Luke Slept Great Last Night!

It truly amazes me that just a few specific rules about where and how Luke can have his sippy cups could have such an impact in only one day! I'm grateful that the doctor carefully laid out the new plan directly to Luke, and he's not really questioning it. By making him sit at the table with his drinks and offering food at the same time, he's actually eating! He's been such a picky eater up to this point that I really had trouble getting him to try anything; he just wanted juice or milk. I realize that he simply got used to always having a drink handy.

Today, he asked for milk on the couch and I simply said "No. The doctor said it's not good for you." And he accepted it as fact! And I really wasn't expecting him to eat better as a result of the 'Plan', but he's now associating drinking at the table with food. How awesome!

So, last night I did have a little trouble getting him to stay in bed initially, but he was asleep by 10:30. I told him there would be no drinks in the night. "The doctor said it's not good for you." Then I didn't see or hear from him until 5:00 am! Truly a record. That's when Marty gets up to go to work and he usually wakes up at this time. The cool thing is that he just climbed into bed with me and never asked for a drink! I changed his diaper in the dark, then we both slept until almost 7:30. Very nice!

And today he's been eating and drinking at the table and even now sits with us during meals. Lots of added benefits with this plan, so I'm highly recommending it for anyone who's having trouble getting their kids to eat or sleep well.

Thanks again for all the prayers and encouragement!

A Gameplan for Helping Luke Sleep

I met with the pediatrician today and had Luke checked out to make sure nothing else is going on. We ruled out anemia and checked his glucose levels. Since he is so attached to his drinks, both juice and milk, she was afraid he may be diabetic. I was concerned he was be a bit dehydrated after a week of diarrhea. Turns out he's almost better and has nothing wrong physically.

I realize I created a monster when I let Luke have a sippy cup in his crib at 18 months. (Hindsight is 20/20.) My advice for all you first time moms is "Don't do it!" No matter how tempted you may be to give your child a bottle or sippy cup in their bed, don't give in. I wish so badly I hadn't started that horrible habit. At least I know better with Lexie; she only gets drinks in her highchair.

Here's the plan: The first thing we'll do is tell Luke he can't have any drinks at night, not even water. He had gotten into the terrible habit of wanting drinks all night long, and once his cup is empty he wakes me up wanting more. Dr. Pipik said we need to simply break him of a bad habit. When he wakes me up I just have to firmly walk him back to bed; and if it means doing it repeatedly I've got to stay consistent.

Next, we're to tell Luke he can only have his drinks at the dining room table or at his small table along with food or a snack. We're trying to encourage drinking only with meals, not while sitting on the couch watching videos, in his bed or even while riding in the car. He's simply too orally fixated on having something to suck on all the time. (He might as well have a pacifier.)

To encourage success with these 2 things, we're implementing a sticker reward chart. The pediatrician said positive reinforcement and staying consistently firm are our keys to success. He'll get a small sticker or checkmark for the following: going to bed without crying, having drinks at the table, not needing drinks in the night, and the biggie will be for not waking mommy in the night! Marty and I are trying to figure out a big reward for getting 20 stickers, or something like that.

I feel very encouraged by this plan, especially since it doesn't involve locking him in his room. Marty and I both feel very strongly that wouldn't help with Luke. We don't want him to be afraid of going in his room or feel trapped in there. We want it to be a comfy safe haven for him.

So, we're trying to break Luke of needing to suck on a sippy cup all the time. It should also help him become a better eater. The good thing is that he gained 3 pounds in the last 3 months and is now up to 29 pounds. He's still a picky eater and has his days where it seems he eats nothing, but it all seems to balance out. Dr. Pipik told me not to worry that I might be starving him... he's getting what he needs.

Thanks again, everyone, for all your feedback and encouragement on helping Luke stay in bed at night. Please keep praying that we'll have success with our new plan!

Learning Patience as a Mom

In the evenings when I sit in Luke's room in the dark at bedtime, I've been talking to God. It's become a great prayer time. God has really taught me patience and to see where my priorities lie.

Even though my son needs me to sit near him while he falls asleep, I realize it's okay. I'm a mom; it's my job. What other pressing needs are there, other than TV or reading a book in the evenings? (I can make jewelry while the kids are playing or during naptime.) My kids must be the most important focus each day. I've learned to show Luke that I'm there for him to offer the reassurance he needs. He's very clingy right now and I believe it's just a stage and he'll soon grow out of it. I'm trying to remain patient and really listen when he tells me what he needs.

Everyone keeps telling me they're only this young for such a short time and to take the time to really enjoy my kids. So, that's what I'm trying to do. Each evening Marty and I head into Luke's room while both kids jump on his bed and climb on the play structure with the slide. There's a lot of tickling, giggling and laughing going on then; it's been great quality family time. We've learned how much how our kids need this time with us. We've learned to let go of other distractions for a little while, especially the computer.

Last night it took extra long to get Luke to bed. He kept getting up repeatedly for over an hour. But I have to remember that many nights, he goes right to sleep. Even though he's still waking up in the night, I just keeping walking him back to bed. I figure it's only a matter of time before he begins sleeping through the night again. He no longer needs a sippy cup to fall asleep, thank God. He only gets drinks of water if he wakes up, and usually will go right back to sleep. And God is helping me endure on very disrupted sleep, even on those days I don't get a nap.

So, I just wanted to remind everyone that God is good, He is always there for us, and when we keep the focus on Him we can get through anything!

Luke Keeps Waking in the Night

I can't figure it out. Why does Luke keep waking up 2-3 times a night and come to get me? This has been going on for a couple of months now, it seems, since he made the transition to his big boy bed (a twin mattress on the floor). But at first, he'd stay put all night. Then all of a sudden, he just starting waking me up, and mostly asks for milk or juice every night.

I'd chalk it up to thirst, but it happens too often. It's usually around 1 or 1:30, then again at 4 or 4:30, and then he'll climb into bed with me after Marty has left for work, usually around 6:30 or so. Needless to say, my sleep is so disrupted that it feels like I have a newborn in the house again. (Thank God that Lexie is sleeping 12-13 hours a night without waking these days!)

I thought it might be because he's a bit dependent upon drinking a sippy cup of milk while he falls asleep. But I've stopped that, and won't let him have one anymore to go to bed each night. He usually gets his last cup of milk around 9 or 9:30.

Luke doesn't always need a drink to get back to sleep, and sometimes he does need a new diaper. But usually, if I just walk him back and tuck him in, he'll go right back to sleep. Unfortunately, it doesn't last for longer than 3 hours.

He also tends to be a very picky eater who prefers milk or watered-down juice to food. It goes in spurts, which the pediatrician said is normal; he'll have his eating and non-eating days. And he's healthy and certainly has plenty of energy during the day.

Is it insecurity? He won't settle for daddy tucking him back in, or even doing the bedtime routine. It has to be mommy. He's definitely going through separation anxiety from me when I leave him with a sitter or in the nursery at church. So I'm praying it's just a stage he's going through. He gets grumpy from time to time, but that's probably because he's not sleeping well at night.

He'll turn 3 in September, and I have discovered a couple other moms whose kids seemed to wake more frequently around this age. I'm open to suggestions, or discovering what has worked for you.

The one thing that Marty and I agree is not an option for Luke is locking him in his room. I tried that a couple of times and he went ballistic... totally flipped out and hysterical. He was so upset that he started choking. Besides, I really believe this has something to do with needing access to mommy right now.

Please feel free to leave comments here or put them on my Facebook Wall. Thanks so much for listening, and I sure appreciate your prayers! (In the meantime, thank God for naps!)