How did you do it?

Well, today has been okay. She slept until 2:30am, ate and went back to sleep until 7. She ate and slept a little on that bottle, but was awake fully until 10:20 and was ready for her next bottle. She then went to sleep and slept almost an hour! Yay!!! Got up, played, but her next feeding didn't go well. She didn't finish it and kept pulling away from it. I've been working with to eat baby food, so we tried some carrots and she's getting better with her tongue and actually ate several bites. So, even though she didn't eat all of her 1:30 bottle, she had some carrots with it. She was getting really tired around 2:30, so put her to sleep at 2:45. She woke up at 3:10. I let her go a little bit, went in, gave her the paci and shushed her and patted her tummy to calm her. Left, cried again, let her go a little bit, went back in, etc. After doing this for 15 min., I went ahead and changed her wet diaper to see if that would help. I also got a lullaby cd and turned that on in her room (music sometimes helps her in the car for a little while). Went back to her room, held her and swayed her with her paci and blanket. Her eyes were drowsy. Laid her down again and she was quiet for a little while, started crying, quieted down, cried, etc. Finally stayed quiet at 4:05. She is due to eat at 4:30, so we'll see if she wakes up or sleeps. She sometimes goes 4 hours during the day with her eating. If she stays asleep, then I'll keep her up until her 7:30 or 8 bottle and I'm sure she'll be ready for the night by that time since she hasn't had much sleep today, again. I know we'll finally get there, just takes time. As for the carseat issue, she is still rear facing in an infant seat. We've wondered if the riding makes her feel bad because she isn't unhappy in her carseat in the house, it's only as we are out and about. She doesn't scream constantly, but she's never completely happy during a trip either. My others were not like this. Nothing really helps console her, sometimes not even her bottle. I know this will take time, too. I'm accepting her for who she is, but I also like to know if there is something I could do to help it. It stresses us all out, especially my oldest who is easily stressed. Trips out with her are few and far between. :) I just remind the kids that she's either going to cry, be quiet, play or sleep just like they did and that we just love her in all those times and to try and be calm when she is really upset. Her big sister is the calmest one of all, so she usually sits by her. :)

We've been enjoying the old Dennis the Menace series.

Let me talk this out...right now, she usually goes to bed between 9 and 10, which is her cereal bottle feeding, and wakes up between 5 and 7. (8 hours sleep) If I let her last bottle be her 6 or 7pm bottle, then she might wake up at 2am or 3am to eat again (8 hours sleep) and then go back to sleep. She should then wake up at 6am or 7am (4 hours). If that occurs, then I start the daytime schedule at 6 or 7am, feed her, play/tummy time/talk for one-two hours and put her down for a nap at 8-9am and hopefully she sleeps longer than 30 min. (If she doesn't, do I work with her to sleep longer or just get her up?) After that nap, up to eat, play, then down again for another longer nap (hopefully) and then up, feed, play and then let the next bottle be her last bottle for bedtime (hopefully). Does that sound right? (if you followed my thinking. could be clear as mud.)

Thanks for the responses so far. I will wrap my head around your suggestions and see what happens. I've done this in the past, I know I have, but it was my first baby (now 12yo) that I had to figure out like this, so I've forgotten. My other two were fairly easy and scheduling wasn't difficult and they did it for me for the most part. I can do this, I know I can! :) Please share more. I need the encouragement and hand-holding. :)

**Please do not comment if you do not agree with scheduling babies. I'm not debating that issue. Thank you.** First, my 5 month old sleeps fairly well at night (7-10 hours, avg. 8 hours most nights). She eats her bottle and then goes back to sleep for another 4 hours. Her sleep during the day is sporadic and usually not long. She will have three 30-45 min. naps before the evening. Sometimes she takes one longer nap, in the afternoon, but that isn't her norm. She'll also sometimes take another nap in the evening before her last bottle and bed for the night. Needless to say, you can tell that she is very tired by the time bedtime comes because she's not had a good sleep for several hours and all I've done for the day is feed and rock her to sleep with some playtime in between. I'm wondering if anyone had a baby like this and if you have any hints on what to do. I'm not opposed to holding my baby or rocking my baby or holding her all day while she wants to sleep, but that is not realistic with three other kiddos, a home to tend and homeschooling. Is this just her personal sleep habit that will remain? I can't remember these times with my other children and what I did and even if I found something that helped, one thing that works for one baby, it doesn't always work for the other. This 4th blessing keeps me guessing and trying to find solutions that helps her on this issue and others. :) I'm mainly wondering if I need to help her by scheduling her better? For example, eat, play for an hour, put her to sleep (whether or not she seems ready. She goes to sleep by being rocked with pacifier and blanket.) and then repeat that throughout the day. Thoughts? Advice? Secondly, this same blessing has car riding issues. :) She doesn't stay quiet and happy for long in the car. She usually cries when we drive and will not go to sleep without screaming. I've never had a baby that didn't like the car! The car is usually the place to put them to sleep, right?! She isn't easy to console either, pacifier, blanket, toys, music, nothing helps every time. I usually plan outings (when I can) when it's time for her to eat, but if we are out long term, she doesn't ride quietly or go to sleep easily when it's not feeding time. Anybody else have a high needs baby in many ways? Help! :)

I thought so, but it's the ages that bothers me. 11 and 9? That seems older. Maybe I should have put the ages first.

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Thanks, everyone. This was very helpful! Merry Christmas!

I searched before posting, but couldn't find any topics regarding this age group or boys. I would appreciate any and all ideas. Thank you!

Thank you all! I am excited to have these! I'm not too sad I can't find our usual book because these are great! I'm saving these for the future. Merry Christmas and blessings as you celebrate the advent of our Savior.

We've used the one that the DoorPost company published, but I can't find it this year. I have Christ in Christmas, but am not pleased with the structure of it. Any more suggestions? Any good ones online? We are reformed baptist, so something from that theological viewpoint would be appreciated. Thanks!

Thank you for responding. I've never heard of that book series, so thank you for that! I'll have to check those out for my 2 year old and infant as time goes on. My dc decided to do their duo on the book This is the House That Jack Built. :) It's cute. This is our first year in speech and I have no background in it, so we are all learning together. :) I hope your daughter does well in her tournament!

Brainstorming ideas and would love to hear ideas. Thanks!

It's cute, but I'm afraid it's too small for what I know she carries. I'm leaning towards the Clare and then just getting her a small tote, too. The Clare just "looks" like my dd. :)

I love VB! I have the Get Carried Away Tote that I use as our diaper bag. I am getting DD9 a bag for Christmas, but am having trouble choosing one for her. I don't want it too large, but I also don't want it too small. I'm looking at the Sophie, Little Hipster, Frannie, Clare, Cassidy, Little Mandy, and the Laura. Suggestions?

I'm living proof that a diaphragm doesn't always work! I always say that I was the 5% (or whatever the failure rate is now) that got by! :lol::lol:

Well, that next day (Sunday) they looked better, but we still had a church friend dr. look at him at church. He said if it came back to go to the dr., but to him they looked okay. He said it could have been from the little bug he had and that Hep. A would be rare. He wasn't concerned. Sorry for not updating sooner. Newborn, homeschooling, little busy... ;)

Wow, jaundice, really???? I never would have thought. I'll check them tomorrow and if they are still yellowish, I'll be going into the dr. on Monday. I checked his immunizations and he is immunized for both hep A and B. Hmmm...

He just got over a 24 hour nausea bug. He never threw up, just felt yucky. DD9 had it Monday. Could it be not getting enough fluids for 24 hours? He drank a water bottle yesterday and then had two Gatorades, one last night and one this a.m. He had saltine crackers yesterday and a normal diet with drinks today. Nothing different than what we've done int he past with a stomach bug. He's never had the yellow eyes after a bug and it may not have a thing to do with it, but I thought I would mention illness. What could be going on?

Update..... Went to 24hr e/r on sat. night and got some antibiotics. He wanted to aspirate it, but I couldn't handle that at that moment. I had to prepare myself. I knew I was going to the dr on Monday anyway, but wanted to get the meds going to see if that would help the pain. It continued to get worse and then started draining some last night and this a.m. Went to the derm a little while ago and dreaded what was to come, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The numbing shots weren't bad at all, but the squeezing was! It was very uncomfortable because of the infection, but it's over. Now, I just let it keep draining ( yuck!) and keep taking the antibiotics. I'm glad that it's over. Thanks for the info you all gave and for your thoughts. Now, I can get on with my week. :)

Someone mentioned a sebaceous cyst getting infected and that is what I started thinking about today, too. When it all started (a few days ago), I thought I was starting to get a little pimple on the cyst, which led me to think it might be infected. I searched it and found that it can happen. I've this cyst for years and never had any problems. The area is red, very painful and so sensitive and tender. I bumped into a door today and hit my bOOk a little and it almost took my breath from the pain. I know it's gotten worse. I am going to my ob/gyn on Monday, so I'm trying to make it till then. I hope that won't be too late? I've been washing it with the WG brand of hibiclens soap, so if it is MRSA or staph, that should help some, huh?

What does shingles look like? I've always heard of shingles, but have no idea what it is.

I've not had milk since week 3 postpartum and it went away in a week. I haven't had any leaking for weeks. Does a clogged milk duct cause painful bumps to form? After looking at it closely again after my shower, it appears to be more than one large bump, maybe three close to each other and another one to the side as well as the sebaceous cyst being tender and sore. I pulled the skin tight to see what was underneath the skin to get a better look. The cyst is still white, though, not red like the rest, but it hurts, too. This doesn't seem to be staph. My dd had staph a couple of years ago and it doesn't look like that type of bump. Mine are more under the skin, like a large, ugly looking pimple that hasn't come to a head and softer than her staph bump.

right bOOk. I'm prone to large (penny sized or larger maybe), under the skin pimples in nether regions, but this is the first time I've had one this large and located in that area. I've had a couple located on my bum where you sit down, but it's been years since I've had one there. It is red around the area, warm, very painful to touch and just be there. There is no head to it, it's all under the skin. It is located right on and near a sebaceous (sp?) cyst that I've had for years without concern. I wonder if it is a boil? I went to the drug store tonight and got ichthammol ointment, BoilEase, the WG brand hibiclens wash and have been using tea tree oil on it for a few days, but with no relief or change. I've been using hot wash cloths for compresses the last two evenings, too. Anyone experience this or know what I'm dealing with? I already have an appt. for Monday with my ob/gyn for my postpartum visit and plan on showing it to her. I would appreciate any advice or ideas on what it is and what could help it.