The Infant Sleep Industry

As I've said before, the six-month-old little boy isn't sleeping through the night yet. We had his 6m pediatrician appointment yesterday and were told he's 15.6 lbs (20%ile) and 27 inches (90%ile). I asked if maybe he was waking up because he has a fast metabolism and is waking up because he is truly hungry. The doctor immediately said, "No." You'd think she would at least consider the possibility, but whatever.

Over the past six months we've tried everything we could think of to get him to sleep. It's amazing how much stuff there is out there to "help your infant sleep well." Sound machines with projected images, swaddles, Dream Lights...check out the infant aisles at your local stores and you'll find a ton of stuff offering better sleep. I'll wander these stores and see soon to be parents registering for them all and I will stop and say, "You know what? Your kid may not take a paci. They may hate the swaddle. Don't get this stuff until you know it works. Ask for a gift card instead."

You want to register for something helpful? Get a glider/rocking chair (with a foot stool). It's been the most useful thing for both of our kids in terms of relaxing and feeding. Better yet, find a used one from family or Craigslist (clean of course). Don't buy into the infant sleep industry unless you truly need to and you know your kid will use it.

Merry Chris!

I woke up this morning to Silas, age 2, telling me, "Happy Chris Mama!" So to all our friends and family in blog land, "Happy Chris!"

"Why so serious?"

For a few days now I've been posting on Facebook about things that make me #happy (yes, with the Tweety hashtag, and no they're not Tweets). A couple of regular viewers to the FB page have asked why. Not that they're wanting me to be #unhappy, but why now, why this?

Well let me share just a small glimpse into The House. My work hadn't been taking out the correct amount for insurance (both dental and health) and they caught it in September. Two years later. So I owed them almost 4K. But they'd take it out every pay period and before taxes so it wouldn't be a financial burden. Well taking half of my check every two weeks, every pay period...yeah that's going to be a burden. So Daddy and I eat what we can and the kids eat what they need and it's still a financial burden.

Cue illness. I lost my voice and was out of work for almost three weeks (can't teach with no voice). Dr.s appointments and a specialist and vocal therapy later and I'm diagnosed with muscular tension dysphonia. Basically I put too much stress (both physical and muscular) on my voice, so it peaced out. HR (how I love them right about then) wants me to take FERPA but doesn't explain it well so I'm not sure what all is going on. And I can't talk. I can't read to Silas or sing with him (he started singing the ABCs, it's awesome). And all the doctors visits put more financial strain on us. Fun.

Did I mention that the six-month-old doesn't sleep through the night? He wakes up around one and sometimes goes back to sleep and sometimes is ready to party until 4 or 5 a.m. The pediatrician tells us to get some earplugs and let him cry it out. I offer to ship him to her house and let her do that.

Then it's Christmas. My Mom's asking for pictures of our tree. We don't have a freaking tree because we can't afford one. A friend of mine from college graciously sends us one, which was so sweet it made me cry.

I go to the dermatologist to deal with some super itchy skin and he tells me it could be a fungal infection or it could be t-cell lymphoma. The fun just keeps coming.

So every day I remid myself of what I am #happy for. Some days it's a struggle because really, most times I want to curl in a ball and cry (and sleep). But I remind myself that I'm here, I'm alive, my voice is coming back slowly but surely, and I have an amazing husband and two sweet, healthy, and gorgeous boys.

If you see the FB posts about being #happy, just know that every day I'm reminding myself of what is amazing in my life.