"Some women's husbands buy them plastic surgery enhancements," I joked to Missy's Ear, Nose & Throat pediatrician post-op, "Instead, mine gets my daughter's adenoids removed so I get the gift of sleep."
So that's what it was. In the weeks following surgery to remove her ginormous adenoids, waking during the night has become the exception not the rule for sweet little Missy. She regularly goes 11 to 12 hours. Miracle upon miracles.
I won't gloat, because I hated people who gloated that their kid slept through the night when mine was waking every three hours. But, I mean, c'mon. I might be a little bit due. She didn't sleep for more than four hours at a clip for 18 looooong months. Until now.
Sigh. So blissful. Sleep. All six, seven, even eight (!) hours of it. I can remember phone numbers again. I can walk into a room and remember what I came in there for. I can put her to bed and - shocker! - actually go do something without her waking in an hour or two.
To quote the t-shirt: Life is good.
I honestly have to credit my nanny and the book, "The No Cry Sleep Solution," for my good fortune. The book got me seriously thinking that Missy might have sleep apnea. And my nanny galvanized me to act on it.
As for our regular pediatrician... She can suck it. When I brought up the no-sleeping-through-the-night-yet issue at Missy's one year appointment, all I got was 10 pages of cry-it-out and the Ferber Method protocol. As it happens, she could have asked me three basic questions: does she snore? what does it sound like on the monitor just before she wakes up? have you or your husband had your tonsils and/or adenoids removed? And referred me to an ear, nose and throat pediatrician for further review. Sleep apnea in children - and especially in babies - is vastly underdiagnosed. I now know why.
The best part though is Missy when she wakes up. She is all rosy cheeked and bright eyed. Like a baby should look when they wake after a long night's rest. Gone are the dark circles and pale visage.
Yes. Life is good.
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11 comments:
I am so happy to read this!!!! so so happy for you. I know the value of a baby that sleeps. I can't imagine having one, but i long for the day..fantasize about it. i try not to let it consume my thoughts. we're working with the pediatrician and going back to the GI doc next week. still no luck. major regression for the past three weeks. luckily i'm seeing a counselor and so far, i'm not close to the edge. i wouldn't make it through without a counselor, though. when we are through with the reflux then i'll check out the book you mention.
Hooray!
What a wonderful advocate you've been for Missy -- I am always still so polite when it comes to doctors -- I have to get over it!
And thank you, by the way , for the book recommendation -- I've been meaning to write you but I can't seem to keep more than one 'to do' on my list at a time -- and then I forget the rest!
I'm still smiling that you're getting some sleep! You SO deserve to gloat -- 18 months of sleep deprivation...eek.
Thinking of you as the ski season gears up...
XO
Pam
Fabulous! All around good news for the whole family!
That is *fantastic* news! I am so happy for you -- and for Missy.
Hooray! I'm so glad the surgery went well and that she's sleeping well. I'm convinced that a mothers instinct is always right. I'm glad you followed yours. :-)
Oh what a beautiful thing. I'm so happy for you both! Screw plastic surgery! All you need is a decent night's sleep. Hip hip hooray for a rosy cheeked, bright-eyed baby.
wow - sounds like the adenoid removal is proving wonderful for both the parents and the little one! Hope she is enjoying all that quality night night time now!
Congratulations, life is good once again!
Poor thing. So glad things are better. I had my adenoids out when I was young as well. Makes me wonder about my daughter. She's not as good a sleeper as my son. Hmmm.
Go mommie! And missy! I am so glad that you are getting sleep. It is a blessed thing ;)
Huh. This is really making me think - my kid is NOT a good sleeper either (he's 16 months). I'm so happy to read that you are now getting sleep . . . Yay!
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