I am so in love with my blog right now. Why, you ask? Because it gives me the opportunity to realize just how bad a sleeper Sam is. I really thought this period we are going through right now is isolated and that normally Sam had been a good sleeper, but now I know differently. Just goes to show you how quickly I can make myself forget the bad stages.
Exhibit A:
July 12, 2010 blog entry
Exhibit B:
November 18, 2010 blog entry
And let me now add the most recent set of trouble we are experiencing. The below recap is from our strategy to put a gate on Sam's door and not let her out. Take out anything fun that is in her room and keep her inside at all costs. The weeks leading up to this new addition to her doorway was many continuous nights when Sam would get up at all hours (usually every 30 to 45 minutes) and start demanding different things (needs her Leapster, needs her iTouch, needs to brush her teeth, needs to wash her hands, needs to change her pajamas, needs to switch blankets, etc). The girl just wouldn't go to sleep or stay asleep without a major battle. It is a wonder that either of us were functioning at all during the day. Although, I do admit to falling asleep at traffic lights. That's when you know something has got to change!
January 20 - January 25, 2010
Operation: Stay asleep (night 1) - a BIG success. 2 or 3 more nights of this and we may actually have a well-rested 2 year old in our home. It's funny that I feel waking up at 11:40pm and 3:36am as a success. How my perspective has changed in the last several weeks.
Operation: Stay asleep (night 2) - an even BIGGER success!! For the first time in at least 2 months, Sam did not fight us on being put down to bed or wake up at all during the night. Wowee!! It is a great feeling waking up this morning knowing we are headed in the right direction.
Operation: Stay asleep (night 3) - not such a good report. It took 3 major screaming episodes and more than 2 hours for Sam to fall asleep. Finally at 9:45pm she went down. Then she woke up at 12:30am and 2:00am. Each time she came to the door, stood by her gate and threw a fit to be let out.
Operation: Stay asleep (night 4) - progress is being made again! Sam went to sleep right at 7:10pm and didn't fight us on it. She woke up only once at 1:00am, came to her door, and in less than one minute was back in her bed for the rest of the night (with no interference from us). She woke up for the day at 6:10am. Yay! We are back in business.
Operation: Stay asleep (night 5) - not fun. Sam went to sleep easily & was out by 7:30pm. Woke up at 11:48pm & started screaming big-time to get out. Jeff caved & went in at 12:10am to put her back to bed. (NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS!!). Then she was out of bed again screaming from 12:30am to 2:00amish. She finally stopped screaming & played on her own until 3:00amish. Woke up for the day by 6:00am. Lovely.
Operation: Stay asleep (night 6) - more of the same. Sam went to sleep by 7:45pm, stayed "quiet" all night long and was up for the day at 5:40am. Not sure what happened during the night, but she had on all of yesterday's clothes over her pajamas. Which means she did this in complete darkness. Not actually sure just how much of last night Sam spent sleeping. Don't care either. I got 7 hours. :)
I'd like to think that the situation is getting better and we are making progress, but that could be the optimistic in me. I really think that Sam has a sleep disorder and needs more help than Jeff and I can give her. I am thisclose taking her to the dr for a full blood work-up and a strong request to find out what we can do to have her sleep patterns checked-out.
The hardest part in all this is Sam has given up her nap. So she is *waking-up* for the day cranky and just gets crankier as the day wears on. This major sleep deprivation is wreaking havoc with her temperament. I know, I don't enjoy being around her when she is like this. It is not fun. Not fun at all.
I am frustrated. Tired. Stressed. And more than anything, I want my 2 year old to learn to sleep.
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