heavens you've won the battle of the molar - here's hoping for some respite for you now

Terrible night again, took ages to settle (up pretty much from half 3, wind for some reason, we seem to get spells of nighttime wind). DP currently enduring screaming fit in bedroom trying to settle DS - DS just won't have it for some reason, so I feel awful that it's kind of my fault he's crying because he wouldn't be with me but I don't feel I can stay sane being in there for several hours every night. Wouldn't mind if he could stay down with us but he is SO tired he desperately needs sleep!

Am v narked that we'd managed a run of tear-free bedtimes and have scuppered it all by going away, am sick at the thought of starting this cycle all over again at New Year. Wish I knew what bugs him so at nights. Never mind. I think I shall take my friend's suggestion - ground him until he's 16 for being a troublemaker!

Real screaming now. DP asking for an off. Better go - sweet dreams x

meg - not sure! a friend said she reckons we have sex far too much if we dont know, and 2LO's lol! Either 14+5 or7+2 got booking in appt. tomorrow, hate the mw though and praying its not he bloke one (how wrong is that?) and then all my AN care bing done by my firend on wednesdays when i'd see her anyway so dont have to make extra trips out with 2LOs in a drs surgery!

CSB - with ds1 i had a kind of routine based of tracey hogg (the baby whisperer) we didn;t follow a timed schedule literally a routine of eat, activity, sleep (acron. E.A.S.Y - Y is for you!) it worked really well and it meant i could read his properly and know exactly what he wanted eg. if he'd just been fed, played for a while then grumpy i knew he must be tired. cant recommend it enough, if you find strict routines/schedules hard or you just want to learn to understand your child better. n9ot sure i need the sleep more than you guys, some of you are really hard core

both been down for 2hours and no noise, so going to bed to finish the continuum concept

Cheers beal - I tend to follow that sort of schedule - but the E bit often has to be inserted between the A and the S in order for the S to happen, unless I use R (rocking), and there is currently no Y time at all as my presence seems to be required at all times except for short spells of A provided there is a certain crinkly caterpillar and a select muslin to play with! So it's sort of an ARSE routine here ...

Hope you don't have a male MW - when it got down to the nitty gritty I'd be a bit ... hmmmm not sure!

Our night was ... er ... dire. Awake and shouting intermittently from 1.30am , resisting most attempts to feed/cuddle to sleep. BUT DP had to try and resettle him yesterday evening cos I was on the phone and it took 45 mins but got as far as light sleep - woop woop! So there's good and bad. Toying with the idea of getting second hand cot for spare room so if he starts the shouting at least he can be dumped elsewhere until it stops/crying starts!

Better go, he's woken up and done a huge rumbling poo (my thigh's still quivering 3 minutes later) ... wish me luck!

Hi everyone! CSB, good luck with it all. You're really hanging in there like a champ. It sounds like DP is stepping in to help a fair amount, so that must be a relief. It's difficult when all they want is you, though...DS is just getting to the stranger anxiey phase and won't go to anyone else...well, except for my mum and DH, thank goodness for that.

Beal, I hope everything goes well with the MW!

Thanks to everyone for the supportive words about the job. I think it was meant to be so I could realize that I am probably in the best position possible at the moment...and since we want to try for number 2 at the end of next year, probably best to stay put for now.

Am completely knackered at the moment because I came in early yesterday, and worked late last night, and came in early this morning as well. I hope I can get some rest tonight!

Everyone else, I hope you're having peaceful nights and warm days indoors! Brrrrr...

morning all, where was everyone yesterday?

CSB - ARSE.....i love it thanks for making me smaile hu, i;ve been feeling really down last few days. so thank you!

RoRo - hope you got some rest. how is LO these days?

hope everyone else is good

x x

Morning all,

We had a bit of a regression last night -- grizzling on and off from 11.30-1.30am, not full-on screaming but pretty unsettled . He is a bit snotty so maybe that was it (we gave Calpol just in case). Anyway the rest of the night was fine so I suppose I can't complain, we are bound to have wakings from time to time.

Beal for feeling down, how are you today?

Hope everyone else got some rest, especially CSB.

Morning!

Ro, I'm so pleased you're feeling more settled. Everything's easier when your head's straight, I find! Wishing you rest tonight

Glad you smiled beal - early preg sucks, with the hormones and the general crapness. And the present lack of sleep doubtless makes it worse!

Sorry to hear your night was less good Meg. Hoping it was just a blip

We went out for dinner last night, leaving a sleeping DS home with my mum. He woke up as we left and cried on and off until our return 2 hours later poor mum! She was about to ring me because he was getting himself really worked up (and mum has a not-bad track record with difficult babies, inc DS) when we got in. I feel guilty he was so upset but we did have a lovely and much needed break, yummy meal and talked some more about probably not getting married . On the plus side we had a night of AMAZING sleep - down at 10, woke at 3 and 6! I feel human again!

I hope everyone else is fine ... yesterday was quiet [tumbleweed emoticon]

sorry haven't had a chance to post everyone. Been too busy with work etc. I have read your posts though and am thinking of you. I've had some rotten teething nights. Last night was horrid but we're getting by. I'll catch up when I get time

hi ginger - hope things improve...thinking of you

my night was terrible, both ds off at 7, LO woke at 1,3, 4:30 and 6! i'm offically shattered!

Poor you Beal you must be feeling shattered. I hope that you get some sleep tonight.

I haven't been on here so much recently, but I think its because DS2 and me are starting to enjoy being with each other.

That and trying to organise a 3rd birthday for DD on the 17th, making sure DS1 and DD have everything for the end of term madness at school and preschool, shopping for Christmas, wrapping presents (which I am meant to be doing now) ...etc, etc
I don't know how Angelina and Victoria do it

Well done you RoRo getting out and having quality time with DH. What a star your mum is

Ginger for that troublesome tooth.

I'm thinking of you CSB and hope you are getting a break. You really made me laugh to with your description of ARSE. You should write a manual, you never know it might take off

Hello Amber, Tibsy and everyone else.

I appear to have gone emoticon mad. I really like their santa hats.

PS Hello Meg. I'm sure last night was just a blip. I hope tonight goes well.