The Ferbs Fail

I'm not quite sure how it happened, but we're back at square one with the Ferberizing.  Sigh.  We were doing good and then Munchie got sick and the Hubs got sick blah blah.  When we first decided to Ferberize, the Hubs agreed to read Dr. Ferber's book to completely understand how we would go about doing it. 

When Munchie started deviating from the plan, Hubs had no idea what to do.   I read most of the book, but that was 8 months ago and I didn't retain much.  

Anyhow, I know this process will take at least a couple of months, so a few nights of set backs isn't the end of the world, but it would have been awesome if it did only take a couple of weeks. 



  

Blerg

Last week was a bit rough.  Munchie and I got sick - bronchitis to be exact.  She also had yet another ear infection.  Blah. Dr. Awesome put Munchie on some super strong antibiotics and she was not a happy camper.  We've never had a problem with her taking her medicine, in fact, most of the time she enjoys it and gestures to us to give her more, but this one was gross.  The first time she drank it, she barfed and not the regular baby spit up, but the hurl from the gut throw up.  I was holding her and suddenly felt her stomach roll and lurch.  Poor baby! 

We suspended our Project Ferbs and she slept with us Wednesday night.  Thank goodness, because I woke up around midnight and she was burning up!  I took her temperature - 103.5.  *Cue parental freakout.*  She was incredibly lethargic and did not want to wake up, but I made her so she could take some baby Tylenol.  It took a while, but after about 90 minutes, the fever finally started to go down.  She was so listless, she couldn't even muster up the energy to cry, which made me feel good about our decision to have her sleep with us.  

We got back on track Friday night with the Ferbs.  She cried for about 10 minutes before conking out.  She did better Saturday night, but Sunday night was a mess.  She a 3rd super late nap, 6:45-7:30.  For a little bit, I thought she was going to go down for the entire night, but nope, she was up and playing around at 7:30.  We went through our usual routine a mere 30 minutes later and this time, she cried for a while - maybe 20 minutes before just sitting and whimpering for another 45.  At one point I thought she was out and wanted to check on her, so I crawled into her room just in case she was up and she saw me.  I don't think she recognized me because I had my glasses and one of these bad boys on:

 

 {via}

Hopefully this week is much better!

The Ferbs: Night 3

Awww yeah, night three was another success!  We went through our usual routine, except Munchie had a lot more energy than the night before. She took a late afternoon nap 2-4, so it made sense that she wasn't as lethargic as the day before.  We put her in the crib and she WAILED!  I immediately readied myself for a tough night, but after 2 minutes, she passed out!  

Just like the past two nights, she woke up twice, but was able to put herself back down to sleep before conking out for the rest of the night.  She woke up at 4:00 a.m. and the Hubs changed her diaper and put her into bed with us while she nursed.

Now, that we're three nights in, I'm resolved to keep going even if she starts crying a lot again because this seems to be working.  I don't know how long we'll keep bringing her into bed with us at 4:00 a.m. but right now, that's fine with us, especially with me because I get a couple of extra hours of cuddle time a day.

Driving home from work yesterday, all I could think about was getting home and hugging my little girl.  I think her sleeping on her own makes me miss her more during the day.  I wasn't expecting that.  


We're going to try to start sleep training her naps after we get a handle on the night time routine.  I heard naps are tougher than nights.  Eep!
 

The Ferbs Part 2: Wut?!

 The Hubs and I prepared ourselves for night #2 as all our reading indicated it would be worse than night one.  HOW?!  I don't know.  Shockingly, Munchie went down easily!  She took a shower and then I nursed her, but she only nursed for <10 minutes.  She was exhausted.  We put her in the crib turned on her seahorse and she whimpered for a minute and then totally conked out!!!!  We were in total shock.

She woke up around 10ish crying a lot.  We went into the room and assured her everything was ok.  On our way out, we turned on the sea horse and again, she whimpered for a minute and then passed out!!! When I went to check on her, she was sleeping on top of her sea horse, too cute!


Right before we went to bed around midnight, she cried again, but as soon as her seahorse started going, she was out like a light.  Serio, that thing is MAGICAL.   Whoever created it needs a Nobel Prize, STAT.


She woke up at 4:00 and we took her into bed with us, which I needed because my boobs were rocks!  Man, I didn't realize how much she dream fed when she was sleeping with us.


We'll see how things go tonight.  I fear that because last night went relatively smoothly, tonight might be cray cray.

  

The Ferbs

The Hubs & I decided to finally Ferberize Munchie yesterday and UGH, it was AWFUL.  There was a lot of crying and yelling, and that was just me and the Hubs.  We followed the standard sleeping training guide and her cries were heart wrenching.  It took everything for me not to just rip her out of the crib and cuddle with her all night.  I actually gave up half way through and went downstairs while the Hubs kept going.  We agreed that if she cried for more than an hour, we would stop and start again in a few weeks.  Around the 45 minute mark, her cries turned into whimpers and she passed out.  I tiptoed into the room to see her curled up in a ball, butt in the air.  Her face was still damp from her tears.  HEARTBREAKING.

She woke up twice crying, but was able to fall back asleep.  When she woke up crying the 3rd time around 4:00 in the morning, she would not go back down, so we put her into bed with us.  I know, I know, but I'm not 100% ready to have her totally sleep on her own.


I realized last night that it's probably me that will miss the co-sleeping the most.  Munchie is a super active toddler and doesn't have time to cuddle with her momma like she used too.  I also realized that part of the reason I kept putting sleep training off is that as a working mom, co-sleeping is one of the ways I have to keep a close connection with Munchie.  By the time we get home from work, daycare, we only have a couple of hours together before she goes to bed and that extra snuggle time was important to me.

Tonight is supposed to be harder that last night.  I think I will sit out the entire process and let the Hubs take charge.  We'll see how it goes.
  

auntie a

They sure are going to miss each other when Auntie Dot moves after her wedding.

 

Progress?

When I saw my 78 year old uncle last week.  He stopped and exclaim, "You lost weight, no?  You look smaller!"  I smiled and said, "No, I'm still the same." to which he shook his head, "You much smaller."

I weighed myself that night for the heck of it and turns out I lost another two pounds.  Awww yeah!  I was shocked because of all the holiday treats I've indulged in the past month.  I think what is helping is the Hubs' Paleo diet, which I'm not doing.   However, because of his diet, I find myself eating differently.  He cooks his own dinner, usually baked chicken and veggies and since I don't have to worry about him, I just eat whatever is around the house which last night was salami, cheese, crackers and olives (NYE leftovers).


Also, I'm still nursing.  Apparently Munchie is not ready to wean and at first I was freaked out about not weaning on time, but I set a lame arbitrary deadline just because that's what I thought I was supposed to do.  I cut down to one feeding a night, so I'm hoping easing into the weaning will help with the pounds I know I will pack on once I quit.  

We're going to regularly hit up the local farmers markets and incorporate as much fruit and veggies into our diet as we can.  We'll see where this goes, if I don't hit my goals for the wedding, I can't freak and just give up.  I want to lose weight for the long haul, so I have to be consistent.

Family Tree

We haven't figured out all our family traditions, but we do have one that I love.   A pic in front of the Christmas tree on Main Street at Disneyland.  We actually took this one today, barely making our deadline.  I hope we remember to do it again next year!  Dude, I was lumpy last year. 

Happy New Year!

I cannot believe how much Munchie has grown over the past twelve months.  She is transforming into a little person and constantly amazes me.  I don't have many resolutions this year other than to lose some weight, but I do have one big one.  To take things one day at a time.  I can easily get caught up with work, home, or whatever else is going on and while this year will be a busy one, I need to remember to soak it all in.  Time keeps moving at warp speed and if I don't slow down to enjoy life, I'll miss out on so much.  Look how much she's grown from April to December, crazy!