Friday, May 21, 2010

Exhausted

I don't usually post much personal information. I try to keep it light and fun on the blog (with the exception of when Hayes was in the hospital). But I am so exhausted I am losing my mind and I need to have this written down in case I am crazy enough to want to have another child someday. I have never in my life been more physically, emotionally, or spiritually tired. My baby does not sleep. He does not sleep at all. Last week he gave us 3 nights of sleeping all night and I thought maybe things were on the upswing. Then last night he screamed literally all night long. I figured something was wrong so I took him to the doctor this morning only to find out that he is completely healthy. I think he slept 4-5 hours last night and I slept about 3, so I figured he would be ready for a good nap. Wrong again, he slept on and off for an hour and then scream cried until he threw up. I have tried everything I know to get him to sleep. We have rocked him, only to have him wake up and scream when we put him down. We have tried letting him "cry it out" with us going in every 5-10 minutes to reassure him. This resulted in him crying for almost 3 hours. He is not hungry because he eats TON of rice cereal before bed and also drinks an entire 4-6 ounce bottle. The doctor told us to stop feeding him at night because he can make it all night and its true, he can because he has done it before. All of this to say I am out of options. I don't know what else to do and am open to suggestions. I know some kids just don't sleep but he's over 6 months old, its time that he did. The must frustrating part is that no matter how little sleep he gets he is smiling and ready to go the next day. This makes me wonder if he even needs much sleep. I just can't figure it out. Lack of sleep makes me tired and angry and mean. I snap more quickly at my kids, I get nothing done around the house and all I can think about is sleeping. I have been praying for 6 months for sleep and for some reason God just isn't answering this one. Okay, if any of you are still reading this, I am done with my pity party. Please pray for sleep. I know this will all pass at some point but being in the middle of it is truly exhausting and I don't know how much longer I can make it like this. Don't worry, we will be back to your regularly scheduled fun kid blogs soon! Thanks for reading!

6 comments:

Meg said...

no suggestions but i am so sorry!! so so sorry!! i know lack of sleep makes EVERYTHING seem bad. the days are long but the years are short, mama!

Heather said...

Kristy,

I have a book called 'Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems'by Dr. Richard Ferber, it helped us. You are more then welcome to borrow it!

Unknown said...

I'm so sorry Kristy.
Can your inlaws take the boys for an afternoon or something each week and you nap? Have you tried the NAP NANNY? I know some friends who swear by it. They put it in their cribs and off to sleep they go. Does he sleep on back or tummy or both?
Witt is mostly tummy and has been sleeping through the night since 2.5 mos. old. If I need to I'll fly Witt out for a slumber party to teach Hayes out to sleep well. K? :)

Praying for your rest. Try the nap nanny they are kinda pricey but worth your sanity. I know what you mean by being short and mean and impatient...it's normal. I go there more than I'd like.

Bless you!
ejw

Kylie said...

I know exactly how you feel. My darling first born son was just that way. Nothing, nothing we could do... and he couldn't talk so I didn't know if he was just mad or hurting or what on earth I was doing wrong! It is so hard! I made many trips to the doctor even hoping there was something wrong to explain it-- nothing. :) I will say though, after he turned 1 (I know that's a long time from now!) he became a totally different kid. He's four now you know, easy, sleeps like a champ and is such a GREAT kid. But that first year was so, so hard because I was just so tired! I thought "The No Cry Sleep Solution" worked better than the others for him, but, the more books I read and the less he complied, the worse I felt :) I know it doesn't make it better today, but you're not alone (and I'm still having a third- ha!) this is too long- I'll email you :)

Kyle and Marci said...

Oh Kristy, I hate this for you guys. Like you, I need sleep. I don't have any suggestions to help sweet little Hayes, but you know I am always available to watch one or both boys so you can get some rest. I know how just a few good hours of sleep can competely recharge you. Please take my up on this. Price was an angel this morning and he and Karlie played well together. Seriously, anytime please call me!

Kelly said...

Oh Kristy! I so know how you feel. Does he go back to sleep if you do feed him? Sometimes, I just didn't want to fight it and lose more and more sleep by not feeding Abby, so I would feed her and be back in bed. It may have prolonged the process of her learning to sleep, but I was too exhausted to listen to her crying. We definitely had several occasions like you described where she was up all night, and I never knew why. It will get better eventually!