Follow Up

We had already stopped CIO when I wrote the last post.

I wasn't sure what I was going to do next but I knew that CIO wasn't working for Boo.

I have never been a fan of CIO. I believe that babies cry for a reason, and that reason is communication. What they are trying to communicate is a mystery sometimes. And we don't always have an immediate fix, but what we do have, what I have always felt very strongly, is the ability to communicate that we will always be here for you. And Boo has heard that message loud and clear all his short life. And it seems to have paid off. He is very bonded to us and easily reassured by us. If we encourage him to try something new, he is happy to do so, he trusts us. If he falls or squats his fingers or gets frustrated a quick kiss from Mama or Dada can make it right instantaneously. And I'll be damned if I was going to jeopardize that for a bit more sleep. Really, we've been doing without continuous sleep this long. So we've come up with our own method. I am sure CIO works for some kids. And I was prepared to let him cry for a couple of nights if it meant better rest for all of us. It didn't work that way, we all got less sleep instead of more and he hated his bedtime.

We rock him and sing songs in our recliner chair before bed until he is so drowsy he drifts off. But the moment he drifts off we kiss his cheek, tell him good night and put him in bed. This has aroused him every single time. We lay him on his side (his favorite position), put his favorite stuffed animal (a very soft Hippo) in front of him and cover him in his favorite blanket. He usually tries to turn onto his stomach so he can get up but we put our hand on his shoulder and tell him he has to stay in his bed. He sometimes fusses (never for more than a minute or two). And we stay there until he falls asleep. Sometimes he lays there quietly but occasionally looks up to ensure we are still there. Since our last post we have done this for every bedtime and night waking. From the time we put him in his bed until we leave the room is never more than 10 minutes and with minimal crying. And we never leave him alone to cry. It works for us and it seems to be working for Boo. His night wakings have decreased drastically, although they have not been altogether eliminated. Lots of evenings we have heard him wake up, mutter, gather his hippo and his blankie and moan his way back to sleep. Other nights he fully wakes up and we have to go in. So be it. If he cries I will respond. He needs to know that I continue to be here for him. And hey, from the time I leave my bed to the time I return is never more than 15 minutes, so much better that sleeping with him in the recliner chair!

Boo turned 15 months over the long weekend. And just as suddenly it seems his language has exploded. He's been saying Mama, Dada and Hi for ages but suddenly he knows almost all his animal sounds and will rhyme them off for almost anyone. He says ABC (that's it so far) He says "no more" or "all done" when he is done with something (usually food). He says my brother's name and my sister's fiance's name. He says Grandma and Grandpa (although usually he says Pa for Grandpa). He says Hi, Hello, Bye Bye, Kitty, doggie, yeah, yummy, baby, boy, bike, all done, No, No way, bird (he's fascinated with birds), and "I did it". He likes to get praise and I did it is almost always followed by Yay (hands up in the air) and then clapping for himself.

Two weeks ago we actually had a conversation. I had made him a cheese sandwich for lunch which he was happily eating until he saw me wash and cut up his fruit (he is obsessed with fruit). Upon seeing the fruit he started to fuss and called to me "All done Mama". I said, No Boo, you have lots of cheese sandwich left, eat it please. To which he responded "No Way" I said Boo, You don't get fruit until you eat your cheese sandwich, let's go. So he said "No Mama, all done" and refused to eat another bite.

He is learning to jump and it is so hilarious to see him raise one knee in the air, put his hands in the "up" position and then hop on the other foot. He is so proud of himself and this accomplishment always gets the Yay, and self-applause.

He loves his books and will often bring me one after another (up to 5 or 6 at a time) to read to him. He loves to climb and will scale my coffee table with ease, climb all over our couch and gets giddy with excitement at the park where he can easily climb the stairs or the ramp and come down the slide all by himself.

He loves our cats and will often not leave them alone. When I scold him for being too rough he buries his face in their fur and says "ahhhhhh"

He is my little man and I am not sure what I would do without him.

I'll leave you with some pictures and a comment that I have been to the clinic and signed the paper work and paid for a FET. However they will not do anything unless they can get something from my neurologist or neurosurgeon in writing saying it is safe for me to be pregnant. Just so you understand my rant is for self-righteous indignation, my neurologist has no problem with the letter. While I understand this from a legal perspective it makes me very angry. If I could get pregnant on my own, I wouldn't have to ask anyone's permission. And this seems like one less thing I can control in my life. Like punishment for having a brain tumour and a slap in the face about being barren. If they just wanted to protect themselves they could have me sign a waiver. As a lawyer it is not like I could later state I didn't understand the risk

Playing at a nearby water park
















Running through the tall grass at Grandma and Grandpa's Cottage





















Out in boat with Grandpa
















Helping Moma with her much neglected garden (I promise the grass did get mowed later too)
















Playing in the rain after an interupted bike ride

















Playing in a tractor at a friends farm