A Whole Month

I cannot believe it has almost been a whole month since I last blogged. I guess i really am a busy girl.

Our trip to BC was amazing. We got to see lots of friends, hang out with our niece and nephew and enjoy a great night out. The wedding was so much fun. The music, dancing and food were all incredible. Sunday my grandma had all the family over at her house. All my cousins and all their kids were there. There were 5 generations in total. It was well worth the trip.

Since we have been home Everett has been a challenge, but Rawley has been doing wonderful. Rawley saw a psychiatrist right after our trip and his meds have been changed just a little bit. He seems to be thriving. His concentration is good, his behaviour, for the most part, is good. He seems more focused and positive. I am so happy for him. We are even two months into the school year and I have had no phone calls or letters from his teachers. Go Rawley!

Everett has gotten worse instead of better. We have been really struggling with him at night. I am not sure what our next step is. We took him to the doctor and they listened to what I had to say and decided that it was not stomach problem but probably more with his internal wiring. He thinks Everett's sleep cycle is messed up and believe he never gets into the REM cycle, which is the deep sleep. Because of this almost anything can wake him up through the night, being cold, hearing noises, his stomach digesting... Then because he does not know how to self sooth he cries. I am not sure if I am completely convinced that this is what is happening. I mean it could be but if that is all it is, you would assume that as soon as Everett is picked up he should stop crying because he now has us to sooth him.

The doctor told us that we could give him sleep aids, like melatonin or gravol. This will help him fall into a proper sleep cycle and some people need to be on sleep aids their whole life. he also told us that we need to start letting him cry it out so he can learn to self sooth.

The crying it out does not seem too bad, but Everett seems to cry for a long time. We have tried a few times and given up after 45 minutes or so. When we expressed this to the doctor he said that strong willed babies, like Everett, can cry for up to 4 or 5 hours the first night or so, then only 3 hours. He did say that is would decrease over time and after a couple weeks he should be fine.

Now I understand the idea of crying it out, but honestly how many moms out there can listen to their baby cry for 4 or 5 hours? Seriously? I never could. 30 minutes to maybe even an hour would be my absolute tops. I don't think that we are built to listen to our babies cry like that. And when Everett cries, you would think someone is hurting him if you heard him, he also scratches at himself when he is that upset. And the worst part is in the back of my mind i think he may have some tummy troubles still and if he is uncomfortable or hurting, letting him cry it out is just not fair to the poor guy.

So now I wonder what do i do?

Do I get a referral for a gastro intestinal specialist and make them do proper testing to make sure there is nothing going on?

Do we just continue to stay up with him for hours on end listening to him crying and holding and rocking him, and hope one day it all stops?

Do we go see if we can find a sleep therapist and hope they have some better ideas?

Anyone who has been through this please tell me what you did, or if you have a better idea please share.