Nighttime Struggles

I will say that over the summer we have developed some awesome sleep habits.  As in, bedtime waaaay too late, taking literally hours to fall asleep and once asleep, not staying at rest.  We have never had great sleepers.  Any of our Beauties, beginning with Chloe.

Matt and I have reverted to advice given by the pediatrician as well as many parenting books.  We have reversed the lock on the triplets bedroom door.  They get three chances to stay in bed and go to sleep, after the third chance, the door gets locked.  I know to some it sounds mean, harsh if you will.  However, it is the only thing that we have done that seems to actually work.  If it remains unlocked, they literally come out, come out, come out and come out.  Over and over again.  I go back and forth on how I feel about it.  But last night, I realized they are safe and they are not in harm by having the door locked at night.

Fast forward to after all four were finally asleep.  I have taken a liking to that new show "Raising Sextuplets" I don't watch it often, but every once in a while.  (I was never a fan of Jon & Kate and always HATED being asked if I watched it just because I have multiples.)  But the parents in this one seem real, they seem to face real challenges of parenting multiples.  They actually remind me a lot of Matt and I.  I see similar personality traits.  Kinda weird.  

Back to the point...Last night one of the episodes on showed the challenges of success in getting toddlers to stay in bed throughout the night.  They had a parenting expert on who explained that when the children were babies, at sleep time, their cribs were their safe place.  Now that they are toddlers, able to be more mobile than is good for them sometimes, instead of having a crib, their room has now become their crib, their safe place during the nighttime hours.  

That has been a huge worry for Matt an I since the triplets have moved to toddler beds.  Our bedroom in downstairs, theirs up.  Although the house is "kid proofed" they are monkeys, curious monkeys and I often do worry about them safety wise.  Nothing stops them from getting on counters, going into the bathroom, up and down stairs in a groggy state, and especially opening the front door.  If I'm asleep and they are roaming the house, you just never know what trouble may find them.   We still have the monitor in their room of course.  I do hear them when they get up, if they are crying or loud.  But often, when they are quietly playing, I may not hear them right away.  They wake at different times each day.  Sometimes six sometime seven or eight, so I can honestly say, I don't wake before them and wait for them to get up.  I get the sleep I need.  Matt will agree on that one. So with a simple lock of the door, they are safe, where I put them.

Watching this parenting expert confirm this, remembering our pediatrician tell us that it isn't cruel or mean, makes me feel better about doing it.  Makes me remember, we are doing it to keep them safe.  

It was funny to see on the show the mom and dad carry out the same behaviors that Matt and I do.  Him being the strong, firm one and me the one having to cry, go downstairs or even outside until they lay down and go to sleep.  We are confident that it is what is best for us, and they only are upset for mere minutes, rather than hours of frustration on everyone involved, parents and children alike.

Now if we could just figure out how to get Chloe to sleep in her OWN bed by herself...we would be ready to conquer the next challenge in parenthood.

Three in the Bed

There were three in the bed and the little one said...good night.
The Beauties are officially in their toddler beds.  It has been a about a two week process, and I think (knock on wood...hard knocking please) we are home free.  the first week was rough.  Super rough.  Tears, knocking, pounding and clothing covering the entire room every single morning.  Mommy and Sissy did a lot of sleeping on the floor the first two nights.  After night three they were in the room alone (as alone as you can be in a room shared between triplets) they weren't sleeping well yet, but they weren't crying either.  For the first week, it took well over two hours every night for them to stop jumping from bed to bed, throwing clothes everywhere, reading books and talking to actually fall asleep.  This week has been much much much better.  We now have a closet door in place (this due the the fact that EVERY article of clothing found it's way to the floor in the middle of the night, every night the first week.)  If you are wondering, yes the closet is very clean now and not only sports a door but also a lock, smart Mommy.
They are going to sleep within an hour and fall asleep while chatting to each other, or reading a book in the dim night light.  I am also proud to say (knock hard on wood again) that the afternoon nap has resumed.  Thank the stars.  Ten long days without one...it is very much a fact they are NOT ready to be sans nap quite yet.  Neither are Mommy or Daddy.  they are not napping as long, but at least they are sleeping.  Bribery has helped out with the napping.  I promise we will go outside after nap everyday, and we do.  Works well so if it's not broke, I am sure not willing to fix it.

Slumber Party

For Chloe's birthday she asked to have a few friends come over to stay over night.  They had pizza and grapes.  For the birthday treat it was cookies and ice cream.  After that we did a little dancing.  Chloe picked our nail polish for each friend and her little sisters, so we gathered in a circle and did up some mani/pedis.  They loved it.  Everyone sat so still.  Auntie Molly even commented on how still the triplets were.  Still ONLY because they LOVE the polished nails.
At about 9:30 (two hours after normal) the triplets said nite-nite and went to bed.  Chloe and friends settled in to watch a princess flick.  All struggled on the floor they giggled and talked.  It was really cute.  They were up until very close to midnight.  When they were all snoring away, I went downstairs and crawled into bed.  Chloe came down to our room about 2:30.  (I couldn't believe she lasted so long.)  At about 4:30 I sat straight up in bed to hear a loud obnoxious pounding coming from upstairs...I took off running upstairs and found little girls beating on the bedroom and bathroom doors...yes the triplets room being one of those doors.  "Girls!  What on earth are you doing?  PLEASE do NOT wake up the triplets, PLEASE.  They were "not tired anymore" although I thought they looked pretty tired.  There was no more sleeping after that.  Triplets up by 5:15.  It is 10:30 now...all the kiddos that do not belong to me have been returned to their Mommies.  Whom I feel bad for right now, because if their kids are as crabby as the beauties are, well, I just feel bad.

All in all it was a fun night!  They all got along great (which I was more worried about than the sleeping) they were good at sharing and taking turns and there were no major disasters.  Which is good.  Not sure when the next over-nighter will be hosted here....but maybe someday.  Maybe.

Good Night

Are you sitting down? If not...please take a seat.

My sweet little Chloe...slept IN HER OWN BED ALL NIGHT.
Can we get a HOORAY!
I am so proud of her.

For the last several nights we have been doing our bedtime routine and having story time in HER room. She had been spending more time in there by herself, so we figured it was time to give it another try.
For four nights she and I laid down in her room together, she fell asleep, I went out. Between the hours of one midnight and one she would come downstairs and crawl into bed with me.
Last night, same routine, she asked if I would stay with her until she fell asleep. "Of course." I replied. She fell asleep. I went to bed. Next thing I knew, she was standing next to me. "Mommy, will you come upstairs and lay with me until I fall back asleep?" No kidding, exact words. "Of Course!" I replied. As we walked upstairs, I glanced at the clock...6:52...
SHE SLEPT ALL NIGHT IN HER ROOM!
Hooray! I am so proud of my Chloe Girl!

Night caps

The beauties have started waking in the night several times each night again. Why? Just when you think they are all sleeping though the night, they start waking up again. It would be so much easier to bring all four of the beauties to bed with me. But Matt says NO WAY! I know, he is right.
We are back at the cry it out, self soothing thing. Which I hate. But they say it has to be done. I admit it has worked every other time with them. They just get in a routine. They wake, they want Mommy, they cry. Mommy picks up, soothes, hugs and they go back to sleep, only to wake in an hour or so and do the entire routine over.
I can let them cry if Matt is here. But when he is working I go crazy. I send him text messages about how this cry thing doesn't work. He says be strong, so I tell him I can't, and ask how he can stand to let them cry. He hates it too. But, it does seem to work. How come they always know to do it on nights Daddy is at work? They sleep all night when he is here. He goes to work and they are up five different times? Hmmmm, they must have Mommy pegged to be the softy. I won't tell them they are right just yet.
So, while I am up, listening to my beauties "soothe" themselves back to sleep...I realize...I'm tired.

Day one complete

Chloe and I began the transition last night. We are trying to get started on a night time routine. Hence school will begin in a month. Matt and I decided it was time to go full throttle on getting our first born out of our bed and into her own. She is not as sure as we are about this. She cried on and off all day yesterday, knowing that last night was the first night. We are easing into the change. I am sleeping in her room with her for the first three nights. Then I will lay with her until she is asleep for three nights. Then I will sit on her bed for three nights...and so on until I am out of the room. She did really well last night. We slept there all night, she didn't even wake when I got up twice to use the powder room. She was very excited this morning that we slept in there the entire night. Let's hope the excitement continues and things progress. I want my bed back. Wish us luck.

Sugar Momy will take a nap with a side order of Sleep

Why is it that kids hate to go to sleep?
Why is it that Mommys would do anything for a nice long afternoon nap?
I sure cannot answer this. Wish I could. I will tell you that the only one napping around here this afternoon is Scooby...the cat. Lucky cat.

How does he do it?

This is a sneak peek of what Daddy has to sleep through on a daily basis. He recently went back to nights. (Yes, by choice.) He gets to see his Little Beauties more this way. He works a rotating schedule, every other weekend off. So far it has been nice, I was a bit skeptical. He is here in the evenings to eat dinner and then off to work. When he arrives home in the morning he has breakfast with the Beauties and then off to bed. If you have been in our home, if you have multiples, or if you have 3 or more children close in age, you know how quiet it isn't. All day running, jumping, laughing, squealing. slamming, dropping, clanking, crying, shrieking, fighting, bickering, Mommy intervening, singing, dancing, giggling, bouncing, skipping...get the picture? No silence to be heard for miles...but Daddy sleeps. He wakes and says he didn't even hear us most days (I think he may by stretching the truth.) Anyway...this is the Beauties new "Monkey See Monkey Do"...they did this for well into an hour. How does he sleep? Really?

Sleepytime

Have you ever wondered why children will do everything in their power to stay awake just a little later? So afraid they may miss something. They want to continue playing. Stay in the tub just five more minutes. They need to read just one more story. Have another drink. Go potty again. Be tucked in more tightly. Have the closet checked for monsters (for the 16th time). Be kissed and hugged once more (which I never mind). But then as adults (mothers you ALL know what I mean) you would KILL for a nap and a solid five to seven a night!
I remember when Chloe was born. Being a new MOM! How wonderful! I wouldn't trade her for anything. How easy it was when she wouldn't sleep to snuggle her right into bed in between Matty and I. She loved it there. Oh how she loved it there! Still does in fact...four and half years later. The triplets were a little different, partly because our bed isn't big enough and partly...oh who am I kidding...it's all due to the fact that our bed wasn't big enough!
Anyway, where was I going with this, oh yeah, as I sit here listening to the triplets babble and talk to each other from their room (yes, they should be awaiting a visit from Mr Sandman), I wonder...How in the H-E-L-L did I make it that long without sleep! Wow! I love that they are sleeping through the night now! Since they are not babbling anymore...I think I may go catch a nap...yep...with Chloe.