Friday, June 30, 2006
Let the sleep training commence
Well, we started sleep training 2 nights ago. The first night M (or Bacon as her Dad refers to her) woke about the same as she recently has been. I had a very hard time. I wanted to sooth her and I wanted soothing, but everything I read suggested that if you weren't consistent, the training will fail and be much harder on everyone. I didn't feed her all night with the plan to wait until 6:00 am. Well, 6 came and went and Bacon stayed asleep. She finally woke up after 8:00 and was happy as a clam. Her naps were the same as the last 2 weeks.
Last night was better. She had a 7:00 bedtime followed by brief wake ups at 9:15 and 1:30 and quick returns to sleep. At 4:30 she was done and kept waking up until 6:00 when she got fed. We then returned to sleep. She next woke up at 9:15. She had great naps all day and has gone to bed again at 7:00 with very minimal fussing.
We'll see how it goes, but so far, she's sleeping longer with no more fussy periods than she was having before we started and actually much less last night and today. I hope (hope!) this is a trend and will work out. Life is so much better with sleep.
She's really growing up. I miss holding her and watching her sleep, but it is so exciting seeing her play with her toys, trying to eat rice cereal and her sippy cup, and respond to us. These are the things I was so wanting through the miscarriages. I'm so happy to be here.
Last night was better. She had a 7:00 bedtime followed by brief wake ups at 9:15 and 1:30 and quick returns to sleep. At 4:30 she was done and kept waking up until 6:00 when she got fed. We then returned to sleep. She next woke up at 9:15. She had great naps all day and has gone to bed again at 7:00 with very minimal fussing.
We'll see how it goes, but so far, she's sleeping longer with no more fussy periods than she was having before we started and actually much less last night and today. I hope (hope!) this is a trend and will work out. Life is so much better with sleep.
She's really growing up. I miss holding her and watching her sleep, but it is so exciting seeing her play with her toys, trying to eat rice cereal and her sippy cup, and respond to us. These are the things I was so wanting through the miscarriages. I'm so happy to be here.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Good Habits - that's funny
I just read my last post. Wishful thinking. Napping has gone really well. M is taking an early morning nap - or this morning she just slept in. Then we get a 2 hour mid-morning nap and a 2 hour afternoon nap. Very good napping. The reliability (so far!) just makes life so much easier. And she's so happy when she's awake. She's getting to be great company.
Now about the nights -- we just can't get there. Since my last post, it's all been not so good. Friday we went camping - very fun except the plugged ducts. M was actually pretty good. I think I fed her 3 times at night - some for her and some for me because I was in pain. (I am back to thinking that water is the solution. If I don't drink enough I really pay.) It really doesn't seem to matter when she's fed or when she goes to sleep. Generally, she's going to wake up around 11:30 and 3:00, give or take an hour. Last night there was a ton of waking up. I fed her 3 times - 12:00, 2:00 and 4:30 and then she didn't wake up until 7:30. In between there was swaddling, re-pacifiering and soothing. It's super hot and humid here (very unusual for June), so I'm blaming the weather.
M is almost 5 months old now. The time has gone amazingly fast. I assume that there will come a time when we'll look back at this time and remember when M was little and didn't sleep through the night. I'm mostly looking forward to that time.
Now about the nights -- we just can't get there. Since my last post, it's all been not so good. Friday we went camping - very fun except the plugged ducts. M was actually pretty good. I think I fed her 3 times at night - some for her and some for me because I was in pain. (I am back to thinking that water is the solution. If I don't drink enough I really pay.) It really doesn't seem to matter when she's fed or when she goes to sleep. Generally, she's going to wake up around 11:30 and 3:00, give or take an hour. Last night there was a ton of waking up. I fed her 3 times - 12:00, 2:00 and 4:30 and then she didn't wake up until 7:30. In between there was swaddling, re-pacifiering and soothing. It's super hot and humid here (very unusual for June), so I'm blaming the weather.
M is almost 5 months old now. The time has gone amazingly fast. I assume that there will come a time when we'll look back at this time and remember when M was little and didn't sleep through the night. I'm mostly looking forward to that time.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
The wonders of growing up and sleeping
Well, we're still working on the sleep thing. Prior to having the baby, I'd heard about the whole sleep deprivation thing, but I didn't take it seriously. I thought that if you were awake during the night, you simply sleep during the day. I like naps, so it sounded easy. The reality is that it's just not. I just can't seem to make up for missing a bunch of sleep at night during the day.
Sunday night, M was a dream baby. I fed her at 7:30, she went to bed at 8:00 and only woke up once during the night. Monday was great. We were all we well rested. The weather was great. We got more boxes unpacked and planted a (very) small vegetable garden. Monday night - very not good. I think I got 5 hours of poor quality sleep at most. But M took a great morning nap and I got a nap too. I treated myself to a sushi lunch. Overall it was a good day followed by a good bedtime and a long soak for me.
Last night was a medium sleep night. I only fed her once (she went from 6:30 to 3:00!) but she's having a long fussy/crying period starting at 3:00. She did this right after we brought her home from the hospital. I think it started around 1:00 am and took about a week to shift to normal wake up time.
She starting to fall asleep on her own really well. Since Monday (2 days ago), we've been having a morning walk, then play and food followed by a long morning nap. Today, I simply put her down for her nap, rather than my typical hold her while she sleeps, and she went right down. I've lost my early morning nap, but I think the family is doing better with this new schedule - especially the dog who likes the morning walk.
I think yesterday was the switch from napping better on me to napping better on her own. (Thanks L for telling me she thought that M would transition herself. I was feeling very guilty for the pleasure of holding her while she naps. Now that I think she sleeps better on her own, it's pretty easy to put her down - especially when I want to sleep during her morning nap.)
It has been amazing how much M has been growing up in the last few weeks. She seems so much more independent. She rolled over again yesterday. She has a favorite toy. She'll last forever in the Bjorn if I'm walking. She loves to look at people and animals. She's not the least afraid of strangers.
I think good sleep will come with introducing new good habits. One step was getting long naps on her own. Another is my willingness to go longer at night without feeding her. Last night was our first night of no re-swaddling. Once we get the crib from the old house, we need to get M into it. At some point, we also need to stop (or at least slow down) the use of the pacifier.
Everyone warned me that life after baby was a whole new thing. It really is. Sometimes I seriously want a break. But generally, it's a very cool thing.
Sunday night, M was a dream baby. I fed her at 7:30, she went to bed at 8:00 and only woke up once during the night. Monday was great. We were all we well rested. The weather was great. We got more boxes unpacked and planted a (very) small vegetable garden. Monday night - very not good. I think I got 5 hours of poor quality sleep at most. But M took a great morning nap and I got a nap too. I treated myself to a sushi lunch. Overall it was a good day followed by a good bedtime and a long soak for me.
Last night was a medium sleep night. I only fed her once (she went from 6:30 to 3:00!) but she's having a long fussy/crying period starting at 3:00. She did this right after we brought her home from the hospital. I think it started around 1:00 am and took about a week to shift to normal wake up time.
She starting to fall asleep on her own really well. Since Monday (2 days ago), we've been having a morning walk, then play and food followed by a long morning nap. Today, I simply put her down for her nap, rather than my typical hold her while she sleeps, and she went right down. I've lost my early morning nap, but I think the family is doing better with this new schedule - especially the dog who likes the morning walk.
I think yesterday was the switch from napping better on me to napping better on her own. (Thanks L for telling me she thought that M would transition herself. I was feeling very guilty for the pleasure of holding her while she naps. Now that I think she sleeps better on her own, it's pretty easy to put her down - especially when I want to sleep during her morning nap.)
It has been amazing how much M has been growing up in the last few weeks. She seems so much more independent. She rolled over again yesterday. She has a favorite toy. She'll last forever in the Bjorn if I'm walking. She loves to look at people and animals. She's not the least afraid of strangers.
I think good sleep will come with introducing new good habits. One step was getting long naps on her own. Another is my willingness to go longer at night without feeding her. Last night was our first night of no re-swaddling. Once we get the crib from the old house, we need to get M into it. At some point, we also need to stop (or at least slow down) the use of the pacifier.
Everyone warned me that life after baby was a whole new thing. It really is. Sometimes I seriously want a break. But generally, it's a very cool thing.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Check, check, um check
After a week on the market, we set a time to "consider offers" on the old house. After some concerns that we'd get none - we had 4! All had escalation clauses that offered us more than the asking price. Three waived the inspection contingency. We accepted the best one and hopefully will have sold the house by early next month. It is so wonderful to be through with the process and, of course, to have it go well. Our friend and agent, C, did a fabulous job!
I thought I might have worked out the plugged ducts things - drink more water. Well, not so much. I'm still having them, but they're not as bad. Another possibility is that I actually have a low grade infection and this is a form of mastitis. I may have to suck it up and go to the doctor next week. (I haven't gone yet, because I keep thinking that it's just no big deal and that things will get better. That hasn't been working so well so far.)
M is doing great. She seems to have grown up so much this week. Her first roll over, which totally took me by surprise. She's talking up a storm and wiggling a ton. She loves watching people and the dog. We've had a tough time with lots of eating and not much sleep this week - I'm hoping its a growth spurt. M has cut back on eating, but hasn't gotten back to her good (or at least better) sleep patterns. I'm working on trying to take more naps during the day to keep me sane. She's 4 1/2 months old.
In theory, this week was my first ovulation since about a year ago. I don't know if it happened. Our plan is to "try" for #2. With my miscarriage history and my age, I just can't see foreclosing the possibility of a pregnancy now. I'm not sure how I'd deal with #2 while M is so young or how I'd deal with the emotional rollercoaster of another miscarriage and M. But, we're just going to see how things go. At some point, I'll need to talk to someone about supporting therapies - either western or eastern - but for now, I think I'll just see what happens.
I got an email this week that my group at work lost its biggest and most difficult client. It's good for the group, but it's a bit hard to swallow. I've been talking to work about the possibility of returning to work part time in the August/Sept. time period. With 50% (or more) of the work gone, I don't know if they'll need me. While I like to think I'm very worth training in a new area, I doubt that's true if I'm working the schedule I'd like to (or am considering). Then there's the whole thing about whether I really want to return. With the good sale of our old house, we won't need my income for a while to make our mortgage and live. M's getting to be great company and I'm getting used to being home. While it's still a bit lonely, I think it's, at least in part, a matter of planning and scheduling. I'll try not to borrow trouble and simply see what happens with it all.
D and I are trying to connect more. With all of his work on the old house and me sleep deprived and in pain, we have rarely been in the same place at the same time both awake and reasonably happy. He's not been so crazy about work lately. I've been emotional and cranky. With the old house put to bed (except for getting the rest of our stuff out of it) and us getting more situated in the new place, things are improving. We've never had a time like this before, but then we've never had this much going on before.
I thought I might have worked out the plugged ducts things - drink more water. Well, not so much. I'm still having them, but they're not as bad. Another possibility is that I actually have a low grade infection and this is a form of mastitis. I may have to suck it up and go to the doctor next week. (I haven't gone yet, because I keep thinking that it's just no big deal and that things will get better. That hasn't been working so well so far.)
M is doing great. She seems to have grown up so much this week. Her first roll over, which totally took me by surprise. She's talking up a storm and wiggling a ton. She loves watching people and the dog. We've had a tough time with lots of eating and not much sleep this week - I'm hoping its a growth spurt. M has cut back on eating, but hasn't gotten back to her good (or at least better) sleep patterns. I'm working on trying to take more naps during the day to keep me sane. She's 4 1/2 months old.
In theory, this week was my first ovulation since about a year ago. I don't know if it happened. Our plan is to "try" for #2. With my miscarriage history and my age, I just can't see foreclosing the possibility of a pregnancy now. I'm not sure how I'd deal with #2 while M is so young or how I'd deal with the emotional rollercoaster of another miscarriage and M. But, we're just going to see how things go. At some point, I'll need to talk to someone about supporting therapies - either western or eastern - but for now, I think I'll just see what happens.
I got an email this week that my group at work lost its biggest and most difficult client. It's good for the group, but it's a bit hard to swallow. I've been talking to work about the possibility of returning to work part time in the August/Sept. time period. With 50% (or more) of the work gone, I don't know if they'll need me. While I like to think I'm very worth training in a new area, I doubt that's true if I'm working the schedule I'd like to (or am considering). Then there's the whole thing about whether I really want to return. With the good sale of our old house, we won't need my income for a while to make our mortgage and live. M's getting to be great company and I'm getting used to being home. While it's still a bit lonely, I think it's, at least in part, a matter of planning and scheduling. I'll try not to borrow trouble and simply see what happens with it all.
D and I are trying to connect more. With all of his work on the old house and me sleep deprived and in pain, we have rarely been in the same place at the same time both awake and reasonably happy. He's not been so crazy about work lately. I've been emotional and cranky. With the old house put to bed (except for getting the rest of our stuff out of it) and us getting more situated in the new place, things are improving. We've never had a time like this before, but then we've never had this much going on before.
Monday, June 12, 2006
I searched and found me
More plugged ducts more of the time! I can't seem to shake them. In fact, tonight I was searching "recurring plugged milk ducts" and the search result was me. Well now I know I'm in trouble. Other than antibiotics and nursing on all fours, I've done everything else and no luck. Well, I guess it could be that stress thing - new house, old house not yet sold, new baby. Yeah, that sounds stressful. Or maybe it's mastitis. Other than about a week ago I'm not feeling bad except for the breast pain. Of course today I lost it. Not a good night for sleep and more plugged ducts - not a good combination.
Strangely I haven't considered giving up breastfeeding. I guess if I stopped there wouldn't be a chance for more plugs, but I don't want to stop. There's something about breastfeeding that I just love. I can't explain it. I know that there are a ton of women, including at least two of my friends who haven't enjoyed it. I don't "enjoy" the process, but I enjoy the idea. With the plugged ducts, it's painful. But, I'd still rather have painful breastfeeding than no breastfeeding at all. I think it's an emotional thing. Perhaps if you have a bad breastfeeding experience early on there is a negative emotional connection to breastfeeding and you don't want to do it. M latched on immediately. We didn't have a great early experience - cracked and bleeding nipples - but as far as the feeding part went, it went well.
Oh well, she's sleeping, I think I will as well.
Strangely I haven't considered giving up breastfeeding. I guess if I stopped there wouldn't be a chance for more plugs, but I don't want to stop. There's something about breastfeeding that I just love. I can't explain it. I know that there are a ton of women, including at least two of my friends who haven't enjoyed it. I don't "enjoy" the process, but I enjoy the idea. With the plugged ducts, it's painful. But, I'd still rather have painful breastfeeding than no breastfeeding at all. I think it's an emotional thing. Perhaps if you have a bad breastfeeding experience early on there is a negative emotional connection to breastfeeding and you don't want to do it. M latched on immediately. We didn't have a great early experience - cracked and bleeding nipples - but as far as the feeding part went, it went well.
Oh well, she's sleeping, I think I will as well.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
The More Things Change
I had 2 pain-free days this week. I was hoping that I was done with the plugged milk duct thing, but got another one last night. With 2 days off, I was starting to feel normal. The work on the old house is done. It's on the market. D is around a bit more. And no pain. Oh well.
It's time to start working on the new house. Or at least return to unpacking boxes. This is the first move where we've gotten tons of coupons in the mail from national chain stores. It's great. I'm a big fan of coupons - especially when I would be shopping at those stores anyway. We have home improvement things and linens and groceries that need to be bought. I want to wait on the home improvements until (1) D's had a break from the improvements on the last house; (2) we've paid for the improvements on the old house (I'm not looking forward to seeing our next credit card bill); and (3) we find out what the old house will sell for. With our experiences with trying to buy, I'm so hoping the house goes for over the asking price, but I'm trying not to count on it.
Baby's crying, must go.
It's time to start working on the new house. Or at least return to unpacking boxes. This is the first move where we've gotten tons of coupons in the mail from national chain stores. It's great. I'm a big fan of coupons - especially when I would be shopping at those stores anyway. We have home improvement things and linens and groceries that need to be bought. I want to wait on the home improvements until (1) D's had a break from the improvements on the last house; (2) we've paid for the improvements on the old house (I'm not looking forward to seeing our next credit card bill); and (3) we find out what the old house will sell for. With our experiences with trying to buy, I'm so hoping the house goes for over the asking price, but I'm trying not to count on it.
Baby's crying, must go.
Monday, June 05, 2006
The Grandma Has It
I listened to my mom - not about everything having to do with the baby - but about putting her in her own room at night. We started last Friday and -- we're getting a lot more sleep! Other than last night, M is waking up a lot less and eating much less frequently. We got a 7 hour stretch on Saturday night. We're trying to stick to a 6:30ish bed time, which is really easy to do so far because its when she wants to go down for the night. We haven't used a sitter yet, so our exceptions are when we want to go out in the evening. If we go, M comes too.
M seems to want to sleep more during the day again. We've got our morning naps back - hurray! They are a little shorter, but my morning nap helps me a lot. It's a bit difficult to get out during the day now. Yesterday's afternoon trip to the grocery store led to a total meltdown. She didn't want to ride around in her carrier in the cart, so I held her. The car seat was an unpleasant experience. This morning's trip to the store went a little better, but I guess I just have to deal with crying in the car.
I'm still having lots of plugged milk ducts. As soon as I have some improvement in one area, I have problems in another. Yesterday, I felt totally run down in addition to the pain. But today things seem better - still some pain, especially during feedings, but less overall badness.
The old house is going on the market this Thursday. It's looking really good! The new house is still full of boxes. We have everything out that we need for every day and I'm fine with that for now. I actually got a load of laundry and a load of dishes done today. I also got the new microwave oven from the car into the house and the living room vacuumed. This is serious progress. I was hoping to get dinner made, but I think that's just too ambitious and I'm missing ingredients for what I wanted to make. After yesterday's experience, I'm reluctant to try the store at this time of day.
M is growing up. She's more independent on sitting up. She discovered her feet last week and spends time on her back holding onto her knees. She's started to hold on when I hold her - very cool. She still doesn't giggle, but smiles often and laughs her dry laugh at unexpected times. She loves watching people and the dog. She doesn't like being on her own. She's starting to look different - less generic baby and more her - I think her chin is starting to take shape. She's missing most of her hair in a ring around the back of her head. I've been taking tons of pictures to help remember these times. It's already amazing to see the changes in her since she was born. Very very cool.
M seems to want to sleep more during the day again. We've got our morning naps back - hurray! They are a little shorter, but my morning nap helps me a lot. It's a bit difficult to get out during the day now. Yesterday's afternoon trip to the grocery store led to a total meltdown. She didn't want to ride around in her carrier in the cart, so I held her. The car seat was an unpleasant experience. This morning's trip to the store went a little better, but I guess I just have to deal with crying in the car.
I'm still having lots of plugged milk ducts. As soon as I have some improvement in one area, I have problems in another. Yesterday, I felt totally run down in addition to the pain. But today things seem better - still some pain, especially during feedings, but less overall badness.
The old house is going on the market this Thursday. It's looking really good! The new house is still full of boxes. We have everything out that we need for every day and I'm fine with that for now. I actually got a load of laundry and a load of dishes done today. I also got the new microwave oven from the car into the house and the living room vacuumed. This is serious progress. I was hoping to get dinner made, but I think that's just too ambitious and I'm missing ingredients for what I wanted to make. After yesterday's experience, I'm reluctant to try the store at this time of day.
M is growing up. She's more independent on sitting up. She discovered her feet last week and spends time on her back holding onto her knees. She's started to hold on when I hold her - very cool. She still doesn't giggle, but smiles often and laughs her dry laugh at unexpected times. She loves watching people and the dog. She doesn't like being on her own. She's starting to look different - less generic baby and more her - I think her chin is starting to take shape. She's missing most of her hair in a ring around the back of her head. I've been taking tons of pictures to help remember these times. It's already amazing to see the changes in her since she was born. Very very cool.
