Sleep Training

Officially, I start my sleep training today. Since I realise that Cameron has a different personality from Cayden, I cannot use the same methods. I tried that controlled crying method on Cameron last week, but it was useless. He cried up to one hour, no signs of letting go or calming down. I am employing the methods of Tracy Hoggs (the Baby Whisperer). I used the shush/pay method and it worked to calm Cameron down. Then I am starting to use the P.U/P.D method and so far, so good.

Last night was such a horrible night. The little man was over stimulated because we went to I-ru's house for lunch and plenty of people carried him and lots of kids screaming. His routine was also thrown off, he refused to drink his milk so he had a really unrested night. So did we. He woke up 6 times from 7pm to 6am! He was also hungry coz he didn't drink enough during the day, but I refused to let him drink. I don't want him to become a snacker! He needs to take his full feeds in the day and not in the night! I had to carry him to sleep from 3am to 5.40am and he woke up at 6am! I decided, enough was enough!

Let's see the outcome in a few days. Fingers crossed.

Sleeping through the night?

As of 3 nights ago, Cameron has been sort of sleeping through the night. He goes down at around 7pm. I give me a last feed at 11pm and he will sleep through til 5.30 or 6.30am. When he wakes up at 5.30am, we give him a small feed of 2oz and he can sleep til about 7.30am. But I realise that it screws up the routine. I learnt it the hard way. So I wake him up at 7am to start the day.

But when he wakes up, he is usually not interested in his feed, so I suspect he doesn't really need the 5.30am feed. I will try to pacify him with water instead, and see how we go.

Struggle

Here I am, close to 2 weeks after returning to Mongolia, I am still struggling with 2 kids. I have no idea how the other mothers can do it and still keep their sanity. The craziest hours for me is 1pm and 5.30pm. That's when I am trying to feed Cayden his lunch / dinner, while trying to carrying Cameron (coz he is whining) or keep Cameron asleep for his nap. Its been such a trying time. Not the best time of my life.

If only, if only I can find more help. If only I can find a reliable helper to help with the cleaning and handling of 1 kid while I handle the other.

Or maybe, if only Cameron follows his routine faithfully, then maybe I can make this work.

This time around, with Cameron, I have to admit that I have not been very consistent, which is not the best thing to do when I want to fix Cameron on a routine. I have to "make-do" coz now I have another child to take care of and to think of. My temper is also very short. I get frustrated easier and by smaller things.

I really want to do better. I really want to handle things better. But so far, I can't.

I am really hoping things for change for the better real soon.

Back In Mongolia

We are now officially back in Mongolia. Have been back since 16 August 2009. It has been tough since we have been back. NO HOT WATER TIL 26 AUGUST! So I have been boiling pots and pots of water since we are back. Have not had a proper hot shower for a week now. Crap.

I have not found a full time babysitter to help me. So far, I have found a babysitter to help me from 9am to 1pm every weekday. She helps me with Cameron, so that I can start preparations for Cayden's lunch and our dinner.

My schedule goes like this:

6+am - Cayden and Cameron wakes up. Lester gives Cayden breakfast & Cameron his milk.
7.40am - I wake up and prepare for Cameron's bath
8am - Bath Cameron and feed Cameron remainder of milk
9am - Put Cameron down for morning nap.
9am to 10am - I take my coffee and do laundry, light housework.
10am - Cameron wakes up. Babysitter takes over.
10am to 11am - Prepare food
11am - Give Cameron his milk
11.30am - Start to cook lunch
12pm - Put Cameron down for afternoon nap
12.30pm - Give Cayden lunch.
1.30pm - Cayden takes his nap.
2pm - Cameron wakes up (on a good day)
2 to 2.30pm - Playtime with Cameron
2.30pm - Feed Cameron
3.30pm - Cayden wakes up. Give him a snack or hot drink
4pm - Put Cameron down for short nap
4pm - Cook dinner.
4.30pm - Cameron wakes up.
5pm - Give Cayden his dinner.
6pm - Bathe Cameron and put him to sleep while Cayden watches TV
7pm - Bathe Cayden
7.30pm - Dinner & give Cayden his bedtime milk.
8.30pm - Put Cayden to sleep
9pm - Bath
11pm - Night feed for Cameron
3/4am - Night feed for Cameron

This is absolutely exhausting. Not the best time of my life now.

Fingers crossed that I can find a good full time help to help with housework AND kids.

Cameron

This is Cameron. 3.4kg

Cayden's Latest...

Went to the peds and had Cayden weighed. He has lost weight.

Weight: 17.8kg

Hmmm... not too good. Time to start cooking for him again.

Jan 2009 - Cayden's Update

We brought Cayden to his pediatrician for his annual flu jab, and also for a general health check.

His latest stats is
Weight: 18kg
Height: 103cm

Peds noted that he can draw quite well. Our camera is spoiled at the moment, but will upload pics of his drawings after we get it fixed.