Loooong, Rough Night

This is a long one. I apologize in advance.

My babies are terrible sleepers. It takes them nearly a full year to sleep through the night, and since I try to nurse them for that long, I usually fly solo for late night wake up calls. Needless to say, I have been enjoying the fact that sleep has been not only achievable of late, but downright peaceful since November or so. I had even begun expecting (gasp!) a full night of restful, uninterrupted slumber. Well, it was obvious that I needed an attitude adjustment, and that is just what I got last night.

Avery seems to be cutting teeth again, although no new nubs have been spotted. So it was not entirely unexpected when I heard her whimper at about 11 PM. No problem. A little lovin', and I tucked her back in bed, assuming that would be my lone interruption. Wrong again, Trezise!

About 20 minutes later (just enough time for me to fall completely back to sleep), Avery decided that a whimper was not sufficient to get her point across, and let out a shrieking cry. A cry so piercing, it woke the neighbor's dog and he began to bark. Thinking her impaled on a crib bar or something equally tragic, I tore out of bed and into her room. The nightlight reveal an indignant, yet intact Miss A, reaching to be lifted out of her crib. I picked her up, rocked and rubbed for a minute, and put her back. I climbed back into bed, ignoring the throbbing in my head. I didn't even have time to settle in before I heard Tristan. By this time, Will was participating, and so he and I went to investigate what was amiss in the boy's bedroom. Tristan was sitting in his bed, crying. Landon informed us that he was missing "Hippo".

For those of you who are not acquainted with Hippo, please let me give an you introduction. Hippo was purchased for $5 at Kohls to benefit needy children. He is ratty, gray, and loved! Hippo accompanies us to the store, to church, and spends most of his day being pushed around by Tristan in one of Avery's doll strollers. He must be present in order for Tristan to take a nap or go to sleep at night; and from time to time, he falls out of bed in the middle of the night, and must be retrieved in order for sleep to resume.

So, we began a search for Hippo. Under the bed, in the closet, hidden in the sheets. No where. All the while, Tristan is getting more and more distraught. We extended the search to other rooms in the house. No luck. Where was that cursed Hippo?! After about 20 minutes, Avery was awake again, and still no Hippo. I told Will to take Tristan into our bed for the night and tell him that Hippo was getting washed and would be dry in the morning. I tended to Avery. After about 5 more minutes, Avery was back in her crib, and I was heading to my bed. I fell in, taking care not to squish my son who was now sprawled out between myself and Will. After a while, Tristan was sleeping sideways, head in Will's side, feet kicking my head. A position readjustment, then a full roll into my tummy. I eased him away, but he returned with force. The tossing about goes on for an undetermined amount of time, and meanwhile, Avery has been up two more times!

Finally, I resign myself to the fact that Tristan is not going to let me sleep peacefully in my own bed, and Avery is determined not to stay in her's. I go get the noisy one and try to sleep with her in the recliner. Now, instead of kicks and head butts, I get to sleep with Avery on my chest, who is opening and closing her hands in her sleep and pinching my shirt, occasionally catching skin. Her head is sweaty and she is grinding her teeth. Argh!!! That is where I remained for the rest of the night.

When Landon popped in our room this morning at 6 AM and said "Hey, how come I am not sleeping in here too?", I thought of that song "There were 5 in the bed and the little on said, roll over, roll over." I wanted to roll over and sleep for at least two more hours!

You will be happy to note however, that I located the blasted Hippo in the fridge of Avery's play kitchen this morning. Why the fridge you might ask. Well, I questioned Tristan, and he said matter-a-factly that "He was cold." It all makes sense to me now. The stinkin' Hippo was keeping Avery awake from inside the fridge, and being thus trapped in the fridge, was MIA from Tristan's bed. I blame it all on the Hippo!