PRAYING for what I would consider a MIRACLE

Hi all,

I am trying to stay on top of the blog but this week is my crazy week as we are less than a week away from the BIG Moms Expo I am planning. We have been on local news, radio, newspapers, websites...all over. I HOPE to have a good turn out and just when you think something is set you find 10 more things to do.

Anyway....I just want to fill you in and let you know we are PRAYING for what I would consider a MIRACLE with Brandon.

His cold is going away. He still sounds stuffy and has some runny noses but for the most part he is doing much better. He doesn't pull at his ears a whole lot anymore so that is good too.

His 2 bottom toothers are doing great. That is my new favorite thing...when he smiles and all you seem to notice are the 2 bottom toothers half way in - SO CUTE!

His eating habits are changing. We are weening out the baby food. He still gets his bottle a few times throughout the day. And YES I stopped nursing a few months ago. Sadly, I didn't make enough for even a new born. Of course I will try with our next one when we are ready for that. I wanted to nurse Brandon for at least 9-12 months but with me not making enough he weened himself.

His new foods he loves: pasta, bananas, diced carrots, kiwi, and cranberries! OH- and his FAVORITE- pickles. That is a big sign he is my child. I got pickles for birthday gifts for my 6th B-day party. It was my favorite gift. Sad, I know.

Now on to our HORROR situation. I am sure all know Brandon has never been a good sleeper. Just when you think it can't get any worse- it does. I have spent the last few nights in tears because I get maybe a max of 2 to 3 hours of sleep a night. I am lucky if I get to sleep before 3 am then I am usually up by 6 but remember- Brandon is up usually 8 times in between 3am and 6am. Folks, I am not exaggerating or fibbing about this. I have been keeping a sleep journal for Brandon and one night I was up with him 23 times. Not kidding! Sometimes he gets a bottle, sometimes I just roll him over, sometimes a diaper change, sometimes a nuk replaced and back to bed. He can usually stay asleep for 10 minutes and then cries again. To make a long story (very long) short we have done lots of research and discussions and have ruled out the following:
1. He is hungry...not necessarily.
2. Separation- not the issue because we have tried him sleeping in bed with us and he is up every 20-30 minutes too.
3. Hot/Cold...we have tried both and it isn't that.
4. He is an ok self-soother. Not the problem. Brandon puts himself to sleep. We do cuddles and loves and then put him in his crib and he is still awake. At nap time he is wide awake and he talks for a few minutes and then falls asleep. He is great at falling asleep on his own. The problem is staying asleep.
5. Light or music...tried it- not the problem.
6. Pillow- he usually sleeps on a pillow- we have found it helps a little but not the cure.
7. Developmental- usually when babies learn something new like crawling or walking they wake themselves up and that is all they can think about...it is like they obsess about it. Brandon went through this stage last week. He isn't fully crawling but rolls alot and pulls himself up on all 4's. He is close. We noticed it was affecting his sleep when he would want to sleep on his belly. This is the kid that HATED his belly the last 7 months of his life. We know this is the development part kicking in.
8. Timing- based off of our research and an email consultation with a sleep specialist for babies- he is going to bed at the right time. He is fine for hours of sleep during the day. He isn't over tired when he goes to bed. Timing isn't the issue.
9. Routine. We were worried this was the major issue. We usually do bath, massage, hang out on the bed as a family playing quietly, rock for a few minutes watching fish on our wall (a projection thing that it great). It isn't the routine. We were really worried because for some time we needed to bring him into bed with me or on the couch with Rob because we just couldn't do it anymore. We were both so exhausted. This isn't the issue at all....although we just need to be super careful to stay in the routine.

SO....based off of more research and a conversation with a pediatric nurse today we have come to the conclusion it is a medical issue. I figured it out just a few minutes ago when it is 10:30 and Brandon has woken up for the 3rd time since bed at 8pm. When I went in there to help him get back to sleep (once he did it on his own) he burped big time. His last bottle was well over 2 hours ago. I figured it out and talked to a ped. nurse and together we decided to get him in ASAP tomorrow. There are a few things it could be....

1- Acid reflux again. I wouldn't be surprised if this was it since it runs in our family- BIG TIME. Both myself and my sister have already had surgery to correct this problem and my dad has Barrets.

2- An allergy of some kind.

3- A breathing issue. Some babies have a harder time breathing when laying down- their nasal passages can close up.

4- Gas...his gas could be back and stronger than when he had it as a newborn.

5- Some other medical issue. It could be something else more severe or less severe. We just don't know.

SO- for tonight- we doubled up on the gas drops and gave him some unused Radiditine which he had as a newborn for acid reflux. We are going to see how tonight goes. We have raised the head of his bed to help with his tummy too. I am seriously thinking this is the issue since he does okay when he is upright sleeping on me. The other day I slept on his rocking chair in his room for almost 4 hours so I could get some sleep sitting up at least. I think I got a half hour or so. But he didn't move a bit which means it could be acid reflux and sleeping upright like that really helps.

I am praying for a MIRACLE. If we can get him to sleep 3 hours straight it would be a miracle.

I want to stress this is becoming a VERY SERIOUS issue. Rob and I are coping the best we can by taking turns at night and if we are home- we HAVE to nap when he naps because we are so fatigued. I have not had more than 2 hours of straight sleep in weeks. Try it for one night- go to sleep at 8pm and set your alarm for 10, 10:20, 11, 11:15, 11:45, 12:15, 12:45, 1:30, 2:00, etc. This is a normal night for us. It is amazing how you notice how bad it really is when you keep a sleep journal. I have noticed myself and how I am more emotional, physically in pain, weight gain and loss, dizzy throughout the day, forgetful, confused at times, and sometimes just feel like I am going to have a total breakdown and black out because of lack of sleep. I am not able to do it anymore and I can't survive. I am in tears every night because all I want is a few hours of non-stop sleep.

For all those that fall asleep at even 11pm and wake at 6am- consider yourself blessed. Kid or no kid. It has been a year and a half since I have had a full 8 hours of uninterupted sleep. When I was pregnant I was up often and since Brandon I have been up often. I did resort to having Rob take him for a night and I went to stay at my moms to try and sleep. I was still up 4 times a night. My body doesn't know how to sleep at night. I am making this my new years resolution. I am reading and researching the horrible things your body experiences when you don't get enough sleep- heart issues, weight issues, mental issues, diabetes, etc. It is scary....we need to get it under control for Brandon and for me.

I am calling the Dr. at 8am tomorrow morning. I have an interview with Channel 12 for the Moms Expo and then he is going to the Dr. We are going to keep going in over and over until someone helps us and we figure this out. Someday---he will sleep---even if it is only 3 hours at a time.

I will let you know what happens.