Emotional roller coaster… and Bumbo, not Gumbo

Wow. Where do I begin.

Matthias is better in some ways but still the same in others. The holding and walking thing is still going on but we did finally get a breakthrough in the sleep department.

The boy can’t stand his baby bed. Who knew?

The other night I left him here in the living room in his pack-n-play while I lay on the sofa. I knew Ryan needed some uninterrupted sleep. My intention was to get up with him at his next feeding and then go to bed in our bedroom. That didn’t happen. Ryan came into the living room at about 6:30 the next morning. I was asleep on the couch and Matthias was still snoozing in his pack-n-play. He slept for 10 hours straight! I thought something was wrong with him but because he was normal the rest of the day we overlooked the all night sleeping thing as a quirk.

Then a couple of nights later I did the same thing because I knew Ryan was having a rough time at work and I didn’t want him to be tired from being woken up. Matthias slept through the night again. The next night we put him back in his bed in our room and he woke up three times. Then two nights ago it dawned on me that he might not like his bed and maybe that is why he only sleeps through the night in the pack-n-play. So, we put the pack-n-play in our room and for the last three nights he slept through the night again! Needless to say the bed came out of the room today and his pack-n-play replaced it.

I did bring him back to the doctor on Monday after my near mental breakdown. You know, it was a bad mommy day. The doctor said his tummy is fine. They did a few tests but what convinced them was the fact that Matthias screamed like someone was poking him with a pin while he was on the doctor’s table but the moment anyone – doctor, nurse, me – picked him up he sighed and then was quiet and even smiling. The doctor tested that a few times and then told me that he was just a high maintenance baby. A high maintenance 4 month old baby that weighs over 17lbs, is almost 29 inches tall, wears 12 month clothes, and is well over the 90th percentile for growth I might add. No wonder our backs hurt.

I am so thankful for all of your comments, suggestions, and encouragement. I really needed it.

Ginger and Debbie both mentioned some writings by Dr. Sears. Ryan and I read the article and oh my… is that ever Matthias. I also like the suggestion about teaching him a few words in sign language to communicate.

My pops-in-love also sent us some great advice that really helped the situation. He said, “lay hands on him and pray.” We did. You know sometimes when you are in the midst of things you forget the most important stuff. It is good to have that reminder. Thanks, Dad!

More news: Ryan got a new job! Woo Hoo! This is such great news for us. After almost two years of barely making it God has answered our prayers! This job is much better than the other job he had. I can’t wait to see what unfolds from here. Maybe a new house in the future?

We also got a couple of special treats this weekend. My mom-in-love kept Matthias twice for us so we could get things done around the house. And… my brother-in-love, the chef in training, came over to cook for us. It.was.so.good. That boy has a gift.

Oh and don’t you love the pic of Matthias in his new Bumbo? Janet and Tiany both recommended the Bumbo seat. I had never heard of this thing. I kept saying the name too just because it is so cute. The boys thought I was saying gumbo and kept asking when they could eat it. Poor things. But, this Bumbo is like the coolest thing since Nutella. What else have I not heard of? On second thought maybe you shouldn’t tell me. I’ll go broke.

And that Moby Wrap… Big THANK YOU to Suzanne for that recommendation. I can’t wait to tell you about my experience with that but yeah, it deserves its own post. mmm, hmmm.

Overall it has been a great week. So much growing in such a short time. I don’t know what God is doing but I’m so thankful for it and I look forward to what is to come!