Changes

This has been one heck of a week and it's only Wednesday! I don't even have students yet!

First of all, as I mentioned in the previous post, Tanner started daycare since I went back to work. I cried on the way there and teared up upon leaving him, but didn't outright bawl in front of anyone. The night before was another BIG change. Tobin decided that Tanner was ready to move into the crib in his nursery. He had been taking afternoon naps in his crib, but had never slept there after dark. I should have moved the bassinet into the nursery first as a transition, but didn't think of that until it was pointed out to me later. (would have been a good idea, Mel) We do have a video monitor, so the fact that I can see him helps immensely! (Thanks again, Cin!) I would like to say that he has done fine with the move, but that just wouldn't be true. I cannot honestly say that the bed itself has anything to do with it, but he has NOT been sleeping well overnight. Both Sunday and Monday nights were rough. We both got about 3.5 hours of sleep and that is not even consecutive sleep. The lack of sleep has affected both our moods, energy levels, relationship, and ability to work the next day. When I picked him up at daycare and the ladies said that he had slept most of the afternoon, I knew that last night was going to be more of the same. I just couldn't deal with that, so I called Tanner's doctors office. It was advised that I put him on a half n' half recipe of breast milk and formula before bed. The idea is to satiate him, increase the amount of time in between bottles, plus help him sleep for longer stretches overnight. There is NO way I would put him on straight formula if I didn't have to, especially with breast milk in 4 freezers, and a good supply still available. Melody convinced me that this was just supplemental and would help him in the short and long run. He is still getting the immunity and other benefits from me, so that makes me feel good.

I started off with one scoop of formula in his 4 oz bottles. He received that in his bedtime bottle and in the 2 throughout the night. As for now, I will leave the afternoon bottles simply breast milk unless they find that it is running straight through him. Then, I will supplement those with 1-2 tsps rice cereal again. He slept for 3 hours straight last night, woke up for a bottle, and fell right back to sleep for another 3 hours. I'm fine with baby steps because anything is an improvement over 3 hours of sleep TOTAL! Tonight I will increase the formula to 2 scoops for 4 oz as the can recommends. I anxious to see how that plays out.

Middle School Open House was last night and I met many of my new 8th grade students, plus had several former students stop by. I am ready for school to begin tomorrow. Well, maybe not physically or emotionally, but as ready as I will ever be nonetheless. The best part of school starting is that I will be taking off every Wednesday for the 1st quarter!!! My principal agreed to my offer and allowed me to take a sick day every Wednesday to stay home with Tanner or take Tanner to daycare and get caught up on sleep. My choice. This was in contrast to me staying home for 6 or 12 weeks maternity leave or taking the whole year off. Therefore, he was very cool about me only missing one day per week and starting the year off with my new classes! In fact, they have already lined up my sub for each Wednesday. I think I'm gonna like not working more than two days in a row!!