Still here. Promise I am still here.
I am exhausted, bloated, tired, hot, cranky and exhausted but I am still here. Just ;)
Update:
Cate = Good. Generally happy. Apparently has decided that sooking and tantrums are reserved for Mummy's presence seeing as both Daddy and Granny and Gramps have reported perfect behaviour over the last few days I've been at work. As soon as I reappear my monster does too!
Justin = Good. Hardly seeing him at the moment as I work days and he works nights. But we need the money so cannot complain (plus I am being melodramatic. It's only for three days!)
Family = Good. Sister and her new fiance return from OS this Thurs and am peeing in my pnats to see them and celebrate their engagement (after nine years together!). Am hoping I shall muster some energy from somehwere before this big event.
Health = Fine and Dandy. Kinda. There's news on the brew that shall remain nameless for now. I am also in desperate, desperate news of a manicure but can't be fecked right now.
Bed time please :)
Showing posts with label sleep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sleep. Show all posts
Monday, February 8, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Still Here
I've been a bit quiet in the new year. There's been lots going on.
First, it was NYE. Then it was my surprise 30th birthday party. The day after that, it was Justin's birthday, two days later it was my birthday. Three days after that it was 'Two Weddings in ONE Day' day. Phew. I am exhausted just reading that back!
On top of all of these events, there's been stress and tension surrounding me as Justin and I keep trying to sort out this new life as a firefighter / firefigher's wife. We're good now, but it's tough fighting it out and there's been a bit of that. So that's added to the lack of blooging as well.
Plus, don't forget the ever present Cate. My darling dauhgter has been having a terrible time with teeth and tantrums. Her tantrums are becoming epic and, as a result, very problematic. Her teeth are driving her nuts and most nights she needs a strong dose of baby panadol before bed. Sleep has been erratic at best. So add the Cate factor the explain lack of blogging.
Now...I am good, well and happy. Really had a ball yesterday at two fantastic weddings. Came home today hungover and exhausted and Cate and I napped for three and half hours - oh yeah baby! We spent the rest of the day in her paddling pool in the garden and my tired, tired little bean went to bed without any drugs and without a peep at about 8pm tonight. It would seem she's as tired as me!
So, niht night. Time for more sleep.
First, it was NYE. Then it was my surprise 30th birthday party. The day after that, it was Justin's birthday, two days later it was my birthday. Three days after that it was 'Two Weddings in ONE Day' day. Phew. I am exhausted just reading that back!
On top of all of these events, there's been stress and tension surrounding me as Justin and I keep trying to sort out this new life as a firefighter / firefigher's wife. We're good now, but it's tough fighting it out and there's been a bit of that. So that's added to the lack of blooging as well.
Plus, don't forget the ever present Cate. My darling dauhgter has been having a terrible time with teeth and tantrums. Her tantrums are becoming epic and, as a result, very problematic. Her teeth are driving her nuts and most nights she needs a strong dose of baby panadol before bed. Sleep has been erratic at best. So add the Cate factor the explain lack of blogging.
Now...I am good, well and happy. Really had a ball yesterday at two fantastic weddings. Came home today hungover and exhausted and Cate and I napped for three and half hours - oh yeah baby! We spent the rest of the day in her paddling pool in the garden and my tired, tired little bean went to bed without any drugs and without a peep at about 8pm tonight. It would seem she's as tired as me!
So, niht night. Time for more sleep.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Mummy Sleep
Oh Lordy, I'm fecked. Soooooooo tired. But here I sit typing away on the computer and, before I know it, it'll be 11pm and I'll be cursing myself for not slipping off to bed earlier.
I am a BIG fan of sleeping. Huge. Pre-baby I was the kind of girl who had to have 8 hours a night or I turned feral. Asleep by 10pm at the latest, up most mornings at 6.30pm for work. Saturday mornings were SLEEP INS. And I don't just mean any old sleep in - I regularly cracked the 1pm-er. A standard, general sleep in was at least 10am. To the point where friends and family dared not ring before 'double figures'.
In my early pregnancy (first 14 weeks) sleep was my number one pregnancy symptom. I needed it. Craved it. Fantasized about it. Ooooooooo, sleep. I often tucked myself into bed at 5.30pm and slept right through til 6.30am during the working week. I napped very day after work and was actually known to cry in utter despair and frustration when woken to socialise (we have a weekly Wednesday night dinner with friends that we have been doing for six years now. Keeping it going has always been an utter breeze...except for those first fourteen weeks. Poor Justin witnessed many a tanty as I prepared to do something as lovely as going out for dinner with our best mates. Please, don't mess with me and my sleep).
Having read the above, you'd expect the early weeks with a new baby to have been hell for me...but they weren't. Firstly, after Cate arrived, I actually started getting more sleep, as pre-baby I was waking every hour for the loo and post baby I was at least getting 3 - 4 hourly stretches...it felt decadant! Also, new mums are expected to be tired and people were incredibly accommodating. I could go to my parents and sleep there, I had friends who came over and sat with Cate whilst I napped. I also felt fine about popping myself off to bed whilst she napped in the morning or afternoon whilst I was home alone. I was spoilt. So, no, the early days, whilst hazy, weren't so bad. It's now the sleep deprivation has really set in.
You know why?
Because it's PERMANENT.
I don't have weekends to lounge around in bed all morning. To catch up. To make a deposit in the sleep bank. Each night when Cate goes down I know I should follow...but I CAN'T. I just crave the non-baby time so much, going to sleep seems like it would be an utter waste. I can't sleep during the day anymore either - it just fels like far too much when you have a 14 month old, not a new born. The house calls, the internet calls, friends drop by or call - nap time just disappears. Add to that the fact that when she sleeps (and I only get one day sleep out of her) I have to shower RIGHT THEN if I want to enjoy a baby-free shower (yes please).
Right now my eyes are gritty, my attitude is shitty and yet I still sit here typing away instead of getting my arse tucked up in bed. What is wrong with me?
*Shakes head sorrowfully. Re-reads post. Realises what an idiot she is, turns off computer and GOES TO BED. Finally!*
I am a BIG fan of sleeping. Huge. Pre-baby I was the kind of girl who had to have 8 hours a night or I turned feral. Asleep by 10pm at the latest, up most mornings at 6.30pm for work. Saturday mornings were SLEEP INS. And I don't just mean any old sleep in - I regularly cracked the 1pm-er. A standard, general sleep in was at least 10am. To the point where friends and family dared not ring before 'double figures'.
In my early pregnancy (first 14 weeks) sleep was my number one pregnancy symptom. I needed it. Craved it. Fantasized about it. Ooooooooo, sleep. I often tucked myself into bed at 5.30pm and slept right through til 6.30am during the working week. I napped very day after work and was actually known to cry in utter despair and frustration when woken to socialise (we have a weekly Wednesday night dinner with friends that we have been doing for six years now. Keeping it going has always been an utter breeze...except for those first fourteen weeks. Poor Justin witnessed many a tanty as I prepared to do something as lovely as going out for dinner with our best mates. Please, don't mess with me and my sleep).
Having read the above, you'd expect the early weeks with a new baby to have been hell for me...but they weren't. Firstly, after Cate arrived, I actually started getting more sleep, as pre-baby I was waking every hour for the loo and post baby I was at least getting 3 - 4 hourly stretches...it felt decadant! Also, new mums are expected to be tired and people were incredibly accommodating. I could go to my parents and sleep there, I had friends who came over and sat with Cate whilst I napped. I also felt fine about popping myself off to bed whilst she napped in the morning or afternoon whilst I was home alone. I was spoilt. So, no, the early days, whilst hazy, weren't so bad. It's now the sleep deprivation has really set in.
You know why?
Because it's PERMANENT.
I don't have weekends to lounge around in bed all morning. To catch up. To make a deposit in the sleep bank. Each night when Cate goes down I know I should follow...but I CAN'T. I just crave the non-baby time so much, going to sleep seems like it would be an utter waste. I can't sleep during the day anymore either - it just fels like far too much when you have a 14 month old, not a new born. The house calls, the internet calls, friends drop by or call - nap time just disappears. Add to that the fact that when she sleeps (and I only get one day sleep out of her) I have to shower RIGHT THEN if I want to enjoy a baby-free shower (yes please).
Right now my eyes are gritty, my attitude is shitty and yet I still sit here typing away instead of getting my arse tucked up in bed. What is wrong with me?
*Shakes head sorrowfully. Re-reads post. Realises what an idiot she is, turns off computer and GOES TO BED. Finally!*
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Crying It Out
Back to a post on sleeping. Sorry, I know it's obsessive. But you try sleep deprivation for a few months and you'll become obsessed too!
Those of you have been reading know that we recently changed sleep habits in this house condsiderably. We used 'Save Our Sleep' by Tizzie Hall (SOS) after a three week trial of first controlled crying (CC) as recommended in 'Babylove' by Robin Barker (my bible!)then some of the ideas and concepts from the 'No Cry Sleep Solution' (NCSS) which were suggested to me by on-line friends. With nothing working and things getting even worse, it was time for something different, hence the trial of SOS which I had previously been against. Why was I against it? I had heard it was very regimented and highly routine based and I thought that wasn't for me as I like to go with the flow when it comes to Cate.
Anyways the SOS method involves the using of 'crying it out' (CIO). You put to bed the same way every night (same bed time routine and cue phrases and environment) at the same time (7pm sharp) and you let baby cry it out until they sleep. When you first start, bubs can cry for up to two and half hours. The theory is that you do not go in to them - you leave them to cry it out and fall asleep (as long as they are 'protest crying' as opposed to 'emotional crying' which needs to be responded to immediately. Oh God, this is all sounding very complicated but truly, it's not. Just buy or borrow the book and have a read!).
Anyways, long story short, with some adaptions to suit us, SOS has saved our lives. We now have a baby who, USUALLY, goes to sleep at 7pm without a peep, self settles when she wakes in the night and sleeps through until at least 5.30am (if not 6, 6.30 or 7am).
To get to this point though, I had to learn to let Cate cry it out. And, holy moley, the amount of stuff you can dredge up on the internet about crying it out / controlled crying is quite terrifying. People either seem to be passionately FOR CIO or passionately AGAINST it.
My take on it is this: it worked for US. I was happy with the decision to let Cate cry it out and it didn't take her long to learn how to put herself to sleep very quickly without the crying. Yes, it sucked and was really, really hard for at least three days...but I had a very supportive hubby who was much stronger about it all than me and I got sent into the back yard to enjoy a glass of wine out of ear shot while he stayed inside to make sure she was okay....crying, but okay. Couldn't have done it without that kind of support.
Last night I struggled to get to sleep myself. I was tired, but couldn't get to sleep. My mind was ticking at a million miles an hour, I had jumpy legs, I couldn't decide if I was hot or cold and I was getting very fed up. Then it occurred to me: this is what happens to babies. And because my baby can't talk yet, I imagine she expresses her frustration through crying. And I know myself that crying is exhausting and it knackers you out, hence why she eventually falls asleep after a good cry.
To get to sleep last night I had to read my book for a little bit longer. This is why Cate goes to bed with a book and an assortment of soft toys - some nights she plays and talks to herself for up to 45 minutes before falling asleep. I sneak in before I go to bed and remove everything from the cot and some nights the toys are spread everywhere and the book has been flung to the side - these nights I assume Cate needed some play time before sleep time.
So when I was desperately sleep deprived I resorted to crying it out - a method I never thought I would use and a method I am extremely glad I tried. Sure, a bit of heart ache. But with a supportive husband and the sensibility to change the routines and ideas suggested by the book to suit US - crying it out worked beautifully. Best bit - most days, I'm not so sleep deprived after all. Even better bit - my baby no longer has dark bags under her eyes and she's a much happier girl in general now that she's getting some sleep.
Amen to that!
Those of you have been reading know that we recently changed sleep habits in this house condsiderably. We used 'Save Our Sleep' by Tizzie Hall (SOS) after a three week trial of first controlled crying (CC) as recommended in 'Babylove' by Robin Barker (my bible!)then some of the ideas and concepts from the 'No Cry Sleep Solution' (NCSS) which were suggested to me by on-line friends. With nothing working and things getting even worse, it was time for something different, hence the trial of SOS which I had previously been against. Why was I against it? I had heard it was very regimented and highly routine based and I thought that wasn't for me as I like to go with the flow when it comes to Cate.
Anyways the SOS method involves the using of 'crying it out' (CIO). You put to bed the same way every night (same bed time routine and cue phrases and environment) at the same time (7pm sharp) and you let baby cry it out until they sleep. When you first start, bubs can cry for up to two and half hours. The theory is that you do not go in to them - you leave them to cry it out and fall asleep (as long as they are 'protest crying' as opposed to 'emotional crying' which needs to be responded to immediately. Oh God, this is all sounding very complicated but truly, it's not. Just buy or borrow the book and have a read!).
Anyways, long story short, with some adaptions to suit us, SOS has saved our lives. We now have a baby who, USUALLY, goes to sleep at 7pm without a peep, self settles when she wakes in the night and sleeps through until at least 5.30am (if not 6, 6.30 or 7am).
To get to this point though, I had to learn to let Cate cry it out. And, holy moley, the amount of stuff you can dredge up on the internet about crying it out / controlled crying is quite terrifying. People either seem to be passionately FOR CIO or passionately AGAINST it.
My take on it is this: it worked for US. I was happy with the decision to let Cate cry it out and it didn't take her long to learn how to put herself to sleep very quickly without the crying. Yes, it sucked and was really, really hard for at least three days...but I had a very supportive hubby who was much stronger about it all than me and I got sent into the back yard to enjoy a glass of wine out of ear shot while he stayed inside to make sure she was okay....crying, but okay. Couldn't have done it without that kind of support.
Last night I struggled to get to sleep myself. I was tired, but couldn't get to sleep. My mind was ticking at a million miles an hour, I had jumpy legs, I couldn't decide if I was hot or cold and I was getting very fed up. Then it occurred to me: this is what happens to babies. And because my baby can't talk yet, I imagine she expresses her frustration through crying. And I know myself that crying is exhausting and it knackers you out, hence why she eventually falls asleep after a good cry.
To get to sleep last night I had to read my book for a little bit longer. This is why Cate goes to bed with a book and an assortment of soft toys - some nights she plays and talks to herself for up to 45 minutes before falling asleep. I sneak in before I go to bed and remove everything from the cot and some nights the toys are spread everywhere and the book has been flung to the side - these nights I assume Cate needed some play time before sleep time.
So when I was desperately sleep deprived I resorted to crying it out - a method I never thought I would use and a method I am extremely glad I tried. Sure, a bit of heart ache. But with a supportive husband and the sensibility to change the routines and ideas suggested by the book to suit US - crying it out worked beautifully. Best bit - most days, I'm not so sleep deprived after all. Even better bit - my baby no longer has dark bags under her eyes and she's a much happier girl in general now that she's getting some sleep.
Amen to that!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Got to admit it's getting better...
So over the last two weeks sleep has started featuring in our lives again. Thank God. We missed you sleep!!!
Yes it would appear that Catherine Anne has finally learnt to self settle (to an extent) and the horrific all night tossing / turning / crying / shhhhing / patting marathons have fortunately become a thing of the past (I dread writing this. It will be just my luck that as soon as I crow about it, she'll regress. God help me).
During the bad patch I tried lots of different ways to get Cate to sleep. Top three favourites were 1) Giving her a bottle 2) Giving her a dummy and 3) Putting her in bed with us. The problem was that slowly each method stopped working. Plus, the books said those things were bad, bad, bad.
I read a few different books, talked to lots of different mums and researched on the net. All about sleep. Yup, I was obsessed. In the end, the book that started making the most sense to me was 'Save Our Sleep' by Tizzie Hall. I'd held out for a long time when it came to this book - it just didn't sound like it was for me. Three weeks of next to no sleep and I'm desperate enough to try anything.
So this is how bedtime works for us now. Cate goes down to sleep for the night at 7pm. She has the same story in her cot every night and we use the same sleep cue sentences every night too. We still give her a bottle in her cot - against the advice of...well...just about every book I've ever come across - and nine times out of ten, she goes to sleep without a peep. Most nights she wakes at least once, if not twice at some stage. Now I let her cry it out. Again, most night this takes her under five minutes before she is sound asleep again. Progress.
Most mornings she wakes at 5am-ish and I give her another bottle in bed. This usually means she sleeps til 7, 7.30, 8 or even 9am. SWEEEET. This morning she slept right through the 5am wake up call and din't call out for a bottle until 7am. So she slept right through from 10pm - 7am no wake ups at all. This is one happy mummy.
I'm not so good at sticking to the routines suggest by Tizzie Hall - my times get thrown out every day. But I am sticking to the 7pm bedtime as much as possible and I am sticking to the 'cry it out at night' theory and both are working for us right now. And that, my friends, is a little piece of heaven right there!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Bad Night
So today's post is a follow on from last night's post. And although last night wasn't 'bad' in terms of the really, really, REALLY bad nights I was experiencing a few weeks ago with my little darling, it was bad enough.
I guess it started at 7pm. Cate went down without a peep (bless) and I proceeded to do a happy dance celebrating the fact that I could finally have five minutes to myself. Any mum knows what I mean - night time bedtime = mummy's down time. If she's lucky! Anyways even though I am sleep deprived, no, I did not rush immediately to bed because I wanted to enjoy said down time. Instead I spent the next three hours dicking around on the net. Productive I know.
Finally head to bed at 10pm. Settle down with my semi-decent book (have been struggling to find decent reading material lately) and enjoy a lovely hour long, uninterupted read. Bliss. Cate slept soundly next door, Justin huffed and snuffled next to me but life was pretty good.
I switch off the light at 11pm and, despite the snores, snuffles and phlem-y noises being emitted from the husband laying next to me, I managed to drift off fairly quickly into a deep sleep.
I know, this all sounds rather excellent so far.
11.14pm: Cate wakes. Lie still for five mins willing her back to sleep. Five minutes is a long time when you're trying to sleep and your baby is crying!
11.19pm: Get up to Cate. She is very sooky. Won't even take a bottle (shock horror!) and rejects the dummy (no surprises there). Looks like it's the old 'take her out of the cot for cuddles time' routine. I sit on the couch in the dark patting and shhhh-ing until she falls back asleep. I know this is a bitching post but it was actually kinda nice.
11.43pm: Back into bed. Husband's snotty snores are packing a punch. Very difficult to recapture blissful beautiful sleep of only a few minutes ago...
12.23am: Cate wakes. WTF?! This never happens. Leave her to cry...
12.28am: Still crying. I can feel my cracking it pants coming out...
12.29am: I collect Cate from her cot and do the unthinkable...put her in our bed (this is a habit we have worked very hard to break). The little minx screamed louder!!! Grrrrrrr. Husband is now awake (and I'm feeling so spiteful I think 'good') and Cate is howling. I don't know what she wants, I'm tired, cranky and very frustrated. This is not one of my better mummy moments as I yell at Cate, demanding to know what she wants (Nice. All class that one. Yelling at the 13 month old). I end up on the couch, shh-ing and patting again. Then into the cot for more of the same.
1.13am: I crawl back into bed only to be met by that horrid, gurgling noise that now signals husband is sleeping semi-peacefully. I know I simply cannot get back to sleep listening to this for a third time. I do a wonderful wifely cracking the poo-poos session, fling myself out of the bed, grab my pillows and ajorn to the upstairs matress. I try to slam the stafely gates on my way up to illustrate my upset but alas! Those suckers don't slam. Humph!
Roughly 2.13am (Left the bloody clock downstairs didn't I?): I fall asleep. Thank GOD.
Could have been 6am?: Justin wakes me to say goodbye as he head off to work. I am not in my best 'send hubby off to work' mood. I grunt, roll over and promptly fall back asleep.
6.15am: Cate wakes for the joy. Happy, happy, joy, joy.
6.16am: See her little face. Fall in love again. Try to get over myself. Bring her into my bed for a morning bottle and snuggle routine.
6.40am: Start our day...hoping hubby is far less snotty when he gets home tonight, poor Love. xxx
I guess it started at 7pm. Cate went down without a peep (bless) and I proceeded to do a happy dance celebrating the fact that I could finally have five minutes to myself. Any mum knows what I mean - night time bedtime = mummy's down time. If she's lucky! Anyways even though I am sleep deprived, no, I did not rush immediately to bed because I wanted to enjoy said down time. Instead I spent the next three hours dicking around on the net. Productive I know.
Finally head to bed at 10pm. Settle down with my semi-decent book (have been struggling to find decent reading material lately) and enjoy a lovely hour long, uninterupted read. Bliss. Cate slept soundly next door, Justin huffed and snuffled next to me but life was pretty good.
I switch off the light at 11pm and, despite the snores, snuffles and phlem-y noises being emitted from the husband laying next to me, I managed to drift off fairly quickly into a deep sleep.
I know, this all sounds rather excellent so far.
11.14pm: Cate wakes. Lie still for five mins willing her back to sleep. Five minutes is a long time when you're trying to sleep and your baby is crying!
11.19pm: Get up to Cate. She is very sooky. Won't even take a bottle (shock horror!) and rejects the dummy (no surprises there). Looks like it's the old 'take her out of the cot for cuddles time' routine. I sit on the couch in the dark patting and shhhh-ing until she falls back asleep. I know this is a bitching post but it was actually kinda nice.
11.43pm: Back into bed. Husband's snotty snores are packing a punch. Very difficult to recapture blissful beautiful sleep of only a few minutes ago...
12.23am: Cate wakes. WTF?! This never happens. Leave her to cry...
12.28am: Still crying. I can feel my cracking it pants coming out...
12.29am: I collect Cate from her cot and do the unthinkable...put her in our bed (this is a habit we have worked very hard to break). The little minx screamed louder!!! Grrrrrrr. Husband is now awake (and I'm feeling so spiteful I think 'good') and Cate is howling. I don't know what she wants, I'm tired, cranky and very frustrated. This is not one of my better mummy moments as I yell at Cate, demanding to know what she wants (Nice. All class that one. Yelling at the 13 month old). I end up on the couch, shh-ing and patting again. Then into the cot for more of the same.
1.13am: I crawl back into bed only to be met by that horrid, gurgling noise that now signals husband is sleeping semi-peacefully. I know I simply cannot get back to sleep listening to this for a third time. I do a wonderful wifely cracking the poo-poos session, fling myself out of the bed, grab my pillows and ajorn to the upstairs matress. I try to slam the stafely gates on my way up to illustrate my upset but alas! Those suckers don't slam. Humph!
Roughly 2.13am (Left the bloody clock downstairs didn't I?): I fall asleep. Thank GOD.
Could have been 6am?: Justin wakes me to say goodbye as he head off to work. I am not in my best 'send hubby off to work' mood. I grunt, roll over and promptly fall back asleep.
6.15am: Cate wakes for the joy. Happy, happy, joy, joy.
6.16am: See her little face. Fall in love again. Try to get over myself. Bring her into my bed for a morning bottle and snuggle routine.
6.40am: Start our day...hoping hubby is far less snotty when he gets home tonight, poor Love. xxx
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