A memorable sleeper

When my son was around 12 months old, he used to wake up screaming. Not in an “I’m having a nightmare” sort of way, but in a “someone is trying to kill me and it hurts really bad” sort of way. We had no idea what was happening to him.

The first time it happened it was terrifying. We couldn’t wake him up. Half of his face was frozen into a frown, while the other half was that screaming red crying face. He was stiff as a board and immovable when I picked him up. It was heartbreaking and we didn’t know what to do. We called 911, but by the time the EMT’s got there to check him out, he was sleeping happily and everything was back to normal. We ended up at the local Children’s Hospital, waited for several hours (it was a busy night) and about 3 in the morning, after watching him sleep happily the whole time we were there, decided to just go home and keep an eye on him.

The second time it happened, we called our regular doctors after hours line. When the screaming and terror eventually subsided, he again went back to a normal sleep. We went to the doctor the next day to have him looked at, but again, everything was fine. She didn’t really have any suggestions as to the problem, but told us to keep her posted.

I started doing research, but didn’t really know what I was looking for. I was hoping it would just go away, but obviously that wasn’t realistic.

It happened a few more times and really had us freaked out. After each incident we'd head to the doctor, but we could never come up with a solution. One night, in an act of desperation, I called the nurses line from the local hospital. The nurse and I started brainstorming together and she said it sounded a lot like night terrors.

Night terrors?

I grabbed my “What to Expect the Toddler Years” book that was on my nightstand and looked it up.

“During a night terror your child seems to be awake, but is in fact asleep. You may see him sweating and breathing fast and even feel his little heart beating at a rapid rate. He's likely to appear scared and confused, even panicked, and may talk, cry, or scream. A night terror usually occurs early in the evening (one to four hours after he's fallen asleep, during very deep or non-REM sleep). Fortunately, your child will not remember any of this the next day (though you surely will!).”

Yes! This was exactly what we were experiencing! This woman, I loved this nurse. She was my saving grace. She solved what my doctor and the EMTs blew off. We finally had a reason. A diagnosis.

In our research we learned that lack of sleep can cause an incident of night terrors. We started tracking it and, sure enough, on days where we had to skip or shorten a nap for one reason or another, the night terrors happened.

After we figured this out, we were very diligent about his nap schedule and ensuring he had x amount of hours sleep every day. We made sure grandparents or anyone else taking care of him were just as diligent. Bed time was not flexible, nor were naps. Thankfully, we never had another incident.

Typically, toddlers outgrow night terrors and there are no lasting repercussions. Even still, nine years later, we pay a little more attention to his sleeping patterns and his behavior during the day. I don’t ever want to see that kind of pain or hear that kind of fear again. But I'll never forget it.

Busy busy busy

It’s been a crazy week here, especially in respect to the ten year old. He seems to be my main source of blogging entertainment these days, which I see being his role in our life forever – a main source of stories and entertainment.

This week is all about sports for him. Tuesday night was street soccer, a back to basics night of soccer where the kids play four ten minute games of 4v4 with no refs. He had a blast and saw some familiar faces. Wednesday was busy busy with track right after school, home for a quick snack and then we headed to try-outs for a premier level soccer team.

We decided this year that he would try-out for both premier and select level soccer mainly to get a feel for how try-outs run. If he gets an offer, we’ll make a decision from there, but the real idea was to give it a go when he wasn’t terribly invested in it, and therefore not so wrapped up and nervous about it. He didn’t necessarily give it his all, but he had fun. And more touches on the soccer ball are always a good thing, no matter what level of soccer you play.

Thursday he had to make a tough choice. It was the second night of try-outs, but they were at the same time as basketball practice. He was also invited to Grammy’s house to watch a couple hours of the NFL draft. How’s a ten year old sports fanatic to choose? After much deliberation on his part, he opted out of try-outs, got in a couple hours of the draft after his homework, and then we headed to basketball.

Tonight, Friday, is yet another night of soccer. He will be doing some training with some of the premier and select coaches for the next six weeks. Busy kid, but he so needs the outlet – he has so much energy.

Speaking of getting out his energy, I got a nice little email from his teacher yesterday. Apparently my chatty little boy has been “blurting out” in class, and it’s becoming such a distraction that he’s been sent into the hall twice. This week. The silver lining here is that he’s blurting out happy positive things. It is, however, still annoying his teacher.

He is an adventure, this one.

I do have other kids, of course. We are potty training the two year old right now. It sucks. There's not much more to say about that.

The teenager is an adventure in his own right. It’s a been a stressful week for him, lots of tests and not so much sleep, all which makes for an oh-so-happy household. He’s spent a lot of time at Starbucks this week, but has managed to find some social time (though always centered around studying, but it’s something).

I leave you with a picture that sums up the two year olds latest passion. Enjoy.

Easter Fun

The plan this weekend was to spend Saturday getting work done around the house (laundry, spring cleaning, yard work … blech), with time for me to get some computer work done without the two year old distraction. Sunday was to be dedicated to various relaxing and Easter festivities.


What was supposed to be a day of spring cleaning and various other chores turned into a beautiful sunny day spent out on the front lawn in the camping chairs, watching the husband teach the ten year old to ride his (spur of the moment morning purchase) bike while the most awesome neighbor and I had an early, and lengthy, happy hour(s). Happy hour(s) turned into a barbecue at their house with a few more drinks, and a Wii fest for the younger set.

The (atheist) teenager went to church with his grandmother. We all enjoyed hearing his take on it when he returned. But good for him for giving it a go, for her sake. As a side note, it’s nice to see him be social. He came over to say hi and planned to rush back to his homework, but instead stayed and chatted and laughed with us for an hour or so. He fit in a couple hours of homework, then he and the husband stayed up until 2:00am shooting things (x-box).

Easter morning, after the baskets were opened and the kids had their Easter sugar, we headed back to the neighbors (in our jammies. Awesome.) for mimosas and cinnamon rolls. A perfect start to the Easter day.

Easter afternoon consisted of naps for the adults and toddler, homework for the teenager and a meltdown for the pre-teen because his allergies are bugging him and he hasn’t been sleeping (theres always something). Dinner with the in-laws wrapped up the weekend.

Unexpected sun and family time makes for a very good weekend. We should do that more often.

Clam Strips

After two years, clam strips are back at Red Robin. You don’t even KNOW how exciting this is. Next to eating them dock side at Ivar’s in Seattle, this is my favorite way to eat one of my favorite foods.

Monday nights (mom’s night out, as you know) center around french fries and Red Robin and our most awesome bartender. However, they also used to center around clam strips. Twas our meal of choice if we hadn’t had time to eat before we escaped from the house. And then, devastating though it was, they stopped carrying them. We briefly debated switching to a new place because we weren’t particularly fond of the rest of the menu. But the fries were good. And the staff rocks. And the drinks are strong.

And finally, finally! after all these months of whining and reminding the staff that though we are ordering chicken strips tonight, we’d much rather have clam strips, I got the beloved message on facebook from the most awesome bartender.

“ladies, clam strips are back Monday”

Happy dance!!

Monday was blissful and wonderful all day, for both us moms, as we anticipated our beloved clam strips.

We each had our own order. It was wonderful. The perfect compliment to our stoli’s.

Yummy.

My 'tween is a rockstar!

The middle child and I went up to the mountain yesterday for the final day of our snowboard season. Even though it was tagged as ‘Springfest 2011’, it was almost blizzard like at times. Crazy weather, lots of snow … it was awesome (I was meant to be a snow bunny, I’m sure of it). There were lots of planned festivities (the pond skimming was hysterical!), huge crowds, general merriment was had by all that we saw.

The big news of the day for my little rockstar was that he conquered his fear of the chair lift. All season he has been freaked about riding one. He’s been in full day lessons, spent the day on the ‘bunny’ hill, done everything he could to avoid it. So after hiking up the bunny hill a couple times, enough was enough for me. Despite the tears and the fear in his voice, I more or less made him agree to ride it with me.

Me. The experienced snowboarder.

He tried hard not to let the tears go while we were riding the lift. He was terrified.

I felt horrible for putting him through such torture.

I told him we’d probably both fall as we got off the chair (we did) but that we’d have time to move out of the way (we did), and it wouldn’t hurt (too bad).

We got to the end of the ‘ride’, plopped our boards down on the snow, pushed off from the lift and immediately fell down. But we got up, breathed a sigh of relief, fist bumped and got ready to strap our boards on. The smile on his face was priceless.

The best part? I lost count of how many times he went back up on the lift. He even rode up a couple times with his buddies. And every time he fell, he just got right back up and tried it again.

Rockstar!

Ten years old?!

Today marked the final celebration for the ten year olds birthday. We do love to prolong the birthday celebrations around here (at least for the kids … birthdays aren’t as fun when you are “older”).

First stop to kick off the weekend: roller skating.  


Straight outa the 70’s baby. I’m pretty sure I used those very same skates in my youth.


In the last 48 hours, besides the roller rink, we’ve been to the ice rink, had a sleepover for three, a movie for seven and to close out the festivities, a pizza party. Pizza with five loud, goofy boys telling boy jokes while the two girls roll their eyes and try to be aloof (the beginnings of flirting?? Oh help me!!).


Don't you wish you were there? Every parents dream.


I love being a parent, and I love, love, love watching the kids in their social element (which to me is the best part of these birthday gatherings). At the same time, a little adult time is important on the weekend too. I snuck out to play a soccer game, had a nightcap with the neighbors and am looking forward to some mountain time (with the ten year old and some friends) tomorrow. The hubs got out to a movie with mom and dad. Someday we might manage to get out of the house together, the husband and I. Big dreams.


As we wrap up this week of celebrating the middle child, I look forward to getting back to normal life. Though it’s fun to single the kids out as individuals and make them feel special, I’ve learned over the years that it also makes them more difficult to be around. Less sleep, more eye rolling, more sighing, whinier whyyyyyyyyyyy’s. I look forward to the predictable eye rolling, sighing and whyyyyyyy-ing that comes with everyday life in our house.

*sigh*

Vacation Fun

As a mom, vacation has a completely different meaning than it once did. Once upon a time it meant relaxation, no responsibilities, an escape from the monotony of everyday life and a bit of freedom and fun.

I’m not sure any of those things describe my family vacations now that I have kids. Relaxation? Um no, I have a two year old. And a nine year old who is suffering from “middle child, nobody wants to hang with me” syndrome. And then there is the teenager and his girlfriend, and we won’t go in to the paranoia that comes along with that.

That covers the whole ‘no responsibility’ thing too.

An escape from the everyday monotony? Did I mention I have a two year old? Schedules and routine do not change just because we aren’t home. You do NOT screw with nap time if you want to keep sane.

Freedom? Did I mention the two year old?

But fun … does fun come in to play here? I guess that depends on how you look at it. Fun when I was a kid, or even before I had kids of my own, was much more wild and crazy, much more cleansing and freeing. It did not consist of doing dishes for six people, cleaning up after the toddling princess, arguing with the nine year old and giving relationship advice to the teenager.

Now that I AM a mom, I have altered my definition of fun (though wild and crazy has its place). Now fun consists of playing Wii for three hours with the middle child (he kicked my butt at tennis, but I rule at bowling … and that snowboarding games is kind of fun too). It consists of watching the two year old as she belly laughs while twirling around in circles. And it consists of watching the teenager smile, laugh and interact with his siblings and the rest of us like he actually likes us.

Good times. But now I need my own vacation.