Update on Alex

I didn't post a five month update on Alex mainly because I wanted to wait and see how he was doing with his new "cranial orthotics" aka helmet! He actually began wearing the helmet the day of Luc's three year birthday. We started by wearing it on one hour, off one hour for the first day and gradually worked up to wearing it twenty three hours a day by day four. I was amazed at how well he did--he never seemed upset or affected by the helmet.
Not to say that their haven't been some side effects. Even before he received the helmet, Alex had begun hitting himself in the head (a repetitive motion that worried both Josh and I, but the pediatrician said is pretty common during this stage). Now that his head is surrounded by really dense plastic, the hitting isn't hurting his noggin, but it is beating up his poor little hands. I was shocked the first morning that I walked into his room and found him covered in blood. For a moment (of panic) I couldn't tell where it was all coming from--it was all over his helmet, face, hands and everywhere on the sheets (we use white sheets, so every little mark shows up...when covered in blood it is a bit scary. Thank goodness for bleach!) I finally realized his hands were raw. Sometimes at night I can hear him sit there and bop himself over the baby monitor (just as annoying as a crying baby really!) We have tried putting socks on his hands before bedtime, but he rarely leaves them on long. Hopefully this phase will pass quickly!
It also seems as though the helmet is slowing him down physically. Of course, I get it--If my head all the sudden weighted a couple extra pounds, I'd be off balance, too. But he had been making some progress in rolling over and now he seems uninterested in even trying. He has always hated tummy time, but now it seems extra difficult for him and I fear that sitting up and crawling may be delayed as well. But we will see--he HAS only had the helmet for two weeks, so I guess I should give him some more time to adapt.
Visually, the helmet is cute--the "tornado" pattern is fun. I am amazed by the number of random strangers who come up to me and comment on the helmet--sometimes I wonder if they think it is some strange fashion statement we are making with out child (I've received many "cool hat" comments). It also has a nifty "breathing" hole in the top of the helmet that lets Alex's little spiky hair stick out, so he looks pretty darn cute in it.

As far as sleep goes, the helmet did not interrupt his sleep patterns, which I feared most (again, you know how much I love sleep!) Speaking of sleep...we Ferberized Alex this week. (For those of you without children, the Ferber method is a way of teaching your child to self soothe and sleep through the night). We used this technique with Lucas to much success. I had tried it with Alex at four months and he wasn't buying it. But...I am happy to say that we are on day five of the Feber technique and have slept through the night the last three nights. Night one sucked, though, for anyone interested in trying here is my account of that evening:

2:23 am. Alex wakes up screaming bloody murder. I give him five minutes and then go into his room and TRY to give him his pacifier. He screams louder, spits the paci out and glares at me. I pat him once or twice and leave, hoping he will settle momentary.(normally we give him a bottle at this time).

2:30am. No luck. He is still screaming and really getting a rhythm down now. I trudge back to his room and try the routine again. This time he cries even LOUDER when he sees me and starts arching his back and banging his head. I spend a couple minutes trying to soothe him without picking him up (part of the Feber suggestion) but no luck. I warn him I won't be back for ten minutes (you add five minutes to each wait period) and leave.

3:00am OOOooopps. I fell asleep despite the crying. It has been thirty minutes and he is still going strong. I do the whole routine again, only this time I start his baby mobile and hope the music will help calm him. I am getting pretty anxious...am I mentally abusing my child??

3:35 am (I decided since I went thirty minutes the last time I will stick with that timeframe and just add five minutes..meanwhile I wanted to cry myself this whole time...it is very frustrating to listen to your baby cry and not do anything about it!). The music is over and he is back to screaming. I fret that his diaper needs changing, but decide that is too much contact. Alex seems like he is wearing down (several times he sputters out only to start up again) so I am crossing my fingers that we are close. If nothing else, he should be exhausted from all this crying. Josh has snoozed through the entire process (MEN!), so I get online and read about the Ferber technique for some back up while I wait for the next visit...

4:05 am. Alex is still crying, but it is very light and he actually takes the paci this time. I tell him I am more stubborn than him and I am going to win, then I sing him "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and gently pat his belly until he is no longer crying at all. I walk out and climb into bed and tensely wait for the crying to begin again...no more crying and next thing I know it is 7 am and Alex is sleeping peacefully!!!

Then next night he cried out once at 2:30, but he was done within three minutes and slept the rest of the night. As I said, we are starting day five now and I think we have successfully Ferberized the boy. Thank you sleep!!