Grant has never been average in the sleeping world. He didn't sleep through the night until 9 months and has been a light sleeper ever since. He's been having what's called parasomnias for a little over a year. Ever night is a little different but on the bad ones, he'll wake up screaming, thrashing, totally confused, and looking like he's in pain. Disturbing and awful to watch. He's not necessarily awake so trying to talk him down doesn't work...we just have to let it pass. What a helpless feeling and trust me, I've shed many tears over it.
My mom and I have spent many hours researching online, talked to our pediatrician several times, inquired with Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, but to no avail. We just can't figure it out.
Other than sending a formal request to appear on Supernanny, we have tried everything. Literally. Here's the list:
-Eliminating TV
-changing diet
-different lighting...on/off, low wattage, an arsenal of all styles of nightlights
-different temperatures
-light PJs, no PJs, heavy PJs
-different diapers/PullUps depending on what stage of potty training we were in
-different bed time routines...from short to really long
-homeopathic stuff that claims to be sleep aids
-sticker charts
-daytime activities that will surely wear out a typical toddler
-other stuff I know I'm not remembering...my brain is not functioning lately!
Bottom line: none of it has worked. No changes. Not even close.
We haven't slept through the night since November of 2010. I can't even believe that as I type it.
Lilly no longer sleeps through the night either. She's in our bed 6 nights out of 7 by midnight. Taking her back to her own room is similar to the worst temper tantrum you've witnessed in the middle of Wal-Mart on a busy Saturday morning. Just not pretty. And really not worth the fight.
Sam wakes every night 4 to 5 times and I give in to nurse him usually twice just so he goes right back to sleep and I can grab another hour of precious shut-eye.
See the mess we're in?!
I thought I knew what sleep deprivation was when I was nursing our kids as newborns all night long, but this is unreal. Tim and I can't even perform basic tasks without being confused. I've driven the wrong way on routes I take every day. I forget even the simplest things. I slur my speech...not particularly helpful when in sales. My patience is nearly non-exsistant. Oh, and the bags under my eyes are totally hot.
We had enough of this mess after a few weeks of out of control nights and I called a local children's hospital. We need answers. We need help. We are at a loss. We're feeling a little hopeless that this will ever improve.
We accomplished the first step last night. Grant underwent a sleep study. We saw a sleep specialist who recommended a study right away after we reviewed his history. She threw out all types of possibilities. Restless Leg Syndrome. Seizures. Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. Not the worst, but still not what I wanted to hear.
He had a full panel of probes and monitors all over his sweet little body. Wires all over his head, a snoring monitor taped to his neck, belts across his chest, oxygen monitor on his toe, stuff on his chin to see if he grinds his teeth, EEG stuff on his chest...just to name a few. He did amazing. And had an episode! I was sad, but happy that we can hopefully get some answers to help him sleep more comfortably every night.
I'm praying that the next time I post about sleeping that it'll be a little more positive! We should know something in two weeks. Until then, the madness continues...
