Trading Spaces

So, it's 8:30 a.m.. I think I am awake for the day now. That's pretty much how we survive around here. We wake up so frequently that each time, we have to assess whether or not we can attempt to catch a few more zzzz's or go ahead and face our other 10 million responsibilities in life. This morning I woke up on the big couch cuddled under my favorite ladybug blanket with my sleeping baby Matthew in my arms. I guess I caught the last leg of the night. The sound of Nathan's whimpers woke me up this time instead of Matthew's screaming for a bottle. I'm not sure what he was whimpering about. He probably woke up and realized that his toys: Curious George in an airplane; Rocket from Little Einsteins; and his new hard plastic T-Rex that he brought to bed (our bed) with him had mysteriously made it to the ground. From my position on the couch, I could see the bedroom. I watched the events unfold and I chuckled to myself. L'Erin had the privilege of falling asleep in our bed for the last leg of the night. He also heard Nathan stressing over his lost friends, but tried his hardest to remain sleeping and hoped that Nathan would follow suit. C'mon now! Nathan only got louder and more stressed, so Daddy had no choice but to save the day. I laughed to myself (quietly not to wake Matthew) as I watched him avoid the world outside of the covers and roll to one side of the bed to search and ROLL to the other side. Fortunately he was able to recover the lost and Nathan was satisfied.......for the moment. Next, Nathan decided he wanted some goldfish crackers. I was further amused to watch my husband try to bargain with our ever independent toddler: "Want to lay down and watch Curious George with Daddy first"? With a very decisive and confident tone, Nathan replied "No I want to eat breakfast". I watched my poor husband rise out of bed in defeat and come in to make breakfast for Nathan. It was not long after our apartment began to become alive, Matthew decided to also wake up for the day. We had survived yet another sleepless night with Matthew.

I know you're wondering why or how we manage with one in the bed and the other on the couch. I really do not know how we ended up with that arrangement, but I can tell you that it was not our initial intention. As a matter of fact, it was quite the opposite! You see, I practically held Nathan the first year of his life. He was a rather easy baby compared to Matthew. I do not remember exactly when he started sleeping through the night, but it must have been early because I do not remember nights like this with him. He was just my first baby and I pretty much ruined him when it came to the "sleep with mommy" department. When I was pregnant with Matthew, I vowed that I would NOT do that again. I told myself and everyone else that Matthew would sleep in his own bed from day one! Maybe even his own ROOM from day one!......Go ahead and say it: "How's that working for ya?"

Well, it isn't. It's not working at all and neither is anything else! We have just fallen into this exhausting routine of trading spaces throughout the night. Sometimes one of us will be brave and man the entire night on the couch with Matthew; especially if the other has an important day ahead and needs the rest. But most of the time one of us will get to fall asleep in our bed (yes, with Nathan) while the other attempts to put Matthew to sleep. Sometime in the middle of the night, the one in the bed will hear the commotion in the living room and come in to rescue the other. At that time, we trade with a new bottle in hand and lay down with Matthew on the couch and the other person finishes the night in bed. "Why the couch"? You ask? Well, it's easier to get up from the couch and it's closer to the kitchen. It's also closer to the boys' room which is why Nathan sleeps in our room.........Take a moment to pass your judgements.

So last night was my turn to fall asleep with Matthew and somehow I woke up with Matthew! That's an indication of a rather long night! We had gone our separate ways around 9:30 p.m. Nathan was already in bed, but had trouble falling asleep so L'Erin went in to seal the deal. Matthew was struggling himself with some congestion in his nose. That has become a common occurrence with him. Yes, I have asked the doctor many times and she tells me it will just go away. (Please don't get me started on wasted co-pays!) Anyway, he had eaten his last bottle at 6:30 p.m. so we were doing pretty good to be at 9:30 and he wasn't incredibly fussy. Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you! We started the cereal, yesterday, that the 60 year old man suggested to us! I gave him cereal yesterday morning and things went great! He ate the entire serving and seemed pleased with it. It was much better than our last attempt. Naps were good, but our results were a little skewed because we were in the car most of the day. But back to the night....around 10:00 p.m. I suctioned his nose for him and made a bottle for him and more cereal. According the 60 yr old man and everyone and their MOM this was supposed to make magic happen. He'd be so full that he would sleep 4-6 hours maybe even 8! ...........ok so let me tell you!......He ate his cereal and drank his bottle. He did have that "oh my belly is so full" daze. I thought this was it for SURE! I even thought, man, if this works what will I blog about? He finally dozed off around 11:00 p.m. I thought I'd finish watching The Dr. Oz show. He was discussing the 5 deadly medicine mistakes that we make that I wouldn't want to miss! Then I remembered that the show was recorded and I could watch it another time! (In the mean time I just wouldn't take any medication). I laid Matthew in his bed without incident and decided, again, since this was going to be THE night I'd take back my bed! I crawled into bed with L'Erin and Nathan who were already asleep. I couldn't fall asleep right away. I tossed and turned and tossed and turned. I was slowly fading when I heard a noise. Two days ago we took Nathan to see a show about dinosaurs. They were life size creatures with real life sounds and everything! I thought maybe I was dreaming about the Raptors outside my window or something. I quickly realized it was Matthew waking from his cereal filled slumber. "Wow", I thought, "I tossed and turned for 4 hours? It will probably get better as I get used to sleeping again". L'Erin and I both woke up and went in to get Matthew. I checked the clock to measure our new progress and it said............11:50!!!!!!!.......Are you kidding me???........

Well, surely he couldn't be hungry! I mean that stuff is supposed to last like a whole shift! So I rocked and bounced and patted; rocked and bounced and patted. And Matthew screamed and kicked; and screamed louder and kicked harder. Finally after 15 minutes of torture we caved. We made him another bottle. Matthew was so happy to finally receive it and happily nibbled himself to sleep. Somehow L'Erin ended up holding him. We were awake again so we passed the time watching a documentary about LA County jail. (I know, very relaxing). I finally dozed off and L'Erin woke me up so that I could go to bed. After a while I woke to the sound of the Raptors again. It was Matthew kicking butt in the living room. I went in to offer my assistance. The time? 2:30 a.m.!!! L'Erin let me go back to bed as he calmed the storm, Hurricane Matthew. Again, I fell asleep and "WAAAAHHHAAHHH" I stumbled into the living room. L'Erin was in the kitchen making another bottle. It was 4:30 a.m. I picked Matthew up out of his bed, grabbed the fresh bottle and laid down to feed him. Once he fell asleep, I laid him in his bed and went back to the couch. 6:30 a.m.: "WAAaAHHHAAAHH" I fed him and went back to sleep. Now 8:30 a.m. and it's time to get up for the day!!......Thanks, Mr. 60 yr old man, with grown children, for your rice cereal suggestion! Keep 'em coming!